Part 4

New Orleans, LA
Later that Night

Spike was pacing the hotel room when Buffy got in from dinner. Her and David had a nice conversation, until Lestat woke up from his shock, and bombarded her with questions about a Slayer. She could almost see the wheels turning in his brain. David had saw them too, and made quick moves in getting Lestat away from Buffy before he made the protector of goodness and light a creature of the night like themselves.

She sighed, setting her purse down on the table by the door. Things were getting tense.

First off, she was no closer to finding out the baddies in Cordelia's vision, and they had been there two weeks. All right, some of that had to do with the fact she had to sight-see, but she didn't let that bother her.

Second, she had sat down and had dinner with the vampire Lestat. A vampire she would never have thought existed, until last night, and suddenly was in her life, and obsessed with her. And if if the reading she had done in the books was correct, he never gave up an obsession.

Third, she had no clue what was up with Spike and Lestat. What kind of past did they have that made the meeting so harsh? She didn't feel like questioning Spike about it, figuring that he probably wouldn't give her any answers anyway. And Lestat was too amazed to find Spike alive that she wasn't going to ask him. Ignorance was bliss in this case, and if the why's of it came up, then she would want to know.

Fourth, well, there really wasn't a fourth. The fourth was just a sum of her life, and how confusing it is. And it would just take too long to anaylize the contents of her life, so Buffy just dropped her body into the nearest chair, and looked at Spike when he paced back into the room she was in.

"Slayer, you're back. Good." Spike said. "Angel called. The cheerleader had another vision, and didn't pass out, so she could tell all the details." Spike hestitated.

"Well?" Buffy asked, after he stayed silent.

"Well, it seems like our demon friends are planning for the earthquake to be tomorrow."

"That's not enough time." Buffy said.

"You're telling me." Spike said. "And Angel said that it isn't taking place in a cemetary, it's taking place by an old plantation house. And we know the reason for the earthquake now."

"What is it?" Buffy asked, when Spike hestitated again.

"It seems that the demons in this city are sick of Lestat ruling this city. They want to get rid of him."

"What?" Buffy asked, eyes bugging out of her head.

"Yeah. The demons want to rule, and the vamps want Lestat out of the way. So, they're planning on doing the earthquake at dawn, when Lestat has to sleep, and bury his body below the ground in a massive earthquake."

"And the rest of the population of New Orleans gets hurt as well. Joy." Buffy finished for him.

"But how did Angel know it was Lestat?" Buffy asked.

"He doesn't. I figured it out." Spike said.

"How?"

"Cordelia described him to Angel, Angel drew a picture, and faxed it to me. Along with the blond hair he said the man in the picture has, it has to be Lestat." He showed Buffy the fax, and on it was almost an exact likeness of Lestat, in Angel's typical drawing style.

"Oh." Buffy said.

"Exactly."

"What do we do?" She asked Spike.

"I've been thinking." Spike said.

"Really?" Buffy asked with bright eyes, mocking him.

"Yes, really." He scowled at her. "And I've made up a plan. But it might not suit her Buffy-ness."

"Try me." She said.

"We find the demons and vamps, and kill them." Spike said simply.

"Sounds good."

"Really?" He asked.

"Yes, really. But just where are we going to find these demons?"

"Not to worry. I found the New Orleans version of Willy the Snitch."

"Coolest."

----

"I don't know anything, honest!" The bartender squeaked.

Buffy hadn't bothered to learn his name. All she wanted was to find out where the demons and vampires who were going to cause this earthquake were.

"You're lying." Buffy stated calmly, rearing back to hit the man again.

The demon closest to them got up and walked away.

"Tell me." Buffy demanded.

Spike stood by, watching cheerfully as the Slayer beat up the man, since he couldn't do it himself. Otherwise it already would be done.

"That's the Slayer there." He said conversationally to the vampire closest to him. "The legend that guards the Hellmouth."

The vampire gave him a scared look, and ran away. Spike shrugged, and went back to watching Buffy beat up the little man.

"Okay, maybe I do know something." The bartender held up his hands in a surrender position. "There's been a couple of vamps in here, bragging that they're going to get rid of Lestat. It's going down tomorrow night, and you'll find the vamps not far from where Lestat. Since he can't read their minds, they thought it safer to be nearer him."

"Good." Buffy stated simply. "Spike." She commanded. Spike came over and reached in his pocket, pulling out a handful of bills, from the money Angel gave them, and dropped a few on the man.

"Thanks." The man said. "It was nice seeing you again, Spike."

"Same here, Billy. Same here." Spike responded, before following Buffy out of the bar.

"Where to now?" He asked.

"We go kill ourselves some demons."

