Summary: Post Chosen, somewhere in Angel, season 5 Buffy is in Italy, trying to find her new life when she has a Slayer dream that is nagging her more than she'd like. Especially with the weird images and the fact the other Slayers are all having a part of the dream. Meanwhile, Spike is in LA with Angel and fighting the good fight there when he finds an infant late at night. And so begins a Destiny older than spoken words, a Destiny that will bring them all together. (the summary might change)
Author's Note: I have changed Angel, season 5, a little: while they made the deal with Wolfram and Hart, they are still at the Hyperion and Spike is staying with them there after being brought back the exact same way as in the show and it is post "You're Welcome" (goes off cannon now)
Moon Spheres
Chapter 2: Questions
She could feel them pressing, they lightly tapped against her mind, ready to be opened. She gently reached back and felt an electric current run through her head and retracted. Slowly, she let herself relax and expanded her mind once again, letting it graze against one "door." She could feel the heat radiating from it and pushed against it. A white light shimmered behind her eyes and the barrier rippled. She gasped and pressed a little harder, feeling her body heat up as the light shone bright. She braced herself for one last-
"Dawn!" Her eyes snapped open and she sat up.
"What?" Dawn replied, trying to calm her racing heart.
"Time to get up!" Buffy called through the door.
"Okay, just a sec," She called back cheerfully, trying not to think about how close she'd gotten.
"Andrew, put Giles on the phone," Buffy said, thoroughly exasperated.
"Ah…the Slayer of the Vampyres calls her Watcher in peril, perhaps it is just the beginning," Andrew said in his 'storyteller' voice.
"Andrew!" Buffy shouted.
"All right, gosh," Andrew replied quickly in his own voice. There was a moment before Giles's voice questioned, "Hello Buffy is everything all right?"
Buffy sighed, "Not exactly. I had a Slayer dream last night. Mostly just us talking, Angel acting weird, and then I got flashes and then some creepy voice said-"
"Are you ready Chosen One?" Giles finished for her.
"Please tell me you're a mind reader," Buffy said glumly.
"I'm afraid not. Most of the Slayers have been reporting having a dream much like you're describing."
Buffy sighed once again, sitting in a stool, running her hand through her long blonde locks.
"Buffy you mentioned flashes, can you describe them?" Giles asked, sounding serious.
She hesitated, staring at a blank wall for a moment before responding, "I saw Angel and I think Wesley. Also some other girl and guy. Then I saw," Buffy paused, "I know this sounds weird, but I saw Spike and Angel and Spike had a baby in his hands."
Buffy held her breath, waiting for Giles to say something about the preposterousness of it but instead he asked her to continue.
"Okay, um, I saw Dawn and then some big battle, like major, then cue the creepy voice and a sword was hurling at me and I woke up."
Buffy could almost hear Giles wiping his glasses, "Well, the last part sounds accurate, pictures of a major battle, the voice and a sword then-"
"Wake up time," Buffy finished, "So, aren't you going to say anything about Spike?"
Now it was Giles's turn to sigh, "Honestly, Buffy, there's not much to say. Slayer dreams aren't always meant to be taken literally. This could be a metaphor o-or a past event. I wouldn't read much into it until we know more about the dream."
Buffy grudgingly had to admit Giles was right, "Okay, well let me know when you figure some of this out."
"Of course. And Buffy, call if you have another dream or remember anything else, anything at all," Giles told her.
"Will do," Buffy confirmed and they said their good-byes.
Buffy hung up the phone, feeling a strange apprehension. Giles's words echoed in her mind, 'or remember anything else, anything at all.'
Did Giles suspect something? And if so, why didn't he say anything about it?
"Hey, who was that?" Dawn asked, pouring herself a bowl of cereal.
"Uh, just Giles, checking in," Buffy said casually.
"Oh," Dawn shrugged, "Cool. I'm off."
"Wait," Buffy said with a pointed look.
Dawn rolled her eyes, "I will come home straight after school and finish my homework before I even think about going out."
Buffy smiled, "Good. Now go, learn something."
Buffy watched as Dawn walked towards the bus that would drop her off near school. It amazed her how well Dawn had adjusted being ripped out of her home, shoved into a new school in a different country, hell a different continent!
A part of Buffy envied that, seeing that as much as Buffy hated living on the Hellmouth; Sunnydale had become a familiar ground, she knew her way around and she knew her place. Buffy was grateful that the weight of the world no longer rested on her shoulders, but in a new place, it was hard to fit in and she struggled to find herself, as hokey as it sounded.
