BtVS || Spuffy || BtVS || Spuffy || Keeping Up With the Scoobies || Spuffy || BtVS || Spuffy || BtVS
Title: Keeping Up With the Scoobies – The Long Way Home
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Disclaimer: All rights reserved to Joss Whedon. This fanfiction on the other hand is entirely mine. No money is made with this, though reviews are more than welcomed.
Tags: m/f, f/f, hurt/comfort, survivor's guilt, fluff, found family
Main Pairing: Spike/Buffy
Side Pairings: Tara/Willow, Xander/Renee, Robin/Faith, Connor/Dawn, Dowling/Dylan, Angel/Cordelia, Wesley/Fred, Gunn/Anne, Oz/Bay, Buffy/Satsu (briefly), Willow/Kennedy (briefly)
Buffy Characters: William 'Spike' Pratt, Buffy Summers, Dawn Summers, Rupert Giles, Willow Rosenberg, Alexander 'Xander' Harris, Andrew Wells, Tara Maclay, Renee, Faith Lehane, Robin Wood, Robert Dowling, Dylan Turner, Satsu, Kennedy, Daniel 'Oz' Osbourne, Bayarmaa 'Bay'
Angel Characters: Angel, Cordelia Chase, Connor Angel, Harmony Kendall, Winifred 'Fred' Burkle, Wesley Wyndam Pryce, Charles Gunn, Lorne, Anne Steele
Summary: Buffy shared her powers with all potential Slayers. But that was only the beginning. Now, she has to deal with all the new Slayers, with the aftermath of LA going to hell – and coming back. The world knows about the supernatural, there's no going back.
Keeping Up With the Scoobies
The Long Way Home
19. The Magic Council of California (2)
This went against the very nature of Slayers, didn't it? Sitting at a round table with demons. But then, the Slayer had been created in a world that painted black and white. They'd evolved past that. The Slayer ought to be more than a killer. And there were so many upstanding demons who were just trying to live an honest, normal life. Those were the innocent, just like the humans Buffy was already protecting. Still, this whole... diplomacy thing, having meetings, that was so not Buffy. Buffy wanted to protect by going outside and kicking butt.
"Miss Summers. Such a pleasure to see you again."
Buffy stared, just perhaps a little dumbly, at the beautiful woman. Lily. She'd... They'd met, at the mayor's office? What was she doing here...? Buffy frowned, confused.
"I'm a temptress demon," offered Lily after being stared at for a bit too long. "A siren. Or succubus. We've had many names over the years and cultures that we affected. A demon of... desire."
Oh. Oh, that explained so much. Usually, Buffy had more control of herself than that but something about this woman really drew her in. Kind of glad she never ran into one of those during her teen years, man that would have caused a sexuality crisis deluxe for her.
"It's a pleasure to have you," Buffy flushed. "Uh. You know what I mean."
Lily laughed good-natured before sitting down. There were about a dozen demons present. Some she had encountered in the past, others she'd never even seen pictures of. Giles stood on one side of Buffy's and Willow on the other. The Watcher and the witch representatives. It made Buffy feel less nervous about all of this. At the head of the table sat Mayor Peace, as the host of all of this. After all, there were supposed to be political decisions. And for now, they were small-scale. For now, this was about San Francisco and, to some extend, California – Buffy was aware of the eyes on her. The way people looked at her for leadership through this supernatural reveal. It was likely that if they made treaties and decisions other cities would follow. After all, who wanted an all-out war against demons – creatures they hadn't even been aware existed until a year ago!
"Wha' exactly is this?" Bifton, one of the demon-representatives, asked.
"This is supposed to be a forum for you all. For open communication," Buffy offered. "The goal is to... find common ground. To figure out how we can all coexist peacefully."
"Ri—ight. Slayer wants peace with demons. Not buying it."
Buffy turned to look at the one who'd spoken up. "You should. I don't enjoy killing. I do it to protect. I will keep doing it to protect. It's your choice if I have to protect people from you, or if I will be protecting you too. That's what's on the table. You find a way to live among humans without killing them and we can all live side by side."
/break\
"Living together without killing them," Lily spat, making mocking gestures. "Look at me, I'm a Barbie doll of peace! Let's all sit together and braid each other's hair."
