No Perfect World: The Devil You Know
by Net Girl
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: Willow and Tara and all the others are all property of Joss
Whedon, Mutant Enemy, the WB (soon to be UPN), the actors, and the other
creators.
Series: No Perfect World.
Spoilers and Author's Notes: I guess everything including season 5.
Except once again…
no Riley. Sorry I just hate the character, not the actor; coz Marc Blucas is
a great actor. And Joyce isn’t dead, Dawn is there and again NO KEY stuff.
Extra Note: If you haven’t read the first 2 parts I suggest that you do,
Part 1: Breaking Chains and Part 2: Darkest Side Of Life, Part 3: The Devil
You Know. (This part is about one week after the event of The Devil You Know)
Dedication: To Crystal Moonfall: Always taking time to comment on my stories
and giving me dedication in his… And to Stacy from who I get big feedback
e-mails from. And to Kimberly for writing our story and always saying kind
things about mine. And last but definitely not least; Wolfie/CJ for helping
me with some stuff and beta reading for me, thanks a bunch!
Feedback: I’m an addict :-)
PROLOGUE
‘So this is Sunnydale,’ a young looking woman said to herself when she saw the sign ‘Welcome To Sunnydale’. She had a feeling she was going to like this place and there was something in it that was calling for her, she couldn’t quite place it but she knew that she would eventually find it. And when she did… her life would be complete.
“Hello sunshine,” the young woman turned around and saw a man in his thirties standing in front of her, “What’s a young lady like yourself doing here walking alone at night?” He said in what appeared to be an Irish accent.
“That’s none of your business,” the young woman answered.
“Well let’s make it my business shall we…” He replied.
The young woman looked at him while he shifted into his vamp face, he was surprised that she didn’t even blink when she saw it happening. Every other person would have screamed or at least run away from him but not her, “Give it a rest child. I am not afraid of you… I have no reason to be afraid of you.” The young woman said smiling, “If fact… it is you who should be afraid of me.”
“Hmm it seems that I caught myself a dumb blonde,” the vampire said, “… but not that dumb seeing you already know what I am.”
“Did you just call me a dumb blonde?”
“Yeah I did, got a problem with it?”
“I do actually, it’s so typical for guys to think I’m a dumb blonde,” the blonde hissed which caused the vampire to laugh, “And stop laughing!” The woman raised her hand and looked at the vampire, “Can you fly?” And then with one movement of her hand the vampire went flying for twelve feet.
“Newbies…” She said and shook her head, “Always trying to kill you immediately, they forget about the joy of playing with someone.” The young woman turned around again and looked at her right when she heard some people laughing. They were clearly friends, all six of them but she could sense something was wrong, somehow the group was clearly missing something.
She didn’t pay any more attention to it and went off to find somewhere she could stay and get a decent bath, this town was very dusty, ‘A lot of Newbies not paying attention.’ She thought to herself and started walking.
** Summers Home; Morning **
“Faith wake up.” There were nothing but groaning sounds coming from the dark slayer so Buffy tried again, “Faith honey… wake up,” Faith was laying with her head in her pillow and Buffy could hear a muffled ‘no’ coming from her, “Fine then we’re gonna try this another way.” Buffy said and jumped on the bed.
She pushed Faith on her back and straddled Faith’s hips with her knees on either side and put her hands on each side of the dark haired slayer’s head, “Didn’t I ask you to wake up?” Buffy asked again and kissed Faith’s forehead.
“Nice view B,” Faith responded. The way Buffy was hanging over the brunette was giving her a full view of her breasts.
“Yeah well, anything to get you up and running,” Buffy said winking.
“Gimme a kiss then,” Faith replied and pulled Buffy closer meeting her lips in a passionate kiss.
After a few seconds Buffy broke up the kiss, “Come on sleepy head, we’re supposed to pick up Xander and Anya at the hospital in an hour.”
“So Willow and Tara did the apartment already?”
“You were lucky,” Buffy replied, “You got to sleep late, they had to wake up early to do that.”
“Remind me to thank them for that,” Faith responded.
“I will,” Buffy said, “I’m going downstairs, I’ll see you in ten minutes missy.”
“Can’t I take a shower?”
“Fine make it twenty then,” Buffy replied, “Quick shower, get dressed and come downstairs.”
“Right mom!” Faith replied sarcastically and gave Buffy a playful pat on her butt, “Can I get another kiss?”
“Go!” Buffy said when Faith leaned forward to receive her kiss, “There will be plenty of kisses when you get back.”
“Shower it is.” Faith said and winked.
“Go!” Buffy said again.
** Sunnydale Hospital **
“Where are they?” Faith asked as she saw an empty hospital room.
“I don’t know,” Buffy said and looked around. She found the two standing in front of a window holding each other, “There they are,” Buffy said. She couldn’t help it but smile, her two friends had been through a lot and she was glad they were getting out of the hospital, “You two ready?” She asked walking up to the them.
“Oh yes,” Xander replied, “Can’t wait to get outta this place.”
“Come on then… sit…”
“Oh come on Buff… do we have to?” Xander replied upon seeing the wheelchairs.
“You questioning the slayers? Besides, you two are still too weak to do anything more than sit on the couch and watch television,” Faith said pointedly. “Now sit!” Xander and Anya groaned as they sat in the wheelchair, “You really got some good friends here B… they actually listen.” Faith said smirking.
“Yeah, yeah…” Anya said, “Just get us home will ya.”
“Sure thing ma’am,” Faith replied and pushed her wheelchair out of the hospital followed by Buffy.
** Xander and Anya’s Apartment Building **
“God I’m glad these things have elevators!” Buffy groaned as helped Xander out of the elevator, “You got to lay off those twinkies Xan.”
“I told you we should have brought the wheelchairs with us!” Faith groaned as she helped Anya through the hallway, “And seeing Buffy struggling like that… Xander… stay off the twinkies!”
“No way!” Xander replied, “And speaking of twinkies… when can I have some?”
“Xander!”
“What?” Xander yelped, “We couldn’t have them in the hospital and now I’m out I can’t have them either?”
“The doctor said no, you can’t have them for at least another week… remember that knife that went in your stomach?”
“Yeah, yeah… stop reminding me.”
“Speaking of… where is that stupid…” Anya began to say when Xander put his hand over her mouth.
“He’s in jail…” Faith responded, “Sam is coming back Saturday to get our statements and then the bastard will be locked up for a very, very long time.”
“I wish I had my powers,” Anya groaned.
“At this point we all wish you had your powers,” Buffy said. The two slayers helped Xander and Anya up to their apartment but didn’t open the door, “Come on guys, stand up and walk in.”
Both of them stood up as Buffy opened the lock, “You ready?” She got nods from the two and slowly opened the door. They next thing they knew, the two were hit by a mixture of ‘Surprise’ and ‘Welcome back’ by their friends, “Welcome back,” Buffy said and hugged Xander and then Anya.
Xander looked at the groups of friends, ‘My friends’ he thought and couldn’t help it but to let a few tears slid down his face. Anya had already somehow managed to run inside and hugged all of their friends. Everyone currently in Sunnydale was there; Willow, Tara, Joyce, Giles, Dawn and Nick. Even Spike had come back to Sunnydale to greet them.
When he looked to a corner of his apartment he found three adults and a little girl standing there, “I guess that’s Chloe…” He said to Samantha who just nodded, “Hi Chloe nice to meet you.” Xander said and held out his hand, “She’s cute Sam.”
“Mommy… why does everyone say I’m cute?”
“Because you are little one,” Faith said lifting the girl in the air and then hugging her, “Good to see you again Chloe,” Faith said. She put the girl down and looked at Sam, “I thought you weren’t coming back for two more days… B would like to see you’re back again.”
“When I heard Xander and Anya were getting out of the hospital I wanted to be here… and Chloe wanted to finally meet Xander and his girlfriend.”
“Where’s B… Uhm I mean Buffy…”
“Right here…” Buffy said, “And Faith… please use my whole name when we talk to people we haven’t met or barely know…” Buffy said when she heard Chloe say that.
“Yes ma’am,” Faith said and made a saluting gesture to her, she gave a playful pat on her butt and walked up to Tara and Willow.
‘Always the butt…’ Buffy thought and turned to Sam, “She had to get up earlier,” Buffy said to Sam, “She gets like this when she has to get up early… good to see you again.”
“You too Buffy,” Samantha replied as she hugged the blonde slayer, “How is she handling all of this?”
“We kinda lost her to the bed for a week before Willow went in to friend mode and got her out.” Buffy said, “But she’s handling… and she’s letting me close again.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well she kinda had her episodes of not touching during the day and clinging to me at night.”
“Oh…”
“Yeah I know, but that was all because of that… I’m not gonna do swearing here, but you know who I mean.”
“I do and that was one of the other reasons we came so early,” Sam said, “We have to take your statements and after that he’ll probably be put away for a long time.”
“How long?”
“We’re not sure, but if we want to make it life he has to confess to the murders,” Sam said, “But I’m thinking he will.”
“Good, because if he ever comes out again and comes near any of my friends and family then this time I’m not going to stop Faith… I’m probably going to help her.”
“We don’t want you in jail so he’s not getting out.”
“Good,” Buffy said one final time, “Now go… dance… eat… whatever it is you do at these parties… I’m taking your daughter and am gonna go dance with her.”
“I can’t dance…”
“We’ll teach ya!” Buffy said and pulled the young girl with her leaving a smiling blonde agent behind her.
** Some Motel Room **
The blonde haired woman sat at the edge of her bed and looked around in her room. She was wondering why there weren’t any decent motels in this town, from all the motels she had visited this was the best looking. At least it had a bathtub in the room which had pleased her very much, after long days she liked to take a bath and just lay in there for an half hour or so… sometimes even longer than that, it completely depended on her mood.
“Ugh… I need some clothes,” she said to herself as she looked on the bed where her clothes were spread out. They were the same as the previous night and seeing that she had absolutely no other clothes what so ever… she had to wear them again, “I’m going shopping!” She exclaimed and stood up from the bed.
She dusted off the clothes as good as she could and put them back on, “Ah man!” she yelled noticing a tear on the knee part of her jeans, “These were my favorite, you think by now they would make some decent pair of jeans, but no… why would they!”
She decided to just leave it that way and put on her tank top, when she looked in the mirror she noticed the dust had left a stain on it, “Man! Gotta get me some new clothes… not to mention a better room to stay at… I’m so not going to stay in this den for more than two days.” She opened a small bag, revealing that it had a lot of money in it. More than ten thousand dollars in cash, and right now that money was more then useful if she was going to need some clothes and a decent place to stay at.
** Summers Home **
After three hours of the party and with promises to meet for dinner that evening, Xander and Anya finally had been able to get the gang out of their apartment for some alone time and rest. Since the others had gone their separate ways, Faith and Buffy had some alone time of their own.
“So B… what you wanna do?”
“This!” Buffy said and pushed Faith on the couch.
“Very funny B… why did you do…” She was silenced by Buffy’s lips brushing her own, ‘Ok no complaints here,’ she thought and kissed Buffy pulling the blond on top of her.
Buffy’s mind immediately trailed back to Faith’s vision of their relationship in that dream world where she had found out about the brunette being raped. Everything that Buffy had seen in that dream was happening right now, the only thing missing were the pictures in her room, ‘Mental note for Buffy… make some pictures,’ she thought and deepened the kiss between her and Faith.
Suddenly Faith started laughing for some reason, “What you laughing for?” Buffy questioned.
“This…” Faith said, “I can’t believe this is actually happening.”
“Don’t worry,” Buffy replied, “There’s gonna be a lot more of these moments.”
Faith pushed Buffy a little off of her so she was now laying half on top of her instead of completely, “I sure hope so B,” Faith replied.
Buffy rested her head on Faith’s shoulder and put an arm around the younger girl’s waist, “Trust me… there will be a lot of these moments.”
Faith held Buffy a little closer and kissed the top of her head. They lay there for a few minutes in a comfortable silence, they were so wrapped up in each other that they hadn’t noticed Dawn entering the house. Dawn decided to take full advantage of that and walked up to the couch, she looked at the two slayers and smiled.
After a few seconds she suddenly jumped on the couch and landed on the two slayers, “Hey!” She yelled as if the two slayers weren’t surprised already, “Comfortable?”
“Hey kiddo,” Faith said, “What are you doing back so early? I thought we were supposed to pick you up tonight?”
“No, I decided to come back and spend some time with you guys.”
Faith pulled the young girl down so she was now laying on her back on the couch between the two slayers. They didn’t think the couch was big enough, but somehow they managed to stay on it, “How’s everything going with you and Nicky boy?” Faith asked.
“We’re good,” Dawn replied with a smile, “He’s actually teasing me about my birthday.”
“How so… that’s not for another two and half months,” Buffy replied.
“He said he already bought my gift.”
“This soon?”
“Yes exactly!” Dawn said, “I told him that and he just smirked.”
“God I love that kid!” Faith said and started laughing. She was laughing so hard that seeing she was on the outside of the couch she fell off which caused a laughter fit for the two sisters, “Yeah, yeah… real funny…” Faith groaned. She looked at the sisters and couldn’t help it but laugh again herself. She got up from the ground and stood in front of the two sisters and looked at Buffy.
Buffy was thinking the exact same thing and suddenly sat on top of her sister. The next thing Dawn knew she was being tickled by two slayers, even if she was getting stronger there was no way she could get out of the grip they had on her.
** Sunnydale Mall **
“Tara!” Willow yelled, “Wait!” They had decided to try and spent the day away from each other and go out for dinner that evening with their friends. But as usual that didn’t last long, somehow they always ended up spending the day together if it were classes they had to go to or just hanging out at Tara’s dorm and doing spells and such things.
“Hey Will,” Tara said and took her hand, “You know…”
“What?”
“Why do we bother to try and stay away from each other if we end up spending the day together anyway?”
“I have no idea,” Willow said smiling, “Come on… we still got a few hours ‘till dinner,” Willow said, “I need some new clothes.”
“Honey, you bought new clothes yesterday.”
“Yeah but I need something for tonight.”
