Title: Demons and Souls, Part 8/?

Author: sibling

Email: sibling@fanfiction.net

Disclaimer: Joss, don't sue me. I'm just borrowing them!

Summary: Tara goes to Spike’s crypt after Buffy’s confession. What follows will eventually lead all three to startling revelations about souls, vampires, Slayers, and (of course) love.

Feedback: Waah! Not getting my USRDA of feedback anymore! Please R/R!

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Standing on the porch with Spike, Buffy ached inside as she admitted to herself that it was finally time to let go of his hand. As the fire within her fizzled and died, she almost moaned in despair. She wanted to grab right onto him again, and keep holding -- all night long, if possible. But she knew she couldn’t just, well, jump into bed with him, like she had been for the past month and a half or so.

She had the sudden realization that that she didn't want to just "have sex" with Spike anymore. If – or was it when? -- she went to bed with Spike again she wanted it to be . . . making love. Either before, or after -- or maybe during, she thought with a blush -- those three little words were gonna be involved. She actually did grab onto his hand at that point, so she could savor the vision that flashed before her. Sweaty bodies. Hot kisses. Soft cries and growls. And the light in his eyes as she said the words to him.

Aaaarrrgh! she thought, overwhelmed with lust, embarrassment, and frustration. Bad Buffy!

Spike just stared at her. “Somethin’ wrong, luv?”

She just stared back at him a moment. God, it’s true. It’s not about using him to make the emptiness go away. It’s not about sex for the sake of feeling something, anything. I want Spike. I want Spike! I don’t know if I love him, but God do I want him!

Buffy decided she just had to do something with all that fire rolling around inside her. So she jumped into his arms, and poured it all right back into Spike with a goodnight kiss that should’ve ignited his hair.

* * *

It took a long time to get Spike to leave after that, and to get herself to let him leave. But eventually she did, with a promise to see him the next day, in regards to a little project Spike had suggested.

Dawn's gonna be thrilled, she thought, as she waited on the porch to speak with Tara, who was looking nearly as reluctant to leave as Spike had.

But although Tara and Willow had become very warm with each other again, it looked like they weren’t quite ready to get . . . hot . . . with each other yet. Buffy was sure it was just a matter of time, though – the two of them were giving each other such ooey-gooey looks that she started feeling all gooey herself . . . as well as a little jealous. Spike could be passionate, but she doubted he could ever let himself be gooey.

She thought about Dawn’s story about him having been a poet. There’s possibilities there . . . what's more gooey than writing poetry for your lady love? Then she remembered that he’d been a bad poet. Ugh! Gimme flowers and candlelight, or just wild nights with houses falling down around us, but please don’t send me bad poetry, Spike!

She shook her head with a chuckle. Wild sexual fantasies, and syrupy-sweet romantic musings, within five minutes of each other. And all about Spike. Things certainly had changed up there in her head. And down there in her heart. And . . . She blushed and left the thought unfinished.

That brought her back to her reason for speaking to Tara. After the witch had detached herself from Willow, Buffy followed her down the stairs to the sidewalk and called to her, “Tara?" As she caught up to the older blonde, Buffy continued, "Spike told me . . . everything. And he said that you have some more information for me.”

Tara gulped and looked down at her shoes. “I h-h-hope you’re n-not mad at me, B-buffy,” she stammered.

Buffy reassured the blonde with a quick hug. “It’s okay, Tara. It worked out just fine. I wouldn’t be this happy if it wasn’t for you! I owe you, big-time!”

Tara smiled. “Spike’s already paid back the favor . . . in much the same way, Buffy.” She proceeded to tell Buffy that Spike had bumped into Willow the other night, causing her to fall into Tara’s arms. “I was pretty Willow-struck at the time, but that peroxide hair of his stands out like a beacon in the moonlight. I saw him smirking at us as we walked away.” She explained how the “accident” had precipitated their reconciliation. “So much has happened between us in the past couple days, but it never would’ve if Spike hadn’t forced us into that first step.”

Buffy shook her head. “First he punches you, then he shoves Willow. Spike sure has a weird way of doing you two favors.”

Tara gave her a sweet smile. “Maybe, but they’re still the two nicest things that anyone’s ever done for me.”

Buffy realized they were getting way off-track. “All right, enough mushy Spike talk. What was it that you saw at my party that has you so wigged?”

Tara described what she had seen in Buffy's aura, and what had happened as she and Spike touched. “I still can’t explain it. And I don’t know where to go from here, Buffy. Nothing about that spell would explain anything like this, and I’ve read everything that’s ever been written about the spell, including descriptions of every time it’s known to have been cast.”

Buffy's mind was reeling. Finally, she had some confirmation that there was a reason for all this. This . . . deadness inside her. It wasn't just her. It was something that had happened to her.

Why me? she thought to herself. Why did all this stuff happen to me, out of all the other girls in the world? Even all the other Slayers didn't have to put up with this crap, 'cause they were never . . . Then her eyes widened as she made the connection. “Tara, maybe you’ve read everything about that spell, but I know something else you need to research.”

“What’s that?”

“Me. Or rather, Slayers. I'm sure that spell was never cast on a Slayer before, because Giles told me when Kendra was Called that it was the first time in history that there was ever more than one Slayer. If any Slayers before me had been resurrected, the Council would've known.”

