"Daughter of Rosenberg..."
Summary: One year after the events of "Groom of Rosenberg" Buffy the Rosenberg Monster and her honey have returned to ask a special favor of their creators Rosenberg and Praetorius...While Tara faces the more or less Big Bad...
Disclaimer: Would Joss want his name associated with this? I think not...But anyway all BTVS characters remain the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and all other owner/creators of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series...Though his brother Mort gets nothing...
Archived at the Cicelyverse page of the Buffy Rebecca verse, www.
...
Part XXVI...
"So you have seen Buffy and Spike on the street?" Harmony eyed Fikcus…"The magnificent"…
Formerly and apart from those few unfortunate enough to have stumbled into his thrall, only more so in his vampiral form, John Fikcus, the pudgy and generally creepy.
"Not me…But guys I know…The word is they're a couple. But quiet, well-behaved, more or less… You know, the sappy kind of underworlders who hold Evil at bay and don't want any trouble."
"That's pathetic…" Harmony shook her head.
"Tell me about it. To have that kind of strength…And I hear they're daylight capable..And not make any Evil use of it? It's a crime against nature…Heck, I've heard…" he assumed confidential air… "That the dead Slayer is back at it…Slaying, I mean. Sorta part-time. But I haven't seen it so…"
"Eehew…But typical Buffy…" Harmony rolled eyes. "Anything else? As in, exactly where I can find them…?"
"Eh, who knows…" he shrugged.
"Now that's a shame…" she staked him before he could move…
"Now there's a crime against nature…I guess." she noted to the falling ashes…Sighing…
But…Can't have him going off to blab to Buffy for cash or blood…
Ok…So we have confirmation but no location…Hmmn…
Maybe I shoulda waited and got the addresses of his "guys he knew"…Ah, well…
Just gotta keep on using my natural charm…
Oh…Don't let me go screw my first assignment for the Big Guy.
No, I can do this…I am wise…I am strong…I am Vampiress.
Hmmn?...Is that too self-assertive? The Boss being a 15th century kinda guy…
…
"Thanks…" Lou told Jonesy as Bud came over to them…
"Don't mention it…" Jonesy, kind wave. "I just hope the kid'll be ok…"
Oz now safely locked in his room as the moon rose…Howling now emanating from the said room as Bud stared…
"What is wrong with that kid? Is he on drugs or something?"
"Could be…" Jonesy nodded, shrewd look. Glance to Lou who shrugged…
New to Sunnydale, go figure...
…
"Can we please remember? Much as I want to know my only daughter…As my daughter." William noted. "That Miss Faith is a very capable Slayer…Willow a first-rate Wiccan and mad scientist…Giles a very shrewd Watcher with excellent magics knowledge…And Xander's… Well, we wouldn't want to hurt him."
"I got covered…" Buffy, archly. As they strode down carefully toward the McNab House of Horrors…
"And your plan?" he asked..
"Just follow lead…" she shrugged. "No problemo…" shrewd nod.
He rolled eyes but followed her…
Gotta admit it is nice to see her back in take-charge form…
As if we Victorians didn't like strong women. Hello, we had a Queen…
She came to a halt about 100 feet from the Museum…
"I see police cars…" William noted.
"Yep…Me too…" she nodded.
"Giles probably…" she noted.
"Really gunning for us, eh?"
"I think he know we kinda bullet-proof…" she smiled. "They more distraction…Bait maybe…And keep crooks out if any watchin'."
"Nice of him to cover all the bases…And the home team?"
"Waiting around…" she pointed cautiously. "They there…"
"So?"
"No problemo…" she beamed.
"HEY! GUYS!" she hollered. "COME ON OUT!"
"No problemo?"
"No…Problemo…" she nodded, confidently. Pointing at where Giles had just carefully stepped out into the main street…
"Buffy?!"
"Hey! Giles!" she called. "Dawnie and Jon ok?!..."
"They're fine…" he nodded. "Would you come over and speak to us?!"