Tara sighed, if there was one thing Willow did it was buying new clothes for almost every dinner or date they went on, “Alright, come on then.”
The blonde woman was sitting on a bench watching the exchange between two women who were obviously madly in love with each other. She was intrigued by the two and decided to follow them as they went in and out of every shop in the mall. She had already bought herself some new clothes and was wearing them right now, even with all of the bags she was carrying she could still keep up with the two women.
After a half hour they sat down in some place called the ‘Espresso Pump’ and she did the same sitting two tables away from them. When she overheard what they ordered she knew they were going to be there for a while, it didn’t bother her at all because she needed a drink herself.
“Can I help you ma’am?”
“Yes, water… please,” the woman said. Just before the waitress walked away she stopped her, “Make that a lot of water… I’m thirsty.”
“Sure.” The waitress said and furrowed her brow wondering why she wanted that much water. After a few minutes she returned with a large glass of water, “Here you are ma’am.”
The blonde took the glass and gestured for the woman to stay. She drank the glass empty in one turn and handed the waitress the glass back, “More… please.”
“Alright, I’ll be right back.” After another few minutes of waiting the waitress returned with a bottle of water and a clean glass, “here you are ma’am.” She said and put the stuff down on the table, since the waitress hadn’t had her break yet she decided this would be a perfect opportunity to have one and sat down at the table between the blonde woman and two other women.
She looked at the woman when she grabbed the bottle and drank from it, not even bothering to pour it in the glass. She raised a brow and wondered how it was possible for a person to drink THAT much water in one turn.
“Did you see that?” Willow asked looking at the strange blonde woman.
“That, she just drank this huge bottle of water in one turn?”
“Yeah that.” Willow replied, “Strange…”
“She has been following us for the last half hour,” Tara suddenly said, “I saw her looking at us when you came up to me before.”
“Why would she be following us?”
“I don’t know,” Tara replied, “Have you seen her before?”
“No, never.”
“Let’s just hope she’ll stop following us.” Tara said and got a nod from Willow. Tara gestured for the waitress to come so she could pay for their drinks and then the two witches left. Tara looked behind her one more time and saw that the woman had no intention of getting up. She put her arms around Willow’s waist and picked up the pace so they could get home and change for dinner.
** Evening; Restaurant In Sunnydale **
“Remind me to thank your dad for keeping these seats available,” Buffy said to Nick as he sat down.
“Sure,” Nick said smiling.
The gang was sitting at the table in comfortable silence until Faith stood up, “I have a few things I wanted to say…” She began, “First that I’m glad Nicky boy here has a father that manages a restaurant… and that I’m glad Xander and Anya are back on their feet and being oh so cute together… and I have to say that I was beginning to get worried about the nurses…”
“Well they did hurt us when they changed the bandages,” Anya said smiling.
“I know… and let’s just hope that there won’t be any Scooby hospital time for a long, long time. I know that I speak for all of you when I say that we do WAY too much hospital time in this group.” Faith said, “And for now let’s just enjoy dinner and hope Nick’s father can get us in more times so we can repeat this often.”
“Cheers!” Everyone said and raised their glasses. No one had noticed Nick who suddenly had a sad expression on his face except for Faith, “What’s the matter Nicky boy?”
“I… nothing never mind,” Nick replied.
Tears started to form in his eyes again, “Nick?” Dawn questioned.
“We’re moving.”
“What?” Dawn asked in disbelief.
“Mom and dad want to move and give Cindy a fresh start in another town and seeing I’m seventeen I have to go with them.”
“Bummer…” Xander said.
“I don’t want to move away from here,” Nick said, “I don’t want to move away from you guys and especially not from you,” Nick said taking Dawn’s hands in his own.
The dinner didn’t go as they had planned it would. The dinner continued in an uncomfortable silence, everyone afraid to speak up… they wanted to say something but the words probably would be the wrong ones anyway.
The next week had been hard on everyone, especially on Dawn and, as much as Faith and Buffy wanted to comfort her, they knew it wasn’t going to work. The girl had spent most of the week with Nick trying to be together as much as they could before he had to leave.
And now there was one more day before he actually had to leave. Faith and Buffy had promised to take them to see a movie and go out to dinner one last time before he had to leave. “Dawn, Nick!” Faith yelled, “You two ready?”
“Coming!” Dawn yelled back. She and Nick came running downstairs, and now the wait was for Buffy, who was always late for some reason. “Buffy!” Dawn whined.
“Calm down!” Buffy yelled, “Coming already!” After another ten minutes, Buffy finally came downstairs and was ready to go. “Come on then, let’s go,” she said and took Faith’s hand in her own, pulling her out of the house.
** Weatherly Park **
The blonde woman was sitting on a bench in what was called ‘Weatherly Park’, looking at couples wandering around. She also saw a few couples sitting on blankets on the grass, which she didn’t entirely get. ‘Why do people always put themselves in danger,’ she thought. ‘Who goes out and sits on a blanket at night. Don’t they have a home or something to make out in?’
She looked around the paths and the grass when she noticed two girls walking hand in hand and recognised them immediately; they were the same ones she had been following earlier that week. She could see they were enjoying each other’s company, but there was still a look of restlessness on their faces. She could tell they were sad about something, but she wasn’t someone who would just go up to them and ask what was wrong, ‘Learned that lesson a few years ago,’ she thought to herself, rubbing her thigh.
The two women she had been looking at also sat down on a blanket. The redhead took something out of her jacket and showed it to the blonde, whose smile grew wider by the second. The blonde knew it was something special, but she couldn’t see from where she was sitting. The two suddenly looked around to see if anyone was watching, and then disappeared…
“This is so cool!” Tara exclaimed. “Are you sure they can’t see or hear us?”
“Watch this,” Willow said, smiling wickedly. Suddenly, she began to scream at the top of her lungs and then looked around. No one seemed to notice a thing. “See!” Willow said. “Told you.” Willow rolled on top of Tara and started kissing her.
“Willow!” Tara yelled. “Not here!”
“They can’t see us…”
“I know, but I can see them!”
“Oh right… forgot about that,” Willow said blushing. “How ‘bout we just snuggle and look at the stars then?”
“That can be arranged,” Tara replied. Willow rolled off of her and next to her, grabbing the redhead’s hand and entwining their fingers.
“We could do this more often,” Willow said.
“I’d like that,” Tara replied and rested her head on Willow’s shoulder. They just lay there for a few minutes until Tara broke the silence again. “It’s kinda sad.”
“What is honey?”
“Dawn and Nick.”
“I know. I couldn’t believe it when Nick said it,” Willow replied. “Poor Dawnie is going to be heartbroken… and not to mention Nick,” she added.
“I wish they could stay together,” Tara said. “But unfortunately for them, Nick is still 17 and has to listen to his parents when it comes to stuff like this.”
“Yeah I know… but it’s still hard on them.”
“He’s leaving tomorrow right?”
“Yeah…”
“Poor Dawnie,” Tara said again and looked back at the stars.
‘Where did they just go?’ The blonde woman thought. "She looked around, but couldn't find the two. She sighed, figuring that the reason she couldn't find them was because she had disappeared. 'Great, like this town isn't bad enough with the vamps and demons... it has to have witches too!"
She had always been fairly annoyed by witches, but when she looked at those two, it didn’t seem to matter all that much. She knew that they weren’t your typical badass witches holding grudges against people; they witches had pure souls.
“Oh give it a rest will ya!” The blonde woman said, turning around. “You tried it a week ago and you lost… what do you want?”
“I… I… how did you know it was me?”
“For god’s sake! Have you ever smelled yourself? I can smell you a mile away,” the blonde said. “Now hurry up! I was busy.”
“I apologise. I want to serve you…”
“Why do you want to serve me?” the woman questioned. “I can take care of myself.”
“But…”
“Oh fine… whatever, just go until I can use you.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“And don’t call me that! Not in public anyway.” The blonde said and turned around again, “Now go… and leave me alone until I say you can come back.” The vampire walked away and the woman wrinkled her nose. “God… he really needs a bath or at least a nice perfume or something! But then again, he IS a vampire.”
After a half hour, she looked at her watch. ‘Damn, an hour is over already! Where did they go?’ As soon as she thought it, the two witches were in sight again, now lying on the blankets and looking at the stars, ‘Hopeless romantics,’ she thought and smirked. ‘Real cute.’ After a few minutes she could see four people running towards the two witches, and one of them, the taller blonde, called out two names: Willow and Tara.
“Willow, Tara!” Buffy yelled. “What are you two doing here?”
“Laying in the grass, looking at the stars?” A somewhat surprised Willow replied to the slayer, “Sit…” She said, and patted the blanket. “So… how was dinner?”
“We had fun,” Buffy exclaimed, “We actually had fun… didn’t know it was possible with these two here,” Buffy said, pointing at Nick and Dawn.
“Buffy!” Dawn yelled. “It’s not like we have a reason to be happy.”
“Oh come on!” Buffy replied, “It’s not the end of the world… you’ll still be able to see each other. I’ll drive you there if you want, or I can pick up Nick and then we can go out somewhere, or something.”
“I’m going to live in another town two states away from California.”
“Oh,” Buffy said, and immediately her expression changed from happy to disappointed, “Couldn’t your mom pick something closer?”
“Actually it wasn’t my mom. Dad picked the place.”
“I’m sorry…” Buffy said.
“Nah, it’s ok,” Nick said. “I’m gonna live there, and try my best to make it work, and one day I’m gonna come back to a place called Sunnydale, because in that town lives this beautiful girl named Dawn who stole my heart.” Nick looked at Dawn, who was now blushing various shades of red, and kissed her.
“Oh that’s so sweet!” Willow squealed.
“Damn!” Nick said as he looked at his watch. “I have to go, mom is waiting for me. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Of course,” Dawn replied.
“You shouldn’t walk back alone!” Buffy said, standing up.
“Uhm… I got my car remember?” Nick said. “That’s how we went to the movies and the restaurant in the first place.”
“Right… sorry.” Buffy said, and sat back down.
Nick pulled Dawn up for a kiss. “See ya tomorrow babe,” he said and walked to his car.
Dawn sat back down on the blanket and leaned against Faith, the girl had a dreamy look on her face and was smiling like crazy. “Kiddo… you still with us?”
“Uh huh…” was all Dawn said before they all burst out laughing. After a few minutes they calmed down, “Buffy, give me your purse.”
“What do you need my purse for?”
“Just give it,” Dawn said and promptly grabbed it herself. She opened it and taking something from inside, “Look what I got.”
Faith took the small box and opened it; inside was a heart-shaped pendant with ‘Dawn’ inscribed in it, “Dawn, that is so cute,” the brunette said.
“It’s not cute… it’s romantic.”
“But it’s still cute,” Buffy said and tickled her sister.
** Next Morning; Nick’s House **
“I just want to say that it’s a bummer you’re leaving,” Buffy said to Nick and his family.
“Yeah I know,” Nick replied.
Everyone hugged each other and Dawn pulled Nick away from the others. “Give ‘em some time,” Faith said as she saw Missy was about to say something to Nick. “They need it.”
“I know,” Missy replied. “Look, it’s not easy to leave, but Cindy needs this, and so do we.”
“Yeah, but does Nick have to go?”
“Faith, I know you want them to be together, but he’s coming with us.”
Faith just sighed; she knew there was no way of making Missy change her mind. “Yeah ok. But you gotta let him visit, you know.”
“He will visit… even if I wanted to, I wouldn’t be able to stop him from doing so.” They both looked at Dawn and Nick, who were holding hands and looking at each other.
“I don’t want you to leave,” Dawn said as tears formed in her eyes.
“I know babe, me neither,” Nick said, as tears were forming in his eyes also. He leaned forward, kissing Dawn passionately and holding her close. After a few seconds, he broke the kiss. "You know I'll come back, don't you?"
Dawn only nodded, and then reached in to her pocket. “Got you something.” She said, and handed him the box.
He smiled and took the box from her; when he opened it, his eyes lit up and his smile grew wider. “Thanks babe. Help me put it on,” he asked, handing her the necklace. She put it on his neck and kept her hands there.
Nick leaned in and kissed Dawn again. After a few seconds, he felt a hand on his shoulder. “It’s time…” Missy said.
They all walked out of the house; there was one more round of hugs, and Missy, Nick’s dad and Cindy already got in the car. Nick turned to Buffy and Dawn. “Take care of her for me, will ya.”
“Of course we will,” Buffy replied and hugged him. Faith was never much of a girl to hug someone, but she hugged Nick anyway.
Buffy, Faith and the others stepped back a few steps, and Nick turned back to Dawn, who was now crying. As soon as he felt that tears had begun to form in his eyes as well, he pulled Dawn close to him. “I’m gonna miss you so much."
“I’m gonna miss you too,” Dawn replied. Nick broke off the hug and cupped Dawn’s chin with his hand, holding her face up a little. He leaned in and lightly brushed his lips against hers before kissing her.
After a few seconds, he broke the kiss and looked in her eyes. “I love you.”
“I love you too Nicky,” Dawn replied.
He gave Dawn one more kiss, and walked to the car and got inside. “I’m coming back babe, don’t forget that.”
“I won’t,” Dawn replied. A few seconds later, she felt two arms wrapping around her, and looked back to see that Buffy was holding her. Dawn relaxed in her arms as Nick’s dad started the car and drove away. “I won’t,” she whispered one more time before turning around in her sister’s arms and started to cry.
After Nick and his family had left everyone just stood on the sidewalk looking in the direction they had gone. Dawn was crying uncontrollably in Buffy’s arms who was fighting back the tears of seeing her kid sister hurt. After a few minutes the blonde slayer felt an arm slipping around her waist and looked at the person who the arm belonged to, “You ready to go B?” Faith asked.
“Yeah,” Buffy replied and looked at Dawn, “Come on sis, let’s get something to drink.” Dawn put her arms around Buffy’s waist and leaned against her. Buffy put her arm around her sister and took Faith’s hand in her other while they walked to the Espresso Pump.
Anya and Xander went home because they still couldn’t be out for long without rest and so the only people remaining were Buffy, Faith, Dawn, Willow and Tara. Joyce couldn’t be there because she was out of town for the gallery and the three VCTF agents had been called back to Atlanta one day earlier, “I’m gonna go to the toilet.” Dawn said as they arrived at the Espresso Pump.
