An hour and a half later Riley singled for Spike to stop. Spike looked up as they dismounted their snowmobiles. The wide path they had been following nearly disappeared against the side of the mountain face leaving a ledge little more than a few feet wide.
"We have to go by foot from here. Grab the climbing gear," Riley called back to them from over his shoulder, pulling out his gear.
"Do you seriously expect us to believe that old monk used to live up here?" Buffy asked Riley as they followed suit and started on their way.
"Just in the summer. It's not so bad without the snow and ice. Hardest part is the climb up to the cave," Riley explained.
"Well sure, why didn't I think of that? Had I known, I would have saved this little trip for warmer weather," Spike grumbled sarcastically.
The footpath took them another two and a half hours before it too ended and there was nowhere to go but up.
"The cave is about 20 meters up," Riley said, dropping the bag containing his gear and pulling it out.
"Alright, boys, let's do this," Buffy chirped a few moments later as she finished putting her harness on.
"Are you sure you got that secure enough, Buffy?" Riley asked.
Buffy eyed him with annoyance. "I've done this a few times. I'm good, thanks," she deadpanned, turning to assess the best route to take up the cliff face.
Riley tapped the earpiece in his ear, "Home Base, Papa Bear to Home Base, come in Mama Bear."
"You guys coming or what?" Buffy shot behind her shoulder.
"I'm just enjoying the scenery, Pet. Think Soldier-Boy is checking in with the Mrs… Either that or ordering porridge," he added under his breath.
"Trying to. No, not you, Mama Bear, Spike… Yeah, just starting up now. I'll check back with an update as soon as I can. Papa Bear out," Riley grunted with a shake of his head and began to climb.
"God damn she's hot when she takes charge like that," Spike murmured as he watched her start her ascent.
Buffy called down to them. "Move your asses you two, I don't want to be the only one at this party."
"Coming Dear," Spike called up to her. He started up, passed Riley, and caught up to Buffy with a smirk on his face.
"Show off!" she scolded lightly.
Spike grinned at the indignation in her voice "Couldn't let you go to the party without your plus one."
"Where's Riley?" Buffy asked as she tried to turn to look behind her.
"G.I. Joe is being all he can be; bring up the rear."
Buffy strained as she adjusted her grip and found a new foothold, "I forgot to tell you… Sam helped me call home while you were asleep."
"Yeah?" He grunted as he also continued to climb, "How is the Nibblet?"
"She wasn't around— Will doesn't think she's handling our surprise getaway very well," Buffy answered, crestfallen.
"Not surprising. Course it's not like we planned it, Pet. We're doing what we can to get back, girl's got to know that. Don't she?"
"That's what I told Willow, at least I think she gets it."
"But?"
"It's stupid…" Buffy huffed, finding a new foothold.
"Way I see it, even at the pace we're keeping it's still going to take us a bit to get up there and then we got to wait for Boy-Wonder down there," Spike shot a glance down below where they could see Riley still making his way expertly up the mountain side, "I think we have time."
"I'm I dumb for feeling guilty about being here?"
"Humm let me think… Yes!"
"No, hear me out. I started on what was supposed to be just a few weeks alone in Paris drinking wine and eating good food and then I was going back to Rome with Dawn. Then—"
"Then I showed up."
"In a big way. And it was great, I had a great time—"
"But we haven't exactly been round much to speak of."
Buffy stopped climbing, turning her face toward him. "Exactly… I haven't been there for her lately. Not like I should be-" she adjusted her grip, hoisting herself up a few more feet before continuing, "-I thought we were really changing that with the move."
"Yeah, and shit happens. All the sodden time. Bit knows that," he replied as he used his pickaxe to give himself a better hand grip.
"I don't think it's as simple as 'her problem, not mine', ya know?"
"I bet this has more to do with the holidays than most anything else. Mark my words, Pet. We'll get home and she'll be so happy to have you back that nothing else will matter."
"The voice of experience?" Buffy retorted, kicking a bit of ice-free with her boot.
Spike looked down checking his next foothold before moving up further. "I— well yeah, somethin' like that," he grunted.
