Dru's past.

"Visions?" The young girl squeaked. Her aunt nodded.

"Yes, visions of the future." She told her niece. Dru stared at her, frightened, confused, wanting some reassurance that she wasn't going to end up like those sad, lonely people that lived on the streets.

"I don't want them!" She complained. "Take them back!"

"I cannot." Her aunt told her sadly. "It is the gift- or curse- of the oldest women of out line. Your are the first and only child, and so you must bare these visions."

"The oldest?" Dru said. "But that means…"

"Yes, dear one." Jacqueline caressed the girl's cheek, as she was flooded with what the girl's future held. "I, too, see these visions. I know, as you know, what the future holds. And further more, I will help you prepare for what you must do."

The present.

"So your aunt knew what was coming?" Willow asked, absorbing the information.

"Yes." Dru affirmed. "And she knew the only way things could turn out the way they should was for Angelus to turn me." Angel winced at her side, remembering what his dark side had done to her, knowing that the feelings he had felt for her since regaining his soul were more than just a side effect of his guilt. "I know it wasn't you, my love." Dru whispered. "And I don't blame you. What happened happened. Of course, that doesn't mean we didn't make some…preparations before hand. Rest assured, what Angelus did to me, wasn't quite as bad as you believe."

The past.

"Are we sure about this?" Druscilla asked.

"Of course we are." Jacqueline said. "We've both seen what's to come, and the only way to prepare is to make sure your there to help the children."

"I-I guess." Dru admitted. Though she was frightened, she was excited as well. She wasn't sure how much Aunt Jacqueline knew, but she was sure she hadn't seen him. Angel. The figure who stood behind the girls and their Protectors. Guarding them from harm. The thought of the dark figure made her shiver. He was so handsome; she'd loved him the first time her visions had shown his face to her. "But are we sure this will work?"

"Your lack of faith appals me, Druscilla." Jacqueline said. "I have been researching these spells longer than you've been alive. This one will tie your soul to your body permanently, no matter what happens, while this one will make Angelus and Darla believe they've tortured you into insanity. All you have to do then is keep the act up for a couple of hundred years." In response, Druscilla giggled.

"All I have to do is keep Daddy completely in the dark." She tittered. "And it will be our little secret." Jacqueline could not hold in the laughter at her niece's act.

"Perfect." She said.

The present.

"It was an act?" Angel asked, his face showing his disbelief. Angelus' treatment of Druscilla was a large part of his guilt. Now he finds out, it never even happened the way he remembered it.

"Had you fooled, didn't I?" Dru said. Buffy grinned.

"I thought there was something not quite right about her act when Spike thought it was time for us to be introduced." She said. "Part of mom's training was to be able to read a persons body language, and Dru's didn't read 'I escaped from the loony bin'. When I ran into her later that night, I confronted her about it. That's about when we became partners in crime." She looked over at her mother. "Proud of me?" Joyce nodded.

"You've learnt well." She admitted. "A little too well."

"Show off." Faith muttered.

"So what happened next?" Giles asked. Dru thought a moment.

"Well, after Angelus turned me, I travelled with him and Darla, of course." Dru looked up at Angel, who was still trying to wrap his head around what had happened. "I kept my eyes out for anyone that would pay a part in our little drama, and that's when I saw William." A sad look crossed her face. "I didn't want to. But I had no choice. If I didn't Sire someone, Angelus would get suspicious, and my visions had shown him to be important to what was to happen. I feel it is the one dark spot on my soul."

"What about all the people you killed?" Angel asked. Dru smiled up at him.

"Who said I killed them?" She asked innocently. "I merely drank what I needed, then whispered to them to stay down if they wanted to live. Angelus was so sure I'd done the deed, he didn't think to question me." Angel could feel the demon in question raging within him, furious that this girl had played him so well.

"You realise he's listening in, don't you?" Angel told her.

"I know." Dru said. "Just because you're in control, doesn't mean he isn't there. He'll never be free, though, but he can see and hear everything. I just hope he's enjoying the story."

"He's pissed." Angel informed them all. Buffy gave a short laugh.

"Poor baby." She said impishly. Everyone looked at her. "What? I'm sorry, but this demon deserves everything he gets. I've done a bit of research on my own, and Dru filled me in one a few things. All in all, this guy was a jerk, and deserves what he gets." She looked over at Angel. "And I know it wasn't you. It was hard for me to accept, but Dru's talked to me about it, and what she's been saying tonight…I'm sorry for treating you the way I did." Angel nodded politely, accepting the apology. He never realised Dru was a miracle worker.