“You ok?” her sister asked.
“Yeah I’m fine Buffy.” She replied and walked away.
“There she is again.”
“Who Willow?” Buffy asked.
“That blonde woman over there,” Willow replied, “She followed me and Tara a while back and then at the mall she drank like a lot of water… and when I say a lot I mean a lot. She was queen of the water drinkers, she kept it coming and coming I didn’t know a person could drink that much when I saw it and then… and I’m babbling.”
“That’s why we love you so much Wills,” Buffy said smiling, “She drunk a lot of water?”
“Yeah,” Tara said, “It was really a lot… like a whole lot… huge bottle of water.”
“She was thirsty?” Faith asked sarcastically.
“Very funny Faith,” Willow said, “But yeah she was acting like she hadn’t had a drink in a week.”
“Strange,” Buffy said but paid no attention to her anymore as did the others. By now they were too wrapped up in a guy on a skateboard doing tricks on the street, “Wow… I didn’t know you could bend that way.” Buffy said as he fell on the floor.
“Well in normal situations you couldn’t,” Faith asked and got raised brows from the others.
“I’m so not wanna know what that was about.” Buffy said but just got a kiss from a smirking Faith for it back.
** Espresso Pump Toilets **
The blonde woman walked in the bathroom and saw the young girl sitting in the corner of the room crying. She recognised the girl from the group of friends she had watched earlier and who were now also in the Espresso Pump. She raised a brow and made a decision.
“Excuse me,” the blonde asked no one in particular.
“Yes?” Willow replied.
“Is that girl ok?”
“What girl?” Buffy asked standing up.
“That girl who came in with you, she’s in the bathroom crying.”
“Sorry I gotta…” Buffy said and sprinted towards the bathrooms.
“Who are you?” Faith suddenly asked.
“I’m sorry?”
“You follow our two friends here and then suddenly you come up to us talking about my girlfriend’s sister.”
The blonde woman just stood there surprised that the brunette had reacted that way and Willow and Tara were just sitting there trying to get their mouths to work and stop Faith from talking but somehow that didn’t work.
“Fine let’s start over then… I’m Hannah,” the blonde said.
Faith just raised a brow and Willow and Tara introduced themselves including apologising for the brunette’s behaviour. When they did that Faith glared at them and then looked at the direction of the bathroom waiting for her girlfriend and Dawn.
“Dawn?” Buffy said as she walked in the bathroom of the Espresso Pump. She saw her sister huddled up in a corner opposite from the door. Buffy walked to her sister and sat next to her putting an arm around her, “You ok?”
“Fine!” Dawn snapped and stood up, “Leave me alone.”
Buffy didn’t get angry at her sister for snapping at her, she just walked up behind her sister and put her arms around Dawn’s waist and hugged her, “He said he would be coming back Dawn.” Buffy said calmly.
“I know, but I want him back now.” She replied in a sad voice.
“Don’t worry about it,” Buffy said, “Just go do whatever you do daily… go to school and stuff. You won’t even notice that he was gone until he comes back.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m positive…” Buffy replied, “And he is coming back you know that.”
“I do,” Dawn said and smiled lightly. She turned around and hugged her sister, “Thank you.”
“No problem sis,” Buffy replied, “Now come on and maybe we can see Faith doing something silly to get attention.”
“She doesn’t do that!” Dawn snorted and started laughing.
“No… but I got you laughing didn’t I…”
Dawn just smiled and pulled her sister out of the bathroom just in time to see Faith glaring at a woman who was sitting in Buffy’s place. “Faith!” Dawn yelled and jumped in her lap, “You gonna buy your girlfriend’s sister a drink or what?”
“Sure kiddo,” Faith said and smiled at Dawn. She called for a waitress and ordered a drink for everyone including that blonde woman Hannah, but that was only because Dawn looked at her with puppy dog eyes when she was about to skip her.
“Hi I’m Hannah,” the blonde said to Buffy and Dawn.
“Nice to meet you… why were you following them?” Buffy asked pointing at Willow and Tara.
For the second time Willow and Tara looked open mouthed at one of their friends. Faith just smirked triumphantly at the two and then looked at Hannah waiting for an answer, “Is it illegal to shop?”
“Why were you in every shop we went in then?”
“Because you can buy things there?” Hannah questioned. Even if Faith didn’t like the woman she had to smirk at the comment she made, “I’m new in town, and I needed some clothes and other stuff.” The blonde added.
“Why did you drink that much water?” Willow asked.
“I was thirsty?” Hannah said sarcastically, “Look I’m sorry, but I wasn’t following you two,” 'Yeah right…’ She added in her head, “Are people in this town always paranoid like this?”
Faith had an angry look on her face, “We have a reason to be.” She said and turned to Buffy, “Can we go now… we still have training to do.”
“Training?”
“Practise, Training… whatever you like to call it… we do a combat sport.”
“Oh! Like what?” She suddenly asked enthusiastically.
“All kinds…” Buffy said, “and as she said, we have a reason to do that, people these days can be pretty dangerous… I’m sorry, but we really have to go now.”
“We got classes,” Willow said gesturing herself and Tara, “So we kinda have to go too.”
“Ok, maybe I’ll see you around sometimes,” she said shaking hands with everyone including Faith who seemed to be a bit more relaxed. She took Tara’s hand and suddenly what felt like a bolt of electricity went trough her body and she quickly released Tara’s hand. ‘Wow’ she thought to herself, ‘That was… oh god… It’s her… why didn’t I… stupid…’. “Uhm… I gotta go.” She said. She left some money for the drinks and walked away.
“That was…”
“Weird?” Dawn finished for her sister, “Yeah… totally.”
** Willow and Tara’s Dorm Room; Evening **
“I wonder what that was all about earlier.”
“What honey?” Tara asked.
“Well with that Hannah girl, she seemed… I don’t know… almost frightened or surprised or something when she shook your hand.”
“I don’t know what she would be afraid of or surprised about,” Tara said, “It was really strange because I also saw something of happiness in her eyes when that happened.”
“Maybe when we see her again we could ask.” Willow suggested, “Poor Dawnie,” Willow suddenly said and showed Tara a picture, “Remember this? It was taken when Nick and Dawn had been together for a month.”
“Yeah I remember,” Tara replied. The day was printed in her memory and there was no way she was going to let it out.
Because they had been together for a month Nick had taken Dawn to a restaurant and then to see a movie. The night ended with Willow, her and the two slayers saving the couple from four vampires. Nick and Dawn were lucky that they were there because they were just coming back from patrol, Dawn was holding her own against them but she wasn’t as experienced as Faith and Buffy were.
After the four had helped them they decided to see if they could get a drink somewhere if something was still open, halfway they found a photo booth and decided to have some fun. Somehow all six of them fitted in it and they made a picture, after that all couples went in separately and made some pictures.
Willow and Tara just casual sweet photos and the two slayers… well the two slayers wouldn’t let them see the pictures for over a week. When Willow finally did see them it showed the two slayers kissing passionately and the only reason the two witches found out was because Willow accidentally found them and told Tara about them.
The pictures of Nick and Dawn were the best… well at least the two slayers and the two witches thought so. Nick was standing behind Dawn and had his arms around her over her chest and leaning his head against Dawn’s. When they came out of the booth Buffy already had taken the pictures and was almost screaming that it was ‘so cute’ and that she ‘really, really wanted one’.
“You still here?” Willow suddenly asked.
“Yeah, just thinking of the day these were taken.” Tara replied.
“Come on let’s go to bed,” Willow said.
“It’s still pretty early Willow.”
“I know,” Willow replied in a husky voice, “… but I got other plans.” Willow smiled wickedly and pulled Tara towards the bed. She started to unbutton her blouse and kissed Tara passionately.
“I’m liking these plans…” Tara said before kissing Willow again, “I’m liking these plans a lot…”
** Apartment just outside Sunnydale **
‘Stupid… Stupid… Stupid’ Hannah said to herself over and over again, ‘Why didn’t I see it before?’ She questioned, ‘Why couldn’t I see she was The One?’ Hannah was pacing in her room when she heard a knock on her door, “Finally!” She said and opened the door.
“You called for me my lord…”
“Yes I did… what was your name? I’d like to call you by your name.”
“It’s John my lord.”
“Ok… first… stop calling me lord, it’s very annoying,” Hannah said, “… and second… I’d like you to keep an eye on someone for me…”
“The two witches my lady?”
“Hey I like that! My lady… sounds better than my lord… a lot better,” Hannah got distracted by the new name John had given her and got a confused look from him, “What? Oh right… yes you need to watch the two witches for me.”
“Can I ask why?”
“The why is not important, you should just do it,” the blonde said calmly, “Watch their every move… except during the day of course since there’s the ‘poof’ sound you’ll make when you walk into sunlight… and report it to me the next morning.” Hannah added, “If you’ll be nice to me I’ll let you hang out here until night comes again.”
“Thank you my lady…”
“So… where can I get a job in this place, it’s nice to have the now have that money from my ex-lover but it’s gonna wear out if I keep going like this and I’d like to keep this apartment… it’s really nice.”
“Sorry?”
“A job!” Hannah yelled, “Something where I can make money in order to keep this very, very nice apartment.”
“I’ll keep an eye out for you my lady…” John said and took a small bow.
Hannah just waved him off, ‘Moron’ she thought, “Soon…” She promised herself, “Soon…”
** Magic Box Training Room; Next morning **
“So what do you think of that girl?” Buffy asked blocking a punch from Faith. The brunette just glared at Buffy and knocked her off of her feet, “Ok I take it you don’t like her…” Buffy said and jumped up sweeping Faith’s feet from under her knocking the brunette down.
“No I don’t like her,” Faith replied, “Especially not after she acted so strange from just giving Tara a hand.”
“I have to admit…” Buffy said and kicked Faith who blocked it, “… that was kinda strange.”
“I don’t like people who are strange,” Faith said with a serious look on her face. Buffy stopped throwing punches at the brunette and just looked at her with a raised brow, “What?” Faith questioned.
“I’m sorry… you don’t like people that are strange?” Buffy asked with a smile on her face, “Then why are you hanging with us, we’re considered pretty strange.”
“Yeah, but that’s a good strange,” Faith said, “That’s a very good strange,” she added with a wink.
“Ok that’s it!” Buffy said. She threw Faith on the floor and straddled her hips.
“As I said… a very good strange…” Faith said again. She placed her hands on Buffy’s thighs and sat up. Buffy leaned down and placed butterfly kisses on the brunette’s jaw working her way to Faith’s mouth. When she reached Faith’s mouth she kissed her passionately while Faith let her hands roam across her back and side making small figures with her fingertips.
Faith deepened the kiss and tried to lie down but was stopped by Buffy, “Not here,” she moaned into Faith’s mouth, “Home… now…” She pulled Faith up still kissing the brunette and made their way out of the training room.
Just before they entered the shop they stopped kissing each other and just looked the other in the eye and smiled, “Come on,” Faith said and pulled her out of the training room. When they almost reached the door they heard Giles calling to them about a new demon in town. Faith groaned and walked back with Buffy who had an equal look of disbelieve on her face.
They could both feel each other, they both needed… wanted… The need for each other was so bad that it was sending chills down their spines, “Oh!” Anya suddenly yelled and felt weak in her knees, “Wow… what was that? That was… o god.”
“What was what honey?” Xander asked who had taken a hold of Anya before she fell down.
“I just felt…” Anya started to say and then saw the looks on the two slayers' faces, “…never mind.” As Giles started telling them about the new big bad in town she stepped closer to the two slayers, “Have you ever talked to Giles about that?” She whispered.
“About what?” Buffy whispered back.
“About the two of you…” Anya said, “… didn’t you two feel that?”
“What?” Faith asked.
“You two are sending out sex vibes as if it were a hand out…” Anya said, “… and might I add they are really strong…”
“Anya!” Buffy yelled. Everyone looked at Buffy who was now blushing a few shades of red, “… nothing… please go on.” She said and sat down on a chair.
“Could you not talk about this anymore?” Faith whispered.
“Can I be in the room next to you when you two…” Anya was afraid to finish her sentence when Faith glared at her, “Just asking…” She said and moved back next to Xander, “When can we go home I want to have sex…” She whispered.
Xander almost choked in the drink he had and looked at his girlfriend, ‘Never thought I would say this,’ “Not now Anya…”
Anya starting pouting, “You’d better make it up to me tonight!”
“Tonight… yes…” Xander said. He was getting looks from the others and turned to Giles, “Please go on…” He almost pleaded.
“Right so where was I?” Giles asked.
“A thousand year old big bad…” Willow said.
“Yes… uhm… let me see,” Giles said, “Spike told me that the vampires and demons were afraid of someone… or rather something that came to town about a week ago,” he said, “it’s supposedly a thousand year old… probably older.”
“So is it a he… a she… or just an it?”
“It’s a she,” Spike said walking in the room, “A thousand year old she that looks like a 22 year old.”
“How did you… right… sewer system,” Giles said, “where did you get this information from?”
“I still got some friends in the demon world.” All he got was raised brows from the others, “Alright I still got some ‘friends’ who owe me a favour.” Spike said, “Only problem is that nobody seems to know what she looks like.”
“Do you know what she wants?” Willow asked.
“Only thing I know is that she’s looking for something called ‘The One’… Whatever that means.”
“There are so many ‘The One’s’” Anya said, “Back in the days every bad guy or girl was looking for something they called ‘The One’, if it was a chicken, dog, a demon, or a person…”
“That still doesn’t get us anywhere,” Tara said, “… so she’s looking for ‘The One’, all we have to do is find it before she does,” she thought about it for a few moments and then spoke shyly, “If we would actually know what we’re looking for.”
“They say she’s been looking for it for the last 500 years or so,” Spike said, “It’s supposed to make her ‘complete’ or whatever that means.”
“Completion of something is never good,” Buffy stated. Everyone looked at the door when they heard the bell and saw a more than exited Dawn running in, “Hey Dawn… what are you so happy for?”