Tara nodded. “Right. So I need to check Giles’ books for any descriptions of how Slayers . . . differ from regular human beings. Maybe there’s something there.”

Buffy nodded. “And there's something else I just thought of. With Faith gone . . . ” She paused a moment at the grief she felt at the thought. Why is it that I can feel all the painful emotions at full blast without Spike? she thought bitterly.

“With her gone, there’ll be a new Slayer. She may already have been Called; I was never clear on just how quickly it happens. I bet the Council’s going to try to make her a single-minded, can’t-have-a-life, always-take-orders-from-your-Watcher Slaying machine, like most Slayers have been -- like Kendra was when I first met her.” The mention of the other lost Slayer also brought tears to her eyes. Both of them dead, and me twice, but I’m still here. Once more God, why me?

She sighed, and continued. “Those bastards shouldn't get away with that any more. I'll call Giles, see what he knows about the new Slayer, and make sure he gets involved. I don’t know if the Council trusts him completely . . . and I’m still mad at him for leaving me when I really needed him. But he’s the only decent one on the whole Council. If anyone can make sure the new Slayer is allowed to have something resembling a normal life, he can.”

Tara nodded. Then she gave Buffy a big hug. “I’ll find the answer, Buffy. I swear I’ll find it.”

Buffy could only answer, “Thank you. For everything.” She stepped back and gave Tara a smile. “Give Miss Kitty Fantastico a tummy rub, and a big bag of catnip, for me.”

Tara laughed. “She’ll appreciate both.” Then she added wistfully, “Who knows, Buffy. You may get to see Miss Kitty scampering around your house again very soon . . . ”

* * *

Willow watched as her lover and her best friend spoke, and hugged, and spoke some more, and then hugged some more. When did Buffy and Tara get so close? she wondered. Tara had been accepted as a Scooby, and the whole crisis with the McClay family had actually strengthened her bond with Buffy and Xander and the others, but as far as she knew, they had never really spent time with Tara alone, as opposed to Tara-and-Willow.

When Buffy came back to the house, Willow gave her a half-smile. “Trying to move in on my girl, Buff?” she said in mock jealousy.

Buffy grinned and seemed to consider it. “Nah. As if I'd have a chance. Tara doesn't seem to go for blondes. She's into redheads, all the way."

Willow couldn't help but smile. "Oh, God, Buffy, I missed her. I don't know how I made it through all those weeks without her."

Buffy smiled back. "It's good to see you happy again, Will. Happiness has been pretty scarce around this house lately."

Willow decided to go for broke. "Speaking of happiness and relationships, Buffy . . . Spike? When? How? And . . ." she broke off. There were too many questions.

Buffy looked at her, and Willow could feel her old friend . . . measuring her. Then she sighed and said, "I guess I should tell you the whole story, Will. You deserve to know what's been going on. And you're not freaking, the way that I'm sure Xander will . . . Oh, God, you can't ever tell Xander. He'd wig out big time if he knew what was really going on when . . . Wait." She stopped talking a moment, then said, "I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's go inside, and talk."

As she opened the door, Buffy started, "It all began the night I came back . . ."

* * *

What neither Buffy nor Willow knew was that Dawn had had a . . . feeling that there was an important conversation going on. So she crept out of her bedroom, over to her usual hiding place at the top of the stairs, and listened. And got herself an earful.

* * *

Willow was, in turn, dismayed, appalled, and embarrassed as Buffy spun her tale. She tried not to interrupt, but couldn't help it at times.

"You mean Spike can hit you now?"

"Yeah. He wasn't really going at me full-strength, like he was trying to kill me. But he wanted to get my attention . . . and he got it." She went on. Willow blushed. Then she gasped. The she blushed some more.

"You mean Xander . . . walked in? On you? With Spike?!?" Willow squeaked.

Buffy blushed herself. "Yeah. And if that wasn't bad enough, I . . . teased Spike. Nibbled on his earlobe. While Xander was there."

Willow laughed until she cried. "Oh my God! Poor Xander! He would have a fit if he knew that!"

Buffy glared at her. "Which is why he's never gonna know, Will. I mean, he's gotta know that Spike and I are . . . together . . . eventually. But don't tell him any of this stuff. I'd never hear the end of it. And besides, he doesn't like Spike as it is. If he hears all this, he'll assume it's Spike's doing and not mine."

Willow shook her head. "It's not your fault, Buffy, it's mine! I cast the spell that brought you back this way, I did all this to you!" she wailed.

Buffy waited till she had calmed down, then said softly to her, "Willow, this is not your fault. I don't know if there's any way that you could've known about this. Tara didn't even think to check the Slayer connection until I told her. I don't even know if Giles would've known anything, until Tara checks his books. Slayers are fast and strong, and have some extra-sensory stuff, but we're still supposed to be human.

"Remember the enjoining spell? You and Giles didn't blame yourselves for what happened afterward, with the First Slayer. It just happened. Same with this. Tara will do the research, and figure out what we have to do to fix me."

Willow bit her quivering lip. "So can I do anything? In my non-magical capacity as Friend-of-Buffy?"

Buffy smiled and hugged her. "Of course you can, Will. Just be there for me, when I need you."

