Sophie laughed as her mate flinched away from Buffy's swing. He still didn't trust his newfound abilities. He glared at her as he spun to avoid another of the slayer's attacks, but the loss of concentration cost him as Buffy knocked him to the floor. Buffy bounced on the balls of her feet, waiting for the watcher to recover.

"Should go for the kill, Love. Can't have the fledges getting uppity." Spike smiled and winked at Sophie. She snarled playfully and watched as Rupert gathered his body and sprang. It wasn't graceful, but he managed to catch Buffy on the shoulder. Buffy spun away from him, lithe experience trumping his disbelief in his own abilities.

Joyce watched from the stairs and was the first to jump when the doorbell sounded. Sophie felt her body still. The possibility of a threat was small. Angelus wouldn't ring the bell, but it was too late in the night for girl scouts or salesmen. She looked at Rupert, soap his stillness and knew that he to was assessing the threat. Spike and Buffy moved as one and headed for the stairs. There was no hesitation in their stride.

"Mom, go through the tunnels and get everybody together at the guys place. One of us will be back e with an all clear as soon as possible, but if not there are cars in the garage." Buffy's no nonsense manner obviously shocked Joyce. Her mouth hung open. "If one of us isn't there in half an hour you get out of here and head up to Dad's. He's off in Mexico anyway."

"Buffy, you can't expect me to leave without you." Joyce grabbed at Buffy's arm.

"Mom, you have to get the others to safety. I'm trusting you with that. If there's a fight, I need to know you're safe." Buffy gently pushed her mother's hand from her arm. "Giles close up the passageway as soon as she's through and join us."

Sophie watched Rupert nod. Duty was his king. Sophie touched his arm reveling in his warmth even as she slipped away from him to follow their master and mistress into the unknown. She watched them as they laced their fingers together. Their palms seemed to fuse with the force of their grip on each other and then they broke apart.

Spike went still as Buffy moved toward the door. He was prepared to attack, his demon face out in full force. Sophie shifted beside him. Buffy bounced on her toes and plastered a smile across her face. The bell rang again.

"Hold your horses, I'm coming." Buffy sounded as only an annoyed teenager can as she swung the door open. "What do you want?"

The man on the porch looked at her and smiled softly. His hair was styled and his clothes impeccable. Sophie heard Spike growl and allowed her own demon to surface.

"You are far more stunning than I had heard tell." The accent was Italian. Sophie watched as Spike surged forward.

"What are you doing here, Immortal?" Spike snarled as he came to Buffy's side. "How did you find us?"

"Like magic to like magic. You didn't pick up these charms or learn these wards without some assistance." He smiled and shook a bracelet free from the folds of his suit. "Where have your manners gone? I would love to meet your growing family."

Sophie felt the power and age that coiled within the much older vampire. He wasn't threatening them, but, with that dynamic potential, they weren't safe. Sophie bit her lip and grabbed Rupert's hand for reassurance as he joined them. The flow of power between them comforted her.

Buffy cocked her head and twined her own arm around Spike's. The message was clear. They were a unit and this interloper need beware.

"I take it you know our visitor. Would you care to introduce us?" Buffy's sudden switch to polite formality from her usual casual demeanor brought all eyes to her. She touched Spike's cheek gently with her free hand, and he nodded curtly.

"Right then, Buffy, I present to you the Immortal. He's a bit of a ponce and I have no idea why he would seek me out." Spike turned his golden gaze back toward the man in question. "This lovely woman beside me is my mate, the Vampire Slayer."

"Always such a flare for the dramatic. It is good to see you, William." The man's hazel eyes shone as he nodded. "May I come in?"

"Not bloody likely," Rupert and Spike growled in unison.

"I have no evil intentions. I have been waiting for this moment for a very long time. I even have a gift of sorts, the original scrolls of Aurelius." The Immortal slid the leather shoulder bag down his arm and set it on the porch before him. "I would imagine they might be of some assistance in your current situation."

Rupert's eager gasp amused her even as she restrained him. He did not understand the formalities of vampiric society despite all his years of study. Buffy wouldn't punish him if he stepped out of line because she still thought like a human. They were both still human, mostly. The male at their gates was not. Spike needed to be the presiding male power right now.

She placed her shoulder in front of Rupert's and leaned back into him. He reached around to soothe her automatically. She leaned back and purred softly, feeling the tension in his body change.

Buffy grabbed the bad and passed it back to Rupert. She appeared calm, but Sophie could sense the coiled fury within. Her mate had released her to examine the scrolls. He was humming.

"They appear authentic. There are books here as well. Bloody hell, this one has been stolen from the Vatican." Giles took a deep breath and started to fall back, more interested in the knowledge within his grasp than the threat before them. Sophie shook her head.

"So, you brought us some good reading material. What do you want from us?" Buffy's hands fell to her hips. "Because there is no way you're here out of the goodness of your heart."

"No, there is no real goodness in me. That is why am here. I want to be redeemed. I want the gift you have given young Sophie and your mate. I would like to have a family again, to belong." He shrugged lightly. "I have existed for a long time with only the hope of you, but, now, you are here."

"You won't be playing your seductive games with my mate, Immortal." Spike ground out. "Why the hell did you leave your precious city?"

"I felt the call and knew what was coming." The Immortal shifted his gaze to Spike.

"Bollocks, you're no Aurelian." Spike scoffed.

"No, I'm the Aurelian. My name is Marcus Aurelius."

"Why do I know that name?" Buffy asked.

"He was an emperor of Rome." Sophie said quietly. "That's why he chose to be called the Immortal and why he never leaves his precious city."

"Yeah, then what's he doing here?" Buffy asked.