Chapter Three: Right Now

Forest continued to glare at Buffy and May as the pair walked away. His baleful gaze hot enough he was surprised the two of them hadn't burst into flames. He didn't like losing, and he definitely didn't like being made to look the fool. Two things the pair managed to accomplish with childlike ease tonight.

More then that though, Forest hated hostiles; and anything that wasn't hundred percent, bona fide, Grade A human, was a hostile.

No matter what anybody claimed.


"You were right," Buffy said having a hard time keeping the jubilation out of her voice. It was much better knowing how Riley felt rather then trying to guess at his feeling and making assumptions based solely on half heard conversations that would end abruptly when she made her presence known.

May glanced at the blonde who practically bounced along at her side. "About what?"

"Riley," Buffy answered as if the answer should be as obvious to everyone that wasn't her, as it was to her. "He's okay with me being the slayer. With me being stronger, faster… a better fighter then him."

"That's great."

Buffy stopped, finally picking up on the distracted note in May's tone. Since she was holding onto May's forearm at the time, she pulled the younger girl to a stop. With overwhelming concern in her voice Buffy asked, "What's wrong?"

The young brunette shrugged and said, "it's this town. Its got my spider-sense hard wired."

"I thought it wasn't active around me? That I was sort of a anti hell mouth field for you?" Buffy joked lightly.

Her eyes drifted back towards the Basketball court Buffy and she had just left. "Then maybe it doesn't have anything to do with the hell mouth?" May whispered thoughtfully.

"Okay," Buffy murmured as she pulled May back into a slow walk. She wanted to get May to Giles' and then home before she headed out on patrol. It wasn't that Buffy thought May wouldn't be able to handle herself, she knew May could. She had seen her.

That was part of the problem, May could handle herself, but she wasn't killer. She held life, any life – even a vampire's – in the highest regard. While May was here Buffy thought it would be best served to keep her out of the fray. "What does it feel like it has to with?" Buffy asked after a short pause.

"Nothing immediate," May began as she matched the pace Buffy set with ease, "like something's going to jump out of the bushes at us, kind of danger… but something that's there; watching, waiting, planning."

Buffy nodded at the sentiment. "This is the hell mouth and evil abounds… I can't believe I just used abounds in an actual sentence. Anyway, there's plenty of evil things in town that are willing to wait before doing anything evilly."

May shot an indignant glare at the blonde. "Thanks a lot. I feel so much better knowing some critter is looking at me like I'm a tasty little morsel, but are willing to wait before trying to tenderize me."

"No problem," Buffy replied with a broad grin. She was glad that May seemed capable of with whatever life through at her. She didn't think there were too many people that would keep their sense of humor when lost in a reality far removed from their own.


Willow cast an apprehensive glance over the rim of the tomb she was reading. Once again she was pleasantly surprised to see that a skirmish hadn't broken out while she had been busy reading. The tension in the air was thick enough that even Buffy would have a hard time chopping through it with one of her axes. With a subtle shift of her eyes she managed to sweep her gaze – unobtrusively – over the room's occupants.

Anya was sitting on the opposite end of the sofa from her, with Xander sandwiched between them, completely oblivious to the glare his girlfriend was directing at the brunette sitting with her back towards the ex-vengeance demon – on a stool at Giles' breakfast counter.

May seemed as oblivious to Anya's glare as Xander. Only there was a tenseness to the set of her shoulders that hadn't been there prior to the couples arrival. Of course Buffy had been present before Xander and Anya's arrival, working hard to negotiate a truce between Giles and May.

One that both the watcher and the teenager seemed more then content to honor. Their way of honoring it was to stoutly ignore each other.

Of a more immediate concern to Willow was the fact that she was aware of May's exquisite physique; her lithe, tone and supple body. May wasn't the first girl that Willow found herself checking out. If she was honest with herself it had been going on for awhile. Before she even started dating Oz. It wasn't until she met Tara, and their budding relationship, that she had even been able to admit it to herself, let alone someone else. Not that she had yet. She knew she liked Tara, maybe even as more then a friend, and that was probably why she had finally allowed the blinders to be lowered.

There was still that stigma present in society that frowned upon homosexuality. A stigma Willow wasn't sure if she was ready to face, especially considering the fact she still couldn't, not even in her mind, name herself gay.

