I hope that I haven't lost everyone, and that you enjoyed that last update as much as you have others. Once again, HUGE thanks to Maggie and her awesome beta abilities, I swear, it's a super power she has. And thanks to any and ALL reviewers. You guys still rock my world!



Chapter 15-




Buffy woke with the sun shining brightly into her room and onto her face. Letting out a monster sized yawn, she burrowed back into the covers and tried to recall her dream.


She looked at the two stuffed farm animals sharing her bed. “As if having prophetic dreams wasn’t bad enough, they have to get more and more confusing as you go along. Why do they do this to me?” She asked them. When they didn’t answer she growled softly, “Great help you guys are,” and pulled the covers over her head squeezing the two animals.


This last dream had her head spinning even more than it already had been. I didn’t think that it could spin any faster… apparently I was wrong.


****Buffy was standing in what she could only describe as a vast expanse of vastness. There was nothing anywhere, nothing but gold. Gold floating all around her, vibrant hues that seemed almost tangible. She stretched her hand towards it expecting to experience what the color actually felt like.


After several moments of nothing, she began to feel disconcerted with her surroundings, or lack thereof, and started walking. She wasn’t going in any direction, because she had no clue where the directions were, or if they even existed in this place, but she had to do something other than stand in the same spot.


Suddenly, blue merged with the gold and she wasn’t alone anymore. She turned around and came face to face with Spike.


“Spike?” She called confused.


“’Lo luv.” He answered with a small smile, as he always did. He didn’t seem to feel out of place like she did, in spite of the fact that he had blue swirling all around his body and they were in a foreign, empty, place.


“What are you doing here?” She asked quickly. “What am I doing here? Where is here?”


He ignored her question and spoke in a soft tone. “You know it’s what you want, pet.”


She furrowed her brow and looked at him confused. “What’s what I want?”


He stepped closer and caressed her cheek. “Stop fighting. If you stop fighting, then we won’t have to.”


Mesmerized by his touch, and his eyes and everything they held, when she answered it was a whisper. “Huh?”


“Didn’t turn out so bad the first time did it luv?” He asked, once again ignoring her, and looking over her shoulder at something in the distance.


When she turned her head to investigate, she saw Dawn walking towards them, heavily ensconced in green. Turning so her body was fully facing the younger Summers, she waited as the young girl approached her.


“Dawnie?”


“It was ersatz. It will be de facto. Such was written, such shall be.”


Buffy scrunched her face, “Unh. Now you too? What language was that? What’re you talking about?” She turned on Spike quickly. “What is she talking about?” When he still failed to answer she became irritated. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she tried to reign in her frustration. When she opened them, Dawn was at Spike’s side. “Look you two - now, I know you had your whole bonding experience during the ‘Buffy sabbatical‘, but if you don’t stop being all confusing and Whistler like, I’m gonna wig a big‘un.”


They said nothing though, only stood shoulder to shoulder staring at her with such an intensity that she felt like she was under a microscope.


Becoming increasingly unnerved by their silence and scrutiny, Buffy heaved a loud breath and moved closer to the other two. She snapped her fingers in front of their faces, “Hello? Confused and cranky Slayer standing right exactly here!”


Ignoring her, again, Spike spoke seductively, “It’ll be an everlasting dance Slayer.”


Without even knowing she was doing it, she responded. “All we’ve ever done is dance.”


Dawn looked over the Slayer’s shoulder and said in a voice so quiet Buffy barely heard her, “Balance comes.” Before Buffy could speak though, Dawn turned so that she was facing the petite blonde woman and her vampire companion. She spoke, her voice holding an ethereal quality. “Coming times will try you.” She looked into both blond’s eyes. “Through the seal is your only path to victory. You must meet in the grey, for darkness threatens. It comes quickly now, be not wasteful of time.” The last statement was directed at Buffy alone, and then Dawn turned her gaze back over the Slayer’s shoulder.


Buffy turned to see what her sister kept looking at. Her vision was abruptly assaulted with streams of violet and red. She watched in awe as the colors came closer and closer, seemingly one piece of a whole, yet divided equally straight down the middle. So entranced in the sight before her, she never noticed when Spike moved to stand behind her, their bodies almost touching.