For so long Buffy had been the Slayer; it had defined her for seven years. So take away the Slayer and who was left?
Buffy glanced at the clock and groaned; well currently it was a girl late for work.
"Mr. and Mrs. Wydam-Price?"
Both Fred and Wesley stood up at the sound of their alias and headed over to the nurse.
"That's us," Fred said nervously.
"Follow me," the frumpy nurse said with a slight smile. The pair did so, with a glance at the other, silently communicating their fear.
The nurse led them into a bland room and shut the door, "So how old is she?"
"Um, about four months," Fred answered.
"The nurse looked at them strangely, but continued down her list.
"Now this is her first check up since birth? She should have had a few check ups before this," the nurse admonished them and took the baby to weigh and measure her.
"Well she certainly a healthy sized baby, the doctor will be in here shortly for," the woman glanced at her chart, "Alice."
As soon as she left, Wesley turned to Fred, "Alice?"
"Well it was the first name that came to mind," Fred replied, bouncing the baby on her lap like Angel taught her.
"Wes," She began, "Do you think it is weird how Angel seems to be so…comfortable with her?" she knew she was being paranoid, but it still tickled her mind.
"Well, I admit it is strange, but not completely impossible, it might be something he just picked up."
"An evil vampire needs to know take care of a baby?" Fred asked dubiously.
"Well,it is strange," Wesley agreed. There was a knock on the door and Wesley welcomed the doctor in.
"Well this is Alice; I hear it's her first check up." A young pediatrician took the baby and checked her eyes and ears.
"Uh yes," Wesley answered.
"Has she had all the mandatory shots?" the doctor asked, placing her on the baby seat.
Uh oh, Fred thought, trying to come up with an excuse.
"Well, that's the thing, we didn't want to say anything to the nurse, but we found her in an alley," Wesley decided to confess, "We didn't know what to do while we waited for missing persons, so we wanted to have her checked."
The doctor nodded, warily but seemed to believe them, "That's a good idea, but a hospital may have been a better choice. However, I don't mind doing a routine check."
"Thank you," Wesley replied earnestly.
"So where did you say you found her?" The doctor asked, listening to her heartbeat.
"An alley, she had obviously been there for a few hours, but that's all we could discern," Wesley answered.
The doctor nodded, "Well, she sounds good, nothing wrong. She's a healthy baby. I would advise taking her to the hospital but- ow!" Both the baby and doctor screamed.
The pair stood up, "What's wrong?" Fred asked. The baby was squalling and the doctor was clutching his finger, his face contorted in pain.
"Damn, I think my finger is broken," the doctor said through gritted teeth and Wesley took the baby from his lap.
"What do you mean?" Fred said puzzled, "How…"
"Ow! I was inspecting a scratch on her back leg, her hand was-" the doctor paused, wincing as he clutched his finger, "around my finger and she squeezed it, Jesus!"
"That's impossible," Wesley murmured, "A baby doesn't have that kind of…" he trailed off staring at the crying baby in his arms.
"I'll go get the nurse," Fred stuttered and left the room.
Wesley bent down so he was face to face with the doctor, "Is it possible for a baby to have that kind of strength?"
The doctor shook his head and studied his finger, attempt to straighten it.
"You're positive?" Wesley pressed.
"God! Yes! Now leave!" the doctor hissed and Wesley did so, grabbing Fred's arm as the exited the building. Fred quickly caught on and kept up with Wesley's pace.
As soon as they were far enough away, Fred stared at Wes's pale face and clenched jaw.
"That wasn't normal was it?" Fred asked softly, staring at the cooing bundle.
"No, not at all," Wesley responded.
The pair entered the Hyperion and Angel greeted them, "How'd the appointment go?" At the sight of their somber expressions he straightened, "What's wrong?"
"She's a healthy baby except," Wesley paused.
"Except what, Wes?" Angel asked.
"She's has supernatural strength," Fred answered for him. The three stood there in silence for a moment. Angel stared at the baby, "How?"
"She broke the doctor's finger, I hope he's okay," Fred told him.
"God, what-" Angel seemed lost for words.
"Is she? I don't know…" Wesley seemed to be thinking something.
"Where's Spike?"
"Upstairs, sleeping probably," Angel said his voice tinted slightly with annoyance.
"Get him up, we need to know more about where and how he found her," Wesley said.
"Fred, take the baby and give her a bottle, keep her entertained. I'm going to go look something up," Wesley told her and Fred nodded, taking the baby.
"You have an idea?" Angel questioned.
