Disclaimer: Everything BtVS and AtS is owned by Joss, ME, and all them over there. Everything Anita Blake is owned by Laurell K. Hamilton

Chapter 16

�I intensely dislike being pregnant.� Anya announced as she glared at the huge bulge in front of her. �It's impossible to sit and research or stand and count the money and I'm not allowed to have sex until after it's born. It's very frustrating and inconvenient.�

The others just ignored her. For the past nine months she had been bitching about being pregnant and they had heard her complaints so often they could recite them

�Sorry An.� Xander tried to placate his girlfriend �Baby will be out soon.�

�You guys decided on a name yet?� Dawn asked

Anya looked at Xander �I want to call the baby Meerklat after a demon I once knew but Xander doesn't like that. Or Mildred is nice.�

�Anya, a kid called Meerklat would be picked on at school. I don't want my kid to get the same abuse I did.�

�Well with you as a dad, it's not exactly going for the normal awards.� Spike added

�So speaks the walking undead.� Xander retorted �I like Jesse.�

�Who?� asked Spike sensing that there was a story there.

�Before the Buffster came along the three of us were the three Musketeers. Me, Wills and Jesse. He was our first casualty of the Hellmouth.� He finished quietly

�I like the name Jesse too.� Anya said placing a hand on Xander's shoulder

�Good strong name.� Spike nodded and Xander smiled at him

�Well if it has the big bads approval.�

�What if it's a girl?� Dawn wanted to know �Are you gonna call it Willow?�

Buffy looked stricken and even Spike looked away

�No, because when Willow comes back it will be too confusing having two of them.�

Buffy spoke up �Besides I'm calling my first kid Willow.�

Spike scoffed �Oh great we have to put up with a Slayer's brat, tell me Slutty who are we planning on being the sprogs dad?�

�Well Justin is nice.�

Buffy blushed �Dawn!�

�Well he is and he knows all about the creatures of the night, since you, you know, saved him from them.� Her sister remarked

�Oh, as usual, dear.� Giles said looking up from a text he had been engrossed in for days

�What?� Buffy felt her heart sink.

�Remember that Sisterhood of Jhe we fought a while ago.�

�Yeah?�

�Not me I was off playing Zeppo.� Xander said with a secret smile

�Well they are due to make reappearance, in two weeks.�

�No.� Anya slammed her hand down �My baby is due in two weeks, they can't be that inconsiderate I have to rest and breathe, the breathing thing is important.�

�No big, we stopped them before.� Buffy said

�Yes and the remaining Sisterhood are aware of that fact and have amassed a much larger army. They intend to open the Hellmouth and do it right this time.�

�Oh crap.� Buffy said her eyes wide. �It took two Slayers and a Vampire and a werewolf and two witches to defeat them last time.�

Spike raised an eyebrow

Buffy elaborated �Oz, Angel, me, Faith, Willow and Giles. Ok not a witch in the strictest sense but you did have to do some magic mojo.�

�What is it with guys wanting to open the Hellmouth anyway, it's so overdone and frankly I'm sick of it. Cant we just close the damn thing for good?�

Buffy turned to look at Anya �It's not that easy. Don't you think we would have done it already if we could?�

�Hey!� Dawn suddenly got excited �We could find Fangs and Red Witch. I bet she'd be powerful enough to close it for good. I heard they closed on in Texas.�

Spike's eyes lit up at the idea. �Now that sounds like a plan, love.�

Ever since he had heard of them he had longed to meet the Red Witch.

Buffy nodded �That could work.� She frowned �But where could we find them?�

Spike rolled his eyes �And they call you the Slayer, isn't Peaches some big Detective?�

�You'd be better to go up to LA and ask him face to face.� Giles chimed in

�Who, can I go?� Dawn asked bouncing in her chair

�No.� Giles said �Xander and Anya need to stay here and I assume will be busy with the imminent birth and so I will need you for research.� Dawn pouted �And perhaps some patrol.�

�For real?� Dawn looked so enthusiastic Giles winced

�Buffy can't drive so I suggest Spike take her.�

�I have to drive the whiny chit to see peaches?� Spike moaned �Just throw in a little holy water bath and it's the best day ever.�

Chapter 17

Angel couldn't help laughing like a jester.