"Sorry!" she called, pulling back and urging Will back… "No want another stay in dungeon, thanks…"
"Buffy?!...You know I am sorry for what happened to you!" he called.
"Sorry I do choke hold, Giles!" she called. "I only two days old, you know…And you were startin' to hack me up! But no hard feeling… Tell Faith back off! I see her…!"
"Faith!" Giles called. "Stay where you are…!"
"Thanks!" Buffy called, "So, alls ok…We go now! Bye!" wave…
"Buffy! I can't let you go without knowing if you pose a danger!"
"Giles! I have been very patient with you people but there are limits!"
"Buffy?!" he stared.
"Yeah, that me! I reincarnate, Giles. Cicely…She come up every now and then …Look me up! We're going now! Tell Jon and Dawn we love 'em! And Xander and Anya and you and Willow and Tara, too… All good now! Bye!"
Lets vamoose…She hissed to William…Urging him back…
"What was that?" he hissed to her as they hurried away…
"Just wanted to see if he have anything big beside Faith. Best to know now, not get caught at home…" she noted. "And try dip…diplo…macy…"
"Very good…" he smiled.
"Are we letting them go?" Xander hissed.
"For the moment…" Giles replied. "Ronsom?" he called.
A small man carrying a case on his side emerging from the bushes to the left of Xander. Xander starting… Whoa? He was hidden back there all the time?
"Did you get the aural signatures?" Giles asked.
"They're very unusual but yes. And they stick out like a sore thumb, sir." Ronsom patted his case…
….
"So the scuttlebutt is that Spike and that thing some fools still choose to call Buffy made an appearance tonight at the McNab Museum…?" Angel, listening to Wes' report from his last quick sweep of the streets. "But Giles chose not to engage…?"
"That's it. Angel? Shouldn't we go and discuss things with Rupert Giles?"
"I prefer to keep my operations here separate Wes. You know that about me…"
"Surely our interests in this matter coincide, Angel. And Giles may have knowledge about Buffy and William. He did spare them tonight. Perhaps he's convinced they're all right. Safe to deal with…"
"Or wasn't ready for them…" Angel shrugged. "Unlike me…"
Oh, I don't know…Wes sighed. I seriously doubt you're "safe to deal with".
…
"Should we go and check on the kid?" Bud asked Lou as they stood by Bud's car, listening for any further sounds from the motel cottage where Oz was currently confined. "He seems over it now…"
"No, not yet…" Lou eyed the risen moon… "I think he's just layin' low in there. Don't disturb him, Bud. I think you'd regret it…"
"I regret lettin' you talk me into this nonsense. Well, it's sure clear now the kid and that strange girl Rosenberg and her pal were all in on the exhibit thefts…"
"We don't know that, Bud…" Lou sighed.
"They're probably all on drugs…Stealing to support their habits…"
I suppose in a way…If you substitute "blood" for "drugs"…That would explain most of Sunnydale in a nutshell, Lou noted to himself.
"Well, we can't sit out here all night…" Bud insisted.
"Why don't you go back to the museum? I'll stay and watch over the kid." Lou suggested.
"I don't know…You think you can handle that?" Bud eyed him…Anxious look… "This seems like a job for professionals. I don't think it's a good idea to leave you alone here."
"Thanks for the concern, Bud…You're a good cuz and a first-rate pal." warm smile, pat… "I'll be fine…"
…
A rather archly proud Anya eyeing the assembled gang inside the House of Horrors…Police at various corners eyeing them while making rounds quietly.
The Mayor, more under Giles' gentle but firm insistence than McNab's threats to expose his list of bribed local officials, starting with the Mayor's nephew, having provided a fairly adequate force to safeguard the place for a evening or two…
I mean if the Royal Council of Library Scientists and Antiquarians really wants to assist Sunnydale's efforts to protect a new cultural landmark and preserving a vanishing bit of whimsical folklore…Who am I to stand in the way?
