| CHAPTER 1 |
| "Come on, Spike. Move it! That THING is about to have us for a midnight snack
and YOU want to play with it? KILL IT ALREADY!" Xander shouted at the
bleached-blonde figure in black as he tried to edge passed. "What do you bloody well think I'm tryna do? This thing looks like an easy kill, but it sure as hell ain�t!" Spike hollered back as he ducked a punch from the ugly purple demon. As he circled around the thing, trying to keep between it and the others, he noticed something rather disturbing. "Oh bloody buggering hell. This thing is MALE and it looks to me like he's desperate for a shag!" Suddenly the demon made a move towards Spike's left side but changed direction and darted past him on the right... knocking Xander into a tree as he headed straight for the slender, dark-haired teen that was trying to become one with a tombstone. "SPIKE! XANDER! HELP!!� the girl, Dawn, screamed. "HELP!" "OI, get the fuck away from the girl, mate. She ain�t for you, you bloody idiot!" Spike shouted as he tackled the demon from behind, trying to distract it. But he was flung headfirst into the tombstone beside Dawn, stunning him momentarily. Once again the demon reached for the young girl, but was stopped painfully when its hand went violently missing. The cause of the missing hand became apparent as a lithe blonde figure dressed in black stepped between the demon and its intended victim, wielding an elegant sword. "I believe you were asked to step away from the girl. It really would be to your benefit..." The blonde was cut off as the creature charged her, enraged. With a quick side-step and a bone-jarring thrust of her sword, the blonde embedded her sword in the stomach of the demon. "See, you really should have listened, but I guess the head you think with has no ears. Let me see if I can solve that problem for you." She twirled her sword once around her wrist and with a flourish, lopped off the protruding and offending member. "There, that should enable your OTHER head to do the thinking for you... or maybe not." She grimaced in disgust as the offending member wiggled a little on the ground before dissolving into a puddle of goo. The wounded and enraged beast surged up off his knees and barrelled almost blindly toward the blonde. Who promptly side-stepped him and, bringing her sword down across the back of his neck, handily beheaded him. "Seems to me you�ve lost your head. But, as you were rather stupid, it�s no big loss." The now-dead demon slumped to the ground and started to dissolve. "OOOoooOOOooo, I like the ones that clean up after themselves," the blonde quipped as she turned to look at Dawn. "Are you okay?" she asked the young girl. Dawn just stared in awe and admiration. "Oh wow, you killed it. It�s dead. Oh WOW!" Spike regained his senses and sprang to his feet. "Okay, that is bloody well IT. Prepare to die..." Spike then noticed the dissolving corpse and the lithe blonde standing only a couple of feet away. "Oh, it�s already dead. Well then, looks like that problem is solved." He sauntered over to the girl who had apparently killed the demon. "Hello cutie, name's Spike,� he said with a smirk. Dawn interrupted, "My name's Dawn, but Spike calls me Nibblet. And wow -- thanks for, you know, killing that thing�cause I was sooo not interested in whatever it had in mind. No sireee bob." At this juncture, Xander, who was sprawled face-down on the ground, groaned loudly. "Did someone get the number of that bus?" He rolled over and blinked twice, then suddenly sat up. "Where is it? We gotta stop it, it�s after Dawn!" He clambered to his feet, looking wildly around him and promptly stumbled over his feet, sending him to ground once more in an ungainly mess of limbs. "Oi, Whelp, less with the falling and more with the standing. We have company," Spike snarked, never once taking his eyes of the darkly-dressed blonde. A soft giggle penetrated the darkness. "Oh please, don�t stand up on my account, it�s not everyday that men fall at my feet." A short pause while the girl seemed deep in thought. "Oh wait, yes it is. Except they are usually minus their heads." "Do a lot of killin�, do ya then?" Spike questioned as he lit a cigarette, never taking his eyes off the shadowy figure. "And I didn�t quite catch the name, luv." "I do enough; some people just don�t know when to leave well enough alone. And I never tossed you my name,� she snarked back. Dawn went over to help Xander to his feet. "She came out of nowhere , Xander. And was all *SWOOSH* with that sword of hers. She lopped off that demon�s parts!" Dawn started chattering loudly. "Parts? She cut off his... parts? As in...