"I still just—"
"Shhhh-" Spike cut her off, he pointed to his ear and then to the ledge now just a few feet above them.
Buffy stopped to listen, then nodded.
An unsettling scraping sound drifted down from above them. A disjointed but somewhat rhythmic sound that seemed oddly familiar.
Buffy maneuvered herself a little higher until she was able to get her head high enough to assess the situation. It only took her a moment to realize the sound was being caused by what looked like a large set of bone wind chimes hanging from a small outcrop of rock near the entrance of the cave. There was no other movement that she could see.
Buffy turned to look back at the spot she had left Spike only to realize he had climbed up next to her. He had been so quiet that she hadn't noticed him moving and her foot slipped in her shock. Spike shot out one strong hand to catch her. "Sorry, Pet."
"Thanks," she breathed as a few stones broke away barely missing Riley still climbing below them.
"What's going on up there?" he yelled up to them.
She motioned for him to hurry up. Then in an undertone, muttered to Spike, "And he's supposed to be stealthy-demon-hunter-guy."
"Your ex-honey, Slayer," he drawled with a pointed look.
She returned a glare that told him just how very "not funny" she thought he was being.
Spike chuckled darkly, shifting his weight to find a more comfortable foothold. "It'll be a bit while we wait for 'Captain America' down there. You gonna tell me what's waiting for us?"
"I didn't see anything moving, it's just a bunch of large bones strung together like a massive set of wind chimes from hell."
"Might be what the thing wanted with the livestock."
"Eww, gross…" Buffy answered in disgust.
"Evil often is."
"Could it be a spell of some kind?" Buffy asked conversationally.
"Sure it could," Spike countered in a broad tone.
They were both starting to get a little impatient, wanting for Riley to join them where they had settled in just below the edge.
Buffy turned to look down between them. "Damn it. Riley, would you get up here already?" she snapped before she realized he wasn't that far behind them now. He caught up a moment later, "Riley, when you found us, were there bones hanging outside the cave?" Buffy asked him.
"Bones? No, we would have seen something like that."
Spike scowled. "Great, our demon's been doing a bit of decorating. Always a great sign. Enough of this," he growled, "gangs all here let's see what we can get ourselves into. Buffy, ladies first?"
"Never thought you'd ask."
Together they made their way up to the wide ledge outside of the cave. Buffy's stomach roiled at the sight of it, her front yard in Sunnydale had been smaller than this ledge and it suddenly hit her, why they hadn't noticed the cliff edge in the blizzard. It was a miracle neither of them had walked off the edge in their half-blind stumbling.
"Show us these carvings," Buffy demanded briskly, pushing the thought aside.
"Over here," Riley walked over to a spot several yards from the cave entrance, he pulled out a flashlight as he wiped snow from the side of the mountain with his gloved hand revealing the markings. "What do you make of it?"
"Vandalism happens everywhere?" Buffy quipped.
He gave her a dubious look in response.
"Oh you're no fun," she rolled her eyes. "Fine. It's not Latin and I doubt it's Sumerian… I don't think I recognize it from any of Giles' or Willow's books," Buffy pondered as she turned towards Spike. "Anything?" she asked.
"This bit here-" Spike started but stopped, a look of shock passed over his face. "Do you see that?"
Buffy and Riley turned back towards the carvings. They had started to glow with a dull blue light. Spike took another step forward and the glow intensified slightly.
"I'm not crazy about the glowy. Do you recognize the writing?" Buffy said with trepidation.
Spike pulled his attention back to Buffy. "Not exactly, just this bit here. From the prophecy, 'Shanshu'. Don't ask me what the rest says but if we are to believe great-great-grand monk then I'd say someone left me a note."
"All this cryptic crap is getting on my nerves. Can't we just find this thing and kill it already?" Buffy huffed.
As though in response, the wind suddenly picked up, followed by a torrent of snow coming in from all sides or so it seemed. "Quick! Into the cave, stay close to the wall!" Riley ordered.
Wind, snow, and ice pelted them as they made their way single file toward the entrance of the cave, Riley in the lead. They could hear the bones clattering noisily against the side of the mountain where they hung, blowing viciously.