She thought, that for Tara, it was an obstacle she would be able to overcome.

Now all she had to do was discern whether or not Tara was so inclined, or if the blonde Wicca was simply a kindred spirit, that the only magic between them was their spell casting.

She wished there was some way that she could find out what she wanted to know. Asking was always a prime option, if she wanted to risk what she already had. Something she absolutely didn't want to do.

There was always magic, but ever since the incident with the, "My Will Be Done," spell she had been shying away from using magic to solve every little problem that cropped up. Especially when that spell might affect the sanctity of a person's mind.

May let out a soft, but extremely disgruntle, sigh as she straightened up, closing the book. She was restless, plus she was tired of Anya's glare boring holes into her back. Everything had been fine when Buffy left, at that time Anya hadn't been there.

When she had first shown up, May had tried to apologize to the dark haired woman. Her attempted peace overture had been soundly rebuked with a threat that made May's blood run cold with its sincerity. Xander had instantly called her down on it and Anya had immediately muttered something so unclear May wasn't sure what Anya had said. Or if it was even said in English?

"Willow," She said suddenly as she swiveled around on the stool.

"Yeah," Willow choked out with a look on her face that said she had been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.

May decided not to address whatever it was that had Willow looking so guilty. "Sunnydale U has a chem. lab right."

"Sure," she answered just a little quicker then she would have normally, "in with all the other science buildings. It wouldn't be a problem for me to show you where… Tomorrow if you want?"

May shook her head as she said, "if you could just draw me a map?"

"Um, sure," she answered with a shrug. Gently, not wanting to upset Giles by mistreating one of his books, Willow placed the old manuscript on the table.

"If you don't mind my inquiring," Giles began. Lowering the book he's been reading he shifted slightly as he looked over his shoulder at May. "Why, exactly do you wish to know that bit of trivia?"

"She probably wants to build a chemical bomb that…"

"What the hell is your problem?" May snapped cutting Anya off. "I make one comment about not wanting to sleep with your boyfriend… a statement that would put most women at ease, but you treat it like it's the most heinous insult…"

May whirled around a fraction of a second before Giles' front door banged open. Her spider-sense had spiked slightly, but being on the hell-mouth – that constant low ebb tingle – prevented her from picking up on the subtle change.

Like when Buffy and she were leaving the playground. It wasn't an immediate danger. More like the level of Danger had just risen.

But she would be surprised if the young man; with bleach blonde hair, pale – almost luminescent – skin, shallow checks combined with high arching bones; piercing, ice blue eyes, an entirely black ensemble from – if she wasn't mistaken – a woman's leather duster that ended just above his ankles, to a pair of not to out of style Doc Martins, his jeans, and the two sizes too small t-shirt was a danger to anything other then a decent fashion sense.

"Bloody," Giles cursed under his breath seeing Spike standing in his door.

"You really should have that lock checked watcher," the blonde informed the ex-librarian with an evil smirk. "Any old person can just come strolling on in."

Giles took a deep breath, calming himself a little before asking, "what do you want Spike?" The venom in his voice was unmistakable. It made May wonder exactly what was between the two Englishmen.

With an almost too pleasant smile Spike started off, "just stopped in to see if you had a pint… None of that pig swallop you keep around for the grand poofter mind you. Don't worry your balding, middle-aged, overstuffed head of yours watcher," Spike sneered steeping more fully into the room. What he had been about to say vanished from his mind as his eyes settled, for the first time, on May as she tensed. They roved over her body with an appreciative hunger.

May's spider-sense surged again and it was all she could do not to lash out. There was simply something wrong him. Something that put her on edge.

Spike could feel something different about her. Blood that burned just a little hotter. With just a little more oomph to it. "And just what tasty little treat do we have here? Council of Wankers send out a replacement? Finally decide the Slayer's not doing her job… playing all nice with the big nasties?"

Xander rose up from the couch, his chest puffed out as he glowered at the vampire. "What are you doing here Spike?"

He doesn't even spare the boy a glance as he said, "exactly what I said you bleeding git, stopped by for a pint. Ever since those Army prats showed up the butcher shop's been closing early… Since I'm not overly welcomed at Willy's right this bloody moment," he stopped feeling the incredulous stares from nearly everyone in the room.

