Disclaimer: Me own BTVS? Would I really be writing this if I owned BTVS? Not bloody likely, but then again if I were Joss, a very passionate fan of his own creations then there is a possibility since he can't let go of his characters (then again neither can I, lol). But no people, I'm not Joss, so I don't own them. Joss and his lovely friends are the owners of BTVS, I'm just borrowing them for a bit of fun so don't sue me.
Feedback: I really want to know what you guys think of the story so far. No flames though. Thanks to everyone who reviews, really appreciate it.
A/N: Sorry, for the long wait. Happy Thanksgiving! I was gonna wait until I finished the other chapter but I'd figured I let you guys wait long enough. So enjoy!
"This is pointless," Rona grumbled as she walked beside Vi in one of Sunnydale's cemeteries.
They were there for training and Rona was walking along the path like it was not a big deal for two teenage girls to be in the cemetery in the middle of the night with stakes in their hands. Rona held hers loosely, while Vi held hers tightly, apprehension etched on her face. Rona on the other hand looked mostly annoyed although there was a slight trace of fear on her face.
"No, it's not," Vi disagreed.
Rona gave her a look.
"I know we're not Slayers but we need training. This is the kind of stuff our Watcher's are supposed to teach us," Vi explained.
"I never had a Watcher," Rona reminded Vi. "And besides even if we train there isn't a guarantee that the next Slayer is among us anyway."
Before Vi could offer some kind of a reply, she was tackled from behind. Vi screamed and squirmed against her attacker but it did no good, his grip was too strong.
"Help!" Vi yelled at Rona as she continued to struggle.
It took a couple of seconds to register in Rona's brain what was happening.
"That's it this one's dead," Spike declared letting go of Vi, before Rona even made an attempt at helping her friend.
Vi turned to face her assailant. "Hey," She frowned. "That hurt."
"Look you're not taking a bleedin' stroll, this is a trainin' session. So, I suggest you start payin' attention to your surroundings," Spike chastised them.
Rona could only looked at him defiantly, arms crossed with one hand holding a stake loosely. Vi had gotten up and was dusting her clothing.
"As for the pain. Get used to it. We're in a war, people get hurt. The only thing you don't want to be is dead."
Spike suddenly glanced over Rona's shoulder. "Looks like there's a chance to get some fightin' after all."
Rona and Vi both whirled around simultaneously. Two tall vampires were making their way towards them. One of them was wearing a blue and black plaid long sleeved shirt and jeans while the other one was wearing a Rage Against the Machine band T-shirt and jeans.
Both girls looked scared and they began to back up towards Spike.
"Come on now. It's time to show what you've learned," Spike said as he backed away from the girls' inching closeness.
"We can't fight vampires," Rona groaned.
"It's what you've been trainin' for," Spike stated. "And yes you can."
"Look at this, two young sweet things," the vampire wearing the plaid long sleeved shirt grinned.
His companion also grinned as he looked Rona and Vi over. "Mmm, delish," He grinned.
"Mind if we take a bite?" He asked Spike. "And if you do, we're just gonna have to change your mind. Right?" He glanced at the plaid guy who responded with a nod.
"Be my guest. Take 'em," Spike said, shoving the girls toward the vampires and then proceeded to back away.
Vi and Rona could only stare at each other as fear overcame them. Blue plaid vamp grabbed Vi, who was the nearest girl to him. He snatched her and she immediately let out an ear piercing scream which made him laugh with joy. He tightened his arms as he held her towards his fangs. Vi struggled and moved her head upwards connecting with the vamp's chin. He groaned in pain and she took the opportunity to jam her elbow into his ribs. He let go and she scrambled out of his grasp. Her heart was pumping and she was shaking slightly. She wasn't sure if it was because of the fear or the adrenaline that was beginning to surge through her.
Rona on the other hand was still struggling with her attacker but before Vi could attempt to help her, the blue plaid vamp came at her again. She evaded his grasp as he made a grab for her, and then kicked him in the knee which didn't faze him. She then punched him in the jaw and began to do a series of kicks and slaps as the fight progressed. Rona by this time had escaped her attacker's clutches and was also battling against him.
Spike watched from afar as the two girls fought or rather tried their best to fight with the vampires. They were just two young girls who had no business fighting vampires and yet they had to in order to prepare for the First. They should have been home wherever it was that they came from and doing normal girl things instead of fighting vampires. It annoyed him that they had to be doing this. Buffy hadn't been pleased with the idea either but she knew there was no other option, the girls couldn't just sit there being coddled, they needed to know how to defend themselves even if they were just regular human girls. If the rest of the Scoobies had learned to fight including Dawn then so could they.
"Looks like they're not doing too bad."
Spike turned behind him to see that Dawn had joined him.
"Now, they're doing better. Shoulda seen them at the beginning."
Dawn snorted. "I think I saw worse. Chloe, Sarah, and Chao Ahn we're a total mess but somehow they managed to kill their vampires. Well, with a little help from Xander and me. "
"You're pretty amazing you know. You really handle yourself well in a fight."