"I told you…" Anya, firm nod. Cool glance at the frowning Dawn and sheepish Jonathan…
Well? She eyed Xander. Who nodded…Ok…You win, we give…
"But it still doesn't answer the question…What's Buffy been doing? And is she involved in this thing with the museum?" he pointed out to her pout.
Can't we just let me savor the moment of triumph? I haven't even graciously acknowledged your as yet unmade concession speeches yet…
"Xander's right…" Giles nodded.
And…? Anya blinked.
"And Anya was right…I apologize for not taking your intuition here more seriously…"
Yes!...Oh, yeah! Yeah!
"Oh, it wasn't anything, Giles…" she regally noted. "I guess I just have a sixth or seventh sense about these things."
"Yes…Well, the question Xander put remains…Is she involved here with the Dracula statue affair? And what has she been up to?" Giles sighed.
"She's been up to…Making a life for herself…" Dawn glared. "The life we took away from her before she'd even begun to live…That you Watchers took from her before…" she eyed Giles. "Hows about answering that question, Giles? Tell us what happened to my mother and father when they bucked the Council a century ago? Monster?...You bet there was…A whole Councilful…"
"Dawn…" Xander…
"No…She's quite right." Giles shook his head… "We did separate Buffy and William…And I suppose, to some extent, we must deserve the title…"
"Daughter of Rosenberg..."
Summary: One year after the events of "Groom of Rosenberg" Buffy the Rosenberg Monster and her honey have returned to ask a special favor of their creators Rosenberg and Praetorius...While Tara faces the more or less Big Bad...
Disclaimer: Would Joss want his name associated with this? I think not...But anyway all BTVS characters remain the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and all other owner/creators of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series...Though his brother Mort gets nothing...
Archived at the Cicelyverse page of the Buffy Rebecca verse, (just Google us).
...
Part XXVII...
Sunnydale General…
Xander, a bit pensive as the reconvened gang sat in the hospital cafeteria…Willow, a bit subdued…Understandably, given the rather intense news of the evening…Now with them…
"So we now can track them, thanks to your guy Ronsom?" he asked Giles.
"We can…Within limits…Their aural traces are very distinctive…"
"So they are alive…" Willow sighed, shaking head. "I knew it might be true but…"
Hell, I am one bang-up mad genius…Inward, desperately concealed grin…
"And they deserve to be left alone…" Dawn frowned. "Didn't you hear what Giles said? What I said? They've been tormented and hounded since they first met back in 1880 and all my parents want now is a little peace…"
"That is a little disconcerting, Giles…" Xander eyed him. "Why didn't you tell us you knew more about Buffy and Spike's past…That they had a 'past' even…And about this Cicely?"
"I was under strict orders not to, Alexander…I've explained that." Giles, quietly.
"If we'd known…" Xander, hard stare. "We could've helped them…"
"And how would we have done that, Xander? Cursed Spike so he could endure Angel's plight? Or worse, encouraged Buffy to risk contact with him? Perhaps in her guilt and remorse have her fall under his demonic curse as well? Or at the best, leave her vulnerable to any creature aware of her need to protect William?"
"I don't know…" Xander shook his head. "But it was wrong to keep this from us…And her…"
"Perhaps…" Giles, thoughtfully. "But I had to put Humanity's safety first…As I must now…"
"Meaning…We hunt them down like dogs…?" Dawn cut in… "Jon? Lets go…" she rose up…
"Dawn…" Xander, putting up a hand… "It won't help them if you go running off…"
She hesitated…Jonathan urging her to sit… "I think Xan's right, Dawn."
"I won't let you people hurt my parents…" she sat down.
"Ditto…" Jonathan nodded…Earning a warm beam…
"I don't pretend to know what the best thing to do here is, guys." Faith spoke up. "But I promise you, Dawn. I won't hurt Buffy. I mean that, Giles."
