The Seventh Moment

The Seventh Moment By: skyz

Disclaimer: Joss owns Btvs. I own Wolfe, Martha, and Mornay and any other original character I have created.

~*~*~

Prologue:

2002……..

There are moments in your life that you either sink or float into the harsh world that is life. Wolfe had done both.

Faced himself and lost himself all within the span of a few years. All for the cause in which he himself had tried so hard to abandon.

Back in those days, he had believed it to be self-preservation. Now he knew it had been cowardice. It had been a bone chilling fear of admitting who he was. What he stood for and whom he represented.

Those days were gone though.

Now he stood in the center of what could be essentially called his army. Ready to fight. Ready to die for the cause he had thought lost to him years ago.

Ready to stand by those he had thought gone. Never to be seen again.

He turned his head and gazed at the two people who continued to amaze and humble him to no end.

They turned to face him and smiled.

“You ready boy?” Spike asked a grin appearing as he wrapped a possessive arm around his wife.

Wolfe nodded.

“You?” he asked.

Buffy laughed as she placed a quick kiss on her son’s cheek.

“It’s what we were born for baby. We are more than ready,” she said firmly lifting her gaze to her husband and seeing complete and utter agreement with her.

“Master………?” Some one called out.

Heads turned and one by one everyone gathered turned to stare at the small family.

Wolfe straightened and squared his shoulders.

“That’s me,” he announced.

Stepped forward and embraced the life he never thought he would have.

“We are here today……..to stop the bowels of hell from opening and today as your friend. Your Master……….I ask only that you fight with honor and die a worthy death befitting warriors such as yourselves.

“You are of my blood and therefore I shall mourn for all who perish on this seventh day, on the seventh month in the seventh moon of the seventh year………Today is a good day to die,” Wolfe yelled lifting his hands in the air and the resounding war cry that erupted belied the ground shaking and a portal appearing.

~*~*~

Chapter One:

A MONTH AFTER SKW…….

“One…….two…….three. That’s good. Again,” Spike instructed as he watched Joyce practice staking a vampire on the dummy they’d placed in the basement. A basement they had turned into a virtual Slaying field.

Joyce paused and turned to look at Spike who leaned casually against the wall watching her with a thoughtful expression.

“I thought I told you I didn’t want to do this?” she asked as she dropped the hand that held one of Buffy’s stakes.

Spike shrugged as he pushed off the wall.

“I ignored you,” he simply said as he took stake from her and tossed it into a box that contained others like it.

“Buffy………” Joyce began.

“Buffy isn’t livin’ in reality pet. She doesn’t fancy you being a vamp and sure as hell won’t approve of you learning how to stake vamps only to go out and actually do it. So………chin up and here ends the lesson,” Spike said as he headed for the stairs.

“Spike?” her voice caused him to pause.

“Yep?”

“I think I’m ready,” she finally whispered.

Spike spun on his heel and faced her.

“Really?” he asked, trying to keep the excitement from his voice. “Are you sure? Because I don’t want this to be a false alarm. Don’t want her to get her—“

“Spike,” she interrupted him. “Spike I’m as sure as I will ever be. It’s time Buffy came home.”

~*~*~

“So then he was like trying to get away, running through the streets and I’m chasing him. Trying to get him when………he trips! On his own feet. Trips and promptly falls onto one of the Espresso Pumps tables. Where a girl was doing her homework. Onto her pencil and he’s dust!”

“Did that really happen?” Willow asked as she took a sip of her drink as she studied the stage of the Bronze. Looking for Oz.

“Of course it did,” Buffy exclaimed.

“Of course what?” Wolfe asked as he swooped down kissed both their cheeks and took a seat next to his mom.

“Hello Wolfe,” Willow chirped smiling widely.

“I was telling her about the other day. You know when that vamp ran and ended up killing himself. Hi.”

“Ah. It’s true Wills. Just up and died by his own hands. Funny as hell. What’s on the agenda today? Hi to you too.” He asked as he signaled to a near by waiter and ordered a drink.

“Oz is playing tonight. Xander’s out on the dance floor with Cordelia and I’m alone tonight,” Buffy pouted.

“What’s dad doing?” Wolfe asked. “And I’m here, don’t I count?”

“You’re my son, not my man so really no. Sorry,” Buffy teased.

“Now you’ve hurt my feelings and I think I’ll take Wills out on the dance floor. Come on Will,” Wolfe said taking her hand and leading her to the dance floor.

Buffy smiled and watched her son join the throngs of dancers on the floor. Her good mood slowly dipped as she glanced at her watch and found herself thinking about things she didn’t want to.

Mainly her mom and how bad the situation was. Well not bad, but not quite as good as she had hoped it would be either.

She had known of course she would have trouble dealing with this. After all, she was meant to kill vampires and she was only just now getting used to loving Spike and add the fact, her mom was now a vamp it was some getting used to.

Since her mom had freaked out on seeing her a month ago, she had been hesitant to be around her.

With the help of Spike with whom Joyce had grown deeply attached, Buffy realized this wasn’t all due to her as Buffy but mainly the Slayer side of her that frightened her mom.

Sire/Childe bond Spike told her was why Joyce was so attached.

Nothing remotely sexual in this case.

Joyce had told Spike, because she couldn’t face her daughter, that she couldn’t live with her. Wanted her gone and Buffy couldn’t blame her.

She was the Slayer and besides that, she was the one who let Angel into their lives causing everything that had happened.

It was an overload.

For them both.

So she’d had to find another place to live, which was not too hard since Wolfe had decided to get a place and she had simply moved in with him.

It was weird not seeing her mom and only on the rare occasion, her mom was out and about at night.

She missed her and now her mood was so far gone she rose abruptly and slipped out of the Bronze.

~*~*~

Spike wandered into the Bronze and immediately spotted Wolfe and Willow sitting at a table staring at the stage where Oz was playing.

Striding over to them, he greeted a distracted Willow and pulled Wolfe away to talk to him privately.

“Hey,” Wolfe greeted.

“Listen I just stopped by to ask how things are going. Any progress?” Spike asked his mind touching Buffy's briefly to ascertain she was safe. He could feel her somber mood and he wanted to get to her as soon as possible.

Wolfe leaned in close and whispered.

“Yeh. On schedule, why? Is she suspicious?”

“No, no. I am just in a hurry. I think it will help her, hell of a lot more than I can or any one else for that matter. So……..how was your mum tonight? Her mood?”

Spike wanted to know what could have caused Buffy’s sudden mood swing. He had felt her happiness and then the sudden turn to sadness.

“We were teasing eachother and then I went to dance with Willow and when we came back she was gone. Is she okay?”

Spike nodded and shoved his hands deep in his pockets, pulled out his lighter and played with it as he pondered his next step.

“Your Grandmum wants you to stop by the house for a spell. Chat her up will you? I have business to handle with your mum. Might take awhile,” Spike, mused a smirk appearing.

Wolfe made a half disgusted half-amused face as he nodded.

“Sure.”

“Right then. Do not let it slip though. It’s to be a surprise. Can’t have every vampire looking for the ring can we? Well ta, I’m off,” Spike muttered.

He nodded and strode as quickly out as he had strode in.

Wolfe shook his head as he stared after his dad and then turned back to the table only to catch a glimpse of black hair.

He stood frozen for a moment before he raced off.

She couldn’t be here, he thought furiously.

~*~*~

Giles walked slowly through the cemetery, a stake in his hand and with eyes that were alert for any sign of movement.

Hearing activity up ahead he heard his Slayer’s voice as she fought a vampire and in a panic he ducked behind the nearest crypt just as he heard Spike’s voice drift from the opposite direction.

Cursing his luck, he muttered a small cloaking spell and prepared to wait them out. Surely, they would not be here long, he thought.

Buffy finished off the vamp she had been fighting just as Spike’s voice sounded from the shadows.

“Now that’s the Slayer I know and adore. You feelin’ better?” he asked as he stepped out and into her path.

Buffy scowled as she glanced at him before stuffing her stake in her pocket and moving along. He fell into step beside her.

“I hate that you can do that,” she muttered angrily.

Spike narrowed his eyes as he tried to figure where she was going with this.

“Can’t be helped,” he muttered. “One minute I’m flyin’ high the next I’m feelin’ like I got the shit beat out of me. Your pain is my pain. Don’t exactly enjoy it either luv.”

“I hate that you are the only one who can make me feel better. I hate the fact that my mom needs you more than me! I hate that you have a bigger bond with her than I ever will. That you are living at my house, with my mom and I’m out in the cold! I hate this whole damn situation,” she screamed overriding his words.

Spike clenched his jaw and tried to reign in his own anger.

Failed.

“You think I enjoy this Buffy?! That I wanted things to be this way?” he erupted. “I never wanted this. For you. For me. Or your mum! All I wanted was to do as you asked. I saved her and this unfortunately is the result we are all stuck with.”

“You never asked though. You just assumed I’d want her this way,” Buffy snapped. “But…….I didn’t! I want my mom. I don’t want a demon that can’t even bear to be in the same room with me for more than a few minutes. I want to be able to look at her without getting my Slayer senses all worked up.”

Spike shoved a hand through his hair in agitation and the repressed urge to hit something.

“It’s not all about you pet. You realize your whole thing starts with I and ends in I. Well what about your mum huh?! You ever think how she never wanted this either? I was stuck okay? Between you and your mum and I did what I thought best. Turns out your lot just wanted to let her die. She would have been dead in a few years anyway. Maybe I should have let the chit die,” he yelled.

She slapped him.

“Don’t ever say that again!”

Spike rubbed his cheek and eyed her, a small smirk playing around the edges of his mouth.

“Wha? Don’t tell me you don’t think about it? That it—you would be better off if she were dead in the literal sense. Then you wouldn’t be forced to live with the fact you couldn’t save her,” he mocked.

Buffy clenched her jaw and curled her hands into fists.

“Shut up,” she muttered moving away.

“Why? I’m right. I know it. Can feel it. You wanted to be her savior and instead I am. I’ve got everything you had.”

“That’s right. Everything! She loves you Spike. When she looks at you, it’s obvious. When she looks at me all I see are the eyes of a stranger. And, you’re damn right I think about her really being dead and I know this is better but---sometimes it is a struggle not to wish—why is this happening to me? Why? What did I do to deserve this?” she whispered brokenly.

Spike felt his anger melt away at the first teardrop and muttering to himself, he gathered her close.

“I am not going to replace you luv. I am not what she wants as a daughter. She would find me pretty lacking. I am though her sire and that holds a lot of baggage. She is bound to be attached to me and I think it was good I’ve helped her through this much. But my time is over. Buffy, luv, I love you, you know it and I would do anything for you. That’s why I took this whole sire thing seriously and when she asked for help, I offered my services.

“This has been if not as bad but worse for your mum. She had just accepted this whole new world and wham! She is thrust head first into it. She had a life much like you did before you were called. Now her world revolves around the night. Everything she has loved, believed in has been turned on its head and her only anchor was me. When she looked at you all she could see in the beginning was the Slayer. Something that destroys our kind. But, luv she’s had time to deal and let me tell you she’s quite the lady. She’s ready for you to move back in. She’s ready to be your mum again and for you to be her daughter.”

