Secretly over the next few years Spike helped Buffy train. And having discovered Spikes secret passion for literature, he also taught her every language he knew from French to Latin to ancient Egyptian and several in between. He also taught her about every demon he had heard, seen, fought against and fought with over the years.
They collected every book imaginable about demons, vampires and the occult that they could get their hands on.
They found a witch who was willing to teach them witchcraft and although they never become quite adept magic users, they could still do some small spells.
Spike had gotten a job at a demon Karaoke bar and invested most of his earnings which gained a great deal of interest making him very wealthy very quickly. He brought a place in L.A. and another in Sunnydale for when they eventually got there.
Finally by 1993 they got word through the magical community that a big bad known as Lothos was in town.
Buffy who was still pissed off at him for the death of her first watcher Merrick in her original timeline, dealt the pompous arrogant vampire a swift and painful death along with his idiotic minions.
During the next two years, Buffy and Spike were kept busy killing a multitude of evil demons and stopping evil doings.
Until one night Buffy was stalking through the streets of L.A still angry from an argument she had had with the beached blonde vampire.
It was rare that they fought seriously anymore but every now and then something would come up and it could take days before they spoke again, depending on the argument.
In this case they had a fight over something completely stupid. Buffy wants to dye her hair but Spike doesn't want her too.
Hearing a noise over to her left coming from an alleyway two blocks down she hurries over and sees a group of guys about to rape a teenage girl. Buffy thinking only of saving the girl jumps in and starts fighting the gang members.
Punch, punch, duck, punch, kick, spin kick, upper cut; deflect baseball bat, duck, kick, BANG!
The sound of the gun firing echoed loudly in the ensuring silence and everyone stared in alarm at the quickly spreading red stain that was covering Buffy white tank top. The sound of sirens blaring awoke everyone from their daze and the gang members ran off. The girl, who had been their original victim, quickly made her way to where her saviour lay and recited a quick spell to slow the damage the bullet inflicted down.
Buffy blinked several times until her helper's face came into focus. "Thank you Tara, blessed be" she murmured straining to stay awake.
Tara looked down on the small blonde in shock.
How did she know my name?
She didn't have long to ponder that thought though because the police arrived and then Tara and her rescuer were rushed to the nearest available hospital.
After answering the policemen's questions she waited in one of those horribly uncomfortable waiting room chairs, she had to find out how that girl knew her!
Half an hour later a doctor came out of one of the rooms, pulling his hygienic mask off and looking around waiting room. Tara walked over to ask him some questions but before she could begin a bleached blonde man burst through the front entrance and practically slid over towards them in his hurry.
"Buffy Summers?" he asked the Doc.
"And you are?"
"A very concerned friend" Spike almost growled at the look of condemnation the Surgeon was giving him. The glare he gave in return quickly changed the other mans mind.
He gulped before he spoke, the danger the blonde was exuding making him extremely nervous, 'She's alright, the bullet nicked her lungs and she had stopped breathing for a short time but we quickly revived her."
"Is there any lasting damage?"
"No, not permanent damage, she will have to stay here for observation while we monitor her to make sure of course and will have to take it easy for the following weeks afterwards."
"Can I see her?"
The doctor was about to say no when the blonde growled and he could've sworn he saw his eyes flash yellow. Spooked he just nodded and pointed down one of the corridors. "Down there, 5 doors to the right."
Before Spike could rush away a tentative voice caught his attention.
"E . . . ex . . . excuse me sir but may I join you?" Spikes paused for a moment, his eyes flashed in recognition and he gave a small smirk, 'sure luv' he gave a small bow then held his arm out to her in an old fashioned way, 'while you're at it maybe you would be so kind as to inform me of the recent circumstances which brings you here."
Tara blinked in surprise and couldn't help but let out a stunned giggle at the strangers contradictory nature. She took his arm and she told him what had happened and then she asked him if he knew how the girl 'Buffy' knew her.
