A/N: Due to the holiday season and a very special Spuffy side project I'm working on with my Beta, the lovely and talented Geliot99, this will likely be the last chapter I post until after the holidays. This is just a little hiatus, I promise I'm working several chapters ahead on this fic.

Happy Holidays!

Redemption

Buffy watched as Willow ran her hands above Sheena's thin form laying on the bed. The girl was pale and her dark hair laying across the crisp white pillow made her look a little like Snow White. A softly glowing light flowed through Willow's hands and swirled around Sheena. The light moved over her and up to her head in a halo, then formed odd shapes in the air that Willow seemed to be reading.

This was certainly different from the last spell she had watched her friend perform within the last hour. She and Xander had gone with Willow out to the break in the stone fence where the driveway cut through the property line.

Willow had simply buried the stone in the ground and started a very short chant. Her face had taken on a blank seriousness and she glowed with a white light for an instant. There was a little electrical crackling that buzzed through the earth and the wall surrounding the property. Buffy could physically feel the pulse of energy running through the perimeter. There was an odd gust of wind that seemed to come from the ground itself. It swooped around and then upward into the sky. Buffy couldn't tell how high it went but even the tallest trees seemed to be affected. The scent of ozone hit Buffy's nostrils before dissipating. And then it was over. The trio walked back to the castle to check on the resident vampire who was still dozing in front of the TV like nothing had happened. After that she and Willow had gone to gather the spell supplies that were now sitting on Sheena's bedside table.

Willow studied the lights and symbols forming over Sheena a moment longer before waving her hand and dispelling the light. Ruby turned to Willow from her seat next to her sister, anxiety etched on her face, "Is there anything you can do for her?"

Willow fidgeted with her lip.

"Will?" Buffy asked.

"Sheena seems to be nearly healed up. I think this might be more trauma induced. There's something blocking her from waking up."

"Like I was when Glory took Dawn?"

"Pretty much."

"Anyone want to fill in the new vamp on the scene?" Ruby asked, clutching her sister's hand.

"Sorry Ruby, you're right. What Willow is getting at is that Sheena is still in a coma because of a— what do you even call that?"

"Think of it almost like a catatonic state within the coma."

"That sounds horrible!"

"Well it's definitely not of the good but I think we might be able to help her. Better yet you can help her."

"What, me? How can I help? I'm the one that did this to her!" Guilt and remorse cracked her voice.

"Yes you did and that's why I think you would be the best one to do it. For both of you."

Ruby turned to look at her sister's paleface and sighed, "If you say so. How's it work?"

Willow had already moved over to the table where her supplies were sitting. She took a large deep purple amethyst and placed it on Sheena's forehead, then she took a large pink rose quartz and placed that on her sternum.

"I'm just going to light these herbs here and we are going to take a little trip inside your sister's subconscious. Buffy, can you make sure we're not interrupted?"

Buffy took up a post at the end of the bed, "Bodyguard-Buffy that's me."

"You make it sound so easy, what exactly do we have to do?"

Willow lit the herbs and sat down in a chair next to Sheena, opposite Ruby. She took one of Sheena's hands in hers and reached across her stomach to Ruby. Giving her a small nod, "All you have to do is hold your sister's hand and mine. I'll get us in there and then it's your turn. A lot of it is gonna be up to you. I've only met your sister over a computer screen twice so I'm basically just moral support once we're in."

Ruby nodded and took Willow's hand, completing the circle, "Onward."

Willow's eyes closed as she silently began to chant. A moment later Buffy watched as their heads lulled and they both slumped slightly over Sheena, still clasping hands.

Buffy looked around the room and flopped her hands down at her sides, "Bodyguard-Buffy is going to be Bored-Buffy." She looked around until she caught sight of a crochet magazine Sheena's mother must have left there. Without anything better to keep her entertained she moved the chair she had been sitting in around to the end of the bed so she could sit with a view of the door. Willow hadn't exactly been clear on how long this would take. Although Buffy was pretty sure that they only had another hour or so before the hospital staff would be kicking them out. Hopefully they would be finished before then.

Willow blinked in the bright sunlight she found herself in and immediately looked around. The first thing she saw was a small dark haired girl, probably around seven, in a black dress sitting alone on a swing in an abandoned playground. She instinctively turned to find Ruby standing next to her staring at the young girl. The girl didn't seem to notice them at all. She simply sat there on the swing focusing intensely— on nothing.

