Disclaimer: So I was walking along one day and was viciously attacked by a demon for the right to own BTVS. Sadly I had to tell the thing that I didn’t own Buffy and Spike.

Author’s note: Thanks to all my reviewers!
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Chapter 3: Shadows and Ashes

Buffy took a look at her new apartment. It was barely furnished, just a bed a set of drawers, stove, fridge, no curtains. Sunlight streamed into the room. It needed work. Buffy threw down her back pack and started looking in cupboards, the fridge and closets. There was no phone, nothing.

She had left a message on Dawn’s phone. Obviously she was at school. The same happened at Willow’s and Xander’s. It was 10 am on a Wednesday morning after all. Only hours ago she Spike and Oz got off the bus. Oz had gone on to wherever he was going. Spike was in a crypt for the day, leaving Buffy alone to get things set up in her new place. She looked into her empty fridge. She needed to go grocery shopping. Buffy sat down on her new bed and rested her head on her hands and started to cry.
__________________________________________
Dawn walked home from school happier than she had been for months. School was ok. It was good to be with kids who weren’t superheroes, like her. She had made 2 new friends, the most normal people she had ever met and there was a boy, Rick, possibly the dreamiest guy she had seen in a good long time, next to Spike of course. She was still cautious- the last guy she went our on a date with turned out to be have a weird hypnotic jacket. Dawn turned on to her street, preparing herself for another encounter with Valery. As the house came into view, Dawn could see the outline of the house, the frames smoking, the house and empty shell of what it had been.

“Oh my god!” said Dawn as she ran to her house.

Her step mother was distraught outside on the lawn as police were trying to get a statement from the wailing woman. Valery caught a glimpse of Dawn running towards the house.

“Dawn!” shouted Valery, “Stop!”

Dawn halted in her tracks, 3 houses away.

“Don’t come any closer! Go to Willow’s,” shouted Valery.

Dawn stood puzzled for a moment before taking off in the direction of Willow’s campus dorm room. Willow met her at the door.

“Oh my goddess, Dawn. Valery called me an hour ago. I’m so glad you are safe.”

“Willow, what’s going on?”

“There’s been some, nastiness at your Dad’s house.”

“No kidding”

“Valery doesn’t know what happened. She says that she saw a bright green light, weird voices and then the house was on fire.”

“What do the police think it was?”

“Arson, but I don’t think pyromaniacs are our problem, think this has demon written all over it.”

“Really?” said Dawn happily

“You didn’t make a wish to a vengeance demon did you?”

“Willow!” said Dawn shocked, “To burn down my house? Like I’d really do that.”

“Just checking, Feel like doing some research?”

“Feels like a distraction if you ask me.”

“Distraction yes, but also useful.”

“ We need to tell Buffy”

“When she calls next.” said Willow, “ I promise.”
__________________________________________
But Buffy didn’t call at all that day. Dawn thought it pretty strange that Dad or Valery hadn’t called her to see if she was alright. The first few days of her 10 months was turning out weirder than ever. Both Xander and Andrew showed up to play scrabble that night, to keep Dawn’s mind off her house burnt up.

“So got any demon-y leads on what burnt down your house?” asked Andrew during a pause in the scrabble action.

Willow and Xander shot him looks of death but he failed to pay attention. He just wanted to talk to Dawn.

“No, Giles took all the relevant books with him to England. I might try on the web tomorrow at school.”

“How was school?” asked Xander obviously trying to change the subject.

“Good made a couple of new friends, my teachers are ok. It’s very normal.”

“Normal is good,” said Willow

“Normal is boring,” said Dawn, “I miss Buffy.”

“I’m sure she will call tomorrow.”

Dawn slept on Willow’s floor that night. She was awakened by a phone ringing early in the morning. Immediately Dawn thought it was Buffy. As she sat up Willow hung up the phone.

“Was that Buffy?” asked Dawn.

“It was Valery. She says it would probably be best if you went to school as normal.”

“She must feel very concerned for me” said Dawn sarcastically as she rolled over and put her head on her pillow.

“Dawn...”

“I’ll go.... 9 months and 27 days.”
__________________________________________

Dawn was safely at school. Willow returned to the site of the Summer’s burnt house. Valery was already there.

“Willow,” said Valery in semi greeting, with her back turned to the witch.

“Valery,”

“It’s all ruined, there’s nothing here to salvage,” said Valery distraught.

“Can the bullshit Valery, you need to tell me everything you know.”

“Are you sure you want that kind of responsibility?”

“Are you loony? I just want to know who’s responsible for the fire and why you are acting all creepy.”

“I just want to protect him.”

“Hank. You saw this coming, didn’t you?”

Valery nodded.

