A/N: Only one more chapter to go...



"Damn it! I can't believe that bitch has the audacity to be in my house!" Buffy ranted to Spike as she paced back and forth in her backyard. Joy was upstairs with her grandma while Jonathan and Xander attempted to explain the situation to a much flustered Giles.

"Pet, you know you really should try to calm down a bit," Spike suggested, trying to be as rational as possible. He knew the Scoobies would only bring the Slayer bitch un-gagged and unbound only if it was really important.

"Calm down? How can you even say that? She's repeatedly attacked me, my family, and my friends. Hell, she could have even caused damaged to your daughter, Spike," she said with fire in her eyes. He took a deep, unneeded, calming breath before talking again.

"Hit me."

"What?" He said it so simply that she had to ask him to repeat it.

"Come on, luv. Let's have a little spar session. Guaranteed to make you feel better." He gave her a little smile. She returned it and laughed quietly.

"Yeah, smacking you around always did make me feel better. Ya know, in a superior sorta way," she said with a lewd wink.

"Oh, naughty slayer. Let's not forget I've done an equal share in the ass kicking department myself."

"More like your ass receiving all of the kicking. I almost thought that my boot was a permanent fixture on it," she said lightly.

"So, you feel better enough to go back in the house?" he ventured. He cringed inwardly at the look she gave him. Then she took a deep breath, and much to his relief, nodded her head in silence.

"Yeah. I mean, big evil up ahead anyway, right?"

*****

The tension was palpable in the room. Faith was standing closest to the doorway, seemingly ready to bolt at any moment. Andrew seemed to have some sort of nervous twitch going on with his eye. Joyce sat in the armchair with the baby, while Giles, Buffy and Spike surrounded her like deadly sentinels. Anya still was holding watch over Xander, clung possessively to his arm while Willow and Tara sat on the couch. Jonathan and Warren stood aimlessly around the entryway to the living room, awaiting input on the situation.

"So, what is this, like Apocalypse number seven?" Buffy asked sarcastically.

"Really, seven? I thought it was more along the lines of like, four," Xander said.

"Well see, that's because you've forgotten about the little mini one's in between. Like the Judge," Willow added. Most eyes in the room turned to Spike at the comment.

"Hey, that was ages ago. Let's stick to the present people! Troubled waters ahead, right. Right?" Spike said incredulously.

Giles took off his glasses and gave them a good rubbing before cutting in. "Yes, erm, well, there's certainly no lack in supplies. I wish I knew which ones would kill Adam."

"Well, according to the files back at the Initiative, his power source is a uranium core embedded somewhere in his chest. Probably near the spine," Jonathan said.

"Great. We just ask him to lie down quietly while we do some exploratory surgery," Xander suggested sarcastically.

"Well, wha- what about magic?" Tara said with uncertainly.

"Yeah, like, some kind of, I don't know… uranium extracting spell? I know; I'm reaching," Willow said.

"Okay, I think we should all think outside of the box. Anyone with some realistic ideas?" Anya said.

"Perhaps a paralyzing spell. Only I can't perform the incantation of it," Giles said regretfully.

"Right. Don't you have to speak it in Samarian?" Willow questioned.

"I do speak Samarian. It's not that. Only, uh, an experienced witch can enchant it. And you'd have to be within striking distance of the subject."

"See what you get for taking French instead of Samarian?" Xander asked.

"What was I thinking?"

"So, no problem. All we need is combo Buffy. Her with the slayer strength; Giles' multilingual know how, and Willow's withcy power. Yeah, don't tell me. I'm just full of helpful suggestions," Xander said. Anya patted his arm reassuringly.

"As a matter of fact, you are..." Giles said.

*****

"Okay, Spike, Xander, and uh, sorry, what's your name again?" Giles said.

"It's uh, Andrew, Mr. Giles," he said shyly.

"Yes, well, I want the three of you to go on recon. Sweep the cemeteries and such," Giles said.

"How'd you come up with that, Rupert?" Spike asked, a bit disgusted at the quality time he would have to spend with Harris, and the other boy...

Damn, what was his name?

"Well, at the moment, you three are the only ones available."

