Buffy woke up right before dawn the next morning. She usually didn’t sleep for more than 4 hours at a time, so this was one of her favorite times of day. She would often go work out before any of the students were awake to gape at her.

Sensing her movements Spike woke a few minutes after her, but neither moved for a while they just enjoyed the quiet of the predawn.

“I think I prefer this to getting kicked in the head.” Spike said as they lay in each other’s arms watching the suns ray slowly come over the house and light up the forest in front of them.

When Buffy turned to Spike with a twinkle in her eyes, he almost didn’t need the bond to know what she wanted.

“Fancy another go then, luv?” He drawled at her.

“Only if you think you’re up to it.” She drawled right back.

“Well, then let’s have at it.”

An hour later they were both changed into work out gear, facing each other warily in the training center.

“Do we really need weapons for this?” She asked teasing him.

He grinned. “Makes me feel all manly.”

Buffy tucked and rolled, coming up almost behind him, she tried to sweep him down but he jumped her leg and used the momentum she already had to throw her away from him.

“You can do better than that right, Slayer?” He taunted her. “I thought you had all these nice new moves to show me.”

She rolled out of the throw and up onto her feet, immediately doing a back flip and kicking Spike, so he went down. She was on him immediately.

“Hi, honey, I’m home.” She said with a smart grin.

He threw her off him and rolled to his feet.

“We about done with the warm up, then?” He asked her. “How far do you want to take this, pet?”

“Oh, all the way, Spike. Its been too long.”

He changed into game face. “I couldn’t agree more.” The two warriors raced at each other.


An hour later Faith led her class into the training facility only to be shocked at the ferocious, but somewhat beautiful battle going on before them. Both Buffy and Spike sported various wounds of the non-threatening variety. Buffy was soaked with sweat and from tumbling with her on the mats, Spike wasn’t much better off.

Watching them move was like watching poetry in motion. The matched each other almost perfectly. One would contract and the other would expand, it was like they could read each others minds.

Faith found herself once again jealous of the blonde Slayer, that she found a companion that she could share this part of her life with.

About that time the sparring was getting a little more touchy-feely than was appropriate for the young Slayers. They weren’t old enough to learn about that side of their nature.

Faith blew her whistle loudly, getting their attention before either one of them could lose clothes.

They both looked up startled.

“Hey guys.” Faith said. “I don’t mean to interrupt, just thought you should know you have an audience here.”

Spike quickly turned and walked away from the young audience before they could get an eyeful. Buffy stood there taking deep breaths to calm her raging hormones.

Faith walked over to Buffy and spoke softly. “Damn girl, aren’t you all worked up. I’ll take the sprouts out for a run, while you two get yourselves back to the privacy of your own rooms.”

Buffy swallowed and nodded, licking her lips. Faith just shook her head and walked off laughing.

“Ok, enough of this lounging.” She yelled at her young charges. “Everybody outside. Time to see how fast you can run."

Spike came up to Buffy as soon as the Slayers left and started kissing her, game face still intact. Buffy forced herself to back up. “Faith’s right,”
She said panting, "We need to take this upstairs." They dashed the house together.

Once inside they made it to a bathroom, out of the way on the first floor. From there it took them until late afternoon to make it the rest of the way upstairs. Mainly because Spike ripped Buffy’s top again and didn’t have one to give her this time, so they had to keep ducking into vacant rooms to avoid people. The other problem was since Buffy was topless, they usually spent more time than necessary in the vacant rooms, making it that much longer until the reached her rooms.

Once they made it upstairs, they fell on the bed together, too tired to even shower.


Willow walked into the kitchen to find Oz already there, freshly showered, making breakfast.

“Hi.” She said shyly.

“Hey.” He answered with a small grin.

“So, how are you today?” She asked cringing inside because she didn’t know what else to say.

“I’m good. You?”

“Oh I’m good.”

“That’s good.”

“Yeah.”

Oz shook his head and walked up to her and kissed her. A small tender kiss grew deeper until they had to pull away for air.