� Xander whispered faintly as he swiftly covered his own precious package. "Yup! She just *SWOOSHED* the sword down... and the part fell off! It was soooo cool!" Dawn exclaimed. "So you castrated the bugger then, before you killed him? Good on you, luv. That blighter had nasty intentions towards my Nibblet,� Spike said. "Why don�t you come on out of the shadows and let us get a good look at you then?" "Dawn knows who I am, but what I would like to know is... WHY is a twelve year old running around after dark, on the damned Hellmouth of all places?" Anger colored the words spoken by the shadow-enshrouded blonde. Dawn peered into the shadows that were hiding the woman who had saved her from a fate she refused to contemplate. "I know that voice... But its impossible, she's in Paris ..." As the blonde stepped out of the shadows, Dawn gasped, then squealed, "BUFFY!" and ran towards the mystery woman, all sense of caution abandoned. |
| CHAPTER 2 |
| �Hi Dawnie,� Buffy said as she wrapped her arms around the slender
teen. �I�m glad you are okay. But do you mind telling me just exactly
you were doing out here in the dark? And does your mother know where you are?� Spike simply stared at the vision in front of him. Slender, petite and simply radiating power, the person Dawn had called Buffy was a walking contradiction. She looked like she couldn�t hurt a fly, but the sword slung across her back spoke loudly otherwise. Her long blonde hair shimmered under the moonlight, contrasting sharply with her black clothes. Her eyes, when the light caught them, glimmered like a cat�s but it was the figure encased in the black clothes that would have stolen his breath i f he had needed to breathe. Full, ripe breasts, just perfect for her small frame, a tiny waist, that he bet himself he could span with both hands, rounded hips that curved nicely into a heart-shaped ass, and long, slender legs that seemingly went on forever, despite her small stature. She looked like she had stepped off the cover of a magazine, or out of any man�s wet dreams, into reality. �My fault that the Nibblet is out here. She was studying at a friends house and her mum hadda work late at the gallery so she asked me to make sure Dawn got home alright. Wasn�t expecting that horny bugger to jump us though� Spike said, as he ran his hand thru the hair on the back of his neck. �Don�t blame Spike, Buffy� Dawn begged. �He didn�t know that demon was out here, and he was trying to kill it before it� well you know�� Dawn trailed off, looking at Buffy with beseeching eyes. �Alright Dawn, I�ll reserve judgment� for now. Why don�t you introduce me to your friends?� Buffy asked, all the while wondering what 2 obviously grown men were doing in the dark with a 12 year old girl. �COOL! This is Spike,� Dawn reached out and grabbed his hand, pulling him closer. �He�s totally cool, in that Big Brother kind of way. Mom lets him stay in the basement and everything. He helps me with my homework, and he protects us too. He�s a good guy Buffy; he wouldn�t hurt me, or anyone else for that matter. Well unless they were gonna hurt one of us first.� Dawn practically vibrated with her excitement. �Pleasure to meet you, Luv,� Spike purred as he eyed her appreciatively. �Okay, now that you�ve met the fanged wonder, would someone mind giving me a hand over here? I seem to have a slight problem,� Xander grumbled, as he fell down for the third time while attempting to stand. �And that bumbling fool over there is Xander. One of these days he might learn to walk upright,� Spike snarked as he watched Xander crawl over to them after giving up attempting to stand. Buffy�s nose twitched as she picked up the scent of alcohol. �Did you bathe in whatever you were drinking? �Cause you stink.� Xander rolled over onto his back, staring up at the night sky and groaned aloud. �Please tell me I didn�t break the bottles, Anya is sooo gonna kill me if I did.� �Sorry to hear that Xander, would you like an open or closed casket for your funeral?