"And what about the rogue slayer over there? Not that I would turn my back to her, but still. Just curious," Spike said. Giles pulled him aside before explaining.

"Well, she isn't exactly ready for combat at the moment. Throughout her duration at the Initiative, she's been through quite a traumatic experience," he explained in a low whisper. Spike looked at him questioningly before shrugging it off.

“Hidey ho, then. Come on, blokes. Let the slaughterin' begin." Spike headed towards the door.

"Spike wait!" Buffy called out, walking towards him. He turned back around and gazed at her affectionately.

"Aren't ya gonna kiss me good-bye, soldier?" she said jokingly. He gently caressed her face before leaning forward and kissing her passionately on the mouth; his tongue demanding entrance. She readily accepted it. The soul kiss left her breathless when he pulled away.

"See ya in a coupla hours, luv."

"Come on Xander. We can't let them show us up," Anya said before ferociously tugging him down and then bending him over with a tonsil touching kiss. Xander stood up kind of embarrassed before quickly giving her a kiss on the cheek and walking towards the door.

"Good -byes can be so exquisite when you're in love," Andrew said with a dreamy look in his eyes before following his two companions for the evening.

*****

"I spy with my little eye something that starts with a T," Andrew said in a sing songy voice.

"Okay, will ya stop with the games? It's just plain annoying," Xander said in exasperation.

"Man, this place gives me the creeps. It's like in Wonder Woman, issue 297- 299," Andrew said at another attempt at a conversation. The nerve in Spike's jaw began to twitch uncontrollably in annoyance.

"Catacombs- yeah, with the skeletons," Xander chimed in.

"That was cool," the two said in unison.

"Oh yeah, she was pretty- hey, we're looking for demons now, okay?" Xander said, catching himself before engaging in a dorky conversation in front of Spike. That's the last thing he needed.

"Hey, I know. You guys wanna go get some burgers or something? You know, like trip food. Plus then, we'd be able to leave the cemetery with a reasonable excuse," Andrew said, looking around the graves with a hint of fear.

"This isn’t a trip. It's a covert operation. And uh…recon," Spike said.

"I bet even covert operatives eat curly fries," Andrew said.

"Yeah, they are really good." In Xander speak, that meant ‘Yea, I get really hungry post coitus.’ He and Anya had a quick session in the Summer's bathroom minutes before he left.

"Not as good as those onion blossom things," Spike said, actually getting into the conversation.

"Yeah, they are really good," Andrew agreed.

"Hey, I could go for one of those right about now," Xander said, nearly salivating at the thought of the hot food.

"It's an onion, yet it's a flower. I don't understand how such a thing is possible," Andrew said, quite perplexed.

"Uh, see the genius of it is you soak it in ice water for an hour so it holds its shape. Then you deep fry it, root-side up for about five minutes," Spike said, showing off his culinary knowledge.

"Masterful," Andrew said, completely in awe of the vampire.

"If either one of you tells anyone we had this conversation, I'll bite you."

"Right," Andrew said. Xander nodded his head in agreement.

"Look, this isn't working. Nothing seems to be out and about tonight. How about you two go that way, and I'll go sweep over there," Spike said, in desperate need of getting away from the dorky duo before he became more under their dweeby influences.

"I don't know, Spike. Safety in numbers and all that?" Xander said, more worried about Spike protecting him instead of the other way around.

"Nah, you'll be fine. We'll meet back here in thirty." Spike sauntered away.

"God, I'm becoming such a git," Spike said as he lit up a cigarette, looked at it mournfully, and then hesitated before stubbing it out.

"Can't be smokin' around Buffy and the Bit, now can I?" he questioned himself, staring at the burning embers.

"Pretty soon, Spike, that'll be the least of your worries."

Spike spun around to see who was talking to him. It was a being that appeared to half human and half demon.

"Adam, I presume?" he asked, flicking the cigarette onto to him. Adam was not amused.

"You're coming with me. We have much to discuss," Adam said with finality.

"Don't think so, mate. The likes of you and me, never work," Spike said, before attempting to punch him. Adam was undaunted.

"I like that. You have spirit— so to speak. But nevertheless, you don't have a choice."