Oz smiled at her staring deep into her eyes.

“Morning.” He whispered. Just then Kennedy and Rhona walked in to the kitchen. Kennedy took one look at the scene before her and started laughing.

“You know if you wanted to break up with me to get back with your ex-BOYFRIEND, you didn’t have to go off on all that stuff about me not treating you right.” Kennedy told her, using her best rich girl voice, making sure to put emphasis on the boyfriend.

“Its people like you that give lesbians a bad name. You probably didn’t even really care about Tara, being gay was just a way to be trendy for you.” She finished snottily before turning to walk out of the kitchen with Rhona.

“Freeze.” Willow’s voice was filled with power and Kennedy was rooted to her spot.

“Turn.” Willow commanded again and Kennedy turned woodenly to face her, unable to fight her compulsion.


“Listen to me very carefully, little girl. You don’t have the depth of feeling to understand my relationship with Tara or my relationship with Oz for that matter. I don’t ever want to hear your opinions on my love life again. Are we clear on that?“ Kennedy nodded stiffly her face was embarrassed and angry all at once.

“I think its time you went back to Cleveland. I’ll talk to Giles about sending the two of you back this afternoon.” Willow glared at her. “Release.” She waved her hand and Kennedy was back under her own control. She glared at Willow, but left without saying another word. Rhona followed close behind her.

Oz looked at her curiously. “So, why were you with her again?”

Willow just shook her head.




Buffy woke up slowly and stretched languidly. She looked over at Spike next to her. He looked so peaceful and content. She could feel his presence inside of her even in his sleep.

She slipped out of the bed and stretched, when she looked back she realized that she could see herself still asleep next to the vampire.

This must be a Slayer dream.' She thought. 'Uh-oh. I wonder what kind of trouble is brewing this time?'

Just then she heard someone talking. She followed the voice out of the bedroom and down to her living room. The voice was definitely female. It sounded like she was almost singing, the way she was talking, and she sounded very familiar.

As Buffy crossed the living room to the door to the balcony she started to make out what the woman was saying.

"Look how warm and golden the sun is in the Slayer's dream, Miss Edith. It doesn't hate and burn like the sun outside does. Can you feel the nice light on you?"

Realizing who it was Buffy walked quickly on the balcony and there was Drusilla and one of her dolls sitting at the little iron table having what appeared to be a tea party.

"Drusilla," Buffy almost growled her name. "You have 2 seconds to tell me what you are doing here, before dream or no dream, I stake your ass."

Drusilla giggled at her words. "I miss my Daddy. How is Angelus."

'Oh god,' Buffy thought 'I so don't want to know what brought that up.' She studied Drusilla, trying to force her brain from the dark track it had started down with Drusilla's comment.

Drusilla didn't even look up at Buffy, she just continued to pour tea for her doll. Her clothes were the same, still outdated and Victorian. Her hair was pulled up in cute ribbons, making her seem so child-like and innocent, until you looked into her eyes and saw the insanity there. Vampire or not,

Buffy didn't think many people could look at the madness in her eyes and not be afraid.

Buffy wondered at the strength in Spike to have been so close to her for so long and not be affected by her.

"Now, now Slayer, is that any way to greet your new mummy?" Dru's voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Great. Glad to see you've gone from crazy to completely deranged." Buffy snapped. "How's that working out for you?" She feigned interest, while looking around for a weapon.

Since she was in the safety of her own suite she didn't have one stake on her and everything out on the balcony was iron except for the vines running over it.

Buffy found herself wondering if a vine would be considered the same as wood, since technically they were both plant material, but she gave up that idea at the image in her head of trying to stake Drusilla with a small vine.

"You married my William. That would make me your Mummy-In-Law." She answered sweetly.

Buffy gaped at her, she had her complete attention now.

"Ok. Didn't see that one coming." She muttered, more to herself than Drusilla.

"So what Drusilla, you sensed that I took your baby boy away from you and decided to stop by to spread your usual pain and torment? Haven't you caused us enough pain? Haven't you caused him enough pain?"