Will smiled sadly. "Buffy . . . I can't believe you were going through all this, and never told me about it."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "DÈj‡ vu, much? I seem to remember having a similar conversation, about two years ago in an elevator shaft."

Willow frowned. "I seem to remember that we promised each other then that we'd never not talk again. Guess we need to re-promise, huh?"

Buffy laughed suddenly. "I know, we'll pinkie-swear! Dawn made me do that when I said I wouldn't leave her alone any more."

Willow laughed, and pinkie-swore with her old friend that there'd be no more secrets. And, for a while, they could pretend they were still teenagers, without a care in the world . . . except saving it.

* * *

Dawn slept fitfully that night. Her dreams were unusually vivid, and strange images flashed through them:

The Scoobies laughing together.

Buffy and Spike . . . doing things . . . in a house that came crashing down around them.

Anya and Xander getting married.

Herself, in danskins, in the training room, trading blows with Spike.

Giles' face, looking worried.

And a woman, a vampire . . . Dawn had only seen her once or twice, but she recognized her.

Drusilla.

* * *

The next morning, when she woke up, she went to ask Buffy about her dreams. She was not going to mention the things she’d seen her sister doing with Spike -- she'd heard all she needed to the night before.

But the bits about the fighting, and especially her fighting. About Drusilla. She didn’t know if being the Key, or the Slayer's magically-created sister, meant getting prophetic dreams like Buffy did, but those hadn’t felt like ordinary dreams.

When she opened her sister’s bedroom door, Buffy was sitting up in bed with a strange look on her face. And she was sure she heard her sister say something.

“Effulgent? No way is that a real word.”

Dawn asked her what she was talking about, but Buffy ignored her. And then, as they were going down to breakfast, Buffy explained to Dawn what they were going to be doing at the Magic Box that day, and all thoughts of dreams, prophetic and otherwise, went right out of her head.

TBC

Title: Demons and Souls, Part 9/?

Author: sibling

Email: sibling@fanfiction.net

Disclaimer: Aum. Joss is God. Aum. Joss owns these characters. Aum.

Summary: Tara goes to Spike’s crypt after Buffy’s confession. What follows will eventually lead all three to startling revelations about souls, vampires, Slayers, and (of course) love.

Feedback: <sniffle> Please R/R! I'm lonesome!

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Spike had had the idea of starting Dawn on some martial arts training, and he had insisted to Buffy that they get started as soon as possible. She’d wanted to be involved, but although today was a Sunday, which meant that Dawn was off from school, Buffy had to go off to the Palace for a shift at the counter.

Besides, Spike had also insisted that since he had a hundred years’ experience on Buffy, he was better qualified to teach.

Which was why, this morning, Buffy was relegated to unlocking the Magic Box to let Dawn in. She had a key, to get to the training room, but Anya had made her swear never to let it out of her sight. And she had the feeling Anya would be extremely unhappy if she gave Dawn her key without asking permission first.

I may be only key-girl this morning, Buffy thought. But that doesn’t mean I can’t say good morning to my . . . What is Spike, anyway? After a minute, she figured “boyfriend” was a safe term. My boyfriend. I gotta see him. Gotta . . . touch him, just to know he’s still there. And that I’m still here. Buffy knew she wouldn’t be able to leave without at least giving him a good morning . . . hug? Smooch? She just knew that she needed some contact with him, or she’d never be able to get through the day.

The day. I’ll be working, and Spike and Dawn will be . . . The idea of Dawn in training made her nervous, because she knew what would happen. Dawn had already wormed her way into the research end of being a Scooby. Once she thought she could take care of herself, she’d probably try to join in on patrolling and actual Slayage. Just the thought of Dawn facing off against a vampire or a demon again gave Buffy chills.

But Spike had reminded Buffy that Dawn was growing up -- she was the same age that Xander and Willow had been when they had formed the Slayerettes. And then he had the nerve to point out just how useless it was to try to keep a teenage girl from getting out at night -- especially in the Summers house. Wouldn't she rather see Dawn become a junior Scooby – a Scrappy? she thought with a grin – instead of seeing her be caught alone with a vampire without the proper training to defend herself?

Buffy knew he was right, but she still wanted to kick him for it.

Then Spike had upped the ante. “Even if the time for Glory’s ritual has gone by, Dawn’s still got the Key energy running through her. And crazy folks, or the ones with visions – same soddin’ thing, if you ask me, just look at Dru – will spot her a mile away." Then he shuddered. "Bloody Hell, now there's an awful thought -- Dru would probably be after Dawn in two seconds! 'Look at the lovely glowing girl, Miss Edith. Wouldn't she make a lovely playmate for you?' Bugger!"

Buffy shuddered herself. Drusilla wasn’t nearly as powerful as, say, the Master or Dracula. Even Spike was a more dangerous fighter. But the psychotic, psychic vampire was in a class of wiggin'-makin’ all by herself.

* * *

When Buffy opened the door to the Magic Box, towing Dawn, Spike was waiting for them. "Slayer, you're late."

Buffy ran up and hugged him. It amazed him how wonderful it felt for her to just do that, without even thinking about who was watching them. "I know," she murmured into his shoulder, "and I wish I could stay and help out, but I gotta get going. I have to be at the Palace in five minutes, or it'll be back to the Help Wanted ads for Buffy Summers."