“Let’s dance luv.” Spike whispered in her ear. When she turned to look at him, her eyes were trapped in his.


“Balance comes.” Dawn was heard saying in a supernal voice.****


And that’s when she woke up.


Resigned to the fact that she wasn’t going to be able to interpret this dream, just like she’d never been able to interpret any of the others, she flung the covers off. Setting Mr. Gordo and Willy Waddle to her right, she reached into the drawer of her nightstand for the journal she kept there and quickly jotted down everything.


_____________________________________________________________________________________



The recently showered and refreshed Slayer made her way into the kitchen for some breakfast, her dream still weighing heavily on her mind.


How the hell do they expect me to figure anything out when they make it all so crazy difficult? She thought to herself.


Reaching into the cabinet for a cereal bowl, she was jarred from her inner musings - or rather, her inner cursing of the Powers and their love of games - by the entrance of Willow and Tara.


“Morning Buffy.” Willow said headed to the fridge.


“Good Morning.” Tara quietly offered as she approached the coffee maker.


“Mornin’ guys.” She absently answered back.


Buffy’s overly studious interest in the preparation of cereal prompted Willow to ask, “You ok?”


The Slayer lifted her head. “Hm? Yeah, I’m fine Wills.” She lightly shook her head. “Just crazy Slayer dreams.”


That piqued the young witch’s interest. “Yeah? What were they?”


“They were a whole bunch of nothing I can explain.”


“Do you think they had anything to do with the prophecy?” Willow asked.


Buffy breathed heavily. “I dunno. I’ve had some confusing ones, but this just takes the cake.” Not that this dream was anymore confusing than any of her other Slayer dreams had been, but with already confusing thoughts, confusing feelings and then a confusing dream thrown in, she was about ready to just steal the cake back.


Tara reached into the cabinet extracting three coffee mugs, “Did you write them down so you can go over them with Mr. Giles? Maybe he can help figure them out?”


Buffy nodded, “Yeah, I wrote them down. But this is one I think even Giles will have trouble with.”


The three young women went about their morning kitchen rituals in relative silence, only occasionally broken by idle chit-chat.


When all three had eaten something and consumed at least one cup of coffee, Willow spoke up again. “So, what’re your plans today Buffy?”


Buffy shrugged. “Nothing that’ll be at the reunion of the ‘Big’ family. I was thinking of maybe redecorating my room. The time for New Kids on The Block has come and gone.” She shifted on her stool. “So, I figure, there’s painting to be done, new knick knacks to buy, new bedding, curtains, the whole nine yards.” She squinted and looked off into the distance for a second. “Why does it have to be nine yards? I never got that.”


Ignoring the last comment, Willow raised her eyebrow - her girlfriend unknowingly doing the same. “So basically what you’re telling me is, you’re gonna do whatever you can to avoid going to the Magic Box and having the dreaded ‘I think I have a crush on another vampire’ conversation with Giles?”


Buffy looked offended. “What? No!” She scoffed. “Like I would ever do that.” When Willow refused to look away or change her expression the Slayer dropped her shoulders. “Ok, so maybe a little bit.”


The red head nodded. “Mm hm. I’m thinking a lot bit.” Willow got down from her stool and took her breakfast dish to the sink, then went to fix another cup of coffee for herself. Turning around she fixed a stern look on her best friend. “Didn’t we just have this conversation, like, oh I dunno, less than twenty four hours ago?”


“Well… yeah… but… it’s gonna be all hard and stuff.” Buffy pouted.


“No ma’am young lady. The pouty thing doesn’t work on this woman.” Willow shook her head and pointed an accusing finger at the Slayer.


Tara came around to Buffy’s side and put a hand on her shoulder. “I think you’re just psyching yourself out Buffy. I don’t think it’ll be as hard as you think. A lot happened while you were gone.”


“I know.” Buffy agreed. “But Giles wasn’t thrilled the first time I was attracted to a vampire, and that was before said vampire killed the woman Giles loved. This time he’s gonna be negative thrilled.”


