Home : Stories by Author : Stories by GG Noel : Blood of the Heart ~ Failure
Summary: Sequel to The Hunt. Spike has gathered all of Buffy's extended friends and family in an effort to bring her back from the dead. There's one more obstacle to overcome. The obstacle that caused Spike to fail Buffy in the first place...
AUTHOR: GG Noel
EMAIL: ggordonnoel@yahoo.com
SEQUEL TO: Blood of the Heart ~ The Hunt
RATING:
PG
PAIRING: Buffy/Spike, Cordelia/Angel
SPOILERS: Post S5.
DISCLAIMER: I'm like Schultz on Hogan's Heroes. I own NOTHING.
DISTRIBUTION: Take it, Just tell me where it goes.
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Gunn was shocked.
“What do you mean, we’re not going to help them?”
“We’re going to stand here and watch,” said Angel
“That’s nuts. They’re surrounded by 40, 50 vampires!”
Wesley adjusted his glasses. “46 by my count.”
Giles chuckled. “And they’re only fledglings. There’s nothing to worry about, I assure you…unless you’re one of the vampires, of course.”
Giles, Gunn, Wesley, and Angel stood at the top of the hill overlooking Shady Rest Cemetery, perhaps Sunnydale’s most rampant vampire hot-spot. Giles had returned the evening before. Gunn didn’t know what to make of him. He was a bit more withdrawn that Wesley, and he sensed a bit more dangerous. Below them stood Spike, Faith, and the Buffybot, standing back to back, and surrounded by vampires.
“I don’t get it. Why?” Gunn asked.
“A lot of reasons,” said Angel.
“Such as…”
“Number one,” said Wesley, “Faith needs the practice.”
“Number two,” said Angel, “you’ve never seen what a Slayer can do. You told me once that you wanted to be the best at what we do. Is that still true?”
“Yeah…you know it is…”
“Well you’re about to see the best.”
“And number three,” said Giles. “Faith and Spike need to learn each other’s styles. They’ve only recently met, and never fought. If they are to be as effective as Buffy and Faith were together…or to even approach how effective Buffy and Spike were together…they need to get to know each other’s styles.”
“So why the robot?”
“Because, she’s a useful training tool,” said Wesley. “Spike and Faith have both fought with and against Buffy, and the Buffybot is as close to the real Buffy’s style as possible. We think if they fight with it as a third, then eventually they’ll be able to fight together without the need of the Buffybot to mesh their styles.”
Gunn cocked his head, and looked at Angel. “So why aren’t you down there with them?”
“I’d just interfere. We need Spike to teach Faith.”
“Spike?…why not you?”
“He’s better than me.”
“He’s what?”
“What have they told you about Spike’s history, Gunn?” asked Giles.
“Next to squat. I know he’s like Angel’s grandson or something but that’s it.”
Wesley motioned to them. “You’re about to see what we mean, Gunn. It’s starting.”
The first wave of vampires rushed toward the three figures below them. Before Gunn had even seen Spike move, two vamps exploded in dust in front of him. It was only then that Gunn saw the stakes in Spike’s hands. Then there was Faith. If he hadn’t of seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have believed it. From a standing start, she did a triple somersault over two vamps and staked them on her way down.
“Jesus…”
“And that’s just Faith. Watch the robot,” said Wesley.
Gunn could barely see the Buffybot amidst the confusion and flying bodies. What he did see astounded him. She was a ball of activity, compact and quick. She moved like a dancer.
“Buffy fought like that?”
“No,” said Giles. “Buffy was better. But she is as close to Buffy’s style as is possible, I believe. Spike and Willow have seen to that.”
“Spike programmed her?” said Angel.
“He was responsible for the combat skills and some of the more…colorful personal interaction scenarios.”
“I bet,” said Angel.
“I thought you were her…” Gunn looked to Wesley for the word…
“Watcher” said Wesley.
“Yeah, Watcher, so why would Spike know more about her combat skills?”
“Because,” said Giles. “He was her greatest opponent.”
“Huh?”
Giles took off her glasses and started to wipe them clean. He directed Gunn’s vision to Spike, who was just completing a maneuver that resulted in the decapitation of two vampires, and the staking of another two…
“How’d he do that?”
“Weighted blades sewn into the hem of the duster. An addition that he and Buffy came up with together.”
“He’s good.”
“He’s more than good,” said Angel.
“Yes,” said Giles. “With Buffy dead, Spike is probably the greatest hand-to-hand combatant on the planet.”
“I still don’t get it,” said Gunn. “If both of them are so good, how come one of them isn’t dead?”
Angel and the two Watchers looked at him like he had just shot their mothers.
“Oh…yeah…sorry…I mean why didn’t they kill each other…?”
Giles smiled and said quietly, “They enjoyed it too much. I heard Buffy refer to it as ‘dancing’ when it came to Spike.”
“What…?”
“Whenever Buffy and Spike fought…I think that’s when they were both truly alive…or as alive as a vampire can be in Spike’s case. I think early on, Spike actually could have killed her. But Buffy was lucky as she so often was. The more they fought, the better fighter she became. And the more he loved her.”
“So he could have killed her?”
“Yes…he’s done it before.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Spike’s fully capable of killing a Slayer. He’s killed two, in fact,” said Wesley. “He’s the only vampire in recorded history with such a record.”
“So a vamp never got the drop on a Slayer, before Spike, in all of history…oh geez, did you just see that?”
Faith had executed a maneuver standing on her hands that Gunn doubted he could do on his feet. She was definitely something. He’d never seen someone enjoying themselves more.
Angel crouched down. “Oh, vampires have killed Slayers before. But it was always with numbers. Send 100 vamps after one Slayer, the odds aren’t with the Slayer no matter how good she is. Spike was the first to take on a Slayer one-on-one, and win. Before Buffy, anyone who got in a one-on-one with Spike should have their death certificate filled out before they started.”
“So he and Buffy together…”
Giles sighed. “I don’t think anyone could have beaten them had Spike been at his peak. That chip in his head impaired him against human opponents. Against demons, or even these fledglings…with the real Buffy, this would have been over minutes ago.”
“The ‘bot that much different?” asked Gunn.
“She has all the maneuvers, even some of the originality,” said Giles, “but none of the life. None of what made Buffy Buffy. That’s why Spike won’t even speak to it.”
Gunn watched as Spike and the Buffybot took on three attackers together, Spike making a sweeping leg kick with the robot flipping overhead.
“Giles,” said Angel, “they were that good together?”
Gunn could hear the distance in Angel’s voice as he asked the question. It sounded like Angel knew the answer already, but didn't want to hear it.
As Faith executed a double somersault over a headstone to stake the last two vamps, Giles raised his eyes to meet Angel’s.
“They were poetry.”
Gunn hesitated before asking the question. “Okay, if Spike and Buffy were so good together…how’d it end up like it ended up? I mean I heard Spike got thrown off a tower or something…”
“Spike…wasn’t used to what Buffy asked him to do…” said Giles.
“What do you mean?” asked Wesley.
“Spike’s never been a defensive fighter before,” said Angel. “Spike’s never fought with the idea of staying alive. Only with the goal of the kill. He never really cared whether he lived or died. The fight itself was the goal. Buffy asked him to protect Dawn. That put him in a defensive position.”
“And Spike don’t play defense?” asked Gunn.
“Spike is more than capable of defending a fellow fighter. But Dawn was captive. Stationary. And there wasn’t much room to maneuver,” said Giles. “Truthfully…he was in a no-win situation.”
“But he still blames himself,” said Angel.