"I'm learning from the best aren't I?" Dawn smiled, proud of herself.
"That you are," Spike agreed. " Your Sis will probably go down as one of the best Slayers in the history of the Chosen Ones."
"I also meant you," Dawn elaborated. Ever since her attempt at trying to make amends, they had been talking and they had even started training if there was some time to do so since most of the training was for the other girls. She participated once in a while but the truth was she was busy with work and school, so she couldn't always be there.
Spike glanced away from her, not acknowledging the compliment.
"Hey! Look, they did it!" Dawn announced as she stared at the spot where Rona and Vi had previously been fighting vampires.
Vi could only stare at the spot where the vampire she had been fighting used to be stand. Slowly, her line of sight moved toward the arm with the stake. It was trembling slightly, just like the rest of the body. She stared at it numbly before a smile slowly broke out on her face.
Rona on the other hand, was sitting on the ground, arms around her knees. She was shaking her head unable to believe what had just occurred.
"I did it," Vi mumbled to herself. She then looked at Rona.
"You did it too," Vi added.
"Yeah, I did it," Rona agreed, not quite believing the meaning of the words.
"We both did it!" Vi exclaimed, grinning proudly and within seconds Rona was grinning as well.
"You guys did a good job," Dawn smiled at the girls.
"Not bad," Spike agreed. "For your first time but you guys still need more trainin'."
"But you guys did better than the other girls," Dawn added. " I mean I didn't see all of them, but from the ones I watched. You guys were way better."
"Hey! So, that's where you guys have been. Is the training over?" Xander called from across the cemetery. He was being followed by Anya, Chloe, Chao-Ahn, and Sarah.
"We're done," Dawn answered and waited until Xander was close before she said anything else. "We just finished. Well. they just finished with the slaying. We, or rather Spike, was just gonna give Vi and Rona a lesson about their mistakes."
Vi and Rona didn't seemed too pleased with the idea.
"Can't we do that tomorrow?"Vi wondered. "I mean we're exhausted. We just slayed our first vampires. It's a lot to take in you know."
Dawn glanced at Xander and Spike, "She has a point."
"So, Anya and I had to go over our group's mistakes too," Xander pointed out. "Which you missed out on since you ditched us." He shot an accusing glare at Dawn.
"Which is not fair," Anya joined in.
"You guys are the teachers. I'm merely the teacher's aide," Dawn replied.
"Willow and Buffy, not done yet?" Spike cut in.
"You mean they haven't been by here. We haven't seen then since we split up," Xander responded.
Spike frowned. It seemed like it should have been enough time for the girls to have their training session.
"Look there's Willow and the other potentials!"Anya pointed towards the area behind Spike and Dawn. "But no Buffy."
"Hey guys," Willow greeted.
Kennedy and Amanda waved, they were both grinning. It was pretty obvious they had been successful in slaying their vampires.
"Where's Buffy?" Spike immediately asked.
"Oh, she left," Willow responded, but before she could continue Spike interrupted her.
"She left? By herself? Where did she go? You weren't supposed to let her out of your sight," Spike started to berate the red head.
"Spike, would you calm down. Let Willow explain," Xander interrupted the blonde vampire. "What do you mean she left?"
"It's not like I wanted to leave her by herself, but she insisted she needed to do this by herself. Besides, she and the baby are safe now. She's under a protection spell, remember?" Willow responded, referring to the protection spell she had cast two days ago. She had cast it in order to make sure the baby would not come to harm if anybody tried to attack Buffy.
"Where is she?" Spike demanded, uncomfortable with the idea of Buffy being alone even if she was under the protection of a spell. After all, spells didn't always work out.
"She went to visit Mrs. Summers' grave," Willow responded quietly.
"Mom," Dawn whispered. "Buffy hasn't been there since the almost apocalypse with Willow. Sorry," She shot the red head an apologetic look.
"It's okay, Dawnie," the witch said.
Spike began to walk in the direction where Willow, Kennedy, and Amanda had come from.
"Spike, where are you going?" Xander asked.
Spike just quickened his pace ignoring the brunette man.
"He's going to get Buffy," Dawn answered for the departing vampire.
It didn't take him long to reach Joyce's grave. He knew the spot pretty well. He'd visited it often during the summer following Buffy's death. During those days of pain, it had often brought him comfort being near Buffy's grave as well as Joyce's. Joyce had always treated him with kindness and respect, something he hadn't experienced since his time with his mother. Dawn being the only other exception. Of course, it was different that Mrs. Summers actually talked to him with respect because she was older and should have known better. Dawn was just a young kid when she met him, and he always knew it was her youth and innocence that prevented her from seeing what he truly was. Nonetheless, he appreciated Dawn's friendship as much as Joyce's although in different ways. Joyce's was that of a mother while Dawn was that of a sister.
He noticed Buffy when he was about half a mile from the Joyce's grave. She was kneeling, head bowed in front of the marker. A single white flower lay in front of the head stone. He waited a few minutes before approaching her. When she finally stood, he started making his way towards her but before he could call out to her someone else beat him to it.
