A/N: Sorry bout this chapter it's going to move around a lot with time so it's a bit annoying but then the whole story will kick of properly and we will be on a role!
Chapter thirteen; England.
Angel waited impatiently for Buffy to finish reading the advert, anxious eyes penetrating the back of the card.
"I think we should go and check it out," she said finally.
"Are you sure it's probably fake," Angel asked.
"Well let's not give up hoping," she said squeezing his hand comfortingly.
Buffy Spike and Angel arrived at Justin's Jet set determined to get what they wanted. The shop was dark, abounding bookshelves threatening to topple over lined the walls and the distinct smell of neglection filled their nostrils.
A dusty old table resided in one corner holding one man, old and decrepit starring into the distance blankly.
"Excuse me do you know where the owner of this store is?" Buffy asked politely.
The old man pointed to a shelf Buffy turned to see a skull sitting there mouldy and genuine looking. Her shocked expression was dulled by the sound of a Texan drawl from behind her.
"Ignore poor Tom here don't know his left from right. I'm Justin. What can I do to pay the pleasure of such preety company?" He said stretching his mouth into a toothy grin.
Buffy pointed to the advert in her hands.
"I'm sorry but I've never done anything like this before at least not without a great sacrifice," Justin chocked. Buffy had him pinned up against the wall by his neck, anger and frustration blazing in her eyes.
"What kind of price mate?" Spike asked him carefully.
Buffy took her hand away from his neck and he dropped to the floor. Rubbing his neck.
"By the laws of nature a vampire can not walk in the sunlight. But a while ago I found a cure for this see the scales have to balance if you have this one thing back you have to give up another."
"What kind of thing could we give up?" Spike said continuing his interrogation.
"It doesn't have to be something you give up but it could be a reminder each time you step into the sunlight…say having a cross tattooed onto you. Which would be helpful as the way of transmitting the cure is by a tattoo."
Spike Angel and Buffy looked at each other silently agreeing it was a small price to pay for such a reward.
"We'll do it." Angel said.
The faint shadow of Buffy was reflected across a sickly yellow wall in the waiting area. Her hand was holding a mobile to her ear and her voice was emitting the sounds of rapid instructions.
"Yes just get here as soon as you can I think they'll be in pain afterward…yeah ok. I hope so to. Bye," Buffy said this all in a hushed whisper her hands drumming against her knee impatiently.
Only two hours to go.
Buffy, Lola, Willow, Xander and Faith were now sitting outside the yellow painted room each one anticipating the sound of the clock striking 10:00 pm.
15 minutes to go. Justin had come out once to explain that Spike and Angel now had a tattoo of a cross somewhere on their bodies. The cross would twinge and the first few times burn each time they stepped into sunlight but after awhile they would get used to it.
He also told them that it would take a day or two for their strength to return. And now all the young men and women could do was wait.
The shabby plastic door swung open to reveal a tired and hungry looking Spike his tee shirt was rolled up so that the fresh tattoo on his fore arm could heal.
"Ello," he said weakly a small smile gracing his features.
"Oh thank god!" Buffy said letting out a sigh of relief and embracing him. "Where's Angel?" Buffy asked quickly.
"Not done yet," Spike replied.
"Oh right then how about some of us take you home and some wait here?" Willow said practically.
"Yeah I'll go with Xander and Spike and then you guys wait here," Lola said heaving herself up from the cramped position she'd been in on the floor.
Spike slid a sideways glance towards Xander who at first seemed defiant then resigned to the motion of being nice to Spike for at most a day. Everyone nodded happy with that plan.
Lola walked over to Spike who was leaning against the wall for support, swinging his arm round her neck she helped him towards the exit. With Xander bringing up the rear.
The weather was getting increasingly tiresome as the days wore on until Saturday arrived and the final preparations concerning their trip to England were made. Spike and Angel had spent a day moaning and groaning before they were healed and allowed to once again feel the warmth of the sun on the back of their necks.
It was hectic to say the least in the Watchers Council. Giles had left Andrew and Anderson in charge with Charlie second in command to Andrew. Buffy was frantically trying to find her new Meu Meu's and Dawn had been trying to shut her suit case for the last hour.