“Yes,” said Giles.
Faith, Spike and the Buffybot made their way up the hill. Gunn caught Faith’s eye, and she gave him a smile that made his heart almost stop. Gunn could almost feel the heat off her skin even from five feet away.
Angel looked at Spike. “I see you haven’t lost your touch.”
“Yeah, well, if slowpoke here,” he said, referring to Faith, “had been able to keep up like a real Slayer, then it would’ve been a lot quicker.”
“Oh, you mean like Buffy, right, Spike?” snapped Faith.
“For example…”…
Giles looked at the blond vampire…”Spike…”
Spike gazed at the Watcher’s eyes. He knew he was right. Turning to Faith, Spike said, “Listen, pet. I’m sorry. You did real good, real good. Nobody alive could have done better.”
Faith took a deep breath. “I understand. You just miss Buffy.”
“Yeah…guess that’s it. Sorry…”
“No…I understand, I do. I mean, besides, that’s why we were doing this, right. To get used to each other…”
“And to kill some vamps,” volunteered Gunn.
“Oh, yeah, that,” said Faith.
As they walked back to the car, Gunn found himself walking between Spike and Faith, still amazed by what he had seen them do.
“So…what’s the most you ever took on at once? By yourself.”
“Fledlings like those wankers?” asked Spike. “Somewhere around eleven or twelve when it was just me. It’s easier to take more when you’re not fighting alone.”
Gunn turned to Faith. “And you…”
“Six, I think.”
Gunn hesitated asking his next question. He turned to Spike to find the vampire already staring at him.
“Well, go ahead, mate…ask it…I know you want to…”
“Buffy?”
Spike slapped Gunn on the back. “Charles, my friend, I know for a dead fact that Buffy took out fourteen by herself one time.”
“Fourteen?!” said Faith. “How do you know it was fourteen?”
Spike just grinned. “I’m the one that sent them to kill her.”
Gunn and Faith stopped walking and just stared as Spike went on walking. They looked at each other, dumbfounded.
Xander and Anya were just finishing up the inventory at the shop when the crew got back from the cemetery. Faith shot Xander a look as she walked in the door. He found himself staring as they walked past him into the training room where Willow, Tara, Cordelia, and Dawn were waiting.
Gunn sat between Faith and Dawn on the couch, while Angel and Spike took opposite corners of the room, Angel taking the corner where Cordelia was already standing. Wesley helped Giles pull chairs from the outer room.
The door opened, and Gunn saw Xander and Anya struggling in with a stack of pizzas. Willow ran to help them as Dawn and Tara got out some plates.
Faith smiled. “Xander…you remembered…I’m touched…”
Dawn handed a piece of pizza to Cordelia and looked quizzically at Xander. “Remembered what?”
Faith grinned and Gunn felt her lean a little closer to him. “Xander knows…”
Anya looked at Xander. “Knows what?”
“Faith’s always a little hungry after slaying, aren’t you, Faith?”
Her eyes danced. “Among other things…” she said, sliding a hand along Gunn’s knee. Gunn’s eyes widened.
Xander just stared at her. Who did Gunn think he was? Wait a second, Xander thought to himself, why should I care? Why do I care?…oh this wasn’t good.
In the corner, Cordelia stood with Angel, watching on in amusement. Turning to the vampire, she asked, “Think we should warn Gunn?”
“About Faith or Xander?”
“Oh, who’s worried about Xander? If it wasn’t Gunn she was using to make her point, I’d think it was hilarious…”
Angel’s smile turned into a look of concern. “I think Xander should worry about Xander. Or at least about Anya…”
Cordelia looked back over her shoulder at Anya, who stood silently in the doorway. Tears were starting to form at the edge of her eyes. Angel was right. Xander was hurting her, and he was, as usual, totally oblivious. Glancing around the room, Cordelia saw that Willow saw it, too.
Cordelia walked over to Willow, and said, “Does he know what he’s doing?”
Willow shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
“Well, I’m going to talk to him about it because you know talking to Faith about it won’t do any good. You think you can help Anya?”
Willow looked over at the ex-vengeance demon. “I’ll try.”
Cordelia walked up to Xander and took him by the arm. “You, loser boy, outside, now!”
He looked at her in surprise. It had been a few years since he had heard Cordy’s forceful voice, and in those years it had become even more forceful than he remembered. He had Angel to thank for that, he guessed. “Hey, I want to be in here. They’re making plans.”
“And I’m sure Angel and Giles will tell us all we need to know. You got something else more important you need to know right, now, buster…”
Oh, God. Memories of high school just came rushing back. “Okay, just let go.”
Faith watched Cordelia march Xander out of the room. Cordelia couldn’t want Xander back, could she? Looking over to the corner where Angel stood, Faith saw him watching them walk out,too. Hmmm… possibilities, she thought.
Cordelia walked Xander out to the sales floor to the table where Dawn always did her homework.
“Sit!”
“What’s this about, Cordy? I kind of want to be in there for this.”
“This is important.”
“What’s more important that bringing Buffy back? You going to tell me my shoes don’t match my outfit?”
“Your shoes never match your outfit. But this is important, believe me.”
“What, Cordy, what?”
“You, buster,” she said, poking him in the chest, “are going to break your fiancee’s heart if you don’t watch it.”
Xander was shocked. He quickly sat down, and held his head in his hands. Looking up between his fingers, he said “What are you talking about?”
“What do you think I’m talking about? Faith, you dork.”
“Faith?” he said, incredulous. “What do you mean, Faith?”
“Oh I don’t know, maybe the way you salivate every time she steps in the room. The little eye-contact games you’re playing, the little inside jokes that Anya’s not a part of…whenever Faith is in the room, you act like Anya doesn’t even exist.”
“I do not.”
“You do so. Willow noticed it. I noticed it. Dawn noticed it. Hell, even Angel noticed it. She’s got you a string, a string I thought you cut a long time ago. What is it, Xander? Is it that she’s dangerous? That she’s the one person beside Anya you’ve slept with… that whole forbidden fruit of the loom nonsense?”
Xander got up and started to walk back to the training room. “I don’t know what you’re on, Cordelia.”
“So I’m seeing things, is that it, Xander?”
“Yeah, Cordy, you are…”
“I think it’s because she’s a Slayer like Buffy…except you can have this one…”
“That is total BS and you know it…”
“Do I? Because I know that look that I saw in Anya’s eyes when she was watching you ogle Faith. It was the same way I felt in high school every time Buffy walked in the room, and I ceased to exist to you.”
Xander stood silent. She was right. Faith had been all he had thought about ever since she had come back to Sunnydale. He took a deep breath, and looked into Cordelia’s stern eyes.
“When did you get so smart?”
“I don’t know. Angel gives me a lot of practice.”
“I bet.” He sat down at the table again, and Cordelia took a seat next to him, reaching out her hands to his.
“What am I supposed to do, Cordy?”
“Do you love Anya?”
He turned, and looked at her. “More than I thought possible.”
“And Faith? How do you feel about her?”
Xander hung his head. “Truthfully, Cordy…I don’t know. Just seeing her again it was like…like a bomb just went off in my chest, I mean she’s just so…”
“Slutty?”
“NO!…not like that at all…I just feel every time I see her that…part of me feels like I let her down, part of me is scared…part of me just feels alive…and part of me is yelling that I’m crazy.”
“And the other part?”
“The other part just wants to hold her and make everything okay.”
“She’s not some project Xander. She doesn’t want your pity.”
“It’s not pity, Cordy…I just know that she’s not like you all think she is…she’s…”
“What, Xander? She’s what?”