She tossed her jacket aside in irritation. Oh, this one irritated her so much. The old ones, at the very least they had standards. Killing the vermin of the demon world. Not trying to... hug it out. There was nothing she could respect about that. The killing was honestly the only part Lily could respect.
"Like killing is just some by-product, can you believe it?"
"N... No, mistress."
Her nearest minion cowered and tried to appease her. Urgh. Even minions weren't the same anymore. Back in the day, they at least had a spine too. Sure, they feared her, but come on. No need to show it that openly, it was simply pathetic.
"I don't kill because I have to. I kill because I like it," Lily glared annoyed. "It's what me and my sisters have always done. Luring sailors to their death, what does she think we gained from that, aside from the fun of killing them after sucking off their life-essence?"
Lily glared and got undressed while drawing herself a bath. She needed to calm down. This whole meeting had been absolutely infuriating. All these... sniveling creatures who were eager to earn the Slayer's protection and ~friendship~. Urgh, again. It felt so gross on her skin, she needed to watch it off. Like seeing vampires feed on bottled mouse blood wasn't pathetic enough.
"They have to go," Lily declared to herself, narrowing her eyes. "The Slayers have to go."
If only she knew just how exactly she was going to do it. Killing one Slayer? That had been doable. She could have just killed Bunny and moved on. Now there were thousands of Slayers all over the world. That was... quite inconvenient. And also blondie's fault.
/break\
"Willow has a new admirer," Buffy smirked smugly.
Her smirk grew when Willow blushed and ducked her head. "That's not... That's not true."
"It so is. The hot snake-lady was totally flirting with you today."
"Snake-lady?" Tara raised her eyebrows. "I don't know if I can compete with that."
A small, playful smile spread over Tara's lips as she watched Willow look so flustered. Cute.
"I mean, crushes are better than trying to crush you?" Renee offered after a moment. "Right?"
"It definitely went good," Buffy nodded. "Better than expected, really. Sure, many were doubtful about our intentions or willingness to change and others were... unwilling to change themselves. But on the overall, I felt like the ones who had shown up were... open to the idea."
"We've received some formal proposals," Giles added, sorting through some papers. "Suggestions for how a cohabitation might be possible. Some of these are... quite reasonable."
/break\
After the first, smaller proposals passed – deals between some demon races and butchers; a middle-ground of no longer eating humans but compromising to raw animal meet, or ones who actually lived off bone-marrow – their Magic Council gained more traction and coverage on the news. Other cities contacted them about the details so they may be able to implement changes themselves. Las Vegas was widely beloved by demons, but dead tourists generally made bad press. However, Cleveland actually being on a Hellmouth meant that this one, the Slayers had special interest in.
"I'm not going to do shaking hands and signing papers, B."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Believe me, I am not calling to ask you to do it."
"Hello, Buffy," Robin's voice. "What can I do for you?"
"A Magic Council. Because Faith and I agree that her diplomatic skills are not..." Buffy cleared her throat. "You're a very charming man, Robin. I'm sure you can do this?"
Robin made a small, contemplative noise. Buffy could hear the babbling of a baby in the background. Hope was now, what? A year old? They grew up so quickly. And Buffy knew that the baby had made Faith a little more... responsible.
"Of course," Robin sighed. "I've been smoothing things over between Faith and the mayor already."
"So strange. Mayors love me usually," Faith called from behind.
"That was a demon!" Buffy rolled her eyes. "And quite honestly a phase of your life that you should seek therapy about."
"You've gotten real annoying since you started going to therapy."
That might be true, but Buffy was still right. They carried so much baggage with themselves. They'd lived through so much trauma. And they both had their unhealthy coping mechanisms. Still, Buffy had been thinking about Faith a lot lately, even more so since Artemis had moved in with them. Not that Buffy saw much of Faith in Artemis, but the girl abandoned by her parents... It had made her think of Faith. How cool Buffy had thought Faith was when the two of them had been teenagers. Nobody to tell her what to do and how to live her life. The dream, back in the day.
Now? As a grown adult? Buffy found it mortifying. Though Hank had bailed on her, Joyce had always been there. Giles had been there, as a father-figure but also as her Watcher. When Faith's Watcher had died, she'd lost the last adult in her life who cared. She had no support system, nobody watching her back. Nobody loving her unconditionally.
"Give Hope a kiss from her favorite auntie, okay?"
"Oh, forget it, B!" Faith's voice was final. "We are not doing this stupid thing where our kid ends up calling any of you auntie or uncle."
