A/N : Thankyou all so much for the fabulous reviews, it helps a lot when I start a new story to know I have so much support. I've never written a story like this before, and writing the characters in early Season 2 is very weird for me. Buffy was much more a girly-girl back then, Willow was decidedly lacking power, and Spike is still technically evil! Plus I have Cordy and Oz and Angel and Drusilla to fit in here. I really hope I pull it off, and that you guys continue to like the story. Now without further ado, here's the next chapter...
(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)
Chapter 2 - Haven't You Heard?
"So that's when he said he likes a woman who knows what she wants" Buffy told Willow animatedly as they worked on painting the banners for Parent-Teacher night, "I mean he actually said I was a woman, not some school girl like Angel thinks I am"
"Buffy" her friend sighed, "Not to be a bad friend here but you did this part three times already"
"Oh, you noticed that too?" Xander asked pointedly, rolling his eyes as he handed another pot of paint over to the girls.
"I'm sorry" Buffy apologised looking pained, "Am I repeato girl? I don't mean to be, it's just... well, you guys know how I was about Angel, but the whole dark stranger thing is getting a little... dark and strange" she told them, "And almost boring in fact, I mean all he ever does is swoop in with bad news, maybe a kiss, and then swoop out again"
"But aren't you two kind of big with the love?" Willow asked, making a face when the paint brush shifted awkwardly in her hand and she veered off the line she was painting.
"I dunno" Buffy admitted, "I really like him, and I did think it was a love thing but... shouldn't I miss him when he's not around?" she asked, "I mean, I did before but I went away for the Summer and I totally missed you guys and even Giles a little but Angel barely featured"
"Maybe it's cos of the whole sunlight allergy issue" Xander suggested, deliberately cryptic when Principal Snyder came into view, "Cos y'know there's a whole bunch of funny, attractive, generally great guys that are big fans of the daylight" he grinned, hoping she'd understand he included himself in that. Apparently, she either didn't notice, or she didn't care.
"Miss Summers!" the little mans voice boomed as he scuttled towards them.
"Principal Snyder, hi" Buffy smiled overly-much, hoping to look innocent. Somehow he found her to be guilty of something even when she actually hadn't done anything!
"Why are these people helping you? Where is Sheila?" he demanded to know, referencing Buffy's currently MIA organisation partner for Parent-Teacher night. Today was the day and there was still a ton of stuff to do and yet the girl hadn't shown up like she promised she would.
"Oh, we're not helping her" Willow shook her head vehemently, trying to put her paintbrush down without looking too obvious about it, "We're just... hindering really" she said nervously, nudging Xander who hastily put down the pot of paint and agreed with her.
"Oh, totally, big with the hinderage, yeah"
Snyder was clearly not convinced, especially when Buffy floundered over an excuse for where Sheila might be. Suddenly the other girl appeared looking more than a little worse for wear.
"Sheila, hey" Buffy forced a grin as she practically bounded towards the girl, "Y'know you did so much work already last night, staying late and all so we could go out, I mean go and get all our homework done on time" Buffy lied like a pro, "You should really go and get some sleep so you're all rested for tonight" she smiled, turning the rough girl towards the door.
Snyder looked at Willow and Xander who smiled nervously and was about to yell at them for something when there was a crash in a nearby classroom.
"I'm not through with you yet" he warned pointing at the pair as he scurried off to see what the disturbance was.
Buffy came back in just as Giles and Ms Calendar approached from the opposite direction, having a discussion that bordered on an argument. There was something about books and computers and possibly television before they actually seemed to realise the kids were there and spoke to them.
"Ah Buffy" Giles smiled, "I was just coming to find you"
"Well, now you found me" she commented, resuming her banner painting with Willow and Xander's help, "What's the sitch, Giles?"
"The, er, sitch, as you put it" her Watcher explained, "Is that I seem to have muddled some dates and we may have a problem"
"Geez, you're not pregnant are you, Giles?" Xander sniggered, as Willow tried not to giggle too.
"This is no time for ridiculous attempts at humour, Xander" the librarian told him sternly, "This is a matter of great importance"
"What Rupert is trying to say, and getting very British about it" Jenny said, giving him a look before she continued, "Is that tonight is the night of St Vigeous, the patron saint of vampires"
"Wow, there really is one of those patron saints for everything" Willow realised, her eyes going a little wide.
"Indeed" Giles nodded, polishing his glasses furiously, "Buffy, tonight could be an absolute disaster if you are not prepared for it. St Vigeous was a vicious creature that led a crusade of vampires. They swept through Edessa, Harran, and points east... and they didn't leave much behind" he explained, "On the feast night of St Vigeous, vampires are rumoured to have enhanced strength and power, even if it is not entirely true they believe it and have even less fear of those that would stand against them"
"So basically vampires getting extra killy-without-a-care tonight, right?" Xander guessed, breaking Giles whole speech down into it's most basic terms as usual.
"Yes, I suppose you could put it like that" Giles agreed, "and because of this it will mean your patrol should be most thorough tonight Buffy, and I suggest an extra training session before you go out..."
