"Ripper!"
"Ethan!"
Tara, Willow, Zoey, and Lena had just returned from the mall with Ethan in tow. Ethan escaped from Lena's grasp and ran to Ripper, who was running toward him. When Ethan was almost in Ripper's arms, the British vampire slapped his friend.
"You were in town and you didn't tell me? How could you?" Ripper cried, his anger and pain evident. Ethan whimpered when he was smacked, and looked at Ripper with puppy dog eyes. Ripper frowned and turned away. "I'm not talking to you."
Ethan whimpered again. "But why?" he asked. Ripper whipped around and glared.
"Why?" he screamed. "Why? Because after two years, you decide to show up, and I bet I know why. It's because of the rumors going around that the Slayer's Watcher is a vampire now, isn't it? That's the only reason you came back for me, just to see if the rumors were true!" Ripper had started crying, and Lena was giving him hugs and kisses, trying to comfort him. Ethan looked at the floor, guilt spreading across his face.
"Hey, we're back!"
Everyone turned toward the front door, realizing that Xander and Anya had returned from their shopping trip. As they walked into the living room, Xander froze.
"Great. First we get Captain Peroxide back, then the Watcher becomes Psycho, and now we have Mr. Magicks. Can our lives become any more complicated?" Xander said with exasperation. Spike came down the stairs then, wearing a pair of Emily the Strange boxers.
"What's going on? Can't a guy get any sleep?" he said, scratching is curly blonde head. The group stared at him, and then Lena said, "Spikey? Why are you in my boxers?"
"Hmm?" he said, suddenly realizing how many people were there. "Bloody hell!" He ran back upstairs, cursing at them on his way. Ripper and Ethan looked at him, then at each other. Ripper and Ethan followed Spike up the stairs, and before long, the blonde could be heard cursing in every tongue he knew. The warlock and brunette vampire ran down the stairs, snickering like madmen.
"Lucky Lena," Ethan said, giggling like a schoolgirl. Lena looked at them questioningly, and Tara took her aside to explain while Willow and Zoey explained to Xander and Anya why Ethan was there. Ethan and Ripper took that time to sneak off to Ripper's house. When they got there, the warlock flopped on the couch while Ripper cleaned up a bit. Everyone was getting along. Everyone that is, except the Slayer.
"Look Alton, I don't know what your secret is, but I will find out. So, are you gonna tell me what you're planning, or am I gonna have to kick your ass?"
In downtown Sunnydale, near the older of the cemeteries, Buffy was fighting Alton. She was trying to get information on a new "evil" that was rising. Or what she thought was evil. She knew that Ethan Rayne was back in town, and she wanted to know what he was planning.
"Look Slayer, I
haven't talked to Ethan in years. Yeah, we used to be friends. Key
word there: used to. I'm not friends with him anymore, and even if
I was, why the hell do you think I would know, let alone tell you,
what he's up to?" Alton said as he dodged Buffy's swings. The
blonde was getting angrier and angrier as the red head kept dancing
around her swings. They had been fighting for two hours, and he
didn't even have a scratch on him.
"Hold still damn it!"
she screamed. She fired off her crossbow again, and once more, Alton
dodged it with ease.
"Too slow Summers," he taunted as he ran down the street. Leaping onto a nearby roof, Alton ran through downtown Sunnydale, jumping from roof to roof. When he had reached Lena and Zoey's home, he jumped into the front yard and ran inside.
"Hi guys," he said, as he turned around. As he took in the faces, he realized he was surrounded by complete strangers.
"Um, this isn't Lena and Zoey Robert's home, is it?" Alton said as the little family stared. They shook their heads, dumbfounded. The red head apologized as he took off at a run toward the twin's home. He ran inside, slammed the door shut, and turned around.
"Uh…hi?" Lena said as she looked at Alton.
"Come in?" Zoey asked, getting up to hug her friend. Willow ran over and hugged her boyfriend, and snuggled close to him.
"What's wrong Alty?' the white witch asked, looking up at him. He shook his head for a moment, and then spoke. "Just playing tag with Buffy. She's it." Spike, who was now dressed, glanced at the red haired boy in confusion. Alton nodded, answering Spike's silent question.
"Ok then. Well, anyway, let's continue." Lena said, picking up a pair of dice.
"Yeah, come on Alton, join us in a game of strip poker. Anya lost the first round, and Willow came in second to last place-I'm kidding, I'm kidding, don't kill me!" Xander said, cowering under the table as Alton tried to stab him. As thy started another game, Spike and Alton kept a close watch on the windows, making sure that Buffy didn't return.