Disclaimer: I do not own anything; Characters belong to Joss Whedon & Mutant Enemy. However this story is my own.

A/N: As always reviews are greatly appreciated, a few quotes etc may be used and obviously belong to the very talented people who wrote them - Loverswalk89 x


Something Unexpected

CHAPTER EIGHT

Buffy stormed into Giles' office. He noticed she was visibly shaken "Buffy? What happened?" He asked ushering her to a seat in front of his desk

"Angelus..." She whispered

"He's made contact" Giles sighed perching on the edge of his desk in front of her

"Yeah" she sighed "He told me he's coming for her"

Spike stalked the hallway outside Giles' office, listening in on the conversation.

"Well we knew that Buffy" he told her

"You didn't see him Giles, the look in his eyes. The things he said" she rambled on

"He is not Angel" Giles reminded her

"I know... Deep down I know that but Angelus is so far away from who Angel is. Whenever I see him, I see the guy I fell in love with. It's just hard to believe that he would try to take Peyson away from me"

"Buffy, you can't let your feelings for Angel cloud your judgement in your role as the Slayer"

"A Slayer..." She reminded him "I'm not the only one anymore. So why me? Why my child?"

"Because you are the original" he smiled "You wield more power than the rest of them, where there is power there is someone looking to take it away"

"I can kill him, I know I can. I'm stronger this time, I know more. But he seems pretty hell bent on taking Peyson"

"He won't touch her Buffy, we have put up a barrier. Any unknown vampires try and come within a hundred yards of the compound cannot" he tried to reassure her

"Where's Spike?" She asked "I kinda need to fill him in on Angel-us" she stood

"Last I saw he was in the training room. Have you two been quarrelling?" He asked

Buffy sighed "Kinda"

She went to escape out of the door.

"I'm sure the two of you can air your grievances and pull together for Peyson"

"I'm not so sure" Buffy scoffed

"Do not let Angelus and Dru prise you apart that's what they want. You're weaker separate"

"I know" she opened the door to find Spike loitering in the hallway "Hey"

"Hi..." He said awkwardly

Buffy exhaled harshly "I ran into Angelus"

"Oh?" He said pretending he hadn't heard the whole conversation

"But you knew that already... You were listening in right?" She asked

"Yeah" he sighed

"So... I should go check on Pace" she half smiled

"Just checked on her, she's sleeping. Faith is with her" he told her

"Faith?" She asked

"Yeah she's gone on all guard dog on the Bit" he smiled

"Good... That's good then. I'm gunna go see if I can get some sleep, looks like we've got a big fight coming up"

"If you want I can watch over Peyson so you can get your beauty sleep Pet" he offered

"That'd be great, I totally need my beauty sleep right now"

"You're always beautiful" he told her "To me anyway"

Buffy looked down at her feet "I love you"

"I might believe you, if you'd look me in the eye and say it"

"I love you" she repeated

Buffy slowly looked up to find Spike had already scampered off.

XXXXX

Buffy tossed and turned in her bed, sleep just wasn't the same without Spike holding her. She sat up and punched her pillows in an attempt to get comfy, she flopped back down and sighed heavily. Sleep just didn't seem to want to take hold of her this evening. She was relived when a gentle knock came at her bedroom door.

She flung the covers off her and practically ran to the door. She pulled the door open to find Faith standing there.

"Oh it's you" Buffy pouted

"Expecting Blondie Bear?" Faith smirked, pushing her way into Buffy's room.

"No" she protested, closing the door "Maybe"

"Well sorry to disappoint" said Faith flopping down on the bed

"Whatdya want?" Asked Buffy

"Giles filled me in on the meet and greet with Angelus. I wanted to make sure you've got your head in the game"

"You've changed your tune" Buffy folded her arms "Why?"

"Giles explained a few things... I know that I was harsh with you, but Angel is my friend he's always helped me out so if I could do anything to repay him I woulda"

"I understand Faith, believe me I do" Buffy smiled

"I know you do, I just want killing him to be a last resort. I think we should try to anchor his soul" said Faith

"I wanna agree with you Faith believe me I do but if he touches Peyson. Takes her away from me all bets are off"

The girls were startled by a rock being thrown through the window with a piece of paper attached to it.

Faith flew to the window to see if she could find the culprit, Buffy picked up the rock that landed at her foot and opened up the piece of paper.