“I don’t know Buffy.” Tara tried to reason with her. “I don’t think you’re giving Giles as much credit as you should.”


Willow walked to the island and leaned her elbows on the top. “Tara’s right Buffy, you shouldn’t worry about Giles so much.”


Buffy raised her eyes to meet Willow’s. “And Xander?”


The red head made a face, “Nnh, that one is the one that’s gonna be lesser than less fun. But he’ll come around too, even he’s different now.”


The Slayer shrugged, yet again. “Guess we’ll just have to see. But that still doesn’t mean I have to do it today. I mean, redecorating? That can’t wait.”


Willow looked reproachfully at Buffy. “Oh stop being a big ole whiny Slayer. You’ve saved the world, fought extremely nasty, scary, demons, died. I think you can handle telling your Watcher that your feelings towards a certain chipped vampire have evolved into something else.” The young witch’s eyes suddenly widened. “Oh Goddess.”


Buffy and Tara both looked at the other female with worried expressions. “What?” They simultaneously asked.


“Speaking of vampires.” Willow smacked her hand against her head. “I still haven’t talked to Angel.” Seeing Buffy’s expression change to one that she couldn’t exactly read, Willow inquired. “What’s wrong now?”


Buffy put her head down and raised her eyes to meet her friend’s. “I’m horrible. I haven’t even thought about Angel since the other night.”


“Well,” Tara shrugged and placed a hand on Buffy’s shoulder again. “There has been quite a bit going on the last few days Buffy.”


Willow agreed, “Yeah, don’t be hard on yourself. Your plate’s been kinda full.”


Buffy sighed. “I know, but great love and all that. I shoulda thought of him at least once. If for no other reason than to call him and say, ‘Hey, ‘member that part about me being dead, well, not so much anymore.’” The blond banged her head against the counter top. “God, I’m awful.”


“Nah. Not awful, just cursed with the wacky life of a Slayer.” Her friend commented with a smile. Turning serious again she asked, “Want me to call him? I mean, I was the one who was supposed to anyway.”


Buffy blew a puff of air from her mouth loudly, “No. I should be the one to do it. But you gotta be there in case he thinks it’s just some ruse or something.”


Her best friend nodded, “’Course. You want me there, I’m all with the being there. Best Friend Contract, section 12, article 52 - ‘The best friend of the party shall be present at all crucial phone calls placed to ex honey explaining to him that the party is no longer deceased.’”


All three girls giggled and made their way into the living room, their laughter ringing through the house.


_____________________________________________________________________________________



One level below the girls, Spike lay sleeping, dreaming.


****He was patrolling through one of the many cemeteries in Sunnydale, the Slayer at his side. They were enjoying a companionable silence when they heard a rustling coming from a nearby crypt.


Headed in the direction of the noise, they communicated silently. Coming up alongside the door, they waited three beats, without a word to each other, and then stormed in.


Suddenly Spike found himself in a grassy field, brightness assaulting his eyes and causing him to squint, while rushing to cover himself with his duster.


“Bloody hell!”


“Don’t worry, you won’t go all Cajun style vamp on us.” An unfamiliar voice suddenly sounded behind him.


Spike turned abruptly trying his best to adopt a defensive stance. Which was rather difficult considering he was hiding under his duster. When he looked up, he was eye to chest with a short male dressed in an extremely tacky polyester suit. He raised his head enough to see the face of the stranger and saw that he wore a hat just as tacky as the outfit..


“Who the bloody hell are you?” He demanded.


“Why don’t you come out from under there and we can have us a chat like grown ups?” The stranger commented dryly.


Spike stuck his right hand out from under his coat just enough so that his index finger was exposed. When nothing potentially fatal happened, he stretched his arm out a bit more. Finally coming to the realization that he wasn’t going to fry, he came out from under his coat and puffed out his chest standing tall, trying and not at all succeeding in looking tough, considering the previous cowering.


“Fine. Now, who the bloody hell are you?” He demanded once again.


“Name’s Whistler. Nice to meet you Spike.”