The cave was dark; Riley shone his flashlight inside as they entered. At first glance, it seemed it wasn't large at all until they got to the back. The cave seemed to stretch on and on the further, they went. "Must be some sort of spatial distortion spell,'' Buffy murmured.
Riley raised a questioning eyebrow at her.
"What? Willow talks, I listen—" she responded.
Riley gave a sharp nod. "Yeah well, we better get a move-on."
Buffy, wait! Spike's voice sounded an alarm inside her head.
What? She hissed back.
He paused, amber eyes darting around the deep space. I-I thought I saw something…
Buffy shot a hand out to grab the back of Riley's jacket to stop him, but it was too late.
Something came out of nowhere, and pushed Riley, knocking him into the wall of the cave. By the time Riley pulled himself back up into a standing position, Spike and Buffy had already engaged the beast in battle.
The creature was close to ten feet tall, thin, like a skeleton covered in ice. Only it was elongated and spiky-looking. Just like an icicle brought to life and pissed because of it.
"I have an idea," Buffy said as she rebounded from delivering a particularly powerful kick. "Help me get Freezy-pop to the front of the cave."
Riley charged ahead slamming into the ice creature with all his might. The creature barely stumbled but it was distracted enough for Spike to start wailing on it from behind pulling out the small pickaxe he had been using while climbing and slammed it into the thing's back.
The ice demon let out an unholy screech that permeated the walls of the cave like the icy cold itself.
Riley dropped to one knee clasping his ears. Buffy did the same but managed to regain her footing quickly. With her hands still clasped over her ears tightly she delivered a series of quick kicks to the beast's chest, further driving him back towards the front of the cave.
Spike still clung to its icy back, hacking away with his makeshift weapon. The thing slammed into the wall of the cave knocking Spike off, then ran for the entrance. Riley staggered to his feet and helped Spike up as Buffy sprinted after it.
"We have to go after them, can't let that thing get out of the cave and Buffy can't finish it off herself," Spike gasped.
"I've seen her take down bigger things with less," Riley painted as he wiped a small trickle of blood from his ear.
Spike started after her dragging Riley along with him. "So have I, git, lot more than you. You don't get it, she's not going to be able to kill this one, it's gotta be me that does it."
Riley shook off Spike's grip and started running along with him. "You're right, I don't get it."
"It's all part of the prophecy hullabaloo, the heart n' soul thing," he shot back.
The guys soon caught up to Buffy and the demon, just as it had slammed her into a wall like a rag doll.
Like Spike's dream.
Spike roared in anger just as Buffy sprang up into a crouching position wiping a small trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand.
Riley jammed his pickaxe into the thing's neck. It barely slowed it down, flinging Riley again. His flashlight landed a few feet away from him, throwing light directly onto the creature.
That was when Buffy saw it, a shimmery purple something in the middle of its slim chest. "Spike!" she screamed. "It's heart!"
"The amethyst disco ball? Yeah alright. I've got you now, big guy," Spike leaped forward, jamming his fist as hard as he could into its chest. The demon deflected his punch but Spike grabbed hold, maneuvering himself onto its back. He grabbed the pickaxe Riley had left sticking out of its neck and started hacking away from the back. It fell and reared up violently, throwing Spike off.
Spike landed hard, bounced on the cave floor and out of the cave. He rolled a good distance and caught himself just before falling off the edge of the cliff.
Buffy stood her ground. "Riley, get Spike back in here, I can hold Frosty. I think it's going to take all of us to finish him, I have a plan."
Riley ran to the edge of the wall, "Spike? You alright?"
His face had gone human again when he got hit. "Haven't gone sweet on me have you now?" Spike grunted as he allowed Riley to help him up.
Riley shook his head, giving him a tight grin. "Not me, Buffy has a plan."
"That's my girl," he grinned as he got his game face back in place.
When The guys re-joined Buffy in the cave they found that she had taken Riley's pickaxe and pinned one of the creature's arms to the floor of the cave. "Riley get over here, hold him down! I'll take the other side."
The second Riley was in place, Buffy lept over onto the other side, gripping the demon's flailing arm, pinning it down with her own weight. She tossed the other pickaxe to Spike as she pulled out her own, quickly slamming it into the thing's other hand and pinning it to the floor.
