New Responsibilities:
Fairies flutter through the air in the Numinous forest leaving lines of sparkling light behind them as they go to hide in the trees. The whole forest is stirring with activity, something is rising and every creature in the woods can feel it. Deep in the dark depths of the woods where the trees grow black and spider webs form between the branches there is a pool. The black thick substance of the pool bubbles as if it were boiling then slowly a creature emerges. Huge bat like wings flap to shed the oily black goo; oily black goo that sloughs off bright red skin and paints the surrounding trees. The demon opens her eyes to reveal black orbs. She has a human like form with bright red skin, dark red and black hair and black bat like wings.
The trees sway as the demon flaps her wings and takes flight. She rises high up into the air and above the tall trees of the Numinous forest. The demon breaks through the barrier between the mystical woods and London. She lands in a squatting position on the ground then slowly stands up. Her black eyes look around at her surroundings then in a flash she takes off again flying high up into the sky.
--
Buffy holding the baby whose wrapped in a soft pink blanked, Spike, and Dawn wait in the elevator as it rises to the top floor. They were confused to arrive home and find the front lobby empty as they entered, instantly the wondered where everyone was; however they did find a note from the gang that said to meet them upstairs. Unsure of what awaits them they wait anxiously for the elevator to reach its final destination. Then the elevator beeps and the door opens, Buffy's eyes sway back and forth in her head then slowly she steps out of the elevator followed by Spike and Dawn.
"What are we supposed to do now," Buffy says turning to face Spike and her sister.
"There," Dawn says pointing down the hall. On the door to the penthouse one pink balloon is tied to the door knob and floats in the air. "I'm thinking we're supposed to go in."
"Bloody goose chase they have us on," Spike comments as they walk toward the door.
--
The door to the penthouse swings open and Buffy, still carrying the baby; Spike and Dawn step inside. They're greeted with a 'Surprise' from the gang and as they look around at the newly remodeled penthouse and find themselves filled with awe at the sight before them. They can tell that a lot of work has gone into fixing it up for them. All their furniture is there and set in place, pink balloons and streamers decorate the room, and of course all the scoobies are there with shining happy faces.
"Is this for us?" Dawn asks while her sister and Spike stand with their mouths agape.
"All yours," Xander replies.
"You guys… this is… thank you so much, I don't even know what to say," Buffy says.
"Oh sush, thank you's later, baby now," Willow says as she walks up to Buffy and takes the baby into her arms. "You are so adorable," the red head says to the tiny bundle of joy. "What's her name? You were still being a big wishy-washy about what to call her last time we spoke."
"Jayden Avery Summers," Dawn says with a big smile. "I picked it out," she says proudly.
"That's adorable," Andrew says.
"Well don't just stand there, come in," Xander says and everyone makes their way into the living room.
"How was your trip?" Myla asks.
Buffy sits down on the couch next to Spike. Willow perches herself in one of the recliners with the baby in her arms, and everyone else finds a spot around the room as well. As Buffy goes on to explain about her trip in L.A. and most importantly their encounter with Drusilla something is peeking in through the window; something that does unnoticed by everyone in the room. A red skinned woman with black bat like wings hovers outside the window of the penthouse fluttering her wings. Once she's gotten a good look at the slayer and her new baby she flies off into the night.
"Wait, who's Drusilla?" Kennedy asks. Both her and Myla are feeling out of the loop while listening to Buffy's story.
"My ex… she's… she was a psychotic, ruthless killer," Spike explains.
"But you're positive that she's dead now?" Giles questions full of concern.
"Dusted her myself."
"Well good, now that miss loony tunes is out of the picture you won't have to worry about her anymore," Xander says.
"I'm afraid it might not be as simple as that," Giles says as he removes his glasses, cleans them and then places them back upon his nose. "Buffy, I'm afraid I've come across a prophecy involving the baby."
"Figures, just when we're starting to have a good time Giles has a prophecy to tell us about," Andrew says.
"Way to be the bringer of doom and gloom G-man, this is supposed to be a party," Xander says.
"I'm sorry, but this is very important information," Giles says.
"No, it's okay. I want to hear it," Buffy says.
"What does it say Rupes," Spike asks.
"It seems that Jayden grows up to be a great warrior. It's prophesized that she will kill a great evil."
"Not seeing the bad there Giles," Buffy responds.
"Yes well, the bad, as you put it is that this makes you a target… anyone in connection with this demon is going to be ordered to…"
"To try and kill Jayden,"
"Exactly… and preferably while she's still young and vulnerable."
"Dru knew," Spike says remembering his ex's words "Her words didn't make sense at the time, but she wanted… once she got me back, to take the baby… said she'd be a great power."
"She wanted to kill the baby?" Myla asks.
"No, not kill take… raise her as our own I suspect."
"Now that's odd," Giles says, "unless…"
"Unless what?" Kennedy asks.
"Unless she wanted to raise her and use her powers for her own evil desires."
"She wanted to raise her and turn her to the dark side… it's just like young Anikin as he's seduced by the Emperor to be his apprentice… " Andrew begins to babble.
"Alright Andrew, I think we get the idea," Xander says.
"But she's dead now… so no more evil baby raising right?" Willow asks with a hopeful tone in her voice.
"Unless there's someone else out there who's got the same idea," Kennedy says.
--
Faith zips up her suitcase; the sound of the zipper is the only sound to be heard through the motel room. Faith is now completely prepared to run away from her problems and the complications in her life once again. With one last look around the motel room that she's called home for the past month she pulls the strap of her duffel bag over her head to rest on her shoulder and walks out the door into the chilly night air. Faith feels the cold breeze across her face and pulls her jean jacket tighter around her frame. As the door clicks behind her Faith stops. Something inside her tells her to make a different decision this time, something is telling her not to run away. Faith needs to go left to get to the bus stop that will take her to the airport, but after a moment's hesitation she goes right instead.