Spike’s eyes narrowed slightly, “So, you‘re the Powers‘ boy, huh? Well, where the soddin’ hell am I, what am I doing here and how long is this gonna take?” He spat out in succession, making it all one question.


Whistler ticked the answers off on his fingers, “Not a boy, but yes, I work for the Powers. You’re here. You’re here cuz I wanted you here. And it’ll take as long as I think it should.”


Spike growled menacingly and moved towards Whistler. “If you know me at all, which you seem to, then you know that I don’t take kindly to people,” he sniffed the air, “or demons, talking to me that way.”


Whistler waved his hand in Spike’s direction, attempting to halt the vampire’s progress into his personal space. He may be immortal, and they may be in a pseudo heavenly dimension, but he was a demon so Spike could hit him, and he didn’t exactly want to be sporting a shiner. “Relax there buddy.”


“I’m not your bloody buddy.” Spike growled again.


Whistler tilted his head and observed the blond in front of him. “Hunh.” He chuckled. “You really were a poet huh?”


Spike’s eyes widened at that comment, “Oh, you’re tryin’ me now, aren’t ya?“ Breathing heavily and flaring his nostrils, he tried to look menacing.


“Really, you can calm down.” Whistler tried, with a little more effort, to calm the angry vampire. “I’m here to help you.”


“What the buggerin’ hell could you possibly help me with?”


“Your girl.” Whistler simply answered.


Spike moved to within inches of Whistler’s face, and in a low voice asked, “What about Buffy?”


Whistler stepped back easily, non intimidated - or at least trying not to appear intimidated - and shrugged. “She’s gonna need your help.”


“She’s always got my bloody help. Tell me something helpful you ponce.”


“That’s all I really needed to tell you. You just need to make sure you’re strong enough to help her.” Whistler commented with a shrug.


“So, let me get this straight then…” Spike began stalking towards Whistler. But every step he took forward, the other demon took two back. “You interrupted a perfectly enjoyable dream, which probably would’ve ended up even more enjoyable, so that you could what? Tell me to help the Slayer and make sure I’m strong?” When Whistler’s only answer was another shrug, Spike fumed. “You Higher Up types are all the bloody same. Never giving one single piece of ruddy information which might actually be useful, and always jumping in at the wrong time.”


Whistler held his hands up in surrender. “Hey, we just wanna make sure you’re prepared is all.”


“I’m ready for whatever you gits throw our way.”


“Good.” Whistler nodded. “Now for the real reason you’re here.”


Spike looked at the messenger with a question in his eyes, when yet another voice sounded from behind.


“Hello Spike.”


He turned around slowly, “’Ello mum.”


Joyce waved him towards her, “Come on. Give us a hug.”


When she embraced the vampire he tensed. Still not used to this form of contact, even after his months as Dawn’s caretaker and the girl’s proclivity for hugging.


When they pulled back from each other, Joyce looked deeply into his eyes, smiling. “You’re taking care of my girls right?”


Spike nodded, “Always.”


She patted him on the shoulder, “Just what I like to hear.”


Spike looked at her with pleading eyes. “Can you please tell me what the bloody hell is going on?” He gestured over his shoulder with his thumb towards Whistler. “That wanker won’t tell me a soddin’ thing that’s helpful.”


Joyce shook her head. “We can’t tell you anything.” Her expression then turned teasing. “And I’m sorry that we tore you away from such an enjoyable, with prospects of becoming more so, dream.” Spike had the grace to duck his head. “But this was my idea, so you can blame me.”


“Nah.” Spike shook his head. “Could never blame you for anything, so I’ll stick with the wally over there.”


Joyce laughed softly, the sound like music to Spike’s ears. “I just wanted a chance to talk to you and let you know that I have faith in you. I believe in you.”


“What’re you on about mum?” He asked confused.


“You’re gonna have a lot of responsibility come your way, and it’s gonna seem tough at times, but I know you can do it. We all do, otherwise, it wouldn’t be you. I just thought I should tell you that.”


“Still don’t get it. But I trust you mum.”


“You better.” She joked. “Just remember; balance will be there soon enough, and then you‘ll see the wait was worth it.”