"It's quite simple Luv, you see we happen to have met in a previous existence."
"Wha? .. What? ... How could that be possible?"
"Yer still a witch ain't you?"
"Y . ye . yes, yes I am."
"Well me and Blondie in there' he gestured into the slayers room, 'were fighting a big bad with some others when we defeated it. Unfortunately the big bad had been opening a portal to other dimensions at the time so when we defeated her we both got sucked into the portal and into the bodies we had in this dimension' he sighs 'and here we have been for the last 10 yrs."
Tara was trying to say something when a voice called out startling both of them.
"Hey guys don't look so gloomy." Buffy was sitting up in the hospital bed looking only slightly pale and a little shaky.
Spike moved quickly to her side and held her gently. Buffy leaned back against him and sighed contentedly.
"Hey Luv' he spoke softly 'Just what were you thinking going against gang members like that?"
"That if I didn't do something, someone who I knew would become a great friend one day would've gotten seriously hurt." She replied in a sharp caustic tone.
Spike sighed defeated, he wasn't really angry just afraid. "Buffy Luv the doc said you stopped breathing for a little bit, that the bullet had nicked your lungs. You're not invincible and it worries me when these things happen to you."
"I know Spike and I promise that from now on that I'll be more careful . . . wait did you just say I had stopped breathing?"
"Yeh, the Doc said they revived you quickly but . . . Oh no not again."
"FUCK" both cursed in unison, frowning.
"Um excuse me?' Tara almost whispered gaining both their attentions.
Tara stared stunned, out of the hospital room window, deep in thought. The world had certainly changed a lot in the last 48 hours. And the reason for those changes, a petite blonde called Buffy and a British bad boy named Spike. At first she hadn't believed them, but then they told her of the things they couldn't, shouldn't have know about her. Such as her family problems.
And now she had a choice to make. Stay here with her Aunt Mallory (her mum's sister and Wicca) as she had for the last week and help fight the forces of darkness with Buffy and Spike or go back to her, as Buffy called them, 'fucked up family' and get treated horribly.
With her Mother dead she really had no one left besides her Aunt who actually cared for her and whom she felt any affection for. At least with at her Aunt Mallory's she would be able to practice her craft with out fear of punishment and Mallory had offered. Her father would try to stop her. So would her brothers. Buffy and Spike had promised to kick there butts if they tried anything. She had no friends at her fathers. She had Buffy and Spike here.
Tara came to a decision. Feeling as though a great weight had lifted of her shoulders she turned to Buffy with a small smile and said "I'll stay."
Buffy smiled and held out her arms to the Wicca, which Tara willingly went into and gave her a large hug.
Buffy and Tara both dressed in sweats and tank tops were standing barefooted in a small studio/gym. Buffy was teaching Tara some self defence against demons and the small blonde Wicca was learning quickly. Over the last 3 months, Tara and Buffy had worked together to create a routine which they would do every second day where they would meditate then do Tai Chi and then some Kendo followed by a nice relaxing swim in the pool. They would then have lunch and after that do research on the various demons that roamed the world. Because Joyce and Hank were on another of their last minute trying to save their marriage trips, Buffy had been staying at Spikes house with Tara for company. Tara had blossomed, over the last three months she had been living with her Aunt Mallory. She was more confident from the constant self- defence lessons, Buffy and Spike had been teaching her, and was happily continuing her studies of Wicca from her Aunts coven.
"Now just move your left hand a couple of inches to the left and you should feel more comfortable holding the staff." Buffy instructed holding her own staff in a similar way. Tara did as suggested and found that it was less of a strain on her hands and wrists.
Before they could go any further they were interrupted by a loud bang and someone swearing there heads of. A few moments later Spike stormed into the room and began beating up the punching bag with vigour. The two girls shared looks of concern and Buffy quietly sent soothing currents through her connection to the blonde vampire.
"Spike? Baby, what's wrong?"