Buffy buried her face in his shoulder and let out a slow breath as her tears ran themselves out.

“You did that on purpose,” she complained her voice muffled by his shirt.

Spike grinned as he let his hands glide over her hair. Settled on her back, he rubbed rhythmic circles there.

“We would never have talked about it any other way luv. You know I don’t want to take your place with your mum don’t you?” he asked gently, lifting her face.

“How do you do that?” she asked as she trailed her fingers over his brow.

“A trick I learned,” he muttered gazing into her eyes.

Thinking he could surely see himself reflected in those green depths.

“I’m sorry I slapped you,” she whispered softly, cupping his face even as his head lowered his eyes on her lips.

Just the brush of his lips and she was lost.

It was frightening this all-consuming need, she had for him, this desire to never let him go. The ache that formed even at the light brush of his lips.

The only thing that eased some of her fears was that the same could be said for him as well.

“I love you,” she murmured.

His eyes flashed yellow briefly, as he covered her mouth with his own. Wrapped an arm around her waist and hoisted her to him.

Her lips parted as she wrapped her arms around his neck and matched him in the long and torturously slow kiss.

She fed on his mouth, letting her hands roam over his back, jerk his t-shirt from his jeans and let her hands begin to slide over his bare chest.

Jerkily Spike moved away as soon as he felt her hands begin to slide over his chest.

“Spike,” she moaned in protest.

Spike had to clear his throat twice before he could speak.

“Luv we talked about this,” he began.

“No we didn’t. You talked and you decided. I had no say in this,” she grumbled, as she slowly looked him up and down.

Spike shuddered and moved further away from her.

“Stop that! We aren’t going to be doing that anytime soon……..at least not as things stand now,” he muttered.

Buffy scowled and turned to walk away.

“Damn you and your Victorian principles,” she mumbled smiling slightly as she heard Spike fall in step behind her. “You’re such a tease.”

“Not Victorian luv. Smarts is all. I mean what would it look like if I was livin’ with your mum and sleeping with her daughter? She’s a mum and a vamp she would know the minute it happened. Smell it.”

“Ewwwww,” Buffy gagged slightly.

“See? An unpleasant thought.”

“Well you shouldn’t start things you can’t finish,” she muttered.

“Oh, luv I can finish,” he drawled smugly.

“Promises, promises.”

Buffy laughed as he growled at her and she skipped away backwards her laughing eyes on him.

“So we aren’t going to do anything because you’re living with mom? As opposed to me living with her and then it’s okay to sleep with me?” she asked sarcastically.

“Knew you were smart pet. That is it in one. So for now we are celibate,” he muttered darkly.

“But you said mom wants me to move in with her,” Buffy began leadingly.

Spike glanced at her as he arched a brow.

“So?” he asked.

“So you’ll be moving out, hopefully soon. Then we can………”

Spike shrugged. He had plans for them and he intended to wait until the time was right to act on them. But Buffy being Buffy was making it hell to wait.

“Then we’ll see,” was all he said as she locked arms with him and they wandered out of the cemetery.

~*~*~

Giles let out a relived breath as they walked off. He had not been relishing the idea of watching his charge make out with her mate. Or worse………

Glancing at his watch, he swore softly as he made his way out of his hiding spot. Hurried off in the opposite direction Buffy and Spike had gone.

When he reached the designated crypt, he slowly recited the password only he knew and the door opened beneath his hand.

Striding into the crypt, he brandished a ball of fire and slowly climbed down to the lower section of the crypt.

Once his feet were firmly planted beneath him, he regarded his surroundings. In particular, the man hanging by chains on the farthest wall.

He smiled.

A smile that had been known to put the fear of God in many a man.

Or vampire.

“Hello Angelus,” Giles said.

~*~

Ch:2

Wolfe grabbed the arm of the girl he had seen hurrying through the crowd.

“Mornay,” he snarled whirling her around.

The woman let out a gasp of pain and surprise as she turned to face him.

Wolfe blinked, dropping her arm and taking a step back.

“I…….I’m sorry,” he stuttered out as he looked at the petite and obviously dyed black haired girl.

“Listen-“the girl began.

Wolfe shook his head took another step back.

“I’m sorry,” he repeated turning and hurrying away.

Glancing around for Willow, he found her at the edge of the stage, smiling up at Oz.

Then, grabbing his coat, he shrugged into it and strode out.

He couldn’t believe his behavior.

Grabbing women.

Just because he thought they looked like Mornay, he thought in disgust.

Things were getting to him he thought a little scared at what was going on with him.

Since the night, they’d closed the hellmouth he had been having dreams. Weird, but vivid dreams. Filled with blood, lust…….and most of all Mornay. Taunting and egging him on.

Getting to the demon and making it restless.

Shuddering, he glanced at his watch and shoving aside his tumultuous emotions went to the nearest secluded manhole.

Opening it, he quickly skimmed down the ladder and made his way into the Sunnydale caves.

~*~

Joyce straightened the livingroom for the up tenth time and glanced nervously at the front door.

Buffy was going to be here soon. Spike had assured her she would definitely be coming home with him.

Gripping her hands tightly she shook her head in disbelief.

She was nervous.

Strange considering she was Buffy’s mother. Buffy was her daughter and she loved her. But things in their relationship had forever been changed.

Now as well as being her mother, she was an ensouled vampire.

She didn’t like dwelling on that. Wolfe had bluntly told her in a matter of years she would have died anyway.

Told her that her death had a horrible affect on Buffy.

By far this outcome was for the best, as she could now admit that.

Before though, she had been hysterical.

All the new senses, emotions swirling through her.

The demon.

At first, she couldn’t believe she was actually dead.

Still alive in a sense.

Walking, talking, thinking etc. However, looking into the mirror had assured her, she was indeed a vampire.

No reflection.

No pulse.

No breath.

For a week she’d been non-responsive, ignoring everyone and couldn’t even be in the same room with her daughter. Her senses going crazy every time she saw her.

She shuddered now at the memories. She’d been unintentionally cruel and unfeeling.

However, that was where Spike came into the picture.

The man her daughter was in love with. The one she had sent them on an exhaustive search for.

She hadn’t been sure how she would react to him. How she would feel about him taking her little girl, from her. Of course, this had all been before turning into a vampire.

What she hadn’t expected was the connection she felt upon meeting him. It had literally been the only tangible thing keeping her sane.

For a time he had been the only thing anchoring her.

He had taken it upon himself, after she had asked how she was ever going to live as a vampire.

That was when she had told him she could not be in the same house with Buffy. At least not then. It was either she left or Buffy left.

Buffy had decided to leave, go and stay with Wolfe.

Joyce smiled slightly thinking about her grandson.

Another huge surprise.

It had been a shock when she had found out about him, thinking that her daughter had a son from the future.

Upon meeting him, she’d found him to be a delightfully charming young man.

Handsome too.

Just like Spike.

She loved them both. Almost as much as she loved Buffy, she mused.

Wandering into the kitchen she absently heated a bag of blood, poured it into a mug.

Spike she thought had helped her immensely.

However, there was one thing she disliked about this new and weird life she was leading these days.

She didn’t like Spike’s insistence on her learning how to fight.

Why would she need to learn how to fight? She had asked aghast at the very thought.

He had then gone on to explain as the Slayer’s mum she would undoubtedly be a target.

Anyone trying to get to the Slayer would use her.

It was for her protection. He wanted her to learn the basics first, then more in depth with Buffy.

She didn’t know how Buffy would receive this information.

Sipping her blood, she let her gaze settle on the back door.

It was times like this she missed her work.

Now as a vampire, she couldn’t take her morning trips to the gallery, couldn’t possible go out on any out of town trips to purchase art as she used to do.

She really couldn’t do too much until the night, she wasn’t like Spike, she feared the sun.

The front door being unlocked announced Spike’s arrival and her senses detected the smell of the Slayer on him as he strode into the kitchen and headed for the fridge.

She watched him quietly as he went about preparing cocoa.

“Where is Buffy?” she finally asked curiously and a little fearful.

Spike paused in popping tiny marshmallows into his mouth.

Quirked a brow.

“S’at Wolfe’s,” he said.

Joyce clenched her hands around her mug.

“Doesn’t she want to move back in?” she asked anxiously.

“Well…….she had to do some things. Talk to the boy, and figure some thing’s out.”

Joyce stared into her cup and closed her eyes.

“Did I ruin it?” she asked hesitantly.

“It?” he asked, although he had a good idea what she was talking about.

He wanted her to say it.

“My relationship with Buffy? Asking her to leave was a selfish thing. But I…….I didn’t want to hurt her anymore. I did what I had to; I thought it would save our relationship. Obviously I was wrong.”

“You have Joyce. You have saved your relationship. Had she stayed you probably wouldn’t have a relationship left. As it is now……..all you’ve got to do is reestablish it. You love eachother. Thing is you just can’t expect her to be okay with this. Because basically it has been all you. Telling her what to do. Leave where she can see you, talk to you. Move back in. This has to be her decision. She loves you and will do what she thinks is right.”

“And do you think that’s moving back in?”

“Absolutely.”

“Is that so you can feel free to sleep with her,” she asked calmly.

Spike choked on his chocolate.

Gagged.

Blinked.

“I would never,” he began indignantly.

“I know you’re not. But I’m sure that will change,” she cut him off. Her voice going steely. “I won’t preach abstinence. I will tell you this, she’s a young girl, only 17 and if I find out you’ve done anything and I mean anything she didn’t want to do I will stake you. Sire or no sire. Understand?”

Spike nodded.

“Absolutely.”

“Good, would you like some more cocoa?”

~*~

Buffy made her way into the apartment building Wolfe’s apartment was in thinking about what she was going to do.

But her thoughts immediately shifted as she saw a woman leaning against her door.

Her Slayer senses weren’t going off so she wasn’t a vampire. However, she could sense the power coming from her and it caused her to frown slightly.

“Can I help you?” she asked cautiously her eyes taking in the other woman.

Wearing a tight white tank and even tighter leather pants, her dark hair falling to her shoulders she looked……..like a toughed up hooker, Buffy thought amusedly.

A smirk tilted the woman’s lips upwards as she kicked the duffle bag at her feet.

“Hey there B. Buffy right?” she asked.

Buffy’s back stiffened as she let her body relax into a slight fighting stance.

“Who are you? How do you know my name?” she demanded.

“I’m Faith. The new Slayer,” Faith drawled, thrusting a hand out.

~*~

Giles slowly made his way from the crypt, tired but happy.

He couldn’t say what pleasure he got out of having these little visits with Angel.

They served no other purpose than to make him feel better and Angel to feel as miserable as Giles could make him.

Finding Angel had been quite a shock, he couldn’t believe it had only been two weeks ago Angel had literally fallen into his lap and being the man he was he took advantage of that miraculous event.

Torture was such a nasty business, he thought as he walked to his car where he’d parked it a few blocks away and unlocked it.

Angel knew how that went. Of course, he did and it was only fair Giles return the favor for what Angelus had done to Joyce.

Sliding in he glanced into the rear view mirror.

Noted his eyes were black and an aura of dark ness hovered around him.

Shaking his head, he muttered under his breath.

“Can’t have that now can I? Joyce surely wouldn’t approve.”