Spike growled a little. "I keep telling you, Buffy, that place isn't good for you. You're gonna end up . . . what's the term they use these days? Going postal? And a postal Slayer is not somethin' I wanna consider."

Buffy sighed. "I tried to explain this to you, Spike. I need the money-" she held up her hand as Spike tried to interrupt. "-from a job, from 'visible means of support.' Those social workers are still on my case, and if I don't have a job, they're gonna wonder where the money's coming from. They’ll take Dawn away from me if I don’t have money, or if they think I’m doing something like dealing drugs to get it."

Spike hadn't thought of that angle. Vampires made it a point to stay out of official scrutiny. The idea that Buffy had to maintain a "normal" persona to keep custody of Dawn had just never occurred to him.

She sighed. "I just wish I could somehow get back to classes at UC Sunnydale. But my salary will only just pay the bills we have now. If I dip into my savings to pay for classes, even at California residents' tuition, I won't have anything for when the basement floods again, or another demon comes crashing through the front door."

That made him realize how tough Buffy's situation really was, not as the Slayer, but as a young woman. Willow's parents were pretty well off, and paid all her tuition bills without question . . . although they didn’t seem to have any concern for her well being. He didn't think they even knew she was living at Buffy's house nowadays. Kinda like my own dear Mum and Pop, aren’t they? he thought with a snarl.

Xander wasn't going to college, he was working full-time, as was Anya. And Tara . . .

"Wait a minute, Buffy." He thought. And grinned. "I have an idea. I don't want to get your hopes up just yet, but I may just have a way to kill two birds with one stone."

Buffy pulled back a bit and gave him a look. "What are you up to, Spike? If you get me involved in anything illegal or just plain stupid-"

He held up his hands, trying to look innocent. "I promise, luv, I'll tell you before I do anything. I just need to ask around a bit."

"All right," she muttered suspiciously. Then she looked at the clock, and yelped. "Oh my gosh! I have to go! Bye Spike! Bye Dawn! Seeya at five!"

As Buffy ran out the door and locked it behind her, Spike turned to Dawn and said. "Well, Niblet, let's get you started." He led her to the training room. Let’s see what the Slayer’s sister’s got in ‘er!

* * *

Sunday at the Palace was pretty quiet, which gave Buffy lots of time to brood. She hated to admit it, but Spike was right. This place was weird, even without wormy, shark-toothed demons . . . or Manny, she thought ruefully. The old manager had been a Grade-A flake, but he hadn't deserved to be eaten.

Still, it was all she had. She didn't think Spike was really going to be able to do anything to change her situation -- after all, his contacts were all in the demon world. No one he knew would hire the Slayer for a regular job . . .

Her musings were interrupted by a familiar face. "Xander! What're you doing here on a Sunday?"

"I came to eat lunch with my bestest friend, of course. I'll even pay for my own this time -- I'm too old to let my women take care of me."

Buffy had to laugh. "Well, I can take lunch now. Meet ya out back."

Five minutes later, they were munching on Medley Meals at the employee table out back. Xander was saying, "Ever since Willow did her analysis of the Doubleveggie Medley," Xander said with a grin, "Anya's been encouraging me to keep coming here, instead of the other places I used to go to for lunch. 'If you're going to eat junk food, Xander, you should at least eat some that's not all fatty and artery-clogging! I don't want you to have a heart attack at forty-five and leave me alone with our two kids and a mortgage!'"

Buffy started to laugh at Xander's imitation of his fiancÈe, so she didn't realize at first that his face had gone very serious as he continued, "Buffy , there's another reason why I came here. I need to talk to you about something."

Buffy looked up at him. "Sure thing, Xan-man. What's on your mind?"

He put down the sandwich, and looked down at the table a long minute before he answered. "I don't know how to say this, but . . . Buff, do you think I'm doing the right thing?"

She was confused. "The right thing?"

"Anya. Me. Marriage."

"Oh." Her mouth fell open in shock. "Oh! " Oh God, no. I thought everything was going right in our lives, now! "Are you . . . having second thoughts?"

"More like third, fourth, and fifth, by now. It's not that I don't love An, I do. I'm pretty sure that I wanna spend the rest of my life with her. But that 'pretty sure' has been getting to me, especially when she brings up the other stuff."

"You mean the two kids and the mortgage deal. God, I know how you feel." She shook her head in sympathy. "The bills, the collection agencies, the paperwork-"

"It's not that, Buff." She looked at him. "I hate to brag, but between my salary and Anya's, we're doing pretty amazingly well. We've looked at two houses we like already, and the mortgage payments would actually be less than the rent I pay on the apartment. Anya's learned how to invest, and has put together a portfolio that -- she claims -- will allow us to retire by age 50."

"So what's the problem, Xan? I wish I had all your problems!"

"The problem is, Buffy . . . " He broke off. And bit his lip. He looked like he was on the verge of tears. "Buff, you know what my family was like. Do you think I'm up to being a dad?"

Buffy was shocked. This was the last thing she had expected. "Xander, you're more than up to-" she interrupted.

"No, this is serious, Buffy. Think about it. I may be ‘Joe Normal’ as far as Sunnydale goes, but that still rates as seriously screwed up. I'm an only child. My parents hate each other – probably only got married ‘cause Mom got pregnant -- and my aunts and uncles are all so dysfunctional and scary they make Anya's demon friends look normal.