� Spike asked with an air of false innocence. �Um guys, as much as I love hanging out in cemeteries, do you think we can move this party elsewhere before something decides it wants to make a snack out of you three?� Buffy asked impatiently, all the while glancing about her with an air of readiness. �Well, Luv. It won�t be me they�d be snacking on, but I get your point.� Spike turned to the prostrate Xander and prodded him with the toes of his boot. �Rise and shine Harris, or do I have to carry you?� �There will be no carrying of me by you. I can walk, I think�� Xander mumbled as he rolled over and clambered to his feet. �Lead on pretty lady, I will follow you to the pits of hell. Provided you aren�t after my luscious bod. That belongs only to Anya.� Xander grinned as Dawn lightly slapped him on the arm. �Xander, you are soooo gonna slap yourself when you find out who she is,� Dawn declared. �In fact, Anya may slap you for even thinking it.� Buffy shook her head and laughed softly. �I think I might like your friends Dawn, but we do need to take this elsewhere. Preferably indoors, cause we have company coming and they don�t seem to be of the politeness.� Spike�s head shot up, as he took a deep, un-needed breath. �She�s right, and whatever they are, they sure as hell ain�t human. Let�s move out people. As it is Joyce is gonna have my hide for Dawn being in the cemetery. Take one little short-cut and your night is ruined�� He trailed off, mumbling to himself as he took up a position between the girls and the as yet unseen problem. Buffy glanced at Spike, a troubled look on her face. She turned to Dawn and said in a low voice, �You are so gonna tell me why you are hanging out with a vampire, and why he isn�t trying to kill you.� She took Dawn�s hand in hers and started walking towards the street. �Come ON people, we don�t have all night!� Xander hurried after them. �Hey not so fast, I think I�m safer with you than with the bleached wonder back there. HE likes to use me as bait.� You could almost hear the smirk in Spike�s voice as he said �Not my fault you look like a nummy treat, Harris.� Spike had heard what Buffy had said to Dawn and was looking forward to her reaction when she was told all about him. Mind you, he was also hoping to learn all about her. The four of them swiftly made their way to the house on Revello Drive . Joyce�s SUV clearly parked in the driveway. �Oh bugger, she beat us home. I�m dust.� Spike complained Dawn raced up the steps and into the house, hollering �MOM, guess who I ran into! You will never believe it!� Joyce turned to Dawn and smiled, �I�d love to meet your friend, after you tell me why you are out so late, young lady.� Just then, Joyce caught sight of Buffy in the doorway. The last thing anyone heard as she passed out was �Mother?� |
| CHAPTER 3 |
| Buffy darted to Joyce�s side and caught her before she hit the ground.
�Dawn, go get me a cold cloth, please.� Buffy gently stroked the softly c
urled hair of the woman in her arms. �Wake up Joycie, I�m here and
everything is okay.� Dawn ran back into the room with the cold cloth and dropped to her knees beside her mom and Buffy. �Is she okay? I didn�t mean to make her pass out Buffy. Honest.� �She�ll be okay Dawn. I think she was just a little shocked to see me. After all it has been, what, 6 years since she saw me in person?� Buffy sat there on the floor, cradling Joyce�s unconscious body to her chest and sighed. �I really should have called first, and warned her.� Glancing over at the door, she raised one eyebrow and queried, �Are you guys gonna just stand in the doorway all night or are you gonna come in and close the door?� Xander just stood there, mouth hanging open. �Did she� are you� no way,� he stuttered. Meanwhile, Spike pushed him into the house and shut the door behind them. � Is she gonna be alright, Luv?� �She�ll be fine. It was probably just the shock of seeing me after so long.� Buffy distractedly replied. She leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on Joyce�s forehead and whispered softly, �Wake up my little Joy. Everything is okay.� Xander continued to stutter and stumble over his words, muttering to himself. �There is no� I don�t believe� it�s impossible�� He glanced over at Joyce and Buffy and shook his head in disbelief. He stumbled over to a chair and collapsed. Buffy looked up at Spike and asked, �Can you carry her over to the couch for me, please? This floor isn�t exactly the most comfortable place to be.