“I have visions, every once in a while. About my life, a glimpse in the future, nothing concrete. Dabbled in witch craft when I was your age. Suspect it’s a consequence. Since the hellmouth was closed I’ve had them nearly everyday. Something wants to kill the Summers. To make sure they are no more. I don’t know why. I want to protect him. It’s why I wanted Buffy to leave. If she’s here, he’s in danger. He doesn’t even know how dangerous she is. I know that Dawn must not come back here. He’s not safe with them around.”

“If you’ve seen the future then tell me who’s behind it.”

“I can’t. I do know that whatever it is will keep coming after them, Hank, Dawn and Buffy. Until the slayers line is ended and the legacy can go on.”

“Whoa, be kind, rewind, please... the slayers line?”

“That’s what the voices in my head said, Before...”

“You had warning? That’s why you survived. But why were you the target if what ever this is, is after the Summers, you aren’t a Summers Valery.”

“No but my baby is,” said Valery putting a hand protectively against her stomach.

“Congratulations then,” said Willow awkwardly.

“Thanks,” said Valery smiling, “ wait a minute,” she said nudging something with her shoe, “I’ve never seen this before.” Valery picked up a wooden box from the ashes of the house. “I wonder how it didn’t get burnt?”

Willow let her mouth open in astonishment. She knew exactly what that was. She thought it had been lost in Sunnydale. Willow reached out with her hands.

“Do you know what it is Willow?” asked Valery.

“Ya...”
__________________________________________
Later that night Willow, Xander, Kennedy and Andrew waited for Dawn to come home from School. Dawn walked into Willow’s dorm room happy and chipper from the bright sunshiny day. The moment she saw the dark faces of her friend she knew right away that things were not all rainbows and puppies.

“No need to ask how your day went,” said Dawn.

“Kennedy, you had better go,” said Willow.

Kennedy rose from the table, kissed Willow and went out the door giving Dawn a ‘cheer up’ smile as she went.

“Ok now you are freaking me out” said Dawn.

“We need to talk,” said Willow seriously, “I know what burnt down your house.”

“Is something trying to kill me again? Cause that’s what you all look like you are going to tell me.”

“It’s worse than that Dawn, if you could sit...” said Xander.

“No I won’t sit, tell me now. Has something happened to Buffy?”

“Not that we know of,” said Willow. “Please let me finish.”

Dawn crossed her arms angrily. They never stopped thinking she was just a child.

“Do you remember the shadow caster box that sent Buffy into another dimension and gave us a demon? The one that came from Principal Wood’s mother?” Said Willow.

“Ya..”

“It was in the ashes of your house.”

“But how...It would have gone down with all of the rest of our stuff in Sunnydale.”

“Valery also told me that she heard voices before the fire, men’s voices. They said something about ending the slayers line and making the legacy go on. I think that something, those men Buffy talked to in that other dimension are trying to kill everyone with Summers blood, so that the legacy of the slayer can go back to the way it was before I cast that spell.”

“Why do they need to kill us?” asked Dawn, sitting finally in a chair.

“I don’t know, I need to do some research on the spell I cast how it can be reversed.”

“So my Dad is in danger, is that where Kennedy went? to protect him?”

“Yes and Valery.”

“What has Valery got to do with it?”

“She’s pregnant Dawn.”
__________________________________________
Buffy sat on a tomb stone in one of the local cemeteries. The sun had only just done down, it had been a busy day. She now had food in her fridge, curtains on the windows, sheets on her bed and weapons unpacked. She wanted some dusty action. After sitting on that bus for so long she needed to make sure that she could still slay.

“Hey, what are you doing here?” a male voice asked her from behind.

Buffy could tell it wasn’t a vampire, just from the way her insides didn’t flip-flop.

“Paying my respects,” said Buffy turning to the voice. The man was mid 30 ish, brown hair, dark eyes. He commanded attention.

“To...Mark Bellamy, 1901-1986?”

“Sure.”

“Ok, You know you really shouldn’t be in here after dark.”

“Don’t you worry. I can take care of myself.”

“I don’t think you realise what you are getting yourself into.”

“You’d be surprised. Who are you anyway?” Buffy asked.

“David Gable, Caretaker of this place.”

“Makes sense, I didn’t expect any other people wandering around cemeteries at night, well except dumb kids.”

“Like you?”

“Harsh much? I wouldn’t exactly call myself a dumb kid,” said Buffy

“What would you call yourself?” asked Gable

Just then two vampires shot out of graves to the left of Buffy.

“You need to leave,” said Gable

“And miss all the fun?” said Buffy, “ hardly.”

Buffy watched as Gable actually took on one of the vamps himself. Having staked one of the vamps she stood back and watched Gable fight against the other. He was having some trouble against the vamp.

“Need some help?” asked Buffy

“No, I’m fine.”

“Are you sure, cause you look a little clobbered,”

Gable punched the vamp in the nose and got back on to his feet, then staked the vamp.