“Of course, that brings up Anya’s side. Her human family’s been gone for a thousand years. And her demon friends – you think we could ask ‘Hallie’ to baby-sit while we went out for the evening?

“It’s just us! And before you say it, I’m not forgetting you guys. You and Willow are like family. But . . . I just can’t help feeling scared.”

Buffy knew there was something he wasn’t saying. “Of what, Xander?”

“Of having a kid who’ll hate me like I hate my parents.”

Buffy really wished she had Spike with her. Not because of what he’d say, but she was sure she’d be able to handle this better as full-range-of-human-emotions Buffy. But this was all she had, and Xander looked so lost . . . She’d never seen him look this bad, not even when . . . Wait.

“Xander, think about where you were a little over two years ago. Your car was gone, you had no job, you were living in your parents’ basement-”

“And this is making me feel so much better, Buff!”

“-and look where you are now. You’ve got a good job that earns you good money, and which you seem to really like. You’ve got your own place – a really great place, I still have to say – and looking at buying a house, for God’s sake. Engaged to a girl who’s as in love with you as you are with her.

“Did all these things just happen, Xander? Don’t sell yourself short. You made them happen. You did the whole minimum-wage thing, worked long hours, and just dug your way out of that hole, all by yourself.

“You remember when we fought Adam? The enjoining spell? Remember what part you took in the SuperBuffy we made? The Heart. Well, ‘heart’ means more than love and compassion, Xander. It means courage and dedication and loyalty and patience. And your heart is right up there with Willow’s Spirit, Giles’ Mind, and my Hand. There’s no one I know with more heart than you, Xander.

“Being a parent is all about heart. My mom taught me that. And you’re gonna be a great dad, Xander.”

Xander’s chocolate-brown eyes were sparkling with tears. “You really think so?”

“I know so, Big Bro.” What did I just say?

Xander said out loud what she had just thought, “What did you just say?”

Buffy thought about it, and said, “I guess I really do think of you as a big brother, Xander. Someone I could always rely on. Someone . . . dependable.”

Xander gave her one of those looks that spoke volumes: Uh huh, that’s real great, Buff, thanks loads. Sounds real sexy: “dependable.”

“I’m serious, Xander. How many times have you been there for me? Not in a saved-my-life kinda way -- which is very important, and for which I’m forever grateful.” She gave him a big smile. “But in an ‘I’m here for you’ kinda way. Like when I was feeling all lost and afraid at the beginning of college. You gave me that ‘You’re my hero, Buffy’ speech at the Bronze, and suddenly I could face the world again.

“Well, you know what, Xander? You’re my hero. Because as strong and fast as a Slayer is, I haven’t got any idea how to get out of this crummy job and find something I really wanna do with my life. But I’ve got you to look up to, because you were here, in this same situation, and you beat it. I just hope I can follow your lead, Xan-man.”

Xander got up, walked around the table, and gave her a big hug. “Thanks, Buff. You don’t know how much that means to me.”

She gave him a small smile. “Anytime. Now finish your lunch, and go home to your fiancÈe and tell her all about the wonderful kids you’re gonna have.”

Xander looked at her. “I think I will. And I think I’ll tell her she’d better like the name ‘Buffy’ for our first daughter.”

* * *

The day was actually over pretty quickly after that. The compliment Xander had paid her just left her . . . floating . . . for the whole afternoon. It wasn’t just happiness, it was . . . rightness. Like she’d finally fit a round peg into a round hole.

She punched out, and headed back to the Magic Box. When she opened the door, she could hear the sounds coming from the training room.

Swish, whack. Swish, swish, thump, thump!

“That’s pretty good, Niblet. But don’t get too cocky, or your opponent-“

“-will do that! Oooh! Soddin’ chip!” Buffy winced. She hoped Spike didn’t have a permanent migraine from doing this.

“Owl . . . You didn’t have to hit me that hard!” Dawn sounded more insulted than hurt.

“Yes I did, Niblet. Bruises teach lessons better than any books. You’ll never forget to watch out for your legs after a throw like that, will you?”

“No.” Now she sounded sulky.

“See what I mean? Now, up on your feet. I heard the bell on the door, and that means your sister’s here.” Then Spike’s voice grew louder “Why don’t you come back, Slayer, and see what your sister’s learned so far?

She headed back to the room, and looked at the two. They were both getting up off the floor. Dawn was sweating and tired, and to her surprise, so was Spike. She didn’t think many normal humans would be able to make a vamp sweat like that, and she said so.

Spike nodded to Dawn. “Maybe she got something from bein’ the Key, or your sister, or something. She doesn’t seem as strong as a Slayer, but she’s pretty strong, and she moves like bloody cat when she keeps her mind on what she’s doing!” he finished with a glare at the brunette. He turned back to Buffy. “She’s quick, agile, and she doesn’t make the same mistake twice. Give her some time, and I think she’ll do you proud.”

Dawn beamed.

Without turning away from Buffy, Spike hooked a leg backward around Dawn’s ankle and swept her off her feet. “Damn that chip!” he swore as he clutched his head. He turned to Dawn, and said with a snarl, “I didn’t say we were done yet, Bit. Did I?”

Dawn looked shamefaced. “No you didn’t, Spike.”

“And the first rule is . . . “

“Never let your guard down, because you never know when someone will turn on you.”