"I just need her to know she's got a lot of family watching out for her," Buffy paused and grinned. "And that she has a way cooler aunt to whom she can go when mom and dad annoy her."
Though teasing, Buffy needed Faith to know she meant it. That Hope did have family in them. That Buffy was not going to let Hope fall through the cracks the way Faith had, even if something ever happened to Faith or Robin. She knew those two loved their daughter, she knew they both wanted to give her the kind of childhood neither of them had. However, Buffy also knew that their lives were dangerous. She'd died twice already, she knew things could do south without a moment's notice. And she also knew that parents died, suddenly and without a warning either.
/break\
"Your sister is quite impressive."
Dawn rolled her eyes. "I know. Buffy is the greatest."
"Less sarcasm. maybe?" Connor smiled amused. "I mean, what she's doing here is..."
"It's great. I know," Dawn sighed. "It's just, I'm kind of used to the comparison? To trying to live up to her legacy and all of that. So... Yeah."
She didn't particularly like when her friends were the ones who brought up how great Buffy was. She'd had it happen before, people befriending Dawn just to get closer to the Slayer. Connor chuckled and changed the channel, away from the interview with Buffy about the Magic Council. And yes, Dawn totally admired this and as a big demon fan – Clem was awesome, Spike was the greatest, as weird as Anya had been Dawn had also been fond of her – she wanted more equality. She'd even befriended a demon herself. A girl in one of her classes, with outstanding scarlet-red skin. She'd been so shy, because she was really putting herself out there, since her demonness couldn't easily be hid. When Dawn saw that, she approached, friendly and welcoming.
"You know you're awesome all on your own," Connor nudged her gently.
It made Dawn perk up. Not just the words, but because the way Connor said it? It felt earnest. It made her feel awesome. He usually did. He helped her with some classes, they hung out all the time – like, really all the time! Meeting in the morning for a quick coffee, going to the library, or going to movies together, because they actually had a lot in common.
"Can you like go and tell my teacher that?" Dawn groaned and leaned her forehead against Connor's shoulder. "I am fairly sure Professor Bailey hates me."
"From what I hear from med students, that's just how she is with them."
"I don't know if I can live through this though."
"Think about your goal," Connor advised her. "You're going to be an amazing nurse one day."
That brought the smallest smile onto Dawn's lips. "Yeah. It'll be worth it, huh."
"And how about, as motivation, we do something this weekend?" Connor suggested. "I saw an ice ring being put together the other day and I remember you telling me about how much you used to love ice-skating with your sister. We could go together and you teach me?"
He remembered that? She'd mentioned it in passing when Patty told them about seeing Disney on Ice, that had been like three months ago. And he remembered it? The small smile turned into a much bigger one at that, and at the memories. She remembered being so very tiny, going onto the ice with Joyce and Buffy. Her sister had looked like a princess gliding over the ice and Dawn had known she wanted to learn that too, wanted to be a princess too. After moving to Sunnydale, skating had become probably the only thing that Buffy and Dawn seemed to have in common.
"I'd really like that. I haven't been on the ice in... in years. That would be great, yes."
/break\
"I didn't think being a politician could be that much fun."
"You're not..." Lorne shook his head a little. "Of course, angel locks."
Harmony loved having her own seat at the Magic Council. Even though she had made LA her home directly after the return, by now her political involvement and the way Buffy pressed for change had made her relocate again, so she could become the vampire representative on the council. At first she'd been surprised that they hadn't picked Spike, but then... that could be seen as bias? Since he was dating Buffy and all of that. Besides, he didn't exactly have a whole lot of connections anymore, having turned on vampire-kind quite a while ago.
"There's just that one chick, she really..." Harmony furrowed her brows. "I know you didn't know Cordy back in the day, but she really reminds me of high school Cordelia. Total Queen B. Bossing everyone around and thinking she rules them just because she's super pretty."
"Doesn't sound like our Cordelia at all."
"She changed. A lot. Since high school," Harmony paused. "Guess we all did. But yeah. That's totally the vibes I am getting from this Miss Vesper. Like she thinks she's better than us."
"Mh," Lorne furrowed his brows at that. "I'm sure you can hold your own against that, darling."
Harmony turned to smile at him. It was nice, having a friend like that. They'd been off to a rocky start when Harmony first started out at the law firm, but ever since they'd gotten away from it? Since they had shared hell with each other? Harmony felt like she'd made some real connections.