“So you are just a caretaker?” said Buffy

“Those were vampires.”

“Ya...I know”

“Maybe you should tell me just exactly who you are,” he said breathing deeply

“I asked first”

“I am the caretaker of this cemetery. I’ve been hunting vampires since I was 16 when my father
was killed by one.”

“Fair enough,” said Buffy, “Buffy Summers, Chosen One, Vampire Slayer.”

“Nice title, had it long?”

“Since I was 15 or so.”

“Get paid with that title?” he said sneering.

“You really have no clue, do you?”

“I think your aren’t what you say you are”

“Look, I’m not trying to move in on your territory.”

“No, I think you are trying to get close then go in for the kill.”

“Do you really think you are that important mate?” said Spike’s voice from behind Buffy.

Buffy turned around and smiled. He had snuck up behind her while she was in the heat of the
argument.

“I’m sure the vampires would love to get rid of me,” said Gable.

“I’m sure they’d like to eat you actually. Frankly I’m surprised you’ve lived this long,” said Buffy.

“I’m good at what I do,” said Gable.

“Then how come we’ve never heard of you mate? The mighty Vampire Hunter of Cleveland in all his glory?” said Spike.

Buffy laughed. She had been missing Spike’s cocky sense of humour. She let herself be taken in by his eyes. Buffy blinked returning herself to her environment.

“Look maybe you’ve been doing this for a while, but there is not need for us to argue, obviously you have this place under control. I was just looking for a work out.”

“A work out? You call that a work out! This is life and death little girl.” shouted Gable.

Buffy laughed. “Actually, no I don’t call it a work out, I haven’t had a decent work out with a vampire since I last saved the world. It was nice meeting you, I’ll try to stay our of your cemetery from now on.” Buffy turned away and walked towards the exit of the cemetery. Spike followed obediently behind.

“Has an inflated sense of self that one.” he commented.

“His arrogance probably keeps him alive.” said Buffy, “I’m afraid you will have to move.”

“I gathered that much. No problem not the roomiest crypt I’ve ever stayed in.”

“Sorry about the inconvenience.”

“Heard from Dawn lately?”

“No, my phone will be hooked up tomorrow.”

“What were you really doing in there anyway?”

“Hoping to recapture a purpose.”

“And?”

“It was familiar, slaying ordinary vampires again. I haven’t really done that for a while,” said Buffy, “I’d like to feel in the game. That guy really pissed me off though.”

“Want to go back and teach him a lesson?”

“Maybe some other time”

“How’s the new place working out?”

“It’s a work in progress, what we really need to do now is to find the Hellmouth and make certain that it is still very buried. Got any ideas?”

“Well I’d suggest asking Mr Vampire Hunter but he seems pretty out of the loop, doesn’t even know about the Slayer... Probably doesn’t know much.”

“Doubt he gets out of the cemetery much.”

“Well I’ll see if any old acquaintances are in town.”

“Want me to come with?” asked Buffy, “ I’m feeling a bit useless right now.”

“Call Dawn, pep talk from her will do you good.”

“Thanks” said Buffy trying to smile.

“I’ll check on you later.”
__________________________________________
Willow looked over the box she had taken from Valery.

“This has something to do with you doesn’t it?” she said turning the box around on the table. “I wonder what secrets you haven’t yet told us?”
__________________________________________
Dawn answered her cell phone on the second ring.

“Buffy?” said Dawn eagerly.

“Dawn is everything ok there?”

“Oh Buffy. I’m so glad you called. Dad’s house is burnt down. Willow thinks those men from the shadow caster box is trying to kill our family so that the slayer legacy will go back to the way it was.” said Dawn at the speed of a train.

“Huh? Who’s trying to kill you now?”

“It’s not just me Buffy, they are trying to kill Valery, and Dad and probably you too.”

“Where are you staying right now?”

“At Willow’s.”

“Good stay there. Get Willow to put a protection spell on you.”

“Here?”

“Yes, you are safer with Willow, she won’t let anything happen to you until we figure out how to stop this.”

“But I want to be with you, and Spike. I’m safest with you two.”

“Dawn how do you think you are going to be able to get here? Plane, train or bus you will be vulnerable and alone on the journey.”

“Buffy...”

“Dawn, I’ll get you to me, but I want you safe. I love you.”

“I wish Spike was here.”

“You will see him soon. I promise. Can I talk to Willow? Is she there?”

Dawn passed the phone to Willow, who had been keeping one ear to the conversation, while still trying to read the large and dusty volume before her.

“Buffy?” said Willow.

“Who’s protecting my dad?”

“I’ve put Kennedy on it,”

“Good. Keep Dawn safe. Does Giles know?”

“Yes I've called him. He’s sending me the book that came with the shadow caster box. I need to do a little reconnaissance, to figure out how to stop it,”

“Ok, what can I do?”