“Good! Now we’re done, at least with fighting.” He helped her up. “We’ll show your sister some moves, and then we’re gonna go eat! Nothing like a little fightin’ to work up an appetite!”

Buffy was stunned. Spike was clearly a harder teacher than her own Watchers, Merrick and Giles, had been. But he was clearly experienced at this kind of thing. And very good at it, too. Now I know why he’s a Master Vampire, and how he got so dangerous so fast. Guess I should be glad he’s on our side now! Don’t want him training any more vampires like this, do I?

Dawn showed her some moves, and Buffy saw that Spike was right. Dawn didn’t seem to be Slayer-strong, but she was strong enough to fight. And very quick. She moved like a dancer, which she was; she had taken dance classes for several years, and only given it up after Mom got sick. Now those classes seemed to be paying off in unexpected ways.

And suddenly Buffy wondered if she had started a family business. Girls Who Kick Ass, Inc. She laughed. Maybe things really were going right.

* * *

On the other side of the Atlantic, Rupert Giles was perusing the copy of the Pergamum Codex that Angel had retrieved for him several years ago. There was a passage that had eluded him for several weeks, but he thought he was getting a handle on it.

If this word means “born,” then how can this negative accent mark be part of it? Unless it means . . . that the person isn’t born? I hope this isn’t like Macbeth . . . caesarian births are all too common, these days.

But then some other things began to make sense, if he assumed the accent marks were Sumerian-style instead of Etruscan, and then . . . he was done.

As he looked upon the translated passage, he felt a chill. And those three words that the Scooby Gang had always dreaded slipped out. “Oh, dear Lord.”

TBC

Title: Demons and Souls, Part 10/?

Author: sibling

Email: sibling@fanfiction.net

Disclaimer: This is a fic. This is only a fic. If this were the work of the real owner of these characters, Joss Whedon, there would be lots more pain and weepiness

Summary: Tara goes to Spike’s crypt after Buffy’s confession. What follows will eventually lead all three to startling revelations about souls, vampires, Slayers, and (of course) love.

Feedback: Simple concept -- you like it, you tell me, I get jazzed, you get more story. :-)

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Heading away from the Magic Box that evening, Dawn was so happy she wanted to skip like a little girl. The training session had been exhausting, and she ached in places she hadn't even known existed before, but it had been wonderful all the same. And she knew that she had impressed Spike -- he'd tried to hide his surprise when she picked things up quickly. And the look on his face the first time she threw him to the floor? Priceless.

The sun had gone down, so Spike had been able to join them on the street instead of using the store's trapdoor to the sewer system. Dawn wrinkled her nose at the thought. I thought vamps all had supersensitive eyes, ears, and noses? Why would they want to hang around in ugly stinkholes all the time?

They made a side trip to Spike's crypt, to pick up his dinner. "Sorry to disappoint you, pet," he'd said to Buffy, "but I'm still a vampire. That human food I've been eating the past couple nights, it's like . . . junk food to me. Tastes good, and keeps me from gettin' hungry, but it can't keep me going. After the workout that one gave me," he said with a jerk of his thumb toward Dawn, "I need the real thing."

Buffy gave him a look. "Just as long as it's not human . . . "

Spike rolled his eyes. "It's pig, you silly bird. Fresh from the butcher shop. 'S what all the vamps in Sunnyhell have to do these days -- if they don't want to hunt. Some bloke at the hospital finally got wise and started having the blood bank deliveries treated like bank deliveries. Armored car, guards, the works. Eventually, the smart vampires learned to stay away. Being shot can't kill us . . . but it hurts like Hell." He fingered his leather duster. "Hard on the wardrobe, too."

Buffy nodded. "I'd noticed the change in security. I still watch the hospital on delivery day, but it's a lot less intense than it used to be."

Dawn interjected at that point, "Why are you only taking one bag?"

Spike looked at her. "Well, Niblet, even after a workout like that, I'm not about to make a pig of myself. Oh, sod off!" he exclaimed at Buffy and Dawn as they giggled at his unintended pun.

Dawn continued, "What I mean is . . . shouldn't you take some extra? So you could, well . . . stay at our place now and then? Like you used to, during . . . the summer?"

Spike gave Buffy a hopeful look. "Buffy? It's your house, after all."

Buffy looked back and forth at Dawn and Spike. Dawn could feel the smile growing on her face. C'mon, Buffy, you know you want him to!

Buffy finally held up her hands in defeat. "All right, all right." Then she added, "But I have conditions, Spike."

Spike's eyes were nearly glowing as he said, "Anything, pet."

Buffy held up a finger. "One. When you're in the house, no more tough-punk vamp look. Normal clothes, with colors."

Spike looked like he was about to his the roof. "WOT?"

"Spike, you saw what happened when Mrs. Kroeger saw you at my house. I managed to stop her report from going in," she grinned at that, and Dawn wondered just what had happened on the day Buffy had turned invisible. "But there will be others. And no matter how important you become, Spike, Dawn is the most important person in my life."

Spike still frowned, but he nodded. "All right. I'll bring my red shirt for now, and I promise I'll try to find something else . . . bearable. But don't you go buying anything without me, luv! Your taste in clothes is too . . . pink!"