Buffy looked up at Spike expectantly, "What are you waiting for?"
Spike hammered away at the demon's chest until chips of ice littered the floor. Its screeching reverberated inside the cave.
"Spike! Now!" Buffy screamed.
The heart sparkled a brighter purple, like a large shining amethyst. Spike jammed his bare hand into the thing's chest, ripping out the purple stone-like heart.
A bright glowing light suddenly resonated from Spike's own chest.
He held the heart close as he crushed it between his palms. The light engulfed the stone and grew blindingly bright for a long moment, before fading as it settled back within Spike's body and disappeared.
Suddenly Spike lost his balance and fell over, just as the creature's body disintegrated into a pile of fresh powdery snow.
Buffy rushed to his side. "Spike! Oh God, William, Honey? Speak to me."
"Ouch… bloody hell…" came his muffled growl.
With a relieved sigh, she helped him sit up as she checked him over.
Spike clutched her in turn. "Buffy," he uttered as he pulled her to him, kissing her deeply.
All the while Riley sat back on the cold ground staring numbly at them both. "What the hell was that?" he asked, interrupting them.
"My soul, mate," Spike slurred drunkenly.
"But it- it glowed…" Riley stammered.
"Yeah, apparently it's some kind of superpower. Last time I used it, it killed me," Spike smirked, pulling Buffy back into his embrace.
Buffy placed a firm hand on his chest, examining him. "But you're alright, you didn't lose your soul or anything right?"
"Tired, hungry, randy as hell, but no, not inclined to eat either of you. Although I really wouldn't say no to a few hours alone with you, beautiful, could shag you right here," he murmured, kissing along the lower edge of her jaw. "Bet I could make you scream enough to cause an avalanche."
"Spike," she scolded playfully before addressing Riley. "He's fine, totally normal," Buffy replied as she pushed him back, shooting Spike a 'down-boy' look.
Riley shook his head as he pulled himself up. "Eh- we better get you two back before the sun comes up. I'm going to check in with Sam, let her know we're coming."
"Hang on a sec I want to check out that graffiti again," Buffy staggered slightly as she pulled Spike up with her.
It took him a minute to steady himself, and adjust his pants, "I'm alright, Love."
"I've seen you more steady with a bottle of Jack in you."
"Course you have, one bottle barely gets me buzzed," he grinned.
She dropped her hands to her side checking to make sure he was as sturdy as he claimed to be. "You're sure?"
He sobered a little, shaking his head to clear it of the intense sexual frustration that had been flowing through him. "I'll get out of here, alright," he muttered, taking a deep breath and catching her eye seriously. "I'll be fine."
Outside of the cave they searched for the markings they saw before. Spike walked back and forth along the same wall several times with his hand outstretched to see if there was any sort of reaction.
There was nothing.
The markings were gone.
(*)
The sun was already coming up when they got back to the camp, fortunately, they were in the shadow of the mountain which bought Spike some time. Sam was waiting for them when they returned to the cabin and they gave her a complete account of the events in the cave.
"I'm just sorry I had to miss it," Sam said, a twang of guilt in her voice.
"Don't be. Sure you had good reason to be back here. Besides, we all got knocked around a good bit. Like a sodden pinball machine in there. It just happens that Buffy and I don't tend to show it much. Your hubby there should have some good ones to show ya," Spike replied.
"I'm not going to lie, he's probably right. I'm sure glad to be back in camp. I can't wait to get some food and sleep, myself," Riley said as he took his wife's hand.
"Well the minute Riley said you guys had got the demon and were on your way back, I started trying to confirm our transport out of here. The guy I did have lined up is now having engine trouble and can't get off the ground. I'm also getting some disappointing weather forecast information for the surrounding areas coming in from the north. But I'm not giving up yet," she added, seeing the disappointment on Buffy's face. "I just wanted you to know that so far I can only get us as far as the little airstrip just outside of the village below us."
"I thought you secret ops folks had endless resources when it came to travel and what all, can't we just get a chopper out of here?" Spike asked.