Adam grabbed the vampire by the neck, ignoring Spike’s struggling and slamming his head into a nearby mausoleum, rendering Spike unconscious. Adam picked him up fireman style, and walked back to the Initiative's secret lab.

*****

Faith was standing alone on the Summers’ front porch looking out into the distance when Buffy came outside to join her. She walked up to her and stood silently beside her, noting her demeanor and the way she held her arms protectively against herself. Neither said a word for a long while.

"You do realize the seriousness of our situation I hope. Do you think you can look past our differences to do what needs to get done and not betray me or my friends?" Buffy questioned in a not so friendly tone.

"Yeah, sure B. More than you know..." Faith closed her eyes as she involuntarily remembered.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean? Look, you better not double cross us, cause I swear—"

"No. I'm not gonna do that. You don't know how much I want that place burned to the ground, preferably with Maggie Walsh inside of it. I've only got one personal vendetta now, and believe when I say it has nothing to do with you."

"Really? And why's that?"

"Well you know, gotta get my priorities in order," she said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"What happened to you there? I mean, I'm almost certain that there was no one else you wanted more to suffer and die than me," Buffy said with genuine interest and curiosity.

"When I came out of the coma, I didn't want you to die. I mean, how can I possibly torment you if you're dead? I was pissed when I found out that the lover boy you tried to kill me over was long gone, but I mainly just wanted your, your uh, existence. I didn't wanna be me," she said, looking Buffy directly in the eyes. Buffy frowned at her in confusion.

"Why would you ever want—"

"Think about it— new face, new body, and I'd still get to keep my slayer strength, well, yours anyway. But then, I thought, with your body came your friends, your family, their trust and faith in you... That was what I always wanted. I didn't want to be alone. When I really think about it, I think that's my main reason why I went to the Mayor, ya know? He became my family. He trusted me, got me the best of things, and he loved me, understood me. I know, that justifies none of the things I've done, but, I'm ready to make amends, starting here, now. Besides, I wouldn't want what happened to me to happen to you, or the kid," she said with genuine sincerity.

"Wouldn't want what to happen?" Faith took an uneasy breath, and then focused her attention elsewhere while she explained.

"When Walsh learned of your pregnancy with a vamp, she wanted to see if she could duplicate the effects with me. But not before I was her personal guinea pig. Then she let this vamp in to come and play, with me," she said softly. She closed her eyes again before continuing.

Buffy watched on in a stunned silence as compassion entered her heart. Faith may have deserved lots of things to happen to her, but personal violation was wrong, no matter how you cut it.

"I think she mainly did it out of some sort of personal hatred towards me. I don't know why she did, but I could see it in her eyes. She wanted me to hurt. I think she was punishing me, but I— I just could never figure out why and, I saw her once and she… the bitch was laughing at me. Always had a fucking self satisfied smirk on her face, just for me. I wanted to rip her fucking throat out, I wanted… but I couldn't. I couldn't move. Just thinking— endless thinking. I wanted to die. I wished that he would kill me." Her voice cracked as her eyes finally became over burdened with tears and slowly traveled down her cheeks as she unconsciously rubbed at the puncture wounds on her neck.

Buffy, shocking the both of them, held her and stroked her hair in a soothing matter. The kind, placating manner in which Buffy was treating her caused the dark haired slayer to sob. Buffy didn't notice the warm wetness on her own face as she became caught up in her sister slayer's pain. She seemed to have felt every nuance of it.

"I'm sorry that happened to you. That was supposed to have been me, wasn't it?" Faith lifted her head and stepped back as she attempted to compose herself.

"Probably both of us, I don't know. But it doesn't matter now. Tomorrow, we're taking 'em down, right?"

"Yeah. I just hope Giles' little spell works."

"I'm sure it will. Besides, the element of surprise will be on our side. And with our two hackers, Warren and Willow, slipping in will be a breeze," she stated as she started to turn around.

"Faith, if you ever need to talk about— I just want you to know that I'm here for you. I know we can't just glaze over the rocky past between us as if it never happened, but it would be nice if we could start fresh. Ya know, after the impending apocalypse."

Faith gave her a half smile in response, and went inside.