"I take it we're getting to the confusing part?" He asked her.

"The curse that isn't all it's cracked up to be." Dru said. This got looks from all but Giles, who had already found out about this the night before.

"It seems that Dru knew about the curse in advance and, well…" The Watcher stopped a moment. "She took steps to ensure that certain parts of the curse weren't added."

"What 'certain parts'?" Buffy asked, having a sneaky suspicion about what was about to be said.

"The happiness clause." Dru said innocently, snuggling up to her Sire.

"You mean…" Faith stared at the vampires. The Slayer grinned. "Now I'm impressed. You are one sneaky vamp."

"I had certain things in my favour." Dru said with a shrug. "I knew what was coming before it happened, so I could make a few changes. I changed the spell book the gypsy was to use, ensuring that the spell I wanted her to cast was marked 'Spell of Restoration'."

"The curse Angel was supposedly under." Doyle clarified.

"It was really a modified version of the spell I'd used to keep my soul anchored to my body when I was turned." She continued. "They didn't bother checking it so they had no clue."

"Dru, you sneak." Buffy said with a teasing grin. "Ever think of entering the lottery? You could make a fortune."

"I already did." Dru said offhandedly. "Where do you think the money came from to get Xander away from that pig?" Everyone looked at her shocked.

"I thought Whistler put it in." Sarah said. "I was sure of it."

"C'mon, mom." Xander said, finally finding his voice. "If Whistler had that sort of cash, he'd use it to buy a new wardrobe." He stopped a moment, then turned to Buffy. "Would you not do that?"

"I didn't do it!" Buffy said defensively. Xander looked at Faith.

"Don't look at me." The dark haired Slayer said, hands up. A snicker escaped from Willow's mouth.

"Oh you're kidding me." Xander moaned.

"Go, Red!" Faith cheered.

"Hey!" Buffy said, pointing accusingly. "No playing with my Protectors mind. That's my job."

"Thankyou very much." Xander muttered.

"Sorry." Willow said.

"Don't be." Faith said. "That was funny. All you have to do now is learn to stop yourself from laughing and you'll be set."

"Is there anything else?" Joyce asked Dru, pulling the conversation away from the groups jokes. Dru nodded.

"The next part comes over thirty years ago." She said. "I'd managed to dump William for the night and was hunting the streets on my own."

"Wait a sec. I thought you didn't eat people." Xander pointed out.

"I don't eat innocents." Dru corrected. "Human monsters, like child molesters, slavers and murderers, however, work their way onto my menu."

"Oh." Willow said. "So your kinda their punishment or something? Y'know, letting them know how it feels to be preyed on before killing them?"

"I never thought of it that way before." Dru said. "But yes, I suppose I am. Better than rats." Angel winced slightly.

"I can agree with that." He muttered. Dru gave him a squeeze.

"It was then I ran into the Traveller." She continued. "He was dressed oddly, like a monk. I didn't know what to make of him until he spoke. His voice was kindly, with wisdom that belied his age, and he was quite knowledgeable about…certain things."

The past.

"Who are you?" Dru asked the stranger, dropping the body she had drained. This wasn't one of William's minions, nor anyone she knew.

"I was about to ask you that question." He said. "I don't know who or what you are, but I do know that what you did was both unnatural and wrong. I suggest you turn yourself in."

"Wrong?" Dru scoffed. "It is certainly less than he deserves." The man brought out a strange, cylindrical device.

"I do not know what make you think you have the right to judge anything." He said. "But that right is reserved for the proper authorities."

"You obviously don't know as much as you think." Dru said, dropping low. Despite what anyone thought, the vampire knew how to fight, and was not hesitant about showing this upstart how it was done. "He would have got away with his crimes, as they all do." Unconsciously, her demon face slipped into face. "Now, leave. You are obviously a good man, and I have no wish to harm you."

"I don't know what you are, but you won't get away with murder." He said, bringing the device in front of him, there was a swish as the purple blade ignited from within, then a humming noise as he pulled it back. "Turn yourself in, or I will take you in myself." Dru gasped as her human mask came back into view. That was the same type of weapon her Slayers used in her dreams. Did that mean this man had something to do with it?

