The tiny cabin stood out in the dark. It looked like a gingerbread house. The windows were rimmed with snow, making them look as if they were made of spun sugar.

Joni walked slowly through the snow, drawn by the yellow light that flowed out of the windows like sunshine. She recognized this cabin.

This is where she was safe. This is where she had been warm before her Daddy found her and came to live with her.

This was where her Grandpa lived. This is where he told her all the fairytales and drank cocoa with marshmallows. He reminded her of her Daddy. And that made her happy and sad at the same time because she didn’t know why her Daddy didn’t know her. She didn’t know whether he ever would.

She walked to the door and knocked lightly, holding her stuffed rabbit close to her. She held her breath as she waited for the door to open and was happy when the little brown door opened and Grandpa’s soft blue-grey eyes looked down at her, “Joni,” his eyes widened behind his spectacles, “what are you doing here?” he knelt to embrace her and his head leaned to one side as he regarded her, “Shouldn’t you be going back to your Daddy? He’ll be worried about you.”

Joni sniffed back her tears, “But Papa, Daddy doesn’t know me,” her chin quivered, “The bad things made him forget.”

The old man’s eyes reflected the sadness he felt for her, “Oh, Joni, you know your Daddy would never forget you. He came to get you remember?” she moved into his arms and he picked her up and took her into the warmth of his cabin. He sat her down at the old wood table, and took down his homemade cocoa from its place above the stove, and poured it into her favorite cup, and placed it in front of her. As he heated the milk for her, “I think that your Daddy,” the old man’s eyes twinkled as he watched the little girl he took care of lick her lips in anticipation of the sweet chocolate drink, and he smiled as he poured the milk that dissolved the granules, “…he’s been away so long that he just got lost. I think it’s your turn to save him,” he smiled as she carefully put the warm cup to her lips and came away with a line of liquid chocolate smeared across her upper lip, “Do you think you can do it, Princess?”

Joni’s eyes went wide with excitement, “You mean I get to save the Prince this time?”

The old man sat in the chair opposite her and nodded, “I think so,” he said joyfully.

“Will you help, Papa?”

He smiled and winked at her, “I’ll do what I can. Your uncle’s gotten himself into trouble again. You and I might have to help him, and Spike Rabbit here,” he said as he reached across the table and shook her brown toy’s fuzzy paw as it sat staring at him from her lap, “can help too. Now, just be patient with your Daddy. He’s trying, and he loves you very much.”

“Okay, Papa.”

“Okay,” the old man sighed, straightening to clear her cup from the table. He turned to kiss her on her forehead and whispered, “Time to wake up now, Sweetheart.”

Joni felt the slight pressure on her forehead and knew she was safe. Her Daddy was near. She opened her eyes and saw his blue ones sparkling at her in the dark. Jonina reached her tiny hand up to touch his cheek, and he leaned into her touch, grateful for this small bit of warmth. Her little voice drifted up to him in a whisper, “I’m here, Daddy. And, I know the way out, if you’re lost. Just follow Mommy and me. We know the way.”

Spike wasn’t sure what she was saying, but her tone was soothing and understanding was easier now. He nodded, tilting his head to the side, he marveled at how unchanged she was by the dark place he found her in.

She was still so pure. She was amazing. His eyes took in the purple mark on her cheek. He remembered it from his dreams. In his dreams, she was his wings; wings he used to soar above the terror he dwelt in, “Dove…” he whispered brokenly, “…I…love you.”
***************************************************************

As Liam slept on the cold floor, he knew he wasn’t alone, but it wasn’t a vampire that he was sensing. He dimly wondered where Oscar had gone as the room he was in began to fill with light. The warmth made him want to open his eyes.

A voice that was both familiar and not, drifted to his ears. It was worn with age but an edge could be heard in the words, “Relax Liam. You’re still asleep. I’d tell you who I am,” the voice held a grin, “but you wouldn’t believe me. You can open your eyes. I won’t bite…I promise.”

Liam opened his eyes and stared into a pair of laughing blue-grey eyes, of a man that was crouched low next to his face, which looked at him from behind a pair of wire-rimmed spectacles. The face was time-worn, and he was sure he’d seen it before. Liam sat up and squinted, “I’ve seen you before, haven’t I?” he asked.

The eyes that looked at him twinkled with something familiar, “That you have. But, at the time, you didn’t think I was real,” he sighed, “The Dustins, well…they’re my job,” his eyes rolled to the ceiling, “You wouldn’t believe what I’ve gone through to get this assignment. I’m their angel…” he chuckled a little at the use of the word, “so to speak. And, by extension, I get you, too. The Higher Ups really do have a warped sense of humor. Yes,” he nodded, “you’ve seen me before. In that place you took that little baby to. I took care of the graveyard you sent Buffy, as well as William to. Yes,” he sighed, “you’ve seen me before. But, I’ve changed so much since you saw me last, I didn’t think you would recognize me. But, don’t worry. Spike and I will get you out of here. Again.”

Liam woke to, not blue-grey eyes that were somehow familiar and warm, but to the amber eyes of a killer, “Oh, good,” Oscar sneered, “you’re awake. Now this will be so much more fun.”