Spike’s forehead knitted in confusion, and he shut his eyes, digging his fingers into them trying to stave off the impending headache. “Slayer wasn‘t kiddin‘ when she said you‘d gone cryptic. What does that mean?”


“Balance comes.” Was the reply, and when he opened his eyes he was alone in the field.


“Stupid bloody powers.” He shut his eyes again and shook his head, wondering how the hell he was going to get out of the now boring and lonely dream he’d found himself in. All of a sudden he knew he wasn’t alone anymore.


Turning around and looking in the other direction he saw Buffy and Dawn staring off into the distance, as if waiting for something. As he started in their direction he heard Joyce’s voice again, carried on the nonexistent wind.


“Balance comes.”****


And he woke up.


_____________________________________________________________________________________



Somewhere, in a dimension far, far, away from Sunnydale and its citizens, the immortal demon messenger for the Powers That Be, and the spirit of the Slayer’s mother stood side by side.


Watching the goings on in Sunnydale, Whistler turned towards Joyce.


“Why is it that I get the difficult cases?” He almost begged for an answer.


Joyce Summers shrugged and laughed, “Maybe because it keeps your immortal existence from getting too boring?”


“Hmph.” Was his only reply.


“You do realize that that’s probably not going to be the last time one or both of us will have to interfere, don’t you?” The woman at his side asked.


“No, I’m sure it’s not.” He turned to face Joyce. “I still don’t get how you lived with that daughter of yours for so long. She makes me crazy.”


She shrugged, “It’s called a mother’s love. That, and tons of patience.”


“And that vampire, no wonder everyone wanted to stake him before.” He breathed heavily. “You probably are right, though.” Going back to Joyce’s previous statement/question. “She’s not fighting it as much as I thought she would, but she’s still taking too damn long for my tastes.” He commented, alluding to Buffy and her recent actions, feelings and thoughts - all of which they’d been monitoring.


“No, she’s not fighting it like she would have before. She’ll get there. She’s just had it drilled into her head by everyone that things are always one way or another, that there’s no in between.”


Whistler scoffed. “Well, the whole point of what’s happening is the in between, so she’ll have to learn it fast.


“Like I said,” Joyce said looking at him. “it’s gonna take a few more interventions on our part.”


“Oh, what I’m gonna be willing to do for boring after dealing with that whole bunch.” Whistler grumbled.


Joyce’s laughter rang out as they vanished.


_____________________________________________________________________________________



While Spike was downstairs enduring his first encounter with the Powers’ messenger, and the new and improved cryptic Joyce; Buffy, Willow and Tara were all in the Summers’ living room. The three were standing next to the desk, in a semi circle, staring at the phone as if it were going to morph into a demon and kill them all.


Willow and Tara both looked at Buffy, who stood in between them, with questioning looks.


“I’m gettin’ there, I’m gettin’ there.” Buffy grumbled good naturedly.


Willow raised an eyebrow, “Really? ‘Cuz it looks an awful lot like the opposite of that.”


Buffy turned to her best friend with pleading eyes. “Do it for me?”


The young red head shrugged, “Ok, I’d pretty much told myself it would be me anyway, so I’ve got my speech prepared and everything.” When she went to reach for the receiver though, Buffy’s hand stopped her.


“No. I better.” She stuck her hand out to grab the phone, stopping just shy of getting there. Turning to Willow, she asked, “What’s your speech, maybe I can use it?”


“Nah. Probably wouldn’t be a good idea. You talking in third person and all.” Willow smiled gently at her friend.


Buffy nodded. “You’re right.” She took a deep breath. “I can do this.”


Tara gently rubbed Buffy’s arm. “We’re right here. You’ll be fine. Promise.”


Willow nodded, agreeing, “Yeah, we’re right here.”

Nodding one last time, the Slayer, killer of vampires and demons alike, saver of the world, ass kicker of evil, ’she who hangs out in cemeteries’ with only a small piece of wood, and warrior extraordinaire reached towards the phone with a shaky hand.