*****

It was only in uneasy sleep did he ever escape it. Now he was awake again. Riley opened his eyes as the uncontrollable shakes began. They were becoming less frequent now, and he was able to allow his brain to finally focus. When he did, it scared the hell out of him. He woke up in some operating room that appeared to be apart of the Initiative, but he himself had never seen it before.

He could have sworn that when he was first coming out of the effects of the drug that he was in some type of cave. He remembered some weird looking half demon half human guy, but now he was nowhere to be seen. Maybe Maggie found him, and locked him up for punishment.

Oh god! She has to forgive me!

He sat up and looked about frantically. Then, he saw a familiar bleached blond head attached to a body clad in black strapped to an operating table. Spike. He stood up on uneasy legs and slowly walked over to the vampire. Bastard.

*****

Spike heard someone moving about in the room, but he couldn't see them. He heard a heart beat, so he knew it wasn't Adam.

What the bloody hell’s goin on?

Then, standing right before him was white bread, looking like shit.

Great.

"Spike— I should stake you right now," Riley said with venom. Spike merely scoffed.

"Go ahead, soldier boy. See if I care." Riley blinked in confusion, and then shook his head to clear the fog from his mind.

"Fine. I will. A disgusting creature like you shouldn't be allowed to live."

"Now, now brother. No need to talk in such ways. After all, soon he will be apart of our family. We must treat each other with respect," Adam demanded more than stated, appearing to have materialized out of nowhere. Riley stumbled backwards in shock.

"What the hell are you?" Riley said.

"I am your brother. I would very much appreciate if we all could get along," Adam said calmly.

"What the hell are you talking about? What family? What are you talking about?" Spike asked, irritation evident in his voice. Obviously the wanker was half way around the bend.

Riley decided on not waiting on explanation and attempted to go to the door.

"Stop right there, Riley. Go have a seat while I explain a few things."

Riley was shocked when his body stopped without his commanding it to and sat in a chair. The shock and fear was written all over his face.

"How did you— you put a chip in my brain, didn't you? What are you gonna do to me?"

"Actually, the chip is not in your brain, but in your chest. No need in trying to escape. You are now apart of the final phase."

"What's that about a phase now?" Spike questioned, straining his neck in an attempt to get a better look at what was going on around him.

"No need to worry, Spike. Or shall I call you William the Bloody?" Adam asked as he stepped to the side of him, so Spike could see him as he spoke.

"Oh, so you've been reading up on me, have you?"

"I've doing much more than that. I like the way your mind works. You could prove to be a valuable asset to me in the future."

"Really, how's that?"

"First, I shall free you of all your weaknesses, all of your doubts. You, the two of you, will belong to me," Adam said in a monotonous tone.

"Hey, care to say that once more with feeling, mate? Besides, your crackpot plan won't work. If you did all of your reading, then you should know that as far as operations go, I'm inoperable. You can't cut me," Spike said full of self assurance. If he could move his arms, he'd place them grandly behind his head.

"Yes, I anticipated this would put a damper on my plans, which is why I've found a way to remedy the problem." Adam gave a very disturbing grin. Spike looked worried for half a second before resuming his poker face.

"Care to share? Come on now; let's see if you can impress us."

Adam walked away to one of the operating tables, picking up a syringe filled with a green liquid.

"You see, I've also been doing research on other creatures, and I've learned quite a bit. In order for you to really belong and to be equal with me and Riley, you must share our same properties. At this point, you don't. Neither of you do. But no need to worry. I shall fix you both, to my liking."

"What do you mean? Fix me how?" Riley said full of fear.

"For you Riley, I shall make you indestructible like me. I already have some choice demon parts for you— a better arm, for instance. Also, some mechanical additions. You'll get a full upgrading. Our Mother, Maggie, wanted it that way."

"She isn't my mother. My mother's back at home, in Iowa with my father. So stop calling her that," he said menacingly.

"It is true; she is not your biological mother. But she did mold you to who you are now. She gave you the chip modifier and she is the one who wanted you in the final plan. Her vision is brilliant, and I shall carry them out for her. As soon as you make a full recovery, I will get to work on you."