�Dru.� He gasped down the phone �I think Willow was right to be mad, Vamping out in the middle of a movie about Vampires wasn't smart. What if you'd gotten staked? Some horror movie buffs are scary. Yes I'm sure it was fun to watch the attendant scream like a girl. Look you have to come visit me again soon, I miss you. The last visit was way too short. Yeah I know you have a club to run. Oh wait gotta go, yeah Love to Red Witch. Bye.�

Angel hung up the phone still smiling. He was pleased to have repaired his relationship with his Childe and she was now a part of his life, making his undead existence almost perfect.

His smile fell as he saw who had walked in. *Spoke too soon!*

�Hey Peaches.� Spike sneered leaning against the doorway �Enjoying the brooding?�

�Spike.� He growled, his good mood ruined by the dislike he saw in his youngest Childe's face

�Can it, Spike.� Buffy said shoving past him making him almost fall to the floor

�Angel.� She greeted warily

�Buffy.� He almost smiled at the way he didn't feel, he really was totally over her.

�Great now do I have to watch you drool over each other?� Spike spat in disgust

�Jealous Spike-y?� Buffy teased

�Don't make me gag Blondie.� He shot back

Angel's gaze switched between the two as if he were at a tennis match

�Are you two�?�

�God no.�

�Hell no.�

They denied at the same time but Spike couldn't help add smugly

�Not any more.�

�Whatever.� Said Angel �I really don't want to know.�

Both Buffy and Spike frowned at Angel's nonchalant attitude to the love of his life sleeping with his childe.

Spike had wanted to get a rise out of him, whereas Buffy was just cut by his uncaring attitude. It's not like she was still in love with him, or wanted him to pine over her it was just �nice.

Just then Cordelia walked in

�Angel, honey, I got�� she trailed off as she saw who their guests were

�Honey?� Buffy said quietly looking at Angel in askance. Angel held out his hand for Cordelia

Spike chuckled �Way to go Peaches.�

Cordelia straightened �Buffy, Spike.� She walked over to Angel and looped an arm around his waist �What brings you to LA?�

Buffy stared a little hurt at the casual way Angel draped his arm around Cordy and he gave her a small look as if to say are you ok?

Buffy nodded and gave a tight smile.

�We need some detective help.�

Angel froze �Oh?�

Spike frowned; he noticed the sudden tension in Angel and wondered what had caused it. What was Angel hiding?

�We need to find this Fangs and Red Witch. We have a Hellmouth-y situation and we could really use their magic.� Buffy explained

�Not sure how I can help.� Angel said flatly, Cordelia looked up at him in surprise further arousing Spike's suspicions.

�Help who?� Everyone turned around to see a cute little brunette come in with a smile �Hi ya'll I'm Fred.� She gave a huge smile

�I'm Buffy and this is Spike.�

Fred put her head on the side �Are you one of the ones that died and came back, Gunn wrote me a chart but I can't recall.�

Spike burst out laughing �Oh I like this girl!�

Fred blushed at the appraising look Spike sent her and giggled

�We just need help finding Fangs and Red Witch.� Buffy repeated so wanting to get out of there.

�Oh well that can't be too hard. Angel has season tickets to their club.� Fred tuned in helpfully before Angel could say anything.

Buffy raised an eyebrow to Angel who seemed a little flustered

�No, Fred that's tickets to another club.�

It was Spike's turn to raise his eyebrows. As a liar Angelus was second to none, Angel however was second to last.

�You know I don't think we can help.�

�Just a minute.� Cordelia said dragging Angel off to a different room.

�You get the impression that something's going on?� Spike asked Buffy who nodded annoyed.

