Sorry for the long delay. In the past few months I've moved out of my apartment, gotten more hours at work, got a cat, and my computer finally died and took my stories with it. So I've had to do a lot of rewriting. I hope you enjoy!

Chapter Sixty-Five: Ten Little Ducks Went Out To Play¼ ..

"Are we ready?" Buffy asked, looking around at the gathered Scoobies.

They were all standing in the Summers' living room. Everyone had arrived hours ago to prepare for the night's battle. Now all were armed and just waiting for the sun to go down.

"Yes," Giles said. "And even if we weren't there's no time for anyone to back out." His comment was directed at Anya.

Anya glared at him but didn't say anything. Ever since she and Xander had arrived at Buffy's Anya had tried to find some excuse not to go. She tried every excuse she could think of, the only one she didn't use was the truth, and none of her excuses worked. She'd finally given up when she got tired of arguing with everyone.

"So where do we go?" Spike asked casually.

"Meaning?" Willow asked.

"I mean," Spike said. "Your team goes to the high school to stop Drusilla. Where does my team go?" No one said anything. "You do know where her little soldiers are going to strike first, right¼ right?"

Everyone at each other and finally Willow said, "We thought that the cemetery would be the most logical choice."

"But we just did a location spell," Tara admitted. "But there wasn't a huge concentration of demons like there would be."

"How's that possible?" Buffy asked. "We know for a fact that there is an entire army of demons in this town. How could they not show up on a spell?"

"They did a blocking spell," Anya said. "Certain demons can block their presence. Or there are other spells that can be used so they can't be located."

"And you're telling us this now?" Willow asked, annoyed. "Why didn't you mention this before?"

"The same reason that you didn't tell us that you were using magic again," Anya said. "I didn't think it was important enough for you to know."

"It is important," Willow said. "Not knowing this could have gotten someone hurt or killed."

"You could say the same thing about you and magic," Anya retorted. "Last time you broke Dawn's arm. Who are you going to hurt this time?"

Willow's expression darkened and she lifted her arms but before she could do anything Buffy grabbed her raised arm and pulled Willow back.

"Stay out of this," Willow said through gritted teeth.

Buffy ignored Willow, held onto her arm and look over at Anya, "What is with you two? You've been at each other's throats since I got back."

"I'm tired of her butting into my life," Anya said, angrily.

"And I get sick of how selfish she is," Willow bit back. "A person can only take so much self-absorbedness."

"I'm selfish because I want a child?" Anya asked. "And I'm the only one who actually says what they mean?"

"No you're selfish because you only think of yourself and your feelings," Willow said. "And I am not butting into your life. I'm looking out for Xander."

"Enough!" Buffy broke in. "Both of you back off each other until this is over." She looked to both of them. "We have a world to save and we can't do that with you two trying to kill each other." She studied them. "What is wrong with you guys? I thought you got past all this."

"She¼ " Anya started to say.

"It's her.." Willow began.

Buffy held up her hand, "Sorry I asked. Whatever is going on, forget about until after this is over." She looked at them intensely, "Got it?" Anya and Willow glared at each other but nodded.

Willow pulled away from Buffy and sat down on the couch. Anya glared at everyone in the room and stormed out. Xander started to go after her but was stopped by her slamming the bathroom door in his face. He returned, bewildered, to the living room. Xander heard Spike mutter something about hormones running wild but wasn't sure what that meant.

"Okay," Buffy continued, as if nothing had happened. "Now we don't know where this army is going to attack. So we should.."

Spike interrupted her, "We all go to the high school. This army isn't Dru's style, has to be those idiot's idea. The army's only a distraction so Drusilla can open the hell mouth before we can get to her."

"What is with you people?" Buffy yelled. "Is there anything else that you forgot to tell me? Willow's using magic, we don't know where these demons are because Anya says they've done a blocking spell and Spike picks now to tell us that the demons are only a distraction." She looked at Spike, "When did you figure this out?"

Spike shrugged, "Had some time to think while you were gone."

"So why didn't you say something?" Buffy asked.

"Because I thought that your mates would have figured it out," Spike said. "But you're all thicker than I thought."

"Alright," Giles broke in, attempting to smooth things over. Everyone was now glaring at Spike for withholding even more information. "We're not going to be able to do anything with you all at each other's throats." He glanced over at Anya who had come back into the living room. "All of you are going to put your personal differences aside. Understand?" There was silence and then nods from everyone, even from those who hadn't been arguing.

"Let's go then," Buffy said, looking out the window. The sun had set and it was dark enough for vampires to be out without being in danger of burning up.

Everyone walked out the door, Spike trailing behind. They'd weren't even out of the yard before Spike grabbed Buffy's arm and pulled her aside.

"What?" She asked. "I'm not staying behind if that's what you're going to say."

"It wasn't," Spike assured her. He wanted her to but no amount of persuading was going to get her to stay behind. He handed her a crossbow.

"What do you want me to do with this?" Buffy asked.

Spike pointed to the arrows. The metal arrowheads had been replaced with wooden ones, "This way you can stake vamps from a distance instead of getting up close and personal."

"Spike," Buffy protested.

"It's either this or I drag you back and chain you in the basement," Spike said. "Think about, you haven't had a good fight in months and you're out of shape," He ignored Buffy's protest. "Those demons don't play nice, one blow and.." He put his hand on her stomach.

"That's not fair," Buffy said.

"I'm a vampire," Spike said. "We don't play fair."

Buffy glared at him for a moment, then said, "Fine." Then she turned and hurried after her friends, Spike beside her. After a few minutes she asked, "Where did you get the crossbow anyway?"

"Swiped it from Wesley," Spike said. "What?" He asked as Buffy shot him a look. "It's for a good cause." Buffy rolled her eyes and didn't say anything more until they reached the high school.

The high school was deserted. There wasn't a sound, trace of anything human or nonhuman. There wasn't even the slightest hint of a breeze. Everyone held their weapons at the ready. Willow and Tara prepared to cast whatever spell was needed. Giles held a sword. Xander and Dawn held their stakes at the ready. Anya had a stake in one hand and the other held protectively over her stomach. Spike stood near Buffy, prepared to tear the head off any demons who dared to step near her. Buffy held her crossbow in one hand with the other hand resting on her stomach.

"This is creepy," Dawn said, tossing her stake from one hand to the other. "What do we do now?"

"The ritual has to take place at the hellmouth," Giles said. "Odds are that's where Drusilla and her minions are."

Everyone started to move slowly towards the ruins of the high school. They'd only gotten a few feet when suddenly there was some movement from the bushes and before anyone could realize what was going on they were surrounded by a circle of demons and vampires.

"I think we're in trouble," Xander said.

"Not even close," Buffy said, raising her crossbow and pointing it at the nearest vampire. Spike grabbed her arm before she could fire. "What?" She asked, angry that Spike had stopped her.

Spike didn't answer. He just looked to where the circle had parted to include a very familiar dark figure.

"So pleased you could come to my party," Drusilla purred.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Buffy said, pointing her crossbow at Drusilla.

Drusilla didn't answer. She looked up at the sky. Then she looked at the Scooby's, all armed and ready to stop her. She laughed, raised her arms and spun in a circle. She began to sing, "Ten little ducks went out to play, over the hills and far away. Mummy Duck said, 'Quack Quack Quack Quack.' But only nine little ducks came back."