"Wait." She said. "There are things you must understand." The man looked at her passively. "This man was a rapist of the worst kind. He kidnapped children on their way home, then had his way with them before killing them. He deserved his punishment."

"The law here…"

"Is about as useful as a tissue made of sandpaper!" She spat. "There were no witnesses to his crimes, he killed them all. The bodies were dumped in the river nearby, so any evidence was destroyed. He would have gotten away with it, and many other children would have suffered." He looked at her as her Sight gave her another clue. "You know Janelle." She said simply. The man gasped.

"How do you know of my pupil?" He asked cautiously.

"I am a seer." Dru said. "I see visions of the future. Your pupil and her daughters have plagued my dreams for centuries." The man glared at her, then doused his weapon.

"I see, then, that I have come to the right place." He said. He turned, heading back the other way. "Janelle will arrive soon. I leave her, and her daughters, in your care. Take care of them."

The present.

Joyce looked at the vampire, completely in shock. "Master Windu? You met Master Windu?"

"I did not know his name." Dru said. "Just that he cared for you greatly. He wished only to protect you from your enemy."

"Sounds like Dru's been in control of this sitch from the beginning." Faith said, her thoughts on the seer slowly changing.

"Who'd have thunk it?" Xander muttered. Buffy grinned.

"That's nothing." She said. "You should see her deal with Willy." Dru looked at her, stunned. "I followed you one night. I really wanted to know what you were up to, and why you were helping. I saw you force Willy to bring the last message to me. And in case you wondered, he had to change his pants afterwards."

"And you watched that why?" Xander asked, slightly disgusted.

"I didn't have to." Buffy said. "He walked past my hiding place. It was obvious why he was leaving." The group giggled.

"So, what next?" Sarah asked.

"We have to prepare for the Cruciamentum." Buffy said. "There's a week before our birthday, so there's plenty of time."

"Yeah, and I can't wait til it's over." Faith muttered. "I kinda miss my Slayer powers." Willow looked over at her Slayer.

"Well…" She started. "I did find something." The group looked at her. "The drug is only designed to handle a Slayers maximum adrenalin production, so if we could increase it…"

"It could overload the serum." Joyce finished.

"Wills, that's brilliant." Buffy said. Faith placed a friendly arm around Willow's shoulder.

"That's my girl." She announced proudly. Willow blushed slightly.

"So, how do we do that?" Xander asked.

"What about the Force?" Doyle asked. Dru nodded.

"Yes. Can't you use it to control your functions in that way?" Joyce looked at her.

"How much do you know about the Force?" She asked.

"I have been watching Buffy's training with my Sight." Dru explained. "I remember you mentioned something along those lines."

"Yeah, I remember that." Buffy said. "I tried to use it to get past the tranq dart Spike's butt wipe used the first time we met. I wasn't to good at it, but I've practiced since. I think I can use it on the night. Failing that…" She looked over at Xander, who nodded.

"I'll help anyway I can." He said.

"Me too." Willow agreed. Faith grinned wickedly.

"Of course." She said. "We still have a couple of aces."

"Aces?" Giles asked.

"C'mon G-Man." Faith said. "Take a look around you. Two souled vamps, one Potential Slayer, one half demon, one Jedi, and one Watcher. No offense, but you're the most normal one out of the group." Giles stopped a moment, then grinned. Buffy had to repress a shudder at it.

"Look out." She muttered. Xander looked down at her. "He's letting Ripper out to play." Gles chuckled.

"I never did like Travers." He said mischievously. "I think I'll enjoy taking him down a peg or two." Joyce nodded, her face a mask.

"I agree." She said. "I've had it with this Council dictating the way my daughter's live. It ends." Sarah merely stared at the group. She had never had any contact with the Watcher's council, Whistler had made sure of that. But she'd heard stories, and she didn't like what she had heard.

"Then let the planning begin."

So there you have it. Dru's story, everything she planned. Waddaya think. Review.

One more thing. I have a couple of stories I'm not sure I'm posting or not and would like some opinions. If you want to have a look. Let me know in a review, or email me with a subject 'Test Reader' with one of these choices.

*Buffy/Tomb Raider/Witchblade

*Buffy/Gundam Wing

Thanks a lot.

Stay tuned.

Doc.