Aside from a quick glance upon entering Willow hadn't even looked his way, her head bent over a sheet of paper.

May was watching him as well. Poised, ready to move at the drop of the hat.

"What?" Spike growled casting his gaze over the room. "It's not like I need to make some… bloody hell! Where's the slayer? I'm in the mood to kill something… Why she keeps you useless posers around, unless it's for bait, I'll never know?"

"How about, because we're her friends?" Xander stated. A snide comment on Spike's friendless status ready to spring forth.

"They're her friends," Anya cuts in bluntly as she pointed at Xander and Willow. Then she directed her finger toward Giles, "and he's her watcher. Even though he's been fired. And she's some type of mutant super hero stranded in our reality," she added pointing at May. "While I'm only here because Xander is capable of giving me many orgasms," she finished brightly.

"Anya," Xander groaned at girlfriend's bluntness. He turned around to face her, leaving Spike at his back. An act that in years past, maybe only a week ago would have gotten him killed. If the thought crossed his mind it didn't show. "That's private. You don't need to go telling everyone our private business."

"Please," Anya snorted. "Spike's a vampire… With his sense of smell…"

"Just the image I'd want prancing through my head… The bloated sod rutting like a walrus on a beach, thank you very much." His snarl was loud enough to drown out Anya. He made sure of that.

Anya gave way not wanting to anger the temperamental vampire. Just because he couldn't hurt humans anymore didn't mean he couldn't hurt a human who had been a vengeance demon. And she didn't see any point in finding out.

May's mind was reeling at Anya's revelation. Spike was a vampire. He didn't give off the same sense of danger as the one she encountered the other night. It was more, but at the same time less.

Giles slipped his glasses off, placing them on top of the book that was resting on the coffee table. He stood up, visibly relaxing as he did so. "Have you thought about the conversation we had the other day?"

"There was a lot of useless prattle spewing out of your gob last time I was your house guest. One of them in particular you want me to dredge up?"

"You're a vampire?" May finally blurted out.

Spike shift his gaze to lock eyes with Giles. "Bit slow on the up take, isn't she? Figured a slayer be a bit smarter…" He left the statement hanging there.

"I'm not a slayer," May informed him.

At the same moment Giles said, "She isn't a slayer."

"She's not a slayer?" Spike asked with knitted brows.

"Weren't you listening to me…"

"I avoid it whenever possible," Spike said cutting Anya off.

"…when I told you she was some kind of mutant super-hero stranded here from a different reality?" She finished saying, speaking right along with Spike.

May rolled her eyes slightly. Anya was close enough that it didn't matter if she was off on a few details. Minor ones at that.

"Finished," Willow said as she held the piece of paper out to May.

May turned around at the sound of Willow's voice. "Thanks," she said taking the piece of paper from the red-head.

As May scanned the sheet of paper with the detailed map Willow had just finished; Giles said, "You never did tell us why you want to know he location of Sunnydale University's chemical laboratory?"

She shrugged a little, not paying that much attention to Giles or anybody else as she studied the map. Still she said, "I've got no money… I'm running low on webbing and they've got all the supplies I need."

"You're going to steal?" Willow gasped, shocked by May's admittance.

She glanced up at Willow, and unable to resist the little voice whispering in her air, "well… If I happen to run into somebody while I'm there I'll be sure to ask if it's alright."

An extremely relieved expression settled on Willow's innocent face. "You will?" She questioned sounding only a little naive.

"Just for you," May replied sincerely as she moved around Spike to reach the stool she had been sitting on. Reaching down she picked up her backpack. Shoving a few odds and ends into the carryall she headed for the door.

Giles was going to say something, but with the exception of Buffy and Spike – Giles has to grudgingly admit – May is one of the few people capable of handling the dark and dangerous streets of Sunnydale with a minimum of difficulty. Buffy's account of the brunette's fight with the lone vampire was proof of that.

At least it was for Giles.

Spike took a look around at the room full of people just as May reached the door. It was readily apparent to her that, while Buffy's friends didn't like the vampire, they were also fairly comfortable around him.