"Giles you know that I can't" Buffy shook her head as she interrupted him, "Commandant Snyder's got me doing this Parent-Teacher thing, if I don't do a good job I get kicked out!" she reminded him, not looking at all happy. Her mother would kill her if she got expelled from two schools in as many years.
"Buffy, whilst I understand your concerns about school, we're talking about peoples lives here" Giles implored her, "Think about what you're saying. Which is the most important?"
"The most important thing is not letting my Mom realise I'm flunking half my classes and that I'm this close to getting kicked out again" she demonstrated with her thumb and index finger a tiny distance apart. She sighed slamming down a mostly empty paint pot and pushing her hair out of her face, "Okay, I can finish this banner, go to my next class, train in my free period after lunch..." she planned it all out in her head and then looked at her friends, "Little help and I think I can cram it all in?"
"We'll help" Willow nodded encouragingly.
"We're all over the helpage" Xander agreed, looking up from what he was doing with paint smear on his nose that he clearly didn't know was there. The girls laughed as he made a face and wondered what was funny.
"Miss Edith speaks out of turn, she is a bad example and will have no cakes today" Drusilla scolded her dolly, turning it to face the wall, "No peeking at Daddy either"
"It's a doll, Dru" Spike sighed from his place lying on the bed, "Back to front, upside down, or the right soddin' way round it can't see a bloody thing"
"My Spike is angry" his lover realised, turning to look at him as he smoked his cigarette and stared at the ceiling, "Doesn't he want to play with Princess?" she asked suggestively as she came towards him, "Play a pretty game with me, Spike?"
"Leave off, Dru" he shrugged away from her as her fingers trailed along his arm, "Just not in the mood okay" he told her, clambering off the bed.
Something disturbing was happening to Spike and he wasn't sure whether he liked it or not. The Slayer, that's what this was about, he knew that much. Ever since he'd spotted her yesterday, dancing like she wanted his attention, like she knew someone was watching. Maybe she'd figured out his game-plan, knew he was coming or something, sensed what he was and was playing him just as he was playing her. Spike had been over just about every possible option of why the Slayer filled his thoughts as she was doing and had done the whole day, even when he was close to Dru, the love of his unlife.
"Princess isn't loved anymore" she moaned, putting her hands to her head and moaning like a wounded animal of some kind. Spike felt bad then.
"Baby, I'm sorry" he apologised, going over to her and putting his arms around her waist from behind, "Daddy's a bad, rude man" he said, kissing her neck, "Didn't mean to upset you"
"The Slayer fills your head, Sweet William" she smiled, turning in his arms and running her fingers through his hair.
Spike frowned a little at her words. Drusilla was always the intuitive sort but it was as if she'd read his mind just then, and the fact she'd just called him William hadn't escaped his notice either. It was years since she'd done that, he was always Spike these days.
"I don't want the Slayer, Dru" he told her firmly, "Why would I want that silly chit, when I've got my black goddess right here" he smiled, kissing her deeply.
"You are my sweet" she giggled against his mouth, "My little Spike... but there's no time for games now" she said, pulling back out of his embrace and putting a finger to his lips, "Got to go and talk to the others, work before play" she said with a nod, "The boy doesn't trust you"
Spike sighed, knowing she was right. The Anointed One had his reservations, he could tell, and they were only set to get worse. The plan had changed, the Slayer was not going to die tonight, the night of St Vigeous. Spike told himself it was because he wanted to play with her first, make her suffer more, make it a really good kill. Deep inside he wondered if it wasn't just because she was too pretty to be dead so fast, or too attractive for him to let her be another body, another trophy. He shook his head clear of such thoughts as he went to find the Anointed as his cronies.
"Spike, are you prepared for tonight's kill?" the boy asked as the bleached blond came into view.
"Yeah, about that" Spike replied as he came to stand before the Anointed, "New plan - we don't kill the Slayer tonight" he said smoothly.
"Are you insane!" one of the flunkies asked incredulously.
"Probably" Spike muttered to himself, not really sure why he was doing what he was doing but he was going to carry on with this plan nevertheless, "Tonight is St Vigeous' night, and you know damn well the Slayer is gonna know about it. That's what bloody Watchers are for" he explained, "Of all nights she's gonna be extra prepared tonight. Better to catch her sleepin' on a less obvious night than go rampaging in with her all ready for a crusade!" he yelled, getting very big with the gestures to make his point.
"Your plan is interesting" Collin nodded, "but you were so sure you could kill her before"
"I could kill her tonight, any night, any day if I caught her in the shade!" he yelled, "But I'm tryin' to save you from losing all your best lackeys here to an overly prepared Vampire Slayer!"
"I see your point" the Anointed One agreed, "but this is just an extension to our earlier agreement. If I keep my people from going behind your back you will kill the Slayer"
"I don't go back on my word" Spike assured him, "All I'm sayin' is, keepin' your lot away from the girl tonight counts as part of the whole 'not going behind my back' part of the deal, right?"
"Agreed" Collin nodded, "Tonight's attack... is cancelled"
To Be Continued...