Lola was helping Xander load the trunk whilst he gave her a lecture on people stealing his tools.
"Exactly how far does that go down luv?" Spike suddenly remarked from behind her.
"Wouldn't you like to know," she replied smirking. They had both been referring to the tattoo of two Chinese characters on Lola's lowers back, the first one meant "Lo" and the second unseen one said "la" Her Chinese name was etched vertically so the "la" was hidden by her jeans, although Spike had know idea what they stood for or how many there were.
The beautiful but unlikely image had been revealed by the according to Faith ahem sluttish top she was wearing. (This remark had resulted in an argument resolved by Angel pointing out Faith had one in black.)
A thump resounded through out the house and Dawn soon came flying out the front door with an almost shut suit case and the remainders of a lamp badly hidden behind her back. Unaware of the three eyes boring into her she deposited the lamp in the bin and walked over to Xander, Spike and Lola smiling.
An hour or so later Giles, Xander, Willow, Dawn, Spike, Angel, Lola, Faith and Buffy were driving towards the airport in two separate cabs.
"So Giles where are we gonna be staying cuz I'm really not liking the idea of crappy hotels and cold showers," Willow said smiling.
"Ooo maybe we're staying in the Ritz!" Dawn squealed. Giles looked at her sternly.
"No too much to hope for. Did I forget the rule of this isn't a vacation it's a work trip. Yeah ok I thought so," she said her smile faltering.
"No we're staying in a house I'm being lent by an old friend, he's gone away for three years and is more than happy to let us stay there for however long we need to," Giles replied.
"Where is the house?" Buffy asked.
"It's in Islington. As a matter of fact it's rather large and in a very nice area."
"Hay isn't Lola's flat in Islington?" Willow inquired.
"Yeah I think so she said something about needing to sell it as she doesn't live in England anymore," Xander said.
"Do you think she'll wanna go live there while we're in London?" Dawn wondered. Shocked at the aspect of not being able to borrow the brunettes black top she'd been promising Dawn.
"No she has more sense than that it would be stupid to split up. And anyway she's always saying how much she prefers living with other people than on her own," Willow told the group.
"I hate flying" Faith muttered as the airplane rattled along the track before swooping into the air. Faith wasn't the only one looking sick Spike was grimacing and Angel was gripping onto his seat so tightly his fingers had turned white.
Luckily they were flying Virgin first class so each of them had their own seats and tellies. The extra bonus was it wasn't very crowded so Spike and Angel wouldn't seem too conspicuous.
At least I can have a nice little nap. Faith thought and immediately fell asleep.
The Scoobies arrived in Heathrow at 3:00 a.m all jet lagged and disgruntled they hailed two taxis and filed in. The journey to Islington was uneventful apart from Willow, Buffy, Dawn, Xander and even Faith being very excited by all the sites they got to see along the way.
Dawn had actually shrieked with delight when they drove across London Bridge and she caught her first sight of the south bank lit up like a Christmas tree.
Soon the unlikely expedition arrived outside a vast, four stories, and double fronted, Victorian style house. It was painted a slightly peeling and grubby white with a classic arched door. The inside of the house was very modern as well as old English style.
They had stepped into the wooden hallway which had a large stairwell in front of them, the hall was medium sized and had the living room leading of from it on one side and a grand kitchen behind the stairs. The rest of the hall was just a wall used for hanging coats.
On the second floor was an assortment of bedrooms and bathrooms. Buffy, Faith, Lola and Willow had this floor. Unfortunately there were only three bedrooms a bathroom and a study so Willow took the study.
The next floor was just a landing with one room that Dawn would sleep in. The third floor had Bedrooms and bathrooms for Giles and Xander these weren't both bedrooms though either, one was another study which Giles took.
And the fourth floor was the converted loft which Spike and Angel took. Giles explained that his friend had four children and the rest were guest rooms for his wives many friends.
And so the Scoobies adventures in England began as Buffy snuggled down into her warm bed she thought about what she would say to this Minister for Magic.
A/N: I have this horrible feeling Lola's been stealing a lot of the lime light in this chapter but the conversation in the Taxi was relevant to later chapters it was my inner therapist coming out with that last part said by Willow if you can guess what I'm trying to get at I'll give ya a cookie!