Buffy was getting angry at the thought of anyone trying to come between them, especially now. She stepped farther out onto the balcony her body tensing readying itself for a fight.

Drusilla finally looked directly at Buffy and Buffy saw her eyes were, for the moment, clear of her insanity. She laughed humorlessly.

"I would say of the two of us, you have been the one to cause him the most pain and torment, wouldn't you?" She said sweetly.

Buffy glared at her hatefully, wanting nothing more than to deny what she had just said, but she knew it was the truth. That Drusilla knew it to was not something she really wanted to deal with.

"Last chance Drusilla, WHY ARE YOU HERE?" She ground out through
clenched teeth.

"We came to offer our congratulations, and a gift for my William."

"Congratulations?" She snorted derisively. "Right. Tell me another one."

Drusilla's eyes were far away and glazed again, obviously off in her world again. "My sweet William, my only Childe and my love. You should have seen him the night I turned him, the colors and visions flying around him. As soon as I saw him I knew, the pixies showed me."

Buffy watched Drusilla cautiously, as she seemed lost in her own world almost unaware of the small blonde girl standing before her.

Buffy was unsure of what to do. This was a dream, so she didn't know whether or not Drusilla presented any real danger to her. She heard once that dying in a dream could cause you to die in reality.

"His fire, he was glowing with it, his mind full of dreams and things no mortal would ever know. The pixies told me to help him, help him become what he was meant to be." The crazy woman continued on more to herself and her doll than Buffy.

"Drusilla?" Buffy was paying very close attention to her again. Had Drusilla known what was going to happen? Did she realize then all that would transpire?

Drusilla was looking at something over her shoulder now.

"Isn't that right my love? Have you shown her your dreams?"

Buffy turned and saw Spike standing in the doorway watching Drusilla, eyes wide.

"Dru, pet, what did the pixies tell you that night?" He asked gently knowing that she liked to be coaxed to give up information on her visions.

He glanced over at Buffy who was looking from him to Drusilla nervously. Unsure of how happy Dru was with their relationship he sent her reassurance through their bond instead reaching out for her physically like he wanted to. She smiled softly at him and he felt her return his love.

"Now that's not nice. Miss Edith and I came for tea and you shouldn't be whispering over our heads. Miss Edith gets upset when she feels left out."

Spike knew that when Miss Edith got upset things tended to get a bit bloody. "All right, we were just going to sit and have tea with you, luv."

He motioned to Buffy and they sat down at the table with Drusilla.

"Will you please tell me what the pixies told you about me?"

"I saw your pretty blonde angel floating above you. I saw lightning coming out of you head. I saw the silver cord that would connect you before he even knew."

"Which is why you left me for the chaos demon?" Spike asked angrily.

Buffy tried to remind herself that he was reacting to memories not to the way he felt now, so she wouldn't get upset. She lightly reached out and touched his hand. He seemed to remember himself and gave her an apologetic look, but she felt him relax slightly. Drusilla continued as if he never spoke.

"I saw you on fire, a pretty bauble on your neck. Little girls running around screaming." She giggled. "They looked like fishies with their mouths hanging open like that."

Buffy gasped.

"You saw that the night you turned him?"

Drusilla smiled knowingly. "I see many things. I see him flying through the air like a black bird. I see him dancing with a white light. I see him standing in the sun at the end of the world. I see him walking worlds that aren't are own. I see him standing with the pale dark man, with stars in his
eyes."

"What does that mean?" Buffy asked Spike. He just shrugged helplessly. It meant what she wanted it to mean, they weren't going to figure it out until it was time.

Suddenly Drusilla lunged forward and grabbed both of them.

"The woman in black likes stories. Her cross won't burn you, but you must tell her a story or everything you have will be gone. No worlds, no angel, no more."

"What woman in black Dru?"

Drusilla stood up and grabbed Miss Edith in her arms. She wandered to the edge of the balcony and looked out into the trees.

