Chapt. 10- The Proposition
A year passed quickly for the team. They fell into routines and openly loved one another daily. They fought and they bled and they won. But school continued to call them. Life carried on.
Willow was finishing up some calculations for a new chemistry project when Angel walked into her lab. He had a cup of coffee in one hand and a picture in the other. "Hey baby. I was just about finished."
"I know. But I thought you could use some company. Plus I got this done today. It's small but it's the best I can do for now." He held the picture out – a sketch of Willow and Spike making love. Angel had been working on it for a couple of days now. "And, I brought you coffee. You have school in 30 minutes."
"You bring me something this beautiful and you expect me to go to school afterwards?" Willow shook her head, pouting as she took the coffee and the drawing. Sipping the coffee, Willow smiled. "Hmm. Perfect. Let me put this away." Willow pulled out a wooden covered scrapbook and placed the picture in with a multitude of others. "Spike still asleep?"
"You know our boy. He'll sleep till noon probably. You know, I'm really glad we turned the dungeon into a lab for you and Xan to work in. Where is the whelp anyways?"
"Careful there lover. You're starting to sound like Spike. Xander is in bed. He actually did all his work last night. This is a little side project I'm working on." Angel picked up a crystal that sat on Willow's desk.
"How's it coming?"
"I think I've almost got it. I just need to let the ingredients sit for about oh, 8 hours and I should be good. I'm gonna go get dressed. Can you make sure Xan and Giles get up and ready for school?" Willow gathered her papers and filed them before heading upstairs. Angel smiled behind her, drank the rest of her coffee and headed up to gather the others.
Willow snuck into their bedroom to grab her clothes for the day. Wearing a small tank top and a pair of Angel's boxers didn't exactly follow dress code. So, Willow tried to find clothes without waking Spike. The end result being that she found one of his shirts and a skirt. Before leaving the room, Willow glanced over at Spike's sleeping form. He looked like a golden Adonis lying there nude. Willow smiled and walked out.
Xander and Giles were both coming out of their showers. Willow was suddenly very glad that they had good plumbing. Willow, being her usual perky self, greeted both boys but it seemed to be too early in the morning for them. Willow slipped into the bathroom she and her lovers shared and quickly changed for school. She thought briefly about how much Spike and Angel rubbed off on her fashion sense. The same, she thought, could be said for Giles and Xander. Their girlfriends had been very good influences on them as well. Willow went downstairs and kissed Angel on the cheek. "Come on guys, we're gonna be late."
The family dynamic they had going worked quite well for everyone. Willow was still the mother figure. Giles was legally and emotionally everyone's father. Xander was the devoted son. The last year had really turned him around. Xander would do anything to make his family proud, which at present meant learning Latin, Greek and Arabic as well as a few demon languages that most people couldn't pronounce. He was highly considering becoming a watcher. Buffy and Spike bickered like siblings but were an awesome team to watch slaying. All in all they all worked very well together.
Their biggest struggle right now was the coming Ascension. Willow had done permutation after permutation with the same end result. They had to kill the Mayor; it wasn't going to be easy, but they needed to do it. They'd already destroyed most of his underlings but he kept growing stronger.
Once at school, Willow and Giles headed straight for the library. Xander waited for Cordelia to show up by the entrance. After Willow's home schooling efforts last year, the school board agreed to let Willow continue the regimen as long as she did so on school grounds. They even allowed for Buffy and Xander to join in on the lesson plans. It was proving well for all of them. Cordy had chosen to stay in the regular classroom to "Save what little amount of social dignity" she had left.
Willow set up her laptop as soon as they entered the library. "Snyder hinted to something last time we spoke that may have some pertinence to our problem."
"English Wills or I'm gonna stop letting you hang out with Giles so much," Buffy teased.
"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that cause he is my dad now and yeah. But, anyways, he said the Mayor was having a soiree tonight. I think it might be the night he takes the sacrifices. I'm gonna send you and Spike in to crash the party, ok?"
"Oooo, me and Blondie get to have some fun? Do I get to dress up?" Buffy joked as she pulled out her homework.
"I'd go with a pants suit if I were you."
At home that night, Willow helped Spike get ready. "You look very sexy. How bout you try and keep this suit in one piece tonight? We can have fun when you get home."
Spike leered at her for a second then replied, "Miss Rosenberg, are you trying to seduce me?"
