Chapter 3

"Where is Drusilla?" Kara asked again from the passenger seat. Nar and Belegurth were in the backseat, but Spike was nowhere to be seen. Aubrey had started pulling away from a green light just as they had landed in the car.

"Wh-who are you?"

"I'm the mother of the child Drusilla stole. I assume you've been helping her?"

"M-maybe. How did you get in my car?"

"A little bit of magic. Tell you what, I'll make this real easy. Tell me where my daughter is, and you never have to see me again. Don't tell me, and, well…I'll make you pay for a long, long time. And I have quite the imagination, right, boys?"

"Yes, Empress."

"She took a cab. I don't know exactly where to. She, uh, has to travel differently than regular people…you know?"

"The Harbor," Kara said. "She'd be most comfortable traveling by boat. Thank you, Aubrey. Be a good girl from now on, hmm?"

Kara and the soldiers disappeared again, leaving the shaken-up young woman to pull over to the side of the road until her nerves were under control again.

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"You have something that doesn't belong to you, pet."

"Spike…bad dog. You weren't supposed to find Mummy, yet," Drusilla scolded.

"What can I say, luv. I've never been one to follow the rules."

She regarded him for a moment. "No, you really weren't," she replied in a clear voice. "Let me keep her, Spike…I'm ever so lonely, and you already have one," she pleaded.

"Can't let you do that, luv. Either way, my daughter is coming home with me."

"We were going to have tea and cakes…she understands me…" she said forlornly, drifting off into her mind for a moment. Spike had been edging nearer as they spoke.

"Dru…you can always go make yourself a new friend, pet. Find a new dolly, yeah? This one is not for you," he said softly, and slid the handle of the baby carrier out of her hand.

Dru seemed to notice him there, and lifted her eyes. She gently caressed his face, looking over him. "You're happy," she said in wonder.

"Yeah, princess. I really am."

"Good…Spike?"

"Hmm?"

"Could I visit her…one day?"

"I suppose, one day, it'll be up to her," he replied.

She nodded, accepting that. "Goodbye, my William." Drusilla slipped away as Spike looked down at Lillian.

"Let's get you home, Bit. It's been a very long night."

He held Lillian to his chest, protected under his coat, and left the carrier behind. It wasn't theirs, anyway, and feeling his daughter's heartbeat against his body was reassuring. She snuggled into his t-shirt, grabbing a fistful. Spike walked back towards the street where he could catch a cab back to the hotel.

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(Sweetheart, where are you?)

(On our way to the docks. Where are you?)

(I found Dru. Lillian's safe, and I'm heading back to the Hyperion.)

(Is she dust?)

(Didn't have to come to that, pet. She was cooperative. She's feeling lonely, and took advantage of an opportunity.)

(Fine…I'll meet you back at the hotel. I hope you didn't make a mistake we'll all come to regret.)

Kara shut him out again, and Spike sighed, closing his eyes as he leaned against the headrest of his seat. He could trust Drusilla on this matter, it was something he knew, but getting Kara to understand that was probably going to be next to impossible. She only knew his sire through stories, most of which were the most recent ones that were much less than flattering. He'd spent over 100 years with the woman, learning all her little idiosyncrasies, and with the retrospective eye, Spike knew very well when Dru was lying, and when she wasn't. And this time was one when she wasn't.

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Kara and the Valaraukar got back to the Hyperion first, since they only had to teleport. Wes, Cordy, and Fred were slumped on the sofa in the lobby, obviously trying to stay awake, by the strong smell of coffee in the building. Fred noticed them first.

"Hey! Is there any news?"

"Yeah, Spike found her," Kara said tiredly. "He's on his way back right now."

"Oh, Kara, that's wonderful. See, I told you ladies everything would be alright," Wesley professed.

"Wes?"

"Yes, Cordelia?"

"Shut up. I'm very glad for you, Kara. I'm going to bed, all. I've been up about – 20 hours," Cordy grumbled, with a glance at her watch. She waved tiredly, then dragged herself up the stairs. Tomorrow, I'm nagging Angel about fixing the elevator.

"Would any of you like anything while you wait?" Fred asked, eager to be hospitable to the scary-looking demons.

"That's okay, Fred. I have to send these guys home," Kara replied. "Do you mind if I open the portal here?"

"No, by all means," Wesley said.

Kara opened a door-size portal to Ossiriand, and bid farewell to the general and his men. They'd talk further during their scheduled meeting in a few days.

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When Spike finally walked into the hotel, Kara was the only person visible, sitting on the circular lounge feeding Anastasia. She looked up to see her youngest daughter, and slumped in relief. Spike waited to approach until she had put Ana down in the playpen. Kara rushed over to take Lillian in her arms.

"Oh, god, Lillian, I hope I never have to find you missing again." Kara's eyes widened in shock and possessive anger as she inhaled close to her mate. Her hand flew up to slap him before she could think. "You let her touch you!"