______________

Part 5

New Orleans, LA
Same Time

Buffy quietly broke the door in of the shop that had the pretty daggers in the front window, figuring that the storeowners kept other weapons in there, that would be excellent in killing annoying demons bent of getting rid of blond menaces.

Spike followed Buffy in, glad for the little bit of crime that she did. It wasn't like it was a big crime, breaking and entering, with the intent to steal. They were helping humanity this side of the Mississippi stay alive, by preventing an earthquake. That constitutes stealing, right?

That's how Buffy figured it, and Spike, not wanting to tell the Slayer it didn't matter, kept his mouth shut and enjoying the law-breaking.

She quickly surveyed the store, making a beeline for the big case in the back that held all the nice long, pointy swords. And daggers, and crossbows, and other neat, sharp objects to kill stuff with.

As Buffy and Spike were honing in on taking the weapons out and testing the sharpness and weight of the weapons, they didn't hear the person come in behind them, watching for a few moments, then saying:

"What are you doing in here?"

Buffy and Spike both immedately recognized the lightly accented French voice, and whirled at the same time, to see Lestat in the doorway.

"What are you doing here?" Buffy countered with.

"This is my shop, in theory. I own the building." Lestat said, holding up a key ring.

"Oh."

"So, what are you doing?" He said moving closer, looking at what they were inspecting. "Let me guess. The big, brave Slayer, that David's told me so much about, has to go kill some evil."

"In theory." Buffy responded, eyeing the straightness of a bolt. She loaded it into the nearby crossbow, and pointed the crossbow at Lestat. "We're gathering weapons to kill a group of demons who are set on destroying your little Frenchie behind."

Spike snorted at Buffy's remark, the same time Lestat said, "What?" in the outraged, intriqued way of his.

"Yeah. A bunch of demons want to kill you. Isn't it a great feeling? I get it all the time." She said, pulling another knife out of the cabinet.

Lestat cocked his head to the side, thinking. Spike watched him the entire time out of the corner of his eye.

"How do you say it?" Lestat asked Buffy. "Bring them on?"

"Bring it on." Buffy and Spike remarked back at the same time.

----

"Okay." Buffy whispered to her two companions. "When we get in there, take out the guards first, then whoever's closest to you. I'll find the head demon, and kill him, than the rest we kill. Got it?"

Spike and Lestat nodded.

Lestat was not in the best mood. First, he finds out demons were trying to kill him, but that didn't really bother him. He could squish them with the blink of his eye. Second, he had to take commands from a girl. A small girl. He didn't like that very much. Third, he had to be around a man that he loved before he went into the ground, and thought dead, or old and decreipt, only to find out that he was a creature of that night, albeit a different species.

Spike was not in the best mood. First, he had to play commando with Lestat, the man he had loved some 80 years ago, when he was without Dru because she and Darla had run off in search of Angelus, leaving him to his own devices. He had been whisked away from Lestat by the girls coming back before too long, and he thought Lestat had been dead and gone, never being able to get in touch with him. Second, well, there was no second because Spike was going to kick some demon arse which made him a pretty happy guy, and very compatiable with anything.

"Let's go." Buffy whispered, motioning them forward.

They crept along the over-grown vines that were hiding their approach, Lestat pissed because she wouldn't let him fly, and quickly got to the guard demon and vampire. Spike quickly dispatched the vamp from behind, and Buffy took down the demon, while it was distracted by it's companion's demise.

Then, onto the inner chamber.

When they came through the door, they stood in shock.

Everywhere lay dead demons and piles of dust. Decapitated ones, arms and legs just lying around, blood of a mulitude of colors everywhere.

"Look like someone did the job for us." Buffy commented, looking around, a sad look coming on her face.

"Bloody hell!" Spike swore, swinging his axe-like weapon hard, and embedding it into the wall. He really had wanted to kick some demon bollucks.

"That's rather disappointing." Lestat said. Someone had taken the fight from him, again! Someone up there didn't like him. But, that has already been proven.

"What is?" Came a deep voice from across the room. "That all my acolytes are dead?" A really nasty, slimy, red, green, and yellow patterned, horned demon came into view.

"Why are they dead?" Buffy asked.

"I killed them." The demon said. "They were going to die anyway with the spell, so I figured, why don't I get all the credit. So I killed them."

The obviously male demon came closer, and said, "Ah, Lestat, so glad you could come. Makes my job much easier."

"Easier to kill thousands of people?" Buffy demanded.

"And, with the firey Slayer no less. I thought your kind didn't know about the Slayer." The demon said, running his finger along the rather broad alter Spike just noticed.

"I'm not one for the rules." Buffy said. "Now, you'll be a nice demon and die for me, so I can go back to my friends, and have my normal life again."