Dawn snorted. Buffy grinned briefly, but then she held up a second finger. "Two. No smoking in the house. You wanna smoke, go out on the porch."

Spike gave her a disgusted look. "Yeah, and what if I get the craving during the daytime? I go out on the porch, I'll really start smoking."

Buffy shrugged. "As you said, my house. My furniture, with no sigarette burns. My lungs, with no cancer. And I want to keep it that way."

She held up another finger. "Three. You. On the couch. Deal with it."

Spike gave Buffy a heavy-lidded look. Then he . . . strolled? Swaggered? Sashayed? Dawn couldn't figure out the right word to describe the cat-like walk he employed to move closer to Buffy, and then he whispered something in her ear. Dawn couldn't tell what it was, but Buffy turned bright red and her eyes looked like they were going to pop out. Then she gave Spike a quick nod.

"Then you've got yourself a deal, luv." Spike said out loud. Buffy blushed even harder.

Dawn ran up to them and gave both of them a hug.

* * *

On the way home, Buffy could tell her face was still beet-red. It wasn't that Spike had been overly . . . suggestive . . . with his counter-proposal. Somehow, the vampire she'd once thought of as the Perpetual Peroxide Pest had used that uncanny ability he had to see right through her. He'd simply whispered to her that he'd only stay on the couch until the day he and Buffy made love. "After that, luv, you'll know where I belong. In your bed. With you."

Then they got home, and all thoughts of Spike went right out of Buffy's head. Willow was waiting at the door, and she said immediately. "Buffy, Giles called. You need to speak with him, right away."

* * *

Dawn watched as Buffy dialed the zillion digits that it took to call Giles' home in Bath. Idly, she thought I hope we get to visit him there, sometime. In school they said it's so lovely, with the old Roman ruins and the teashops and everything, it's where English people all go on vacation.

Buffy was saying, "Hello, Giles? What's wrong?"

"A prophecy." Sigh. "Why am I not surprised?"

"Yes, I know about Faith; I was planning to call you and see what you knew about the new Slayer."

"No, Angel wrote me a few days ago."

"Those bastards! I figured they'd try to leave you out in the cold! So what did they find?"

"They can't find her? Why not?"

"Yeah."

Then her eyes widened, and she whispered. "What?"

Dawn got scared, as Buffy seemed to sway on her feet. Spike grabbed a chair for her before she collapsed. And then she got even more scared, as Buffy started looking at her while she continued saying softly, "Giles, please tell me you're joking! It can't be, she's not-"

As she watched, Buffy bit her lip, and began nodding absently. "I see."

"Uh-huh. Spell of Recalling."

She finally whispered, "Are you sure, Giles? Really sure?"

Then she set her mouth, and she barked at the phone. "Then get your English butt back here to Sunnydale, right now!"

"I don't care what Watcher tradition says, I don't trust anyone on the Council except you . . . and even you're gonna have to convince me that I can trust you with her, after leaving me like that."

"All right, Giles. If you have to. But remember, you're the only Council member welcome in Sunnydale. You tell them that if anyone besides you shows up here, they go back to England with things tied in knots. Goodbye."

Buffy dropped the handset tiredly, and looked around. "Guys, we gotta call a Scooby meeting, now."

Dawn ran up to her. "What's going on, Buffy? I know you were talking about me, so what's happening? Who's after me this time?"

Buffy only said, "Please wait till everyone gets here, Dawn. If I have to say it more than once . . ."

Dawn turned white. Am I gonna die?

Buffy saw the effect her words had had, and said, "No! Dawn, it's not like that. It's just that . . . I'd hoped that, with Glory gone, you'd be able to have . . . a normal life. Get out of Sunnydale, find yourself a normal guy, and settle down."

Dawn gave her a look. "Right, sis. Like anyone who's been baby-sat by witches, werewolves, and vampires can just go out and have a normal life."

Buffy sighed. "It's just that . . . I know that you have ambitions. And now . . . let's just say, Dawn, that I may have to get used to you being a part of the team."

Dawn was still mystified, but she nodded. "Okay. I guess I can wait till Xander, Anya, and Tara get here-"

Buffy suddenly interrupted, "Tara! Oh my gosh! Giles said I should have Tara look something up!" And she turned back to the phone and started dialing.

* * *

After Buffy's phone call, Tara said she'd take five minutes to look up the Spell of Recall and then burn bunions all the way to the Summers house.

It took her only minutes to find it:

"God!" she whispered. The implications . . . It explained so much.

But what could they do about it?

* * *

Buffy waited impatiently for Tara to arrive. Xander and Anya had arrived several minutes ago, despite the fact that Buffy was sure her phone call had interrupted yet another lovemaking session.

When Tara came in, Dawn immediately turned to Buffy and said, "All right, Buffy, I've waited long enough! Everyone's here. Now what did Giles tell you?"

Buffy looked around. "Guys, you'd better sit down for this one. I know I sure needed to."

Xander, Anya, and Tara all looked worried. "Is it bad?" said the former vengeance demon as everybody seated themselves in the living room.

"Well, it's not . . . happy. At least not for me." She turned to Dawn. "Dawn, we don't talk much anymore about the fact that . . . you weren't born the way everyone else was."