Why the hell am I so nervous anyway? It’s just Angel. Like I haven’t talked to him a millions times? Buffy scolded herself as her hand drew near the phone. Sure, you’ve talked to him a million times, ‘bout lots of stuff and during lots of situations. But not once has any of that stuff or any of those situations involved his least favorite person on the planet staying in your house with you in it, or you having tickly feelings in your belly when you just think of that person. Her hand hesitated just over the piece of electronics. What if he can tell? What if he knows? I’ll never hear the end of it. What if he can- Oh, good grief Buffy! First Spike with the X-Ray eyeballs that read your soul, now Angel with the X-Ray hearing, long distance vision power? She picked up the receiver. I have lost my mind.


She brought the device in front of her face and hit the ‘TALK’ button, then proceeded to stare at it, not making a move.


“Oh goodness! Buffy! Just dial already. You’re killing me here!” Willow cried from her side.


“See, that’s where we face a problem.” She turned to her best friend. “Um, I don’t really know what to dial.”


Willow’s eyes widened for a second. “Oh, right.” She smacked her forehead for the second time that morning. “Duh! Lemme get the number for ya.”


While Willow rooted around in the desk drawer for the address book that held all the numbers anyone in the Summers’ household would need, Buffy tried to come up with what she would say to Angel when she finally did get him on the phone. Maybe I should just go with what I said to Willow. Maybe something like, ‘Hi Angel! How ya been? Me? Oh, the usual, fighting the fight, killing the evil, saving the world, dying the death of one of the deadest people in Deadonia. Just wanted to say hi! ‘Kay, bye.’ Somehow she didn’t think that would go over too well. Angel wasn’t much of a talker unless he wanted to be, and this would be one of those times where he wanted to be. She was just sure of it.


“Aha!” Willow’s voice brought her back to reality. “Got it.”


She dialed the number as Willow read it to her, and waited, holding her breath, for someone to pick up. Finally, after three rings, someone picked up. Someone decidedly not Angel, and someone decidedly not from California.


“Angel Investigations, we help the helpless. How can we help you?” A very female, very twangy voice with a southern accent rang out over the line.


“H-hi!” Buffy cleared her throat. “Um, is Angel around?”


“No, I’m sorry. Angel’s out right now on a case.” The female answered. “My name’s Fred, is there anything I can try to help you with?”


Ignoring the fact that Fred sounded extremely female, Buffy answered. “N-no. No thank you. I’m a personal friend of Angel’s. Just calling to say hi.” She cleared her throat again. “Um, if you have a way, can you get in touch with him and ask him to call the Summers’ house, please?”


“Oh, sure. That’ll be no problem. Does he have the number? Well, I guess that’s a stupid question, innit? If you’re a personal friend and all, surely he’s got it. Although, it is pretty easy to lose numbers. I can’t tell you how many phone numbers I’ve lost over the years. Do you think he has it?” The other female babbled.


It took Buffy a second to answer, caught off guard by the Willow style babbling coming from this stranger. “Oh, I’m sure he does. If he doesn’t, Cordy should.”


“Ok, great” The chipper female said. “I’ll give him the message. You betcha!”


“Thank you.”


“You’re very welcome.”


And with that, Buffy hung up the phone. She turned to her two friends, “I guess this is a good. Now I can practice what I’m gonna say.” She smiled and walked into the kitchen.


The two other females followed her.


“So, since you’re all ‘making contact girl’, what’d’ya say we go to the Magic Box next?” Willow asked in a suggestive manner.


Buffy pouted. “Isn’t one strained conversation enough for today?”


Willow shrugged. “Way I see it, you should just get it all done, out in the open and on the table now. Otherwise, it’s just gonna be harder later down the road. And let’s face it Buffy, your roads are bumpy all the time anyway.”


“I know. I’m just already getting a headache and I’ve barely been awake for two hours.”


Before anyone could respond the shrill ringing of the telephone made all three women jump.


Buffy looked at the phone quickly and then turned to Willow with wide eyes. “Do you think that’s him? Already?”



Shrugging Willow answered. “He’s probably got a cell phone, so I wouldn’t be surprised.”


Buffy closed her eyes, “Oh God.” She looked at Willow and Tara sharply. “One of you answer it first, then I’ll take it.”