� Spike crouched down and slid his right arm under Joyce�s knees and his left arm behind her shoulders. That he also managed to brush Buffy�s breasts with his hand was a just a lucky bonus. �Sure thing, Luv.� He winked at Buffy as he slowly stood up, cradling Joyce against his chest. As he walked over to the couch, Buffy started to gracefully rise to her feet. She was thrown off balance, however, when the door was thrust open, slamming into her. The hulking figure that burst through the doors latched his fingers onto Dawn�s shoulder and dragged her towards him. �Where have you been? I�ve been looking all over town for�� His tirade was abruptly quelled by the press of a sharp edge to his throat. �Remove your hands from the girl, and step back. NOW!� Buffy�s hard, cold voice seemed to shatter in the air. Xander fell off his chair, laughing while pointing at the dumfounded expression on the intruder�s face. �Oh man� you should see yourself Angel. You look like you�re about to piss yourself.� Placing Joyce on the couch and motioning to Dawn to sit beside her, Spike joined Buffy at the door. �Looks like she�s got you now Peaches. I suggest you do exactly what she tells you.� �Yeah DeadBoy. Just ask Dawn what happened to the last guy,� Xander gasped, trying to catch his breath from laughing. �This purple thing tried to grab me, and *SWOOSH* she lopped off his parts!� Dawn exclaimed. Angel winced at the graphic imagery produced by Dawn�s enthusiastic words. Then his attention was caught by the woman holding the sword at his throat. He allowed his eyes to wander over the nubile body of the woman in front of him. �Hello, my name is Angel. What�s yours little girl?� One could almost see the insincere charm ooze off his tongue. Buffy raised one eyebrow and looked at him in disbelief. She turned to Spike and asked, �Is this guy for real? Does he actually think crap like that works?� �Unfortunately, he thinks he�s god�s gift to the world. Always has, and probably always will. And the soul those gypsies stuck in him don�t help the issue much either,� Spike remarked. Xander climbed to his feet, still laughing. �From what I�ve read, he also has a �thing� for young girls. And I do mean YOUNG. Which is why Mrs. Summers doesn�t like him in her house.� Turning to Angel he questioned, �Why are you here anyway DeadBoy?� Before Angel could open his mouth, Spike smirked and said,� He probably figured that if he found Dawn, he might get Joyce to like him.� Glancing at Buffy he whispered, rather loudly, �An� she really doesn�t like him� at all.� Buffy laughed softly. �She always did have a good instinct for people out to hurt what�s hers.� Turning to Angel, her voice hard and cold once more, �I suggest you leave. Now. Before I change my mind and remove one more idiot from this plane of existence.� Turning her back on Angel, she sheathed her sword in one smooth motion as she walked towards the couch. Spike gave Angel a little push out the door, and then locked it behind him. He turned back towards the couch and heard Xander ask Buffy, �So, you are Mrs. Summers� mom. How exactly does that work?� Eager to hear the answer, Spike looked at Buffy with his head cocked to one side. �I�d kinda like to know the answer to that one myself. Gonna share with the rest of the class, Luv?� Slipping her sword-harness off her back and leaning it against the wall beside the couch, Buffy laughed softly, her hazel eyes sparkling with green fire. �Why do I have the feeling that neither one of you will believe me?� Dawn leaned over and playfully punched Buffy on the shoulder. �You just don�t want to admit your real age. Can you even remember your real age?� she asked with a grin. Xander, bouncing like a little puppy, piped up, �C�mon you can tell us, and we won�t say a word. Will we Spike?� He glanced over at Spike for confirmation. �Speak for yourself Harris. I�ll say what I please, when I please. Don�t mean I�m gonna go spill the lady�s secrets. Just sayin�, don�t make promises for me.� Spike grumbled at Xander. With a soft sigh, Buffy sank onto the chair. �You guys probably won�t believe this, but I am far older than I look.� |
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