“I got a letter!” Dawn said waving it in the air, “It’s from Nick.”
“How is he?” Buffy asked.
“He’s doing good, but he misses me… isn’t he cute…” Dawn said and her smile just grew wider.
“Yes he is,” Buffy said and hugged her sister.
“So… what’s the meeting for?”
“Can’t keep a secret from the kid even if you wanted to,” Faith said smiling, “New big bad kiddo,” Faith said and turned her attention to Giles, “So we have to keep our eyes open during patrol tonight…”
“Most definitely.”
“You wanna come kiddo?”
“Buffy?”
“Sure Dawn, only tonight.” Dawn just gave her a smile and sat on the chair next Willow to show her the letter.
“So are we done G-man?” Faith asked.
“Yes we are… but you two are getting back in the training room,” Giles said and got looks from both slayers, “You two weren’t finished with your exercises and were about to run out when I called you back.”
“But…”
“No…”
“I…”
“No…”
“We…”
“Go!” Giles said pointing at the door to the training room. All he got was pouting slayers who didn’t move, “Now!” He yelled and both slayers did as they were told. When they closed the door he just looked at the others, “That was fun.” He said smiling and took some books from the shelf.
“Can we go now?” Anya whined.
“You have to work honey,” Xander said.
“Giles?” Anya whined.
“Please go…” He said with his back still turned to them. Anya grabbed Xander’s hand and pulled him out of the shop.
** Night; Cemetery **
“Dawn behind you!” Buffy yelled to her sister. Dawn was already busy fighting off a vampire and didn’t see the other coming at her.
Just before he hit her Faith staked hem from behind, “You ok kiddo?”
“Yeah, fine… come on there’s more.”
Faith just smirked and attacked another vampire, “You know B… your sister is quite a fighter.”
“She learned that from me.”
“Yeah right… from me.”
“She didn’t!”
“I learned from both of you, now shut up and stake them!” Both slayers raised a brow but did what they were told, ‘Good.’ Dawn thought and continued her attack on the vampire she had been holding. She dodged one hit that was coming towards her but couldn’t dodge the other and he hit her in the face, “Oh…!” she yelled and grabbed her nose, “That hurts!” She said and without a warning plunged the stake through his heart.
The two slayers were busy dealing with two other vampires that they didn’t see the third coming at them. Dawn ran to it and swept his feet out from under him, Faith and Buffy in the mean time had staked ‘their’ vampires and were watching Dawn fight off the third.
“She is good isn’t she?”
“That she is B,” Faith said and sat down on the grass pulling Buffy with her so she could sit between her legs, “It’s kinda like watching a movie.” Faith said.
“Hey! Don’t you do that?” She said pointing at a few kicks Dawn was handing out.
“Oh yeah!” Faith yelled, “Oh look there’s some punches you taught her,” the two slayers looked at each other and smiled, Dawn had indeed learned from both of them. After a few minutes Dawn still hadn’t staked him, “Come on Dawn, hurry up already!” Faith yelled.
“Oh fine, take away the fun will ya!” Dawn yelled back but staked the vampire none the less.
She walked to the two slayers who were standing up, “So you had fun?” Faith asked with a smirk.
“Yeah I did,” Dawn replied excitedly, “… and I’m beginning to get that whole hungry and h…”
Before she could finish that sentence Buffy had placed a hand over her sister’s mouth, “Don’t even try to finish that sentence,” Buffy said, “No sister of mine is gonna talk like that!” Faith could barely hold her laugh and got a punch on her arm from the blonde slayer, “Stop laughing!”
“What’s the big deal?” Dawn asked after Buffy had removed her hand, “I’m still a v…” Again she could not finish the sentence because Buffy had placed a hand over her mouth. The next few seconds nothing but muffled sounds came from Dawn’s mouth and Faith continued laughing.
** Near Willow and Tara’s Dorm Room **
“Hey!” Hannah said, “Willow and Tara right?”
“Hannah… hey…” Willow said and then looked at Tara raising a brow, “So what are you doing out so late?” She asked turning back to Hannah.
“Just walking,” Hannah said, “It’s a beautiful night.”
For some reason Hannah was constantly looking at Tara, Willow put her arm around Tara’s waist and pulled her closer. Tara just raised a brow at this but put her arm around Willow’s waist as well, she quickly spotted the entrance to the building of their dorm, “We have to go in here,” Tara said.
“Alright…” Hannah said, “Maybe I’ll see you two around.”
“Maybe…” Willow said, “Bye…”
“Bye…” Hannah said, ‘Make that a definite seeing you two around,’ she thought as she walked away.
When Willow and Tara finally got in their room Willow plopped on the bed and sighed, “What is it Willow?” Tara asked.
“Nothing,” the redhead replied.
“You’re not sighing for nothing,” Tara said. She plopped next to Willow on the bed and kissed her neck, “What is it?”
“That Hannah,” Willow said. She looked at Tara who just rolled her eyes, “What?”
“I thought you had something important on your mind.”
“And she’s not?” Willow said raising her voice, “Every time we go outside she’s there! Haven’t you noticed that?”
“Calm down darling,” Tara soothed, “I did notice it, but I prefer not paying attention to it.”
“Me too, but it’s getting annoying,” Willow replied and laid on her side facing Tara.
“I know it is,” Tara replied and brushed a few stray hairs from Willow’s face, “… but … could we not think about that now… We’ll deal with it tomorrow ok?”
“Ok… just being paranoid me,” Willow said and laid on her back.
“I like paranoid Willow,” Tara said, “Keeps us alert.”
Willow just smiled and pulled Tara closer for a kiss, “I love you.”
“I love you too Willow.” Tara said and snuggled up to her lover. They closed their eyes and let sleep overcome them.
** Hannah’s Apartment **
“Got any news?”
“Well… Are you sure you want to hear this my lady?” John asked.
“Spill!” Hannah said firmly.
“It seems that we’re dealing with two slayers, maybe three.”
“What!” Hannah screamed, “Of all the places… well not of all places… this *is* the Hellmouth.” Hannah stated, “… but two slayers and maybe three?”
“About the third I’m not too sure,” John said, “She’s good, but she doesn’t come close to the other two and her fighting skills…”
“What about her fighting skills?”
“Well she seemed to be fighting with much more difficulty than the other two for whom it seems natural,” John said, “If you want to make sure you’ll be able to beat them you have to make sure the youngest of the three is out of the way.”
“Why would the youngest be a problem?”
“Because she is starting to have fun in the slaying and when that happens…”
“What the hell are you talking about… be more specific!” Hannah almost yelled.
“There are stories of a natural born slayer who is far more dangerous than the slayers that are called.”
“Oh?”
“Yes my lady,” John said, “The stories say there has been one natural born slayer before. She was also the sister of another slayer.”
“How did she become a full blooded slayer?”
“She had fun in what she was doing…” John said, “That’s all I know, there aren’t that many specifics about it.”
“Then we have to make sure that she doesn’t *want* to have fun in it.”
“How are you planning to do that my lady?”
“I could let her get bitten, or I could do something else… I’ll let you know,” Hannah replied bored, but then she smiled when she remembered something, “Go to your room, there’s a surprise waiting for you there.” She said smirking, “Have fun Johnny!”
John took a small bow and walked to his room. He opened the door and saw a woman laying on his bed, she was barely in her twenties, “Young blood,” he said, ‘My lady… you have no idea how much I love you,’ he thought and smiled, “Hello miss… care to have some fun?” He said and morphed in to his game face.
Back in her room Hannah was having the time of her life when she heard the young girl scream. She already had pleasure in giving this girl to John for his work, but it gave her more pleasure because she knew that he had earned it… after all… he had given her most valuable information.
** Spain; 1497 **
“Please don’t go!” a young man said to his girlfriend.
“I have to go,” the young woman replied to her boyfriend. “I have to meet someone.” ‘And save the world.’ She added in her mind. If only he could know who she was, it would make her life easier. She knew she couldn’t tell him because it would endanger him and she didn’t want that to happen.
“Cecile please be careful out there,” the man said and kissed her. He knew when Cecile made up her mind there was no stopping the young girl. She was only 22 years old and she would be doing the craziest stuff at the craziest time and now her sister was going with her.
“Angela, you ready to go?” Cecile asked her sister.
“Yeah,” Angela replied. She knew her sister was a slayer and since she had found out about it on her 16th birthday she insisted on going along to help her. She had almost begged and pleaded Cecile to teach her how to kill them and she was beginning to enjoy it more and more. Now she was 18 and she was going to help her sister save the world.
** Present; Hannah’s Apartment **
“Did you have fun?” Hannah asked smiling when John entered her room.
“Very much so,” John replied smirking. “Thank you again.”
“Don’t mention it,” Hannah said. “Maybe if you do your job again tonight I’ll get another surprise for you,” she said and made small circles with her fingertips just above her breasts.
“My lady?” John questioned, but still licked his lips when she stood up and moved closer to him.
“I know how you’ve been looking at me Johnny,” Hannah said. “If you do your job … You can have that tongue do better things than licking your lips,” John only smirked when Hannah told him that. “Tonight I want you to watch the two witches and make sure the blonde doesn’t get hurt.”
“Can I ask why my lady?”
“Of course you can,” Hannah replied. “She’s the one who’s going to make me complete.” John only smirked and took a small bow and left the room, “And if you did your job good *I* can have a little fun too.” She whispered to herself. She stepped in to the bathroom and decided to have a very, very long bath.
** Summers Home **
“Your sister is quite funny B,” Faith said smirking. She knew it was a bad thing to say when Buffy just woke up, but she still did it and found it quite amusing.
“It’s not funny!” Buffy said. “She’s 16!”
“But she’ll be 17 in four weeks,” Faith said. “Hey! Weren’t you 17 when you and Angel…”
“Don’t finish that sentence!” Buffy said putting a hand over Faith’s mouth. “Yes, I did but that doesn’t mean she should follow my example,” Buffy finished pouting.
The next she knew Faith was laying half on top of her and kissing her forehead, “I know B, but she’s gonna do it eventually.”
“Can’t she wait ‘till I’m old and wrinkly?”
Faith just started laughing and hugged the blonde. “We’ll make sure she doesn’t ‘jump in to things’ and besides you’re her sister, she’ll be asking you for advice anyway.”
“No, she’s gonna go to mom for advice not me… right?” Buffy said having a look of fear on her face.
“Are you kidding? Going to your mother for stuff like that… did you?”
“Well not exactly…”
“See!”
“Yeah but…”
“No B, she’s gonna ask you whether you like it or not,” Faith said. “Or you could just send her to me and I’ll talk to her.”
“No!” Buffy said. “If she has to talk fine, but don’t think I’m happy about it.”
“I didn’t say that B, now shut up so I can kiss you,” Faith said and kissed Buffy passionately. After a few seconds Buffy broke the kiss pushing up a little, “What?”
“Not here,” Buffy said breathing heavily.
“Where?”
“Not while mom and Dawn are in the house,” Buffy said. “I’ve got other plans.”
“Plans?” Faith questioned. “Good plans I hope.”
“Very good plans,” Buffy said and pulled Faith down for another kiss. “But now… we have to go to class.”
“Can’t we skip it?”
“Faith this is not high school!” Buffy said giggling. Faith just groaned and got up from the bed, “It’s Friday… we only have 4 classes today and then we have training at the shop.”
“Right forgot about that,” Faith said. Buffy suddenly stood in front of Faith waving her hand in front of her face. “Knock it B!” Faith said. “I’m still here… just thinking about something.”
“What?”
“The perfect birthday present for your sister,” Faith replied. She got a raised brow and quizzical look on her face from Buffy. “…trust me, she’ll love it. I’ll explain later.”
** Willow and Tara’s Dorm Room **
Willow woke up to see a blonde haired witch snuggled up against her and smiled. Tara had always a peaceful look on her face as she slept. Willow tried to get up without waking the blonde, but that didn’t work. “Good morning sleepyhead,” Willow said and kissed her lover.
“Hmm good morning,” Tara replied and pulled the redhead closer for another more passionate kiss. “I like waking up like this.”
“Me too,” Willow said and then she noticed something and looked at the door. “What the hell are you doing here?” Willow yelled and pulled the covers up to her chin.
“I’m sorry,” Hannah said. “I… didn’t know this was your room.” She lied. She knew damn well that this was their room, but didn’t show her emotions. “I… I was looking for my niece.”
“What are you still doing here?” Now it was Tara’s turn to speak up, which caught Willow and Hannah by surprise. “Well?”
“I’m sorry… I’ll go.”
“Good!” Willow said and saw the blonde close the door. “Great, that’s just great!”
“I’m not liking this.”
“Me neither baby,” Willow said. “This isn’t funny anymore, we should talk to Buffy.”
“For what?”
“I’m not staying here anymore!” Willow said. “What if she ‘visits’ more often and how the hell did she get in here in the first place?”
“I locked the door last night,” Tara said and got up to look at the door. “She didn’t force her way in here.”
“Are you sure you locked the door?”
“Yes, I am.” Tara said a little angrily.
“I’m sorry,” Willow apologised. “It’s just that… how did she get in here then?”
“I don’t know honey,” Tara replied. “But I’m thinking you might be right on the not staying here anymore part.”
** Two Weeks Later; Magic Box **
Although Willow and Tara had said they would stay somewhere else, they decided not to let themselves be intimidated by the blonde woman, and decided to stay at the dorm. Willow and Tara didn’t see her in the last two weeks – not in the streets or anywhere else.
“So what’s the news about the new big bad?” Buffy asked Giles.
“Nothing I’m afraid,” Giles said. “I haven’t heard anything about her. Spike didn’t come up with any information either.”
“That’s a bummer,” Anya stated.
“Yes it is I need a good slay,” Faith said smirking. “Ok, since Dawn isn’t here yet I know it’s two weeks until her birthday. Everyone knows the plan right?” Everyone nodded. “Good, coz we’re gonna make this the best birthday she’s ever had.”
“I can’t believe you’re doing this for my sister,” Buffy said taking Faith’s hand in her own.
“Yeah well… the kiddo is kinda my sister too,” Faith said giving a sheepish grin. “I love her, it’s no biggie.”
