Episode 15:

'Mama never loved her much

And daddy never keeps in touch

That's why she shies away from human affection

But somewhere in a private place

She packs her bags for outer space

And now she's waiting for

The right kind of pilot to come

(and she'll say to him)

She's saying

I would fly you to the moon and back

If you'll be, if you'll be my baby

Got a ticket for a world where we belong

So, would you be my baby?'

- 'To The Moon And Back', by Savage Garden -

Darla and Lindsey were enjoying a quiet evening indoors, only a few days after Connor's and Lindsey's first meeting, which had gone rather well, as the child seemed to have got a liking to Lindsey. He'd written to his mother saying that he thought Lindsey was alright, and that he didn't mind her dating him. There weren't words to describe the wave of relief Darla felt when she read that.

So Darla and Lindsey were enjoying a quiet evening indoors, listening to music and drinking Chardonnay, when an insistent knocking was heard on the door. Frowning, and wondering who on earth could it be, Darla left her glass on the coffee table and rose from her seat.

'Darla, maybe it'd be better if I go...'

She shot him an amused look. 'I think I can handle this by myself, Lindsey.' She liked his chivalry, but sometimes it was plainly ridiculous.

'Who's it?'

'Bloody Santa Claus, pet. Have you been bad this year?'

Snorting withlaughter, Darla hastened to open the door.

'Spike, why didn't you tell me you were coming...? Oh, hi, Buffy. Er... Nice to see you. Nice tan.'

Buffy smiled at her, a little awkardly. 'Nice to see you too, Darla.'

They stood at the doorframe for a few moments, which for some reason were hideously uncomfortable.

'Hey, come in.'

Spike, who'd already been at her place more than once, walked in confidently (although Darla doubted Spike would feel uncomfortable anywhere) whereas Buffy took a couple of tentative steps inside and cast a curious and appreciative look around.

'It's really... nice, Darla. Stylish and...nice.' It seemed that 'nice' would be the word of the evening.

'Thanks, Buffy,' Darla said, and refrained the impulse to add: "It's nice from you to say so."

There was another awkward pause during which Darla and Buffy averted each other's eyes, until the former's gaze fell on the temporary forgotten Lindsey.

'Oh, sorry. Lindsey, these are Spike and Buffy. Guys, this is Lindsey McDonald.'

Spike eyed him intently.

''Lo, law-boy.'

Lindsey, who'd just stretched out his arm so Spike would shake his hand, hesitated a second and shot Darla a questioning glance. From behind Spike, Darla waved her hand as if saying 'ignore it.'

Buffy was frowning in concentration.

'Oh, I know where I've heard your name before. You used to be that lawyer from Wolfram and Hart, weren't you?'

Darla's head jerked up as Lindsey blinked, slightly bewildered.

'Yeah, that's me, although I quit many years ago. Where did you hear about me?'

Please, tell me it was not Angel.

'Oh, I think Faith might have mentioned you, once.'

Almost as bad.

'Well, don't stay standing there. Sit down, c'mon. Do you want something to drink?'

'Actually, pet, we came here for a not-so-happy reason.'

Darla sighed. 'Don't tell me. Giles called you here for that thing that's rising in Ireland?'

Spike nodded grimly. 'That's right. Buffy and I were there las' week, and saw it firs' hand. And it's not pretty.'

Darla closed her eyes. These things were never pretty.

'I've already told Giles that I don't have the slightest idea of what's going on, so unless you have a clue...'

'I got one,' Spike cut her in. 'Or, at least, I know of somebody who will.'

She raised her eyebrow. 'Well? Who is it?'

Spike shrugged.

'I was thinking about the Potions Master.'

Darla stared at him, as Lindsey and Buffy frowned as though they thought he'd gone nuts. Her eyes widened in understanding.

'Of course! Severus must have a dozen books about this!'

'Severus Snape? The wizard,' Lindsey, who'd already been told about him by Darla, inquired as his frown deepened. Buffy eyed them all intently, until dawning comprehension shone on her face.

'You mean the guy who's taking care of... Connor?'

Darla idly wondered how much effort had it taken the Slayer to say the name, as if it were a dangerous disease or a foreign word, or maybe a little bit of both.

'The very same one.' Darla glanced at her watch. 'It's still early, I bet Connor hasn't gone to bed yet. I could go and pick the books tonight.'

'I'll go with you,' Lindsey said at once.