"She's always trying to seduce us lover. You should know that by now." Angel smiled as he walked in. He kissed them both and wrapped his arm around Willow's waist. She smiled and leaned against his chest. Willow nodded with a smile.
"Play nice tonight. Not so much with the mayor but with Buffy." Willow kissed his cheek.
Moments later the doorbell rang. "Giles and Buffy are in the training room and Xander's in the lab. I'll go get it."
Willow ran downstairs to greet whoever was there. When she opened the door Willow saw a shorter gentleman dressed much like Xander used to. "Hello, how may I help you?"
"Yes, er, is this the Giles residence?" He spoke with a North East accent. She couldn't quite place where he was from but she thought somewhere in New York. Willow nodded. "Um, yes. Can I speak to Mr. Giles then please?"
"Yes, wait here please." Willow went to find Giles. Angel found Willow first and asked her who was at the door. "Some guy, dresses like Xan. He wants to talk to Giles."
"Is he about yea tall? Wears a hat?" Angel gestured with his hand.
"Yeah, you know him?"
"I think so. Go ahead and get Giles. I'll let in our guest." Angel went down to the front door and Willow headed to the gym.
"Whistler. Why is it that when you show up my life changes drastically?" Angel asked as he opened the door.
"Angel, buddy. It's nice to see you too. How are things with you and the slayer?"
"The Slayer and I are friends. But, then, you knew that. Mind telling me what you're doing here?"
"Let's just wait for Mr. Giles. I don't like repeating myself." Whistler took off his hat as he entered the mansion. He looked around at the foyer and living room, "Nice digs you got here Angel."
"Thanks. Have a seat." As Angel spoke, Spike came down stairs looking irritated and hyper.
"Peaches? What's taking so long?" Spike whined as he walked into the living room. He spotted Whistler on the couch. "Company 'ey?"
"Yeah, Spike, this is Whistler. Whistler, this is Spike." Angel said harshly. Spike put his hand on Angel's shoulder to calm him down.
"How d'ya do mate?" Spike grinned. He could tell the other man was nervous around Angel. He wondered how much damage the older man had done to him. He was about to ask when Willow returned with Giles and Buffy in tow.
"Hey sweetie. You didn't have to come downstairs." Willow said as she walked up to her lovers.
"I was bored. You both left me with nothing to do. Thought I'd come downstairs and harass Peaches a bit before the Chit and I have to go." Spike answered her.
"You know they have a word for what you are. It's called ADD."
"Add? Why am I a math equation pet?"
"No. Attention Deficit Disorder, it means. Never mind Spike." Willow smiled and turned to Whistler. "So, who's our guest?"
"Name's Whistler. I'm a friend of Angel's," He replied. Angel coughed. "Um, I'm here to make a proposition."
"Is this something that everyone should discuss?" Giles asked.
"Er, yes. We should probably have everyone here."
"Then it will have to wait until after this evening's events. I'll call Cordelia and have her come over. I'm sure she can think of some way to keep Xander occupied until then. Um, Mr. Whistler, would you care for a drink? Buffy and Spike, you should get going soon."
"Ok, I'll be back later. Love you." Buffy kissed Giles on the cheek and walked over to Spike. "Come on Jr. The sooner we get gone the sooner I can give you're annoying ass back to Willow."
"Why you looking at my ass Slayer? You got the watcher's butt to watch." Spike and Buffy teased each other as they left.
"I swear they're like brother and sister." Giles said as they left.
"Which is pretty disturbing considering the fact that when you two get married she'll be my stepmom of sorts and that would be like, ew. I'm not thinking about that ok?" Willow smiled and headed to the kitchen. When she returned, she had a mug of blood for Angel and a cup of iced tea for herself. "So, while Buff and Spike are away what's the plan? Movies, lab work, or research?"
"I say movies." Xander said as he emerged from the lab. "But then again I always say movies, unless we're speaking in a dead language then I can't say movies cause they didn't exist then but you know. Hey, nice shirt man. I'm Xander, and you would be?"
"Xan, this is Whistler. He has something to discuss with the whole group. So we're waiting till after the party. Um, wanna invite Delia over?"
"Always. By the way, Giles, what would you say if I said I think I'm gonna marry that girl?"
"I think I'd say we had a pool going on how long before you figured it out. Damn. Spike won didn't he?" Everyone else nodded. "I've really got to stop betting against him."