The spell he recited cleansed his body, washing away the smell of Angel and the lingering affects his trip to Ripperland.

“Ah, I must get her flowers,” he mumbled. “She will enjoy them.”

Driving off he forgot about Angel, his mind focused on his visit to Joyce and what she would have planned for tonight.

~*~

Ch: 3

Martha glanced at her phone for what seemed like the thousandth time and let out an irritated sigh.

Irritation was coming off her in waves. Her patience was shot but she forced herself to remain calm and keep her thoughts positive.

But she hated being kept waiting.

Especially by the likes of Mayor Wilkins.

Rather the ex-mayor. She had made him resign and virtually disappear much to his displeasure.

Germ-a-phobic freak, she thought now with bitter anger. That man was impossible and she hated him. There was no way she would have been able to work with him had it not been for Rufus.

Rufus had installed in her the knowledge that she might have to work with some unsavory people to achieve her goals. It was a means to an end and in the end; she knew she would have her Rufus back.

This brought her thoughts to a certain person. A girl by the name of Faith—she couldn’t remember her last name but she was a Slayer. Since that black one died. Martha wrinkled her nose in distaste.

She didn’t know why Rufus had insisted they kill her, she had been raised to obey them from the very beginning. This new one Faith was unpredictable and wild. No matter how many times she was disciplined, she repeatedly disobeyed them.

Certainly, her Watchers had no affect on her at all. She was a time bomb waiting to go off and that was why she’d been sent to Sunnydale.

Keep your friends close and mix your enemies together and watch them destroy one another was her motto.

Faith would certainly capture Buffy’s attention. She had been firmly instructed to destroy the whole little cozy set up on the hellmouth.

Now Martha knew she had one problem and that was the boy. Wolfe. He could ruin all her plans. He came from the future and knew of things that were to come. This made it even more difficult to anticipate what he was going to say or do. She didn’t know whether he had mentioned to his parents that the ex-Mayor planned to ascend. That was one of the reasons she’d made him resign and disappear from the spotlight.

It hadn’t been too hard to persuade the stupid fool to join her cause either. He knew all about the Council but he didn’t know anything about her. He had decided to play her game when she had proven what kind of power she had. She wasn’t going to go into the vile and atrocious things she had done to prove herself after all she was a lady.

Glancing at the phone, she sighed again. The mayor was supposed to call about the Books of Ascension and let her know how things were going.

She wondered what was taking him so long. Then she reminded herself, she did have all the time in the world.

~*~

After making a flurry of phone calls, Buffy led the girl who claimed to be the newest Slayer to her mother’s house.

Her steps never faltered as she walked onto the porch and rang the bell.

“Thought this was your mom’s house. Why are you ringing the bell?” Faith asked curiously.

Buffy ignored her.

Faith filed that information for later use.

Clenching her hands together, Buffy tried to fight off her nervousness. She so didn’t want to be her—

The door opened Giles stood there.

Buffy blinked, having been expecting her mom.

“Giles,” she muttered as he stepped aside to let them in.

His gaze was curious and wary all at the same time as he looked at Faith, his gaze slipped to Buffy and he frowned at her taut face.

“Buffy,” he greeted. His voice layered with concern, questions and last but certainly not least a vague disappointment.

No doubt in her indecision about moving back in with her mom. He knew how much this meant to Joyce and probably didn’t like to be pulled in two directions by the two women he loved in all the world.

He led them into the livingroom where everyone was assembled.

Buffy let her gaze scan the room quickly, never letting it rest too long on anyone.

Especially her mom.

She indicated to Faith where to sit and placing her hands on her hips spoke.

“So, I was going home—uh to my apartment and she—this is Faith was waiting there. She claims to be the newest Slayer,” she said somberly.

“B I don’t claim, I am the next Slayer,” Faith spoke up her gaze meeting Buffy’s and Buffy narrowed her eyes.

The two Slayer’s stared at one another, a quiet disturbing look passing between them.

All eyes rested on the newest Slayer however.

Giles peered, slowly cleaning his glasses. His pinkie ring glittering nicely as the light hit it.

Xander ogled.

Willow merely watched Faith with a slight puzzled look on her face.

Joyce cringed, her senses going slowly over board.

Spike merely let his gaze rest on his mate.

She’d yet to acknowledge him, and he could feel her troubled thoughts.

About this new Slayer, the old one Kendra, Wolfe, her mum and finally Giles. Jumbled into one huge twisted knot in the base of her stomach.

“A Slayer,” Giles murmured studying her closely.

Faith shifted, as she became the center of attention.

“Yep. That’s me,” she muttered.

“She is,” Joyce spoke up abruptly as she rose. “Excuse me,” she rushed out.

All of the Scoobies watched her leave. As one, they turned half their attention to Buffy and the other to Spike.

Faith looked back and forth.

“You are the Slayer right?” she asked Buffy looking at her incredulously.

As Buffy nodded, she continued.

“So then, why are there two vampires in your house and I’m guessin’ you know your mom’s a vamp too, don’t you?”

Buffy once again ignored her as she made to follow her mom out of the room.

“Giles can you explain,” she asked as she disappeared.

Spike jumped to his feet and followed Buffy out.

“Er…….yes, of course. You see Buffy is……..” he began.

~*~

Buffy found Joyce huddled over the counter, her head in her hands.

“Mom,” Buffy asked carefully.

Joyce’s head lifted slowly.

“Yes Buffy?” she asked.

Buffy paused, nervous and scared.

She didn’t like this feeling.

The helplessness where her mom was concerned. She was normally the one in control and now it all rested on Joyce’s shoulders.

“Listen, if this is a problem for you, we can leave,” Buffy bit out abruptly.

Joyce stiffened as she turned to look at Buffy.

“Of course I want you here,” she admonished sharply.

Buffy tilted her head.

“Do you? I mean really? I don’t need your pity, I am doing fine on my own,” Buffy said a bit defensively as she crossed her arms over her chest.

“But you shouldn’t have to. Buffy—“Joyce started to say but Buffy shook her head, cut her off.

“So it’s okay if I’m here but as for Faith and the gang it seems to make you antsy. We will meet elsewhere from now on. So you won’t have a pr—“

“Buffy please,” Joyce cried out as Buffy turned to walk away. “Please, can’t things go back to the way they were?”

Buffy swung back, shaking her head.

“That’s impossible. Too much has happened. Now mom, I know this has been majorly hard for you and really, it is all my fault. And I am sorry! You don’t know how sorry I am that I’ve ruined your life.”

Joyce hesitantly approached Buffy.

“Buffy you didn’t ruin my life,” she muttered.

Buffy waved a dismissive hand, blinking back tears. “Of course I did. This……..this isn’t going to work. I can’t be here with you,”

Buffy exclaimed hoarsely as she wiped at her eyes.

“Why not?” Joyce demanded.

“Because, all I see when I look at you is my failure and I know when you look at me all you see is the Slayer. Living together won’t erase that. I think it would be a mistake.”

They fell into a silence that wasn’t even remotely comfortable. Charged with various emotions. Too many to distinguish clearly.

“Fine, you don’t want to move back in it’s your decision,” Joyce snapped her face a map of anger and hurt.

Buffy flinched.

“It’s not that I don’t want to. It’s just that I can’t. Why can’t you understand that? I gave you space when you wanted it! When you kicked me out I never said a word. Now all I am asking is don’t expect me to be ecstatic now that you’ve deigned to let me move back in! To act like everything is fine! Because it’s not.”

Joyce nodded.

“You’re right. Everything has changed,” she said flatly. “I am not just your mother I am now a vampire. That’s the major problem isn’t it Buffy? Not that you failed me, but the fact I am now a vampire isn’t it? You can sleep with one, even fall in love with one, but you can’t love your mother now is that what I am to believe?! Look at me,” Joyce snapped out as Buffy turned away from Joyce a look of such an acute pain it would have taken Joyce’s breath away if she’d had any.

Buffy turned to look at Joyce.

Watched as Joyce focused her attention on her and watched in horrified detachment as her mom’s face shifted, changed.

The demon was out.

Her eyes were yellow and glowing with an eerie light Buffy realized was a sheen of tears.

Swallowing back the bile that suddenly rose Buffy forced her gaze to stay on her mom’s as Joyce opened her mouth her fangs showing and spoke.

“Do you see me?” she asked harshly. “This is who I am now!”

Buffy closed her eyes.

“And this is who I am mom. I am the Slayer and I don’t want to be around you. I can’t. Isn’t that what you told me? Well now, it is my turn. Things have changed and we can never go back. You shouldn’t be this way and we both know that. The only reason you are is because of me. And until I can come to terms with that, accept it, you can’t expect me to accept you. To embrace this side of you. I won’t. Don’t ask me to,” Buffy said in a flat, cold voice that lacked the vital essence of Buffy but held the firm, coolly detached tone of the Slayer.

Joyce reverted to her human face.

Mother and daughter stared at one another.

Vampire and Slayer stared back at them.

Buffy gave a curt nod before she slipped past Joyce and disappeared out of the back door.

Joyce closed her eyes, let her tears fall and felt her heart break.

Spike opened his closed eyes, torn in two, as he wanted to go comfort Joyce and his need to be with Buffy.

Things hadn’t gone well at all, he thought bitterly. Here he thought he had gotten through to Buffy. To Joyce. Seems these Summers women were a stubborn lot and they were going to do what they wanted whether he liked it or not.

Striding past the livingroom his eyes met Giles’ gaze and he jerked his head in the direction of the kitchen.

Spike left the house to search for his Slayer. To offer as much comfort as he could and give her a shoulder to cry on.

~*~

Ch: 4

Faith let her gaze roam over the rest of the Scoobies and felt a smirk threatening to emerge.

She knew she could have them eating out of the palm of her hand in no time and she really couldn’t wait.

She was aware this Buffy chick was some kind of problem for the Council and they’d sent her here to take care of her. Oh, not to kill her, that job seemed to be for the boss lady herself. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t have any fun with her and she knew she was going to enjoy this.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer was a disgrace to the name. She lived with vampires, slept with them and even her own mother was one! Who let their mom be turned? She thought in contempt.

Not that she knew what you let a mom do and not do after all she hadn’t had one growing up. To her way of thinking that was for the better, she hadn’t had to put up with all the crap parents threw at their kids.

Instead, she’d basically raised herself and that was okay.

Now she’d have no problem destroying this happy, fucked up family.

Her eyes rested on the brown haired boy whose gaze hadn’t left her breasts since she’d walked in here.

He would be the first victim she decided as she leaned forward, letting a good bit of cleavage show as she reached out, touched his hand.

“Xander?” she asked.

His gaze jerked guiltily to her own and he swallowed audible and stared at her with wide eyes.

“Whatcha do for fun ‘round here?”

~*~

Spike caught up with Buffy a few blocks from her house and fell into step with her.

“Wanna tell me what that was about?” he finally asked as it became apparent Buffy wasn’t in the mood to begin a conversation.

“What? I don’t know what you’re talking about and you shouldn’t either. Eavesdropping is against the law.”

Spike smiled as he took her hand in his and slowed her so they were strolling instead of a Slayer version of speed walking.

“Against whose law luv? And hey, evil here! It’s expected. Besides I would have heard it any way what with the link and all,” he murmured as he glanced at her.