Riley gulped worriedly in response. There was nothing he could do. His will was no longer his own. Adam walked back towards an incapacitated Spike.

"And as for you, well, you'll be the completion of my little experiment among vampires. You've heard of the Mohra demon, yes?" Spike's eyes widened in shock.

"Oh don't worry; I'm only going to give you enough to start your heart. You have to be equal, Spike. Just like us: equal part demon, human, and machine. Welcome to the family, brother." Adam plunged the needle into Spike's chest cavity. After a couple of seconds, Spike began to scream in pain.

"Oh, did I fail to mention that I've add a couple of other things to the blood? You see, with just plain blood, the other vampires became completely human. I didn't want that for you. You will be different; unique. Interesting. Very interesting."

Well, Dru was right. The master of the tin soldiers came and got me after all Spike thought before passing out from the pain.

*****
Summer's Residence

"Xander, honey! You're back— a helluva lot later than you said you would. Where've you been?" Anya demanded as she bombarded him at the front door. Xander put up his hands as if to say "back off."

"Not now, Ahn. Where's Buffy?"

"Right here, Xand," she announced as she came down the stairs. "What's up? Where's Spike?"

Andrew not so discreetly looked the other way as Xander hung his head.

"I dunno," he mumbled as he looked at her. Buffy's eyes widened in shock.

"What do you mean you don't know where he is?" Xander nervously began scratching the back of his head.

"Uh, well, ya see, he thought it best if we split up. Though I thoroughly objected to his idea, he thought we could cover more area that way," he finished, though he knew it was really for Spike to escape Dweebville. Andrew just seemed to bring that out in a person.

"Yeah, I mean it sounded real efficient and wise, the way he said it anyway. We were just, um, following the leader?" Andrew offered rather meekly.

"Well, maybe, maybe he picked up on a lead or something and'll be back soon," Buffy tried to reason. No one said anything. That is until Anya scoffed rather loudly.

"What?" Buffy asked.

"Well, someone is obviously in denial. Meaning you, Buffy," she said pointedly.

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh, come on! It's plain as day. The little runt Jonathan said that Adam and Maggie had 'plans' for Spike. He was captured when he separated himself from the group, which, I might add, was his own dumb fault. Not that my Xander or the boy could have done anything to really stop it, but, still," Anya said in her matter of fact voice, better known as her normal voice.

Buffy knew the ex-vengeance demon was more than likely right. So instead of replying, she walked to the dining room to talk to her mom and Giles.

"Giles, mom, we have a big problem. We've run out of time. Warren, Willow and Jonathan have to get it in gear. We have to take out Adam now," she demanded, her tone leaving no room for arguments. But Giles was the voice of reason, and ranked over his currently irrational charge. Joyce looked on worriedly.

"Buffy, you know as well as I do we can't go into the Initiative, guns a blazing at this very moment. Mainly because we don't have a gun, of course. What happened?" he asked softly as he observed the worry encroaching upon her face.

"Spike, he— I believe Adam has him. I know he has the ring and all, but I know, I can feel it in my gut, that it won't be enough. It won't be—" The sound of her baby crying stopped her from talking. Just before she dashed up the stairs to retrieve her, Giles stopped her briefly with a reassuring hand.

"We'll leave as soon as possible. Everything will be all right, I promise you," he said with kind eyes. Buffy smiled back at him sadly.

"You know I love it when you lie to me." She turned away from him and went upstairs to her room and took her daughter from her second new crib. She looked into her large, blue eyes. Joy almost seemed to have a troubled look in them.

"You feel it too, don't you sweetheart? I promise you, baby, I'm gonna bring your Daddy home. He'll be here. I swear it," she whispered as she cradled her close to her heart. Joy seemed comforted for a moment before she cried out again. It was time for her to be fed. Buffy kissed her on the forehead.

"He'll be home, I promise," she reiterated as she headed downstairs to get her a bottle. But as she glanced back down at her, Joy's eyes squeezed closed as she cried out, she could've sworn that for a second her baby's blue eyes were golden...

*****

Sometime later at the secret Initiative lab....