“Yes it is,” Buffy said. “This will mean a lot to her.”
“I know that, that’s why I’m doing it.” Faith said.
“So!” Anya yelled. “Did you two… ya know…”
“Anya!” Buffy and Faith yelled. Everyone except Anya turned bright red. “Could you stop talking…” Buffy said and looked at Giles. “We have to talk,” Giles raised a brow and was about to protest. “Not about that! Get your mind out of the gutter will ya!”
“It’s about something else,” Faith said and glared at Anya, “First another thing… Willow, Tara… did she visit you two again?”
“No she hasn’t,” Tara replied.
Faith was looking at Willow who was getting angrier by the second, “Willow… breathe…”
“I am breathing,” Willow growled.
Faith grabbed Willow by her shoulder, “Calm breathing… not ‘I’m going to kill someone’ breathing… breathe…” She said again.
“Fine I’m breathing…” Willow said and calmed down a bit. “Thanks.” She whispered to Faith.
“No problem,” Faith said. She turned around and saw Hannah standing behind Buffy, she was about to say something to the blonde slayer, but Buffy had already noticed her standing there and turned around. “What are you doing here? And who are you?” She asked the girl standing next to her.
“I’m her niece… the one she was looking for yesterday,” the dark haired girl replied.
“Now you believe me?” Hannah asked. “Look I came here to apologise.”
“I kinda wrote down the wrong number,” the girl next to Hannah said. “It was my fault and I’m sorry if you two were embarrassed or something. I’m Emma by the way.”
“Nice to meet you,” Giles said trying to calm down the rest. He knew the two slayers were on alert every time Hannah was close to them. He respected them for protecting their friends, but sometimes they could go a little overboard. “Buffy, Faith…”
“What?” Faith asked never taking her eyes off of Hannah.
“Training room…” Giles said. Neither of them moved. “Now!” Giles said raising his voice. Both slayers walked to the training room and had a look of ‘kicked puppy’ written all over their faces.
“We would like to offer you a drink to apologise again for causing you two troubles,” Hannah offered. Willow and Tara looked at Giles who just nodded, but had a look of ‘be careful’ in his eyes. The two witches got up and left the shop with Hannah and Emma.
** Training Room **
“What is it that you wanted to talk to me about?” Giles asked walking in the training room.
“This,” Buffy said lifting up her shirt showing her stomach. Faith lifted up her shirt as well and showed her stomach.
“What’s so special about a scar … that isn’t there anymore?” Giles said and looked closer. “Wow that is…”
“That’s what we wanted to talk to you about,” Faith said. “Where is it?”
“I don’t know,” Giles replied. “When did this happen?”
“Yesterday,” Buffy said. “I woke up looked in the mirror and it was gone. So I pulled up Faith’s shirt and hers was gone too.”
“Most interesting,” Giles said. “That’s not all is it?”
“We uhm kinda… can read each others thoughts…”
“When did that happen?”
“During that whole hospital thing with Joshua.”
“But we haven’t been able to do that since then,” Buffy added.
“That’s interesting… is there more?”
“Well… We… uhm… remember you called us back a few weeks back and Anya did that whole spinning thingy?” Buffy asked.
“Yes…”
“Well we… we kinda…”
“We were on our way out to have sex for the first time,” Faith blurted out but immediately blushed ten different shades of red followed by Buffy.
“Well, that’s… uhm… interesting,” Giles said taking off his glasses, cleaning them and putting them back on. “I’ll see if I can find something about it in the Watcher’s Diary’s,” Giles said. “I’m not sure if I can find anything, there never have been two slayers alive together, and especially not involved like you two.”
“Yeah well, there’s a first for everything,” Faith said. “So you’ll check it out and we’re gonna go get something to eat and then patrol.” Faith said pulling Buffy out of the training room, “Should we bring Dawn along?”
“Sure, she seemed to be having fun the last time,” Buffy replied. “Oh wait… mom is home… so we kinda have to ask her first.”
** Cemetery **
“You are so lucky sis,” Buffy said as she, Faith and Dawn walked through the cemetery. “I can’t believe you actually got mom to let you go with us.”
“Well I kinda told her that if anything happened to me that you two agreed to being grounded for a month.”
“You what?!” Buffy and Faith yelled.
“Chill!” Dawn said laughing. “Just kidding.”
“Oh you little…” Buffy started to say and threw her sister on the ground and started tickling her. Faith was soon helping her.
“Uhm guys, stop for a few seconds,” Dawn said through her laughter and they did. “Remember those fanged guys we have to slay… two of them right behind you!”
Both slayers swept the vampires off of their feet and staked them. “Now where were we,” Buffy said coming towards Dawn again. Dawn did nothing but point behind them. They turned around and saw four other vampires coming at them. “Ah man! They always spoil the fun.”
“Fight now, complain later!” Faith said attacking two of the vampires. Buffy and Dawn took on the other two. Buffy had hers easily dusted and went to Faith to help her with the other two. Dawn in the meantime was having the time of her life, she was kicking and pushing the vamp in his stomach and smiled when she could see he was in tremendous pain.
Buffy kicked ‘her’ vampire in the face and he fell down. He quickly got up and swept Buffy’s feet from under her and jumped on top of her grabbing her by the throat. Faith noticed this and got angry… she quickly dusted her vamp and kicked the vampire that was on top of Buffy sending him flying a few feet.
He quickly recovered and ran towards the two slayers again. He attacked Faith knocking Buffy down whom quickly got up and pulled him off of Faith. “I got him, stake him!” Buffy yelled and Faith plunged the stake through the vampire heart and watched it turn to dust. “Dawn you ok?”
“I’m fine,” Dawn yelled back, she was still fighting the same vampire. “But you’d better watch out!” Dawn yelled again. Buffy and Faith turned around to see two more vampires coming at them. They attacked them while Dawn was busy using hers as a toy.
“Come on, is that all you got?” Dawn said smirking. She punched the vampire in his face and swept his feet from under him knocking him down hard. “You really are weak, I can understand why Faith has so much fun in this.”
“The fun hasn’t even begun,” a voice said from behind her. Another vampire had come out of nowhere and grabbed Dawn by the neck and pulled her off of the other vampires. “Go!” He yelled at him and saw the vampire leave.
“Le me go!” Dawn screamed. Buffy and Faith looked back to see a vampire grabbing Dawn. They couldn’t get to her because three other vampires had showed up out of nowhere and were attacking them, “Let me go!” they heard Dawn scream again.
Faith began punching the vampires really hard knocking them down. She was cursing herself for not staking them fast enough. She staked two of them and was fighting of another one. Buffy in the meantime had also staked two of them and was fighting off the third one. It didn’t take long before she dusted it and saw Faith doing the same to the last vampire.
Buffy turned around only to see the vampire holding Dawn sink his teeth in her neck.
“Dawn!”
“Dawn! No!” Buffy was screaming at the top of her lungs and trying to get to her sister as fast as she could. Buffy was the first to run towards her sister, but Faith sprinted past her and staked the vampire from behind and catching Dawn in the progress.
“Get a car!” Faith yelled to Buffy.
“Where?”
“Just get one! Steal one… I don’t care… just get one… there!” Faith said and pointed at a car that was standing at the opening of the cemetery. As soon as Buffy was running to the car the brunette picked up Dawn and ran after her as fast as she could.
** Sunnydale Hospital **
Buffy and Faith were sitting in the waiting room across from each other -- both afraid to say anything. In their minds they had failed each other and they had failed Dawn by letting her get bit. Buffy was angry that Faith didn’t let her get to her sister. Faith was upset by the thought she might lose the only person closer to her than any of the others had ever been with the exception of Buffy and Joyce.
Dawn was the first person Faith could call family. Ever since Faith first came to Sunnydale she and the kid had bonded immediately. When Faith was still sided with the mayor, Dawn would sneak out and visit Faith at the apartment that mayor Wilkins had given to Faith. They would play with the playstation he had given her. Dawn didn’t seem to care what or why Faith was doing what she did and Faith just enjoyed the company.
The slayer’s sister was the only reason she had turned herself in when she was in LA. Now Dawn was hurt she didn’t know what to do. The only reason she was still in the hospital and not out drowning and dancing her sorrows away was because of Buffy. They needed each other but neither made any steps forward in doing so. They just sat there across from each other, knees brought up to their chest softly crying for what had happened.
** Spain; 1497 **
Cecile and Angela had entered an old building where they were supposed to meet a guy that was going to give them some information about some Master Vampire that was supposedly over 150 years old. He wasn’t that old but according to some vampires and people that had crossed him and survived, he was one of the strongest that had roamed the earth.
Cecile and her sister were the only ones that were strong enough to come close of stopping this vampire, that called himself ‘Regla De Muerte’ or ‘Bringer De Muerte,’ roughly translated as ‘Ruler of Death’ or ‘Bringer of Death.’ Nobody actually called him that; they just choose to call him Araña because of his fixation on spiders.
“What can you tell us?” Cecile asked the informant.
“If I do this and he finds out I’ll be dead,” he replied.
“If you don’t tell us you’ll be dead too,” Cecile replied. “Except with us… you’ll die a slow death. We’ll torture you until you beg us to stake you and then we just let you heal and we’ll start all over again,” Cecile added. “Now… what do you know?”
The informant thought about this for a few seconds, “He’s looking for someone called ‘El asesino natural nacido,” he said. “A slayer, a natural born slayer.”
“Well tell him he’s found her,” Cecile said.
“No not you darling,” the next thing he knew was having a burning cheek. “Don’t do that again and you can just torture me and I won’t tell a thing.”
“Who?”
“It’s not you if you’re wondering,” the vampire said. “It’s a natural born slayer, not a called slayer. This slayer is much stronger than the ‘called’ slayer, when a slayer is called they get trained by a watcher and that’s when their real strength shows. The natural born slayer has been known to get trained by a watcher but her real power never surfaces for one simple reason.”
“What?” Angela asked.
“They’re not having fun.”
“It isn’t fun to just slay vampires! They’re dangerous and can get you killed.”
“That’s exactly the reason you’re not a natural born slayer.”
Cecile had enough, she punched him in the face and then staked him. “Cecile what did you do?” Angela yelled. “Now how are we supposed to find Araña?”
“I got tired of him,” Cecile replied. “Don’t worry sis, we’ll find him and then we’ll kill him.”
** Hannah’s Apartment; Present Day **
“Well that was fun,” Hannah said smirking. “He didn’t kill the girl did he?”
“Of course not my lady, but he did get staked though.”
“I don’t care about that… if he had killed the girl I would have staked him myself.” Hannah said angrily. “Don’t worry, you did great… hungry?” She asked and moved away from her bed revealing a blonde girl laying on it. John licked his lips. “I guess you are…” She said. “Go ahead, she’s all yours… not too messy please.”
“Of course not my lady,” John said and morphed into his vamp face. He walked up to the young girl and sank his teeth in her neck and began feeding. Hannah sat on a chair and very much enjoyed seeing John fed off the girl. She stood up from the chair and walked up to the bed laying on her side next to the young girl.
“Johnny…” Hannah called out his name sensually. “Give me some.” John grabbed her hand and entwined their fingers. He drank the last bit of the girl’s blood without swallowing and turned to Hannah, she kissed him hard and drank the blood from his mouth. She kept kissing him and pulled away after a few seconds, “Hmmm,” she said licking drops of blood from her lips. “She was young, the younger they are the better they taste.”
“That they do my lady,” John said licking his own lips.
Hannah pushed the dead girl off of her bed and pulled John closer kissing him hard, ‘This is going to be a very, very good night.’ She thought while she removed her clothes as did John.
** Sunnydale Hospital **
Both slayers were still sobbing softly when Tara and Willow entered the hospital. Right after Buffy and Faith brought Dawn in they had called them and asking them to come to the hospital. Both witches looked confused at the slayers, they were surprised that they didn’t found them together but each on the other side of the waiting room.
Willow then walked up the blonde slayer taking her in her arms and gently rocking them both back and forth. Tara walked up to Faith and kneeled beside her not sure what to do, she didn’t know if the dark haired slayer would appreciate it if she took the brunette in her arms. She put a hand on Faith’s shoulder and the next thing she knew, Tara was indeed holding the brunette slayer and rocked her gently back and forth.
“Shh… it’s ok… it’s gonna be ok,” Tara said trying to calm the brunette. “She’s going to be fine.”
“I couldn’t protect her… I got mad at B… I couldn’t protect her…” Faith said through her sobs.
“If you didn’t protect her she would be dead Faith,” Tara said. Faith kept crying and Tara held her close caressing her back trying to calm her down. When she looked at Willow she saw she was doing the same with Buffy, she thought that the blonde must be feeling terrible.
“Miss Summers?”
Willow helped Buffy up and walked to the nurse followed by Faith and Tara, “Yes?” Willow said to the doctor.
“Miss Summers?”
“This is her,” Willow said looking at Buffy. “You can tell me whatever it is.”
“How is my sister?” Buffy suddenly asked snapping her head up.
“She is still unconscious from the blood loss,” the doctor replied. “Do you have any idea how this happened?”
“No we don’t,” Buffy lied. “We found her like this.”
“There are two little holes in her neck… do you happen to know how that could have happened?”
“No we don’t,” Buffy lied again. “Can I see her.”
“Not right now,” the doctor replied.
Buffy suddenly grabbed the doctor by the collar, “Where is she? I want to see her!” She yelled.
The blonde slayer had knocked down Willow in the progress who was now being helped up by Tara. Faith grabbed Buffy’s arm and pulled her away from the doctor. “B!” Faith yelled. She placed her hands on the sides of Buffy’s head caressing the tear stained cheeks with her thumbs.
She rested her forehead against Buffy’s, “Don’t do this B, you’re not helping her by knocking Willow down and going all crazy on the doctor,” Faith whispered. Buffy didn’t say anything and Faith just held her close letting the blonde slayer cry on her shoulder.
“I’ll come back when you can see her.”
“Thank you doctor,” Willow said. She looked at the two slayers who were just holding each other and letting the tears flow freely down their cheeks.
** Three hours later **
“Excuse me Miss Summers?”
