The Black, January 2520

Lacey steeled herself as she approached Mal. She'd been on Serenity for about 8 months. She trusted the crew and she knew they trusted her. But she knew how tetchy Mal was about jobs, and offering one without telling him who he was working for… well, she wasn't quite sure how well it was going to go over. She took a final fortifying breath and stepped into the mess, finding Mal and Zoe, coffee mugs in hand, just as expected.

Mal looked up expectantly, "Anything interesting off your wave?"

Lacey poured herself a cup of coffee and nodded as she sat, "Got a job if you're interested."

"Depends on what the job is."

"Quick security gig on Heinlein."

"Pay?"

"Very good. New fuel cells and more credits than we've seen at once in months, maybe all year."

Mal raised an eyebrow, "What's the catch?"

"Employer wants to stay anonymous." Lacey hesitated only briefly, "And what we'd be providin' security against ain't exactly human in nature."

Both eyebrows shot up at that.

"You trust me, Captain?"

"I reckon I do," Mal nodded slowly.

Lacey released a deep breath, "This job is legit. The pay is legit. I know these people and I've worked with them before. I trust them. So I'm just asking you to trust me."

Mal considered for a moment before agreeing, "Alright, set course Heilein."

Lacey smiled and tipped her mug in his direction in a mock salute, "River already did, Cap."

"Āiyā!" Lacey set off in search of Spike, chuckling as Mal questioned Zoe, who was assuring him he was still captain of his boat.

Lacey wasn't particularly surprised to Spike sprawled on the couch in the passenger common area with River perched on the table in front of him. She couldn't help but chuckle. She knew the dark-haired, wide-eyed girl reminded him of Dru… well, Dru minus the evil bit. He knew better than to make the comparison aloud, though. Lacey really would cause him harm for it, and he knew it.

He looked up as she leaned over the end of the couch, over him, "Playing Spiderman, are we luv? Fancy a snog?"

Lacey rolled her eyes and not so accidentally tipped her coffee mug too far over his face. He jumped up cursing as River giggled and Lacey turned her back.

"Clean yourself up and meet me in the cargo bay," she called back over her shoulder.

Spike was still grumbling about getting coffee out of his hair when he showed up in the cargo bay, "What in the bloody hell do you want, woman?"

Lacey raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to catch on.

His eyes narrowed as he took in her bare feet, loose pants and tank top. He grinned and shrugged off his leather jacket. Knowing the opportunity wouldn't come again soon, she shot a thought in River's direction and heard a giggle in response from the catwalk above.

Spike turned toward her, "Fancy a go, then?"

Lacey grinned, and launched at him in answer. Neither went full-tilt, both constantly reining in speed and strength, aware of their growing audience. Still, it was the best round of sparring Lacey'd had since she left the ranch and she collapsed breathlessly two hours later, knowing she'd have bruises tonight that would be gone by morning. Gonna have to wear long sleeves and avoid Simon 'til tomorrow, she thought vaguely. Spike collapsed next to her and she took the opportunity to quietly explain exactly what they were going to be dealing with when they landed on Heinlein. Then she jumped up and stretched quickly, heading toward the showers. She chuckled and sprinted the rest of the way when she heard Spike roar from behind her, "Where in the bloody gorram hell is my rutting jacket?!"

Heinlein, January 2520

"What is this? Bloody week of blast from the past? You didn't say it was a rutting Suvolte demon!" Spike snarled as he charged the demon in question once more.

"Will didn't know what it was when she waved!" Legacy yelled back as she ducked the demons arm, "She just knew it was causing a whole mess of trouble!"

Spike went flying into a tree behind her and she ducked another grasping limb.

"Besides, if I remember that story correctly, it was your fault the damn thing was there in the first place!" Lacey said accusingly after flying into the tree next to him.

"Not my bloody fault this time!" he told her as they both took off in pursuit of the fleeing demon.

Lacey caught it first, leaping onto its back and burying a blade in one of its shoulders. It flung her off just as Spike tackled it at the knees. Lacey rolled out of the way is it went down.