“She’s fragile.”
“Yeah, like explosives.”
“No..she’s scared most of the time and all she really wants is someone…”
“To love her? You think that’s what she wants?”
“I don’t know. All I know is that she’s more than you think she is.”
“I think she’s a killer, Xander.”
“She is…I mean…I know she is…but I don’t know if she can help that…I mean she’s a Slayer, right?”
“Buffy was a Slayer and she wasn’t a killer.”
Xander looked up at her, and Cordelia couldn’t tell quite what he was going to say. She definitely wasn’t ready for what he did say.
“Angel’s a killer, Cordy.”
“Angel’s a vampire. Besides, that was when he didn’t have a soul.”
“So? Look at Spike. He doesn’t have a soul, and he’s acting just as righteous as Angel these days. Annoying as hell, but he’s standing up, Cordy. And I heard Wes talking about what Angel let Drusilla and Darla do to those lawyers, Cordy. That makes him as much of a killer as Faith ever was.”
“What’s Angel got to do with any of this?”
“You tell me, Cordy. I’ve seen you two. You’re attached at the hip. If Angel’s in a bad mood, so are you. And vice versa. Angel’s Mr. Stoic most of the type. He could give Oz a run for his money in the stone face department. Until you come in the room, then Angel gets all nervous, or angry, or he even starts to laugh. I’ve never seen him act that way before you guys went to LA. Not even around Buffy.”
“So?”
“So how can you tell me it’s okay for you and Angel to care about each other, and it’s not okay for me to care about Faith?”
“What are you talking about? Angel’s my friend.”
“Wrong, Cordy. I’ve got friends, I know how friends act around each other. Friends don’t automatically huddle together in a corner every time the other enters a room like you and Angel do. Friends don’t let each other’s moods dictate how their day goes.”
Cordelia didn’t know what to think. Xander was right. Often her day was dictated by Angel’s moods. When he was happy, she was happy. When he was broody, she was cranky. “Your point being, Dr. Freud?”
“You trust your gut with Angel, right?”
“Yeah…”
“Well, let me trust mine when it comes to Faith…”
“Alright…and Anya?”
“I love Anya.”
“I know you do. That’s not what I meant.”
Xander sat there, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
“What did you mean?”
“I meant while you go on trusting your gut, hoping Faith doesn’t stick a knife in it, you’re already sticking one in Anya’s heart.”
Xander let that sink in. It didn’t feel well going down.
“Xander, you mentioned Spike. Angel doesn’t like Spike much.”
“So? What’s that got to do with anything?”
“Angel may not like Spike, but he has to respect him. You know why?”
“No, but I’m sure you’re going to enlighten me.”
“Because like you said, Spike stood up. He told Buffy he loved her, when he knew she wouldn’t take it well. Spike may have been a lot of things, Xander, but he was honest when it came to his feelings. That’s why Angel respects him, and you know, I do, too. He didn’t hide from his feelings. He faced them head on. You think you can say the same?”
Xander laughed. “Can you?”
“What are you talking about?”
“You know what I’m talking about.”
“Guys?”
They looked up to see Willow standing in the doorway.
“Yeah, Will?” said Xander.
“Your pizza’s getting cold, and I think we’re ready to start.”
“You waited on us?”
“Angel wanted to wait.”
“Uhh-Huh” Xander snorted, looking at Cordelia. “Like I said. Denial’s not just a river in Egypt.”
“Shut up, Xander…and remember what I said.”
“I will. Hey Will, you got a little magic to heat up my pizza?”
“Yeah, it’s called the microwave.”
Cordelia watched him walk back into the training room. She joined Willow in the doorway.
“How’s Anya?”
“Fine, I guess. You get through to him?”
“Oh I told him. Thing is…I don’t know if he can help himself.”
“It’s that bad.”
“Willow…I hate to say this…but I feel sorry for Anya.”
“Why’s that?”
She looked over at Xander. He was staring holes through Gunn’s forehead.
“I think Xander can’t help himself.”
“What do you mean?”
“You remember when Xander was dating me…and he ended up kissing you…”
“You don’t think that he would…”
“Faith would. You know it. She’d nail him to the sheets in a heartbeat.”
“Not the imagery I wanted. Well, I’ll just have to have a little talk with Faith.”
“No, don’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because, Willow. This is Xander’s call to make. And you know what’s sad?”
“What?”
“I actually think he loves both of them.”
Willow looked away, back into the room where she could see Angel looking expectedly at them. She looked back at Cordelia.
“Okay. I just hope he doesn’t screw this up.”
“Me, too, for his sake.”
“And Cordy?”
“Yeah, Willow?”
“Xander’s right about one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“You and Angel aren’t just friends.”
Giles couldn’t remember when so many of the “Scoobies” had been in one room. It was amazing to see the assemblage. Two watchers, a Slayer, two master vampires, a seer, a ex-vengeance demon, two witches, one of which with heretofore uncharted power, a girl who had until recently been composed of living energy, a street fighter, and a robot. Oh, and he mustn’t forget the excellent bowler. The excellent bowler who at this moment, Giles noticed, was on the receiving end of stares from Willow and Cordelia. Xander seemed not to notice them, instead he appeared totally preoccupied with his seating position in between Faith and Anya on the couch.
Spike was getting impatient. “What are we waiting for? Let’s get this bleedin’ show on the road.”
“I was told to expect two more…” said Giles.
“By who?..” asked Wesley.
“By me” said a voice from the doorway. They all looked up to see a short man in a shabby outfit and rumpled hat standing there.
“You…”said Angel…
“Long time, no see. How’s tricks?” said the man.
“You know how they are.”
“Angel,” said Willow…”who is this?”
“His name is Whistler.”
“Is he on our side?” asked Dawn.
Whistler smiled. “On this one, kiddo, I am. The Big Guys up stairs don’t like this whole kit and kaboodle. That’s why I’m here. I can’t fight, and I can’t plan. But I can steer you away from the potholes.”
Spike looked at Giles. “You said two, Watcher. Who’s the other?”
“He was parking the van. Gave me a ride. Nice guy. Moody though.”
“Huh?”
“Just start. He’ll be here in a second.”
Giles cleared his throat. “Well, alright then.” He and Wesley pulled a chalkboard from the corner of the room to where everyone could see it. A picture was taped to the board. “This is our objective. The Chalice of Osiris.”
Cordelia coughed from her perch on the arm of Angel’s chair. “Rehash much? We all know this already.”
“Yes,” said Wesley, “but Spike and Dawn have recently remembered where it can be found.”
“Where?” asked Anya.
“Where you don’t want to go,” said Whistler.
Angel was already getting impatient.
“Where, already?”
“In the house of a demon who was there when Buffy died. A demon we thought we’d killed,” said Giles.
“You don’t mean the guy I killed with the sword? The one with the big tongue?”
“The very same, guv,” Spike said. “He’s also the bastard that stabbed me in the back and threw me off the bleedin’ tower.”
“What kind of demon was he?” asked Gunn.
Giles face grew grave. “An Al-Azon, I’m afraid.”
Anya just about choked on her glass of tea. “You’re kidding. Spike, you let Xander in the same room with an Al-Azon?”
“It’s past, pet. He’s still breathing, now, isn’t he?”
Tara raised her hand. “What’s an Al-Azon?”
Wesley stood. “Perhaps the oldest demons walking the earth. They are some of the most vicious, amoral creatures in history. They are also some of the deadliest. That Spike survived not one, but two encounters with the Al-Azon is simply amazing.”
