Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters. The characters all belong to their respective studios and creators. I am just borrowing them for my story.
Author's Note: This story is set after the end of season 2 of Roswell (after Tess has already left) and in the beginning of season 6 of Buffy, the Vampire Slayer- after Buffy and Spike have gotten together, but before Willow was addicted to magic and before Willow and Tara broke up. Also, Giles hasn't left yet. Sorry for the confusing time lines, but this worked best for my story.
Chapter Seven – The First Council
Spike was the first to break eye contact. When he turned and saw the Scoobies all standing around him in confusion he said, "Well look who finally showed up- the little do gooders. I was wondering when you'd finally get here, so you could try to fix the whole situation. It's about time, you know. I'm getting tired of living in this miserable little body; I want mine back."
Michael (who had grabbed a sheet from Spike's bed before running outside) kept that sheet draped over him and proceeded to ignore Spike. He then went to help Max and Valenti up, from where they still lay at the bottom of the tree. They both stood shakily, but seemed to be okay. He then turned around to face the rest of his friends and the woman he loved, looking to make sure that they were all okay as well.
Maria looked at him and saw the different features and the pale skin, but in her heart she knew who he really was. She threw herself into his arms. "Oh, Michael."
He embraced her back, just as tightly (still keeping the sheet over him of course), relieved to see that she was unharmed and extremely happy to see her and the rest of the group again. He needed his friends to fix him. He mumbled her name a few times, just glad to be holding her again.
'So this is Maria,' Buffy thought to herself. 'Pretty thing… I guess.' For some reason that she couldn't fathom, it greatly bothered her to see that girl in Spike's arms- even though she now knew that the man she had talked to this morning wasn't Spike. Buffy jumped, startled by her own thoughts. Why should she care who Spike, or someone in Spike's body, slept with? But she did and she couldn't deny it. This was all getting way too confusing.
The rest of the Pod Squad watched the scene between Michael and Maria, glad that Michael was finally opening up to his emotions. They all noticed the sheet as well, but decided to ignore it and concentrate on more important issues, like what exactly Michael was doing here, and how he had gotten here.
Max, after having dusted himself off and thought for a minute, put a comforting arm around Liz and turned from Michael and Maria, to face the newcomers. He was going to take charge of the situation (as usual). Always being the cautious one, he figured a few questions were in order, so they would know exactly what they were dealing with. He turned to the older man in the other group, asking him bluntly, "Do you know him?" (indicating Spike).
Giles, not surprised at the question directed at him, responded, "Yes, well, that depends on what you mean by 'know him.' If I am correct, that would be Spike, in what appears to be … your friend's body." He turned to Buffy, "This would explain why he was acting rather peculiarly this morning when you saw him."
Michael, who had broken away from Maria and turned to face the Scooby Gang, had been listening to the exchange. He then spoke up. "Who exactly are you people?"
The Scoobies shared a look, and then Buffy answered him. "We're friends of Spike's and we were just coming over to see him."
Michael, ever the paranoid one, shot back, "Oh yeah… well why are you friends with a vampire?"
The Pod Squad all looked at each other. A vampire? Maria, who was familiar with vampire lore, looked at Michael and said, "Well that explains the sheet at least." (Hey, if she could accept aliens, she knew she sure as hell had better be able to accept vampires as well.) At seeing the rest of the Pod Squad's confusion, she continued, "You know, the whole no sunlight thing?"
They nodded with new comprehension. Kyle then asked, "Well why are you friends with a vampire?"
Giles took his glasses off and began to rub them absentmindedly again. "I think the more important question here, is how these two managed to switch bodies the way they did. And how we are going to change them back. There are many switching spells and such that might have been a cause, but there are several other possible causes as well…" Giles stated, beginning to be lost in his train of thought. He brought himself back from his reprieve and continued, "What matters here is that we are going to have to work together to solve this problem; we are going to have to trust each other."
Sheriff Valenti, thinking about it for a minute and then looking at Max, said, "You're right, we have no idea what we're dealing with here. We will need to work together, especially since we aren't even sure what is mixed up in this mess … "
Michael broke in, "Could we please continue this inside? It's getting kind of uncomfortable out here." He shifted the sheet around himself for emphasis.
Spike looked at him with amusement. "Yes, sunlight can be a mite objectionable, especially to you right now. I, on the other hand, am enjoying this right fine bit of morning air."
Glaring at him, Isabel wrapped her arm around Michael's shoulders and began to walk with him back to Spike's crypt. She couldn't let her brother be burned to a crisp- no matter what body he was in. As she walked, she remembered the distressing kiss from this morning. She should have known that Michael wouldn't have done that to her, that he didn't think about her that way. No, it was this insensitive … vampire, that had rudely kissed her and who had hurt Maria's feelings. She would have to keep a close eye on him; she couldn't have him running around creating disasters in Michael's body, especially if he was able to access Michael's powers. Her heart froze at the thought. He couldn't be left alone to discover those. She would keep a very close eye on him.
As they walked, Spike was deep in thought. He didn't know what he had done to stop the demon, but he was damned sure he was going to find out. Whatever it was that had happened, one thing was for certain- this body had power and energy; power and energy, that he was going to figure out how to use. And then…
The rest of the two groups followed and the walk back to Spike's crypt was a short one. Once inside, they separated into two clusters and began having their own little discussions, about exactly how much they were going to be revealing to the other group.
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I'm very sorry for the long delay in updating—I've been stuck in paper hell (having had many things due recently). I know this part is short, but I was having a lot of trouble with it and I finally just rewrote it, so it is shorter, but hopefully better, than the original was. Thanks so much to my beloved consultant- Pizzygirl- who helped me get this chapter to you much faster. Thanks also for all of the reviews- they are tremendously appreciated! (I'm glad to see that you like this story). Oh and good eye, Moonflower- I think that you are the only one who caught that; hopefully, I rectified that mistake with the sheet, in this part. Thanks!