Joyful Youth

“Red and the Cheerleader are at the Bronze,” Spike said.

“Ok, then Bronzing we go,” Buffy said.

“What about your mom? We gonna just leave her?” Faith asked.

Buffy sighed and rolled her shoulders, “Leave her. She’s with Giles…even youthful Giles is better than some other people I can think of. Besides, if she gets into too much trouble, I get to ground her.”

“Dawn would be happy,” Faith said.

When they reached the Bronze, Spike flashed fang at the bouncer, who let them pass without question.

“Was that really necessary?” Buffy chastised.

“Wot? Jus’ having a bit of fun,” Spike protested.

Buffy rolled her eyes. For someone who’d been around for more than a century, you’d think they’d be a bit more mature. Her eyes widened in shock as she took in her surroundings. There were old people dancing to the beat of the Dingo’s song. There was a man who had vodka and orange juice being poured down his throat. ‘At least we know it’s not just mom and Giles.’

‘Not so sure that’s a good thing, pet.’

“Maybe there’s a reunion or, or a Billy Joel tour or something,” Willow said as she approached the group.

“Mom and Giles were out together,” Buffy said.

“Oh?” Willow asked, confused.

“Yeah, destroying public property, shoplifting…” Faith said with a smile.

“Oh,” Willow said, “W-well, maybe, never mind. I don’t have any theories.”

“Ms. Barton?” Buffy asked as the older woman walked passed.

“Are you ok, Ms. Barton?” Willow asked with concern.

Ms. Barton smiled broadly at the girls. They really were so considerate, “I’m cool, Willow,” pause, “Willow…that’s a tree. You’re a tree.”

Willow stared at the woman with wide eyes. Things were getting very, very bad. This was beyond normal Sunnydale weirdness.

Spike eyed a candy bar and snatched it away from the poor schmuck that was holding it. He hadn’t told Buffy, but he’d had a few of these before she came around soliciting them to him. Part of him screamed to stop eating the chocolate treats, but, the rest of him didn’t listen. They were too good to pass up, and…he was a vampire…nothing could happen.

“Spike!” Buffy exclaimed, “You took his candy!”

Spike smirked, “Evil, luv.”

Buffy rolled her eyes and turned back to the scene before her. Where were the demons when she needed them?

“What’s happening?” Willow asked.

“I don’t know, but it’s happening to a whole bunch of grownups,” Buffy said with wide eyes.

“Is there something wrong, ladies?” Spike asked.

“Uh, where have you been? Of course something’s wrong…look!” Cordy yelled indignantly.

Spike looked around the overly crowded room. The more he saw, the more he wished he hadn’t.

“Why is there a man on the stage with out his shirt?” Spike asked.

Buffy looked up at her Mate. Something was…off. ‘You ok, Spike?’

Spike looked down at the attractive blonde girl. ‘Perhaps she heard the voice as well.’

‘I AM the voice, Spike!’

“I beg your pardon, ma’am, but I’m afraid you are mistaken,” Spike said, “My name is not Spike.”

“William?” Buffy asked hesitantly.

“Yes, that is my name,” Spike answered, “I feel that I know you, but I fear I have forgotten your name, please forgive me.”

“I’m Buffy,” she told him.

“A most unusual name,” Spike said, “But it is quite lovely.”

A blush graced her cheeks. Something was wrong, more wrong than before. This, whatever it was, needed to be fixed. She liked William, but she needed Spike.

“You’re man alright, B?” Faith asked.

“Uh…” Buffy trailed off. She didn’t know what to say. What was there to say?

Faith nodded. She’d felt the shift. Something was up with the vampire. Probably the same thing that was affecting the other people at the Bronze.

“Cordy, Where’s Xander?” Buffy asked.

“He went to find Oz. The shirtless oaf pushed the band off the stage,” Cordy answered with a frown.

“I-I think that is my doctor,” Willow said.

“Damn,” Faith commented dryly.

“This does not appear to be the sort of establishment young ladies, such as yourselves, should frequent. Perhaps we should retire for the evening,” Spike proposed. He couldn’t explain his protective feelings toward the four girls, but it was there.

“Once Oz and Xander get here we’ll go,” Buffy told him.

Spike opened his mouth to resist, but decided against it for the time.

“It has to be a spell,” Willow said.

“They’re teenagers,” Oz said, “It’s a sobering mirror to look into, huh?”

Willow glared at her boyfriend, “I do not act like that.”

Oz smiled at her and kissed her forehead, “I know.”

“We’ve got to figure out what’s going on. This has Hellmouth fingerprints all over it,” Buffy said.

“I don’t know ‘bout you, B, but my spell fighting…not exactly current,” Faith said.

“We should find Giles,” Oz offered, “He’ll know what’s going on, right?”

“Sure,” Buffy said, “Except, Giles is…”

“Here,” Cordy said.

Everyone looked in the same direction as Cordellia. Sure enough, there, in the middle of the dance floor, Giles and Joyce were dancing. A dance that would have put Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Gray to shame.