"Oh my god" she breathed, the look on her face was of sheer horror

"What? What is it?" Asked Faith

Buffy handed the paper over to Faith. She studied it, it was a sketch of Peyson obviously drawn by Angelus. Faith started to tear the paper

"Dont!" Exclaimed Buffy

"You wanna keep this trash?" Faith frowned

"No I'm gunna ram it down Angelus' throat when I kill him" Buffy said coldly "Spike!"

XXXXX

Buffy loaded her crossbow and filled a duffle bag full of stakes as Spike paced behind her.

"I'm going with you" he told her firmly

"We've been through this Spike you need to stay here and protect her"

"Why can't Faith do it?" He asked

"Because she's already gone looking for Drusilla"

"Buffy you can't go alone!" He snarled

"I can. And I am!" She yelled

"Angelus is my family I'll take care of it!" He argued

"I'm the Slayer! This is my job!" She reminded him

"Oh so you get the honour and pleasure of staking the Grand Poof to his hellish end? I don't think so!"

"Spike we're not talking about this now!" She said zipping up the duffle bag "I'm going"

She headed towards the door and Spike stepped in front of it "What are you gunna do if you can't do it?" He asked softly

"What do you mean?" She asked

"I can't lose you" he admitted

Buffy sighed and touched his cheek lovingly "You won't, I'm not a damsel in distress. I'm strong remember"

"What about Peyson?"

"What about her?"

"What is she gunna do if he..." Spike didn't want to finish his sentence, his icy blue eyes shone with unshed tears.

"He won't" she told him firmly "I promise"

He wrapped his arms around her "I'd just feel better if I was there with you" he said running his fingers through her hair

"I know" she said pulling away "I have to go"

"Okay..." He said reluctant to let go of her hand

She looked into his eyes "I love you Spike, I'll be back" she said making her escape out of the door

"I love you too" he whispered

XXXXX

Angelus stood admiring a dead flower on the side of a crypt. Buffy approached him

"That's the thing about flowers" he spoke, acknowledging her presence behind him. "You don't tend to them, they wither and die... Do you think that's gunna happen to your daughter?" He smirked turning towards her

"You go anywhere near her and I'll kill you" She said through gritted teeth

"Right..." He chuckled "Is that why you're here? To kill me?"

"If the opportunity arises" she smiled

He began to circle around her "Just waiting for the right moment Lover?" He asked

"Something like that"

"So tell me Buffy... If your daughter is so important to you why aren't you with her"

"Because" Buffy's eyes grew wide as it occurred to her that she had been set up "You're keeping me away..." Buffy ran in the direction of him.

"Things are heating up" Angelus smirked to himself.

XXXXX

Buffy stormed into the Slayer compound to find the other slayers battling Angel's henchmen.

"Buffy!" Faith hollered throwing a series of punches on two vampires

"Where is she?!" Buffy yelled. Shoving and staking anything that moved

Faith managed to stake the two vamps and run over to Buffy helping a baby slayer with another henchman

"How did they get in here?!" Buffy asked

"I'm not sure... They're everywhere Buffy" Faith panicked a little

"Where's Peyson?" Buffy asked perturbed

"She's upstairs" she told her, as another wave of vampires stormed the compound "Go! I'll handle things down here"

Buffy flew up the stairs, throwing unsuspecting vampires down to the ground floor as they tried to tackle her. She reached the top and bolted for her bedroom, she took the door off its hinges as she entered.

Spike and Drusilla were at a stand off. Drusilla clutched at baby Peyson with a vampire either side of her

"Dru... Love, give me the baby" Spike said softly

"You always used to bring me babies, do you remember?" She smiled sardonically

"I remember" he whispered

"But you don't want me to eat this one?" She asked

"No..." He said firmly, looking at the disgust playing on Buffy's face.

"Give her to Spike" Buffy said calmly

"Little miss sunshine..." Drusilla grinned "Did you know about the time Spike and I feasted on several babies and children... I like children"

Buffy stood rigid "He's not the same man" she murmured

Drusilla chuckled "Vampire's don't change" she handed the baby over to the vampire on her left "Be careful with her, Daddy needs to meet his great grand daughter"

Drusilla kissed the baby on her forehead leaving a ruby red lipstick mark, Buffy went to attack her before Spike held her back.

