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 Nine
Buffy knocks on Megan's bedroom door. "Megan? You awake?"
"Yeah."
"Can I come in?"
"OK."
Buffy walks in to her bedroom. "Michael's downstairs. If you decide to do anything, make sure you're available around 11:00. I decided to train you, so at least you'll be able to better defend yourself."
"OK. Cool."
"OK. So get dressed and I'll tell Michael you'll be ready in a minute." She leaves the room, closing the door behind her, and heads back downstairs.
She tells Michael to wait a few minutes and then goes toward the coffeepot. Halfway there, she is stopped by pounding on the door. She changes direction and opens the door questioningly.
Like a ballistic missile, a blanket-covered figure comes hurtling in. Once inside, Spike removes the smoldering blanket and looks around with his patented slightly disdainful look.
Buffy looks at him with a raised eyebrow. "Spike. What're you here for?"
"I got a little information last night. Other than your little message by Slayer. Thought you might like to hear it."
Angel speaks, "It couldn't wait until nightfall?"
"See, I thought about that. But it's a little too big."
Xander replies, "Big enough to risk being flame-broiled?" His son looks at him somewhat strangely; knowing the new arrival was a vampire, he only knows Spike would combust. He doesn't understand the comment was a joke.
"Yeah, actually. A little birdie told me who may be behind this apocalypse scheme."
Cordy looks up. "'A little birdie'?"
"OK. A vamp sent to spy on me, alright? Stop bein' so literal."
Buffy interrupts, "As much as I enjoy the bickering, can we just get to the point?"
Right now, Megan walks in, heading for food. "Mom, we're gonna go outside for a while." She sees Spike. "Hi Spike." Suddenly, she realizes he's actually standing there, so she grabs her mother's arm and pulls her to the side. She whispers, "Mom, why is Spike in the middle of the kitchen? It's morning."
"It's nothing you need to worry about. He's just going to tell us something. As for it being morning, look at him as suicidal."
Megan seems to accept this. She grabs an orange and Michael, and heads outside.
Buffy turns back to Spike. "You were saying?"
Spike somewhat ignores her. "That was an interesting mother-daughter moment. Wish I had a camera."
Buffy is by now exasperated. "Spike! Stay on topic please?"
"Sure," Spike looks around, as if thinking, "What was I talkin' about again?"
"Who might be behind the latest attempt at an apocalypse."
"Yeah. This guy told me . . ."
Cordy interrupts again. "He 'told you'?"
"Fine. I forced him t'tell me before I helped him get up close and personal with a tree branch. Am I telling this story or what?"
Angel tries to defuse the situation. "He told you what?"
"OK. He said someone called the Queen told him to watch me. If she's the same chick I've heard about, we're gonna be in big trouble."
Buffy looks at Angel, as if needing an explanation. He complies, "It's a legend from way before my time. I think she was associated with the Druids. In any case, she was even older than the Master, and most likely more powerful."
Buffy doesn't seem to accept this. "If she's a legend, how do we know she's real? And why wouldn't anyone have killed her?"
Spike responds. "Come on. You should know better than anyone that most legends are actually true. The reason no one has killed her is because nobody sees her. Other vamps do everything for her."
Oz speaks up. "OK. I think all of us are going to go into the living room. You guys figure this out and get back to us." All the guests head out of the kitchen.
Buffy speaks again. "Fine. My only question now is if we should believe a random vamp. Who's to say he wasn't making up something in the hopes he wouldn't end up dust?"
Spike gets defensive. "Two things to say t'that. One: he was too stupid to come up with a lie. Two: he was scared, and not just of me. He thought he was gonna die even if, for some reason, I let him go."
Buffy contemplates this. "So maybe this 'Queen' person really likes doling out punishment if she doesn't get her way. I guess I'll talk to the rest of the guys, see if we can find any information on her, if any exists."
There is a knock on the door, and Willow sticks her head in. "Hello? We're here."
Buffy turns to the door. "Hey. Come on in. Everyone's in the living room," then, turning back to Spike, "Why don't you go in the basement, at least until it's safe for you to leave."
Willow and the rest of the group from her house walk in. Tara speaks. "Was that Spike?"
"Yeah. He decided to attempt suicide just to give us some information. Let's join up with the rest of the gang and talk about what we know, then I can get Megan and Michael and start training the people that might need it." Buffy leads the way to the living room.