Darla hesitated. She didn't want to let Lindsey down, but he wasn't used to travelling by Floo Powder, and it was possible that Hogsmeade would not admit a Muggle. On the other hand, although she and Severus were now on civil terms – almost amiably, if someone like Severus Snape could be considered amicable– she did not think he'd take she suddenly showing up with Lindsey very well. After all, Lindsey was a stranger and, in the extremely cautious, nearly paranoid, wizard's eyes, a potential danger to Connor's safety. No, definitely going with Lindsey wasn't a good idea.

'I think it'd be better if I go with Spike, as Severus already knows him and all...'

'And I'm the one who's seen this thing,' Spike pointed out. At Darla's confused look, he explained: 'Buffy wasn't with me at the moment. There was a shoe sale or something.'

Ignoring the pun, Buffy said:

'Wait a moment... That means I'm not going, either? What am I supposed to do?'

Spike shrugged. 'Dunno. Listen to Darla's CD collection. Or chat with Cowboy here.' He took her face with his hands and bent to kiss her. She tensed, and then faintly kissed him back. 'It won't be long, pet, I promise.'

Buffy had an expression on her face which could only be described as 'pouty'. She clearly wasn't used to being left behind.

Lindsey, on the other hand, opened his mouth, then seemed to rethink it and closed it.

'Just take care, will you?'

Darla tried to hide her amusement. 'It's just picking up a book, Lindsey. What could possibly go wrong?'

Of course, that was always a poor choice of words...

As they walked in silence the few blocks that separated her apartment from The Leaky Cauldron, Darla reflected on the shock that seeing Spike and Buffy on her doorstep had been.

For one thing, the couple was usually travelling around the globe, searching for new Slayers and every possible demoniac menace they could find. With all that, it was no surprise they didn't set foot in Britain that often.

Secondly, but no less important, Darla was shocked to see Buffy had agreed to accompany Spike to her apartment, when in the past she'd been so keen to avoid facing Darla if she could. And it wasn't like Darla hadn't felt pretty much the same way towards the Golden Slayer.

They weren't mortal enemies as they'd once been; in fact, Darla did not perceive Buffy as an enemy anymore. However, the months they'd spent working together to defeat The First hadn't been enough to make them bond, and the fact that Darla had sided with Faith when Buffy had been kicked out from her house – although her friends had done the same, and until this very day Darla still thought Faith had needed her aid much mor than Buffy – hadn't helped, either.

On the other hand, Darla had the distinct impression that Buffy was incapable to look at her and not be reminded of Angel, and the fact he was gone for good. Darla could see it in the way Buffy stiffened slightly everytime she was near her, and the way she averted her eyes, not to say the way she avoided to pronounce Connor's name.

Or perhaps it was just that certain scars ran too deep, or that they were not compatible, or that Darla still held a faint resentment for the way Buffy had treated Spike, or that Buffy held the same resentment because Angel had shared a son with Darla and not her. Whichever the reason was, the truth was that Buffy had always found a worthy excuse not to accompany Spike when he visited Darla, and that the few times they were in front of each were awfully awkward and uncomfortable. In all, Darla was truly surprised to find Buffy in her apartment, and she suspected that, either the matter at hand was really serious, or Spike had dragged her by surprise.

Before she could ponder further about the matter, Spike pulled her out from her reverie:

'So, the kiddo's alright?'

Darla nodded. 'He's doing great, and he'll probably be delighted to see you again.'

Spike tried his best not to show any signs of it, but Darla could tell he was pleased to hear this. Suddenly, though, he frowned.

'And what about the warlock? He ain't gonna throw us tomatoes when we show up, right?'

She laughed. 'No, I've told you, Spike, he's much more civil now. Almost friendly... if that adjective could be applied to Severus Snape, that is.'

They both laughed, and Darla realised she'd missed laughing like this with Spike. Lately, for some unknown reason, they hadn't laughed that much during their phone conversations. Darla got the impression Spike was a little tense for some reason... and now she'd seen the stiffness between him and Buffy, she began to wonder...

'So, how are you and Cowboy?'

Darla told him that they were alright, and saw her chance to pop in the question that was digging her skull.

'And how are you and Buffy doing?'

Spike shrugged indifferently. 'We're peachy.'

It didn't take a genius to figure out that, when Spike was indifferent about something, it was because there was something very wrong hidden undearneath. Darla would have liked to ask further, but she realised it was not the proper time. Besides, they'd just reached The Leaky Cauldron.

'Here we are, pet. Time to set things in motion.'

And damn well right he was, although he did not know it yet.

Certainly, for just having to pick up a book, Darla and Spike were taking an awfully long time. Linsey checked his watch for the hundreth time. Three hours and counting...

Buffy shifted uncomfortably in her seat, then jumped to her feet and began to pace around the room. He shot her an annoyed glare. He wished she did not do so, because it made him even more nervous.