“Nothing right now, unless you want Dawn to come to you.”

“No too dangerous.”

“Ya, ok. Don’t worry. We are on it on this end.”

“Good K, keep me in the loop ok? I’ll get my new phone number tomorrow. I’ll call you and Dawn tomorrow.”

“How’s Oz?”

“I haven’t seen him since getting off the bus Willow.”

“Oh,”

“I’m sure I’ll see him soon.”

“How goes the decorating?”

“Good, I think. I’ve got a sorta bohemian dungeon thing going on.”

“Sounds beautiful.”
__________________________________________

Buffy hung up the phone in despair. Why had she left Dawn alone? And now her Dad was a target too. She should have never left LA. Buffy punched the phone booth in frustration.

“Did the thing eat your quarter?” asked Spike, “Things aren’t going well in LA,” he said a statement rather than a question.

“Do you know something?” Buffy asked, “or is my pleasant phone booth manner giving me away?”

“Both”

“Spill”

“The word is out that you and your loved ones have become targets. The spell the witch cast has made you all very unpopular with the powers that be and virtually every demon in the world. It used to be that to avoid the slayer you just had to stay out of Sunnyhell. Now you lot are everywhere.”

“What do you know about what’s happening in LA?”

“No one knows for sure, but they know that the natural order will be restored soon.”

“Great, cryptic prophecy.”

“We don’t exactly work in a realm of clear cut facts now do we?”

“Dawn’s in trouble Spike, so is my Dad and here I am hanging out in a city thousands of miles away. I can’t do anything to help them.”

“You need to do something to take your mind off it, pet,” he said walking closer to her and putting his hand on her hip.

“I need to sleep.”

“So you can stew in your own misery. Ya good plan.”

“I didn’t ask for your opinion”

“No you didn’t, but I’m giving it to you anyway. You are scared, this is the first time that you haven’t been there to call the shots. The witch won’t let anything happen to the nibblet. You need to protect yourself. Whatever this thing is, it will come after you too.”

“You are right, but Dawn’s life is far more important than mine. She can have a future. She needs to live, to have a normal life.”

“The life that you never had? Are you protecting Dawn because she’s your sister or because she’s you in the life you can’t have?”

“Huh?”

“Face it slayer, you aren’t exactly the most normal girl in the world. Most girls your age have careers, education, boyfriends and are starting to think about families. You aren’t exactly clammering to get those things are you? But you’ve accepted that, because Dawn was your way out. You could live vicariously through her. Has it ever occurred to you that she may not want to have a normal life?”

Buffy stared blankly at him. He could always read her like a book. It was a shame really that since they had gotten on that bus, there had been no declaration of love. Here he was laying her psyche out for her to inspect, again. But he hadn’t said “I love you” since Sunnydale.

He couldn’t take it anymore. “Bloody hell, say something, punch me, do something,” he begged.

A tear trickled down Buffy’s cheek.

“Oh god, I’m sorry,” he said moving closer to her.

“No, no, it’s not your fault. Well probably it is. Am I just so easy to read?” And why don’t you say you love me anymore?

“Only to me,” he said taking her hand for a moment. “I’ll let you get some sleep.”

He wanted to get drunk. To be this close and no further was painful. He started to walk away. She grabbed his hand again. Queen of the mixed messages she is.

“No,” said Buffy quietly.

“No you don’t want to sleep?”

“I don’t want you to go.” She led him through the lobby of the building.

Spike climbed the stairs to the second floor apartment paused at the door way for the magic words.

“Come in Spike” she said still holding his hand.

Hesitantly he followed her into the apartment. Buffy kicked off her shoes and threw her jacket at a box before pushing the duster off the confused Vampire. She didn’t have a come hither look in her eyes, they were far away and sad. Her eyes and her actions didn’t seem to mesh. She led him to her bedroom. She fished around in her back pack for some PJ bottoms. In a flash her jeans were off and the PJ bottoms were on. Buffy curled up on her bed, under the covers.

Spike stood there intensely confused. She had just changed there in front of him.

“Spike?” she said still curled up on the bed.

“Slayer?”

“Hold me until I fall asleep?”

Spike knew he was helpless against her demands. He climbed into bed with her and wrapped his arms around her petit frame. He had done this before... seemed such a long time ago, another lifetime ago. He couldn’t believe that he was in this position again. He swore at himself for being such a ponce. She had him wrapped around her baby finger again. He was her whipping boy. He knew it, just couldn’t bring himself to do anything about it. She believed in him. That was what had drove him to get a soul, forced himself to work for her, training those blasted potentials, made him afraid to touch her once he got back. Until the prats kicked her out of her own house.

That’s where he saw himself right now, reliving that moment. He didn’t want to think of anything else except that moment.

“I’m not ready for you not to be here,” she whispered into the darkness of the bedroom.
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tbc...