Willow nodded and reached for the phone. “Hello? pause Oh, hi Angel. pause No, everything’s fine. pause No, wasn’t me, someone else wants to talk to you.” Willow rolled her eyes. “No, it’s not Spike. Hang on.”


She extended the phone to Buffy, who looked at it as if it were going to bite her. Raising an eyebrow at the blonde, Willow forced the phone into Buffy’s hand.


Taking one last, completely useless, calming breath, Buffy brought the phone up to her ear. “Hi Angel.” She said in a small voice. She was met with complete silence on the other line. She waited a few seconds, knowing this was a shock to him. “Angel?” She prompted.


“Buffy?” His voice sounded small over the phone.


“Yeah, it’s me. The only me that’s me.” She joked, trying to lighten the situation.


“But… I…what…” He stopped for a second, seeming to collect himself. “How?”


“Well, Heaven got a little boring. Ya know, there’s not a single vamp or demon up there to kill. What’s a girl like me supposed to do up there with all that free time if there’s no evil ass to kick?” Sensing that he hadn’t had long enough to process the situation, making it too early for jokes, she adopted a serious tone. “Apparently I get to play the part of Prophecy Girl in the big play. Again.”


“This is just… I mean… I never…”


“Angel, I know you’ve always been a man of few words, but could you at least finish a sentence? I figured I wouldn‘t be able to shut you up with this conversation.” She jeered, unable to stay serious.


“I’m sorry Buffy, this is just all very hard to…” He trailed off.


“I know.” She softly agreed. “Hang on a sec Angel.” Covering the mouthpiece with her hand, she turned to her two friends. “I think I’m cool now, I’m gonna go upstairs.”


“Sure Buffy.” Willow said, both girls nodding.


When she exited the room, Willow looked at her girlfriend. “That can’t be an easy conversation to have.”


Tara agreed. “No, I would guess not. It seems to be going well though. I mean, I d-don’t know Angel, but, seems that way.”


“Yeah.”


The girls busied themselves with cleaning up the few dishes from that morning and straightening up the kitchen, while waiting for Buffy to return.


That was how Spike found them when he came up from the basement, wearing only his jeans - which the two females had grown accustomed to over the summer - and headed straight for the fridge for his breakfast.


“Red. Glinda.” Not being a morning person, or a daytime person, Spike only gave short greetings.


“Morning.” Two overly chipper voices responded.


Spike missed Willow’s nervous glance towards the stairs as he reached into the cabinet and pulled out his mug, poured some blood in it and stuck in the microwave, hitting the button with the little sticker of Count Chocula on it - courtesy of Dawn.


“I take it the birds are flying high this lovely mornin’?” He asked with only a hint of sarcasm.


Tara gave him a genuine, gentle, smile and nodded.


Willow answered with wide eyes and squeaky voice, “Yup.”


“What’s got your knickers in a twist Red?” Spike questioned as the microwave dinged.


“What? There are no twisted knickers here. Nope.”


The vampire simply turned towards the witch and raised his scarred eyebrow. “Mm hm And you‘re all squeaky ‘cuz…?.”


Before Willow could answer, footsteps were heard on the stairs, and the Slayer’s voice rang out.


“Well, that was less than fun, lemme tell ya.” Buffy called from the hallway. “Hey Willow, the next time you offer to do something like that for me, don’t let me be all noble, just do it. ‘Cuz I seriously do n-” Her words stopped in her throat as she entered the kitchen and noticed the half dressed vampire, with messy curls, standing by the sink.


Spike noticed the Slayer’s reaction to his bare skin and smirked into his mug. Bringing it away from his face he offered his greeting. “Mornin’ luv.”


His voice shook Buffy out of her stupor and she shook her head, responding. “Mornin’ Spike. Speaking of mornings, shouldn’t you still be asleep during them?”


“Would that I were pet. Woke up a bit ago and couldn’t get back to sleep.”


Tara looked at him distressed. “We didn’t wake you, did we?”


Spike shook his head as he turned to the sink and rinsed his mug. “No. Don’t you worry Glinda. Wasn’t you lovely ladies. Stupid soddin’ dreams.”