"Sheena—" Ruby whispered. She placed one hand against her lips to stifle a gasp as she looked around the playground and back at little Sheena, "Wait— I know this. This was just after our gran's funeral. Sheena– she was so upset she eh she ran off, it took me an hour to figure out where she'd gone. This is where I found her."

"Looks like she's waiting for her big sister."

Ruby slowly moved towards little Sheena and kneeled down in front of her. She didn't move. "Sheena?"

Nothing.

"Shee-shee?"

The girl blinked.

"Shee-shee? It's me, Ruby."

"Ruby is gone," the child's voice came out in a heartbreaking whisper.

"I'm right here Shee. It's me. I'm here."

"You're dead…"

There was a sudden swirl of wind and colour and they were abruptly in the kitchen at the castle. Sheena and Deloris were standing by the window watching the battle rage outside, forbidden to do anything about it. Ruby watched as she saw herself walk right up to the back door, unnoticed by any of the combatants behind her.

She heard her own voice, her pleading tone asking her sister to let her in. Asking for safety and solace. Convincing her she wasn't the evil thing she had turned into. Sheena cried and uttered something that only vaguely sounded like an invitation. The moment Ruby had crossed the threshold her face changed into the horrifying creature she knew she was. Ruby hadn't seen her face like that of course.

She staggered back into the large work table as she watched the memory unfold in front of them, "Oh God no!" She cried and tried to hide her face in her hands.

Willow rushed to her side clutching her arm, "I think she needs you to see this."

"Wi-Willow? Oh God! Is that really what I look like? Am I really that horrible?" She started to feel her face. No fangs. No bumpies.

Willow pulled her hands away from her perfectly pretty human face, "Watch."

Then she gestured towards the memory-Ruby as she grappled with Sheena for a moment before throwing her across the room into the corner where she hit the wall with a sickening smack and crumpled to the floor by the large dining table.

"It's just your demon, Ruby. That— that is what 'normal' looks like for a vampire. No you don't look like that all the time."

Ruby looked on in horror, barely even aware of Willow's hand still on her arm or her reassuring voice in her ear as the scene continued to unfold. The memory Ruby grabbed a distracted Deloris, sinking her fangs into the soft flesh of her throat, drinking deeply. She threw her head back and howled with glee, a manic smile on her wicked looking face.

Unable to turn away, Ruby felt sickened by the gore of the scene unfolding before her. It hadn't felt so disgusting at the time. It had felt glorious, intimate even. But now— The depravity of it made her want to throw up. Having her own memory of what she did and actually seeing it from an outside perspective was too much to handle. Deloris's body flew through the air to join Sheena's limp form.

There was a small sound behind them and Ruby and Willow realized that little Sheena was sitting on the work table. She was still in her black mourning dress, still looking just as forlorn as she did on the swing.

"Sheena?" Ruby swallowed the bile in her throat and turned to the tiny Sheena.

"Shee-shee, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry! I'm so, so, so— sorry!" she nearly wailed, tears rolling down her cheeks, "Sheena, sweetheart, you have to believe me!"

"Ruby is a dead thing…"

"I know. I know I am— I— oh God Sheena, I'm sorry I hurt you! Please!"

"Can a soulless monster feel sorry?"

Willow gripped Ruby's arm encouragingly, "I don't really know maybe– maybe not entirely— but that's not me Sheena. I've changed. Again. But this time it's a good change. They gave me my soul back, Sheena. I'm me." She looked over at her memory-self standing stock still. Blood stained game face. Ruby swallowed and turned back towards Sheena, "But I guess that's me too. I'm both. I'm so sorry… I'm both now."

Sheena blinked.

"Please Shee-Shee, give me a chance. I am the sister you remember, but I'm also—" she let out a hard rasping breath, "I'm also that. I don't want to be that, I want to be better. I want to be the sister that you know and love. I want to be who you need me to be. Sheena, please listen. I'm here, I'm listening, I'm here," she cried.

The dark haired little girl remained impassive for another moment as Ruby cried herself out into the girl's lap. Her tears disappeared into the black of the skirt of the little dress she wore.

Willow stood still holding onto Ruby feeling like an intruder, not sure what her part should be in all of this. Casual observer? Should she intervene? Willow was still pondering this when the little girl finally spoke, "How do I know you're telling the truth? How do I know you're really my Ruby?"