�Angel, why won't you help them, you remember what its like on the Hellmouth. Plus I'm sure Wills would love to help them. She probably misses them like crazy. We could help them meet up again.�

Angel waited patiently until she had finished �No.� he said firmly �I promised her that I wouldn't tell them where she was, that includes showing them where to go. I have no idea why Willow ran away but she wants to stay away. She anchored my soul. We. Owe. Her.�

�We can pay her by helping the Scooby's reunite.� Cordy pleaded �When she came to visit I could tell she wasn't happy.�

�Dammit Cordelia, I said no. something happened that hurt her so much she left, I would never want to hurt her again. She's bought me Dru and You I wont break my promise.�

Cordy sighed in frustration as Angel went out to tell his ex and his Childe that he couldn't help them. As she sat on the corner of the desk she saw Angel's passes peeking out of the top drawer. A wicked idea formed in her mind and she snatched them up, jamming them in her pocket before rejoining the irate bunch outside.

�I'm sorry I can't help.� Angel insisted

�Won't help, you mean. Sodding Poof as long as you're alright everyone else can go to hell.� Spike glared �C'mon Slayer.�

Buffy shook her head at Angel is disgust before storming off to Spike's car.

Cordelia intercepted them before they could leave. She cast a wary glance back at the hotel.

�What?� Spike growled not best pleased at Angel's refusal to help them

�Angel is gonna be pissed but I swiped these from his desk. He has his own reasons for not telling you, he made a promise and�and� he's under Sanctuary rules.� Cordy improvised

�Oh.� Spike said surprisingly understanding �Well why didn't the daft pillock say so?�

�You know Angel, never gives a reason. Anyway these should get you in. The club is in San Francisco, don't worry about finding it, it's got a magical signature five miles wide and a line of demons about that long.�

�Thanks Cordy.� Buffy said and swallowed a few times �Are you happy?�

Cordy smiled and nodded

�What about his soul?�

�Anchored permanently care of Red Witch.�

�You met her?� Spike said to cover Buffy's sigh of pain. Cordy nodded again trying to give Buffy a moment

�Is she as gorgeous as people say?�

Thinking about Dru and Willow Cordy beamed �You'll love her.�

Chapter 18

Spike doubled over almost as soon as they got into the city limits.

�Bloody hell.� He bit out whilst his demon changed

�Spike?� Buffy asked worriedly �Are you okay?�

�They weren't kidding about that magical signature pet.� He straightened �You can feel it.� He pulled the car over into a side street and took a few unneeded breaths.

�Wow, whoever this Red Witch chit is, she's powerful.�

�Good.� Buffy said �That's what we need. Power.�

 �I have a feeling we're gonna get it, pet.� Spike said still frowning at the feeling of magic pulsing through his body.

Spike directed Buffy through the streets until the magic reached a crescendo outside a large warehouse. A line of demons reached from the door half way down the street, and it was a big street.

�Bloody hell, must get a lot of custom.� He muttered and in true Spike form went to the front of the queue.

�Eh mate, got season tickets here, where do we go?� he asked the bouncer

The demon checked his tickets and shrugged �Straight in Mr Angel, same table as usual?�

�Uh yeah.� Spike frowned, *So Angel came here often did he? Why wouldn't the ponce just help them out and no sodding Sanctuary rules excuse was gonna wash.*

Buffy and Spike pushed themselves into the club and stopped, gaping. It was packed to the rafters with Supernatural folk. Buffy's spider sense was off the charts as she stared at all the different demons and creatures of the night. Spike was an awe of the sheer amount of power this place gave off. As they stood there a waiter came over to them.

�You must be new.� He said

�Uh Angel lent us his tickets.� Buffy explained

�Uh huh.� The waiter looked less than impressed. He pointed at Buffy

�No fighting.�

And at Spike

�No biting. Sanctuary rules apply. Table's this way. My name is Jack. What do you want to drink?�

�We uh just need to find Fangs and Red Witch.� Buffy was nervous of this guy for some reason he radiated hostility.

