Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Since I have already stolen Drogyn and hopefully given him a better death than Joss did; you won’t be all that surprised that I am playing with the Angel timeline. I’m just borrowing one more character. But I promise to give him back in the same condition I got him in.
 
Dialog taken from “No Place Like Home” by Doug Petrie. Dialog taken from Triangle, written by Jane Espenson
 
Many thanks to my beta No_Promises. The wonderful banner is by 3hours.

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Joyce finally found time to talk to her daughter alone. “Buffy, we need to talk.” Joyce led Buffy into one of the unused rooms. “What’s going on between you and Spike?”
 
“Wha? Nothing!”
 
Joyce just stared at her oldest child knowing she would talk eventually.
 
“Don’t worry it ends tonight okay?”
 
Joyce was about to tell her daughter that it was for the best when her conversation with Anya filtered through her head.  “You can try to stop them from being together, you might even succeed. She won’t be happy though and she probably won’t live very long either.”  “Do you have feelings for him?”
 
“Huh? Feelings for Spike? Mom, I…” Buffy couldn’t finish her sentence. It didn’t matter if she had feelings for Spike or not. Which I so don’t! Do I?  Her friends would never approve. “It doesn’t matter mom. I know what you and everyone else will say.”
 
The defeated acceptance in Buffy’s voice startled Joyce. Do we really put that much pressure on her to be what we want? Is she giving up a chance to be happy because of us? “Buffy forget about everyone else. What do you want?”
 
Buffy couldn’t believe her ears. Did her mom actually ask her what she wanted? Nobody ever asked her that. They told her who she should want. What she should do. “Mom it’s not that simple. Willow, Xander, Giles… Oh god Angel is going to flip!”
 
Joyce’s fierce tone interrupted Buffy. “I didn’t ask what they wanted Buffy I asked you. It’s your life your decision. Either they accept it or they don’t but they don’t get to make it for you.”
 
“That’s what Tara said.”
 
“Well she’s a very smart girl.” Joyce turned and started walking the length of the small room. “I’m not… I wanted very different things for you for both of you. But this past month has been a bit of an eye opener. It doesn’t matter what I wanted for you. It’s your life and there are things about it that I’m not happy about.” Seeing the sadness in Buffy’s face Joyce rushed to clarify. “Nothing about you honey. I didn’t want this life for you. But we don’t get to chose what the universe throws our way as I’ve realized. You have to make the best of what you are given and you have done that. You are an amazing woman and I am very proud of you. The only way you could possibly disappoint me is if you stop living for you. I know your friends are very important to you but you can’t let what they might think effect your decisions.”
 
Walking over to Buffy Joyce wiped the tears that were streaming down her daughter’s face. “Spike may not have been the man I would have picked for you but for the life you have and the life you have to live? I think he would be good choice. If he’s who you want then you have my blessing and my support.” Joyce stumbled and would have fallen from the hug her daughter gave her except for the tight grip Buffy had around her mother.
 
“Thank you mom.”
 
                                                                                                                                    §
 
Spike knew the moment Joyce and Buffy came back into the main room. A quick glance confirmed what he nose had told him. Buffy had been crying. Well mate you knew it couldn’t last. You never get the girl.  He was so busy brooding that it took him a few minutes to realize that Buffy had come to stand next to him. It was only when she took his hand in her own did he come to his senses.
 
Buffy was trying hard not to laugh at the puzzled expression on Spike’s face. He had seemed to go off somewhere when she first came back in. He hadn’t noticed when she stood next to him and when she had grabbed his hand he had a dazed look on his face.
 
Spike continued to stare at their joined hands. You’re dreaming mate. No way would the slayer hold your hand in front of everyone ‘specially her mum. Then Buffy ducked her head to look him in the eye she gave his hand a little squeeze a smile breaking over her face. An eyebrow lifted in query and a small nod in return had Spike grinning like a loon, grabbing the tiny blond and kissing her senseless. Anya and Dawn started whistling while Joyce and Tara had smiles on their faces. Wes looked up to see what the commotion was before turning his attention to what he considered were far more important matters. 
 