"I understand your feelings…" Giles nodded. "I don't want her hurt either. But we must be sure she's no threat to anyone. And we must determine what is going on that's triggering such strange events. Before some preventable tragedy strikes…"
"She seemed pretty reasonable, Giles. Even friendly, more or less…" Xander noted.
"She's not mad at us…She's over that." Dawn chimed in. "In fact, she and Will have been trying to help. As much as they could, safely…"
"Indeed?" Giles eyed her…
"They've kept an eye on us…" she shrugged. "She's the Slayer still, to some extent. She wants to help. So long as we don't go ruining her life again. Look, guys…I've seen her close up. She's Buffy, not a monster, however she may look…" slight frowning glance to Willow… "Can't you just accept that and let her have her life, what is left of it?"
Hmmn…Anya glanced at Xander…
"Giles…" she began. He put up a hand…
"We all want Buffy's happiness. And we all hope she's made some sort of recovery from her terrible experience. But…We need more than a few hopeful stories. She may be trying to help…Or, clever enough to deceive you, Dawn. Though, if you want my honest opinion, I believe you're right…"
"But…" Dawn eyed him.
"But…" he nodded. "As Hellmouth Watcher…As a member of the Council under oath…And as Buffy's loving friend…I have to consider my own feelings may be clouding my judgment. We need to proceed cautiously here. Even if Buffy has recovered some of her humanity, she is still in a form very prey to darker powers…As is William. Will you all concede that much? That for your sakes and for thousands of potential victims we need to be cautious here?" he looked around…
Reluctant nods by all but Dawn and Jonathan…
"Will you let her be?" Dawn asked, sternly.
"I'm prepared to try and negotiate with her further. But I want her to allow us to examine her. See what possible hold Evil may have on her…And learn her plans…"
"Examine how? I won't let her be experimented on…Or held…"
"I'm willing to compromise and do our testing under conditions she's willing to accept…As much as possible. I'd also like William to submit to such testing…And to hear what she knows of the events at the museum…"
"I can tell you that, pretty much…Nothing more than you guys know. She was just monitoring us. For our protection…"
Uh-huh…Anya pondered…Conjuring the image of a furious Buffy tearing Willow's lab apart as she came running, seeing Giles crumpled on the floor…Buffy turning on her…A quick, choking grab before Willow raced in…
Somehow these days I don't feel safer knowing our Buf is watching over us…
"Dawn…Giles could be right, you know…" she offered, gently as she could. "If something cleverly Evil's got a hold on Buffy…"
"I know my mother…" Dawn glared. "She loves us…Even if we sure don't deserve it. And she just wants us to let her live in peace."
"I wanna believe that…" Anya nodded. "We all want Buffy back if we can have her back."
"Amen…" Xander…
"If I spoke to her…Without you trying anything, Giles…" Dawn, carefully. "And she agreed to meet you…Just to talk."
"I'd be willing…" Giles nodded.
"No tricks…No magic nets…No dart guns. As far as 'tests' go…That's for her to decide."
"But I'll have to go…" Faith insisted.
"I think she'd allow that…But that's all." Dawn…Grim look at a sheepish Willow…
But…I'm her best friend…And creator, sorta. Geesh…
"Very well…" Giles nodded. A troubled Jonathan eyeing him…With a surprising firmness Giles acknowledged in his return stare.
…
"Don't be mad…" Buffy put an arm around William as they reached Lake Sunnydale…
"I'm not…It was inevitable they'd learn about us. I'm just…" he shrugged. "I don't know if we can trust Giles and Willow. And I don't want you hurt again…Ever…"
"Me neither…But done now. And is nice to be back in world again…" she smiled.
"Well, lets hope for a happy reunion down the line but…I've doubts."
"We'll be careful. Will, thanks? For lettin' me handle…?"
"Sure…You're the Slayer, aren't you?" returned smile.
"Feel like it…" she nodded, nuzzling him.
"Then, whatever happens…It was worth it." he patted her.
