Whew! Just finished this one on time. There are probably a ton of typos cause I just typed this, so let me apologize now. The next chapter won't be up until the 28th. Think of it as a late Christmas present. I'm sorry, but I'm swamped with Christmas.
A few reminders... Connor never existed so things in the Angel verse might seem weird. Caritas never got destroyed and they still work from the Hyperion.
Disclaimer: I don't own the songs they sing in this chapter. I don't want to say what they are now cause I want you to be surprised.
And yes, the movie was Finding Nemo in the last chapter, I just love that movie...
Calex, fairysk8r, John, Kilea859, Horsewhisperer of Rohan, Anne, dancetdplc, Pandoras Box1, Mon2, thank you guys so much for your reviews! They really mean a lot.
Lord of The Ring action will pick up in the next chapter....
Chapter Three
L.A.
Ginny and Dawn headed upstairs to go to bed after the scoobies had left. They quickly changed into their pajamas and climbed into Dawn's bed. Dawn turned out the light and the room was quiet.
"So when do you sneak into Draco's room?" Ginny's voice came from the darkness.
"Never."
"I find that hard to believe."
"Gin, do you know how hard it is to sneak around in a house that has a slayer and a vampire in it? They both have supernatural hearing. They can hear a fly walk across the living room wall; they would be able to hear us sneaking around."
"Got caught, huh?" Ginny asked, a grin on her face despite the fact that Dawn couldn't see it.
"Yup, first night. Got a huge lecture. Like we were going to do anything but sleep."
Ginny couldn't stop the snort of laughter.
"Ok, maybe some kissing, but nothing more. I'm not dumb enough to make her mistakes. Granted Draco is not a vampire cursed with a soul he loses at the first moment of perfect happiness, but we're not ready for that step."
"Is it a mutual decision, or an individual?"
"It's mutual."
They laid there in silence for several minutes before Ginny asked, "Do you guys know why there's a resurgence of demons?"
"Willow and Giles think it's some sort of a backlash from the spell Voldemort used to control the demons. Giles thinks that as soon as they were released they scattered and went to places that were demon havens. Angel's group has been busy in L.A. with the same problem."
"Do they think it's permanent?"
"Nah. Things have already started to die off here. Probably because the hellmouth is almost permanently closed."
*******
The next couple of days were spent quietly. Ginny fell in love with muggle music; she would listen to anything she could get her hands on. She really enjoyed country music, much to Draco's chagrin. She had been flipping through the radio when she came across a country station and she was hooked from then on. The redhead related to the songs that seemed to focus on the more simple parts of life.
Ginny only had a passing interest in the television. While she enjoyed several of the shows, she wasn't stuck to it like glue as Draco was. But she did love to watch movies.
They were halfway through the week when Dawn and Buffy had an argument.
"No, Dawn, absolutely not."
"But why?"
"L.A. is too dangerous."
"We'll be there for one night and we'll stay with Angel. How can that be dangerous?" Buffy shot her a look. "I want them to meet Lorne. We can't get hurt at his place, he has that anti-violence spell."
"It's not the demons I'm worried about. It's the freeway. You haven't been driving long enough."
"But Spike taught me."
Buffy quirked an eyebrow. "And that is suppose to make me feel better?"
"What if you and Spike come with us?"
"I don't know."
"Come on. Pretty please. We get to go shopping!"
A light appeared in Buffy's eyes and the edges of her mouth tried to perk up.
"Shopping in L.A., you know there's nothing like it. Plus, we get to see Cordy and Fred."
"Ok, fine, we'll go. But only if you can convince Spike."
*********
"Wow," Ginny said as she looked around the lobby of the Hyperion. She took in the art deco style that seemed to make the place so elegant and yet a comfortable place to live. She thought it was a rather strange place to run a demon hunting company from, but who was she to complain.
She smiled as she recognized the people emerging from the office. There was a quick round of hugs and hellos before they were shown to their rooms. Again, she was impressed by the elegant, yet homey look to her room. She quickly put her things in order and went downstairs.
"Where did you want to go shopping?" Cordelia was asking.
"The mall is fine," Dawn answered.
"What's a mall?" Ginny asked.
"Only the greatest thing God put on this earth," Cordelia answered brightly. "It's a huge building that has all kinds of stores and you don't have to go outside."
"Sounds like fun," Ginny said.
The girls, along with Draco, piled into Cordy's car and headed off for a day of shopping. Knowing that Cordelia was an intense shopper, Dawn, Ginny, and Draco split off the shop at a more relaxing pace. But it didn't take Draco long to decide that he would rather shop on his own, leaving the two witches on their own.
"What's he going to do?"
"Shop on his own," Dawn answered absently as they looked through a rack. "He gets weird about shopping sometimes."
"How can he afford shopping, what with him being disowned and all?"
"A great uncle who died a couple of years ago left him a fortune and he's the only one who has access to it."
"How much is a fortune?"
"So much that he lives quite comfortably with just the interest alone."