�You and every one else. Look Angel gave you his tickets which mean he's Okayed you, you get to go backstage. But the Ladies won't be pleased, so don't expect them to be all accommodating. They're preparing for a show so you can see them afterwards. Now drink?�

�Blood for me, Diet Coke for the kid.� Spike ordered, he could tell the guy in front had a real issue with Slayers. All Vamps did but he was trying to be professional. Spike respected that and realised that Fangs and Red Witch must be something extraordinary to actually instil that kind of respect in any Vamp.

The Vamp nodded and with a glare of restrained hatred at the Slayer he left to fulfil their order.

�Spike, this place is creeping me out.� Buffy confessed as her spider sense kept her twitching.

Spike rolled his eyes at her melodrama. What he thought he'd ever seen in the daft bint was totally beyond him. Maybe the damn chip messed with other parts of his head- like his taste.

�Look Slutty, they can feel you as much as you feel them, but the rules scare them far more than you ever will so relax, before you wet yourself.�

Buffy scowled at him but relaxed. A little.

Spike sat back in his seat as the stage suddenly lit up and a demon ran on.

�To our old favourites and those of you who are new to our own little piece of hell on earth, hello and welcome to the hottest damn club on the planet, this is Miss Edith's.�

Spike jolted almost spilling his *damn fine* virgin blood all over his duster. Did he say what he thought he'd said? Was that damn doll going to haunt him for the rest of his unlife? Spike musings on whether he was actually losing his marbles after only 130 years drowned out the rest of the emcee's little speech announcing the first act of the night, a popular club favourite of a group of boy band demons, Westlife or something.

Buffy was dancing along to the music as she sat in her seat when she felt a presence behind her.

There stood a six foot Vampire, in full game face.

�Hey, you're the Slayer, right?�

Buffy shot a wary glance over to Spike who was staring in disgust at the stage �Uh yeah.�

�Wow I wanted to so meet you. Uh do you want to dance?� he gestured to the dance floor which was filling up again with those who wanted to dance to the �music�.

�O-Kay.� Buffy said hesitantly and stood up and followed him to the dance floor.

Spike chuckled as he saw where Buffy had gone. He couldn't wait to tell Xander and Giles that Buffy had willingly gone to dance with a Vampire to Westlife. He grimaced, they may be popular but they were such a bunch of posers.

After the first song Spike went to the bar to get himself another drink, the first one bought by their waiter having been the best thing he had ever tasted in his life, with the exception of� No not going there tonight. He cautioned himself.

Buffy collapsed back on her seat and giggled at the thought of having so much fun with a Vampire. With the obvious exception of Spike and Angel. The thought bought her down off her high a little. Although her and Spike had finished their �relationship� and had reached a sort of truce, she was still ashamed of how she had treated the Vampire and the whole situation. Which was one of the reasons she didn't respond to Spike's gibes as viciously as she sometimes wanted to. They had become unwilling friends, almost siblings and their barbs had lost some of their poison.

Spike placed a drink in front of her

�Look whose back from shaking her wares. I knew Vamps got you hot.�

 �Oh go dust yourself, Blondie.�

 Or maybe a little less poisonous

�Pretentious Wankers.� Spike said as the boy band bowed and left the stage in a flurry of applause.

He watched the announcer bound back on stage and a hush descend over the crowd.

�Creatures of the night, this is what you have been waiting for. Our very own club owners who value their privacy under the rules of the Sanctuary and you all know what that means. So put any appendages that you have together and give a loud welcome to our own Fangs and Red Witch!�

Spike groaned as the lights in the place dimmed *great more bleeding posers*

The opening sounds of a very familiar song made him sit up and take a bit more notice as two figures were suddenly visible on the stage.

Chapter 19

Willow blinked as the spot light suddenly lit her up. She smiled over to the other side of the stage where Dru stood. She let her gaze stray over the outfit she was wearing. Dru had tight blue jeans with rips in the knees and thighs, knee high black boots and a dark blue baby t-shirt with rips in the capped sleeves and a picture of a rock group on the front. Her hair had been crimped and hug in long waves down her back. Like almost every outfit that they had, Willow's matched the theme. She wore tight black leather pants and a ripped black, sleeveless top that bared her midriff with black high heeled boots. Her hair, which reached down to her shoulders had also been crimped. Her make up was dark giving her a seductive air.