                                                                                                                               §
 
The plan was simple, recent patrols underground had shown the group that Kaledena had guards at the high school to ensure that no one got near the hellmouth. So tonight as soon as they got in close enough for Tara and Anya to cast some spells, Buffy would enter the room where the seal was. The hope was that the mental connection Kaledena shared with them would alert her to Buffy’s presence. They were banking on Kaledena making an appearance to stop them. Tara and Anya would cast the spell from the Muse’s while Buffy and the friendly demons worked to incapacitate her followers. Wesley and Joyce would stand guard over Dawn just in case the protection the Muse’s gave her didn’t work. Once Kaledena entered the burned out husk of Sunnydale High School Tara and Anya would use a barrier spell to keep the rest of her worshippers out of the building and thereby out of the fight. That left Spike to battle Kaledena, after numerous heated discussions, Buffy eventually agreed that it was the only thing that they could do. With the chip Spike couldn’t fight any of the humans even with the side effects of the wish in place. His job was to position Kaledena on the seal just after Dawn completed the cleansing ritual.
 
It was an odd feeling going into battle without Giles, Willow and Xander. Looking behind her Buffy contemplated the group following her. She wasn’t worried about Spike he could take care of himself. Tara and Anya had proven themselves over the last few weeks. Tara was able to cast some really spectacular spells with no nasty side effects. Anya was turning out to be a font of knowledge about demons. It was the other three that had her worried. The last time Wes had been in a battle he fainted before it had really even begun. The biggest worry was her mom and Dawn. Buffy tried very hard to keep the slaying part of her life from touching them and now because of some stupid monks and a power crazed former PTB they were going to be right in the thick of things.
 
As they got closer to the hellmouth the friendly demons in town joined them. Clem had been very persuasive in convincing them to help. It hadn’t taken much, just a reminder that if Kaledena won the fight they would all be living on borrowed time.
 
Two hundred feet from the chamber that housed the seal the group stopped and set up a perimeter around Tara and Anya. “Give me 5 minutes to get their attention then start casting. We need to make sure she knows I’m here.” Buffy gave her orders before walking the rest of the way into the chamber. Putting a bright and cheery smile on her face Buffy entered the room. “Hi! I’m Buffy the Vampire Slayer was this a private party or can anyone join?” Taking advantage of the stunned looks on Kaledena’s worshippers Buffy was able to knock three of them out with well placed blows before the others had a chance to respond.
 
                                                                                                                              §

Willow, Giles and Xander were once again called to face Kaledena’s wrath. “You have not found them yet.” Everyone shifted uncomfortably at the barely suppressed rage behind the words.
 
“There have been reports, sightings of Spike around town but we have not been able to confirm them as of yet.”
 
A gasp from the former Power had all eyes turning towards her. As the visions from those guarding the seal filtered down to all her followers Kaledena started barking orders. “Why is the slayer at the seal? She is attempting something. Stop her!”
 
The three former scoobies ran out the door and piled into Giles car. The shared vision told them exactly where Buffy was and Giles wasted no time speeding towards the old Sunnydale High School.
 
Kaledena strode out of the mansion heading for the school. Brimming with power from her last meal she arrived shortly after the first wave of acolytes. Tearing the main doors off their hinges Kaledena wasted no time making her way into the basement. Using more power than she realized she broke through the walls taking a direct route to the room that housed the seal.
 
                                                                                                                                 §

While Buffy was attracting Kaledena’s attention by attacking her followers, Tara was reciting the invocation from the Muse’s to activate Dawn’s protection.

Divine Goddess, Goddess Divine,
Divine God, God Divine,
If evil dwells within this place,
Please make it leave my space.

A faint sheen of gold surrounded Dawn as the protection bubble snapped into place. The building shuddered as Kaledena made her way through to the room they were in. The trembling walls altered the two blondes with a start they realized it was time to cast the barrier spell. Standing next to each other Tara took hold of Anya’s left hand, in tandem they began to chant.
 
Craft the spell in the fire;
Craft it well; Weave it higher.
Weave it now of shining flame;
None shall come to hurt or maim.
None shall pass this fiery wall;
None shall pass No, none at all.
 
Artisfamam in igne
Fabricare eam bene; stringesque altius erat.
Stringesque nunc fulgentium flamma;
Nemo veniet ad debilitatum aut MUTILO.
Quod ignis non erit transiens murum
Non erit transiens non nulla.
 
With Kaledena’s arrival the demons Clem recruited got into position at the entrances to the school. Their job was to prevent any more followers from joining the fight. Before Tara and Anya could cast the barrier spell they were overrun by humans. A sudden change in air pressure signified the completion of the barrier. The new recruits walked the perimeter and found that it was holding, humans were bouncing off the invisible wall unable to enter the building.
 