'D'you... do you think something...?'

'How would I know,' Lindsey cut her in in a tone that sounded more snappish that he'd intended. 'Darla's cell phone's out of service. I guess Spike doesn't have one, does he?'

Buffy came to a halt and shook her head grimly. 'He doesn't like technology that much. Unless it's TV or video games.'

Lindsey bit the retort, and Buffy resumed her pacing. God, she was annoying. The sound of her heels on the wooden floor was bound to drive him mad within minutes...

...event that was fortunately prevented by the insistent and miraculous ringing of his cell phone. Both of them startled, and Lindsey hastened to answer.

'Hello...? Darla? Where are you? Are you alright? What happened...? Yeah, OK, I'll let you answer.'

Buffy came closer and tried to listen, which given her supernatural hearing, probably wasn't a problem.

'Sorry, Lindsey, but something unexpected showed up, we'll tell you in a moment. Don't worry, we're both OK, and that goes for Buffy too, who's probably twisting her neck trying to listen...' Buffy winced, and had the grace to blush. 'Right now we've got something else to do, but we'll be back in no time.'

'But... what happened? Don't you want me to pick you up?'

Darla's voice, which before had sounded calming and somewhat apologetic, now had turned a little crisp.

'No, Lindsey, that's not necessary. Told you we'd be there in no time. See ya.'

And with no further explanation, she hung up.

As Darla pocketed her cell phone, Spike eyed her and frowned.

'Sure you weren't a lil' rude with Cowboy?'

Darla sighed. 'Sometimes, he's a little too overprotective. Most of the time I think it's nice, but time like this...' She waved a hand, as if to indicate it was unimportant, and added: 'And we have something to discuss before telling them what happened.'

Spike nodded grimly. 'Drusilla.'

Both of them fell silent and averted each other's eyes. Darla noted that several people at the pub were shooting curious glances at them. She wasn't surprised: they looked as if they'd just returned from battlefield, despite Severus' magical efforts to cure their wounds and clean the blood from their clothes.

'So, let's recap,' Spike said, breaking the uneasy silence between them, 'OK? So let's see: the moron of Severus's father takes Connor for a walk and leaves him alone in fronf of tha' damned wood – by the way, I want a personal chat with the ol' man for this – and Connor, bein' his father's son, doesn't resist the temptation and walks in. Right?'

She nodded sadly. When they had arrived at Severus' place, it had turned out that Mr. Snape, his father (who was staying for a while at his son's house and whom Darla had had the displeasure to meet), had taken Connor out for a walk, or so it seemed. Spike, Darla and Severus had been so engrossed in the latter's books that it took them a while to realise that Connor and Mr. Snape were taking too long. Then, Darla's bond with her child had sprang to life and she'd known he was in danger.

'Once in there, he's surrounded by bloody vampires, and their leader is none other than our mad Dru. Then you realise there's somethin' wrong, we ran to the forest, we slay vampires, I stay behind with Severus and Connor, and you ran after Dru. Would you mind telling me again what happened and what did she say?'

Darla closed her eyes, and let her imagination take her back to the depths of the Forbidden Forest, which just that night she'd found out why it was forbidden. She saw again the darkness closing in on her, the black trees that hid the forest from the moonlight, she felt the grass bending under her feet, she heard the eerie quietness of the woods...

And she saw her, with her dark hair and bright, insane eyes, which had widened in terror when Darla'd pinned her to a tree, a hand closing around her slender neck.

'She said... She said she'd come to see Connor. Her "Baby Brother", she called him. And she said we all had abandoned her: you, me, Angel. And then...' Darla swallowed. 'She said she'd given us a gift, and that we had wasted it. So I asked her if she intended to give Connor that,' Darla grimaced, 'gift. But she denied it.'

Spike tilted his head to one side. 'And what was she tryin' to do, then? 'Cause I'm sure as hell that I smelt Connor's blood on her.'

Darla shivered. 'She made him a scratch with her nails, while he was hypnotised. But I don't think she truly meant to hurt him, as weird as it sounds.' Reading Spike's thoughts on his face, she hastened to add: 'Neither do I think she was trying to turn him. See, she was very insistent on that point. She said he was light, and that it was "not allowed" to taint him.'

Spike's head jerked up. 'Not allowed? Not allowed by whom?'

She shrugged, defeated. 'No idea. That was the last piece of rational information I could get from her before those damned centaurs tried to kill us both. After that, she managed to escape, and I could not follow her, so...'

They both fell silent. Spike, Darla noted, was tearing apart a napkin.

