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Chapter 26


Spike, who had been kneeling at the water’s edge, saw movement behind the bushes on the other side of the creek. Prepared to defend the older man who had led him that far, he began backing up. As the interloper made their identity known, Spike dropped his defenses. He had never seen Kaia, but he knew her instantly. She was standing before him, but it wasn’t her. It was Buffy. He didn’t know how, but he knew it was his Slayer inside the young blonde’s body.

“Bu-Kaia? Is that you? Spike took tentative steps toward the blond girl, still very aware of the water that separated them. Is she pregnant?

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Still bound by invisible restraints, bleeding and being skinned alive, Willow became worried for the first time. Tara… I must protect her; I can’t let him hurt her. I will do whatever he asks. Not Tara… I could never live with myself if something happened to her again.

The Beast watched the witch finally break. Seeing her crack in pain produced such pleasure. She was powerful, and had potential to grow stronger with time. That was something he had no intention of allowing.

“Tara,” he said drawing it out. “She is your lover—the one you hold dear—yet she hasn’t once come looking for you. I know she is a white witch, no dark in her at all. This is why she keeps her distance. She wants nothing more to do with you. She cares for another…” He spun to face her, and drove his fingers into the sides of her head once more. Willow’s screams fell on deaf ears. “A vampire. She chose a vampire over you, yet shuns you for your use of dark magic. That’s got to burn. Did you think this would fix everything? Make her love you again? Bring the Slayer back?” Roaring laughter bounced off the inside walls of the mansion, rattling its very foundation.

“Please…” Willow struggled to say. She couldn’t gather enough strength to say anything more, and faded into unconsciousness as the Beast removed his fingers.

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The Summers’ residence was quiet as its residents and guests waited. Giles and Dawn took alternating shifts watching over Buffy’s body. Tara had taken to massaging and working the muscles in Buffy’s limbs, concerned about atrophy. Xander and Anya had mostly come bearing food each day, hoping to lighten the somber mood that had settled within the house.

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Groma woke covered in sweat, pain coursing through her entire body. Needing to get a drink, she struggled to push the hides off her. She knew her fever was too high, and she needed water to ward off dehydration. She found the water skins Buffy had filled and left for her, as well as the salve near her bed. Unsure she could have gone far, she was thankful that Buffy had left them nearby. Groma drank as much as she could, then settled herself back under her hides. She asked the Spirit Guide to return Buffy soon. She didn’t feel like she was getting better, and needed the comfort of not being alone.

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Hourak watched stunned as Kaia spoke to the stranger in a dialect he had only just heard that day. How did she know? Where could she have learned? She was too young when Groma found her to have learned from her clan… He watched Spike rise and begin to wade through the water towards Kaia, who was standing on the opposite side, tears streaming down her face. He watched as Spike reached her and something stopped him. He did not embrace her as one would have thought, but stood before her like he was unsure how to proceed. Hourak struggled to hear their conversation, but the flowing water drowned it out. He would have to wait.

Spike looked into her eyes. He knew she was in there before she even spoke, but she was in a different body. The body of a young girl; strong, and toned, and visibly pregnant.

Buffy stared at Spike, studying his confusion, wondering if he knew it was her. “Spike?”

“Buffy? Are you in there? Can you hear me?” He reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder.

Buffy threw her arms around him, burying her face in the crook of his neck as she let the tears fall. She’d never thought she’d find a way home, and certainly never thought anyone would come find her. “Oh, Spike,” she said through her sobs. “I have missed you so much. I never thought I’d see you again.” She clung to him tightly, fearful this reunion might be an illusion.

“Buffy,” he whispered, finally allowing himself to return her embrace, moving past the fact that she didn’t look like herself. He held her tight as his mind ran through what her life must be like in this world. She’s young and pregnant, and… alone? Is she an outcast? Why was she out here alone, so far away from the large cave?

Buffy suddenly pulled away, shocked, and yelled, “Spike! You’re in the sun? Are you still a vampire here?” Her face showed concern and joy at the same time, her emotions rolling over her like waves at high tide.

“I’m fine. Still a vamp, just able to walk in the sun. Now tell me, what… pregnant? Buffy?” It just occurred to Spike that she might have met someone.

Buffy placed her hands on her belly, and her gaze lowered in embarrassment. “Yes. But now’s not the time to talk about that.” Buffy looked across the creek and called out to Hourak in the tribe’s language, “Hourak! I’m so glad to see you. Let me come to you and help you cross. Groma will be so excited to see you.” Buffy then explained to Spike what she had said to Hourak.

“Let me help him. You should be careful in your condition.” Spike lifted her face to his. “Let me help you. Is Groma…” Spike swallowed hard, not wanting the words to leave his mouth, fearing it was true. “Your mate?”

Buffy blushed. “No, Spike, I have no mate. Groma… she is my mother. Well, Kaia’s mother, and I can’t wait to introduce you. Now, go get Hourak while I fill these skins.”

Spike walked through the water, offered Hourak his arm and led him to Buffy’s side. Or is it Kaia’s side? When he had the old man on dry land once more, he turned to her and asked, “Should I call you Buffy or Kaia? This is so confusing, and I have so many questions.”

“Call me Kaia for now; Hourak doesn’t know yet, but Groma does. We can get this all sorted when we get to my cave.”