"I know it can seem like that. Especially when we come and go at what seems like a drop of a hat but it just isn't how it is. Not really. A lot is going on behind the scenes that nobody sees. Our monthly supply chopper arrived only a few days before you did so that option is out. I'm still working on it."
"She's right. Heck, we put in for a transfer back home over two months ago, almost three now, but before something finally came up, we got orders to come here," Riley shrugged, "Best laid plans, I guess."
"Oh, so you guys are transferring back to the States? Where too?" Buffy tried to sound casual.
"Well…" Sam looked at Riley, who just shrugged and gave a half nod, encouraging her to continue. "First we wanted to take some leave to visit his family in Iowa and Chicago for a visit with my mom. Then it looks like we're going to be settling down around Cleveland."
"The Hellmouth?" Buffy asked.
"That's the job. I promise we won't be living on top of it… or sending our kids to school on it," she smiled at her husband who suddenly looked like a little boy trying hard to keep a really good secret. Sam turned back to Buffy, "We're keeping it quiet for now, but… we're starting our family," she grinned, "I'm pregnant!"
Buffy was trying hard to pretend she and Spike didn't already know. "Congratulations! I'm sure you're going to make a great mom!" Buffy said as she gave Sam a small hug.
When they broke apart Sam's eyes were welling up slightly. "You're the first people we've been able to tell," she blinked away the tears, "Damn hormones…"
"I hear they're a bitch," Buffy soothed.
At least it made Sam laugh. "Ahh, look at me, I'm a mess. Is there anything I can get you guys?"
"Thanks, Sam, I think right now we just need some food and rest," Buffy replied.
"Spike, you look kinda drained," Sam added.
"Don't I always?"
"Do you want Sam to see if she can get you some extra blood?" Riley asked.
"Yeah, eh sure. I could use it if you've got it. That kinda took it out of me."
Sam nodded. "Of course. I'll head over to the kitchen. I had the cook save it when she had the goat butchered for tonight's curry. I'm afraid the best I can do right now is going to be eggs and toast. Might have some thinly sliced mutton left, not exactly bacon but it's alright."
"That's what I was going to have anyway," Riley said sitting down in a camp chair. "I'm glad this thing is almost over. We don't have a body to show, but hopefully, we can still smooth things over. I can't wait to get back to Iowa for Christmas."
"I don't know Ri, like I was telling them, our trip might have to wait until I can arrange transport," Sam countered.
Riley squeezed his wife's hand. "If you can't get us home in time then no one can."
(*)
It was less than a week before Christmas and Sam still hadn't been able to secure transportation beyond the village. Buffy had tried calling Dawn several more times. The one time she did get to talk to her, the connection was so bad she couldn't make out what she had said before the connection was lost for another day and a half.
The morning of the 23rd Sam took Buffy down into the village under the pretense of cheering her up. In the past, Buffy had wanted to hate Sam but the truth was that she was extremely likable. In spite of herself, Buffy appreciated the idea of a girl's day in the market. Although she never expected what happened when they got there.
It all started when none of the merchants seemed to be willing to take payment from her.
Sam explained that word had already spread through the village that she, 'The Warrior Bride', had been instrumental in the defeat of the ice demon. As such, Buffy found that she was being given anything she showed even the slightest interest in, including a lovely hand-carved cradle she had simply been trying to show Sam.
After that, she quickly stopped, but the gifts just kept coming. The people of the village market presented her with beautiful scarves, jewelry, and a beautiful red and gold dress that Buffy tried to refuse until Sam further explained it was intended to be her bridal dress, and refusing to accept any of the gifts would be an insult to the entire village.
"They are grateful and they think you're getting married to the man who ended the slaughter of so much of their livestock, so they want to give you wedding gifts. You should have seen what they gave Riley and me when we helped negotiate the truce with the Yetis. I gave some of it away but I still have a storage locker near my mom's place half filled with Napali goods. I'm already looking forward to decorating our house in Cleveland with some of it. So just enjoy the attention for once, not exactly something we get much of in this line of work. Not that we need it, just take the win, Buffy."