“Hey,” Xander said. “Al-Azon survivor here, too!”
Faith smiled. “And you killed the bad demon, didn’t you, boo-boo”, she said, slapping Xander playfully on the chest.
Anya had had enough. She pinched Xander’s ear and moved his face until he was staring her in the eyes. She whispered in his ear low enough that only the non-human ears in the room could hear. Cordelia didn’t know what was said, but by the look on Angel, Spike, and Whistler’s faces, it wasn’t anything nice.
“Yes, in any case,” said Giles. “Our objective is the Chalice.”
“We’re going to kill the bloody demon, too, mate.”
“Is that really necessary?” said Wesley. “They are notoriously hard to kill. If we can obtain the Chalice without engaging the Al-Azon, I would think it would be in our intere---“
“I’M GOING TO KILL THAT BLOODY DEMON IF IT’S THE LAST THING I BLOODY DO!” yelled Spike.
Everyone was silent. “Yes…well…” said Wesley
“He’s right,” said Whistler. “Part of the balance…if you want your girl back…is to kill the Al-Azon. His involvement was unforeseen. It was supposed to be Billy’s big-day. The culmination of 120 years of planning on the part of The Powers.”
“What are you saying,” asked Angel. “What was Spike supposed to do?”
“You think it was an accident that Drusilla saw him that day? Or even that you sired Drusilla? He had to be of the same line as you.”
Spike’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean, it was a plan, mate?”
“You were always supposed to be there. At her side.”
“Why?” asked Dawn.
“Because…Spike is the first of the new breed. Of the Reconciliation…the Intermingling…the Fusion. The Powers have been able to hide his true nature until now. But Buffy wasn’t supposed to die. Without her to facilitate it, the transition won’t ever be complete. Only Buffy had the power. There is another possibility, but without Buffy it’s probably impossible. At least for Spike. Buffy was key.”
“I thought Dawn was the key,” said Anya.
“What kind of fusion?” asked Willow.
“What the bleedin’ hell are you talk about?” snapped Spike.
“You’ll see. If this is going to work, you’ll see. In the meantime, that doesn’t solve your immediate problem. There’s only one way to kill an Al-Azon.”
“And how’s that, bore him to death?” asked Faith.
“Hi, guys.”
Gunn looked up to see a rather short red-haired guy about Cordelia’s age standing in the doorway next to Whistler. He seemed to be wearing no expression at all.
“Oz!” said an excited Willow. “What are you doing here? I mean it’s great to see you and all, and oh, did you know Buffy died, and hey…what are you doing here?”
“Well, I gave this guy a ride, thank you, Whistler told me, and I want to help.”
“Oh,” said Willow.
“It’s good to see you.”
“Good to see you too. Like I said, I want to help. So keep going…”
“Yes…well, good to have you on board, Oz…”, said Giles.
Gunn looked quizzically over at Cordelia, who mouthed “werewolf”. Gunn shook his head. What’s next, Frankenstein’s Monster?
Giles continued, “As I was saying…”
“So, Gunn…how are you liking your little vacation on the Hellmouth?” asked Xander.
Xander and Gunn were sitting in the front seat of Oz’s van, which was parked down the street from the house where Spike and Xander had encountered the Al-Azon two months before. Spike and Dawn referred to the demon as “Doc” but Xander didn’t think he was much of a Bugs Bunny fan. Tara and Anya sat in the back in front of an elaborate computerized communication set up that Willow and Wesley had devised. All four wore headsets.
“Nice town, I guess. Strange though…”
“What’s that?”
“Only place I’ve ever been in my life got more vampires than brothers.”
“Yeah, strange, I guess I don’t know anyone that has a brother, only sisters…”
Gunn stared blankly at Xander.
“Oh…you mean that kind of…oh…well, whenever the town fathers of Sunnydale tried to be diverse it always seem to go in the Hellmouthy direction.”
“I bet.”
“You never met the mayor.”
“Hush,” said Tara. “They’re starting.”
In the sewers below the van, Spike, Angel, Faith, Willow and Oz were making their way through the sewers. It was still an hour before the sun went down, but it was pitch dark inside the sewers. Oz, Angel, and Spike could see just fine, but Faith and Willow were having to follow closely behind.
Tara heard Giles’ voice come over the air. “Spike, are you all in position?”
“Almost mate, give us a couple of minutes.”
Faith was bringing up the rear. She had yet to be given a straight answer from anyone as to what had happened to Willow. What ever it was it gave her the creeps. She could literally feel the power rippling in waves from the redhead in front of her. She could tell Spike and Angel felt it, too. Angel looked shocked, and almost concerned, while Spike looked angry. What was it about Buffy, thought Faith. These guys were two righteous bad-asses who could take whatever they wanted, and they both just wanted Buffy. She had just answered her own question. It was Buffy, after all.
“Up here,” said Oz.
“You sure?” asked Angel.
“Smelled that blood Xander couldn’t get out of his shirt. It’s up there.”
“Alright. Giles, we’re in position.”
“Understood. They’re at the first mark. Anya, are you picking up the proximity signals Willow set up?”
Angel shook his head. He was still amazed at Willow. If ever the word “technomage” would apply, he was sure that Willow would eventually be the embodiment of it. She had somehow arranged for the computers in the van to pick up signals from magical beacons that she had willed into existence throughout the tunnel system and the surrounding area.
“[sqwauk] Roger, This is Devil in a Blue Dress, 10-4 on that, Gandalf. Bogies spotted on at high noon and two o’clock.”
Gunn turned to Xander. “What’s she talking about?”
Xander turned to face Anya. “Honey, what’d I tell you. We’re not using code names or talking like fighter pilots.”
“But it looked like so much fun when that Rubber Ducky man did it in that film about trucker solidarity.”
Gunn shook his head in disbelief.
“Anya, hun”, said Xander. “I liked Convoy as much as the next guy, but this isn’t the time.”
“Alright…but can we sing the song when we get Buffy back?”
“Spike,” Tara said. “The entrance is ahead of you and to the right. There looks like he’s got a nest of vampires guarding the entrance.”
Spike held the microphone to his hear, and looked at Angel to see that he heard as well. “How do you know they’re vampires, luv?”
“There are a bunch of little V’s on the screen.”
Angel looked back at Willow, whose eyes he thought were slightly glowing around the edges. “I’m impressed, Will.”
“Thanks, just something I’ve been working on.”
“Cool, Red,” said Faith. “Can you hook me up with a little hand-held model? That’d come in handy.”
“Like the bleedin’ fat man with a metal detector at the beach…”said Spike…
They made quick work of the vampires. Willow and Oz hung back, and it wasn’t two minutes before Angel beckoned them to follow. Oz could feel the piles of dust on his shoes as he walked through the room.
They came to a door, which felt to Angel like cold iron plated with silver.
“Old door,” said Willow.
“Strange,” said Spike.
“What’s so strange about a big heavy door?” asked Faith.
“Cold iron. A magic ward,” said Angel.
“But is it to keep magic out or to keep it in?” asked Oz.
“I don’t know,” said Angel.
“Question is, how are we going to get in?” asked Spike. “I don’t know about you, but I didn’t bring any dynamite.”
“Like this,” said Willow. Faith could see Willow’s eyes blaze a cold green, and the door started to dissolve in front of them.
Oz stepped through followed by the two girls. Spike and Angel stood and stared at the door.
“That was cold iron,” said Angel.
“Yeah…it was,” answered Spike.
“Not even fey magic can affect cold iron.”