"I'm not sure," Wesley responded with a glance at the baby and headed to his books.
Angel knocked on Spike's door before opening it.
Spike was spread eagle on his bed and sleeping.
"Spike, get up, we need your help," Angel said loudly.
"What?" Spike grumbled, slowly waking.
"Get downstairs," Angel told him and threw his pants at him. Spike caught them and tilted his head, "What's wrong?"
"Just be downstairs, we'll explain it," Was all Angel said before shutting the door behind him.
Spike was downstairs in less than 3 minutes, extremely confused.
"Would someone tell me what the bloody hell is going on?"
"The baby you found apparently has super strength and broke the doctor's finger," Angel said, his voice accusing.
"What?" Spike responded, shocked.
"Fred," Wesley said suddenly, startling her.
"Hand the baby to Spike," He told her, his eyes watching the baby carefully as she was placed into Spike's reluctant arms.
Immediately, the baby began to cry and squirm.
"Okay, so we've established the super-sprout doesn't like me," Spike said.
"Why would she?" Angel muttered under his breath.
"Angel, hold her as well," Wesley said and the baby continued to cry, but not as loudly.
"Now, Fred take her again," and Fred did so and soon the baby began to quiet down and Fred put the bottle back in her mouth.
"So she doesn't like blokes?" Spike asked with a raised eyebrow.
"No," Wesley said slowly, "She doesn't like demons."
"Well, how could she tell? I mean I can't, unless you go all 'grrr'," Fred said.
Spike met Wesley's eyes, "You don't think?"
"I'm not sure," Wesley admitted, "I would need to verify-"
"But it's impossible, they're all over the age of fourteen," Spike blurted, "Bloody hell."
"What?" Fred glanced between them.
"Wait," Angel objected, catching on, "Wes, that seems a little…"
"Far-fetched, absolutely, impossible, no," Wes answered his unspoken question.
"What are y'all talking about?" Fred asked worried and puzzled.
"There is a distinct-"
"Very bloody slim," Spike interrupted.
"Possibility," Wesley continued, "That the baby may be a Slayer."
"Oh," Fred replied, brown eyes wide.
Dawn
I'm working till 7:30 tonight—fix yourself something for dinner and save some for me!
You can go out after you've finished your homework, make sure you leave a note and take a cell!
Love, Buffy
P.S. No pizza, no boys in the house and no parties
P.P.S. No wearing my clothes I mean it!
Dawn reread the note once more with a grin. She only had maybe a half-an-hour of homework and then she was free! She bounded into her room and flung her shoes in the corner and picked up the phone and dialed the number she knew by heart.
"Hello?"
"Hi Henri, it's Dawn," Good so far. She sounded calm, collected, and mature.
"Hey Dawn, how's the calc homework going?" Another plus, he seemed happy to hear from her.
"Just getting started on it. I was wondering if you wanted to meet later, maybe at Cherry?" Dawn asked, holding her breath.
"Sure, sounds great," Henri paused, "Will it be…just the two of us?"
"Yeah," Dawn answered, "Is that okay?"
"Better than," Henri said in that soft, sexy voice of his that made Dawn swoon.
"Okay, I'll see you there at seven?"
"I'll be there," Henri promised and Dawn managed a good-bye before hanging up and letting out a squeal. She quickly punched in another number.
"Carmi, you'll never guess who I'm meeting at Cherry later!"
Dawn was now having a crisis.
"Carmi, you have to help me! I'm wearing a black mini and those really cute boots I showed you."
There was a pause before Carmel spoke again, "Aren't those your sister's really cute boots?"
"Maybe," Dawn responded meekly, staring at the pointy toe of said boots.
"Doesn't your sister, like, ban you from touching her clothes, let alone wearing them?"
"Maybe," Dawn repeated, "But this is Henri! There has to be an exception on the account of sexy gods."
Carmi laughed, "Absolutely. Now, listen to me: go into your closet and on the left side you have that shirt, I think it is dark blue."
Dawn followed her instructions and came across a silky sapphire blue tank top that Dawn knew would match her eyes.
"Perfect." Dawn squealed.
"Now where that really hot jean jacket you bought last weekend."
"Thanks, you're a lifesaver."
"Don't forget to call me!" Carmel reminded her.
"I won't," Dawn promised.
Dawn walked into the entrance of Cherry and showed her school ID and made the cover, and was Okayed. Cherry, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, was opened to the underage crowd and if you came with your student ID, you got a discount.
"Dawn, over here!"