“Oh god,” Buffy gasped.

Spike gently pulled Buffy into his arms. Normally he wouldn’t be so forward with a woman, but this wasn’t anywhere near normal. To his relief, the girl relaxed into his arms. He felt better having her this close. Knowing that he would be there to offer service to her, should the need arise, calmed something deep within him; something he couldn’t describe.

“We should check places that are not inside the Bronze,” Xander said, “See what the deal is.”

Buffy nodded her agreement and reluctantly pulled out of the comfort of Spike’s arms. She led the group outside and toward the residential area of Sunnydale. Groups of “adults” scattered the sidewalks and streets. The parks were full of “adults” doing the things normally done by teenagers.

“Something’s weird,” Buffy said.

“Something’s not?” Oz asked.

“No grownups,” Buffy said, “No one’s protecting their houses. Everyone’s just…wandering.”

“Defenseless,” Willow said.

“So where are all the vampires?” Buffy asked.

“Surely you do not pay any heed to such folk tales,” Spike scoffed.

This brought a round of laughter from everyone.

“Soup’s on, but no one’s grabbing a spoon,” Buffy said once she’d recovered from her laughter. She knew it was cruel, but the opportunity was too rare to pass up.

“Something’s happening…someplace that’s else,” Oz said.

“I’d say something big,” Buffy added.

“I say, sir, is that really necessary?” Spike asked as he struggled to keep his chocolate bar.

“Hand it over,” the guy said.

“I most certainly will not!” Spike said.

“Fine,” the man said.

Before anyone could react, the man had punched Spike in the nose and taken his chocolate bar.

“That…hooligan stole my chocolate,” Spike said.

Buffy took another look around. All of the adults were holding chocolate bars. Spike had a chocolate bar at the Bronze. She looked at him. He was in full game face, blood running down his face. Sighing, she whipped the blood from his face.

“The candy,” Buffy said, “It’s gotta be the candy. It’s cursed.”

“Cursed?” Spike asked, “Why would anyone wish to place a curse on candy?”

“Dead boy’s got a point,” Xander said.

Buffy looked at Spike, “William, do you know where the candy came from? Who’s selling it?”

Spike looked at the ground. This wasn’t good. He was a proper gentleman; he didn’t meddle in the dark arts. Oh, his poor mother would be heartbroken.

‘Listen to me, William. I’m not cross with you. I need to fix this. Make the magic stop. Tell me where you purchased the chocolate. Help me…please?’

Spike slowly raised his eyes. He couldn’t deny the lady. She was being ever so nice to him. He nodded and took her hand in his. A smile crossed his lips when she didn’t snatch it away. Perhaps he wouldn’t be seen as a villainous person for his actions. ‘I didn’t know the candy was dangerous…’

‘I know.’

Spike led the group in silence to the docks. Buffy shuddered involuntarily at the memories that flooded over her. It had been a long time since she’d been to this spot. Avoiding places of pain was a definite goal of hers. Spike, feeling the woman’s discomfort, pulled her closer to his side.

“It’s like Woodstock…with out the love,” Xander said.

A couple of men stood at the head of the crowd. They were just throwing the chocolate to the crow.

“Mom! Giles!” Buffy exclaimed.

She ran toward them. She was so relieved to see them both safe that it took her a moment to notice what they were doing.

“Damn, B. I see where you get it. Mom knows how to win her man,” Faith said with a smile.

Not wasting time with a comment, Buffy threw a glare over her shoulder.

“Go away,” Giles said headedly, “We’re busy.”

“Mom!” Buffy exclaimed as she pulled the woman away from her Watcher.

“Hey!” an indignant Joyce yelped.

Buffy looked at her mother, “Listen…”

Her words were cut short when Giles roughly grabbed her arm.

“Back off!” the older man barked.

Buffy’s eyes flashed, “Giles, think about this. You wanna fight me, or you wanna let me talk to my mother?”

Giles looked at the girl. He knew it wouldn’t be wise to engage her, no matter how much he wanted to. Slowly he removed his hand from her arm. Grumbling, he lit up a cigarette and allowed the tobacco to sooth him.

“Xander, Oz,” Buffy said over her shoulder, “Make sure they come with us. Keep them out of trouble.”

“Buffy,” Joyce whined, “I want chocolate.”

“No, mom. Don’t whine, it won’t work,” Buffy said.

Buffy led the group to the front of the crowd and into the factory. As she looked around the expansive room she noticed several things: one…vampires; two…chocolate. Across the room, she sees a man on the phone. This one is human.

“Stay,” Buffy said to the adults.

She takes Spike’s hand, not wanting to leave him alone, and leads him over to the man.

“Yeah, I’ve been out there. Town’s wide open. You guys can go anytime,” the man said.

“Ethan Rayne,” Buffy said as the man hung up the phone, “I should have known.”

Slowly, the man turned and faced the small warrior. His eyes went wide with shock as he noticed that she was accompanied by William the Bloody. The rumors were true.