"Finally looks like there's someone in this chicken outfit that isn't afraid to have a bit of fun," he mumbled. Turning on his heel he strode out the door after May. A cigarette popped into his mouth as if by magic, his lighter clicked and flared to life and he casually lights his cigarette as he caught up with May. His lighter clicked close and disappeared into his duster as he asked, "you still plan on nicking something, right?" in a casual tone.

"If by nick, you mean steal… then yeah. I plan on nicking something alright." After giving her answer May glanced over at the vampire. A curious light in her eyes. "I've got a question… if you don't mind?"

Spike shrugged indifferently, feeling a sense of peace wash over him now that he was on his way to do something. Even if it only was committing an act of petty larceny. "Ask away."

"Well, it's just… you don't act a lot like I thought a vampire would?"

A small, mischievous smirk curved his lips as he said, "you mean not going all grrr and trying to kill everyone?" Smoke billowed out of his mouth.

May nodded, a slight dip and rise as she asked, "why?"

"It's because I'm a noble vampire," he answered beaming with pride.

"A noble vampire?" A truck load of skepticism filled her voice.

"I'm one of the good guys," he responded puffing out his chest slightly "Got my soul."

"Really?"

"No," Spike said unable to hold a straight face any longer. His wide grin nearly split his face in two as he laughs long and hard. He almost doubled over as his body shook with laughter.


Xander's gaze settled on the darkness beyond Giles' open front door as the librarian moved to close it. "Do you really think it's safe… letting May go off with Spike?"

Giles shrugged as he swung the door shut. "I can't see why not. With that chip in his head, Spike can't harm any human."

"That's just it. May isn't exactly what you'd call completely human." Xander started as he ran a hand through his hair while Giles stared at him with uncomprehending eyes. He glanced over at Willow and muttered, "a little help here Wills."

Willow looked up from the floor and whatever she had found of such interest. "Well if I understand May's explanation then Xander's right. Her father was bitten by a radioactive spider, altering his DNA. These genetic alterations were then passed on to May which means there's every possibility that Spike's chip might not recognize her as human."

Giles withering glare settled on Xander. "And you wait until now before bringing this up?"

"Did you want me to bring it up in front of Spike? We all know how Spike is about killing things. Since he found out the chip doesn't go off when he fights a demon…"

"I suppose not," Giles murmured softly not wanting to credit Xander with making the right decision. If he had to do that the boy was going to be even more insufferable then he already was.

"She isn't going to ask anybody for permission, is she?" Willow murmured softly into the silence. No one present had the heart to confirm the red-head suspicions.


Right Now - Garth Brooks

Maybe it's the movies, maybe it's the books
Maybe it's the government and all the other crooks
Maybe it's the drugs, maybe it's the parents
Maybe it's the gangs, or the colors that we're wearin'
Maybe it's the high schools, maybe it's the teachers
Tattoos, pipe bombs underneath the bleachers
Maybe it's the music, maybe it's the crack
Maybe it's the bible, or could it be the lack

Come on people, now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another, right now...right now

Okay, maybe it's the papers, maybe it's the family
Maybe it's the internet, radio, TV
Maybe it's the president, maybe it's the last one
Maybe it's the one before that
Maybe it's the athletes, maybe it's the dads
Maybe it's the sports fans, agents, fads
Maybe it's the homeless, aliens, immigrants
Maybe it's life, don't tell me that it's imminent

Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another right now

Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another right now
You gotta love one another

Maybe it's the fallout, maybe it's the ozone
Maybe it's the chemicals, the radiation, cell phones
Maybe it's the magazines, maybe it the next page
Lotteries, fast food, bad news, road rage
Maybe it the unions, big business
Maybe it's the KKK and the skinheads
Maybe it's the daughters, maybe it's the sons
Maybe it's the brothers of the mothers or the guns

Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another right now

Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another right now

(You know, if we don't talk about it
It ain't gonna get better)

We gotta love one another

(So, whadda say, let's talk)

Maybe it's the parks, maybe it's the sex
Maybe it's the talk shows, maybe it's a reflex
Maybe it's the taxes, maybe it's the system
Judges, lawyers, prisons
Maybe it's the Catholics, maybe it's the Protestants
Maybe it's the addicts, and the hippies and communists
Maybe it's a fashion, maybe it's a trend
Maybe it's the future... maybe it's the end