“I say treat it like gays in the military, mate. Unless somebody asks you, don’t leave a greek horse with a man bearing gifts.”
“Yeah…yeah…is that what they say?”
Spike and Angel stepped through the now empty doorway, Angel still staring back in disbelief.
Cordelia’s voice came over the headsets. “Angel, Wesley and Giles are finished.”
Oz held a hand up, signaling to Angel and Spike that they had arrived at their destination. Covering his mike with his hand, Angel turned to Spike. “This is your show, William.”
“You believe that, Angelus?” he asked.
“Like Whistler said…you were supposed to be there, not me. If you don’t believe that, fine. Blame yourself for her being gone. I don’t care. But I will blame you for her staying gone. Lorne told us that it wasn’t my fight anymore. If that’s true, I’m not taking any chances. It doesn’t matter who gets her back, as long as she’s back.”
“No, I don’t guess it does.” Spike lifted his hand from where it had been covering his own mike. “Harris, Gunn, you’re up, boys.”
Xander and Gunn got out of the van, and went to the back of the vehicle. Tara opened the doors, and handed them each a large backpack.
“We’re ready.”
“Burn the bugger,” said Spike.
Xander and Gunn approached the house, each going to an opposite corner of the side facing the street. Cordelia, Giles and Wesley emerged from the bushes near the house, slowly trailing cans of gasoline behind them. Gunn and Xander looked at each other, nodded and pressed the triggers on the flame throwers. The lines of gasoline slowly led up to the house until they reached what looked like a fire hose. A wall of almost green flame suddenly burst up in front of them. They ran back from the intensity of the heat, which Gunn could have sworn was starting to melt the trees.
Gunn looked at Xander. “Man, what’d you put in that hose?”
Xander smiled and looked at him. “Don’t you just love the smell of napalm in the…late afternoon early evening hours?”
Gunn looked at Cordelia who stood gazing at the fire. “You guys okay? No nasties jump out at you?” he asked.
“No,” said Wesley. “We’re fine.”
“That hose was blasted heavy, Xander,” Giles said. “We should have had you two roll the hose out while Cordelia set the accelerants.”
“But I like shooting the flame thrower. It makes me feel all manly,” said Xander.
“Glad something does,” said Cordelia in a whisper.
“Cordy, are you all right?” asked Wesley.
“Tell me why we just did that again.”
“Well,” said Giles. “That high temperature a flame won’t kill the Al-Azon. But it would cause it considerable harm. We’re trying to keep it from getting out of the house, a moat so to speak, so that it will be trapped inside with Angel and the others.”
“Uh-huh…tell me something…anybody know how to put napalm out?”
“Why do you ask Cordy?”
“Because the our moat just set the house on fire.”
“Oh…” said Wesley.
“Oh,” repeated Giles.
“Giles?”
“Yes, Cordelia.”
“Fire kills vampires, doesn’t it?”
“And humans for that matter.”
“Did you guys hear that?” asked Cordelia, screaming into her microphone. “Angel, the house is on fire!”
There was no answer.
Angel and Spike stood in what Angel thought was the house’s main hall. It seemed larger than Spike remembered. Angel could smell something vaguely reminiscent of the Louisiana bayou. He realized it was the smell of swamp gas.
“Down,” he yelled, and flames burst through the room.
“What the bleedin’ hell?” yelled Spike.
“Oh, just a little magic, boy.”
Spike looked up to see Doc step from the next room. “You’re becoming quite the bothersome little insect. I think I’m going to have to squash you.” With that he raised a mace from behind his back, smashed it across Spike’s face.
Spike rolled with the blow. “I though you preferred blades, Doc.”
“But blades are so quick. This prolongs it. More fun.”
Angel slammed into Doc from the back. Doc quickly turned and struck Angel on the shoulder. A large crack was heard as Angel’s collarbone broke.
Doc looked back at Spike. “And you brought a friend. I’m glad you came boy. I haven’t had any fun since I watched that bitch Slayer of yours die.”
Spike rushed him.
Faith looked around the room where Spike had told her it would be. Seeing nothing, she finally spoke into the microphone.
“Dawnster, you there?”
“Yeah, Faith. I’m here.”
“Okay, I’m in the room. Where is it?”
“Look up to your right. Near the fireplace.”
Spike was bloody. So was Angel. Both of Angel’s arms were broken, as was Spike’s left arm and his right leg. Both of them barely managing to kneel on the floor, Doc was walking around them, alternately smacking them with the mace.
Angel had never seen anything so fast in all his nearly 250 years. He understood now why Spike had been beaten on top of the tower. If this was the thing that Spike had had to face he was amazed that both Spike and Dawn weren’t dead. How Buffy had managed to get by it, he had no idea.
“Well boys, I can smell a fire outside. You think I should take you boys out to see it?”
“What do you think, Angel? You want to go outside and see Mr. Sunshine?” joked Spike, feebly, coughing up blood.
“I don’t know…give it a second.”
“All right.”
“You two are just delaying the inevitable. I think you’re right, my boy. I think a blade is preferable right now. Just quick and painless, chop off the heads. What do you think, right through the neck.”
Angel saw the last glimmer of sunlight escape under the window. He could hear something rustling against the back wall.
“I don’t know, Spike,” said Angel. “That sounds pretty good to me. Sun’s down, moon is up, I’m ready, how about you…”
“Not quite yet…”
“Awww…that’s sweet,” said Doc. “I get it now. You guys came here as a kind of suicide pact. You’re all moony over the girl, aren’t you? Both of you. You, I understand,” he said, pointing at Angel. “You’re burdened with a nasty little soul, but you,” he said, looking back at Spike. “Last time I saw you there wasn’t a hint of a soul on you. And still you act like a poor love-struck child.”
“Put me out of my misery then, you prancing git.”
“I think I’ll do that.” Doc went up and picked a sword from where it hung on the wall. He walked up to Spike and tilted Spike’s head. As he did so, Spike heard Faith’s voice come through his earpiece: “Spike, we’re five by five.” Spike smiled.
“What are you smiling about, boy?”
“You, you bastard are about to get what you deserve…Will?”
Angel had to duck as the back wall exploded. Willow floated there, lightning streaming from her eyes, flames rising behind her.
Doc looked up, chipper. “Oh, who’s this?”
“Your death,” intoned Willow. It echoed throughout the burning house.
“Silly child,” he said, “no magic can kill me…”
“No,” she smiled. “But I can bind you.”
With that Angel seemed to feel all the air rush out of the room. He watched as Willow’s eyes turned pitch black and he felt walls of force rush by him and slam into the demon before him. Bands of red force held him in place.
Spike and Angel rose to their feet.
They both limped slowly around to where Doc floated in the air.
“Let’s see, Spike…what do we know about this guy…”
“Bloody fast…
“Yeah…”
“Bloody mean…”
“Yeah…”
“and bloody unattractive.”
“Yeah.”
“Boy insulting me won’t do trifles such as you any good against me.”
“What kind of demon was this again, Angelus?”
“I think he was Al something…”
Doc grimaced. “Al-Azon. A name you should bow and worship before…”
“Oh yeah, Spike. That’s it. What else do we know about Al here?”
“Can’t kill him by stabbing him.”
“No?”
“Can’t burn him.”
“Really?’
“Can’t even mojo him to the great beyond.”
“Really? Then how do you kill him?”
“You don’t, you insignificant gnat,” snarled Doc.
Spike smiled. “Let him go, Will”
Angel barely saw the blur of brown fur flash by him. He and Spike turned and walked back toward the space where the back wall had been. They could hear the screams of something inhuman as the Oz-wolf ripped into Doc’s flesh.