Ginny's mouth formed a perfect silent O. Then Dawn surprised her by placing a load of clothes into her arms and began pushing her towards the dressing rooms. "What are you doing?"
"You're going to try on these clothes."
"But I don't have enough money!"
"Relax. It's an early birthday present from the scooby gang."
"My birthday is a month away."
"I know, but we'll sort of be out of touch at that time so we decided to do this now."
"What do you mean, out of touch?"
"I'll explain later, now change," Dawn ordered in a tone that brooked no argument.
A couple of hours and many bags of clothes later found the two witches sitting in the food court eating ice cream. "Why will you be out of touch?" Ginny asked between bites.
"As soon as Anya gets back from England at the end of the month, the scoobies are going to Middle Earth."
"Really?" Ginny asked excitedly.
"Yup. We're going to visit Galadriel. I've been teaching everybody Sindarin."
"Is that Elvish?"
"Yeah. There are two elven languages, Quenya and Sindarin. Quenya is the old language and my magic only works if I use it. Sindarin is the one they all use now. Only a handful can speak Quenya, Galadriel being one of them."
"I just had a brilliant idea!"
"What?"
"Why don't you teach me and the others Sindarin also. That way we could speak in a sort of code if we need to keep something secret."
"Or even when we're fighting. Gin, you're a genius!"
"I know," she said with a goofy grin. "Is it hard to learn?"
"Amazingly enough, Buffy is catching on fast and she is horrible with languages, so I'm saying no."
"No to what?" Draco asked as he set his bags down.
"Whether or not it's hard to learn Sindarin, Ginny wants to learn."
"It's pretty easy," Draco acceded.
"What did you buy?" Dawn asked as she tried to peer into some of his bags.
He slapped her hands away. "None of your business."
Dawn sent Ginny a look as if to say, see, I told you he's weird about shopping.
"I did buy something for my surrogate sister for her upcoming birthday though."
"Oh! What'd you get me?"
With a big smile he handed her a bag from one of the music stores. Inside she found a cd walkman and several cds. "I hope you like them. I don't know anything about that twangy music you listen to. I tried to remember the artists you've mentioned."
"They're wonderful," she said as she hugged him.
"And you just let girls hug your man all willy nilly like that?" Cordelia asked with a smile as she and Buffy joined them.
"It's a thank you for my birthday present," Ginny said with a grin as she held up the things he got her.
"Spike can probably charm them so they'll work at Hogwarts," Buffy told her. "Did Dawn get you enough stuff from all of us."
"More than enough. You guys didn't have to."
"Of course we did, you're practically family. Did you guys shop for Harry's birthday?" Dawn and Ginny nodded. "Draco?"
"Yes, I bought scarhead a present. What's on the agenda for tonight?" He asked as they headed to the car.
"Caritas," Dawn answered cheerfully.
"Carrot what?" Buffy asked.
"Caritas. It's the karaoke bar that Lorne owns."
"Karaoke?" Ginny asked.
"People get up and poorly sing the songs they love," Buffy told her with a grimace. "One of man's worst inventions."
"Lorne's club is rather unique, however," Cordelia told them.
"How?"
"It's a demon bar..."
"You're taking us to a demon bar?" Ginny cried incredulously.
"Lorne is a demon, so it makes sense," Cordelia said with a roll of her eyes. "Besides, the demons don't go there to fight. They go to sing and have their fortunes told."
"Fortunes?" Draco asked.
"Lorne reads your aura when you sing and helps you find your path."
*******
Spike was waiting in the lobby of the Hyperion when Dawn and Ginny came down.
"Where's everybody else?" The redhead asked.
"Seer had a vision, Buffy went with them."
"Why didn't you go?"
"Someone had to take you three."
"I could have driven," Dawn said sourly.
The vampire snorted. "Like your sister would've allowed that."
"We ready?" Came Draco's voice as he came down the stairs.
Dawn let out a small gasp as she drank in her boyfriend. He had changed into black leather pants and a soft grey, silk shirt that enhanced his eyes. But what really got her attention, was his coat.
"Nice duster," Spike choked out.
Draco suddenly seemed nervous. "Are you sure? I saw it while shopping today and I couldn't resist."
"No mate, it's perfect," Spike said as he hugged his nephew.
Ginny and Dawn could just stare at the two similarly dressed Malfoys. Draco had found a duster that nearly matched the one Spike always wore.
"There's no doubt you're related," Dawn breathed.
"No kidding, you are so lucky Dawn," Ginny whispered.
"Well," Spike said, breaking the moment. "Let's go listen to some demons butcher some good rock 'n roll."
*********
Ginny and Draco could only stare in open amazement at the demon hugging Dawn. While Draco had at least met Clem, it in no way prepared him for this.
If the green skin with red horns and eyes didn't catch their attention. Then the bright yellow suit would. The suit was so garish, Draco wondered how the demon moved about in public without attracting attention with it.
He was drawn out of his thoughts by the demon approaching him. "Spike, you never told me you had a twin."
