Previously: They finished their breakfast, Buffy taking the plates and cups and washing them, while Giles once again looked at the story and the facts and contemplated some more.
An hour later Buffy came back to his side.
'You know, we should get to the magic shop' she hinted.
Once again Giles sighed. 'Is that the time already?' he gazed at the girl.
Buffy nodded and Giles then began to pack up his books and notes.
They left the apartment together and made their way to the shop.
Buffy with a stake in hand and Giles with his books and notes.
Chapter 52
Giles and Buffy approached the storefront where Willow and I were waiting. Willow enjoying the sun, me trying to keep the hell out of the sun. Shame the bloody thing moves.
Buffy grabbed the keys from Giles' hand and rushed towards the door to unlock it. Giles had an annoyed look on his face. He had obviously meant to make me sweat for a while. Thank god Buffy was an angel.
She unlocked the door and as soon as the door was open I bolted inside, with everyone else filing in behind me. I kissed Buffy 'good morning' and she kissed back. The kiss started to get passionate when Giles cleared his throat and we took the hint and broke apart, Buffy with a goofy smile on her face.
Willow took a seat at the table in the centre of the store. It was the place where we mostly dumped our books and notes on current theories and demon profiles. We always seemed to be huddled around the bloody thing these days. We hardly had time to do things on our own, but I guess with Angelus and possibly Dru on the rampage we could do nothing but huddle there and talk strategy.
'Anything on the not so child-y child?' Willow queried. ' I looked on the Internet but all I found was the story'
I took a seat at the table and Buffy drifted over and sat on my knee. It was nice to be able to wrap my arms around her again.
'No. Nothing else yet' Giles informed her. It was plain to see on his face that it was frustrating. When the Watcher couldn't find any info, who could?
About ten minutes later, Anya and Xander strode through the door, followed by Faith and Robin.
'So how was the movie?' Faith asked.
'You don't know?' Buffy was shocked that Anya hadn't told the two yet.
'Know what B?' Faith looked confused.
Buffy began to retell the story.
She told them all how we were ambushed just when we were about to reach the cinema and how the vampire Ally had attacked Lorne the other day, and was in league with Drusilla.
Faith and Robin were a good audience. Asking questions at the right times, gasping and making shocked faces at others. It would've been great fun to watch if I didn't have a slayer bouncing around on my knee. I was beginning to lose whatever feeling I had in my leg.
By the end of the story both Faith and Robin were deep in thought.
'So you do realise that the Ally chick could have been this chosen one?' Faith said.
'Can't be' Xander said. 'She was turned ages ago. It wouldn't have been three hundred years. That's…' he was cut off.
'This month' Willow murmured. She was deep in thought; it was easy to se that the gears that made her mind work were ticking away.
'Geez. Tough break guys' Robin shook his head.
'Yeah. Wish I was there to help' Faith sighed. She felt guilty for not being there, but she had only thought they were going to see a movie, not going to be attacked by vampires.
'Don't worry. We managed' Buffy waved a hand dismissively and Faith relaxed, glad to see that Buffy wasn't mad at her.
'Well we're sticking with you tonight. No way I'm missing out on another vampire ass kicking' Faith smiled and Robin laughed.
'That's a girl'
The bell on the door sounded and Lorne and Angelina walked in. Lorne looking outrageous in his bright blue suit; Angelina looking worn out but comfortable in grey trackie pants and black sweatshirt.
'Hi fans. How are we after last night?' Lorne chirped.
No one could really complain and so Angelina changed the subject back to the 'not so small anymore' child.
Lorne took a seat at the table with everyone else, but Angelina drifted to a table which was covered with amulets and crests, charms and bracelets.
Giles informed the group as a whole that he had found nothing more on the 'child' and that he was vexed about it. Everyone knew that they probably wouldn't know who the child was until it was too late, but they weren't going to give up. Just take a break for the day.
Willow's face lit up as she remembered something. 'Happy Halloween everyone!'
Everyone else suddenly remembered it was Halloween as well. All except Lorne.
'Hey are you going to try for the movie again?' Faith asked.
Buffy opened her mouth but Lorne cut her off.
'Nope. Because you all plans.'
No one was sure where he was going with this so all Lorne got were blank looks or ones of confusion.
'You're all going to Zoe's at seven thirty'
'The little club?' Xander asked. He had passed it once or twice.
Lorne nodded his head with a grin.
'Why?' Robin couldn't help but grin too. The demon's joy was contagious.
'Because lil ol' Lorne here got a gig tonight' he reached into his inside pocket in his jacket and pulled out tickets. He handed them out to everyone as Angelina found an amulet on the table that took her fancy.
'Hey Giles. Can I buy this?' She held up the necklace.
It was a small blue circle and in it a golden sun and silver moon. It was quite pretty for a mystical thing.
Giles nodded and stood up and headed over to the til. Angelina paid him his money and finally took a seat next Lorne.
Just then the days customers began to filter into the store and begin the days chores.
Lorne noticed how quickly the store was filling up and knew that at any moment he would get a thousand pairs of eyes staring at him.
'Well I'm going to swing by Zoe's now and check out the stage. See you at seven!' he stood, waved and then began to head towards the shop entrance.
'So I guess we'll meet here and then head over?' Willow suggested.
The club was closer to the store than it was to anyone's apartment. Everyone agreed and then Angelina stood up. She swayed slightly, must be because of the lack of sleep. Did Lorne keep her up with his singing or something?
'If you don't mind I'm going to go say hi to Zoe too. I have a feeling we might not be there for long tonight' she glanced around the table. No one seemed to mind if she left. They all had plans of some sort. Anya and Willow were helping out at the store because it had gotten so busy so suddenly. Buffy, Faith and I were to train and Xander and Robin could do whatever.
Angelina said her goodbyes and stood up from the table then remembered something.
'Oh and before I forget. Zoe likes doing Halloween with costumes. You have to dress up otherwise she humiliates you on stage by dressing you in bits and pieces. If she catches you taking off the costume she dresses you in, you have to sing on stage for twenty minutes. Trust me, you want to dress up' she said as everyone groaned.
'Know from personal experience do we pet?' I asked.
'Something like that' Angelina smiled wearily.
I nodded and she then left the store.
'Ok. So I guess we have costumes to buy' Buffy breathed.
'Hey. As long as they don't possess us, I'm fine' Willow and Xander chorused. 'I don't want to become a ghost again' Willow grumbled.
'At least you weren't a clueless 18th century girl' Buffy stated.
'True' Willow nodded. 'That was weird. To see you all helpless' Xander nodded.
'Wait. Your costumes possessed you?' Faith asked incredulously. And she thought she'd heard and seen it all. Apparently not.
'Yep' Xander chirped. 'I was an army guy. Pretty cool I guess.'
'Wanna tell me this story?' Faith grinned and pulled the most innocent face she could.
'Maybe another time' Buffy said 'Once I've punched a few things perhaps?'
'Wicked' Faith laughed.
Both Buffy and Faith headed towards the training room in the back and so I followed.
Buffy had said punching things. Just what kind of things was she planning on punching?
I was the only one sparring with them.
I took an unnecessary breath as I entered the room and saw Buffy and Faith waiting for me with sparring sticks in their hands.