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 3: Searching
After the startling announcement, Wesley went off to research, leaving Angel and Fred to entertain the baby.
"She's really a Slayer?" Fred wondered out loud Angel made her giggle.
"It would make sense, sort of," Angel answered.
"But, she's so small. I mean, how can she have the strength of a full-grown Slayer?" Fred asked.
"She doesn't," Spike answered from his seat a few feet away.
Fred turned to him, "What do you mean?"
"If she had the strength Buffy has, she probably could have done more than just cracking and bruising the doc's finger."
"So you're saying she has Slayer strength that is proportional to her size and age? That would make more sense," Fred commented.
"Yeah, it would." Spike said quietly.
"I don't understand why haven't we heard about any other super strong babies or young children? From what Buffy and Giles told me all the Slayers have been in their teens or early twenties."
Spike shrugged, "Maybe she's different."
No one said anything for a few moments.
"I'm going to go change her diaper," Angel announced and took the infant upstairs.
Fred watched as he went, once again struck by the familiarity of it.
"Disturbing innit?" Spike asked with a nod in Angel's direction, "Evil vampire turned vampire with a soul knowing how to take care of an infant."
"Yeah, it is," Fred answered, "I wonder-"
"Hey," The pair turned to see Gunn walking in and immediately looking worried, "Okay this doesn't look good,"
"Hey Charlie Boy," Spike greeted him and then tilted his head to Fred, "Science girl will fill you in, I'm headed back to bed, bit knackered."
"So what bad thing happened now?" Gunn asked Fred.
"Well…" Fred began.
"Bye Dawn, I'll see you tonight; maybe we can do that movie thing?" Buffy asked as she took a bite of her apple.
"Sure," Dawn answered with a smile while putting her clogs on and grabbed her bag, running out the door, "Bye!"
"See ya," Buffy called as the door shut.
Once she finished her apple, Buffy put on her boots and grabbed her jacket and purse.
"Please don't let me be late," Buffy muttered as she rushed out the door.
"You're late," Sage mock-scolded Buffy as she walked in to the small gym.
Buffy would have liked to cut her ties from the whole teaching Slayers deal, but she was, in part, responsible for the Slayers around the world and she had to help train some of them. The rest of the summer was spent gathering Slayers across Europe with Dawn and getting to travel the world. Both Dawn and Buffy had been enthusiastic and enjoyed every minute, while also finding quite a few Slayers, thanks to the Seers in a coven in England. Shortly after they'd arrived to England, Giles contacted all the remaining Watchers and arranged for Slayers to be found and Watchers assigned to the Slayers in that area.
Giles understood Buffy's reluctance to train newbies again, so he arranged for the more experienced and older Slayers to go to Italy and train to help new Slayers.
Now, Willow and Kennedy were in South America, finding and training Slayers there; Giles and Andrew in England running the headquarters with a few Sunnydale Slayers; and Xander and his 'friend', a Slayer named Mandisa, were in Africa, hunting demons and training a few Slayers.
"Sorry, I wanted to make sure Dawn actually left for school," Buffy apologized and Sage laughed.
"Still haven't forgiven her for that one, huh?" Sage said while lacing up her tennis shoes.
"A world of no and she stole my cute boots, again," Buffy rolled her eyes.
Actually, Dawn's quiet demeanor last night worried her a little, but Buffy had resolved not to say anything unless Dawn felt like talking. Over the summer, Dawn had proved herself to be more than competent to take care of herself, and slowly Buffy was beginning to really see her sister as the young woman she was.
Sage grinned then glanced around, "Blanche and Nori called earlier, they're going to be a few minutes late. Wanna warm up?"
Buffy nodded, "Sure, let me just change quick."
Sage nodded and began stretching, while Buffy went into the back room/ changing area to put on some more training comfortable clothes.
Sage was one of the more unique Slayers. Her aunt had been the Slayer before Buffy and Sage had grown up knowing that she was a Potential and trained with her Watcher since the early age of six. Sage was brilliant, but a bit wild and reminded Buffy of Faith a little; if Faith had pale skin, a tall willowy frame and long slivery-blonde hair. Unlike Faith, Sage never killed anyone and she and Buffy worked well together.
Blanche and Nori, two Slayers who were both 19, went to the local university and were a couple.
Buffy finished tying her hair back into a high ponytail and went back out into the main training room.
Sage was finishing up her stretches and Beth, a young local Slayer they found a couple of weeks ago, was starting her stretches. Beth's nose ring glinted in the light and her dark hair was, as usual, pulled back in a low ponytail.
"Hey Beth," Buffy greeted her and also began stretching.
"Hey Buffy," the girl responded cheerfully, her Italian accent prominent.
"Make sure you work on your leg stretches, don't want a strain like last time," Buffy reminded her, while doing a quick back flip.
Beth made a face, "Trust me, I won't forget."
"Okay, let's start with the basic punch-block combo," Buffy began.
Shortly after their lesson began, Blanche and Nori showed up and now they were almost done with their two hour session.
"Okay, let's do our cool down-" Buffy was interrupted by the ringing of a phone.
Buffy frowned, "I'll be right back," she turned to Sage, "Finish up okay?"
Sage nodded and took her place and began the breathing exercises.
"Buffy Summers, how can I help you?" Buffy said formally into the phone.
"Hello Buffy it's me,"
"Oh, hey Giles," Buffy replied, "Listen we're just cooling down, can I call you back?"
"I'm afraid not, I need you, the Slayers and Dawn ready by three. A jet will be ready at the private airport," Giles said, his voice somber.