"Oh, I should call Fred," Harmony jumped up. "I haven't heard from her in a while."
/break\
Wesley hadn't realized how much he'd missed being a Watcher. Then again, had he ever really been a Watcher? He'd tried. And failed, spectacularly. Though he wouldn't like to admit it aloud, he admired Mister Giles and what he'd accomplished as a Watcher.
But this? For the first time, Wesley really felt like he belonged. He'd tried, tried so very hard with Angel, but... so many things had gone wrong, at so many turns. Here, as the head of Watcher central, directing others, cataloging and researching... It was the pace he needed right now too. Life had been stressful lately, after literally going to hell, this was a welcomed change of pace.
"I have made you tea and omelet, good morning."
Fred looked like an angel as she walked into the kitchen, still sleepy and with messy hair. The best part of all of this was being with her. Truly being with her. And without having to face potential death every single day of their lives. They'd earned this.
"Thank you," Fred smiled. "And thank you for letting me sleep in."
"You were on the phone with Harmony until..." Wesley paused. "I think I fell asleep before you hung up, actually. How long did you two talk?"
"Oh, it was nearly three, I think," Fred yawned. "She was so excited about her new duties on Buffy's Magic Council. It was kind of... it was endearing. I'm happy for her."
"Good for her," Wesley grunted a little. "Unexpected, though."
Fred made a confirming noise and leaned in to kiss his cheek. She remained leaning against him, relishing in the moment. Wesley smiled and wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her close.
"Have you talked to... Charles, lately?"
She tried, she always tried. Wanted them to be all good again. More so than the others, Fred saw them as a family. And she wanted their family to be alright. He wanted that too, of course.
"I was thinking maybe... we could go over, to Los Angeles, next month some time?" Wesley amended. "I have been texting with Gunn. Updating each other on our lives. Perhaps... it'd be nice to see them again."
The smile that put on Fred's lips was definitely worth it.
/break\
It'd been a while since Spike had last thought about... Well, a great many things that he had done in the past. That he had worked hard to atone for. Out on patrol with Dowling, he'd run into a vampire he had known back in the day. They'd slaughter a village together.
"Hey," Buffy's voice was so soft as she approached him. "What's wrong?"
"Nothin'..."
Spike stood there, his arms crossed on the window-sill, leaning forward. Staring out the open window, watching the street and the skyline. Buffy walked up to him to stand next to him. Her eyes followed his, watching the sky slowly turn pink.
"Yeah, that's not fooling me," Buffy huffed, nudging him gently. "C'mon. You've been weird since you got home. I gave you some leeway, but... I won't let you go to bed like that."
"I don't want to talk about it."
"At all, or just not with me?" Buffy frowned. "Did something happen?"
"You're not going to drop this, are you?" Spike glared a little.
"Something is really bothering you. I don't... I don't want to be pushy, but..." Buffy paused, biting her lip. "I love you, Spike. I need you to know that I got your back. Not just in a physical fight, but also in whatever else troubles you, okay?"
He hated this. Hated sharing his past with her. Hated reminding her of the monster he used to be. After all this time he'd spent trying to be a better man, a man worthy of her. Shaking his head, he pushed off the window and turned around.
"I'm going out for a bit. Clear my head some."
She sighed, sounding disappointed. But it was better than the potential disgust. While leaving the house, he texted Dowling, hoping the man hadn't already called it a night. He got a text back and then headed over to a bar to meet his friend. They sat together in a corner, with their beers, for maybe five minutes before either of them talked. It seemed Robert could sense something was off.
"The guy we ran into earlier, he rattled you. You've been quiet the whole drive back."
"Yeah," Spike's voice dropped some. "Used to know him, back in the day. When I was still... killing people. Enjoying the torture. Seeing him, it made me remember the things we did."
Dowling grunted, though with only little judgment. He knew who Spike used to be, had read up on him. And it was easier, talking to the newest person in his life. Easier than talking to Buffy, at least about this. He never wanted her to see him as that person again. Part of him liked to pretend that she had forgotten all about it, that she only saw the man he was now.
"You have a past. A long past. Because you had a long life," said Robert after a while. "Maybe... you should confront it, instead of trying to bury it."
Author's note: Next chapter, Buffy is getting a surprise visit!