"If you saw us together back then, why did you come to Sunnydale to get him back, Drusilla?" Buffy asked her, remembering the night the vampire was chained across from her in Spike's crypt. He winced at the memory. She gave him a smile that said, well you did, and patted his hand.

"Souless, evil demons can't love. We aren't capable of it. Nothing more than trapped breakfast." She practically sang her version of Buffy's own words back to her never turning to face her.

"Trapped breakfast?" She mouthed at Spike.

"Serial killer in prison, luv."

"Oh" She winced at the memories.

"They never thought you would make it this far. A demon choosing humanity for love? A slayer in love with a demon." She spun and faced Buffy pointing a finger accusingly.

"Have you learned yet that demons can love?"

Buffy nodded slowly.

She moved closer to her, her fingernail almost touching Buffy over her heart.

"He is my only Childe, I made him. He is a part of you now as you are of him, which means you are also a part of me." Buffy tried to conceal her shiver at the smile on Drusilla's face.

This was the Vampire who killed Kendra, tortured Giles and Angel. She was insane, she was evil.

She was her...mother-in-law.

She could feel the tension in Spike sitting next to her, ready to spring at Dru should she make a move to actually hurt Buffy.

Instead she leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. "Welcome to our family." Buffy looked over at Spike, who looked as stunned as she felt.

"I would wish you both happiness, but you already have that. Please remember, my Sweet William, my wedding gift to you: stories, the woman in black will need a story. Either that or you will lose your new queen."

Buffy sat up in bed gasping. Spike shot up next to her. They looked at each other amazed.

"Was it real?" She asked shaking from the intensity of the dream.

"I think so."

"So is she here? Is she even close by?"

"I think if she was close by she would have come in person, instead of pulling us into that dream."

"I didn't know she could do that."

"I don't even bloody know half of what she can do and I spent over a hundred years with the daft chit."

"It does say a lot about you that you handled her for that long and you aren't completely 'daft' yourself." He gave a small chuckle at her attempt to mimic his accent.

"I don't know pet, I'm married to you so I can't be too sane."

He grunted when she hit him in the stomach. Then he pulled her in his arms need to feel her close to him after that. He didn't want her to know how frightened he was when he found her on that porch with Dru. She had no idea what could have happened to her, even in a dream.

"What about the Woman in black? What about the standing in the sun at the end of the world? What about you leaving to walk in other worlds?" Buffy asked she could hear the panicking in her voice.

"I don't know luv, we might not find out for another 50 years knowing Drusilla."

Buffy sighed, frustrated. "So what do we do now?"

"I have an idea. Stay right there." He quickly left and headed into the bathroom. He came back a few moments later with a bottle of scented oil in his hand.

"How is that going to help anything?"

"Since you never let me give you a massage before, I'm going to ignore that." He answered sitting back down on the bed. "Now on your tummy."

"Spike!!" She said exasperated. "We have to do something about this, this, dream-Drusilla thing."

"Buffy, first of all something like pulling us into a dream that strong will have exhausted her for days. Second of all, if she was near by its still daylight out so she won't be out. Third we are in a house with two vampires, one mighty powerful witch, a demon, a watcher, two slayers and several mini-slayers. Don't mistake crazy for stupid.

Fourth of all," he sighed, "I believe her, that she was just here to offer her congratulations."

Buffy was looking at him doubtfully, she wanted to believe that she didn't have another enemy out there stalking her because she took her favorite toy.

He was pouring some of the oil out and onto his hands, rubbing them together to warm the oil.

"We'll tell your Watcher when we have to leave this room." He glanced over at the clock. "In another 17 hours."

She was weakening, he could tell. "Trust me, please, you don't have to worry about this now. Someday, probably, but not now."

That did it. She did trust him and no one knew Drusilla better than he did.

"All right, but this massage better be good, because I gotta tell you, dreaming about the ex-girlfriend on our wedding night...not a good thing."
"You know you're the only one I want."

She flopped onto her stomach. "I don't know, I think I'll need some convincing."