He stopped and stared blankly for a moment for replying.
"That bloody wanker Zabuto, Kendra's watcher, has been ignoring the warnings we've been sending. The vamps are really gunning for her and she isn't handling it too well."
"Did anyone get hurt?' the slayer asked worriedly.
"No luv, but it was a bloody close call."
Buffy sighed with relief and leant unconsciously in her mate, 'that settles it, I'm just going to have to find away to move to sunny hell."
She thinks hard for a moment and Spike, seeing the sudden naughty gleam in her eye shivers with excitement.
"Spike."
"Buffy?"
"How would you like to take a little road trip?"
"Oh?"
"Somewhere to . . . oh I don't know maybe . . . cause some mischief?"
"And this place you have in mind?"
"I have a sudden yen to see the old haunts."
Kendra limped warily through the dimly lit alley; hands clutching a stake close by. She'd been in this foreign country for almost 3 months now and was starting to feel a strange sense of home sickness. The recent spurt of vampire attacks had almost doubled since she'd entered this strange land of Californian inhabitants and it was getting harder and harder to get through a night without being injured and almost killed.
Sighing softly she stopped suddenly, muscles taught and she sensed the evil beings nearby.
With the quick reflexes of her calling she pulled another stake out, turned swiftly and plunged it into the vamp that had tried sneaking up on her.
As if his sudden demise was a signal, she was suddenly attacked from all sides by at least 12 of them.
Letting her instincts take over she fought with all she could, until she was held by 7 of the beasts and a blonde female vamp dressed in a catholic school girl uniform was standing in front of her smirking.
"Well look what we have here a slayer."
"Who are you?" Kendra demanded.
"Darla,' she said then added 'and you slayer are dead." With that Kendra felt a sharp pain in the back of her head, then everything faded away.
"Take her to the master,' she growled at her minions 'the Master will be pleased with this offering."
Before they could do anything of the sought an arrow came whizzing out of no where and struck the blonde through the heart, dusting her.
Suddenly fearful, the vamps dropped the unconscious slayer who landed with a soft thump, and peered into the shadows searching for the mysterious assailant.
Three more bolts came out from three different directions dusting another three.
The remaining two made a run for it but stopped in surprise as they saw the entrance blocked by a petite blonde standing nonchalantly and casually twirling a stake in her right hand, left hand resting at her waist.
"Now, now boys,' she spoke grinning evilly and shaking her head in mock sorrow, 'you're not planning on leaving the party so soon are you?"
The duo charged her and she threw a stake into one dusting it before pulling out another and started fighting the remaining vamp. When she had it lying on the ground with one broken leg, a broken arm and damaged privates from when she ball kicked him, he stared up at her fearfully.
"Who are you?' he stuttered.
"I'm Buffy . . . the Vampire Slayer."
With those final words she staked it.
Turning back around she rushed over to where Tara and Spike were kneeling beside the other slayer.
Tara examined the unconscious slayer, chanting a quick spell that allowed her to see all of the wounds.
"We can deal with these ourselves,' she informs a worried Buffy as she arrives.
Buffy nods in agreement, then leans down and scoops the taller slayer into her arms with ease. With Spike and Tara flanking her they made their way to Spike's sunny hell residence.
In a dark cavern under ground an ancient cloven vampire sat up in shock as he felt his childes death.
Kendra awoke with a start, instinctively lying still as her enhanced senses scanned the area around her for danger.
Feeling nothing harmful near, she opened her eyes and peered around the unfamiliar room. The walls were painted a little darker then baby blue. Royal blue cupboards and curtains added an interesting contrast as the light from one of the lamps lit the room dimly.
Shifting slightly she winced as a pain shot through her leg. Throwing the covers off of her she inspected herself thoroughly finding her ribs and left ankle wrapped in bandages.
Cringing, she stiffly got out of the bed so as not to disturb her wounds more than necessarily and wrapped a robe from the end of the bed around her before carefully moving out the room to find her mysterious host.