Dawn spotted Henri waving at her. God he was gorgeous, and, though she'd never tell Buffy, older than her by a year, which meant he was eighteen. He had dark wavy hair, chiseled face and golden eyes that mesmerized her.
"Hey Henri," Dawn said as she made her way to the table he'd secured.
"You look great," Henri said earnestly and Dawn couldn't help the blush that flushed her cheeks.
"Thanks," She responed, trying to sound sweet and flirty.
"Hungry? I'm starved so I ordered burger, do you want anything?"
"Burger sounds good," Dawn replied with a smile. He was so considerate!
Henri turned to flag down a waitress and Dawn surveyed the crowd, recognizing some of the people. Then something caught her eye near the back exit. She squinted and made out a guy pulling a girl, who looked like her eyes were closed. Oh no, Dawn thought and started to make her way through the crowd.
"Dawn, where are you going?" Henri called, looking adorably confused.
"I-uh-have to call my sister, I'll be right back," Dawn told him.
"Oh, I'll come with you," Henri said.
"No," Dawn replied quickly but he couldn't hear here and she needed to get to that girl. Dawn ducked through a particularly big crowd and pushed the exit door open.
The air was cooler and without her jacket, which she stupidly left at the table, her arms were cold.
Then she heard it, the sound of a struggle.
She walked forward, into the shadows and pulled the stake out of her purse.
"Hello?"
She heard a snarl and the girls' body dropped at her feet.
"Dawn!" Dawn turned to see Henri exit the door.
His eyes widened, "Watch out!"
His warning was too late and the vampire threw Dawn across the alley, her back slamming into the wall. Stars danced across her vision and she struggled to pick herself up.
Henri launched himself at the vampire who tossed him aside like a rag doll, and Henri slumped against the wall, unconscious.
Dawn's heartbeat picked up at the sight of Henri and watched with wide eyes as the vampire came closer, taunting her.
"Hello little girlie," he snarled.
Dawn looked around for her misplaced stake and spotted it a few feet away.
There was no way she could reach it. Dawn attempted to duck and roll but the vampire caught her and shoved her up against the wall.
Dawn squirmed, trying to get out of the vampire's grasp and caught eye of her stake once more.
Focus.
The word seem to blossom in her mind and she felt a heat.
Focus.
She squinted her eyes in concentration and ignored the vampire leaning down to her exposed neck. Then something clicked her mind.
Suddenly, the stake whizzed in the air by an unseen force and stabbed the vampire in the back, straight through the heart and it burst into ashes.
Dawn collapsed, breathing heavily.
"Oh god," she whispered, staring at the stake. Had that been her?
A moan reached her ears and she remembered, "Henri!"
Dawn scrambled over to him and checked him for any excessive bleeding.
"Henri can you hear me?" She asked, her face etched with concern.
Henri blinked slowly, "Hey Dawn." Then he sat up, "Where'd he go?"
"Don't worry, he's gone and he won't bother us anymore," Dawn told him firmly.
"Come on, I'll walk you home."
"Shouldn't I say that?" He joked weakly and winced.
Dawn managed a smile, "I don't think you're in any position to do the macho thing."
"Thanks," Henri joked, but she knew he was hinting on a more serious note.
"It was nothing, just promise me we'll reschedule," Dawn said with a small laugh as they found their table.
Dawn grabbed their coats and guided Henri back to his house, only a few blocks away.
"Do you want my sister to drive you home?" Henri asked.
Dawn shook her head, "I'll be fine. See you tomorrow."
Henri smiled and placed a kiss on her cheek, "Of course."
Dawn gave him another quick smile and turned to walk home.
"Hey Dawn, you're home early," Buffy commented.
"Yeah, I'm not feeling so good," She replied automatically.
"Okay, want me to bring you something?" Buffy asked while peeling off her work jacket and heating up some leftover Chinese food.
"No, I'll just head to bed," Dawn said.
"Okay," Buffy said, watching her sister worriedly. Then she narrowed her eyes.
"Dawn? Something you want to tell me?"
Dawn's eyes widened a little, "What?"
Buffy raised her eyebrow and stared at Dawn's feet pointedly, "Like say you're wearing your sister's boots after she told you not to?"
"Oh," Dawn had completely forgotten about them, "Sorry," she said with a sheepish look and took them off, "I'll put them in your room."
"Good thinking. And no more borrowing my clothes, no matter how cute the guy is," Buffy told her.
"Promise," Dawn said and then shut her door quietly.
Inside the seclusion of her room, Dawn laid down on her bed, hugging her pillow.
What was happening to her? She wondered as a lone tear slipped down her face.