"Did you find something out?" Buffy asked, frowning.
"Yes, but I'd prefer to tell you all in person," Giles said.
"Giles, tell me," Buffy said in her no-nonsense voice.
She heard him sigh, "I believe this dream is just the beginning. The battle you saw, all of the Slayers are seeing and I'm worried."
"That's not all is it?" Buffy questioned him, trying not to sound angry.
"No, it's not all, but I think I should see you in person for the rest," Giles admitted.
"Okay, I'll see you soon," She said and then hung up.
"Guys," Buffy called and the Slayers faced her, curious.
"How soon can you get a bag together? We're needed in England." Buffy asked.
"Dawn," Carmel called, startling the teen.
"Oh, hey," Dawn greeted her. Carmi stood there with a frown, "You didn't call me last night? Did something bad happen?"
Dawn shook her head, "No, I was just tired."
"Well how was it? Did you kiss?" Carmi asked eagerly as they walked to class.
"It was good, nice," What part we didn't spend being attacked, Dawn mentally added.
"Kiss?" Carmi pressed.
"On the cheek," Dawn confessed with a smile. At least that part of the night went well.
"Wow, Henri kissed you on the cheek," Carmel sighed, "If I didn't love you I'd hate you to pieces."
Dawn giggled her mood lifting. Carmel always could cheer her up. Then Carmi was looking at something over Dawn's shoulder, "Okay, that's my cue to go." Puzzled, Dawn turned to see Henri walking towards her with a hesitant smile.
"Hey Dawn, how are you?" She read into the double meaning of his words.
"I'm good, you?" She responded pointedly.
"Better," Henri smiled and reached out to hold her hand.
Then he began talking in a low voice, "Last night was really weird. I'm glad we got away and that you're okay though."
Dawn stared into Henri's eyes, the endless rings of gold and swallowed. Last night wasn't anything new to Dawn and she wished she could say it was and be as freaked out as Henri was. Well she was freaked out, but for a different reason.
"Yeah, really weird," she lied, "I'm glad you don't have a concussion."
Henri gave her a wide smile, his eyes crinkling, "Me neither, otherwise I wouldn't be able to take you out to dinner tonight."
Dawn willed herself not to blush, "Well-" She was interrupted by a teacher touching her shoulder.
"Miss Summers? There's a call for you in the office," The lady said with a disapproving glance at their joined hands.
"Oh," Dawn's stomach fluttered and her heart clenched. She'd been a receiver of enough bad news at school to feel an immense amount of fear of the phone call.
"I have to go take that," She told Henri, "I'll call you later." Dawn quickly made her way to the office.
"Hello?" She questioned.
"Dawn, it's me. I need you to come home. I already told the attendance office I was taking you home for the rest of today and Monday. Family emergency. I'll be there in ten minutes in Sage's car," Buffy's voice was calm and controlled but Dawn knew her sister well enough to know she was worried.
"Okay," Dawn responded carefully and hung up the phone.
"I hope your aunt feels better," The lady at the desk said sympathetically.
"Thanks," Dawn replied and took her backpack and went to wait out in the front on the benches.
She wondered what was wrong and her mind flashed back to the other night when Buffy screamed. Only a bad nightmare, Dawn scoffed, yeah right. But it was obviously more, possible a Slayer dream. The thought made her shiver.
That probably meant Buffy had made the call to Giles, she realized, and that they were probably headed to England.
Seconds later a car jerked to a stop with Sage at the wheel.
"Hey Dawnie," She said, trying to sound cheerful but there was a strain to her voice.
"Hey," Dawn responded as she climbed into the tiny car.
As Sage gunned the engine, Dawn questioned her sister.
"Is this about that dream you had?"
Buffy nodded, "It was just a dream, it was a Slayer dream."
"Figured," Dawn said then looked at Sage, "Are all the Slayers having the same dream?"
"Pretty much," Buffy told her, "We've got a 3:00 flight, so I need you to pack a bag quick. Giles is sending the jet."
In other words, emergency, big one, Dawn added silently, she glanced at her clock: 1:30.
"Nori and Blanche are at your house and Beth is going to stay in Italy," Sage informed her, while making a sharp right turn down an even narrower street.
She then came to a screeching halt in front of their apartment and Buffy ran up, Dawn and Sage behind her.
"Dawn, I'll bring the toiletries, just bring whatever you need for a few days. We can get more stuff there if we need to," Buffy called from her room.
Dawn quickly packed and zipped her full suitcase shut. She and Buffy were both guilty of over packing. Then she remembered Henri and their dinner plans. With a sigh, Dawn took out her cell and punched his number in. it rang a few times before his voice message answered. Dawn waited for the beep, took a deep breath and left a message.
"Hey Henri, it's me, Dawn. I can't go out to dinner tonight, I'm really sorry. It's just," Dawn remembered her alibi, "My aunt is really sick, so me and my sister going to go visit her in England. I don't know when I'll be back, but I'll call you when I do. Maybe we can have dinner then."
She then left a similar message for Carmi and then hauled her suitcase down the stairs and into Sage's car.
"Hey Dawn," Blanche said and Nori waved from behind her while struggling to fit their two suitcases into their car.
"Hey guys," Dawn walked over, "You guys been having that dream too?"
Blanche nodded, tucking an ebony curl behind her ear, "Yeah, started a few days ago."
"I guess Giles has something to tell us," Dawn said, watching as her sister put her stuff in Sage's car, a frown permanently fixed on her face.
"Everyone set?" At their nods, Buffy continued, "Good. Let's get going."
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