"Kara…"

"No…don't. Just don't, not tonight. I'm taking the girls home. Don't come near me until I've had a chance to calm down." With a twin held in each arm, Kara disappeared again.

"Bravo, Spike. What'd you screw up, this time?" Angel mocked, having come through the door to catch the tale end of the scene.

Spike took two steps and decked his grandsire out cold.

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Kara bathed the girls before putting them to bed. She didn't doubt that they would sleep for several hours, with all the excitement and disruption of their schedule. The rocking chair looked inviting, but she also needed to shower off the city grime and mud. Running around in the rain had chilled her skin. Kara wrapped an afghan around her shoulders and toed a rhythm in the chair, listening to the soft breathing of her daughters, and the rain falling outside the window.

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Spike found her asleep there when he came up to go to bed close to dawn. He had used a spare shower at the Hyperion before heading home. Kara jumped when he caressed her cheek.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to wake you."

"It's alright. I can't stay in this chair all night, anyway."

"How is she?"

Kara smiled. "Completely unaware of all the trouble that went on around her. I swear – nothing phases that girl." They left the bedroom to not wake the twins. Kara turned the lights on in the bedroom.

"Any more fears rattlin' around in your head?"

"Nothing pressing. I'm worn out, and grimy, and I want sleep."

"Want some company?"

"You already took a shower. You smell like soap."

"So?"

"Okay. You can keep me from falling asleep under the hot water." She was too tired to argue.

It was wonderful how reassuring it was to have skin-to-skin contact with her mate while her children were asleep and safe in the next room, after a night like this. Spike silently took the bath puff out of her hand, sweeping the lather across her shoulders and onwards down until he reached Kara's feet. She hadn't even realized how much her frazzled nerves needed this calming attention until after he'd started. She was a big enough girl to admit that Spike had handled the crisis with a much more level head. Did every parent feel like damning the consequences when their child was missing, as long as it meant getting them back?

"I'm sorry…about earlier," she said, breaking the silence.

"I know, kitten. Heightened nerves, and all that." Understanding eyes looked up at her.

"Yeah, but I shouldn't have slapped you…I didn't react so strongly to things, before…"

"Before what?" he gently prodded.

"When I was human. Yeah, I could be riled up into a shouting match, but I didn't even like doing that…I was everybody's rock. Now…I'm not so controlled."

"Did something happen?"

"No, but it easily could have if I'd gotten an answer I didn't like. I don't like feeling so…primal." She sat down on the shower seat. "Kalari did a lot of good over the years, but she was also used to getting her own way. And I didn't just get her memories; I got the personality traits, including the bad ones. Even you've known me long enough to see the difference of before and after."

"So, what do you want to do?"

"I don't know! She's permanently joined with me, in every cell. I couldn't go back if I wanted to."

"Sweetheart, you're tired and wrung out. It'll seem less dire in the morning, after you've slept." He reached for a towel and wrapped it around her, before grabbing his own.

"But-"

Spike lightly grabbed her chin, cutting off the rebuttal. "No buts. Kara, this is a one-of-a-kind occurrence. So you got a bit hot under the collar when you're child was missing. It's normal. I know you. You aren't a danger to anyone that isn't askin' for it."

Tears ran down her cheeks. Her mind, body, needed some kind of release for all the fear and anxiety the night had produced. He gently wiped them away with the towel.

"Come on, luv," he said softly. "Time for bed." Spike took her hand and led her out of the shower. He combed the tangles out of her wet hair once she had dried off, and French braided it after that.

Kara climbed into bed without bothering to find a pair of pajamas. She was too tired to care, at this point, even though she'd probably wake up cold later.

"Wow – it took me this long to remember my car's still at the hotel. I must be tired."

Spike chuckled as he turned off the last light. "Well, the sun's coming up, so you have good reason to be."

"It used to not be a big deal to stay up to see the sun come up. Am I getting old?"

"Kara, luv – go to sleep."

She scooted closer to use his chest as a pillow, entwining her legs with his. "Spike?"

"Hmm?"

"Let's keep tonight between us. I don't want to worry the others."

"Okay."

"Love you."

"Love you, too, baby. Even with your crazy questions."

"Hey!"

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The sunlight shone through Buffy's thin curtains, rousing her from sleep. She stretched, her muscles still carrying a lingering ache from the previous night. It was the good kind, though. She smiled to herself, and opened her eyes.

"Good morning, beautiful," Sebastian said, swooping in for a brief kiss.

"Mmm, morning…have you been awake long?"

"A while. 'Old habits', and such. Sweet dreams?"

"No dreams. You wore me out too much," she teased.

"Well, if it was too much of a bother, I will refrain from putting you through it again…"

Buffy wrapped her hand around the back of his neck, pulling him down. "Don't you dare," she growled, and kissed him. Sebastian's hand swept down over her stomach and past-

"Hey, Buffy, Mom said – Whoa! Sorry!" Dawn blurted out, shutting the door as fast as she'd opened it.