--
The gang has decided to spend the rest of the night just enjoying each other's company with hope that they won't need to fight off any attacks that night and plan to make arrangements to keep themselves safer in the morning. At the moment Willow and Myla are looking over baby Jayden with awe in their eyes. They play with her tiny fingers and watch as she looks around at all the activity in the room with her big blue eyes. Andrew and Kennedy look on at them however find more fun in simply observing. Xander is currently giving Buffy, Spike and Dawn a tour of his construction accomplishments and Giles sits on the couch observing them all.
As Giles looks over the men and women before him he thinks back to when he first met most of them. They had just been children in high school, now they are all grown up. They have lives of their own. Giles thinks to himself that he has guided them all as much as he can; actually he thinks that he's done that years ago. He had never planned to become such an integral part of the group again, but here he is. Giles looks on at them with a proud happiness for their accomplishments, but as he does he starts to feel really old.
"I've gotta give you props for this one Harris, this is…"
"Totally Awesome," Dawn says finishing Spike's sentence.
"Eh, it's no big deal, you guys needed more room, besides it kept me busy… the graveyards have been full of vamps lately but other then that it's been dead around here," Xander says.
"Miss us much?" Buffy says.
"You know it Buffster."
Xander's tour officially comes to an end as they re-enter the living room and hear a round of 'aw's coming from Willow and Myla who are staring at the cooing baby. Buffy's face lights up as she looks at them, then her eyes travel around the room. She thinks to herself that it feels good to be home and even better to be in the company of friends. Things are starting to make sense in her life again, things are starting to have a place again, and she actually feels like she has a home again. There is a feeling of belonging that overcomes Buffy, a feeling that she hasn't felt this deep in a long time, not since before she died, not since before her mom died. A sigh escapes Buffy's lips as she takes this moment deep into her memory.
"We really missed you guys you know… it feels good to be home," Buffy says.
"We missed you too Buffy," Willow says looking up at her best friend.
--
The red feminine demon flies over London looking at the twinkling lights of the city. She's in search of a place to make her lair, a place to wait and plot, and to grow stronger until it's time to make her attack. Her bat like wings flap with force and her onyx eyes search with intensity. She moves with speed and grace through the sky until she sees a location that will fit her needs. The crimson demon changes her flight pattern and plummets with precision to a grand farmhouse on the outskirts of town.
The demon lands on her feet outside the house and wraps her black wings around her body. They morph and mold enclosing over her skin, skin that becomes lighter in color until it is a human shade of pink. After a few moments her wings have become a tight black suit that surrounds her skin and with the exception of her black eyes she looks completely human.
She walks with swiftness up to its front door. Her black eyes look the front door up and down. Before she can do anything the door flies open and a woman in her forties with graying brown hair stands in the doorway, she had heard a noise and came to the door to see what it was; now she stands frozen in fear looking in the creature's black eyes before her. The demon blows a kiss of sparkling pink air at the woman and within seconds she falls unconscious to the ground. The demon leans down and drags her long talons across the woman's cheek then across her neck and then with force she slices the woman's neck and watches as blood pools out from her body.
--
Buffy gives Xander a hug. Everyone is shuffling out of the penthouse now, it's about 9:00 and the gang wants to let Buffy and Spike have some quiet time to themselves to get over their jet lag. Buffy shuts the door with a final goodbye to her friends and turns back around to see Spike. He holds their baby in his arms; a pink blanket wrapped around her and stares down at her with wonderment in his eyes. His blue eyes glisten as he looks at the miracle in his arms.
"Bye Buffy, I'm going out," Dawn says officially knocking Buffy out of her reverie.
"Whoa, what?" Buffy says turning to her sister as she makes her way to the door.
"Alden and I have a date… what? You said that I couldn't use my powers for stuff like dates so I'm not… see, totally using the door here."
"I know, but… we just got home, don't you want to just relax."
"Nope," Dawn says as she walks out the door. Buffy turns to Spike with a look that says 'what should I do?'
"She's an adult now pet, college girl and all that… you have to let her go," Spike says.
"Yeah, I know," Buffy says pouting, "I just worry about her."
"Dawn's a smart girl; I think she can handle the boys."
"I was talking about demons, I wasn't even thinking about the boys, Oh God… should I be worried about the boys?"
"Well technically love it's just one boy."
"That's even worse… one boy means feelings and feeling lead to… this is no good. How come I didn't think of this before?" Buffy says with a frantic voice.
"Buffy, just calm down… I'm sure the bit will be fine, she's not the kind of girl to be making rash decisions."
"I suppose you're right… still though, maybe I should have a talk with her tomorrow… you know, just to make sure," Buffy says still not convinced.
"Sounds like a plan pet."
--
It doesn't take long for exhaustion to sweep over Buffy and Spike, soon they find themselves lying face to face in bed with moonlight sweeping over their bodies and baby Jayden lying between them. They fall asleep like that, just the three of them side by side in peace.
--
Two knocks. Mike had just fallen asleep on the couch, when a loud banging had woken him. He opens his eyes to see the TV. still on before him. Dazedly he stands up and rubs the sleep from his eyes as he makes his way to the door. Without glancing through the peek hole Mike opens the door and on the other side of the doorway he sees Faith standing in the darkness. She looks up at him with big doe eyes.
"I thought I might stay a little longer," Faith says.
A/N: Thanks as always to my awesome reviewers, I also wanted to say thank you to those of you leaving comments on my message boards on my site, I love seeing that... Oh and I wanted to say that I've recently put a lot of new fan art up on my site. There are banners for all my fics there as well as this one.
Next Episode "9.06 Moving On" should be up sometime Monday.