"Buffy," the Slayer quickly turned her head in the direction of the voice calling her. Buffy froze upon noticing who had called her. Her throat immediately began to constrict as she stared at the familiar figure of her mother. The familiar shade of golden hair that she always remembered her mother sporting seemed to shine with a heavenly glow along with the white robe that adorned her body.
"Mom?" Buffy finally managed to whisper.
"It's me honey," the heavenly figure of Joyce confirmed.
"I, uh," Buffy mumbled unable to process the fact that she was staring at her mother.
Joyce gave her a gentle, comforting smile.
"It's okay, honey. It's me. I'm here," Joyce reassured her daughter. "I've been listening to everything you've been telling me just now. I couldn't just listen to you and not say anything. I mean, I may be," She paused briefly, a look of pain appearing in her eyes before continuing. "gone but I needed to talk to you one last time. You're still my baby, always will be and a mother can't ignore her baby girl when she needs her."
"How?" Buffy asked in awe.
"How?" Joyce smiled. "You're a Slayer and you ask how? Well, it's thanks to the Powers. They've granted me this one chance to speak to you. I just wanted to let you know how I feel about you." She approached her daughter, stopping until she was within hugging distance.
"Buffy, I know you've been going through tough times. I've been watching you and your sister. And I'm afraid it's only going to get harder. I've seen you do amazing things, time and time again to save your friends and world. You have even sacrificed your own life for your sister. You've made me really proud. A mother couldn't have wished for a better daughter."
Buffy couldn't help but smile fondly at her mother.
"But lately, you have disappointed me," Joyce said.
The Slayer's smile quickly evaporated, "W-What?"
"Don't act surprised. You were just saying it yourself a couple of minutes ago, you were afraid that I wouldn't accept you after what you have done. Buffy, I wanted better for you. Instead your once again whoring yourself to vampires. Honestly, I though you learned your lesson with Angel, but I was wrong. And now you're actually having a vampire's child and to think you're wishing I was around to help you raise that bastard?" Joyce cried out indignant, earning a gob smacked expression on Buffy's face. "I'm glad I'm dead and not having to deal with more of your mistakes. Especially this one."
"Don't listen to her. She's not your mum. Joyce would never say that."
Buffy turned to see Spike had arrived. She briefly noticed pain and anger in his eyes, before returning to face her so called mother.
"And how would you know, Spike?" Joyce asked, glaring at the vampire.
"Please, you may look like her but you sure as hell don't act like her. Might not have been one of her favorite people, but the Joyce I knew treated me with respect. She was decent and kind unlike you. She loved her daughters and she'd never treat 'em like that."
"He's right. You're not her," Buffy managed to find her voice. "You're the First."
Joyce managed to look pained for a second. "Oh, honey. Now, you take his word over your own mother?"
"You're not my mother," Buffy spat out angrily as she backed away from the First.
Joyce let out a cruel, taunting laugh as her form began to shift in a whirl of colors until a replica of Buffy stood in her place. "Nope that wasn't your mommy," the First in Buffy's form smirked. "It was fun while it lasted though."
"Just shut up," the Slayer bit out.
"My, my we're a bit grumpy, today aren't we? Must be the hormones," the First laughed, crossing its arms. "I gotta say that's a nice little army you got there," the First paused then continued. "A little army of bunch of scared little girls. How does it feel to play Mother Hen to them? Enjoy it while it lasts because they're going to be dead soon including you, and your lover. It's a pity, you won't actually get the chance to be a mommy to your own kid." The First let out a harsh laugh that began to morph into a loud, distorted cackle as the image of Buffy disappeared from Spike and Buffy's view.
"Bastard," Spike growled.
"Let's go," Buffy mumbled, turning in the direction where Spike had come from.
Spike followed her, remaining silent for a few moments before saying. "Buffy, you alright?"
A beat.
Spike attempted to place a comforting hand on the Slayer's shoulder but just as his hand reached her shoulder, she stepped out of his reach.
"Don't let the bloody First get to you. I know it's tough, but messing with people's heads is all that bloody wanker can do. I should know, it's been messing with my noggin' for a while now."
"I know," Buffy responded softly. "I just wanna go home. I'm tired."
Spike gave her a sidelong glance at her uncharacteristic response. "Right, then."
Minutes later, they rejoined the rest of the Scooby Gang and the Potentials close to the entrance of the cemetery. Buffy instantly dismissed her friends' concerns, withheld her encounter with the First, and continued on as if nothing had happened. During the walk home, the Potentials chatted away about their first vampire slaying while the Scooby Gang and Spike remained quiet. When they arrived home, Giles greeted them.
"Giles, you're back!" Willow grinned in welcome.
"Yes, I've made it back from my trip," He replied.
The teenage girls quickly dispersed into the kitchen, and other areas of the house, leaving only the Scooby Gang in the living room.
"Did you get it? The detriggering thing?" Buffy asked, straight to the point.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I did," the ex-Watcher answered.