She turned her face away quickly before he could catch her tear stained cheeks. Bloodshot eyes and running nose.

“My law. I am the Slayer after all,” she muttered.

Spike sighed, dug around in his pocket and handed her a tissue. At her puzzled look, he shrugged. “Been hangin’ around you Summers women too much. Cry at the drop of a hat and I have learned to carry around a wad of tissues. Now wipe your nose and tell me what the hell is going on pet! You seemed happy to know she wanted you to move back in. What happened?”

Buffy was quiet a minute before she finally peeked up at him and gave a small humorless laugh.

“You know she said I could love vampires and sleep with them but that I couldn’t love her. And you know what she was right. I look at you and I see what you are. I know it and I love it. The demon’s there and I’ve accepted it and yet I can love you. I love all of you. But her…….I can’t—I don’t know how to love her. I can’t look at her without seeing…… It wouldn’t be so bad if she had accidentally been turned but this…….I condoned this. Condemned her to this life. I let you turn her. “How can she look at me and not see that. Not see the girl sworn to protect the world, the girl who failed in the simplest thing. The one thing she should have done. I didn’t protect her and it’s……..”

Buffy trailed off staring into the darkness, seeing all the what ifs. Seeing what should have been.

Her failures.

“Buffy,” Spike began stopping her as she made to continue walking. He made her look at him by tilting her chin up and staring down at her.

He was confused and it showed, as he looked down at her a look of puzzlement and concern on his sharply angled face.

“……..if you would listen to me! Dammit, shut up and let me think! You always want to kill, kill; killing isn’t all it is cracked up to be. No, no, I told you to shut up—“

Both Spike and Buffy turned as the loud slightly slurred voice came from across the street from them.

“Wolfe,” Buffy whispered in disbelief as he shuffled along the sidewalk, head bent and shoulders hunched as if the weight of the world was holding him down.

Spike’s reaction was much louder and angrier as he frowned and yelled out across the street at their son.

“What are you doing boy?” he asked. “You been drinkin’? Listen—“he cut himself off as he got a look at his son.

Wolfe’s head shot up, he looked around startled out of his mumbling, his face stark white, and appallingly gaunt in the bright light the street light cast. He blinked owlishly at them before he made his way over to them.

A slow, exhausted shuffle.

Buffy’s hand immediately went to Spike’s and grasped it tightly. She had no idea what had happened to Wolfe in the short amount of time she’d seen him and left him at the Bronze but he looked as if he’d aged a good twenty years!

“Hey,” Wolfe greeted them slowly.

*Spike look at him,* Buffy’s voice ordered in his head and Spike looked.

And felt sick to his stomach as he looked at their son, saw the bags that had appeared out of nowhere under his eyes and the glazed look that shrouded his eyes.

“Where are you off to?” Buffy finally asked as she managed a small smile.

“Underground,” was the reply she got.

They stood in silence as Wolfe stared off into space and his parents stared at him in horror and incomprehension.

“Are you alright Wolfe? You……..you don’t look so good and I think it would be good if you came home and went to sleep. Mom’s ring can be found later. Come on.”

She reached out, took his arm.

He slipped from her grasp and edged away.

“Gotta get underground,” Wolfe snapped. “Listen I’m fine. Just a little tired is all. I’ll get some rest later on okay?” he said looking at them hopefully.

“You aren’t fine,” Spike finally spoke up his voice firm and hard as he took Wolfe’s arm and Buffy took the other. “You look like shit and if I recall you didn’t look that way when I saw you earlier. You aren’t going back down there until you’ve taken care of yourself Wolfe! You……..I don’t know what’s going on with you but obviously somethin’ is and all we want to do is help you. Will you let us help you?”

Wolfe looked at them, one to the other his eyes flaring briefly with life as he let out a bitter laugh.

“Help me? No, no one can help me. They’ve taken me over. She’s here now. Both of them—they’re going to destroy me! I know this for a fact. They’ve told me this. They—“

“Who? Whom are you talking about Wolfe? Tell us and we can help you! Let us help you,” Buffy said as she and Spike hauled Wolfe between them back towards the apartment they shared.

“Is it the demon Wolfe?” Spike asked gently.

“Demon wants to play huh? Wanna play? Always talking, asking for things I can’t give it! And she—she never shuts the hell up!”

*Who do you think he’s talking about?* Buffy wanted to know.

#Hard to tell,# Spike replied grimly as they maneuvered Wolfe into the apartment building.

*Mornay or maybe Martha Travers. I can’t think of any one else being able to get to him. I don’t know why we didn’t think about this! Why shouldn’t they come after Wolfe! I mean I knew of course that he was a target but--*

#We don’t know who is doing this and we certainly couldn’t have anticipated them using mind games. Wolfe has a mind like a steel trap wouldn’t figure on someone getting in. But whoever it is—I’ll kill ‘em! Make them pay for making him suffer!#

*We will make them pay. Together. We will put Giles on it and see what he can find out. We are going to have to keep him with us. He will have to be near one of use at all times. Who knows what he might do to himself or God forbid some one else!*

“You’re right,” Spike answered aloud as Buffy unlocked their apartment and he led the suddenly mute and deflated Wolfe to his bedroom.

“Help me get him out of these,” Buffy instructed as she began to tug at Wolfe’s boots.

Placing him on the bed they worked in silence as they undressed him down to his underwear and settled him into bed.

#Should we keep watch at his door?# Spike asked silently as he gazed at Wolfe.

*I think tha—

“Don’t……..” Wolfe began, shook his head, raised his hands to his hair and gripped it tightly. “Don’t leave me,” he whispered.

“Course we won’t leave you,” Spike answered immediately. “We’ll stay right here with you Wolfe.”

“Right here?” Wolfe echoed in a small voice that hinted at the boy underneath. The boy that seemed to be resurfacing, as he looked at them wide eyed and frightened.

“Yes. Right there with you. That’s what you want right?” Buffy asked as she sat on the edge of the bed lowered her head to untie her shoes.

Spike joined her.

Buffy blinked back the tears that filled her eyes as Wolfe let out a sigh of relief and happiness.

“They come at night you know,” he said in the same child like voice.

Spike barely suppressed a growl of rage at the extent Wolfe seemed to have been reverted to.

Silently they joined Wolfe on both sides of the bed.

Wolfe snuggled closer to Buffy a happy sigh escaping as he closed his eyes.

“Mommy,” he said.

“Yes Wolfe?”

“Will you love me even when I’m bad?” he asked tiredly.

Buffy’s’ gaze found Spike’s in the darkness and she saw his eyes flash yellow before she answered her voice slightly choked with emotion.

“Of course I will. I will always love you Wolfe. You are my son. You’re a part of me and I’ll love you until I die.”

“I’ll never let you die,” Wolfe announced fiercely. “You love me too don’t you daddy?”

“Always. Love you both. For eternity. Nothin’ is gonna change that Wolfe. You’re our son. We love you.”

Wolfe drifted to sleep a smile at the edges of his mouth.

“For eternity,” he mumbled as he fell asleep.

Buffy placed a kiss on his forehead and let one of her hands smooth his curling hair back.

With her, other hand she grasped Wolfe’s in a grip that would have broken any normal persons.

“Whoever’s doing this is going to die,” Spike growled softly, coldly. “It’s not up for discussion.”

“I didn’t say it was. They’re gonna die. Period.”

Spike reached over covered Buffy’s hand that held Wolfe’s with his own and let out a deep sigh before he settled down.

For now, they were together.

For now, they could help Wolfe get through this.

For now, there was peace.

~*~

Mornay let out a curse as she reached out her mind to Wolfe’s and found it blocked, every little inch of it was blocked from her.

“Well,” she muttered aloud as she paced.

This was an unexpected occurrence. For a month, she’d free access to the boy’s mind and now it was blocked.

A small smile curved her lips upward.

“Looks like you’ve won this night little Slayer,” she muttered. “But alas I have won the war. He is mine and I’ll be coming to claim him. And you won’t stop me. No one can stop me!”

Wolfe belonged to her now, she had little doubt of that. Things couldn’t have been going any better, his demon was wrapped around her finger, wanted all the destruction and death she’d shown him.

Now all she had to do was claim her prize.

~*~

Ch: 5

Buffy managed to wait until a little after six in the morning before she headed over to Giles’s apartment. She stood outside his door a good fifteen minutes before she finally realized he wasn’t there and with a disgusted snort, she headed in the direction of her home.

She didn’t have the time to think about all the implications she knew Giles sleeping over at her mom’s brought up as she leaned on the doorbell of her house, blurry eyed and beyond pissed.

She kept picturing Wolfe’s face. The helpless, lost look he’d worn as he’d drifted to sleep. It scared her the way it touched her. Moved her in ways she hadn’t known she could be moved. Some one was hurting her son and they were going to pay.

When the door was thrown open by, a rumpled and irritated Giles Buffy brushed past him and waited for him to join her in the livingroom.

“Uh………Buffy this isn’t what it looks like,” Giles stammered out as he took off his glasses and cleaned them nervously watching Buffy carefully.

Buffy speared him a look that held little interest in his awkwardness at the situation.

“Giles someone has been messing around in Wolfe’s head and I want it stopped. Immediately,” she announced abruptly.

“What?” Giles exclaimed. “I find that highly unlikely Buffy!”

Buffy’s brows rose and she scowled at him.

“Highly unlikely? As in, you think I’m making this up or something Giles? Well here’s a fact Giles. Wolfe is my son and I don’t joke about him. Some one has screwed with him so bad he’s talking to himself and wandering around half out of his mind! This isn’t a joke. I want your help on finding out who’s doing this and how to stop it.”

Giles was silent a moment as he considered her words.

“I am sorry Buffy that it appeared I thought you were joking. I was merely in shock. Wolfe seems to be the type of fellow who isn’t easily manipulated,” Giles muttered.

Buffy let out a quick breath and slumped into the nearest chair, her head in her hands.

“I’m sorry Giles,” she whispered tiredly. “It’s just that I’m on edge and you should have seen him……….he was—never mind do you think you can help?”

Giles nodded.

“I think perhaps I can,” he said with a small smile as he glanced at Buffy.

~*~

Spike kept a close eye on Wolfe as they strode through the sewers and barely resisted the urge to take his hand and hold on as tight as he could.

Instead, he watched him as he would a wounded animal. Warily and concerned as bloody hell.

“So how’re you doing so far?” Spike asked as Wolfe trudged along beside him.

“Good. They don’t come out when it’s light out. Only in the dark,” Wolfe lied as he glanced at his dad and managed a strained smile.

Spike looked relived and smiled back.

“Well then, this isn’t too upsetting is it? Just gonna go see Joyce and figure out a way to fix you good and proper. Get you right in the head again,” Spike, joked weakly.

Wolfe snorted.

“Yeh. Make me right in the head again,” he muttered dryly as he followed Spike up a ladder that led to the street.

No one could make him right in the head. Not now. It was far too late for that he knew damn well his parents no matter what they did it wouldn’t help. What was done was done.

But he would let them hold onto their hope and believe he would come back from this.

~*~

Docker Jones silently watched as two bodies emerged from below the ground coming up through a manhole in the ground and smiled at his luck.