"So quick, not one for the romance." The demon mock sighed.

"Just like you Lestat. Don't know why you don't rule together." Spike muttered under his breathe.

"William!" Lestat scolded back under his. "Do be quiet."

Spike stuck his tongue out, but he did be quiet and focus on the demon and Buffy's conversation.

Buffy suddenly threw one of her daggers at the demon. It embedded itself in the wall right next to its ear.

"Next time, I won't miss." She promised.

"Come and get me Slayer. I'll put you out of your misery." The demon snarled, and Buffy launched herself at him, Spike right behind.

Buffy lashed at it with her sword, until it threw her aside. But Spike was right there and stabbed the demon with his sword, catching it in the side, in a non-fatal area.

Buffy got up, and laid a series of punches and kicks on the demon, making him stumble backwards.

Lestat came in at this time, setting the killing blow on the demon with his very hand, reaching inside, and ripping out hte demons inside, effectively killing it.

"Nice job." Buffy panted, out of breath.

"Thanks."

________

Part 6

New Orleans
The Next Night

"Yeah, it was simpler than I thought." Buffy was on the phone with Giles, who was back in Sunnydale. "The head demon killed them all. All we had to do was kill the head demon. Very easy."

Spike watched Buffy's face as Giles said something. Than he cast his glance over to Lestat who was sitting in a chair nearby Buffy.

Lestat had shown up as soon as the sun had gone down, a little surprised at the fact Spike didn't have a coffin or had the dead sleep during the day. Lestat had not been far from Buffy's side during the time he had been there. Spike was rather annoyed.

Buffy was his Slayer. He was the vampire, besides Angel (Who didn't count because of the soul), that she had spent the most time with, and hadn't died. He wanted Lestat out of there. And it had nothing to do with the uncomfortable association the two had because of the past. Nothing at all.

"Yeah, I'll make the reservations for tomorrow...Sure, I'll call you with the time to pick me and Spike up. Yeah, yeah, I'll be good. Okay. Bye, Giles." Buffy hung up the phone and turned to face Spike and Lestat.

"We're leaving tomorrow." She said to Spike.

"So I heard." He said. "Rupe seems eager to have his Slayer back home. And I can't wait to go back to the sunny coast. This weather's too much. Reminds me of home."

A small smile went across Buffy's face.

"So, that's it?" Lestat said. "You kill the demon, and then it's time to go?"

"You expected me to stay longer? Sorry, Lestat, you're great and all, but I've got to get back to the Hellmouth. Vamps are probably running amuck there." Buffy turned to rumage through her bag.

"And I can't leave unfinished business." She added, turning back, with a stake in her hand.

Spike was the only one who jumped up. "Whoa, Slayer, you don't need to stake me. I'll stay here."

"It's not for you Spike. It's for Lestat."

"Oh." Then, "Never gonna work. Haven't you been listening? Lestat isn't the same kind of vamp as the rest of us. Spirit not demon and all that rot."

"Oh, right." Buffy lowered the stake. "Well, that means I don't have to kill you. Just try to keep the level of damage to the human race at a minium, and I'll leave you alone."

"Lestat's the type of vampire I didn't know about until I met him, and didn't find that out under the 70's." Spike added a little bitterly.

"William," Lestat started.

"Don't William me!" Spike said to him. "You lied to me, and hurt me, and I don't take to kindly to that!"

"You negleted to tell me the truth also, do not forget that." Lestat shot back.

"Are you ever going to tell me what happened between the two of you?" Buffy said, hands on her hips.

"No!" They responded together.

"Well, at least you agree on one thing." She muttered.

"On the plane." Spike said darkly. "When we're not with him."

"William, must there be such animosity? Can't you put the past behind us?"

"Lestat, must you insist on calling me William? It's Spike now." Spike shot back, ignoring the question.

Lestat glared back at Spike for a spell. then turned to Buffy. "As for unfinished business, my dear, I've got some with you."

"Yeah?"

"Yes. I want you to be with me for eternity."

Buffy burst out laughing at Lestat.

"Did I say something funny?" He asked Spike.

"You just asked the Slayer if she wanted to die. Yeah, I'd say that's pretty funny." Spike responded, chuckling a little.

"Lestat, I'm going to have to say no to your offer. I don't think my mother would approve. And I don't think Spike would fancy me being around for eternity." She said, still giggling a little.

"Damn right I wouldn't." He said. "But, I don't think Angel would mind."

"Angelus?" Lestat asked.

"Yup." Spike said. "Heard of him?"

"Who hasn't? The Scourge of Europe. He's famous in many circles. Along with the petite blond."

"Darla." Spike clarified for Buffy.