“Yes?” Buffy replied to the doctor.
“You can visit your sister now,” he said. “Follow me.”
Buffy looked at Faith, she knew the brunette wanted to come too she was about to open her mouth when Faith stopped her. “Go,” she simply said. “I’ll go in later.”
Buffy followed the doctor to Dawn’s room, “I’m sorry about earlier… I didn’t mean to…”
“It’s ok,” the doctor replied. “You’re not the first one to react that way.”
“Is she awake?”
“Sometimes… she goes in and out… her body needs the rest,” the doctor replied. “She has lost a lot of blood.”
“Thank you,” Buffy said and walked in the room. She saw her sister was awake but crying silently, “Dawn…”
“B-Buffy?” Dawn questioned.
“It’s me.”
“He bit me Buffy… he bit me,” Dawn said and started crying harder.
Buffy was immediately at her sister’s side and took her hand. “Shh… it’s ok, it’s not your fault. You didn’t see him coming,” Buffy tried to soothe the young girl.
“Did he… did he take a lot?”
“Half…” Buffy replied.
Dawn started crying again and looked at her sister. “I’m not going on patrol any (no is incorrect) more. I’m not going to help you guys out, and I’m not going to fight anymore ever,” she said with the most sincere voice Buffy had ever heard from her sister.
“Shh… you don’t have to if you don’t want to,” Buffy said and kissed her sister’s forehead. Buffy knew her sister would be scared, but she never expected this. Dawn was beginning to have fun in the slaying and she was getting better every day and now she gave it all up because a vampire had bit her. ‘I guess almost dying does that to you,’ Buffy thought and looked at her sister again who was now sleeping. “Sleep well sis,” Buffy said and kissed her forehead one more time before leaving the room.
** Near Willow and Tara’s Dorm Room **
Willow and Tara were going home after a draining 5 hours in the hospital. They had made sure Buffy and Faith were ok and then left to get some sleep of their own, “Hey! What’s with the down faces?”
Willow and Tara looked at each other and sighed, “Hello Hannah,” Willow said, “…remember that little kid you found in the bathroom?”
“Yeah what about her?” She asked already knowing the answer.
“She’s in the hospital,” Tara said, “Somehow she lost a lot of blood.”
“Oh, I’m sorry…” Hannah had to keep herself from smirking but on the inside she was laughing, “But I would just like to thank you for giving me another chance and apologise.”
“Sure.”
“Would you like to come to my apartment for a few drinks?”
“No… we’re really tired, we’ve been in the hospital for over 5 hours,” Willow said, “We really want to go to sleep.”
“Ok sure…” Hannah replied a little disappointed.
“I’m really sorry, maybe another time.” Tara said.
“Sure…”
Willow knew Tara was going to kick her butt for this if she hadn’t done it herself first, “We could meet up tomorrow.”
“Oh yes!” Hannah replied enthusiastically, “I would like that.”
“Noon?”
“Sure,” Hanna replied, “Ok I’ll see you then at your dorm room?”
“Yeah sure.” Willow replied, “Ok we really need to go now,” ‘Coz I’m gonna be yelled at.’ She added in her mind.
“Sure, see you two tomorrow.” Hannah said and walked away.
The rest of the way Tara never said a thing to Willow. When they arrived at the dorm she was afraid Tara would get mad but the storm never came, only calm talking, “It’s good that you want to meet up after she looked so disappointed, but next time could you please ask before doing something like that?” Tara asked calmly.
“I’m sorry, it’s just that she looked so disappointed.”
“I know…” Tara said, “If you hadn’t said anything I would have.”
“You would?” Willow questioned, “I thought you were mad at me for doing that.”
“I could never be mad at you Willow,” Tara said, “I thought you were mad at me for not saying anything to her.”
“No!” Willow said, “How could I be mad at you for that?”
“I don’t know…”
“Let’s not think about it anymore,” Willow said, “Let’s go to bed.” They both got in their pj’s and got under the covers. Tara snuggled against Willow who lifted her chin and gave her a passionate kiss which she was glad to return, “Goodnight baby.”
“Goodnight, sweetie.” Tara replied and closed her eyes as did Willow. They soon drifted off in a dreamless sleep.
** Sunnydale Hospital **
“Where is she?” Joyce said calmly but with a hint of anger in her voice. She was burning with rage inside but didn’t show it. She would yell at Buffy and Faith later, right now her baby needed her more.
“In there,” Buffy with a small voice. She pointed at a door and Joyce went inside, the blonde slayer stood up and tried to follow her mother in but Joyce closed the door in front of her, “Mom?” She whispered. Tears started to fall from her eyes again when she felt two arms encircling her from behind, “Faith… why did she…”
“She’s upset and confused.” Faith said and kissed the back of Buffy’s head, “Don’t worry, give her time.”
“She doesn’t have to worry about it anymore,” Buffy said and walked away from Faith’s embrace and sat on a chair.
“What do you mean B?”
“Dawn… she gave up, she doesn’t want to fight anymore.” Buffy replied.
“That’s good,” Faith said, “She didn’t even have to in the first place.”
“I know, but she wanted to.”
“That she did,” Faith said, “We can handle it on our own B… your sister doesn’t need to help us.”
“I know,” Buffy said. “It’s just that … she seemed to like it a lot and I liked having my sister there with me,” Faith walked in front of her and kissed the top of her head. Buffy pulled the younger girl on her lap and kissed her.
“I know B, I liked having her there too."
“I’m sorry about earlier,” Buffy said. “I love you.”
“Don’t be sorry… we were both acting crazy,” Faith said, “And I love you too.”
** Spain; 1497 **
“Cecile…” Angela whispered. She pointed towards something and said, “Araña…”
“I see him sis,” Cecile replied, “But not now, I’ll let someone look out for him. I’ve got another question for you… what do you think about that natural born slayer?”
Angela let that question sink in her mind as she and Cecile walked back to the house they were staying at, “I don’t know… maybe it is true what he was saying,” Angela replied, “Otherwise Araña wouldn’t be looking for her.”
“That’s true, if he truly believes in something he doesn’t give up until he finds it.”
“I wonder who it could be.”
“I don’t know Angela…” Cecile replied, “I really don’t know.”
** Sunnydale Hospital **
“Buffy, Faith could you two come here for a second.” The two slayers walked over to Joyce with their gazes fixed on the floor; it was almost as if they had lost their free will and couldn’t face her, even if they wanted to. “Look at me.”
‘Great… now I do have to look at her… tears can flow freely now.’ Buffy looked up at her mother but she was surprised when she didn’t see a hateful look on her face or a face filled with anger.
“Dawn told me what happened,” Joyce said, “I wanted to say thank you to the both of you for not letting her get killed.”
“Mom?”
“There’s no need for thanking me Mrs. S,” Faith said, “If I had paid better attention then she wouldn’t have gotten got bitten in the first place.”
“Yes, but you were there to make sure she didn’t get killed,” Joyce replied, “She survived, don’t beat yourself up for it.” Buffy almost ran in her mother’s arms and hugged her, Joyce returned the hug and held out an arm for Faith. The brunette slayer was reluctant at first not sure how to react but when Joyce gave her ‘it’s ok’ smile she also hugged Joyce.
Joyce was just standing there with two girls in her arms, the blonde was one of her two real daughters and the brunette she began to see like a real daughter. She kissed both girls on the top of their heads and walked to Dawn’s room with them.
** Willow and Tara’s Dorm Room **
“Tara baby wake up…” Willow said placing kisses all over Tara’s face.
“Hmm, yeah I’m awake,” Tara replied.
“Then open your eyes love…”
“That means I have to wake up for real.”
“Well yeah… Hannah’s gonna be here in two hours,” Willow said, when she heard Tara groan she couldn’t help it but giggle, “I know… next time I’ll be more careful with what I say… how ‘bout a shower to make it up to you…” Willow said wriggling her brows. Tara’s eyes shot open and had her ‘special Willow smile’ on, “I’ll take that as a yes…”
“Oh yes…” Tara replied. They got up and went to the bathroom as fast as they could, that was one of the best things of having a singles dorm room… you get your own bathroom.
After 45 minutes two satisfied witches came out of the bathroom. Willow looked at the clock and groaned, “Still got an hour of nothing to do.”
“How about we try some spells?” Tara said, “Actual spells this time… not… you know…” Tara added blushing head to toe.
“We can do that…” Willow said placing butterfly kisses on Tara’s neck. “Real spells…”
** One Hour Later **
Both witches got up from the floor as they heard a knock on the door. While they were doing spells they somehow ended up laying snuggled up together on the floor in comfortable silence for the last 20 minutes, “Who is it?” Willow asked.
“It’s me Hannah.”
Willow shot Tara a ‘here goes’ look and opened the door, “Hey Hannah, let me just get our jackets,” Hannah smiled at Willow and then looked at Tara who was following every movement her lover was making, “You ready?” Willow asked when she walked back.
“Yeah, come on…” Hannah said, “… I know this great place just outside Sunnydale for lunch.”
“How are we supposed to get there?” Willow asked.
Hannah was fumbling through her purse and didn’t hear what Willow said, “Oh shoot!” She cursed, “Damn… I forgot something at home. Could we go there with my car and then to lunch?”
“Ok that answer my previous question.”
“What?”
“How we were going to get at that place you know.”
“Oh yes… with my car of course.”
“Ok let’s go then… I’m getting hungry.”
** Hannah’s Apartment **
“Wow… this is… wow…” Willow said as she walked in Hannah’s apartment.
“I agree with that wow…” Tara said looking around.
“It’s nothing…” Hannah shrugged.
“It’s nothing?” Willow questioned, “Look at this place… it’s got everything a person can wish for!” Willow looked around, it had absolutely everything you could wish for, television… dvd… video… CD-players as in multiple CD-players…, “Wow… where did you get all…” She stopped talking when she noticed something in the corner of the room, “Oh god… where did you get all of this?”
“I bought it…” Hannah said sarcastically as Willow almost ran towards the computer in the corner. It was one of the newest models, it was barely out, “Go ahead…” Hannah said. Willow’s face lit up as if she had just won a million dollars. Tara could only smile as she watched her lover’s joy and she walked up behind her looking at what her lover was doing.
Hannah looked at a door opening and motioned for the vampire that was coming through it to stop. She looked at the two witches and made sure they weren’t watching and then motioned John to come in the room quietly, he did what he was told and walked up to Hannah.
Both of them quietly moved forward and Hannah gave John a cloth with chloroform on it. He stood behind the two witches, but they noticed it too late. John grabbed Tara from behind and Hannah grabbed Willow placing the cloth over the witches’ mouths.
Hannah and John only smiled when the witches tried to break free from their grip. After a few seconds they felt the two giving up the fight and the next they were holding the limp bodies of two witches.
** Sunnydale Hospital **
The two slayers were cuddled up on a chair sleeping when Joyce entered Dawn’s hospital room again. She took a moment to look at them smiling about how ‘cute’ they looked and how they had managed to squeeze in the chair together and be comfortable, although it was a comfortable and pretty large chair and you could almost call it a settee, she still couldn’t quite figure it out.
Faith was sitting sideways with her legs over the armrest and her head leaning against the back of the chair. Buffy was sitting on top of Faith and was resting her upper body against the brunette’s and her head resting against Faith’s shoulder. Buffy’s hand was unconsciously placed over the place where the scar used to be.
Joyce had noticed this a few times before when she caught them taking a nap on the couch or if she would go in the room to say goodnight and they were already sleeping. Buffy always unconsciously placed her hand over Faith’s scar, or rather, the place where it used to be.
Joyce grabbed a blanket and put it over the two slayers trying not to wake them up, she was surprised when it actually didn’t wake them up but she thanked whoever it was that kept them asleep… after all they’d been through with Dawn… they needed the rest.
** Two Hours Later **
Buffy opened her eyes and noticed the blanket over her and Faith, she looked at the brunette slayer and gently woke her up, “Hey,” she whispered at the younger girl.
“Hey…” Faith whispered back.
Buffy gave the brunette a kiss but got interrupted by a weakened voice that was trying to be funny, “Hey! No kissing in front of the sick!” Dawn said and looked at the two slayers with a smile, “Don’t talk too loud… mom’s asleep in the other big ‘almost comfortable for two’ chair.” Dawn added pointed to the other side of the room.
Buffy stood up from Faith’s lap and brought the blanket over to her mother and covered her with it. She kissed her mother’s forehead and walked to Dawn, “How are you doing?” She whispered.
“I got a big headache and my neck is hurting like hell… other than that?” Dawn questioned, “Normal for a person who lost half of her blood.”
“Did I mention the sorry part?”
“I know… just teasing,” Dawn said, “None of us saw him coming.” Faith was about to protest about something when Dawn stopped her, “And no you didn’t sense him… if Buffy never sensed him you didn’t either.”
“How can you tell?”
“Because you two were too busy fighting for your lives to sense him,” Dawn said, “The only thing I’m bummed about is that this happened a week before my birthday…”
“Oh you’ll be hopping around again when that happens kiddo,” Faith said and started laughing. The thought of Dawn hopping around was too funny, not to mention it would drive Anya crazy… after all hopping was something rabbits do…
** Hannah’s Apartment **
When Willow woke up again the first thing she noticed was that she was tied to a chair, the second thing she noticed was that Tara was having the same problem in the chair next to her, only she was still asleep. And for the vision Willow saw next she was glad her love was still asleep.
Hannah and John were in bed… having sex… with another girl… John looked back and smiled wickedly at the redhead. He morphed into his game face and sunk his teeth in the poor girl’s neck, Willow closed her eyes when she heard Hannah laugh and tried to block out the sound with no luck.
“Willow…”
Willow looked to her side when she heard the voice of her girlfriend, “Tara… are you ok?” Tara nodded and smiled a little.
“No talking…” Hannah said and stood up from the bed still naked. She grabbed the robe that was hanging over the chair and put it on, “You two can’t talk… I’m the only one who’s gonna talk.”
“Why are you doing this?” Willow asked angrily as her eyes began to turn black.