She picked up the microphone and waited for the beginning riff to finish.

She took a breath and began to sing undulating her hips

�I saw her dancing there by the record machine
I knew she must have been a hundred seventy.� She grinned at Dru and crooked her finger to the vamp
�The beat was going strong
playing my favourite song.�

Dru came over and wrapped an arm around Willow's waist delighting in the feel of her best friend. It was only on stage that Willow allowed her to get this friendly. After a few tries she had realised that Willow truly didn't see her that way. But it didn't stop her wanting to touch and feel her friend. Willow, after a little persuasion, sanctioned that, on stage, they could act like lovers. Dru could touch and kiss as if to ward potential suitors but off stage they were just friends. Best friends, sisters, soul mates but not lovers. Dru could unlive with that. She got to touch Willow and she'd make the best she could of it. She let her hands drift down Willow's body caressing her firm stomach.

�And I could tell it wouldn't be long
until she was with me
YEAH ME
and I could tell it wouldn't be long
until she was with me
YEAH With me.�

Willow felt Dru slide her hands over her torso and fought the urge to roll her eyes, Dru just loved to touch! They both joined in the chorus

�Singing' I love Rock 'N' Roll
So put another dime in the jukebox, Baby
I love Rock 'N' Roll
So come and take your time and dance with me

Ow !� Willow grinned as Dru's Ow was real, Willow had pinched her butt.

Try as hard as he could Spike's brain could not reconcile what his eyes were seeing. No way was Dru up there on stage writhing against Willow. It wasn't possible. He had hit insanity at the tender age of 130, it wasn't fair. First seeing that bleeding doll everywhere and now this. As Dru caressed Willow and dropped a kiss on her lips, the rational part of his mind acknowledged that as insanity went this wasn't too bad.

Dru picked up the second verse in her rich tones

�She smiled, so I got up and asked for her name"
That don't matter," she said, "'cause it's all the same."
I said, "Can I take you home where we can be alone?"
And next we were moving on
and she was with me, yeah, me.�

She watched as Willow moved away from her with a sway to her hips and draped herself around the dancer's pole. Dru knew what was coming next and fought the urge not to moan.

Willow wriggled against the pole wrapping her hands around the cold metal and sliding them up above her head moving her hips against it. She swayed her hips from one side to the other and suddenly kicked a leg up pulling herself flush against the pole.

Dru groaned as the redhead wrapped her leg around the pole and swung backwards letting her hair touch the floor.

 �And we were moving on
singing the same old song
Yeah with me
Singing:
I love Rock 'N' Roll
So put another dime in the jukebox, Baby
I love Rock 'N' Roll
So come and take your time and dance with me
I love Rock 'N' Roll
'cause it suits my soul
I love Rock 'N' Roll Yeah....�

Willow swung back up and pinned the audience with her sassiest grin and crooned the next part into her microphone

�I said, "Can I take you home where we can be alone?"
And next thing we were moving on
and she was with me, yeah, me,� she pointed at Dru, who hurried over and stood face to face with the redhead

�And we were moving on
and singing that same old song
Yeah with me
Singing:�

Dru grinned as Willow let her true colours show and stood with her legs between Dru's swaying their hips together.
Spike couldn't believe it. Drusilla was not only singing and dancing with Willow but she looked different. It could have something to do with the lack of dresses or dolls but there was something he couldn't quite put his finger on yet. And Willow, she looked amazing as she sang, he'd thought she had stage fright but she looked like she was born to perform. He was so happy to see her there and well, he was suddenly glad he'd never gotten a soul because this would definitely be a happiness clause moment. As he watched Willow and Drusilla sing the chorus moving together in a parody of love making he felt a surge of jealousy rear its head. But confusingly it wasn't because of Dru, it was because of Willow. He listened as they finished the song.