"I thought I locked that," Buffy grumbled. "What do you want, Dawn?" she yelled.

"Never mind!" They both heard her footsteps thundering down the stairs.

Sebastian took one look at Buffy's scowl and bust up laughing.

"What's so funny?"

"Sorry…it's just that it was such a classic moment, like you see on the telly, and…"

"Yeah, well, think about if it had been your sister! It's not the first time she's done that, and I could have sworn I locked the door!"

"Maybe – hee – it's loose?"

"It's not that funny!"

"Buffy, I haven't had domestic family moments in 130 years…so, yes, it is a truly funny surprise," he stated.

"Well, expect more of them if you're sticking around, mister…unless we never have sex here again. Did you get a room, yet?" she asked, tracing patterns on his chest.

"No. I got into town and went to find you. I'm ashamed to admit I broke a few speed laws on my way up from the airport."

She grinned cockily. "Eager to see me, huh?"

"Oh, yes. Especially since it turned out to be such a wonderful idea," he huskily replied.

"Mmm, I'll second that statement. How about we continue where we left off?" she asked hopefully.

"With pleasure, my love."

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Dawn paced by the phone, wondering whom she should call first. Squee! Finally, her sister and Sebastian had realized they were madly in love with each other and acted on it. She knew he would come back. Men didn't look at a woman like that and disappear for good, if they could help it. Dawn finally decided to call Tara and Willow.

"Hello?"

"Willow! Guess what!"

"Dawnie? Hi, is everything alright?"

"It's perfect! Guess who I just accidentally walked in on, looking like they'd had an all-night romp."

"'Romp'?"

"I know British people, so sue me. Buffy and Sebastian!" she squealed, unable to hold it in.

"Get out! He's back in town?"

"Unless you know another knight by the name of Sebastian! They're upstairs right now, which means I'm not going back up there in case I hear things that'll scar me for life. Isn't it exciting!"

"Wow…well, we all figured they'd give in eventually. I wonder how long he's in town for?"

"I hope it's not just another overnight visit. Do you mind if I come over for the rest of the morning? The ceiling's creaking…"

"Sure, we love having you by. See you soon, then?"

"Definitely!"

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The next time Buffy and Sebastian awoke, it was because of their grumbling stomachs.

"I can't remember the last time I was this hungry," Buffy groaned.

"Get your cute little bum out of bed, and I'll make you breakfast," he offered.

Buffy wiggled said behind as she stood, then wobbled on unsteady legs. She giggled, feeling silly, and pulled on a cami and low-rise sweat pants.

"Hey, your clothes are still wet. Looks like I get to keep you naked," she observed.

"If you would be so kind as to get the keys from my pocket, I have a bag in the rental car."

She pouted. "That's no fun…you're so pretty without clothes."

"Be that as it may, little vixen, I can't go downstairs and make you breakfast in my birthday suit!" he replied.

"Okay, fine…but I'm only getting you pants right now." She smirked, and blew him a kiss before slipping out the door.

Sebastian lay back on the bed, unable to prevent the smile that spread across his face. So, this was how contentment felt…and reciprocated love.

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Later the same day…

"I bet Dawn's told everybody by now," Buffy mused, as she and Sebastian were curled up together on the couch in the afternoon.

"How do you feel about that?" he asked.

"It's not too big a deal. Just means that our 'coming out' is a bit sooner. They all love you, so it's not like we have to worry about what they'll say."

"True. Well, Rupert is probably going to threaten me with bodily harm again."

"Yeah, he seems to enjoy giving the fatherly intimidation speech. He's earned it, being there for me more than my real dad has in forever. Did you get along with your father?"

"For the most part. He was a good man, a credit to his family name. He died years before my mother, being 10 years her senior. There are portraits of all of them hanging in my estate. Someday, you'll have to see it."

"I'd like that. I've never been out of the state."

"No? Then that is definitely something we shall have to remedy." He stroked her cheek, smiling at the way she leaned into his touch. "I'd give you the world, anything you desire – you know that, Buffy?"

"I'm learning it. The way you look at me…is so intense," she said shyly.

"Does it frighten you?" he asked, concerned.

"No…nothing like that. It's just…I wonder how I can live up to such devotion," she admitted.

"Darling, you only have to be yourself. I don't expect you to be perfect. I think you're amazing just the way you are. Temper and all."

She gave him a light shove. "Hey…" she complained, pouting.

"You're adorable," he teased. "Let's call the others and invite them out to dinner."

"Settle their curiosity?"

"Something like that, and I missed them, too."

"Okay. I'll go make the arrangements." Buffy stood up from the couch, then leaned over for one more kiss. "Love you," she said, ruffling his hair.

"I'll never tire of hearing that," he replied, as she walked to the kitchen.