“It’s really very simple, Angel.”
“Really?”
“Yeah…you eat him.”
“Let me go, Xander!” screamed Cordelia. He strained to hold her back.
“Gunn, help me!” Xander pleaded.
“Angel’s in there!”
“Stop it, Cordy. We know!”
She stepped closer to him, their faces almost touching. “Xander, please.”
“No, Cordy. Stay here.”
“Xander, Faith’s in there, too.”
Xander slowly looked and turned at the house, which was now not even recognizable. All he could see was waves of heat.
“Look!” Anya yelled.
“Holy Sh—“ Gunn whispered.
Xander followed Anya’s line of sight. There set against the full moon, was a sight that made him cry.
Willow was levitating there, her arms outstretched. Beside her floated Angel, Spike and Faith. Faith held the Chalice up for them to see. Behind Willow, Xander could see the Oz-Wolf floating in bands of red force. The fire didn’t seem to have touched them.
She slowly set them down. Tara reached out and hugged Willow, who smiled.
Cordelia rushed Angel, and he winced in pain as she put her arms around him. “Oh God, you’re hurt.”
“Well, that was the plan.”
“That was a stupid plan.”
“Hey, it was Spike’s.”
Wesley stepped up to Giles. “That was amazing.”
“Wasn’t it though.”
“Have you ever seen the like?”
“No…I haven’t.”
Dawn rushed out of where she had been sitting in the van and hugged Spike, who squeezed her in his one good arm.
“Is he dead?”
“Yup.”
“You mean?”
“Yes, little bit. I’m the big bad, and I brought my wolf,” he said indicating Oz. “He’s all gone.”
Cordelia walked Angel, toward the van, holding him up.
“Cordy…Cordy…”
“What…”
He nodded his head, indicating she look toward the van. She looked up and saw Gunn sitting in the open door of the van. He was holding Anya, who was crying into his chest. Cordelia slowly turned. Her heart broke for Anya. Xander was holding Faith in his arms, quietly looking down into her eyes. He slowly bent his head to kiss her.
“Cordy…”
“Yeah, Angel…”
“Let it go…”
Looking back to the vampire leaning on her shoulder, she sighed. Xander was right. Denial isn’t just a river in Egypt.
They all stood on the main sales floor of the Magic Box. Everything had been prepared. Gunn and Xander had gone with Willow the night before and dug enough dirt to make the mud to make Buffy’s new body. They were about to start to process to call her soul.
“Willow…who do you need where?” asked Giles.
Willow sat in the center of the five pointed star drawn on the floor of the shop.
“This is going to be different from the First Slayer spell.”
“How so,” asked Wesley.
“I need to draw on aspects of Buffy herself, not just on aspects of the Slayer. Dawn, I need you at the top of the star. You’re her love.”
Dawn took her place, smiling at Spike as she went.
“Xander, to my right. You’re her heart.”
Xander looked over at Tara, and rather immodestly proclaimed, “Did you hear that…I’m her heart.”
Xander took his place, facing the center of the circle.
“Angel”, said Willow. “To my left…you’re her strength…”
Angel looked back at Cordelia, his hand trailing behind in hers until their fingertips finally parted.
“Giles…you sit beside Angel to my left…you’re her wisdom.”
Giles nodded and took his place.
“And Faith…”
Faith looked up. “What, me?”
“Yes, Faith. You. Sit beside Xander. You are her passion.”
Anya turned away, and started to walk from the room. Gunn followed her and grabbed her shoulder, putting his arm around and her calmly bringing back into the room. Xander saw this and silently looked away.
Faith was hesitant.
“What’s wrong, pet?” asked Spike.
“I want this to work.”
“So do we all, pet. It’ll help a lot if you get on with it.”
“How can I be a part of Buffy?”
Willow looked at her. “You’re the Chosen Two, wasn’t that what you called yourselves?”
“Faith,” said Dawn. “Please. Believe me. It’ll work.”
Faith slowly sat down at her corner of the circle. Xander reached his hand toward her.
“It’ll be all right.”
“You promise?” she asked.
“I promise.”
“So Willow,” asked Wesley, “what is your role in the spell?”
“I am her power…” she said.
“Oh…of course.”
“Wesley, could you hand me the Chalice, please.”
Wesley went to hand it to her, then blanched.
“Oh, no,” he said. “What about the heart’s blood?”
“What?” Faith asked.
“The spell calls for the heart’s blood of a vampire.”
They all looked at each other. Spike spoke up.
“Right then. Gunn, please grab that knife there and punch a hole in my heart, then.”
“No,” said Angel. “It’ll drain all of your blood. You won’t survive.”
“I don’t care. She will.”
“That’s not the plan, William.”
At the front door of the shop stood Whistler, dragging something behind him.
“Besides you need to be in the circle itself.”
“Excuse me?”
“Trust me, you’ll see what I mean once Red does her thing.”
“So what are we supposed to do for the vampire blood,” asked Cordelia.
Whistler, shook his head. “Kids these days. So forgetful.” He slung what he had been dragging around to where they could see. Drusilla lay there, awake, but gagged and unable to move.
“You forget you had one in the trunk? Besides, it had to be her.”
“Oooh…Synchronicity” said Oz.
Spike looked very cautiously at Whistler. “Why her?”
“She is of the Master’s line, like you and the brooder over there. Only the Master’s bloodline will work.”
“You’re saying it has to be Dru’s blood?!” asked Spike.
“Yeah. It does. Just get in the circle.”
“Where?”
“Just sit across from Red there.”
Spike did as he was told.
Whistler bent down and spoke to Willow.
“Okay, now Red, listen to me. Forget the script.”
“WHAT?!” screamed Giles.
“Calm down, Rupert,” said Whistler. “She’s got enough juice to do this on her own. Go with what feels right, Red.”
“Are we ready?” asked Angel.
“Hold hands with each other,” said Willow. Giles, Angel, Faith, Xander, and Dawn reached out and grasped each other’s hands. Spike looked around nervously at the closed circle around him, then at Whistler.
“I swear if you screw this up…”
“Calm down, Billy, and go with the flow.”
Willow started to chant in a language Wesley thought to be Aramaic.
A small circle of light formed across the shoulders of the five sitting at the points of the star, following the paths of their extended arms.
Willow stopped chanting, and looked over to Wesley and Gunn. Wesley took a large knife and made a hole in Drusilla’s chest while Gunn held her. Cordelia looked over and almost laughed. Crazy bitch is finally dead, she thought. We’re on a roll.
Wesley handed Willow the Chalice. She set it between her legs. She then reached up and placed the pearls around Spike’s neck. The circle of light became a wall of light reaching up to the ceiling. Only those in the circle could see what Willow did next.
“I hope you know what you’re doing, Will.”
“Trust me, Spike.”
“I do.”
“All, right then.” She held the chalice to his lips. “Drink”.
“Will?”
“Drink.”
Spike looked toward Angel, who nodded to him.
“Drink, Spike. Please,” said Dawn.
Spike held the chalice to his lips. He had often tasted Drusilla’s blood, but this was different. It didn’t taste like blood. Instead of being base, coppery, it was sweet. If Spike didn’t know better, he would have said fruity. Then he realized where he had tasted it before. It was the taste of the air around Buffy. The smell of her hair, the taste of her skin. He drank the rest of the cup down.
Willow said something Spike couldn’t understand and bolts of light shot from the five corners of the star into Spike’s body. The pearls glowed. Willow watched as the pearls dissolved into Spike’s skin.