He had been watching this sixth manhole cover for the past four hours. And it seemed his work had finally paid off.

Sipping his coffee, he started his car and slowly began to follow them. His eyes rested on the sandy haired boy and narrowed thoughtfully.

He noticed the boy had if possible grown even more gaunt and pale then from the last time he’d seen him which had been last night. Right after he’d run into the man he was now with and a young lady. Who wasn’t with them right now but had been all night long.

He wondered idly what she would be doing with these men and then thought better of it. His job wasn’t that. He shouldn’t be worrying about innocent young girls.

His job was to retrieve a certain person and right the balance that had been broken.

~*~

Xander glanced at Willow as they made their way to the Summers house.

“What’s wrong Xan?” she finally asked stopping and looking at him curiously.

“Do you think all Slayers are hot?” he asked excitedly.

Willow smiled faintly, hooked her arm through his, and started walking again.

“Well I don’t know Xander. What do you think?”

“I think………..oh yeah! I mean Buffy, Kendra and this Faith chick! So—I’m thinking since I’ve struck out twice third times the charm!”

Willow frowned and shook her head.

“But what about Cordelia?”

Xander shrugged unconcerned.

“Did you see the way she was diggin’ me yesterday Wills? I mean she was all over me! And Cordelia and I aren’t doing anything more than foolin’ around a lot,” he stated nonchalantly.

“I don’t think that’s the way Cordelia sees it Xander. She probably thinks you’re together and so would I if you went out with me every night for the past two months or so. Besides Faith seems kind of sluttish.”

Xander stopped walking abruptly.

“But you just met her Wills,” he protested.

Willow shrugged under his intense stare.

“Well……….she works for the Council and we know the Council is bad business and—“

“Buffy works for them too! Is she all of a sudden gonna be bad too?” Xander snapped striding away angrily.

Willow hurried to catch up with him.

“No! Listen and listen good. Buffy does not work for the Council any more. The Council tried to bring hell on earth Xander. Let’s not forget that. All I’m saying is don’t get too attached. We don’t know anything about her. I’m sure this is what the meeting’s about. Giles probably has all the dirt on her,” Willow said confidently.

~*~

Giles indeed had all the dirt but on an altogether different person.

“Well……..there’s a magical trail a mile long as they say,” Giles said to Buffy and Spike as they both paced the livingroom. Walking around one another. Nervous energy jumping off them and slowly infecting the only other person in the room.

“To who?” Spike asked coldly.

“Well………of that I’m not quite sure but if we follow it we will no doubt find the cause of all of Wolfe’s problems of late.”

Buffy and Spike glanced at eachother a moment.

Giles shifted uncomfortable as he realized they must be having one of their telepathic conversations.

It still unnerved and disturbed him the closeness Spike shared with Buffy and now Joyce as well. TO be quite honest it was moments like these, that made him severely jealous of the vampire.

He had a connection to Buffy and Joyce, Giles could only dream about. Not of course the more intimate one he had with Buffy, he shuddered as he thought about that. No, he envied the way they could communicate so easily, how she trusted him implicitly.

A little voice in his head told him Buffy trusted him as much as she trusted Spike and he shouldn’t feel jealous of that.

Another little voice pointed out that he was not living up to his part. That even now he was breaking that bond. That trust was being broken by keeping Angel a secret and doing his evil wicked way with him.

Giles rolled his eyes.

“Must you be so dramatic? Evil, wicked way?” he muttered aloud, shaking his head in amusement.

Slayer and Vampire looked at him having caught his words.

Giles froze and wondered if they would ask about it. He was relieved as Buffy spoke.

“We’ve decided Giles that we’re gonna check this out and you need to stay and watch Wolfe okay?” Buffy asked.

Giles nodded.

“Of course,” he murmured.

“Okay. Let’s go Spike,” Buffy ordered as she headed for the door.

“Wait, Buffy here you must take this. This will guide you to the source of the spell. I wish I could undo it but it is too powerful.”

“No worries Ripper. All we gotta do is kill it and I’m sure that’ll work just as well,” Spike piped up as he slid a glance Giles’s way.

Buffy took the small crystal Giles gave her and held it carefully.

“Is it gonna glow or something? How will we know how it’s working?” she asked.

“Yes it will glow purple. Good luck.”

Spike smirked.

“None needed. Listen you take care of him you hear?” Spike snapped out as he stood before Giles all mocking aside and only the cold, deadly vampire that had claimed himself a Slayer. Giles’ Slayer.

Giles bristled.

“Spike,” Buffy moaned. “Giles knows how important this is! He won’t let anything happen to Wolfe. I trust him. C’mon. We’ll see you later Giles.”

Giles watched them go, Buffy’s words ringing in his ears.

“Joyce,” he called urgently as soon as Buffy and Spike were a good distance away from the house.

~*~

Wolfe continued his mindless task of staring at the walls. He wished he were underground. Digging. Digging was easy. Simple and usually kept his thoughts from straying too far.

Which was good. It usually helped to calm his nerves.

But this sitting wasn’t doing much of anything in helping him keep the peace he had acquired last night.

“This isn’t working,” a voice came from beside him.

“What do you want?” he demanded.

“What do I want? What the hell do you think I want? You brought me here! And here I am! But what am I doing here?” his demon erupted.

Wolfe watched his demon lean over and shove him so he tumbled backwards on his mom’s bed.

“What am I doing here?!” it demanded to know.

Wolfe shook his head.

“I needed you,” he muttered looking away.

The demon narrowed his glowing eyes as he stared at his counter part and growled low down in his throat.

“That’s great. But me being here is useless Wolfe! I hate it here,” it complained.

“That’s too bad.”

The demon sighed, sat down next to Wolfe and let a sneer form.

“If you think this is the end of it just because you say so then you’re more pathetic than you pretend to be!”

Wolfe clenched his jaw and glared at his demon.

“You can’t possible expect me to embrace you do you?! That I need you? Well here’s a clue I don’t on both counts!”

“You don’t need to embrace me Wolfe. We’re the same boyo. You wanna make as if we’re two separate beings by all means continue. But here’s a clue for you. You brought this on yourself. Pitiful little Wolfe who likes to pretend he’s a real boy. A normal boy. A simple boy. Well we are anything but simple or normal. Who wants to be anyway? You think you would have ever met Grace had you been normal huh? She’d of never wanted you! Never. And I know you like to pretend you’re the innocent in all of this but we both know better. It wasn’t me who killed Rufus Travers—“

“I didn’t kill him,” Wolfe yelled.

“Oh yes you did! I mean what was that then? He just slipped from your grasp on accident?” the demon asked sarcastically.

“Yes,” Wolfe exploded jumping up and taking the demon along with him as he did it.

The demon laughed in great amusement.

“Okay! I see what you’re doing here! So it was like this then……….you accidentally broke his hand and he just happened to slip because of it and fall to his death into the bowels of hell?”

Wolfe didn’t answer.

“Riiiiight. Like we don’t know how to control our strength. Like you little boy didn’t drum it into our heads that we’re stronger than everyone else is and there’s only so much you can do and can’t do. You gripped his hand so hard you knew it would break. Oopps my bloody beautiful ass. We watched as he fell. I knew you were happy. Glad to be rid of him!”

“So what?! So what if I did do that? He was evil he needed to be gone. I did what I had to!”

“Here we go! Come on baby. Lay it on me! I know how it is to be you. Scared little boy who wants his mommy and daddy to rid him of his monsters! Do you think I enjoy seeing you like that? Scared out of your head? Well I don’t! You want this done right let me handle it. You want things to go according to plan you let me in.”

“No,” Wolfe said stubbornly.

“Let me in. Let me take care of this,” the demon coaxed softly.

“No………”

“This is the only way. You know that. Why can’t you see that? She’s not going to give up. Might as well give in while the gettin’ is good.”

“It’s wrong……….”

“Being wrong can feel oh so right! C’mon. What ya say Wolfie?”

“No………we can’t—“

“We can if we do it together. Other wise what’s the point of me being here? Our first order of business would be to get rid of him.”

“No killing,” Wolfe muttered.

The demon pouted.

“Why not? There are so many people out there who deserve it! Not even one?” the demon asked hopefully.

Wolfe straightened and looked his demon in the eye.

“No. Not even one. We do it—“

“Like the plan right? It’s my plan so if I want a little killing I say I can do whatever I want!”

“No,” Wolfe persisted.

“Whatever. So we follow my plan right?”

Wolfe looked around the room without actually seeing it. His thoughts were on things to come. The outcome of this decision.

He sighed and wondered if he were making a mistake.

Even if he was, he knew there was no other way.

“Yes. We follow your plan.”

The demon laughed and did a little jig of happiness.

“Good. Let’s get out of here!”

~*~

Giles ushered a confused and wary Joyce to the door.

“Rupert,” she began.

“Joyce this is important. I have to show you something and I need your advice,” Giles cut her off opening the door and was startled to see Willow and Xander standing there.

“Where are you going?” Willow asked curiously.

“Out. Be good and watch Wolfe will you?” Giles asked as he hurried Joyce out.

“Uh………sure,” Willow called after the retreating couple.

“What was that about?” Xander wondered aloud.

~*~

Spike kicked open the door to the abandoned warehouse and charged inside only to let out a stream of curses as he realized it was empty.

“She’s not here,” Buffy commented as she looked around the place that looked as if it hadn’t seen the light of day in years.

“But she was. Mornay was here,” Spike growled as he sniffed the air. He followed it all the way to the back of the warehouse. “She’s left a trail.”

Buffy frowned once again looking around.

“Why would she do that?” she asked. “You don’t think she wants us to find her do you?”

Spike glanced at her before he nodded.

“I think that’s exactly what she wants us to do luv.”

Buffy sighed, glanced at her watch and nodded.

“Then that’s what we’ll do,” she decided.

“Let’s have at it then,” Spike muttered and trotted off into the night following his nose.

Buffy only a step behind.

~*~

Wolfe strode down the stairs a small smug smile on his lips as he realized Willow and Xander were in the house.

“Hey guys,” he greeted as he paused in the doorway of the livingroom.

“Hey,” they greeted him in unison. And found it so amusing they cracked up with laughter.

“I’m gonna head out,” Wolfe muttered.

“Where to?” Willow asked as she rose. Giles had after all asked them to keep and eye on Wolfe.

“Home. I’m beat,” Wolfe yawned and stretched his lean body to give evidence of how tired he was.

Wolfe studied him and saw that he truly did look exhausted and she supposed it was okay if he went home. After all, why would Giles leave if Wolfe had to be watched?

“Okay. See you,” Willow finally said.

“See you,” Wolfe muttered and disappeared out the door. He paused on the doorstep and sniffed the air.

Frowning he headed in the direction of the cemeteries.

~*~

Giles paused outside the crypt and cast a quick look at Joyce who had become more and more disturbed, as Giles had led her through the graveyard.

“Okay Joyce……….this will come as a shock and I don’t know how you’ll receive this. But as it is, I can no longer keep this to myself. You see I have—“

“You wouldn’t by chance be looking for this?” a voice came from behind them and they both turned.

Giles recoiled.

Joyce fainted.

Mornay grinned.

Angel snarled as he attacked.