Spike watched her walk over to Hourak and embrace him. From the older man’s expressions, Spike picked up that he was happy to see Kaia, but it was obvious that her pregnancy concerned him. I’m missing an important piece to this puzzle. He didn’t know she was pregnant either… Spike heard her say Groma’s name a few times, and the old man smiled. Does the old man have a history with Kaia’s mom? Bloody hell, it’s like a caveman soap opera with vampires. I would definitely watch that show.

The three of them walked, Buffy trying to translate between the two men, promising each of them that she would explain as much as she could once they were settled in for the night. She told them both that Groma had been feeling bad, and she needed to get back to the cave and get the evening meal started before the older woman got up and started it herself.

Buffy lead Spike and Hourak to where she had been splitting wood, and bundled up what she had finished so she could get it up the bluff. Spike watched in amazement as the young girl, who seemed so tall and gangly, went about gathering and binding the wood like a seasoned woodcutter. He had never imagined that Buffy would be able to handle those types of chores. Looks like things have changed…

“Let me help, Kaia. I can carry the wood, you carry the water bags, and Hourak can follow you. Do you need me to get anything else for your meal? I could hunt, I… may need to anyway.” Spike looked concerned. He didn’t want Hourak to know he was a vampire, but he needed to feed. He needed blood.

Buffy talked as she led them up the bluff. “Are you sure you need blood? Maybe dinner will fix your hunger. I mean you are walking in the sun and all. If not, I will come out with you to hunt. There are vampires here that are unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. It’s not safe to be out after dark alone…”

Her tone had dropped, letting Spike know something bad had happened to her after dark. When she didn’t say anything else, he knew it was not a topic she was ready to discuss. He would wait until they were alone, but he had a lot questions he needed answers to before they could begin their quest home. If I had a clue how that was supposed to open the portal, or if I was under a time limit, or what was going to happen to Kaia when Buffy leaves… “Sounds good, I will help you make dinner and—if needed—we can go out after. Besides, I want some time alone with you to talk. And I ran into those vamps last night outside Hourak’s cave.” He shrugged, like they hadn’t been all that. "Old breed; same as the Master, I believe. Beheading seemed to work, but they are strong. More demon than human, I think.”

“Okay... Let me go in and let Groma know we have company before you come in. I don’t want to scare her.” Having said so in both languages, Buffy left the men standing on the ledge and turned to enter the cave.

Groma had slept all day, and her fever seemed to have broken. She was weak, but feeling better for the time being. Her daughter’s voice had woken her, but as she listened, she realized she couldn’t understand what she was saying. Then she had heard a male voice speaking the same language, that she didn’t recognize. Am I so ill that I no longer recognize speech? Who is she speaking with? Groma got up, unsure of whether to arm herself or prepare a meal for company. She opted for the first choice. Grabbing a spear she stood behind her hearth and waited. She saw Buffy arrive with two men—one she didn’t recognize and the other was her old friend Hourak. Setting her spear down, she started walking toward them, only to stumbled and started falling… falling into the hearth.

Spike saw the old woman falling, and realized that Buffy hadn’t noticed her and wouldn’t be able to get to her in time. His vampire speed allowed him to get to Groma in time to catch her, but he stepped in the hearth in the process. As Spike was helping the woman sit down, Hourak and Buffy rushed to extinguish the fire on his leg. Panic flooded Buffy as she saw the flames on his leg. Please don't dust! Oh, Spike!

His jeans sustained most of the damage, but his leg was burned badly. Groma, still weak, asked Buffy to get herbs and bring them to her, while Hourak used his stone knife to cut away the burned denim from Spike’s injury. Groma used her remaining water to clean his leg as Buffy handed her the herbs.

Groma tore the leaves to press into the wound when she realized the wound was healing on its own. Right before her eyes. Hourak had seen it too, and was mesmerized by it. Buffy wasn’t sure what to say, or if she should say something. She was so thankful that he was still here after his heroic feat. “Spike? Do you want me to say something to them?”

Spike saw that they seemed fascinated, but not scared. “No. Maybe later. Tell them I will be fine, and let’s get a meal started. We will go over everything with them later.”

Buffy did as he asked, and told them that she and Spike would get the meal together. She promised to explain everything to them both during the meal.

Wanting Groma to relax, Hourak offered to tend to the hearth, which they all agreed was a good idea.

As Buffy was walking to their food storage, she caught Groma’s eye. “It’s him,” she mouthed with an excited smile.

Groma smiled, seeing her daughter so happy, but she couldn’t help but wonder if that meant Buffy would be leaving her to return to her own time. What does this mean for Kaia’s body? Or the baby? Would she be left all alone? Groma could feel her heart race, and her stomach clench as she wondered about the future.

Hourak could see something was very wrong with Groma. Having placed another log on the fire, he sat next to his old friend. “Groma, how long have you been ill? You don’t look well at all.”

“I have been sick only a few days, but it has been very difficult. I am starting to wonder if my days are coming to an end, and I am worried about Kaia and the baby.” Groma looked to her oldest friend. “So much has happened, so much is happening, I don’t know what to think anymore. Now, this man… what does this all mean?”

Hourak embraced her, unsure how to comfort her. He, too, hoped that after that evening, things would be a little clearer.