"He's my nephew."
"Definitely has Malfoy blood in him." Lorne turned accusing eyes to the vampire. "You never told me."
"I didn't tell anyone until recently," Spike said in way of explanation.
"I'm Lorne," the demon said, offering his hand.
"Draco," the young blond said, accepting it.
"And this luscious redhead must be a Weasley."
"Ginny," she said with a blush as he kissed her cheek. "How did you know?"
"I cater to everyone here, including wizards. I've seen and heard of enough Weasleys to guess you had to be one."
"Really?'
"Of course. So you guys looking for some help?"
"No, just a night of fun." Dawn said cheerfully, then added slyly, "But if you read anything interesting and would like to give us a tip or two, we won't complain."
"Gotcha, beautiful. Pull up a chair and look through the list. Drinks are on the house."
"Thanks Lorne," Dawn said as they found an empty table.
There was silence after they ordered their drinks as they perused the song list. It didn't take them long to pick their songs and hand them in.
"I think Buffy was right. This is an awful invention," Draco said as he winced. A huge demon whose coloring looked suspiciously like baby poop was trying to hit a rather high note in a Whitney Houston song.
"It can be fun though," Dawn said as she rubbed her ears. "Provided people pick a song in their range."
"Wasn't he just wonderful folks," Lorne said as he stepped on stage at the end of the song.
"Was he not listening?" Draco said in awe.
"He says that to everyone, no matter how much they suck," Spike told him. "He does have a business to run you know."
"Next up we have a Mr. Draco Malfoy," Lorne announced and Draco made his way to the stage.
The blond blinked under the lights as he stepped up to the microphone. He suddenly seemed slightly anxious as the music started, but relaxed once he began singing.
"So close no matter how far,
Couldn't be much more from the heart.
Forever trust in who we are,
And nothing else matters."
Dawn smiled as she recognized the song. Draco had identified with it the first time he had heard it at the Bronze. He wasn't too bad of a singer she realized.
Draco finished to a round of loud applause and smiled as he headed back to the table. "That was kind of fun."
"Told you so," Dawn retorted as she stood and approached the stage. She had sung karaoke before in Sunnydale, but never in front of a room full of demons.
"All the fear has left me now,
I'm not frightened anymore,
It's my heart that pounds beneath my flesh,
It's my mouth that pushes out this breath."
A smile graced her face as she continued.
"And if I shed a tear, I won't cage it,
I won't fear love,
And if I feel rage, I won't deny it,
I won't fear love."
Before she knew it, the song was over. She nodded graciously to the applause and sat down. She gave Ginny a grin of encouragement as the redhead went to sing her song.
"Not bad 'Bit."
"Thanks Spike. Now shush."
The table turned expectant eyes to the youngest Weasley who stood alone on the stage. For someone who had never heard of karaoke before, let alone sang it, she seemed to be at home beneath the lights as she looked over her audience. Some up tempo music began to play and she opened her mouth to sing.
"Between the perfect world and the bottom line
Keeping love alive in these troubled times
It's a miracle in itself
And we know too well what that's about
Still we made it through, only God knows how
We must've had a little help."
Ginny's friends could only watch her with fascination. They had no clue that she was so talented. Her tone was clear and her voice resonated through the bar.
"Wild angels, wild angels
Watching over you and me
Wild angels, wild angels
Baby what could it be"
The entire crowd jumped to their feet when she was finished. The redhead's shy side surfaced as she made her way back to the table.
"What a set of pipes you have there, Luscious," Lorne said as he joined them. "You could certainly give me a run for my money."
"Thank you," Ginny said with a light blush.
"See anything?" Spike asked.
The demon turned his eyes to Dawn and Draco. "Enjoy your dimension hopping, it should be fun. But keep your eyes and ears open, you never know what you can learn." He turned to Ginny. "And you my dear. Just relax and enjoy your time off before school starts."
"Nothing serious then?" Spike asked as Lorne stood up.
"At the moment, no. But the future is always changing." He shifted his attention to Draco. "And she's not going to leave ya for another kid, so ease up on the jealousy. She loves you with all her heart." Then he was gone, off to tend to his other customers.
*********
The next several days passed quickly, and before they knew it, it was time for Ginny to return to the Burrow. She gathered her things and had them sitting in the Summers' living room. With tears in her eyes, she hugged the scoobies goodbye.
Draco whispered in her ear as he held her tight. "Take care and say hi to Potty and Weasel for me."
"I will. Keep an eye on her while you guys are in Middle Earth. And have fun."
"I'll keep both eyes," he assured her as he released her.
Ginny turned and hugged Dawn. "I'm gonna miss you."
"Same here. I hope you have a happy birthday."
"Thank you. Take notes on the cute elves you see."
"I'll do my best."
The young redhead wiped her eyes as she stepped back. "I guess I'll see you guys at Hogwarts." She threw a handful of floo powder in and green flames flared. "The Burrow!" Then she stepped into the flames and was gone.