'How d'you reckon she found him?'

Darla shrugged again. 'A vision, I guess.'

Spike shifted, uneasy. 'Don't you think... don't you think someone might've lent her a hand...?'

She pondered it for a moment, then shook her head.

'No, I don't think so. There aren't many that would be willing to rely on a nutter like Dru, and you've seen the pathetic henchmen she got. No, I got the impression she came up with this on her own.'

Spike did not answer, and instead seemed to dwell in somber thoughts.

'And is there any chance she shows up again?'

'Well,' said Darla, trying to sound more confident than she truly felt, 'I made fully clear that she'd better stay away from Connor, and that it would be better for her if she kept her mouth shut about Connor's whereabouts. I think my tone was most effective.'

Darla remembered the look of fear on Drusilla's face as her hand closed in around her pale neck. True, now she had a soul, but it didn't mean that, as her Grandsire, she still held power over Drusilla. Insane or not, she would not dare to disobey her.

'And the wizard'd better have a chat with his old man 'bout not leavin' a child alone,' Spike hissed. Darla tilted her head to one side, thoughtful.

'I bet he will. Severus looked much madder than us.'

And with good reason.

'Shall we call it a day, then? Lindsey must be getting frantic right now.'

'Yeah, and I bet Buffy's sick of being stuck in your place. Let's go.'

They paid for their drinks, which had remained almost untouched, and left the pub. They walked in silence for a while, then Spike, whose gaze was fixed on a point far, far away, whispered:

'Do you think she was right?'

For a moment, Darla had no idea what the hell Spike was talking about. It was lucky they knew each other so well, or she'd never been able to follow his reasoning.

'Dru? About what, we wasting her gift, or...?'

'No, not that. About we abandonin' her.'

Darla turned to look at him, frowning.

'I don't know if you've forgotten that she dumped you in the first place, just as she dumped me at Lindsey's doorstep after Angel had fun with a box of matches.'

'I wasn't talking about that...'

'Then enlighten me, 'cause I don't understand.'

Spike waved a hand, at a momentary loss of words.

'After gettin' our souls, we left her alone. And she's always been a victim...'

'So were we, Spike. The Master didn't give me a chance, just like I didn't give Angel one and the same goes for you, doesn't it?'

'Yeah, but...' Frustrated, Spike but his lower lip. 'She was the weakest of us, with her madness and all... Couldn't we have helped her, somehow, as Buffy helped me and I helped you?'

Darla's frown deepened. 'Getting her a soul, you mean? Don't you think that, given her state of mind, that'd do more harm than good?'

'Well... yeah,' Spike admitted, 'but I still can't help to think that we could have done something for her...'

'Spike, it hurts me to say so, but the most sympathetic thing we could have done to her was thrust a stake through her heart, and you know it. No, Spike. Certain things cannot be fixed, certain wounds won't heal. You know as well as I that Drusilla is beyond salvation.'

Spike fell silent and Darla saw him grit his teeth. She knew, though, that it wasn't out of anger, but impotence. He knew as well as she did that there was no cure for Drusilla, no way ti fix her. That chance had been lost long time ago.

And they both walk all the way to her apartment in silence, both dwelling in past memories. Memories of a young girl cursed with visions of hideous things, a young girl who had the misfortune of crossing paths with two mass murderers. A girl who had been ripped away from the life she knew, and that all her loved ones had been taken away from her. A girl who was deliberatly pushed over the edge of insanity.

The sweet girl was turned into one of the vilest creatures that walked on this land, and at the same time, one of the saddest. Darla remembered the way Drusilla always seeked for someone else to take care of her, to cherish her, and how she'd lost them one by one: Angel, Darla, Spike, until she was left completely alone.

Of all her crimes, Darla reckoned Drusilla was the worst, because she was the one who had been broken the most. She remembered the loneliness and desperation in those mad eyes when, at the Forbidden Forest, Drusilla had said she'd just wanted to see her baby brother...

...but inwardly, Darla admitted to herself that next time Drusilla got anywhere near Connor, she would stake her without a second thought.

'What took you so long? Couldn't you find the book?'

Darla watched Lindsey's and Buffy's anxious faces, then exchanged an eloquent look with Spike.

'Oh, we found the book. And something else. Sit down, I'll explain...'

For anyone who might be interested, this Episode is a companion piece to Chapter 17: No Safe Place, of my other fic, 'Two Single Parents', where Connor's little adventure is detailed.

Imzadi: I'm happy you've liked the chapter. It was about time I wrote something more or less nice, considering how creepy Episode 13 was. However, I doubt things will be like that for long, muahahaha...