Ruby whimpered and looked up at her with shining eyes, "I'll do whatever it takes to earn your trust back. I know I've messed up. I know I've done horrible things to you, to Deloris, to—" she couldn't say the name. Not that Sheena knew who Lauren was anyway but she couldn't say it. "Sheena, I am your sister. I will do anything in my power to make this up to you somehow, if you just let me sweetie. But for me to do that, you have to wake up. You have to. I need you. Things have changed. I've changed and I need you. I can't do this on my own. Spike and Buffy and all the white hats in the castle have been great but I need you. I need my baby sister."

Recognition flashed in Sheena's eyes and she suddenly morphed into her 15-year-old self. Still sitting on the kitchen table but now dressed in a pair of dark jeans and a black T-shirt, nails painted black to match and tiny silver hoops adorning her ears, "You know Spike?" she asked in a small voice.

Ruby gave a watery chuckle and almost smiled, "Yeah I know Spike, he's going to be helping me with this soul thing. I guess I'm sort of like him now. Thanks to Willow here," she gestured towards Willow.

Sheena seemed to notice her for the first time, "Miss Rosenberg?" She questioned, "What are you doing here?"

"Hi, Sheena! I heard you and your sister could use some help. I put your sister's soul back for her."

"So Ruby really is like Spike?"

"Well she has a soul. It's more like Angel really but… I can explain it better when you wake up, okay?"

"She's not going to be super grumpy like him is she?"

Willow chuckled, "No, I don't think so. I'm pretty sure I managed to fix that part with the new spell I used on Ruby."

Sheena turned hopeful eyes towards her sister, "So it's really true? This isn't some kind of trick?"

Ruby shook her head, "No Shee-shee, it's not a trick. I really do have my soul back. It's only been a couple of days and it's been— well it's no picnic; but it's real. I'm here. I'm your sister, again, well sort of."

There was another unexpected swirl of wind and light and Ruby and Willow were abruptly coming out of the spell. Their hands were still clasped together and they were slumped slightly over Sheena's slim body. They sat up looking around. A machine beeped obnoxiously and Sheena's eyelids fluttered a little.

It took a few moments before Sheena squeezed her sister's hand weakly, "Rube?" She gasped.

Ruby cried, it had worked. She squeezed her sister's hand in return just before she let out a little sigh and fell asleep again. She wasn't out of the woods yet, but it was a good sign.

Another machine beeped. Making Buffy turn towards footsteps in the hallway, "Willow quick, gather that stuff up, nurses will be in here to check on that beepy thing and to kick us out."

"We should probably call for a nurse anyway, let them know she's come out of it," Ruby smiled in relief as she stood up and patted her sister's knee through the blankets covering her.

"You got everything, Will?"

"Yeah, we're good. Bodyguard-Buffy can stand down. Ruby, you want to call the nurse?"

Ruby had barely opened the door to flag down a nurse when two of them came flying into the room to check Sheena's vitals and started asking questions. Ruby explained that she had opened her eyes, recognized her by name, squeezed her hand and promptly fell back to sleep.

A third nurse paused in front of Ruby, "Not to worry. It's perfectly normal for coma patients to require a little time to fully wake up. We really should see to her now and visiting hours ended fifteen minutes ago. She will likely sleep for several hours before waking up fully. I recommend you all go home and get some sleep. We will call if there is any change."

Ruby nodded, her sister wasn't exactly any other coma patient and cast her a longing glance as one nurse checked Sheena's vitals and the other one updated her chart and took readings off of the machines she was hooked up to.

"Yeah, of course. You should call our parents though. They humm… they don't exactly know I'm in town," the lie stung at her even as it passed her lips easily and she figured it was the demon part of her that could lie so smoothly because as a human she had never been good at it. She could keep a secret sure, especially her own, but to outright lie? Even a little white lie like that wasn't something that came naturally to her. Except now it did, apparently.

The three of them excused themselves to allow the medical personnel room to work and care for the girl. It was time to head to the University to get Ruby's things. The hospital would be calling Sheena's parents with the latest development which surely meant that a visit with them in the next few days would be imminent.

The three of them were just finishing up outside of Ruby's apartment near campus, putting the last of her things in the backseat of Faith's car. They had already filled up the trunk in the front of the little Volkswagen Beetle with the bulk of Ruby's clothes and books of which she had many. Willow was particularly impressed with Ruby's library, she fingered the spines of a few of the books in the box she had just set down.

Ruby looked up at the building they'd exited wistfully, "I was so excited to move in here. School was going great. I almost had a girlfriend— and now that's all gone. I'm all gone."