“Oh… you’re not gonna try to be all dark on me now are you?” Hannah said in a mocking tone, “It won’t help witch… yeah I know you’re a witch and I know Tara is one too… and I also made sure that no one can cast a spell within these walls… so don’t even try it unless you want to die.”
“What do you want?” Willow asked while her eyes turned back to her normal green ones.
“And didn’t I say *I* was the one who was gonna do the talking?” With that she punched the redhead in her face.
“Willow!” Tara screamed as Hannah knocked her lover unconscious.
** Hannah’s Apartment **
“Would you just look at those two…” Hannah said to John, “It’s kinda sad though… one of ‘em is gonna die and the other will complete me and has to live with the thought I killed her lover.”
“What do you mean complete?” Tara asked.
“Well your sleeping beauty over there is gonna die…” Hannah said, “… and you’re gonna make me complete.”
“What?” Tara questioned, “What are you talking about.”
“I’ve been looking for ‘The One’ for over 500 years now,” Hannah said, “Remember the time I shook your hand and suddenly had to go? That’s when I found you, that’s when I knew you were ‘The One’."
“How old?”
“How old I am?” Hannah said, “Tomorrow I’ll be 2000,” Hannah smiled when Tara gasped, “Yes I am 2000 years old tomorrow and that will be the only chance I have to make me complete.”
“H-how?”
“Simple… we have to make love.”
“I’ll never… Willow is the one with whom my heart belongs.”
“Oh yes… I figured that out before,” Hannah said, “… but clearly you have no choice…"
** Sunnydale Hospital **
“Mom?”
“Yes honey?”
“Did you see Tara and Willow stop by?” Buffy asked, “They were going to meet Faith and me here and we were supposed to go out.”
“I haven’t seen them.”
“What’s wrong B?” Faith asked.
“I don’t know, they’re usually never late.”
“They’re probably at the dorm giving each other…” When Faith saw the faces of Dawn, Buffy and Joyce she decided that whatever would come out her mouth wasn’t going to be good, “… They’re probably just at the dorm.”
“It’s still strange,” Buffy said, “… even if they were distracted… they would call to say they were coming.”
“What was the last thing they were going to do?”
“They were gonna have lunch with… Hannah!”
“Ok… Joyce… we gotta go,” Faith said and stood up from the chair almost knocking down Buffy who was sitting in her lap, “See ya kiddo…”
“Let’s check the dorm first,” Buffy said, “… and did I forgot to mention we have no idea where Hannah lives…”
“We’ll find out… and if she is going to hurt them…”
“Come on,” Buffy said and pulled Faith out of the room.
** Spain; 1497 **
“Well if it isn’t the slayer and her sister.”
“Araña!” Cecile and Angela said at the same time and turned around.
“You got that right.”
“I’m gonna have so much fun in killing you,” Angela said and took a fighting position.
Araña’s eyes went wide when he heard her say that, “You’re El asesino natural nacido! The natural born slayer!”
“Are you nuts?” Angela questioned, “I’m not that… I just have fun in doing it, I’m no natural whatever it is you call me.”
“Oh but you are,” Araña said smirking, “I’m just glad you haven’t figured out the last part yet.”
“What?” Angela asked.
“A selfless act…”
“That’s it?”
“Oh not quite…” Araña said, “It usually pairs with the death of the slayer, the natural born one, not the called one.”
“So if I don’t do that… I’m not gonna get killed and I’m not gonna be a natural born slayer,” Angela shrugged, “So?” She questioned.
“If you don’t do it… the world might be in danger.” Araña said smirking.
** Present Day; Hannah’s Apartment **
“Willow…” Tara called out her lover’s name, “Willow, wake up baby.”
“No… mommy I don’t want to wake up.” Willow groaned.
Tara had to smirk at her girlfriend's reaction, “Baby… come on wake up.”
“Tara?” Willow questioned, “Why is my head hurting?” Then she remembered what happened, Hannah and that vampire John kidnapping her and Tara. Then waking up from the chloroform and seconds later being knocked out by Hannah hitting her in her face, “Where are they?”
“Out to eat.”
“What is it that she want?”
“To be complete,” Tara replied.
“How?”
“She needs me to do it…” Tara said with sadness in her voice.
“Again… how?”
“She wants me to make love with her.”
“That’s so not going to happen.”
“I said the same thing…”
“…but what?” Willow questioned. She was absolutely not liking the way this conversation was going.
“She said I had no choice…” Tara said.
“No Tara you can’t…” Willow sobbed, “We’ll find a way out of this… we’ve got two slayers out looking for use remember… not to mention Spike… I think…”
“You think he’ll help Buffy and Faith?”
“If he doesn’t then they’re going to beat him up …” Willow said, “… and you know how much Faith likes to hit things.”
“Well I see sleeping beauty is awake,” Hannah said entering the apartment, “Since it isn’t my birthday yet… let’s have some pre-birthday fun.”
** Near Willow and Tara’s Dorm **
“They’re not there peaches,” a voice said coming from some bushes.
“Spike…” Buffy hissed, “How did you get here… wait… sewers right?”
“Damn right… how the bloody hell am I supposed to get somewhere in this bloody town during the day.” Spike replied.
“Where are they?” Faith asked calmly.
“Not there…” Spike said pointing at the building, “… and no I don’t know where they are, but I do know who has them. Remember that demon we were talking about that’s over a thousand years old?”
“Yeah what about her?” Faith replied.
“Guess who’s got the two witches.”
“Good, then we don’t have to kill Hannah,” Buffy replied and started walking again followed by Faith.
“Hold it slayers!” Spike yelled, he smiled when the two slayers stopped and walked back to him, “Guess what I found out.”
“What?”
“Hannah IS that demon,” Spike replied, “She’s going to be 2000 years old tomorrow and needs one of the witches to be complete.”
“How can she be a vampire?” Faith asked calmly.
“She’s not exactly our kind love,” Spike said, “She can walk in the day with enough protection and water… but she still needs the blood to survive and the bitch has got vampires of my kind working for her.”
“How powerful is she?”
“Well if you count the fact that she’s been alive for 2000 years and that she can throw a vamp like me for over 12 feet… I’d say pretty powerful,” Spike replied, “Don’t worry… she won’t hurt Red and her lover until tomorrow so that’ll give you some time.”
“And you’re coming with us…” Buffy said.
“I’m bloody not coming with you!” Spike snarled, “I’m not in the mood to try and get myself killed.”
“You’re already dead Spike.” Faith said.
“You know what I meant slayer,” Spike snarled.
“You’re coming with us… or…”
“Or what peaches?”
“Or I’m going to drag your bleached ass out of the bushes and in to the sunlight where vampires like you *can* go ‘poof’” Buffy replied.
“Alright… fine… follow me,” Spike said, “I might know a few people who can tell where they are.” He finished and jumped back in the hole in the ground.
“Come on B… into the hole we go.” Faith said and jumped after Spike. Buffy sighed knowing this was going to be a hard rest of the day, for one she was working with Spike and the second… she had to go in the sewers.
** Spain; 1497 **
The battle between Araña and the slayer had already begun while Angela was still letting the news sink in that she was the ‘natural born slayer’. Of all people it had to be her, sure she enjoyed slaying the vampires but being a natural born slayer was another thing. It would make her stronger than her sister and she was already really strong.
And then there was the little problem that if she did become the natural born slayer she would die… and if she didn’t… then the world would be in danger, “Come on little girl… fight me!” Araña yelled at her.
“My sister can handle it!” Angela yelled back.
“No I can’t!” Cecile yelled. She was indeed having trouble in defeating Araña, there had never been a vampire she couldn’t handle and he was getting the upper hand.
“You see little girl… she can’t handle it,” Araña smirked. He had blocked every punch Cecile was throwing at him with ease, “This is so much fun.” Soon he would taste the blood of a slayer AND a natural born slayer. He had no doubt in his mind that she would let the world come to an end.
“No I can’t fight him!” Angela yelled, “I know what will happen, but I can’t… I don’t want to die.”
“Sometimes we have to in order to do the right thing sis,” Cecile said between breaths. She knew damn well that if it would really come to it Angela would make the right decision in order to save the world, “I know this isn’t what you want Angie… it’s not what I want either… but if we don’t stop him he’s going to make the world come to an end… think about that!” Cecile yelled. Her punches were finally getting through and she kicked him in the stomach making him stumble back.
It didn’t take long for him to regain his composure and stand up again, “Nice one slayer…” Araña snarled, “But it’s not good enough.”
** Hannah’s Apartment **
“John put her on the bed and leave us alone,” Hannah said and placed herself on a chair next to the bed. John did what he was told and left the room smirking knowing what was to come. He was almost smiling for what was going to come after Hannah and the blonde witch had ‘made love’, he was going to get the redheaded witch for his own.
Willow looked in horror at her girlfriend, Hannah hadn’t done a thing but she was looking at Tara with a sensual look. The only person that was allowed to look at Tara like that was Willow and the redhead was getting angrier by the second. The only thing that held Willow back was the fact that she couldn’t use magic in the room.
** Spain; 1497 **
“Cecile! No!” Angela screamed as she saw her sister fly 12 feet in the air. Araña had just kicked her with all the strength in him and Cecile was coming towards her. Angela stood up from the floor and the second she did that her sister collapsed against her with a brutal force. Before Angela lost consciousness she checked for a pulse on her sister… luckily there was one, with a sigh of relief Angela passed out…
When she woke up again Angela had no idea where she was, she looked around and saw her sister chained up against the wall. She was also chained up but she was laying on some kind of sacrificial table, “Cecile!” Angela yelled when she saw her sister was waking up, “Cecile are you ok?”
“I’m fine sis… little headache though… you?”
“I’m okay… although you are pretty heavy when you fall down on someone.” Angela smirked.
“Joke later Angie.” Cecile replied but smiled none the less.
“I see you’re both awake…” Araña said walking up to the table, “Well little girl… it seems that you got yourself in quite a situation here.”
“It won’t be the situation you’re in when I get to you!” Angela said angrily.
“Leave her alone!” Cecile yelled.
“It seems the slayer got some spice after all,” Araña said smiling, “Phillip, begin the chant.”
“What are you doing?” Angela questioned.
“I’m going to open a portal and kill your sister…”
** Sewer System Under Hannah’s Apartment **
“Are you sure it’s here?” Buffy asked the vampire.
“Yes I’m sure,” Spike replied, “Do you want to save your precious witches or not?”
“Lead the way…” Faith said and pushed Spike in front of her.
** Hannah’s Apartment **
Willow was almost growling at Hannah when she stepped on the bed and sat next to Tara. She was brushing Tara’s thighs and all the while looking at Willow challenging her to do something and then smirking because she knew Willow couldn’t do a thing… she was tied up to a chair.
Every time Hannah would touch her leg Tara would cringe and the blonde vampire was enjoying it very much to see her like that, “Come on sweetie… don’t be afraid,” Hannah said, “I’m not going to hurt you… yet.” She added and started laughing which only caused Willow’s anger to grow even more.
“Leave her alone!” Willow screamed.
“Or what?” Hannah taunted, “You can’t do a damn thing about it… I know that and better yet, YOU know that.”
“Yeah well if that barrier wasn’t here you’d be begging for your life!” Willow screamed as her eyes turned black again, “You are so going to wish you didn’t touch her.”
“Willow don’t… it won’t help.” Tara pleaded.
“Tara…” Willow said with a soft voice and her eyes turned their normal green colour again. She knew that without her magic she would stand no chance against Hannah and Tara knew that as well. They just had to have hope that Buffy and Faith would be there in time to help them.
** Spain: 1497 **
The vampire named Phillip had just finished the chant, a few seconds earlier a portal had already began to form and was now completely open. There was nothing stormy about it, nothing was blowing away… there was a complete calm surrounding the entire building they were in. This even surprised Araña because he was expecting the more rough stuff.
“What is it?” Angela asked her sister.
“I don’t know Angie,” Cecile replied.
“This, darlings, is a portal to another dimension – one where demons, not humans, rule the earth,” Araña said, “… and that’s where the slayer is going to.”
“Leave her alone!” Angela yelled when Araña himself grabbed her sister and held her high above his head, “No!” Angela screamed, almost an unnatural one. Suddenly out of nowhere there was lightning and thunder.
Araña looked at Angela, “What the…”
Angela pulled off the chains that held her on the table and sat calmly on the sacrificial table and looked at Araña, “Let her go…” She said with an almost inhuman voice.
“Angie?” Cecile questioned.
“It’s me… I think…” Angela replied.
“El asesino natural nacido…” Araña said amazed.
“That’s right… glad you remember it,” Angela said calmly, “She awakened… and as you’ll see… she’s not going to die… NOW. PUT. MY. SISTER. DOWN!” As soon as she said that a thunder rolled the sky filling the ears of Araña and his vampires.
Araña put down Cecile and grabbed his head in pain, somehow it didn’t seem to effect Cecile who ran towards her younger sister, “Angie… is that you?”
“It’s me…” Angela replied, “It’s hard to believe, but I am the natural born slayer… although I’m not sure how I became like this.”
“What were you thinking right before you became?”
“I was thinking that I would die before I let anyone hurt you…”
“That was your selfless act,” Cecile said still surprised that her sister was the natural born slayer.
“I feel so strong and yet so weak,” Angela suddenly said, “What’s happening to me Cecile?”
“I don’t know…” Cecile replied, “We have to get out of here first.”
“No!” Angela almost yelled regaining her composure, “This has to stop.”
“No…” Cecile whispered, “We have to get out of here.”
“Listen to me Cecile… if I don’t stop him… he’ll go after you and he won’t stop.”
“I won’t go after her,” Araña said, “I’ll leave you alone…”
Angela took Cecile’s hand and pulled her towards the exit. Suddenly they heard a loud growl, Angela turned around and saw Araña coming towards them. She looked at Cecile who had tears in her eyes because she knew exactly what was going to happen. Angela kissed Cecile’s forehead, “I love you sis…” She whispered, then she turned around and ran towards Araña.