Cordelia sat next to the wall, staring at the tower of light in front of her. It was bright, but it didn’t hurt her eyes.
“Wes…”
“Yes, Cordy…
“What do you think’s going on in there…”
“I have no idea…
“It’s working,” Whistler said.
“Cool,” said Oz. “That’s always good.”
“Look,” said Tara. “Do you see that?”
The light seemed to shiver, and then there was a sudden flash.
Suddenly, Cordelia could see them all. Willow was standing in front, the five points of the star in a line behind her, with Xander and Faith on either end. Willow walked toward the table where they had fashioned a rudimentary body from mud and a lock of Dawn’s hair. Willow bent and kissed the body on what ostensibly was its forehead. The five points of the star came next, Xander reaching toward the body’s feet, Faith placing a finger on the mouth. Cordelia though she saw a slight glow escape from Faith’s fingers.
Then she looked up and saw him. Spike stood there, his eyes glowing in the warmest color she had ever seen. He walked up to the body, and looked down on it. He brought up his hand, and stroked the forehead. Then he bent down and kissed it. Cordelia watched as the warmth spread from Spike’s lips through the body, covering it in a sheet of light. The light slowly faded. He was no longer kissing a body. He was kissing Buffy.
“What just happened?” asked Gunn.
“They did it,” said Whistler.
Spike looked down at Buffy. She lay there in the same clothes as when he last saw her. “Open your eyes, luv.”
Slowly, she did. He looked and saw the same light behind those eyes as he did the first night he met her.
“Hey,” she said.
“Hey, yourself.”
A tear rolled down his face, as it did down most faces in the room. Cordelia looked up and saw Angel looking at Buffy. He then looked down at Cordelia, and held her to him. Cordelia thought he hugged pretty well for a guy with two broken arms.
Buffy looked around, saw everyone there, and started to laugh. “Look at you guys. You’d think someone died.”
They all laughed.
Spike looked down at her. “Oh, luv, you don’t know the half of it.”
She held her hand up to his face. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, now. Nothing now.” He held her to him.
“Spike,” she said. “What’s going on? You’re shaking…”
“I guess I am…”
“Your heart’s beating so fast.”
“I guess it is…”…hold on…
He looked down at her. “What did you say?”
“I said your heart is beati…oh…hey…”
Spike held his hand to his throat. Yep. He recognized a pulse anywhere.
He looked to Whistler. “What happened?”
Giles forward. “Yes…and go through it slowly. First why was Spike necessary to the spell?”
“What spell?” asked Buffy.
“You left us for a while,” said Angel. “We just got you back.”
“Left us, where’d I go?”
Dawn ran forward and hugged her sister.
“Ooohh…hey Dawnie…”
“Buffy,” asked Wesley, “what’s the last thing you remember?”
“I was fighting Glory, and I went up to make sure Dawn was okay, then…oh…OH….THAT’s where I went,” she said, looking over at Spike. “How long?”
“Two months, three days and 17 hours, pet.”
“Glad to know you’re still keeping track of everything I do.”
Giles turned back to Whistler. “What happened? Why is Spike’s heart beating?”
“He shansu’d.”
“He what?” asked Buffy.
“Became human,” said Cordelia. Spike had shansu’d. Not Angel.
“Well, kinda” said Whistler. “He’s human like Buffy’s human.”
“So what are you saying?” asked Wesley.
“He’s a Slayer,” said Angel.
“Yeah,” said Whistler.
“That’s impossible,” said Giles. “Only females are Slayers. Besides, he was a vampire.”
“I told you. He’s the intermingling. The fusion. The first of his kind.”
“I don’t understand,” said Buffy.
“Join the club,” said Xander.
Buffy smiled over at Xander, and raised her eyebrows at seeing Faith standing there holding his hand.
“Hey Faith.”
“Hey B.”
“You in on this shindig?”
“Yeah….”
“Thanks…”
“So explain this, again,” said Giles. “First, why was Spike necessary to the spell.”
“No,” said Spike. “Start sooner. You said I was meant to be by her side when she fought Glory.”
“Okay…let’s see, the easiest way to put this. Buffy is the top of the line model Slayer, okay. A long time ago, the Powers That Be saw that pretty soon one Slayer isn’t going to be enough. So they tried to figure out a way to have more than one at a time. I’m telling you they hatched this idea way back when Darla turned Angelus. That’s also why we have Miss Sweetcheeks, here,” he said, indicating Faith. “They needed to see if two could even work together before they let all this go forward.”
“I’m involved in this?” asked Angel.
“Yeah. Your bloodline, the Master’s bloodline, has produced the strongest master vampires in history. Darla, Angelus, Drusilla, Spike. All masters.”
“As opposed to what?” asked Gunn.
“As opposed to the rest,” said Giles. “All those fledglings you saw them kill. The masters are the most powerful, the best of the breed.”
“Yeah, and Angelus was the first experiment.”
“Experiment?” asked Cordelia. “You make him sound like a lab rat.”
“The Powers that Be needed to see if a vampire shell could even hold a soul,” said Whistler. “And obviously, it can.”
“What does this have to do with making more Slayers?” asked Dawn.
Whistler looked at her. “Smart kid. Where do you think your sis gets all her power from?”
“I don’t know…”
“Giles?” asked Buffy.
“Vampires,” said Spike.
“Give the man a prize!” said Whistler.
“I don’t understand,” said Faith. “You’re saying B and I are vamps?”
“I’m saying you have all the strength, speed, and power of a vamp.”
“With none of the weaknesses,” said Angel.
“Right. Don’t have to suck blood, worry about sunlight, none of that.”
“So what are you saying,” said Giles. “The Slayers are the result of some magic or…”
“Genetics,” said Willow. “Let me guess. We all have the genes for it, except…”
“In most people, the power is only accessible after you die. And it comes with some horrible side effects.”
“Wait,” said Wesley. “What about the demons inside them? Are you saying that the demons aren’t real?”
“No, they’re plenty real. When the first demon bit a human and made a vampire, it possessed the body, pushed the right genetic buttons and got a vampire. All the weaknesses a vampire has comes from the demon’s weaknesses, not the human’s.”
“So all the strengths are always there,” said Willow.
“Yeah,” said Whistler. “Only thing is, there’s only two ways to access it. Either have no soul like a vampire, or a really strong soul like a Slayer.”
“So why are all Slayers girls?” asked Xander. “Do men just have wussie souls?”
“No…it just never worked before. The Soul just would never stay within a man’s body once the powers were activated. The Powers that Be tried it, along time ago, right after the First Slayer was born, but the result was always a vampire, or just as bad a vampire zombie.”
“A corpse that needed blood, but had no demon guiding it,” said Angel.
“Yeah. Nasty. So anyway, the Powers thought of a way to do it.”
“Let me guess,” said Giles. “Let the men become vampires.”
“Right,” said Whistler.
“So what’s the deal with the souls?” asked Willow.
“Yeah,” said Spike. “You still haven’t said why I was the one that had to be in the circle with Willow.”
“Okay, here’s the short explanation. Angel here they saw if a vampire could even handle having a soul. Spike, when Dru brought you over, they didn’t let your soul just fly away…”
“Oh, no?”
“No, they held it. Bonded it really with another soul.”
“Another soul?”
“Mine,” said Buffy.
“Yeah. That’s one of the reasons you’ve been the one of the greatest Slayers they’ve ever had. Nice side effect.”
“So you’re saying that Buffy has had Spike’s soul all along?” asked Cordelia.
“They don’t share a soul, no. They have separate souls, but they’re bonded.”