Perceived assistance incoming, River's voice drifted across her mind.

Legacy cursed and dragged a protesting Spike back down to the ground as the Suvolte stood into a hail of bullets. The second the guns stopped firing Lacey leaped up and used the demon's momentary distraction at the gunfire to wrench its neck until it snapped. Lacey leaped off its shoulders, landing neatly on her feet and helping a cursing Spike up to his feet as the demon crumpled to the ground.

"What in the gorram 'Verse?" Mal asked, looking at the dead Suvolte wide-eyed, "Thing barely even flinched!"

Lacey shrugged, "Only way we know of to kill a Suvolte is to snap its neck. Problem is, it's difficult to close enough long enough to do just that."

"So whadya gonna do with it now?" Jayne asked.

Lacey shrugged again.

"Burn it?" Spike suggested.

Lacey nodded, "We'll have to drag it back to field where we parked Serenity."

The crew set two fires. One to burn the demon, and another to cook the steaks Kaylee had bought during her supply into town that afternoon.

Lacey stretched her legs out in front of her, enjoying a still mostly cold beer as she leaned against Spike.

"How the hell did that thing get here?" she asked suddenly.

"What get where, pet?" Spike asked.

"The Suvolte. Weren't those things almost extinct already when you were trying to sell eggs? It's not like they're particularly smart. And there's no way in hell they could pass for even remotely human if they were smart enough to try. So how did it make it into the 'Verse and last this long besides?"

She felt Spike shrug, "Can't rightly say. Have Red look into it."

"I will." she was quiet for a minute, then, "Why'd you leave?"

Spike tensed, "I'm right here."

"Don't even, Spike. You know damn well what I mean. We haven't seen you in almost a hundred years. And you barely even had the grace to say goodbye then."

She felt him sag a bit as he spoke softly, "Don't rightly know I can explain it, pet."

"Try." Lacey commanded.

Spike shifted a bit and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, "Suppose I got tired of the looks Buffy was giving me."

Lacey understood, and asked as gently as she could, "Like she wasn't really sure if she wanted to spend eternity with you?"

Spike sighed, "Suppose that's one way to put it."

Lacey bit her lip and debated with herself over whether or not she should tell him. Looking over the fire, her eyes met Rivers. The girl nodded almost imperceptibly, and Legacy smiled lightly, not even slightly offended the girl had been listening to her thoughts.

"You are one of a kind, you know." Legacy told him.

"I know it." he replied, the snark only half-hearted.

"No, really. Angel's gone. Has been since a few months before you left."

Spike tensed again, "Shénme?"

"That's why Buffy was giving you those looks. It wasn't that she was questioning whether or not she wanted to spend eternity with you. It's more like she was realizing she finally could without second-guessing herself."

"Why didn't anyone tell me?"

"Didn't tell you about Angel because Buffy wanted to. Didn't tell you about Buffy because that was her business. And before you ask, didn't track you down after you left because Buff was so pissed we thought she'd be more likely to stake you than kiss you."

Spike chuckled then was silent for a while. Finally, so softly she could barely hear it, "Xièxie, mèimei." And he kissed the top of her head lightly.

Lacey just nodded and leaned further back against him.

Their comfortable silence was interrupted by a blinding flash of green light. They were both on their feet instantly, Lacey with gun in hand and Spike vamped out, followed closely by Mal, Jayne, and Zoe, all armed, and River. They approached the new crater in the middle of the field cautiously, trying not to choke against the smoke. In the middle of the burnt patch of ground was a crumpled figure in jeans and a leather jacket. Approaching slowly, gun steady, Legacy used her feet to nudge the figure onto its back. Her gun hit the ground at the same time as her knees.

Legacy brushed dark hair off a sooty forehead feeling nothing but disbelief.

She breathed the word like a prayer, almost silent and so full of longing and hope and utter disbelief that it almost broke Spike's heart, "Xander?"

Translations:

Āiyā – shit

gorram – damn

Shénme – what

Xièxie – thank you

mèimei – little sister