At his last statement all three girls’ eyes widened.


Willow cleared her throat. “W-were they bad ones?


Once again shaking his head, Spike reached into the cabinet for a bowl and grabbed the Wheetabix out of the other cabinet. “No, just strange ‘s all.”


The three women shared looks behind the vampire’s back, quickly making them disappear when he turned back to face them.


“Where’s the Bit?” Spike asked the women, adding milk to his cereal.


Tara answered. “She had a beach date with Janice and some friends. One last trip before it starts getting cooler I guess.”


Spike nodded. Taking a bite of his cereal he looked at the Slayer. “How’s the poof then?”


Buffy’s eyes became silver dollars. “What?”


He pointed to his right ear, “Vampire hearing luv.”


Glaring at the vampire for letting her know that her private conversation hadn’t been quite as private as she’d thought, she answered. “Fine. Little freaked out.” She looked off, thoughtful. “Actually, now that I think about it, he wasn’t really that freaked that an ex of his was brought back from the dead. Just surprised, actually. Hunh.” She shook her head. “Anyway, um… He wants me to come to L.A. to see him.”


Spike’s head shot up at that, but when he realized that he really didn’t have any say in the matter, he put it back down and concentrated on the second part of his breakfast.


“He does?” Willow asked, almost sounding disappointed. Her friend had only just gotten back, she didn’t exactly want her running off to L.A., even if it was just for a day or two. “Oh.”


“Yeah.” Buffy answered. Then sounding more chipper, she added. “So, I’m thinking, Scooby road trip slash mini vacation. I think it would be a little too tense and wiggy for us to meet mano a womano, ya know?” She looked at the three in the room with a hopeful expression. “What’d’ya say?”


“Ooh, fun, fun.” Willow replied enthusiastically, turning to her girlfriend.


“Yeah.” Tara agreed. “I-I’ve never b-been to L.A.”


“Well, you lot have fun.” Spike grumbled, his head so close to his bowl his nose almost touched the milk.


Buffy looked at him confused. “What? You’re going too.”


Spike looked up from his food sharply. “Like hell I am.” Okay, so he was flattered that Buffy was inviting - or more accurately, telling - him to go, and gods know he didn’t want to be away from her. But that didn’t mean he wanted to spend any amount of time around his Grand-Sire.


“Like hell you aren’t.” Buffy retorted.


“Look Slayer, the thought of spending anytime with the poofter is not exactly my idea of a *fun-filled mini holiday, thanks ever so.”


“Well, get over it. You’re going.” She said coming fully into the kitchen and standing a short distance away from him.


“No, I’m really not.” He said coming to his feet and facing the small blonde woman glaring at him.


“Yes, you really are. You’re going to-” She stopped suddenly and glared. “Is it possible for us to be in the same room for more than 5 minutes without arguing like kids on the playground?”



That question elicited a smile from the vampire, to which she answered in kind. “Doubt it luv.”


A serious look came across her face, “I would really like for you to go with us Spike.”


“Who’ll patrol?” He asked.


She shrugged, “Doesn’t matter, it’s been oddly quiet, and I want us all to go. That includes you.”


Spike made a pouty face and slumped his shoulders. “I really don’t wanna see the poof pet.”


“Hm.” She shrugged again, and smiled brightly, knowing she'd won. “Oh well, you’re still going.” Before he could respond, she turned to Willow and Tara. Jumping up and down she clapped her hands, “Yay! Road trip! We have to call Xander and Anya, Giles, get Dawnie back home. Ooh, and I need a new bathing suit, and maybe some road trip clothes, so a trip to the mall is so in order.” She turned to Spike, “You better start packing buddy.” She smiled another saccharinely sweet smile and headed towards the foyer talking excitedly, Willow and Tara in her wake.


“Oh, this should be fun.” Spike stood up and placed his bowl in the sink after rinsing it. Running his hands through his disheveled curls, he made his way down to the basement acquiescently, wondering how the hell he was going to survive this weekend.



Tbc…



Please, please, please review. I'm desperate for my muse to come back. And she'll listen to you, I swear she will.