“Mated,” Angel quietly said.
“Yeah,” said Whistler, understanding the meaning behind the question.
“So when Buffy died,” said Giles…
“I still can’t believe I died” said Buffy. Spike still held her round her shoulders. She leaned in against his chest.
“When Buffy died,” said Whistler. “Her soul didn’t go anywhere. Or it did, just into Spike.”
“What?” asked Xander. “Her soul went into Spike?”
“I told you, their souls were bonded. When they left Buffy’s body, they went to the natural place for them. Spike. The Powers had been readying Spike’s body to accept his soul back ever since he was made a vampire. That’s why he’s such a passionate fighter. Why he had feelings stronger than other vampires. And the more he was around Buffy, the stronger his feelings became. The closer he was to Buffy, the more of his soul he could use.”
“So getting his soul back…” asked Buffy…
“Is what turned him human again. A male body that can house the soul and the power.”
“So why isn’t Angel human already?” asked Cordelia.
“Because, Sugar, Angel has a soul, just not the whole thing. He was bonded to another, too. The Powers weren’t sure his body could handle the whole thing, so they were cautious. Once he gets the rest of his soul…the part that lets him be truly happy…he’ll be human and shansu, too.”
“What does he have to do?” asked Wesley.
“He’s already doing it. It’s just a matter of time.”
“What do you mean he’s already doing it?” asked Cordelia.
“Listen, kid. Tell me if I’m wrong. The last few years, he’s laughing more, isn’t he? Acting a little more human…”
“Yeah, so…”
“I understand,” said Wesley. “Whistler, is the bonding of souls always male/female?”
“Both times it’s been done by the Powers, yeah…”
“Done by the powers?” asked Willow. “You mean there’s another way?”
“Yeah,” said Whistler. “The good old fashioned way…love.”
Willow smiled, looking at Tara.
“Oy,” shouted Spike…”Are you saying I only love Buffy because the powers say I do?”
“No…not even the Powers could bond two souls that didn’t want to be together. And if you didn’t love Buffy, you wouldn’t be human right now. Because the powers did what they did, your souls are now symbiotic. You maintain each other’s humanity. One without the other just won’t work.”
“That still doesn’t explain why Angel isn’t human yet,” said Cordelia.
“Yes, Cordy, it does,” said Angel. “Did you hear what he said? I’ve been acting more human the last few years.”
“So?”
“He said Spike started acting more human the closer in proximity he got to Buffy. The more time with her, the more of his soul he could use.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Is she dense or what?” asked Faith.
“Cordelia,” Buffy said. “It’s you.”
“What?”
“He hasn’t been with me the last few years, Cordy. He’s been with you.”
“You’ve got the other piece of Angel’s soul. Pretty soon, once you two can actually come to terms with it, he’ll shansu,” said Whistler.
“Comes to terms with it?” asked Cordelia. “How?”
“We’ll work that out when we get home, Cordy,” said Angel.
“Bum chicka bow wow,” said Faith.
“Classy, Faith, really,” said Xander.
“But Cordelia’s not a Slayer,” said Tara.
Whister took off his hat and crumpled it in his hands. “Like I said, Angel was an experiment. They tried it with a normal human soul first, and then only partially.”
“So why did Angel turn to Angelus when he was with Buffy?” asked Oz.
“Because…the part of the soul that allowed him perfect happiness…wasn’t his. It was Spike’s. The body rejected that part and the rest of the soul with it. If it hadn’t of been Buffy it wouldn’t have happened. He basically hijacked part of Spike’s soul. That’s why it never happened when he slept with Darla.”
Buffy coughed… “You slept with Darla.”
“Something I didn’t know, either,” said Cordelia, looking very displeased.
“So you’re saying that if he slept with the Cordelia,” asked Buffy, “ then he wouldn’t turn into Angelus.”
“No,” said Whistler. “He would be using his own soul. He can’t achieve perfect happiness with anyone else.”
“So why did he turn into Angelus when that actress drugged him?” asked Wesley.
“Oh that,” said Whistler. “He was just drunk.”
“So hold on a minute, guv,” said Spike. “Let me get this straight. I’m human because I love Buffy, is that what you’re telling me…”
“Because you both now have equal use of your souls. Yes.”
“So why is she human?”
“What do you mean?” asked Giles.
“What I mean, guv, is that she was mud not ten minutes ago. Now she’s a living working girl. What am I, damn Gipetto?”
“That’s simple,” said Buffy.
“Explain it to me, luv.”
“Because I love you.”
“Oh….OH…”
“Her love for you gives her soul an anchor in humanity. Just like yours allows you to keep your soul.”
“So back up, here,” said Xander. “I still don’t understand how this goes back to the Powers wanting more Slayers.”
“Xander,” said Angel. “Think about it.”
“I don’t get it…are they going to keep doing this soul bonding thing, then transplanting them back into vampires?”
“Xander,” said Giles…“tell me…how do humans usually get more humans?”
“You mean?”
“Now that there are both male and female Slayers….”
“Ohh,” said Willow “I get it. The pitter-patter of little Slayer feet.”
“Exactly,” said Whistler.
“Oh, no,” said Buffy. “I was just dead. Now I’m pregnant.”
“Not yet. That still has to be done the old-fashioned way.”
“Oh,” Buffy said, relieved. “Good.”
“Yes, that’s very good,” said Spike, nuzzling up to her neck. Buffy playfully slapped at him.
“Dawn,” Buffy said, speaking to her sister at her side.
“Yeah?” Dawn asked.
“You think you’d mind if Spike moved into the house with us?”
“Not really. After all, he owns it.”
“What?”
Six months later
Spike and Buffy (aka Mr. and Mrs. William Sumner) were married three months after Buffy came back to life. They still live in the same house, and still patrol every night, although Buffy’s pregnancy has caused Spike to try to get her to stay home some nights. Buffy has developed a paralyzing addiction to Passions while Spike has embraced the joy of sunbathing. They use the Buffybot to clean the house, and do errands. Dawn is very much looking forward to being Auntie Dawn, and was somewhat less than impressed when it turned out that Spike’s great-great-grand-nephew was Gordon Sumner, aka Sting. Buffy was thrilled to learn that tantric sex was a family tradition. The twins are due in seven months.
Angel and Cordelia finally admitted their feelings for each other and moved in together. Angel shansu’d less than a week later. He now operates as a Slayer in the LA area. Angel and Cordelia’s relationship left Phantom Dennis without a roommate. That void was soon filled by Anya, who moved to Los Angeles to be with Gunn. She has made a point of repeatedly calling Xander and imitating Madeline Kahn’s lines from Blazing Saddles, “it’s twue, it’s twue!”. She never did get to sing the theme song to Convoy. Wesley is dating Fred, and Lorne is still wearing loud clothing.
Faith is now dating Xander, and has gotten a job at the local radio station as a morning shock-rock DJ. She is now alternating patrol nights with Buffy and Spike, which allows the couple some nights off. Things are going well with Xander, and for the first time, she thinks she might really be in love. Xander is working hard to build up his stamina.
Tara has taken over Anya’s job at the Magic Box, while Willow has continued to grow in power. Willow occasionally disappears for days at a time. No one knows where she goes, or what she does. Tara often turns to Oz for advice during these periods. They are growing closer daily.
Giles is very happy, having met a very nice lady at the Pottery Barn. He gave away Buffy at her marriage to Spike. Faith is living with him, and she has adopted him as a surrogate father. He has developed a predilection for saying, “Oh Screw That” when the Council calls.
Whistler continues to dress like crap.
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