"Right. The chick Angel staked a couple of years ago. Neat."

"His sire." Spike said. "My grand-sire. I still can't belive he staked her."

"Just shows how much more important I am."

"And how much she should stay alive, Lestat." David walked into the room.

"I thought the door was closed." Spike said.

"It was propped open a bit." David said back. "Latch isn't working properly."

"Oh."

"David, you're such a stuffy old man." Lestat said back.

"Lestat, I forbid you to turn her. It isn't right."

"You, forbid me. You're acting much above your status, childe." Lestat drew himself up to his full height, and stared down at David, although it wasn't that far.

"Than, how about I change your mind." All eyes flew to the door, where stood a blond man, almost as tall as Lestat, but with the same build.

"Marius." Lestat said. "What are you doing here?"

"David called me last night. He said that you were about to do something stupid. I tracked you here, Lestat." Marius said, taking scope of the room, eyes trekking over Lestat, David, than Buffy and Spike.

"And you will not be making the young girl into one of us." He commanded. "It is not right. Let her live her life as prescribed, and let her save the innocent. Do not interfere. Find someone else."

Lestat stared at Marius, debating whether or not it was worth his scorn to go against his orders, for he was stronger than all in the room, but decided against it. There would be other Slayers, if what David said was true. He would try again in a future time.

"Good-bye, my dear." Lestat said to Buffy, taking her hand and kissing it. "Perhaps we'll meet again." He swept out of the room, sending a passing glance at Spike.

David followed with his good-byes, and quickly followed Lestat.

Marius was left, and he also took Buffy's hand and kissed it. "Good-bye, dear Slayer. I am sorry we could not have met under more fashionable circumstances." He graced her with a pleasent smile, and said his good-byes to Spike, including the fact he wished they could have met more formally.

Then he was gone, and Buffy and Spike were left alone.

"That was...odd." Buffy finally said. "I'm really ready to go home now."

"Yeah." Spike agreed, looking a bit out of it.

"Will you tell me now what went on with you and Lestat?" Buffy asked.

"No." Spike responded. "On the plane. Lestat will be listening to your thoughts as long as you remain in the city. Once we leave, then I'll tell you."

"Alright." Buffy said. "This as been one weird trip."

"I'll say." Spike said, looking out the window, watching Lestat, David, and Marius as they walked on the street.

_________

Epiloge

Los Angelus, CA
Three Weeks After Cordy's 1st Vision

"Alright. Good-bye, Rupert." Angel hung up the phone.

"That was Giles." He said to Cordelia.

"So, I figured. So, what happened with Buffy? Did she stop the earthquake?"

"What do you think?" Angel asked her.

"Right. Well, how she'd do it?"

"Well, her and Spike couldn't find anything until a week ago, when they ran into Lestat."

"Hold on." Cordelia said, putting her hands up. "The vampire Lestat? Like, Anne Rice's Lestat?"

"Yeah." Angel said. "But, only he's a real vampire."

"And you knew this?"

"Actually, yes. But that's another story." He said. "But, to continue the one I was saying, after they met up with Lestat, things started to fall into place.

"You had the second vision, which clicked something in Spike's brain, they found a snitch down there, beat him up, and found the location of the demons that were going to do the ritual."

"Well, that's good." Cordelia said. "What went wrong?"

"Nothing went wrong for us." Angel said. "Surprising, really, how easy it really was."

"But she still had to kill all those demons?" Cordelia asked.

"No. They were already dead, killed by the power-hurgry leader."

"Oh, cool. So they only had to kill the big head demon, then they were done?" Cordelia stood up. "That's easy."

"Yeah. But still glad I didn't have to go down there."

"Why? I thought it would have been a nice vacation." Cordelia went over the filing cabinet to put away the file in her hands.

"Except for running into all those other vamps. They not only ran into Lestat, but David and Marius. Who knows who else comes into that city. The farther away from it we are, the better." Angel walked away from the desk he had been leaning on, and walked towards the doors from the hotel. "Where's Wesley?" He asked.

"Out with Gunn. Male bonding." Cordelia's voice came to him. "Ya think they would've done this a year ago." She said, coming out to look at Angel.

"Yeah, you would, wouldn't you?" Angel said. He grabbed his jacket from the coat rack by the door and put it on. "But guys are funny things."

"Where are you going?" Cordelia asked.

"I'm meeting Spike at a club. Seems he's got some sort of problem he'll only talk to me about. Something about Lestat being an idiot. I guess I'll find out when I get there."

"Just don't let him torture you." Cordelia scolded, as she went back to work.

"I won't, I won't." Angel said as he went out the doors. "He's the tortured soul this time."

THE END!

The sequel is in the works. Promise.