** Hannah’s Apartment **
Tara was fighting the blonde vampire as best as she could but without her magic it only helped her to stall what was coming. She was pleading with her eyes for Willow to help her and the redhead couldn’t do much else then just sit there and build up her anger. Tara knew Willow was angry and that it was building up in side of her and if there wasn’t that spell… Willow would explode…
“You know what…” Hannah suddenly said, “I’m gonna play a little more before we make love…” She said directed at Tara.
Tara let out a small sigh of relief, but only because now they had been granted more time to find a way out before Hannah could do anything to her. Willow’s eyes softened a little as she saw the relief in Tara’s eyes.
“Johnny!” Hannah yelled. She knew he was in the room next to theirs and he could hear her easily.
“Yes my lady?”
“You want to have a little fun?” Hannah questioned, “Put the redhead on the bed next to the blonde.” Hannah smiled devilish when she saw John’s eyes filled with joy. She knew he had been waiting for this, he had already asked her if he could taste the redheaded witch and now he had been given the chance to do so, “Oh and… tie her up will ya… I don’t need a jealous bitch scratching up my eyes.”
“Sure thing,” John replied. He grabbed Willow and threw her on the bed.
“You are sick!” Willow yelled at Hannah.
“Now, now… don’t scream so loud.” Hannah taunted.
Willow tried to get as close to Tara as possible, “Are you ok baby?”
“I’m ok Willow… we need to get out of here.”
“Happy Birthday my lady.” John suddenly said.
“What? Already?” Hannah said and looked at the clock, 10 past midnight, “Well let’s skip the fun part then… John… would you taste the blonde for me?”
“Of course my lady… I’d be happy to…”
John first made sure Willow was tied to the bed and couldn’t move, then he moved to Tara and pulled her up from the bed. Tara had never been so frightened in her life and Willow could see and feel it clearly, “No… Tara…” Willow sobbed.
“Don’t worry luv,” Hannah said, “… he won’t take all… just a little sip.”
John just smiled and held the blonde witch tightly in his arms. He revealed her neck to him and morphed into his vamp face, “I can almost taste it,” he said and licked Tara’s neck. He revealed his fangs to Willow and without taking his eyes off of the redhead he sank his teeth in Tara’s neck…
** Outside Hannah’s Apartment **
“So ok… who was going in first again?” Spike asked. He really didn’t want to go in first, mostly because there was this 2000 year old vampire that was way more powerful than him.
“You are,” both slayers said.
“Like bloody hell I am!”
** Inside Hannah’s Apartment **
Willow was enraged, she couldn’t take it anymore. Hannah watched as Willow’s eyes turned darker than they had before which seemed totally impossible to her but it did anyway, “Let her go!” Willow almost screamed.
John looked up at Willow and saw the redhead’s eyes and let go of Tara sending her tumbling forward. He just looked at her dumbfounded not knowing what to do, “W-w-what’s that?” He asked Hannah who herself was getting frightened now.
Hannah noticed the black eyes to and looked at the clock. “How long did you say the barrier would work?”
“Half a day…”
“… and when did they do it again?”
“This afternoon…”
“Then I’d suggest we… RUN!” The last came out screaming as the two vampires tried to run away. It was then they noticed they couldn’t move a single muscle in their body and just stood there, “We… got… trouble…”
“You didn’t notice that before?” John questioned with fear in his voice, “We ticked off a witch my lady… a very powerful witch I might add… a very powerful witch with black eyes… black eyes are never good…”
“I know that Johnny…” Hannah replied irritated.
“Can’t you do anything?” Johnny questioned, “You’re 2000 fucking years old… didn’t you learn anything?”
“Shut up!” Hannah growled.
Willow looked at the two vampires with a deadly stare. “You hurt my girlfriend,” she said with an ice cold voice.
** Spain; 1497 **
Angela attacked Araña with a brutal force never seen before, not even Cecile was that strong. She admired Angela for doing this but she wasn’t going to loose her sister like that, not without trying to help her fight Araña. Cecile ran towards the vampire and also started fighting him.
Araña was holding his own against the two slayers, but he was getting weaker… he knew that and the two slayers knew it. Without warning Araña grabbed Cecile and held her close to him so Angela wouldn’t attack him. He was standing with his back towards the portal and Angela knew this was her only chance.
“Cecile… you know what to do.”
“No Angie… don’t,” Cecile sobbed.
“You know I have to… it’s my ‘destiny’” Angela replied and shrugged, “I love you sis… NOW!”
With all the strength Cecile had left in her she elbowed Araña in his stomach, he doubled over in pain and let go of Cecile. The second he did that Angela came almost flying towards him and collided with him sending the two of them towards the portal, “NO!” Araña screamed.
Then they were gone…
Cecile heard a voice in her mind, ‘Cecile… take care of mom and dad… keep fighting the vampires for me… I love you.’ Then the voice was gone again and Cecile collapsed to the floor crying.
The remaining vampires had already fled or been staked by Cecile when her sister was fighting Araña, now all that left were Cecile and her tears…
** Hannah’s Apartment **
“You hurt my girlfriend!” Willow said raising her voice. She held up her hands and lifted the two amazed vampires in the air.
That’s when the door broke in, “We’re here!” Buffy yelled and was amazed by the sight before her, “… and apparently we’re not needed.” Buffy added and began pouting, then she noticed Willow’s eyes, “No… not that…” She whispered. Willow had been reading through the ‘darkest of magic’ books that Giles had stacked up in case they ever needed it, but they all knew it was very dangerous and they had made Willow promise she wouldn’t use it until absolutely necessary.
“What’s going on with Red?” Faith whispered.
“The good has gone bad…” Spike said smirking, but the smirk wasn’t meant… he kinda liked Willow and didn’t want her to be like this.
“Put them down Willow!” Buffy yelled at her best friend.
“They hurt Tara!” Willow yelled back still keeping the two vampires in the air.
“Come on Red,” Faith said. “Put them down, we can take of it from here.”
“No, they have to pay.”
Spike was getting sick of this all this, Willow wasn’t herself like this. “Put ‘em down Willow.” Spike suddenly said.
“They hurt Tara, I can’t put them down!”
“I know luv… put them down and let the slayers handle it.” Both slayers raised a brow when they heard Spike talking to Willow but didn’t say anything about it because if Spike couldn’t even talk the redhead out of it then there was going to be a real problem.
“No!” Willow yelled, “they have to pay for what they did!”
“Sweets… put ‘em down and I promise you they’ll pay for it if I have to kill them myself,” Spike replied calmly. Willow looked at Spike and could actually see in his eyes that he meant it. When Willow’s eyes went to their natural colour again Spike looked at the two vampires. “Uhm luv… didn’t I say something about putting ‘em down?”
Willow groaned but lowered John and Hannah to the ground, they tried to run away but immediately got stopped by two slayers. Spike just stood there watching as Hannah and John fought the two slayers. He knew there was something he should be doing but he didn’t quite now what that was. ‘Oh wait, I had to help ‘em, promised Red,’ Spike thought.
He quickly moved to the four battling ‘people’, he tapped Faith on her shoulder. “Can I cut in?”
“Sure be my guest, DANCE!” She said a little louder. Faith let John be taken care off by Spike and moved to her girlfriend who was having trouble fighting Hannah. “Need some help babe?” She asked Buffy.
“Don’t mind if I do,” Buffy said. “Vampire Flying!” She yelled, which earned curious looks from Hannah. The vampire stood still and looked at Buffy, it was then that Faith punched her in the face, sending her flying a few feet away. “Told you there was a vampire flying, they just don’t listen.”
Willow noticed Tara laying half on the bed and quickly went to her, “Tara? Oh god are you ok?” She asked and held the blonde witch in her arms.
“Willow… I-I’m fine…” Tara replied weakly, “He just bit me and took one sip… or he just drank a little… I’m not sure, but I think it’s the same… right?”
Willow just chuckled at her lover’s rambling, “He didn’t take much…” Willow said and kissed Tara on her forehead, “… but we are taking you to the hospital.”
Buffy and Faith were still fighting Hannah and they were the ones flying now. Buffy landed on the bed near Willow and Tara. “Thank god for that bed.”
Faith however landed a little harder than Buffy, Faith had landed on the floor next to Willow and Tara. “God, that hurts,” she said rubbing thigh.
“Little help here!” Buffy suddenly yelled. She was being hauled in the air by Hannah, Faith ran towards the two, but when she tried to knock the vampire off of her feet, nothing happened. “Wills, what did you do?” Buffy questioned.
“I froze them,” Willow said smiling.
“Sweets!” Spike suddenly yelled. “Could you unfreeze his bloody arm,” John had Spike in a headlock just before Willow froze the vampire, and it was a most uncomfortable situation that ‘William the Bloody’ was in right now.
After Spike was freed from his situation he tied John up. Buffy and Faith did the same with Hannah. “Uhm Wills…” Buffy questioned when Willow’s attention was somewhere else. “You can unfreeze them… we tied ‘em up.” Willow looked at Buffy and smiled, then she waved her hand and whispered some words. Hannah and John smiled when they could feel their legs again, the second they tried to move they fell down.
“Great… just great!” Hannah growled, “Being humiliated by a witch… in front of two slayers.”
“See… I knew you had a sense of humour Red!” Faith said as she picked up Hannah and then John.
“I didn’t do a thing, just unfroze them…”
“…which caused Hannah and Johnny to fall over…” Faith added.
“Yeah you’re right… I did do that.” Willow said and smiled proudly.
“Can I get to a hospital now… I’m feeling kinda sick…” Tara said pouting.
“Spike take the two vampires to your lair… we have some business with them later.” Faith said and pushed the two vampires towards Spike.
“Why my lair?”
“Because I have to carry Tara to the hospital and have no time to kick two vampires so they keep walking.”
“Right… sure…”
Spike grabbed the two vampires and pulled them towards the door, before he was out of the door Willow called for him, “Spike…”
“Yeah sweets?”
“Thank you…”
“Sure thing luv.” Spike replied smiling, “Come on you two…”
** Sunnydale Hospital **
“She’ll be fine with some rest miss Rosenberg, she didn’t loose that much blood.” The doctor said.
“So can I take her home?” Willow asked impatiently.
“Yes you can,” the doctor replied smiling, “Just make sure she’ll have plenty of rest when she gets there… I’ll let you get dressed and then we can check you out of the hospital.”
“Thank you doctor,” Tara said and watched him leave the room.
“Get dressed,” Willow said, “… we still got two vampires to deal with.” Willow said with anger building up inside her again.
“Don’t…” Tara said as she got her clothes on.
“Don’t what?”
“Don’t be so angry…” Tara said, “It hurts,” Tara finished putting her clothes on and sat back on the bed.
“Of course it hurts … I almost lost you!”
“No that’s not what I meant Willow,” Tara said. She pulled Willow closer who was now standing between her legs and put her arms around the redhead’s waist, “It hurts me to see you like that… you promised Buffy and me that you weren’t going to use that kind of magic and you did.”
“They were hurting you Tara … I needed to help you.”
“We could have gotten out of it, we always do…” Tara said, “… and Buffy, Faith and Spike were already coming.”
“But what if they hadn’t?”
“Then we would have found another way to get us out of there,” Tara said, “Promise me you won’t use that kind of magic again until we really need it … not even to help me,” Willow was silent and looked anywhere but at Tara. The blonde cupped her chin and forced Willow to look at her, “Promise me Willow.” She said again.
“I promise…”
“Good girl…” Tara pulled Willow closer and kissed her. Willow wrapped her arms around her girlfriend and deepened the kiss.
“Uhm… this is a hospital room… not a hotel room…”
“I don’t know B, they were kinda cute together like that.”
“Buffy, Faith!” Willow yelped.
“Come on you two… let’s get you back to the dorm.” Faith said opening the door.
After Faith and Buffy brought the two witches back to the dorm room they went back to the hospital and also found Angel in there, “Angel?”
“Hello Buffy, Faith.”
“What are you doing here?” Buffy asked.
“Nice welcome ain’t it…” Dawn said as she walked out of her hospital room fully dressed.
“Hey kiddo,” Faith said as Dawn walked over to hug her.
“Dawn… you ok?” Buffy asked checking her sister.
“I’m fine Buffy… just a hug is good enough this time.”
“Of course,” Buffy said smiling and wrapped her arms around her sister.
“B is right… what are you doing here?” Faith asked Angel. “Shouldn’t you be out helping somebody … it *is* dark outside.”
“Went by Giles’ earlier, there’s a book I needed. Got some nasty little critters in L.A.” Angel smirked. “And I came to give you something.”
“What?” Faith asked. Angel handed her a piece of paper, Faith opened it and after she read it she looked at Angel again, “You can’t do that…”
“Do what?” Buffy and Dawn asked.
“I can do that,” Angel replied, “It’s yours… if you want it of course.”
“What is hers?” Buffy asked.
“Of course I want it, but why?”
“I don’t need it anymore, I got another place… and besides you could use it, having a place of your own you know.”
“Thanks,” Faith said and hugged Angel.
“Sure thing,” Angel replied, “I have to go… If I don’t Wesley, Gunn and Cordelia are going to tear my hotel down.” The vampire said smirking. He turned around and walked out of the hospital leaving two surprised sisters and a happy Faith behind.
“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” Buffy asked.
“Remember the mansion…”
“Yeah that’s where Angel lived when he was still in Sunnydale… why?”
“He just sold it to me… well not sold… he actually gave it to me…”
“What?”
“Yeah exactly…”
“Oh that’s so cool!” Dawn yelled, “Now we can have my party there.”
“Wow hold it kiddo!” Faith said, “Who said anything about a party… you’re still resting remember…”
“Yeah, but my birthday is in 3 days.”
“You’re going to rest…” Faith said. Buffy just looked at Faith in surprise but she knew the brunette was up to something so she didn’t intervene.
“But I…”
“No…”
“Buffy…”
“Don’t ask your sister for help…”
“But…”
“No…”
“Ah man … can’t a girl get a break!” Dawn said and threw her hands in the air.
“Come on kiddo, your mom is waiting for you.”
When they walked out of the hospital they spotted Spike standing at the car and walked up to him, “What are you doing here?” Buffy asked.
“I… uh… I…” ‘Ok stop stuttering bloody wanker!’ He added in his thoughts. He did have a good reason to stutter though, he