She paused at the doorway and hearing noise from one end of the hallway, she uses the wall as support she made her way down the hall towards it.
Looking in the gym, she was surprised to see a short blonde teaching a slightly taller blonde how to use a staff.
After watching them for a moment she cleared her throat. Two heads snapped up at smiled at her. Tara handed Buffy her staff then ran over to her asking how she felt if anything hurt, as she gently led the wounded slayer to a nearby seat.
"Tara, relax,' Buffy ordered smiling gently, 'take a few deep breaths." She faced Kendra. "Hi, I'm Buffy Summers and my slightly hyperactive friend here is Tara Maclay,' the shorter blonde introduced them.
"Hello, I'm Kendra McPherson."
"Pleased to meet you Kendra,' Tara spoke shyly.
"Could you please tell me how I come to be here and why am I here? Where is here?"
"We will, but first would you like to change into some clothes?"
Kendra nodded, blushing slightly as she remembered her state of undress.
Tara helped her up 'come on, we can probably find something of mine to fit you,' she said as she dragged the poor slayer out of the door with her.
"Bring her back in one peace please,' Buffy called after them 'we'll meet in the kitchen,' she added.
Twenty minutes later, Kendra was led into the Lounge room, having refreshed and redressed herself. She sat in one of the big plush armchairs the filled the room and glanced inquisitively at the Buffy and Tara her were sitting in the other two armchairs.
"Did your watcher ever tell you about the slayer who was called before you?"
"No, from what I remember none of the watcher's could find her."
"That's because she didn't want to be found." Buffy than went on to explain what had happened to her.
Kendra just stared at her stunned as she contemplated the almost unbelievable story that she's just been told. She knew that her watcher, Mr Zabuto, would tell her not to believe Buffy, but her slayer instincts were telling her to trust her and the cheerful Tara.
Seeing this, Buffy adds 'Kendra, I know that all of this seems like some big elaborate fantasy, and I know that if someone had told me this I would probably be calling the guys with funny white suits to pick that person up, but I'm not lying! On my oath as a slayer who has sworn to protect this world from the impending darkness, and by the all merciful god that watches over all of us, I swear that what we have told you is the truth."
Tara nodded enthusiastically, next to her friend and added, 'yep, by the power of my patron goddess Hecate, I also swear that I have told you the truth." The blonde Wicca glowed slightly for a moment at this as testament to her goddess's agreement.
Kendra was awed by the sudden strength which radiated of the pair. She stood up, wobbly, and gave a bow, 'I thank you for all the help that you have given me."
Tara smiled cheerfully as she skipped over to the injured girl and gave her a hug, 'that's alright Ms. Kendra."
Over the girls shoulder, Buffy and Kendra shared looks of mutual respect.
The toning of an old fashioned clock announcing 10:00am, startled Kendra and she suddenly remembered that she hadn't gotten in touch with Mr. Zabuto to report her patrol.
"Buffy, I have to get going; Mr. Zabuto is most assuredly worried after I didn't come back last night."
"Sure, just let me get my keys and jacket and I'll give you a lift to your watcher's place; Tara, when Spike gets back, can you tell him I'll be at Kendra's."
"Alright Buffy."
They walked up the path with caution, Kendra leaning faintly on Buffy for support. When they reached the house Buffy knocked on the front door.
After a moments wait they could hear someone moving inside and then standing in the doorway was the one and only Sam Zabuto.
"Where have you been Miss. McPherson, and why didn't you have the decency to come home instead of staying out all night doing god knows what."
Buffy grew angered at the condescending tone the watcher used and before Kendra could reply she grabbed him by his shirt and shoved him up against the wall.
"Now listen here, Mr I've got a stick so big up my arse I can barely walk straight, just who the hell do you think you are? Is your head so far up your arse that you couldn't see that 'your slayer' is injured and would have been dead if my companions and I hadn't come along in the nick of time? You . . ."