~*~

Ch: 6

Moving swiftly through the streets Wolfe was beginning to think he’d been wrong. That maybe he hadn’t caught that familiar scent on the wind.

But as he neared the cemetery, he knew he couldn’t have been wrong. He’d sensed him from the time he’d stepped foot in town.

“You shouldn’t be so sneaky,” he called out as he pushed open the iron gates to the cemetery and strode in.

He stood hands on hips head tilted and a small smile playing around the edges of his mouth.

“Am I to do all of the talking?” he demanded.

“You should be used to it. Your mouth is so big, you never learned when to shut up,” came the drawling amused voice as Docker emerged from the shadows.

Wolfe grinned as he watched Docker stride toward him.

“What can I say? It is a gift. What are you doing here Dock?” he asked curiously as he slowly relaxed into a fighting stance.

Docker paused briefly as he watched Wolfe shift into attack mode, shook his head in admiration and gave him a smile.

“What do you think? You’ve ruined things. This? This wasn’t supposed to happen Wolfe. You being here has upset the balance and I’ve come to take you home,” he replied coldly.

“Well…….sorry to disappoint but that’s not going to happen anytime soon. I have things I need to do and you aren’t going to stop me. Even if I have to kill you.”

“That would make it easier for you wouldn’t it? Killing me. I’ve been following you for a good while now and have concluded you have lost yourself to the demon and he is now making all the decisions. Ones that make no sense at all. What do you think you’re going to do here Wolfe? You don’t belong here! Having you here is—“

“I know what it’s doing! I know I shouldn’t be here. I know that. But as things stand if I go back—if I go back—“Wolfe shook his head and closed his eyes as he pictured the outcome of his leaving things as they were.

“What?” Docker asked genuinely curious.

“You know me Dock. All of me right?” Wolfe asked looking at Docker. Searching his soul.

Docker shifted uncomfortable under the weight of Wolfe’s stare.

As a Keeper of the Balance, his clan was specialized in doing anything to protect the fragile line between the Powers plans and things they had not foreseen. Such as Wolfe. Him being here had not been foreseen and it was doing unimaginable things to the balance.

“No. I can not let you go,” Docker finally said as he attacked.

“I warned you,” Wolfe snarled as he met him halfway.

~*~

Mornay watched in intense fascination as Angel attacked Giles.

Giles stumbled back as the weight of Angel brought him to his knees and he fell onto his back, Angel straddling him.

“You,” Angel hissed. “You did this to me!”

Giles bucked and shoved Angel off, his eyes beginning to glow black and energy swirled around him.

“Well………I see you were looking for him,” Mornay said happily, as she moved closer to the fighting pair.

Giles ignored her and concentrated on subduing Angel.

Spell after spell had little affect, as Angel was unhindered as he stalked Giles and backed him into a corner of the crypt.

“Did I forget to mention………I kinda made him invincible to magical spells? Well silly me. Give the Slayer a message for me will you? Tell her I’m gonna enjoy this,” Mornay said as she turned and walked right into Joyce’s fist.

“You can tell her yourself,” Joyce muttered as she turned her attention to Angel who was currently pummeling Giles.

Dragging in a deep breath she mustered her courage and squeezed her eyes shut tight as her demon emerged and she ran at Angel all her pent up anger and hate for him springing forth as she charged.

~*~

Buffy paused mid step and glanced around wildly.

“Wait,” she said and grabbed Spike’s arm as he brushed past her.

Spike stilled.

“Listen,” she urged as she used her senses to ascertain what she’d heard hadn’t been her imagination.

“I hear it,” Spike muttered.

They could hear the distinct sounds of two fights going on around them in the cemetery.

And both were with one human.

One being Wolfe.

Buffy and Spike glanced at eachother.

“Go find Wolfe,” Buffy ordered as she dashed off in the opposite direction to help some helpless victim.

Spike stared after her a moment before he followed the sounds of Wolfe fighting.

~*~

Joyce couldn’t believe what she was doing and to who. She threw another punch and sent Angel sprawling onto the ground.

“Stay away from him,” she warned as Angel readied himself for another attack.

“Joyce……….leave us be,” Giles managed to choke out between his bloodied lips, a hand pressed to his side.

“No,” Joyce snapped. “I don’t know how this is possible but—I’m going to finish this,” she muttered grimly as Angel snarled wildly, his head going back and forth.

Joyce was sure he was going to attack and steeled herself. She was forever grateful Spike had insisted she learn the basic skills of fighting.

But what she didn’t expect was Angel giving a terrible howl and racing off into the night.

“Rupert,” Joyce gasped as soon as she was sure Angel was gone and dropped down beside him.

“Joyce……... I’m sorry. I—“

“Mom,” Buffy exclaimed in shock as she stumbled upon them.

She dropped down beside them both, her eyes immediately going over Giles in horror.

“What happened?” she demanded. “Who did this?”

“Oh Buffy it was horrible. Awful,” Joyce moaned. “He just attacked us and-“

“Where’d he go? Mom you get Giles to a hospital and I’ll find this vamp. Which way?”

Joyce pointed in the direction Angel had gone off in and gave a shuddering breath as she prepared to tell Buffy who had been their attacker.

“It was………it was,” she tried to get out but Buffy was already gone.

Gathering an unconscious Giles in her arms, she gave one last look around before she finally headed out of the cemetery.

~*~

Spike couldn’t shake the feeling he wasn’t going to like what he was going to see.

And he was right as he burst into the clearing and saw Wolfe in a struggle with—

He paused as wave upon wave of sensations assaulted his senses.

He stumbled.

“Wolfe,” he called out as he fell to his knees, gripping his stomach as he gasped uselessly in pain.

“Useless to fight Spike,” Mornay said quietly as she stopped beside him and crouched down next to him.

“What have you done?” Spike asked.

“It’s called diversionary tactics Spike. See I knew you might come here along with the little Slayer. Although who he is I have no idea. He isn’t part of the plan,” she indicated Docker and narrowed her eyes.

“Do you see?” Wolfe asked as he forced Docker to the ground. “Can’t you sense it?” he demanded.

Docker struggled uselessly and glared at Wolfe.

“You make this too difficult Wolfe. I am only doing my job. It matters little what I see or sense. My job is to—“

“Restore the balance. I get that. But it’s my job to keep you from ruining things. If I don’t do this, there won’t be a balance to keep Dock. You want to protect the balance you let me go. And you protect the Slayer and Spike. You keep them safe and I’ll worry about the balance. I know what I’m doing.“Wolfe cut Docker off.

“It’s time to go,” Mornay’s voice had Wolfe glancing up and a brief fleeting emotion flickered in his eyes before he looked down at Docker and grinned.

“You’re right,” Wolfe agreed as he got up and began to walk towards her. “First you’ve got to release him from that spell,” he said pointing to Spike whom writhered in pain on the ground.

Mornay shrugged and lifted a hand muttered a few words and Spike slumped to the ground and lay still.

“Good enough?” she asked.

Before Wolfe could answer, Angel came barreling forward and pounced on the fallen form of Spike.

“No,” Wolfe yelled.

Mornay gripped his arm and pulled him away.

“No. Come with me. Your future is with me. Come,” she urged as she tugged him away.

He resisted.

“Let me take care of this,” he persisted.

“Spike,” Buffy called as she joined them, her eyes scanning the scene accessing and not liking what she saw.

She pushed aside her urge to go to Wolfe as she saw Spike lying on the ground unprotected as another vampire assaulted him.

She reached them and kicked out, sending the vampire flying and turned sharply to face Mornay.

“Let him go,” Buffy warned through gritted teeth.

“Don’t think so,” Mornay mused with a large smile. “I had a message to give to you. Might as well—“

Buffy didn’t wait around to find out what it was as she swung knocking Mornay to the ground and straddling her, hit her repeatedly.

“This was a mistake you’re gonna pay for. Did you think I’d let you take him from me? That it would be that easy?” Buffy snapped as she punched her.

Mornay grinned through bloody lips and shoved Buffy off her. Rising gracefully, she stared down at the Slayer.

“I didn’t expect much of anything from you Slayer,” Mornay said coldly. “And I see I was right. Look at you? I see I was thinking the right way. Can’t even protect your son from little ole me,” she mocked.

Buffy laughed as she rolled to her feet.

“Here is what I’m thinkin’. You’re gonna go. Leave Wolfe alone and I’ll let you out of here alive—“

Buffy broke off as she was jerked violently from behind.

“Mine,” Angel snarled as he dragged Buffy along beside him.

Buffy screamed in pain and horror as she saw who held her.

“Let go of me,” she yelled as Mornay turned with Wolfe and headed off. “Spike!!!! Stop her!”

Docker watched silently as Wolfe strolled off with Mornay. Narrowed his eyes and turned his attention to the fallen vampire.

He passed a hand over him and whispered.

“Awake,” he whispered.

Approaching the enraged vampire holding the Slayer down he never let his eyes leave Angel as he circled them.

Buffy struggled, but Angel’s hold on her was too tight and he was running on emotions and it added to his strength.

Spike groaned as he opened his eyes and lifting his head. He quickly looked around.

Saw Mornay and Wolfe off in the distance and without another thought jumped to his feet dizzily and raced off after them.

“Let her go,” Docker urged gently as he approached Angel.

“Who the hell are you? Just—get him to let go and I’ll take care of him,” Buffy ordered as she continued to struggle.

“He is a key figure in the balance,” was the only response she got from Docker and she let out a frustrated yell as she tried one last time to get out of his grasp and with one last surge she jerked from his grasp.

Screamed as a good chunk of her hair remained in Angel’s hand, dropping to all fours she closed her eyes and hitched in a breath before she forced herself to move after Wolfe.

Spike tackled Mornay to the ground.

“Get outta here Wolfe,” he grunted out as he was thrown into a tombstone and Mornay followed that up with a kick to the gut.

Still recovering from the affects of the spell Spike’s reaction was slow and clumsy.

“Can’t dad,” Wolfe muttered softly as he quickly strode toward Mornay and plucked her off Spike. “Can’t stay here. Be around you all. Sooner or later somethin’ will give and I don’t want to be around you when it does.”

“Wait! C’mon son, we can do this together. We’ve both got demons and we’re learning how to deal with repressing’ them. Don’t do this! She can’t help you with this. She’s a killer,” Spike yelled.

Wolfe laughed and threw his head back.

“And you’re not? I’m not gonna talk demons with you dad. You don’t understand. You couldn’t! You’ve got mom wrapped all around you, inside and she’s keeping you under lock and key. She keeps the demon tame. Well I don’t happen to have that do I? I’m doing this myself and you know what? I don’t want to be repressed. I want to be free. I want to do what I want. Be that kill and maim. We aren’t the same and the sooner you get that the easer this will be,” Wolfe yelled as he turned his back on Spike.

Spike clenched his jaw and lowered his head.

Buffy brushed past him.

“Wolfe,” she yelled. “Don’t do this! Please we can help you! Whatever she’s offering can’t be worth this! Stop,” she charged him and was tackled from behind.

Spike straddled her, shackling her hands above her head.

“Let ‘im go,” Spike ordered.

Buffy looked at him as if he were crazy. She struggled and bucked beneath him.

“Let go Spike,” she screamed as she watched Wolfe get smaller and smaller as he walked away.