"But Spike and I are kinda backward on this whole thing, I mean we sort of are married, kinda- except that Spike hasn't actually asked me to marry him…" Buffy whispered in Sam's ear.
"Don't worry about that right now it will all work out. Just like getting you home. I still haven't found anyone to take us, but I have a feeling something will come through. We still have a day and a half before Christmas," she paused as they continued down the street, "You could always ask him, you know."
"Ehh… not really my thing. I mean, I take the lead on so much. When it comes to stuff like this; sometimes I still just want to feel like a regular girl."
Sam nodded. "Yeah, I get that. That's why I've already decided to stay home with the baby when we get to Cleveland. At least for the first few years. I'm just not sure if I can still do the job with a tiny person relying on me for everything, you know?"
"You are fortunate you can make that choice. I've only known of one slayer that ever had a kid, it didn't end well. She was killed when her son was really young," Buffy frowned, thinking about Robbin.
"You're not planning on doing the whole family thing, I take it?"
"Spike can't have kids, for starters," Buffy shrugged. "But like I told him, I would probably make the same decision even if he could, so that doesn't make much difference. You're getting all this baby stuff they are throwing in by the—" Buffy was cut off as an older woman started pressing a set of his-and-hers of red embroidered robes and a giant empty basket into her arms.
After that, she was presented with several more gifts not just for her, but for Spike as well. Before she knew it the basket, and the crib were both full, as were several hand-woven bags. She already knew some of the things would end up being gifts for the girls when she got home.
The villagers' generosity was both touching and overwhelming. The experience filled her with a sense of gratitude she had never truly experienced before. It lifted her spirits considerably. True she was still upset about not being able to get back to Dawn for Christmas but the trip to the village had helped her perspective a bit and she was feeling a lot better about their situation.
(*)
"You should have seen them, Spike," Buffy said exactly as she told him about their trip later that evening.
Riley and Sam had work to do so Spike and Buffy had the cabin to themselves. Buffy held up one of the scarves. "I've never had so many people thank me for doing slayer stuff before, it was… nice. And I didn't even kill the thing."
He ran a hand over her back. "I suspect that if people knew what you have done for them you would get that sort of treatment everywhere you went."
"I don't know about that," she said, rolling her eyes. "It was like a walk-through bridal shower."
"This thing is pretty cool," Spike said as he examined the blade of a dagger with a beautifully carved handle she had sitting on the little table in front of them. "Never heard of givin' a bride so much weaponry before."
"Clearly those are for the 'Warrior'," she winked.
"Kinda liking this whole thing aren't you?"
"Being showered with beautiful things? It's not a bad experience," Buffy replied with a happy little shrug.
"I meant all this bride talk, Love ."
"I don't hate it."
He tilted his head. "That right?" he asked with a droll grin.
"What's that for?"
"I like seeing you like this, happy."
"I'd be happier at home in my comfy PJs and mom's cocoa, but yeah, I guess I am."
The two of them continued bickering playfully as they went through the gifts, stopping only when the Finns returned.
"You two sure seem like you are in a good mood… you weren't—-"
"Shagging? No, probably still be at it if we were-" Spike turned to Buffy, cocking an eyebrow. "Can hardly wait to get you back home, seems like an age."
"I still have Christmas plans for you mister," she grinned, then turned back to Sam. "Any luck getting us out of here?"
"Nothing before Christmas, I was finally able to arrange something through our usual guy but it's not until the 27th."
Buffy leaned over the table with her head in her hands and let out a deep groan.
"I know it's not what you wanted to hear," Sam apologized.
Spike put his arm around her, Buffy squeezed his hand and sat up a little straighter. "Sam, is it alright if I call Dawn?"
"Sure, I'll get you patched through now."
The two of them left, leaving Spike and Riley alone. Spike clapped his hands together. "Too bad you don't got a telly in here."
"Yeah you're telling me, that's one thing that'll be nice about being back in the U.S., I kind of miss football."
Spike scoffed. "Oh don't get me started on what you Americans call football, that's nothin' but rugby with a bunch of padding and too many rules to count. Real football, now that's a sport."
"I need a drink, you want a drink?" Riley offered.
"Bloody hell, where'd you have that hidden?"