Buffy came up behind her and rubbed her shoulder, "You're not all gone. There's a lot of good in you. You had a choice and you made the right one and we will do everything we can to get you on your feet. Right Willow?" Buffy grinned over at her best friend who was still arranging boxes in the backseat, making sure to leave room for Ruby.

"Yeah absolutely! You already have a place to stay and now you have your stuff so you can make it your own. There are already some shelves down there you can put your little library on. You weren't kidding about liking books."

"Yeah, well some people like shoes, I prefer books."

"Ditto, I think you have almost as many as I do."

"These? No, darling, these are just what I took with me to university, and a few I bought more recently. The rest are still at my folks. I've got quite a lot more there."

Willow's mouth suddenly went dry and she wondered if it was normal to get turned on from hearing about the size of someone's book collection. Goddess, no. These were dangerous waters she was swimming in. What was happening here? There were still things she had to deal with. She cleared her throat, feeling self conscious about the action, "We can get those another time. At least things aren't as bad as they could have been."

Ruby smiled as she turned towards her, "It's just not exactly what I had planned for my life. I guess I got an unlife to think about now. What do vampires usually do anyway?"

Buffy shrugged, "Kill, eat, steal, cheat, repeat…"

Ruby actually laughed a little, "Seems my time as a vampire has been fairly tame in retrospect." The small joke tasted like ash in her mouth and Ruby nearly choked on it.

Willow heard the hitch in her voice and stood up, closing the back door. "Ruby, how far are we from the alley you were jumped in?"

"It's not far. Walking distance, why?"

Willow glanced over at Buffy, catching her eye, "What do you think Buffy?"

She pulled a stake out of the bag across her shoulder, "I could go for a little slayage if anyone wants to play." Buffy handed Willow a stake, hesitated a moment and handed one over to Ruby, but didn't let go of it at first, "The pointy end goes into the bad guys and I get it back at the end of the night. Got it?"

Ruby nodded, "Sheena needs me Buffy. I'm not going to do anything stupid now."

"Good, and watch out for the humans. Matter of fact, just don't stab anyone without bumpies unless I tell you to okay?"

"Got it."

Buffy finally let go of the stake, "We'll follow you, you can show us where you were and we'll make a sweep of the area."

Almost an hour and only one vamp later, Buffy was just about ready to call it a night when something down an alley caught her eye and she motioned for Willow and Ruby to follow her.

A few steps closer and Buffy's senses kicked in. Vampire.

She had long dark hair, wearing flowing light gray pants that almost looked like a skirt, and a black tank top. The vampire had her back to them but Buffy could hear her clearly.

"Spike?" She asked almost breathlessly as she turned looking at Ruby and Buffy curiously with Willow standing behind them, "But that's— You are most certainly a vampire, yes. One of my new littles, isn't it? Oh how sweet, did you come to find your mummy?" She crooned to Ruby, then hesitating she turned her attention to Buffy sniffing the air. "Why do you smell like my Sire? Like my Spike. He's all over you, in you, I can smell him all around you."

Buffy swallowed and took a step towards her, "First of all, gross. Second, even if he is your Sire he's my boyfriend. Thank you very much."

"Is he now? That must make you the Slayer. I knew he had a thing for them but this is just ridiculous. Imagine my surprise when I found out he was shagging one. I do wonder what dear Drusilla thinks about you. Granny never did much care for competition. She could throw him to the wolves but then got angry if he played along. Oh dear… Granny, she isn't here, is she?" the vampire woman suddenly looked frightened.

Buffy furrowed her brow a little, "Haven't seen her in years. So are we going to chat or fight?"

"Aren't you even a little curious about me?"

"Considering he's never brought you up. No, not really."

"I'm sure he probably thinks I'm dead— dust. Probably forgotten all about his little Odette."

"Right. Odette is it? I don't think Spike is interested."

"Oh no of course not. The minute Drusilla is back in the picture it's all about his Dark Princess isn't it?"

"Not so much."

"Oh that is surprising. You must really be something special then. I'm curious. How does that work?"

"Think you're going to have to keep wondering," Buffy quipped as she delivered a kick to her stomach.

"Are you just going to stand there and let the Slayer attack the one who Sired you my pretty little one?" Odette huffed towards Ruby.

"No, I'm going to help her." Ruby vamped, attacking Odette with fury, "You killed me! Took my life from me!" She screamed as she delivered blow after blow. Odette blocked and struck at Ruby but Ruby was somehow faster against the older vampire. Or maybe she was just more determined. Buffy stepped to the other side blocking any means of escape but getting out of the way. Ruby needed this.

