Title: The Beginning of a New Age
Author: Kristin Hulett
Summary: The extended Scooby Gang gets together for the holidays. When two unexpected guests arrive with a series of prophecies, the celebrations are somewhat unceremoniously halted.
Disclaimer: I don't claim to own any of the characters established on either Buffy or Angel. Those characters are all the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, etc. However, all characters that are new to this story, the children of Buffy, Angel, Xander and Anya, Christopher Bishop, Gabriella, Victoria, Nicholas, and the representatives from the Watcher's Council, and the concept of this story are mine. In any case, nobody sue me, because it would be pointless. You wouldn't get much.
Time Period: 2020, about ten years after the end of "Immortal Miracles".
Part Eight
The graveyard, later that night:
Three of Deirdre's minions wander among the graves and mausoleums. One speaks, "Do either of you know which crypt is Spike's? We don't want to disappoint the Queen."
"Nope."
"Not really. I don't know which one, specifically, but I know the general area. Brendan informed me before we left."
The first vamp responds, "OK. We should probably split up when we get there anyway. How close are we to the general area?"
"I think it's one of those two." The vamp points towards two crypts close together.
The first vamp, who apparently sees himself as the leader, gives an order. "Great. Split up and find a place to hide where you can watch the doorways. If you see anyone go in or out, follow them. Don't get caught."
Another voice speaks from behind them. "Well, well. What do we have here? Looks like some spies."
They spin around to see Spike standing a few feet behind them. He continues talking, almost conversationally. "Wouldn't be thinkin' of trying to attack me, would ya? You don't look smart enough. Who told you to do this?"
One vamp responds, impetuously. "Why should we tell you?"
In the space of time that the other two glare at him, Spike has closed the distance between them and is choking him with one hand. "Because maybe then you'll be left alive."
The other two try to rush Spike. He kicks out to the side, catching one in the midsection. The other manages to get a hold on Spike but is quickly thrown off. By now, the one he was choking has started struggling madly. Spike picks him up and throws him toward the one he had kicked, who has recovered. Both go down in a pile.
The third vamp tries to jump on his back. Spike hears his approach and turns before the vamp gets to him. "Ah ah ah. That's not polite." A brief flurry of kicks and punches is exchanged. When the metaphorical dust clears, the vamp is flat on his back on the ground, with Spike straddling him and a tree branch aimed at his heart. Spike speaks again, calmly. "Now let's try this again. Who sent you?"
The vamp says, frightened, "The Queen would have me killed."
"The Queen, eh? She's not who you should fear." Spike stakes him, and stands up. He addresses the other two vamps. "Go back. Tell her that she better not send anyone else to watch me, or I'll track her down and kill her myself." The two run off.
Spike continues toward his crypt. He contemplates the information he has just received. "The Queen. In Sunnydale. I always thought she was just a myth."
Shortly after he gets inside and comfortable, the door opens. Spike looks up. "Slayer."
Victoria walks in, calmly. She gets right to the point of her business there. "Something's up. Prophecy about the apocalypse and a couple others. I told Buffy I'd let you know." She smoothly turns around and leaves.
"OK then. Nice seeing you, too." Spike goes back to watching television, but the announcement stays in the back of his mind. In a few minutes, he switches the set off, unable to concentrate on what he was watching. "What was that about? I guess it'll have to wait 'til tomorrow. It's too late to go see Buffy to ask what the Slayer meant."
The next morning, Buffy is woken up by the phone. She slowly picks it up. "Hello?"
"Hi, Buffy. It's Willow."
"You're entirely too energetic for this hour of the morning."
"Oh, did I wake you up? Sorry. I never went to sleep. Spent the night researching. I found a couple spells. If you want, I could come over and tell you about them. Later, of course, not right now."
"Thanks. Come around eleven. I figured I'd get everyone together and start training today, anyway."
"OK. I'll tell the guys over here. Bye."
"Bye." Buffy hangs up.
Angel turns over and looks at her. "Who was that?"
"Willow. She spent all night researching and wanted to tell me she found some spells we may be able to use."
"Well, at this point, we're both awake. We may as well get up."
They go downstairs to the kitchen. Angel starts making coffee. Buffy sits down at the table. A minute later, she thinks of something. "I hope the phone didn't wake the kids."
"Why don't you go check. It'll be a few minutes before we have coffee."
Buffy goes back upstairs. A few seconds after she leaves, Jeff comes in from the family room. Angel asks him, "How was the couch? You sorry Jacob claimed the last guest room yet?"
"Surprisingly no. Once I fell asleep, I didn't even notice I was on a couch."
"Well, we'll have coffee soon. Buffy went up to check on the kids. I wouldn't be surprised if everyone was down here in a few minutes."
True to word, ten minutes later, everyone was awake. Buffy is back downstairs and suddenly thinks of something. "I should call Nicholas and Victoria. Tell them about starting training today. Nicholas is probably awake by now."
Cordy speaks, "What about Xander?"
"I'm not worried about them. They'll probably be over soon anyway. They spend more time here than at their own apartment, most of the time."
Buffy gets to the phone at the same time as Xander and his family walk in the door. Xander speaks, "Hey, guys. What's up?"
Buffy finishes her conversation with Nicholas on the phone and hangs up. "Not much. Nothing really new since yesterday. Willow found some spells and is bringing them over. I figured we'd start training today." She sees Michael standing at the door. "Hey. I'll go tell Megan that you're here." She heads back upstairs.