"Ooops…Light…" she hissed, pulling away. They moved back to the cover of some trees…
He scanned the shore. Hmmn…Flashlight…
"Look like lady with dog…" Buffy noted, peering. "Maybe not get good look here…"
"Lets just wait and let her go on…" Will suggested. "I'd rather no one saw us taking the boat out. She'll just think we were another couple strolling…"
"You see them, Master?" Harmony hissed to Dracula. Now exercising one of his many famed powers by taking the form of a rather handsome wolf-like hound…
He gave a grunt of assent…Leading her back from the lake shore path…
"I was just lucky to hear they'd been spotted at the House of Horrors Museum tonight and headed this way…" Harmony noted. As Dracula, concealed by trees, resumed his more or less human form…
"Well done, my dear…" he nodded. "And you were wise to contact me immediately. Very well…We now have the whereabouts of Ms. Rosenberg's little unhappy secret. A potential incentive to have her continued cooperation once our experiment is completed and she is released from your thrall…"
"Right, sir…" Harmony nodded, eager. "But what now? Won't we need Buffy under lock and key if we're going to use her as a bargaining chip later…?"
"All in good time, my dear…Pardon me, I must take to another form to pursue them. Please return to Dr. Praetorius and let him know what's transpired here."
"Right away, sir…" Harmony nodded. Watching with interest the bat now flying off…
Boy, have I got something to tell for "Believe It or Not"? trivia night.
"Daughter of Rosenberg..."
Summary: One year after the events of "Groom of Rosenberg" Buffy the Rosenberg Monster and her honey have returned to ask a special favor of their creators Rosenberg and Praetorius...While Tara faces the more or less Big Bad...
Disclaimer: Would Joss want his name associated with this? I think not...But anyway all BTVS characters remain the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and all other owner/creators of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer series...Though his brother Mort gets nothing...
Archived at the Cicelyverse page of the Buffy Rebecca verse, www.
...
Part XXVIII...
A sheepish tapping in the predawn darkness at Lou's motel cottage door…
"Hey…" a weary-looking Oz standing on the doorstep as Lou opened the door.
"Thanks…Hope I didn't worry you too much last night."
"Nah…" Lou shook head…A bit bleary-eyed… "You ok?"
"Fine…And thanks to you, so is everyone else." wan smile… "Uh, Mr. Bates in the office has coffee and doughnuts…"
"Sounds good if no help to my waistline…" nod. Lou stepped out…
"So I guess…" Oz, carefully as they walked along. "You kinda know the score in this town…"
"Born and bred here…Comes with the territory. But my cousin…Bud. He's new here."
"I got that…" Oz nodded.
"Does this happen every night?" Lou asked.
"Only during the full moon…"
"That's a mercy. As my poor ole mum would've said. Before a vampire got her…"
Oz paused. "Gee…Sorry…"
"She was in pretty bad shape. It was quick and she wasn't transformed so…Kind of a mercy killing, if a little inadvertently. Though I did take care of it…" Lou, hard stare.
"I see…"
"They underestimate little pudgy humans sometimes. Plus I actually think she liked me a little, at least when she was alive. Or, maybe…" wan smile… "My being so round, so firm, so fully packed was just too irresistible for her new self. Anyway, she's at peace now. Guess it wasn't meant to be…"
"You're all right, Lou…" Oz smiled. Hesitant… "So…How'd a guy like you end up at the House of Horrors, as a guard?"
"Assistant curator…" Lou corrected, with grin…
"Assistant curator…Well? If you don't mind…"
"Cousin Bud got the job with Cousin Art. He's my best friend since we were kids. I was between things and thought it would help him out. Besides, you've seen the place…It'll either clean up or piss off the Undead so much they'll come after Artie. Either way I thought it was worth hangin' around to see how things go. Mostly I'm a writer, though…"
"Really…Anything I mighta come across…?"