Dawn shrugged. "I know. I don't usually like to think about it. And ever since that night in the hospital," she held up her hand to show the faint scar there, "I've understood what you meant. Where I came from doesn't matter. Now I'm your sister, even if the monks did work their own version of the Immaculate Conception."

Buffy smiled faintly. "Well, sis, I'm afraid they did one more number on you."

Dawn looked scared. "What's wrong? The spell isn't . . . temporary, is it?" She looked like she was about to panic. "Is that it? Am I gonna disappear?"

Buffy threw her arms around Dawn. She hated the way she was scaring Dawn like this, but it was so hard to make herself say the words. "No, Dawn. You're not going to disappear. But you're gonna have to be brave."

She pulled back and looked right in Dawn's face. "Dawn, Giles thinks you've been Called. You're the new Slayer."

* * *

There were gasps and curses -- of various levels of profanity -- from everyone in the room. No one was surprised when Spike was the first to come over and put his arms around the stunned teenager. And as Tara, and then Willow and Xander joined him, it became a massive group hug.

Xander was the first to speak. "You all right, Dawn Patrol?"

Dawn looked up at him and tried to smile. "I don’t know. Maybe. I guess . . . I guess I knew something was going on. I had these weird dreams last night . . . and I gave Spike a real workout today."

That little statement took a whole lot of explaining.

Buffy said to her, later, "It's weird. I was just thinking earlier, when I saw you in there with Spike, that it seemed like you'd joined a family business. Guess I didn't know the half of it," she finished glumly.

This time it was Dawn's turn to hug Buffy. "It's okay. I've got one thing no Slayer has ever had before. A big sister to show me the ropes."

Buffy smiled weakly at that. "Not to mention the crosses, stakes, and crossbows . . . "

"And I'm guessing from your conversation with Giles that he's coming back? To be . . . our Watcher?" It felt so weird to say it. But it felt completely natural, too. Giles was the closest thing she'd had to a father for the last two years. It had almost felt selfish at the time, since she knew Giles was leaving Buffy when he went back to England -- but Dawn had also felt like he was abandoning her. And she knew what it would mean to both of them to have him back.

Buffy looked a little grim as she said, "I don't know about him being 'our' Watcher, Dawnie. I'm still angry with him . . . like when he put me through that awful test back in high school. It'll take time before I can completely trust him again. But . . . " She paused and made a face. "He's the only Watcher I'd let within a thousand miles of you."

Xander nodded. "The only good thing about them sending another English stiff-upper-buttcheek type like that Nigel, or -- bleah! -- Wesley," he said with a shudder, "would've been watching you send him back to England without a plane." He swung his foot in a kick to demonstrate.

Everyone laughed at that. Dawn thought they all needed to laugh, for more reasons than just hers. This was the first 'full' Scooby Gang meeting -- to her mind -- since Tara had moved out. She knew she had missed the feel of the whole group being together, and she was sure the others felt the same way.

Buffy turned to Spike. "Still up to training the Dawnster, Spike?"

Spike looked surprised. "I thought the Tweed Avenger was coming to take care of that."

"He said he's going to be a few days. He has to try to get the Council to agree to him being assigned to the new Slayer. They don't even know it's Dawn yet; he said something about their detection spells not working-"

"The cloaking amulet!" Anya cried. "The one Dawn took from the store! It kept the Council from finding her!" She turned to Dawn. " I hereby forgive you for half the price of the amulet, Dawn! It's worth it to have kept those snooty store-closing Watchers out of town!"

Everyone chuckled, then Buffy continued, "Anyway, he said he got the clue from a prophecy he read . . . he said it was pretty bad, but he didn't want to go over it on the phone. He said he'd fax the text and his best guesses on its meaning over to the Magic Box, just in case we see any signs over the next couple of days."

Xander nodded. "Giles and world-ending prophecies, it's just like old times."

Dawn grinned at her sister. "Only now there's two Summers girls to kick the bad guys' butts out of town!"

* * *

While everyone took turns talking to Dawn about the news, Tara got Spike and Buffy's attention and led them into the next room.

"I found the spell Giles was talking about, and I understand now why Dawn was a potential Slayer." She explained what the Spell of Recall did. "So I when the monks cast their spell, they had to take a soul from the Ether to make Dawn complete -- only Gods can make souls. And so, voila! Instant Slayer material."

Buffy nodded. "Yeah. I'm just glad the Council doesn't know about this. They'd be able to make their Slayers without all the unnecessary bother of raising them," she said bitterly.

Tara took a deep breath. "But this also tells us what's wrong with you, Buffy." Buffy and Spike both looked startled at that. Tara supposed that with the news about Dawn, the implications of the Spell of Recall hadn't had time to penetrate. She continued, "Your soul is human, but it's been 'brought back' once already. So the spell got confused."

Buffy frowned. "Yeah, great, I'm Recycled Buffy. Wonderful. Just tell me what's wrong and how to fix it."

Tara looked at her. She still hadn't gotten it? It was so obvious! "I know what's wrong, Buffy, but I don't what to do about it yet.

"You see, when Willow cast that spell, your soul was supposed to be pulled back to your body. The problem is, since you're a Slayer, there were two bodies pulling at your soul."

Buffy just looked blankly at her. Spike, however, looked like he got it. "Bloody hell! You mean-" He stared at Buffy.

Tara nodded. "Buffy, your soul . . . was originally Spike's."

TBC

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