�I love Rock 'N' Roll
so put another dime in the jukebox Baby
I love Rock 'N' Roll
So come and take your time and dance with me�

Willow blew a kiss into the audience and then leaned back against Dru, shimmying her shoulders down the Vampires body until she was crouching with her head on Dru's pelvis. She then shimmied back up and took Dru's hand leading her to the back of the stage as the completed their song

�I love Rock 'N' Roll (I love Rock 'N' Roll)
so put another dime in the jukebox Baby
I love Rock 'N' Roll.
So come and take your time and dance with me�

The last bars finished before the applause nearly bought the house down.

�Wow!� Dru enthused into the mike. �You are a brilliant audience tonight, all shiny like stars.�

Stars began to fall from the ceiling to land on the patrons. Willow put her hands on her his, breathing hard trying not to laugh too hard. Dru loved playing up to audiences.

�Red Witch love?� She called over her shoulder

�Hmm?� Willow raised an eyebrow �What is it darling?�

�I want to go through the gateway to the stars.� She pouted and pointed to the ceiling.

�Ok.� Willow consented and everyone watched hushed as they felt the power being collected around the witch. Suddenly her eyes shot open and the stars in the ceiling dropped away, everyone in the audience had the sudden feeling of zooming through space; it was eerily like being inside a planetarium. They saw planets and asteroids flying past them, they could reach out and touch the rings of Saturn and the moons of Jupiter. The Milky Way galaxy swirled in their drinks and the eagle nebula settled above their heads. As quickly as it had begun, it stopped, and everyone looked to the stage where the two women had vanished. There was a brief silence before the applause broke out louder than before.

~~~*~~~

�Spike?� Spike turned around and looked at the Slayer. Her voice sounded faint and far away

�Yeah?� he raised an eyebrow

�You've been around a while right, couple hundred years?� she said softly, her eyes unfocussed

Spike started to get worried �Something like that why?�

�Have you ever heard of a Slayer going crazy? Not Faith crazy, but hallucinating and stuff?�

Spike let a grin slip �No.�

�Oh great because I thought I just saw��

�Dru and Willow dancing together?� he interrupted suddenly enjoying the faint look on her face

�Oh. My. God. You saw it too?� she gaped �What is going on?�

�Let's go find out.� He suggested and moved to the back of the room.

Chapter 20

Willow wiped the sweat off her forehead and looked back at Dru, who was staring puzzled into the mirror.

�What is it Dru baby?�

�Why don't my clothes have a reflection? I should be like the invisible man and have clothes dancing in front of the mirror. That would be cool.�

Willow shook her head before laughing �Oh you spend way too much time with me!�

Dr grinned �Not possible.� Then she frowned �I think family's here.�

�Huh?� Willow asked pulling a comb through her hair

�I feel the tingle I get when families near.�

�Hey maybe Angel stopped by again!� Willow said enthusiastically she loved how Dru interacted with Angel now she was sane. It was like a child who lived to antagonise a beloved parent. She could have staid, implacable Angel clutching his sides and rolling round on the floor in tucks of girlish laughter. It was so much fun to watch.

The door to the changing room opened and one of the guards popped her head around the door

�Yes?� Willow asked politely

�There's some people to see you in the guest room. One of them is a Vampire.� The guard said

Willow tossed a grin at Dru �Angel and Cordy. I'm dressed so I'll go say hi, get a top on and come do the same.�

�Be there in a sec.� Dru said hunting for a top.

Willow strode out of the room and walked down the hall to the guest room.

Before she opened the door, she remembered something and called out to her aide

�Silver, honey. Could you get my organizer and get Kristov's number, we want him for the Valentines show in a couple of weeks. I'll deal with it when I've finished talking to-� She pushed open the door �Ang-�

And stopped dead.

There's a point just before you wake up that you recall your dreams so clearly and vividly and actually believe that you are just there. And then the mind gets foggy and the dream slips and you wake up to realise that the dreams were just that; dreams. That feeling you get in your stomach, a mixture of pleasure and excitement just before the dread, apprehension and hurt kick in almost adequately describes how Willow felt in that moment.

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