The party was being held at City Hall. Buffy watched everyone there very closely. Spike used his charms to get several younger ladies to dance with him and one very wealthy older woman. The Mayor hadn't made an appearance yet. Come on. I wanna get back before I have to go home tonight. It's my night for smootchies.
Spike caught her eye and Buffy was sure he was thinking the same thing. He really hated being away from Willow any longer than he had to. With Angel, Spike didn't worry as much. Angel didn't brood anymore and he could fend for himself. Willow on the other hand was pretty much helpless without her magick. Buffy approached him. "Any ideas as to who the sacrifice is gonna be?"
"That chit there. The one chatting it up with the bald guy is my prime suspect. Can't be sure till the Mayor arrives though." Spike sighed. He really wanted to go home, curl up on the couch with Willow and Angel and just be for the rest of the night. They'd already patrolled and he was ready to take a break. "Wish he'd hurry up."
"Me too. So, you and Wills have any plans for you're anniversary?"
"No. We're gonna celebrate with Angel next week. How bout you and Rupe?"
"Fancy restaurant and a hotel. I didn't just say the last part. I think he might propose at dinner. Willow took him shopping the other day."
"Yeah, I know. She got the idea to have rings specially made for us. White gold, Red gold, and yellow gold intertwined to symbolize our love and the three of us. Nice innit?"
"Yeah. Sounds nice. What do you think my Mom will say if Rupert and I get married?"
"She seemed ok with you dating. I don't think she'll mind too much luv. Oh, look. The man of honor's here." Spike lifted his champagne flute and pointed it towards the Mayor as he entered. Sure enough, he singled out the young woman that Spike had suspected. "Let's move."
Buffy and Spike approached the Mayor swiftly. "Hey there. How is our fine mayor this evening?" Buffy smiled at him.
"Miss Summers. I'm quite fine thank you. I see you're looking well this evening. How might I help you?"
"Oh I wanted to help you. See, I have this plan. I make sure you don't succeed in your little plan and I help you rot in hell. Like it?" Buffy smirked at him and put her hands on her hips.
"Miss Summers, such threats are unbecoming a young lady such as yourself." Mayor Wilkins replied. He was in his usual happy mood.
"I think they're very becoming of my sis. Oh, by the way, isn't that your sacrifice walking out the door?" Spike asked as he sipped the champagne. Buffy smiled. Wilkins rushed after her but it was too late. "Damn, and you needed a virgin didn't you? There aren't any left in the room. Sorry to say. Guess you'll have to wait till next full moon won't you?"
"You're so smug Mr. Spike aren't you? I shall wait. I'm a very patient man."
"So will we. Tah. Come on Buff, let's go home." Spike escorted Buffy back to the mansion. Disaster one was averted.
"So how was the Mayor's little soiree?" Giles asked as they entered the mansion. Giles had just gotten up for tea when they returned home. Everyone else was watching movies still.
"Oh god it was awful. It was worse than the Bloody parties I had to attend when I was alive." Spike grabbed a glass of whiskey and promptly headed straight for the couch.
"It was boring. We couldn't wait to get home to better company. Love you." Buffy dropped a kiss on his cheek.
"Love you too, Buffy. Come on, let's get this over with so I can show you properly." Giles took her arm and led her to the living room. Spike had already made himself comfortable in Angel's arms. "I'm not even going to think about the repercussions of acknowledging that they look cute together."
"Why not? I think about it all the time. Course I get too watch them sleep, so I have a slight edge there." Willow smirked from her glass of tea. She had her arms draped over Spike's legs. "Anyways. Since everyone's here, why don't you go ahead and start Whistler?"
"Alright. I represent the Powers That Be, the greater force in the universe, the ultimate good guys. Anyways. The people I work for are very impressed with the way you work. They want me to offer you a new position so to speak. They want you to be their Champions."
"What does that mean for us?"
"You'd fight the good fight like always but now, you'd have missions to go on, a seer to guide you and immortality. Pretty nice huh?"
"If this is anything like the last proposition the PTB gave me it's not really a choice is it?" Angel remarked.
"Sure it is. Work for them and you win. You'll even receive a free pass to heaven when the world finally ends. Don't work for them and the ascension just got a lot more difficult." Whistler spoke quietly and threatening almost. Willow watched carefully.
"So who's the seer?"
"One of your non-magics will be a seer. The other will be more than a watcher, he shall be a warrior and a teacher. So what do you say?"
They looked to one another. Without a word said between them, they all knew the answer. Willow took the floor. "We're in."