Ruby pinned her to the wall, "I might have killed her but you are the reason Lauren is dead!!!" She growled with fury.

"I made you!" Odette growled.

"Made me? You took everything from me! You killed me and left me alone in a crypt! I don't owe you anything! Hell! You don't even know my name do you?!"

Odette struggled to break free and Buffy kicked her back against the wall, "Take her out Rubes. I've heard enough."

"You won't kill me!" Odette spat.

"Want'a bet!" Ruby pulled up the stake clutched in her hand and sank it deep into the other vampire's chest. Odette crumbled into dust and Ruby fell to her knees. Buffy took a step back to give her some space.

Ruby looked like she didn't know if she should scream or cry. Her eyes were full of rageful tears. Willow walked up to her, tentatively placing a hand on her shoulder, "Are you okay Ruby?" she asked gently. It seemed like she was asking her that a lot tonight.

She tilted her head back, willing the tears away. She shook her head violently then opened her eyes again and cleared her throat, "I'll be fine. I know I did it, I know it was my fault but she was the reason Lauren, her roommate and Deloris are all dead and now she is too; that's something."

"It's a big something. It sounded like she might have been the turn-happy-vamp we've been looking for— or one of them anyway."

"Will's right Ruby, you did good tonight. Come on. Let's get you home, I got a couple of bottles of wine we can share. And a boyfriend to confront."

"Yeah… so, about that…" Ruby suddenly felt nervous, "If she was my Sire, does that mean—"

"Spike is your Grandsire— Apparently. Yeah. Willow already thought you might be related to Angel but I never thought it would be that direct."

"And this Angel guy is Spike's Grandsire right?"

"Yeah. He Sired Drusilla and she Sired Spike. Looks like the soul getting thing sort of skips a generation," Willow pitched in.

"I just thought of something. There's no telling how many she could have changed before or even after me."

"Yup. Crazy inducing thoughts," Willow said.

"That's it, I'm texting Faith. I'm calling for a girls night. You two in?"

"Do you have enough wine?"

"We're going to find out! Better yet, I'll ask her to get some more."

"She called Drusilla 'Granny', I'm not supposed to, you know, call Spike 'Granddad' or anything now am I?" Ruby scrunched her face in distaste and was overwhelmed with relief when Buffy started laughing. Her laughter was infectious and soon Willow was nearly doubled over, "Spike's a grandpa!" She laughed.

Buffy struggled to get her laughter under control, "God no. Definitely not! But I'd pay to see the look on his face if you did!"

Faith was lounging in the living room with Addison and Ursula when they got back to the castle. Faith had gone all out. As Addison and Ursula's last night in the castle, Faith figured it was only right to invite them for the girls' night in. They had gone together to get a few more bottles of wine and whiskey. She and Ursula had opted for whiskey over wine. Addison didn't normally drink at all but she was already on her second glass of wine and Ursula was eyeing her girlfriend like Christmas had come early.

Buffy flopped down on the couch next to Faith taking in the eight bottles of wine and three bottles of whiskey sitting on the coffee table along with the glasses.

"Faith?"

"B?"

"Are we planning on getting all the girls drunk tonight?"

"Nope, just us. But I figured with a vampire in the mix I'd better be prepared. Didn't know what she would go for."

Ruby's eyebrows went up, "Wine is fine with me but I'm not really—"

"You haven't done much drinking since you've been turned , have you?" Faith asked.

"Not exact—"

"It'll probably take you at least a bottle and a half before you even start to get a nice buzz," Faith smirked as she pulled the cork out of a bottle and handed it over to Ruby. "So is this a crappy night kind of drinking night or a freaking awesome night kind of drinking night?"

Buffy slipped down onto the floor and poured herself a hefty glass, "Over all, I'd say it was definitely a good night," Buffy sipped her wine as she told the girls about Sheena. She picked up the bottle to refill her glass, refilled Willow's instead and then proceeded to drink out of the bottle as she and Ruby retold the story of Ruby killing her Sire in the alley. She wasn't sure she wanted to go into Ruby's vampiric family tree right now and was thankful Ruby didn't bring it up.

Faith didn't bother hiding a look of surprise, "Damn Rubes. I'd call that a great night," she said toasting her and shooting back her drink.

Ruby shifted uncomfortably, the truth was that it had been emotionally draining but before she could say anything Willow spoke up. "It was a good night, also very full of the mixed up emotions," she slipped down onto the floor mirroring Buffy and refilled both of their glasses.