"Some underground stuff on the goings on. A political freelance or two on local and state politics, some poetry and short stories. Nothing major to date… But I keep tryin'…And that means taking what I can get to keep body and soul together. Though, obviously, I'm not the starvin' type…" grin.
"I know what you mean…Musician here."
"I've heard your band…You're good." shrewd look. "And what are you doin' back in Sunnydale?"
"Involuntary, believe me…Though I do have fond memories and friends here. Someone took a pot at me in England when I was in lunar mode. Some friends of my friends sent me here. Things got a little mixed up…"
"They did…" Lou nodded. "And you wound up one of Art's exhibits…?" He shook his head.
"That's about the size of it…"
"And Dracula? It is him, right?"
"Guess so…His own people…And his own agenda…" nervous look. "And I need your help there…I've gotta get in touch with my friends. Drac or his minion has their hooks in my…Well, my ex-girlfriend…Willow, the girl you met at the museum. The red-head…?"
"Ms. Rosenberg? The heiress? Nice…"
"She's married…The other girl…" Oz sighed.
"Likewise nice…For her anyway…But why her? She's a friend of the Slayers, past and present, right? Dracula looking to take on the Slayer?"
"I don't think that's the reason…" They halted at the steps to Jonesy's office door…
"See…Willow is a powerful Wiccan…Witch…And a pretty brilliant scientist, if a little on the mad side of Science."
("What…?" Dru eyed the staring group. All three a tad uncomfortable…
"Rather casual about the proprieties, these future humans…" Darla frowned. "Does no one stand up for the narrow prejudices and hypocritically moral strictures of the past?"
"Well, at least the color line is being maintained, I hope…" Angelus noted.
Uh… "Well, Father…"
"I know some very fine Indian and African poets…" Spike noted.
"'I know some very fine Indian and African poets'…" Angelus, mocking. "It's radicals like you, Walthrop, who'll bring down the Empire."
Really?...Spike eyed Dru silently, with grin.
Hmmn-hmm…Slight nod…)
"I truly don't see the point, Angel…" Wes, in hotel room, reluctantly preparing for a day's surveillance…When I could for once be enjoying a well-earned break in said hotel's spa. "This fellow Clement will be on guard and we've no special reason to believe Spike or Buffy place much trust in him that they'll seek to contact him."
"But he's the sort who will seek them…To warn them…" Angel smiled coolly.
(Thank God I've not lost my ability to shrewdly size up people and things despite the miserable soul…Angelus noted.
Darla, rolling eyes…)
"Rest assured, Wes…At some point our dog-eared friend will try to warn my poor ex-love or her foul companion." stern nod.
Meaning that, noting he's a decent fellow despite the demonity, you're fully prepared to use his better nature to bring poor Buffy into your vengeful grasp? Wes thought…Sighing…
"And then…" Angel went on… "I'll strike! Damn it!" he fumbled at the now locked artificial arm he'd forgetfully slammed on the table.
("I certainly hope so…Perhaps there is hope for me yet." Angelus noted. "The overly moralistic assistant must go though. Remind me to write my future self a memo to that effect…"
"That's a shame…Who will have sex with your soully self, then?" Spike beamed.)
"Willow? Wil…Low?" Tara nudged Willow, asleep in her chair next to Tara's hospital bed…
Slight moan, turn of head…
Hmmn…Sleeping ten hours straight?
"God, sweetie, you seem more in need of a hospital stay than me…" she whispered, softly.
Must be all that late night work with Andrew and before finally catching up with her…
Well, I'll be outta here today and we'll get back to putting all that in the past. And…
Oh…She closed her eyes slowly. Opening a moment later, a blank, dreamy stare…
"Vlad…" she whispered. "Vlad…Vlad…At last…" Rising from where she'd sat on the bed and moving to the door…
….
Hmmn…Andrew eyed the neuroencephlogram tracings from the cloned, dormant brain as he sat in the lab, reviewing the experimental protocol and tending to a bit of necessary corporate paperwork…
Bit of an upswing in activity this am…But to be expected at this stage…