“No. He’s gotta do this,” Spike spoke firmly and flatly.

“Don’t make me hurt you,” Buffy growled as she lifted her knee and kneed him in the groin.

Spike let out a muffled shout and rolled off her.

Buffy scrambled to her feet and Spike reached out and grabbed her ankle pulling her down.

“No!!!!! Stop Spike. Please! He’s leaving with that bitch,” she yelled.

“Let him go,” Spike said again through gritted teeth.

“Noooooooooooooooooo,” Buffy screamed as Wolfe disappeared.

Spike let go of her and slumped to the ground.

“How could you let him go?” Buffy demanded enraged.

Spike didn’t answer as he dropped his head to the ground.

“How could you?!” she asked as she shoved him.

Docker came into the clearing dragging Angel behind him and he took in the scene with sad eyes.

Spike shifted as his nose caught a scent he’d thought long gone.

“What the bloody hell?!” he yelled as he rolled over and looked up.

Angel hung limply from Docker’s grasp.

His head shot up at Spike’s angry yell.

His eyes landed on Buffy.

“Mine,” Angel growled.

Spike’s eyes flickered to Buffy’s incredulous and devastated face.

Anger flared through him, anger at what he’d let happen, anger at Mornay. Anger at Angel. Anger at himself. Wolfe. Everyone.

“She belongs to me, mate,” Spike spat as he got to his feet.

Buffy got to her feet as well.

Grabbed Spike.

“I don’t belong to anyone. Especially not you. The man I love wouldn’t have let our son walk off to his death,” she snapped as she punched him.

Spike stumbled back.

“Wait a minute,” Spike snapped.

“No!! I asked you to get him! And you just let him go? What the hell was that Spike?! Never mind. I’m going to find him—“

“No,” Spike growled grabbing her.

“Let go of me,” Buffy gritted out her voice flat and deadly.

Spike stiffened.

“Oh……….is that supposed to scare me,” he wondered aloud as he hauled her closer.

“No. This is,” Buffy snapped as she head butted him.

“Oi. You wanna play it this way luv?” he drawled circling her.

“What other way is there to play it Spike? I just don’t understand this! How could you?”

“Because I’m a demon baby,” was all Spike said as he attacked.

~*~

Ch:7

2 days later off the coast of Corfu……..

Mornay proudly strode into Elias’ main quarters her prize firmly in hand, a wide cheek-splitting grin on her beautiful face.

Elias lifted his head from his book. Shifted his frame in the huge armchair he favored and eyed Mornay.

His eyes slid from her to rest on Wolfe.

When he smiled, Mornay knew she’d done good.

“Well…….” He drawled as he rose fluidly to his feet and tossed his book aside.

“Yes. This Elias is Wolfe. Wolfe this is Elias. He will be your new master,” Mornay announced. “I’ve been telling him all about you Elias,” Mornay gushed excitedly.

Elias made an approving sound deep in his throat.

He circled Wolfe who stood rigid, his gaze blank and unseeing.

“Is he…….you have him under your control?” he asked curiously.

“Yes. Completely.”

“Ah…….so the dreams actually worked? I was concerned. I thought surely you had lost your mind,” he muttered thoughtfully unable to take his eyes off Wolfe.

“Well………certainly it was hard but in the end it worked and he’s here. So what’s next?” she asked as she stepped aside so Elias could get a better look at Wolfe.

“Next…….well Mornay that would be ruling the world,” Elias announced arrogantly.

They smiled at one another, before they turned to stare at Wolfe once again. Lost in their mutual admiration on their work and what was to come they never saw it coming.

~*~

I guess it would be prudent of me to start from the beginning huh? However, I love reading the ending first so I think I’ll start there.

As I stood listening to Elias and Mornay and their mutual admiration for one another, I let myself relax ever so slightly.

Watched as Elias stepped closer unconsciously as he continued to stare at me. You know when you’re stared at? The creepy, irritated feeling you get? The urge to slap them silly. Ask what the hell they were looking at?

Well I got the creepy, irritated feeling but I certainly knew what they were looking at. Me. I’m quite magnificent aren’t I?

No need to be arrogant or conceited cuz I am. I’m special. Wasn’t that what my mom had said? I was special. I know it and so do they. Special in the sense I can and would kill anything that would do harm to me or mine. Special in the sense I’m Wolfe. But eviler and much, much better.

I have no qualms about doing the things Wolfe wont. He is squeamish and ignorant to all the power we hold in our hands.

Like now.

Elias walks towards me, stops a few inches away and reaches out. I resist the urge to jerk back as his hands go out.

Then he’s touching me.

And I don’t mean that kind of touching……..get your minds out of the gutter. His fingers are in my mouth touching my teeth. My gums.

I shudder and gag.

He shouldn’t have his hands in my mouth. That privilege belongs to my dentist. Only if I allow it.

This is sick and irritating.

I am angry now.

Elias is speaking.

“Where are his fangs?” he was saying.

There is only one thing I can think to do. I mean what other choice did I have? I certainly couldn’t let him continue looking for things that weren’t there.

So I did something about it.

Reached out a blur of hands and ripped his head off.

Found my hands coated in dust.

Grinned as I looked up and met Mornay’s shocked and horrified gaze.

Rolling my shoulders I wiped my hands on my jeans, took a step forward, and watched as Mornay stood frozen in shock.

I looked around, allowing myself to fully take in the room for the first time.

“This has got to go,” I announced waving a hand out. “This is depressing all dark and with the doom and gloom. People should be happy. In the sense that they’re alive and still on earth. I get the sense Elias didn’t have that frame of mind. What with all the dark colors and thick curtains on the windows. Granted he was a vampire but still………”

I turned in an instant as Mornay made a move to the door. Was in front of her in a second.

“Nothing to say? Where were you going? Did you think I’d let you get away?” I asked genuinely curious as I took her arm in a grip of steel.

The cat seems to have caught her tongue as she remains mute. This isn’t a problem because frankly having spent the last month and a half listening to her voice I can do with out it.

I stare at her and she stares back.

It’s a stare down.

Who’s gonna win?

Me?

Her?

I laugh aloud as she looks away first.

Stupid little bitch, I think with some fondness. Because what would the world be like if there weren’t women like Mornay out there? Thinking they were so special, had the power to manipulate and use. At their best they were damn near unstoppable. And Mornay was certainly good.

“You know you shouldn’t be so surprised,” I murmur as I slowly circle her and reach out. Finger a lock of her silky black hair. “After all I’m ten times smarter, faster, and stronger than you or anyone else on this planet Mornay. Nothing and I mean nothing happens to me that I don’t allow.”

I paused, waiting for that to sink in.

Saw her eyelids jerk in response, but other than that, she showed no reaction. The woman was good, but not that good.

Fear was coming off her in waves.

And it should.

She’d messed with the wrong person.

“Weren’t you surprised when you reached my mind? Found it so willing? When my demon was only too willing to embrace all your sordid little plans? Maybe you thought I was weak or hadn’t been taught the proper ways in which to counter act an assault on my mind. Whatever. Doesn’t matter. You were wrong. I allowed you access to me. Let you think you had control. I’ve always enjoyed the thought of ruling the world you know. Infinite power. Servants. People bowing down to me. But that’s not an option right now.”

I pause again and sigh deeply. I still hadn’t gotten a response and it bothered me. I wanted to see…….. anger, hate. Shaking my head, I shoved those thoughts aside.

“Never mind. I will get to that later. Come on,” I demanded as I dragged her along with me as I strode to Elias’s large desk and shoved her behind it.

“Look at this,” I ordered as I reached beneath the desk and pressed a button.

Mornay’s mouth dropped open and she stared wide eyed as a panel of monitors appeared. There were cameras in every room of the compound and all were occupied.

“How many is that?” I asked, pointing to all the milling bodies of vampires we were watching.

“Um………” Mornay choked out. “I don’t know.”

I smiled. Draped an arm across her shoulders and gripped it hard enough to break it.

“There are 6, ooo members of the Aurelius clan on the screen. Not all of course are here but almost all of them. Don’t they look nice?” I asked gauging her reaction.

She merely looked at the screen, waiting for whatever I was planning on doing.

“Well……..to bad huh? It’ll be a bitch to clean,” I mused as I pushed another button and all the curtains on all the windows parted. Allowing the sun to shine bright and deadly.

Mornay gasped.

“They can’t get out either. Doors are all locked, so are the trap doors. Elias was one evil little bastard wasn’t he? He had this installed so if he had the urge he could have killed you all without a thought. You’d better get down under the desk Mornay.”

The curtains in Elias’s office parted and I inhaled deeply as I thrust open the windows and allowed fresh air in.

“Isn’t this nice? Do you smell that? Fresh air, sunshine. It’s great innit? To bad though, if you get up you’ll burn to death. Like your friends. They are dust now too. So now it looks like it’s only the two of us Mornay.”

She was silent cowering beneath the desk.

I could almost taste her hate then as I turned and glanced at her. Good, I think. She should hate me she should feel it. Get to know the feeling. Savor it and then she’d know what I was feeling.

This was something I wasn’t too keen on thinking about. Hate tended to blind a person’s actions and hinder them. My hate wasn’t going to do that to me.

I’d lock it away and keep it bottled up. I’m good at that. I kept the demon away for so long. Now that it was back……..

I was certain for once; I’d get what I’d always wanted. A chance to spend more time with m parents. And for a time I had. However, the minute Mornay had entered my mind I’d known it wouldn’t last too long. Because soon after that first visit I began to have those annoying portents. Slayer dreams if I were so bold to categorize them as.

A little thing called the Seventh Prophecy.

It was coming and I knew it was up to me to prepare for the coming battle in the only way I could. Being away from my parents would be a hard and painful thing to do. Nevertheless, it had to be done.

They couldn’t see me as I was now.

I didn’t want to watch them look at me and see what I was going to become in order to protect all that I held dear.

“What are you going to do?” Mornay’s voice interrupted my musings and I glanced down at her.

I smiled again and looked back out the window.

“There are a host of things that need to be done Mornay. And unfortunately, for me you are a part of it all. First things first. In order to fight an army you have to have one of your own.”

“You just destroyed an army,” Mornay exploded.

“There’s the girl I know and hate,” I exclaimed happily. “True I did. But they’d of never been loyal. I want an army loyal to only a select few. Me in particular. And how does one go about forming an army?” I asked.

Mornay clenched her jaw and rolled her eyes.

“Was that rhetorical?” she mockingly asked.

Laughing I leaned my forehead against the cool window plane.

“Sorta. Vampire’s turn humans in order to create more vampires. Thus creating a clan. An army if you will. And what am I?”

“A hybrid,” Mornay whispered.

“So true. So in theory if I were to turn humans they wouldn’t be full fledged vamps would they?” I asked looking at her.

Our eyes met and held as she pondered this.

“But you’re not a vampire,” she hissed. “So that theory is wrong!”

“Is it? It’s been done,” I muttered. “I’ve done it before and you know what? It worked. I made myself a childe and that was when the demon was in control. As I am now we both are in complete accord. This will make the process easier. One of the perquisites of my blood is all the nasty side affects of being a vamp no longer exist. Sun, holy water, crosses etc. Except for the age old stake through the heart will kill anyone dead. So where would I get such an army? People who are skilled in the ways of the occult?”