"Miss. McPherson,' the watcher gasped indignantly 'just what have you been telling people,' he was stopped by a slap to his face.
"Kendra hasn't told me anything you snob, I already knew who she was and before you go and start thinking that I'm some sort of demon, think again."
"Who are you?" he demands.
"I, Mr. Tight Arse, am Buffy Summers the Vampire Slayer."
"That's . . . That's impossible . . . there's never been more than one slayer . . . the only way you could be a slayer is if another had died."
"Buffy, can you please continue this inside; we are beginning to gain attention."
"Sure,' Buffy says releasing him; she then grabs him by the arm and throws him inside before holding her arm out to Kendra so she could escort her inside, 'Shall we."
"Thank you."
Once everyone was inside and settled, Sam glared at both girls.
"What is going on?" he demands, confused.
Buffy glares back but explains, 'Just before my 15th Birthday I was called as a slayer. For six months I and an associate dealt with the various demons and vampires that reside in L.A. About 3 months ago as I was patrolling through a bad neighbourhood I heard a ruckus and when I investigated, I found a girl about to be sexually assaulted by a gang. I stepped in and protected her, but some time during the fight a gang member pulled a gun out and shot me. I went to the hospital and while the doctor's were working on me, my heart stopped for a few minutes. The doctors revived me, obviously, and when I came to I could feel a strange connection to someone. I asked a Wicca friend of mine for help and she traced the connection to Kendra. Using other sources I had gained over the last year I found out where Kendra was and found out that she was being targeted by some heavy hitting vamps. So I decided to come down here and visit my slayer sister and to kick your arse for ignoring the warnings my associates and I have been sending you."
Sam's eyes had widened continuously as the story had progressed.
"Why didn't you contact the watchers council?"
"Why would I want to do that,' she asked confused, 'all they would want to do is take me away from everybody I know, forbid me to slay alongside my eclectic associates and to prevent me from having a life. I do just fine, doing my duty and still having a life than you very much."
Just then a phone rang and Buffy pulled out her mobile, 'excuse me a moment please."
"Buffy Summer's phone, Buffy speaking."
Buffy it's Tara, there's a very polite demon waiting at the front door called Clem. He said something about a poker game?
"Tara it's alright, Clem couldn't hurt a fly. Just invite him in and get out a bowl of sweets for him."
Thanks Buffy, bye.
"See ya."
Buffy turned back to the others, 'sorry about that, now what were we talking about?"
While Buffy had been on the phone Kendra had told her watcher about what had happened last night.
"Thank you for assisting Kendra last night,' he spoke grudgingly.
Buffy smiled happily, startling him. "No problem."
"Do you know who attacked Kendra?"
Buffy looked grim, 'unfortunately yes. The blonde dressed as a school girl was a childe of the master. She was trying to get Kendra because only the blood of a slayer can free the master from where he is trapped." She paused for a moment. "That's another reason why I came, it is time you started taking the warnings my associates send you seriously. The vampire's are going to try everything in there power to free him and WE CANNOT LET THAT HAPPEN."
Buffy hugged Kendra and slipped her a piece of paper, 'these are my phone numbers, if you ever need any extra slayer power just give me a call. I'll be here as soon as I can."
"Thank you." Kendra spoke.
They stood there for a moment, just revelling in each others company before a blue Desoto pulled up in front of them. Buffy jumped in and rolled down the window, 'remember, he might be a watcher but even watcher's make mistakes, trust your instincts and when you have the chance, take some time away from all this and have some fun."
They sped of, Tara waving happily from the back seat as she chatted happily with what looked to be a demon munching on . . . sweets, 'I don't want to know she mumbled under her breath before going back into the house.
When she got home the next day Buffy walked into her house then stopped just inside the door, shocked. She recognized this scene only to well. Joyce and Hank were sitting on opposite couches with similar serious expressions on there faces.
"Buffy honey we have something to tell you . . .