Buffy was finding it hard to fight Kaledena’s followers. The room was dark, only the few lanterns those guarding the seal had brought lighting the room. She was pulling her punches trying not to cause serious injury and as a result wasn’t incapacitating enough of them. Every time she managed to push one away from the seal or Dawn two more took their place.
 
Taraknew the barrier wouldn’t hold. She was expending too much energy counter casting against Willow to hold it for long. Her only hope was that it was last long enough for them to finish this.
 
Anya could feel the spells in the air. Firming her grip on her bat she tried to protect Tara as she fought Willow.
 
Wesley saw the magic’s gathering around Willow just before she struck. Throwing himself in the way of the blue arc he shuddered when Willow’s spell hit him instead of Dawn.
 
Joyce was swinging a bat at anyone that came near Dawn, breaking a few bones in the process. Breaking her gaze to check on her oldest daughter Joyce saw Buffy hesitate when her next opponent turned out to be Giles. Quickly darting forward Joyce bashed the watcher on the head knocking him out.
 
Anya spotted Xander sneaking up behind Tara and with a grimace hit him snapping his wrist.
 
Dawn was nervous. There were so many of them flooding the room. Spike was fighting Kaledena. Buffy was trying to keep the humans out of the way. Mom and Wesley were standing guard next to her. But what her really worried was Willow. The red head had spotted her. Dawn could see Willow casting spells to break through her protective barrier.
 
Willow's chanting, her voice coming clearer, as she made her way towards Dawn was getting louder. “Sis modo dissolutum exposco, validum scutum! Diutius nec defende a manibus arcam, intende!"
 
Tara was trying to deflect them with counter spells, but a few crashed into her golden bubble causing cracks to appear. The last one hit Wes electrocuting him. Taking a deep breath Dawn started to chant.
 
Qui in praesidio dicimus solem et lunam. Horus audi nos et mutuum nobis fortitudine tua, ad munda hoc signum suus malo ingenio observabuntur. Hoc petimus in nomine est. Vestibulum tenebras quam lucem.
 
We call upon those that protect, the sun and the moon. Horus hear us and lend us your strength to cleanse this symbol of its evil intent. We ask this of you in the name of right. Change that which is dark to the light.
 
Spike was getting his ass kicked. The she bitch was blocking his every blow and landing quite a few painful ones of her own. He could dimly hear Dawn reciting the first spell when suddenly he was pin wheeling through the air from a hard shove from Kaledena. With a thud he landed on the glowing seal no longer sporting a pentagram and goat head. The seal was awash in gold and silver the Eye of Horus shining brightly. Warmth like he had never known flooded through his body. The demon inside snarled once in protest before a feeling of peace settled inside him.
 
“SPIKE!” Buffy was terrified when she saw the vampire land on the seal. Relief flooded her system when she realized that the seal hadn’t opened.
 
Tara knew the barrier spell was failing. She was using too much energy deflecting Willow’s spells. Seizing on an opportunity Tara drew strength from the seal that was glowing in front of her. Raising her hands she let her voice ring out loud and clear. “In Hecate's name I bind thee Willow. May your ability to raise magic fall on deaf walls. Only when this battle’s past shall this binding be uncast. So Mote It Be!”
 
Dawn almost screamed when she saw Spike fall on the seal. Thinking something had gone wrong when both gold and silver streaks of light surrounded the seal Dawn started to run to him only to have Wesley grab her ankle from his position on the floor.
 
“Keep going! Don’t stop now!”
 
Sighing in relief when Spike stood up Dawn got ready for the next spell.
 
Spike was getting sick of being tossed around like a rag doll. Quickly shifting into game face he let out a roar as he charged Kaledena.
 
When Dawn saw Spike charging she stepped forward, taking the small blessed knife from her pocket she made a tiny incision in the palm of her hand. Holding it over the seal she began to recite the necessary words.
 
Three drops I offer. Open the door I seek to the Deeper Well. Let this abomination be banished. Never to break free. Sealed for all time.
 
Tres guttas offero. Sed quaero altius aperuit. Sit abominationem hanc banniretur. Numquam ad disrumpet. Signatum omne tempus.
 
Spike slammed into the former PTB his momentum carrying them to the nearest wall. When he saw Dawn out of the corner of his eye make the cut in her hand he grabbed Kaledena by the arms. Spinning he heaved her towards the seal as the last words of the chant echoed in the room.