"Naughty Sunshine" Drusilla scolded taking a box of matches from her cleavage.

Buffy looked nervous her breathing ragged, as she spotted the can of gasoline.

"Bad girls need to be punished" Drusilla giggled taking a single match from the box.

"Spike" Buffy pleaded for him to do something.

Spike lunged for the vampire not holding the baby "Roger put the kid down and help me man!" the vampire pleaded.

Buffy wrestled Drusilla for the matches. Spearing her down to the floor making the box of matches fly across the room.

The vampire named Roger, placed the baby in the bassinet and attacked Spike.

Faith burst into the room joining Spike to take on the vampires. Drusilla had managed to throw Buffy off her, she scrambled and now had Buffy pinned to the bed.

"Look in my eyes deary" she said waving two fingers in front of Buffy "Be in me"

Buffy's eyes glazed over she looked intensely in to Drusilla's eyes. "That's right Sunshine" Drusilla smiled

Buffy grabbed Drusilla by the throat "Might work on some Slayers" Buffy's mind flashed with images of Kendra "But not on me" she grunted throwing Drusilla into the wall opposite her

Drusilla grinned picking up the matches and striking one alight and dropping it, causing the bedroom carpet to set fire "Opps" she shrugged. Buffy tackled her to the ground punching her repeatedly

Spike and Faith stopped and turned watching the flames grow. The vampires they'd been fighting threw themselves out of the nearest window.

"Get Peyson out of here" Spike ordered Faith as the flames grew

"Buffy..." Faith began

"I'll get the slayer! just move!" He demanded

Faith ran through the inferno to the bassinet and picked it up, shielding the baby from the flames.

Drusilla was on top of Buffy strangling her as she turned blue and passed out from the lack of oxygen. Drusilla slipped into game face, leering down at Buffy's unconscious body. Spike launched himself through the fire that surrounded them, tackling Dru to the floor.

She jumped to her feet "William" Drusilla shrieked "Lost in the sunshine, now lost in the flame" she murmured throwing herself out of the window.

XXXXX

A crowd of slayers and watchers along with the Scoobies watched outside as the blaze told hold of the top floor of the compound. Faith ran out of the burning building with Peyson.

Dawn grabbed her niece from Faith "Where's Buffy and Spike?" She asked

"They're still in there" Faith choked

The fire brigade and ambulances turned up sirens wailing. Immediately Dawn rushed over with Peyson to get her checked out, along with Willow and Xander to held Faith up either side.

Giles waited patiently for his Slayer and her vampire to emerge from the building he was growing more and more anxious. He ran towards the door

"Giles!" Willow yelled

As he got to the bottom step that lead into the compound. Spike emerged with Buffy in his arms, his face and arms were charred. He got Buffy within safe distance from the house before he laid her down on the ground.

He knelt down beside her and took hold of her hand "Buffy c'mon love open your eyes" he pleaded

"I'll get some medical attention" Giles said scurrying off in the direction of an ambulance.

"Buffy c'mon..." He put her head on his lap "Open your eyes... Buffy I love you please wake up"

Buffy jolted up, her eyes filled with terror as she coughed from the smoke inhalation. "Where's Peyson?" She panicked

"It's alright love, Dawn's got her she's over with the medics" he reassured her

"Is everyone okay?" She asked still coughing

"I think so" Spike said looking around at the familiar faces

"And Drusilla?" She asked

"I don't think she'll be a problem" he told her

"Oh thank god" Buffy smiled embracing Spike.

A medic along with Giles rushed over to Buffy and Spike.

"Here" smiled the EMT, placing an oxygen mask on Buffy "Try to breathe as normal as you can"

"How's Pace?" Asked Spike

"She's fine" smiled Giles

"Go" said Buffy muffled by the mask "Make sure she's okay"

Spike nodded and sprinted over to Dawn.

"Buffy are you alright?" Asked Giles

"Yeah... I'm sorry about Slayer Central though" she said watching the fire brigade tackling the blaze.

"It's bricks and water... What matters is you are safe. What happened?"

Buffy pulled the oxygen mask down so she could be heard more clearly "Drusilla, gasoline and matches" she said

"All part of Angelus' plan I gather" Giles sighed

"Yeah... Except I don't think he thought that Spike would kill Drusilla though" Buffy smiled