When Spike came to, he had this terrible, pounding headache. A “boom- boom, ba- boom” that wouldn't go away. Except it wasn't exactly in his head so much as in his ears... his heart. His heart was fucking beating!

God, it hurts like hell.

After nearly twelve decades of it being still and silent, he wondered if he'd ever get used to it. God, I hope so he thought. Then he heard heavy footfalls enter the room. Adam.

"Ah, Spike. I see you're finally awake. I've been thinking. Your child would make a nice addition to our family. Naturally half demon and half human. Tell me; is it a boy or girl?" he asked.

"I'm not telling you jack, you sod. You stay away from them," he said as threateningly he possibly could. His heart beat was a huge distraction to his senses.

"No really. I think it would truly be an interesting specimen—"

"She is not an ‘it.’ You talk about her that way again, I swear... bugger," Spike said, accidentally going for the bait.

"A girl? Even better. Perhaps you and the Slayer could procreate again. A little boy," he said thoughtfully.

"Never happen. You won't lay one of your dirty, surgically attached hands on her. So just forget it. And just because you're gonna try to make me physically like you, I will never be on your side," Spike said.

"Ah, but you will brother. I have a chip for your Slayer as well. In fact, she's coming now. I can feel it."

"Good on you. Got a bit of prognosticating demon in there, right?"

“However, if she doesn’t agree, there’s always the other Slayer—Faith. Sorry brother,” he said to Riley. “But if this slayer isn’t in, then your Faith will belong to Spike.”

Just then Buffy entered. Her face of determination slightly faltering as she saw her lover strapped to the operating table. She looked at Adam with an extreme coldness in her eyes. She knew she was going to win...

*Once I'm in, barricade the door behind me. Is this place okay to be magic central?" Buffy asked Giles. He looked around before replying.

"It, uh, should do."

"As long as we don't get blowed up or nuthin," Willow said.

"What are the odds of that happening? Besides, we've all got that good ol' Kamikaze spirit, right?" Xander said.

"How long before the ritual kicks in?" Buffy asked Giles.

"Five minutes, give or take."

"I'll move fast then," Buffy said. Faith gave her a reassuring nod.

"Buffy, I still don't like you going in alone."

"I won't be," she said with a reassuring smile. Buffy mentally prepped herself as Faith took guard at the door...*

"Slayer, I've been very much looking forward to your arrival. But let me say first that I'm going to give you a choice: either join us or be killed," Adam said.

"Buffy, what are you doing?! Get the hell out of here!" Spike said in a panic. His heart began to beat so hard that it felt like it would pop out of his chest at any second. Buffy ignored his stricken outburst and replied to Adam instead.

"Sorry, but I don't jump through hoops on command. I've never really been one to toe the line."

"Death it is, then," Adam said with a steely glare as he advanced upon her. So the fight began as...

* "By the power of the Slayer and all who wield it. Last to ancient first, we invoke thee. Grant us thy domain and primal strength. Accept us and the powers we possess. Make us mind and heart and spirit joined. Let the hand encompass us. Do thy will...” Willow chanted. *

Buffy was quick on her feet, but Adam's blows were by far stronger. She dodged as much as she could, and attempted to kick him away in the midsection. But of course, the battle couldn't deter her love of banter.

"Fun, isn't it?" she asked as she ducked another on of his blows. Adam, beginning to get bored, let out his retractable demon blade from his arm. Buffy grabbed it and quickly broke the sharp weapon off.

"Broke your arm," she taunted...

* "Spiritus... spirit," Willow said as she placed down a card.

"Animus... the heart," Xander followed.

"Sophus, the mind," Giles said.

"And manus... the hand. We enjoin that we may inhabit the vessel. The hand... daughter of Sineya— First of the ones. We implore thee, admit us..." *

Adam then grabbed Buffy's wrist and jerked her to him. He then placed one massive hand on the side of her face and then the other. He gave her head a quick jerk to the right, relishing in the satisfying crack.

Spike's screams of terror could be heard resonating throughout the room.

Riley, beads of sweat running down his face, remained sitting still and looked straight ahead.

"Huh, broke your neck," Adam said as he dropped the lifeless slayer to the floor.

* "Bring us to the vessel. Take us now..." Willow finished. *