“Might wanna hurry,” Ethan said into the phone before replacing it on the receiver.

Giles heard the name, and couldn’t resist the urge. He stalked toward the small group. “Ethan.”

“Ripper,” Ethan responded.

The man blanched and took off.

“Why do they always run?” Buffy sighed.

“Should we pursue the man?” Spike asked.

“Bloody right we should,” Giles said.

Buffy shook her head at the men before taking off after Ethan. Noticing the absence of the girl, both men followed her.

“Where’d the bastard go?” Giles asked once they’d caught up to Buffy.

“Shh!”

Buffy moved around the crates carefully. She noticed Spike was next to her, nostrils flared. He pointed to a crate toward the bottom.

“Look,” Buffy said as she kicked the crate open, “A box full of farm-fresh chicken.”

Ethan looked nervously between the three imposing figures. He really needed to stop taking jobs in Sunnydale. He could settle with Ripper once this Slayer was gone.

“So, Ethan,” Buffy said conversationally, “We’re pretty much in a talk or bleed situation. Your call.”

“I’m subcontracting. It’s Trick you want. I’m just helping him collect a tribute…for a demon,” Ethan said.

“What demon?”

“I don’t remember.”

Buffy looked away. When she turned back around, she punched the man square in the nose.

“Lurconis. Demon named Lurconis. They wanted a way to get the tribute away from people,” Ethan said.

“So, where’s Trick?” Buffy asked.

“Delivering the tribute,” Ethan said.

“I’m so gonna hit you again,” Buffy said. She raised her arm to show him that she meant business.

“Sewers,” Ethan said, “It’s babies.”

Buffy hit the man again. “You are sick.”

She ran out of the factory and toward the sewers as quickly as her legs could carry her. She couldn’t allow a bunch of innocent babies to be sacrificed. She didn’t have to look behind her to know that Spike was right on her heels. She assumed Giles had stayed behind to deal with Ethan. ‘Hope he doesn’t kill him.’

‘Who?’

‘Giles. Don’t want him to kill Ethan…exactly.’

Trick looked around the sewer. The guy should be here by now. “Come on, big guy. They're not getting any fresher.”

The Mayor stood away from the actual sacrifice. The four babies were being anointed and he really wanted his secretary to answer her phone. However, before she does, he notices the Slayer.

“Hi,” Buffy greeted cheerfully.

“Did I miss the party?” Faith asked as she landed next to Buffy.

“Nah, we were just doing the introductions,” Buffy said.

One by one, the vamps began to close in on the girls. They knew it would be their end, but the temptation of facing a Slayer was just too much to ignore.

As the two girls worked their way through the mass of vampires, Buffy noticed the Mayor leaving the tunnels. Her momentarily distraction was enough to allow a vamp to get the upper hand. She soon found her air supply being cut off, and a vampire looming above her.

Spike felt the fear of his Mate and launched himself at the vampire. He tackled the creature to the ground.

Buffy jumped up and saw a large snake-like creature emerging.

“Lurcronis, I’m thinking,” she said.

“Main act?” Faith asked.

“Apparently,” Buffy answered.

The girls quickly disposed of the demon. Both a bit disappointed by the lack of effort it took.

“You’re supposed to be on our side,” Trick said to Spike.

“I beg your pardon,” Spike said, “You attacked m’lady. That does not put us on the same side.”

Trick shook his head. He’d never get used to this new age vampire crap. Where were the good old days where the vamps just killed the Slayers?

“You and me, girl,” Trick said to Buffy, “There’s hard times ahead.”

Buffy smiled as the vampire left. She was so looking forward to dusting his bad suited ass.

* * * * * * * * * *

The Mayor paced his office. Things were not going well for him at all. He needed things to go well. He’d worked for far too many years for things not to go well.

“And your friend?” The Mayor asked.

“Paid him,” Trick said simply, “Man did his job. No reason to burn that bridge.”

“This didn’t turn out the way I had planned,” The Mayor said.

“Where's the downside? You just got yourself one less demon you have to pay tribute to. The way I see it, I did you a favor,” Trick said in his most convincing tone.

The Mayor smiled at the vampire, “I guess you did.”

Trick mentally threw a party. He was sure he’d be dust.

“In the future…I’d be very careful how many favors you do for me,” The Mayor whispered in the vampire’s ear.

Trick gulped and nodded mutely.

“This Slayer, well both of them actually,” The Mayor chuckled, “Two Slayers. This just had to be made more difficult for me. Anyway, they are a serious problem. Don’t you agree, Mr. Trick?”

“Couldn’t agree more,” Trick said with disgust.

“Then don’t you think it would be wise to take them into account when planning a job they could interfere with?” The Mayor asked.

“Sir?” Trick asked.

“The candy, Mr. Trick. Genius idea, but harmless to the Slayers. Don’t make the same mistake twice,” The Mayor said.

Trick nodded and left the office, thankful to be undead.