It was sometime later when Ruby reached for her second bottle of wine, grazing her shoulder with her hand, and Willow realized she had settled herself down directly in between Ruby's chair and the coffee table. She turned abruptly to look at Ruby, "Oh I'm sorry, am I in your way?"

"Not at all," Ruby's tone was casual and relaxed as she sat back in the barrel chair languidly resting a leg over the side, "you're fine where you are."

Ursula glanced at Addison who was watching them and grinned, "Addy, mein Schätzchen, would you like a little more wine before we turn in?"

Addison leaned into her for a chased kiss that Ursula soon deepened slightly before letting her go.

Addison looked around the room timidly, and cleared her throat, "We still have a little packing to do before leaving tomorrow, we should—"

"Go enjoy your last private night in the castle before you move into your new apartment?" Faith smirked.

"That would be it, Ja?" Ursula said, watching the blush in Addison's cheeks.

"Behave yourself, Urs," she chided lightly.

Ursula downed the last mouthful of whiskey in her glass and stood up bringing Addison with her, "Danke for the ladies night and the drinks. Ruby, I'm glad things seem to be working out for you and we got the chance to hang out post soul. We should keep in touch. Buffy can give you our contact information once we get settled."

"Thanks, I really appreciate that."

The two Slayers left for the stairs hand in hand, leaving Buffy, Faith, Ruby and Willow in the living room with their drinks. Willow was telling them a very funny story about something that had happened with Dawn in their kitchen in Rome, when Spike limped into the room.

"There he is! My new favorite Granddad!" Ruby grinned.

Buffy lost it in a fit of giggles as Spike eyed the four women as though they were crazy. "What's all this? Buffy? I thought we had plans tonight. And what's with the Granddad crack?" He asked bewildered.

Buffy sobered slightly, "I called an emergency girl's night. With drinks!"

He walked around taking the seat on the couch behind Buffy's place on the floor and stretched his banged up leg out in front of him. "I can see that. Question is, why and how come you didn't just tell me you had a change of plans? I've just been reading, waiting for you to get home. What happened tonight? Is everything alright with Sheena?"

Ruby shook her head, "Sheena's doin' much better. Great even, hopefully she'll be out of there soon. Thanks for asking grandpa."

Buffy, Willow and Ruby all dissolved into a fit of giggles at the perplexed looks on Spike and Faith's faces.

"Right then. What's all this?"

Buffy hummed a little, "Ruby found her Sire tonight. Odette." She let the name hang in the air as she turned drunkenly towards Spike to see his reaction.

It wasn't quite the reaction she had expected. He almost looked like someone who had just been shot, "Odette?"

"Your 'little Odette', she called herself. Pretty freaked at the thought that Dru might be around. Should have been more worried about Ruby here," Buffy grinned.

"Odette?" Spike repeated. "That can't be right. Odette—"

"Oh she's dusty now. Even said you thought she already was. How come you never mentioned her?" She asked cooly.

Spike looked at each of the women in turn, he didn't like where this was going. Odette. If she wasn't already gone with the wind he'd rip her throat out just for reminding him what he had once been. He didn't fail to notice the way Buffy was watching him and he was thankful that alcohol seemed to dampen her ability to read his surface thoughts.

"She was pretty damn chatty as a matter of fact," Buffy continued, taking another sip of wine from the bottle.

Spike swallowed a lump in his throat, "Not now, Buffy."

"Why not? Looks like Ruby here is a direct descendent, Spikey."

Spike gave Ruby a slight nod, "Welcome to the family kid," he groused and got to his feet.

"That's it? You're not going to tell us about this chick?" Faith asked.

"She's gone ain't she?" He shot the question at Buffy.

Despite being drunk, she had caught the steel in his voice, "Yeah, Ruby took care of it."

"Good. Good job kid…" his tone was harsh.

"Eh thanks—"

"And you can drop the grandpa jokes. Fine, I'll admit to it. If that really was Odette then yeah, we're kin of a sort. Look, I already promised I'd show you the ropes, but it sure as hell don't mean I'm shagging you. You can figure out that bit with Red here once you two get yourselves sorted… everyone knows that's the direction you're headed. I'm— I'm going out—" he grabbed the two unopened bottles of whiskey off the table and swept out the door as quickly as his leg and hip would let him.

Ruby's eyes grew wide, "I didn't—" she looked at Buffy and Willow, "What the hell was that?"

"That's what I'd like to know. What the hell, Buff?" Faith asked.

"I humm… it's— shit… I'd better go talk to him."