Author's note: Hey everyone, I'm back! and The Action continues! Some things are going to be exposed about Spike in the next few chappies and i can't wait to reveal them!

Chapter XXI - Of Manors And Warriors

Somewhere near Prague, at Miranda's father's house (Which could be in Prague, but may not be):

The car stopped after about three hours. Buffy was already asleep cradled in Spike's arms. Alex and William were both dozing off as well. The only one who wasn't sleeping soundly was Spike. He stared at the manor they were entering. When the car stopped he jerked out of his reverie.

"Pet?" he gently shook Buffy awake.

"Ngngnguh?" she mumbled incoherently.

"We stopped, Pet." Spike informed her.

"Spike?"

"C'mon." he reached over and tapped Alex. "Minion."

She jolted awake but thankfully didn't punch anyone.

Nodding she stretched slightly, blinking for a second to collect her thoughts and to make out where she was. Then, after a few moments, realizing; she grabbed the baby car seat. Someone opened the door for her and held an umbrella over her head to make sure that no snow would even come near baby William. Buffy was leaning on Spike heavily as she limped up to the magnificent baroque doors.

The inside of the house was even more beautiful that the outside if that was possible. Old stone and magnificent archways.

The man with the umbrella stayed with her. Miranda ushered them into the place. A rather plump woman immediately hurried them from the foyer. A beautiful pine crib was waiting for William and the plump woman took the seat from Alex and deposited William there.

"Excuse-"

The woman turned around and curtseyed slightly.

"I'm sorry, dear, my name is Hannah Wallace," she then promptly turned to the baby.

Alex thought of asking her exactly what she was doing but quickly thought the better of it.

Spike set Buffy gently down in a beautiful four poster bed. Where she was ambushed by a man with gray hair and wire rimmed glasses.

"Who are you?" Spike demanded.

"I'm Dr. George Wallace, Hannah's husband, now if you will, I must have a look at the Slayer." he said hurriedly and in a tone the showed he was not to be trifled with.

Spike backed up and turned to his daughter. He looked disgruntled.

Alex jerked her thumb in the direction of Hannah. Indicating she understood how he felt.

After about ten minutes Hannah turned around declaring that William was fine and healthy. She was positively beaming at the child.

"It's a wonder he didn't develop pneumonia out there." she muttered crossly. "Honestly, gallivanting around countries, out running organizations out for your blood, and with a newborn no less." she threw her hands up in dismay. "Damn them all to pieces."

George came up with the same conclusion for the slayer.

"She'll be fine." he assured Alex and Spike as he rose to join his wife. "She just needs rest."

Alex checked her watch.

It was four thirty in the morning.

"Go to sleep, Minion." Spike said to her.

Alex looked as if she didn't want to but then she quickly reconsidered when Spike flashed her the weary look that brooked no argument. He was tired and she was sure he didn't want to argue with her, so she just nodded meekly and asked Miranda where she could sleep. Miranda immediately ordered Hannah to escort 'Ms. Alexandra' to her room. Had the woman not been so serious, Alex would have probably burst into a fit of hopeless giggles at the title.

Then, Miranda turned to Spike.

"The time for you questions to be answered has come." she said indicating Spike to follow her.

And he did, until he came up to a door. She opened it and motioned that Spike go in before her. There was a fire crackling merrily in the hearth and two arm chairs facing the door. In front of one of them was a very proper looking man still dressed in an expensive looking suit.

"Mr. William," he said in a formal voice that positively oozed nobility. "I trust your voyage here was easy."

Spike nodded once.

"Yes, thanks." he replied. "And it is just Spike."

"Father," Miranda greeted

"Miranda." he replied. His voice no warmer than the weather, but seconds later a goofy grin split his face. "I'm sorry, 'Randa."

"Fa-ther!" Miranda chastised. Obviously, she liked to put up appearances in front of company.

The older man turned to Spike.

"I understand you have queries?" he addressed. Even in a casual tone his voice remained amazingly proper. It made Giles sound like an uneducated commoner.

"Yeah," Spike answered.

"There are a number of reasons, but I really must ask you not to interrupt me until I have finished." the man said.

"Who are you?" Spike asked. It had occurred to him that he didn't have an idea who this man was.

"Jonathan Cortenay."

Spike nodded and took a seat, Jonathan settled into the seat across from him.

"There are a number of reason's I'm helping you and Ms Summers," he started. "For one, my family has long been associated with the council of watchers. That was until a woman, a seer informed my father that the council no longer cared for their slayers. Instead, they saw them more as tools. To them the slayers were easily replaceable no longer viewed as human. My father had feared this for a very long time and he withdrew his association with the watcher's council. That was when he first heard of the damphyr. The balance

"My father immediately obsessed over this, gathering all kinds and forms of texts concerning the subject and he passed all his knowledge to me. Eventually though, I lost faith in it all until just last November. I heard from a very reliable source-"

For the first time, Spike interrupted, or rather, snorted. But instead of taking offense, Jonathan just chuckled.

"Well, a few of them, that a child, a miracle child had been born of two vampires. One of which was sired twice and the other born as a champion of the powers twice as was motioned in the prophesy."

"Sorry, but a child of two vampires?" Spike interrupted once more.

"Yes," he paused, for a few seconds he stayed silent. "In fact, I believe that you may know them." Jonathan added casually. "Angelus and Darla."

Spike nearly fell out of his chair.

Wasn't ol' Darla dead?

"Oh, I was under the impression that my great grandsire was dead but..." Spike trailed off.

"She was brought back to life and was sired again." Jonathan said as if reading Spike's mind. "Now, this child was destined to come before the warrior, as a mentor of some sort. Of this part I am not so clear, but what I do know, Mr Willi-Spike, is that your son is destined to be a great warrior"

Jonathan was fully prepared for a violent reaction or vehement denials at the very least, but to his great surprise, the vampire nodded.

"Bloody runs in the family." he muttered.

At this, Jonathan let out another chuckle.

"Your son will grow up to save the world, Mr. Willi-Spike" he commented. "You should feel very proud."

"All I feel is pity for anyone who comes near him." Spike replied lifting his chin. "And not so much of that, either."

"You misunderstand my meaning, Mr Willi-Spike." Jonathan responded rather amusedly. "I simply mean to provide you, the slayer, the girl and the warrior with shelter and protection for as long as you need them."

Spike nodded his thanks. The two sat in silence for a few moments. Then spike spoke.

"You said you were doing this for several things." Spike informed the man. "Just out of curiosity, what were the other ones?"

"There is just one." Jonathan corrected. "Just one."

"What is the other one?" Spike repeated.

"The other one, Mr. William," Jonathan spoke slowly, he knew that this may be very shocking for the vampire. "is a special favor to the man that I owe my father's life to."

Spike looked at him questioningly, or what he hoped looked like a questioning look, in all truth he was well aware of what the old man meant.

But the old man didn't respond to his questioning look. He informed the vampire that it was rather ate and they both had better get some rest. As soon as Spike left the room, he spoke.

"I have always wished I had the opportunity thank you Mr. William." Jonathan said. He smiled slightly. "And this is my way of doing it."