Mornay kept her mouth shut.

“Where else? What we’re going to do is go to London and make ourselves an army of Watchers. In addition, an added bonus my blood makes them pliable to my every whim. They’ll be loyal to the end.”

Mornay snorted in disbelief.

“You can’t possible think you can walk into the Council of Watchers and sire them all do you? You’ll die before you make it all the way in,” she spat.

“Oh I’ll get in. I have no doubt. Question is will we get out? But then I like challenges.”

Moving from the window I reached below the desk again and pressed the button and the curtains swished closed and I strode from the desk.

“Get up Mornay,” I ordered. “Today is a new day. Today is the day a new Order of Aurelius has arisen. I am now your master. You disobey me and I will make you suffer. It could take days, weeks, even years. I like to be thorough.”

“You’re insane,” Mornay yelled as she got out from beneath the desk.

I turned back and faced her. Planted my hands on my hips and laughed. She always amused me.

“I’ve been called worse sweetheart. I’ve been called worse.”

I grabbed Mornay’s arm and together we left Elias’s office.

To begin the laborious task of creating a force large enough and skilled enough to defend the hellmouth once the prophecy was fulfilled.

I was sure though, that when this was done I would be back in Sunnydale in a matter of months.

Little did I know how wrong I was.

~*~

Ch: 8

It was what wasn’t said that got to Buffy as Spike slowly circled her. She was getting all kinds of things from him. From the link. Bombarded with emotions dizzying in their affect.

“Demon huh?” she asked smirking slightly as she feinted to the right and his swing missed her head by scant inches.

“Demon and you keep forgettin’ that luv,” he snapped as his fist connected with her chin and he sent her flying.

Buffy let out a humorless laugh as she struck a sweeping kick to his knees.

“Don’t preach to me. I know exactly what you are,” she snapped.

Spike’s own laughter filled the air and he let out a bitter snort.

“Preach?” he asked shaking his head as they traded blows. “I wouldn’t deign to preach to you pet. Or any one else! But what I am gonna do is tell you like it is.”

Buffy shook her head sadly.

“I don’t want to hear it. Not unless it is about you letting Wolfe walk away with Mornay! What was that? Did you lose your mind for a minute Spike?! He’s in no sha—“

“Listen here Slayer,” Spike spat as he rushed her and in her distracted state, he shoved her to the ground and straddled her. Gripped her wrist above her head.

Tightening his thighs around her own he made sure she had no room to maneuver and repeat her last attack on him

“We’re demons pet. D-E-M-O-N-S. I’ve got one, can’t deny it. It’s here inside. Demandin’ things. Things I’m not gonna give it. It’s a daily struggle. Everyday I struggle. And if you think Joyce doesn’t then you had better open those pretty little eyes of yours. You think she doesn’t have a demon—“

“I will never forget she’s a demon,” Buffy cut him off as she remained still and defiant beneath him. Her eyes blazing with unleashed fury she clenched her jaw and resisted the urge to seriously do damage to Spike.

“You say that and I think you believe it. But it’s not the truth! Truth is there’s a demon inside of her. Wagin’ war. You think it’s easy to be around you bloody Scoobies?! And hell, I’ll admit it; I look at them and think about rippin’ their throats out and bathin’ in their blood. But I don’t because I’ve got you. I have you Buffy. Your voice, your blood, all over me, around me. If I did half the things, I think about, I know you would kill me! Whom does your mom have? WHOM DOES Wolfe have? Huh? Tell me!!!”

Buffy tossed Spike from her as his grasp on her wrists loosened and rose to her feet. She waited for Spike to regain his feet before she stalked over to him and shoved him.

“They have me! They have me,” she cried out, her throat tightening and making it hard to speak as a deep and unsettling sadness descended to her shoulders and settled comfortable. “You make it seem as if I don’t love them! That I could care less about their problems! What makes you the expert on my family?! My son! What gives you the right to preach things to me? I’m the Slayer!! I help people. That’s my job……….I can help them. I can—why wouldn’t you let me help him? He’s my son—“

She broke off as tears spilled down er cheeks and she lowered her head, wrapping her arms around herself.

“He’s my son,” she muttered.

Spike closed his eyes briefly and wondered why he thought acting the way he had would get through to her. He was so bloody stupid at times; he was amazed he was still undead. Shaking his head he re opened his eyes and squashed the urge to offer his comfort. He knew she wouldn’t appreciate or accept it at the moment.

Shoving his hands deep in his jean pockets he balanced on the balls of his feet as he kept his gaze trained to Buffy’s lowered face.

“I’m sorry,” he offered softly. “I don’t know how to explain this to you Buffy. He—he didn’t want either of our help in this pet. He……..he knows our situations are completely different. So’s Joyce’s. They’re both struggling with demons. However, my link with your mum makes it a hell of a lot easier for her. Wolfe doesn’t have anyone. We can’t relate to his struggle because we—I don’t understand it. His demon I felt it, been feeling it off and on for a good while. Stupid really, thought Wolfe had it under control. Never guessed Mornay was screwin’ with him, the demon. But tonight………tonight Buffy the demon was out in full force. I felt it as soon as I saw him. Saw it as he spoke to me.”

Buffy didn’t lift her head as she spoke her voice devoid of emotion and slightly muffled.

“What did he say?”

Spike sighed heavily as he resisted the strong urge to light a cigarette and keep his attention focused on Buffy and not Angel as he heard the vampire behind him whimper.

“Said I didn’t understand. Couldn’t and he was right. But the thing that got me luv……….it’s the fact he was completely rational. He knew exactly what he was doing—“

“He is right,” a new voice spoke up and both Spike and Buffy turned to face Docker.

“You mind mate?” Spike snapped out. “Havin’ a conversation with the missus.”

Docker gazed at Spike a long moment before he turned his gaze to Buffy and smiled a brilliant smile, flashing bright white teeth as he did so.

“Slayer it is an honor I assure you,” he drawled out as he took a step closer before he remembered he held Angel. He retreated but kept the smile. “Your……..friend here is correct in stating Wolfe was well aware of what he was doing.”

He paused to gauge Buffy’s reaction as she remained motionless staring at him her expression blank.

Spike looked back and forth a frown appearing and anger began to form in the pit of his stomach as the two continued to stare at eachother.

Growling he let his eyes flash and found himself stalking over to Docker a dangerous edge to his walk as he did so.

“Listen you bleedin’ git! I told you we were in the middle of a conver—“

“Who are you?” Buffy finally spoke never taking her gaze from Docker’s.

Docker gave a slight bow as he spoke.

“Docker Jones as I am known now, A Keeper of the Balance,” he murmured in a richly deep voice that held nothing but warmth.

Buffy absorbed this as Spike shook his head and let out a stream of curses as Angel tried to lunge at him.

He reacted without thinking kicking Angel hard in the gut and let out a satisfied grunt as Angel howled in pain.

“What’s he doing here?” Buffy finally spoke again gesturing to Angel with a jerk of her chin.

“Hell if I know,” Spike muttered sending her a quick glance.

When she wouldn’t look at him, he kicked Angel again and a small evil smile formed on his face.

“You can’t be jealous Spike,” Buffy suddenly announced as she turned to look at him abruptly.

“Jealous?” Spike sputtered indignantly. “Of whom?” he demanded.

Buffy rolled her eyes and uncrossed her arms wiped at her face.

“Give me a tissue,” she ordered reaching her hand out.

Spike immediately fished a tissue out and handed it to her, his fingers lingering on hers.

He took it as a good sign as she didn’t try to break any of them.

“Whom do you think? These two. Docker was it? Angel. God this has been one awful day. What a horrible day. And you can’t be jealous because I’m still mad at you. And I want to be able to enjoy it. So cut it out.”

Her eyes slashed his way and the look in them had him immediately nodding and giving her a small hopeful smile.

“Alright. But I’m warnin’ you luv I don’t get jealous,” he replied with a smirk.

Buffy rolled her eyes again, crumpled her tissue in her fist, and couldn’t help the small smile that formed.

“You aren’t off the hook yet William. We can’t continue to talk here though. We’ve got to get Angel somewhere. Go check on Giles and mom and then we’ll continue this discussion Spike,” she told him as she turned.

Spike again nodded quickly as he fell into step beside her.

Docker didn’t hesitate as he followed discretely behind them.

Spike let his hand brush against hers as they walked and when she didn’t jerk away, he laced their fingers together.

And she let him.

“So we’re gonna ask good ol Ripper why Angelus is fairly saturated in his scent right?” he ventured.

“You caught that too? I thought it was just because of the fight,” she mused throwing a quick glance behind her at Angel who was now unconscious and in Docker’s arms.

“Nope. Couldn’t be this bad if it were. Seems the Watcher’s gonna have a lot of explaining to do pet,” Spike commented.

Buffy slanted a wry look his way and narrowed her eyes.

“So do you. And you too Docker Jones, Keeper of the Balance,” she called out loudly.

~*~

~*~

Ch: 9

The days had passed torturously slowly for Xander. He wasn’t sure how he’d gotten himself into this but now he knew there would be no backing out.

Not that he wanted to. Nah, he was thrilled with the prospect of getting close to Faith. Maybe even dare he hope? Lose that pesky thing called his virginity. Cordy was all-good and well but she might as well have been wearing a chastity belt whenever they got too far.

He could only take so much.

So that was why he was here. Standing on the edge of the dance floor watching the dark haired Slayer.

His eyes narrowed as they took in whom she was dancing with and disgust filled him for a moment before he shook it off.

No one was going to dissuade him from at least trying this. But not right now, he thought as he turned on his heel and headed out of the club. He’d do it tomorrow.

~*~

Faith wasn’t sure how it had happened. But she was here now and was really enjoying herself. These past couple of days had been hell, she mused. Hell for a certain blond Slayer.

Her lips twisted as she thought of Buffy. That girl had major issues.

Vampires at every turn. Faith shook her head. It didn’t matter though. B sure had great taste.

Testament to that was the bleached blond she was currently rubbing all over as they danced to the throbbing beat of the music.

She looked up into his dancing blue eyes and figured this was going to be fun. She’d never done it with a vamp before. But what the hell. She was always up for new experiences.

~*~

Spike wasn’t sure why he was dancing with Faith. All he knew was that he was beyond angry. At himself, but most of all at Buffy. Silly bint, he thought now. Why couldn’t she let him do what he wanted?

She was keeping him on a leash that was tethered only so short and he was ready to break free.

He wouldn’t be here if she hadn’t of done what she’d done with Angel. Stupid bloody bastard was already ruining things for him and Buffy.

A scowl appeared on Spike’s face as Faith gyrated her hips and trailed her hands down his chest.

His gaze shot to the catwalk and he let a smirk appear. Tugged Faith closer and hoped Buffy was appreciating the view.

~*~

You would think getting an explanation about a thing like Angel being back would be easy. You would think some one who had been keeping that secret would be willing to explain his actions.

But no. See Giles wasn’t quite sure what had gotten into him. He couldn’t face Buffy and certainly not Joyce.

He didn’t like what he was turning into and God help him he was sure it was taking him over. He was scared to death and would be damned to hell before he let Buffy know.

She didn’t need to be subjected to his twisted side, to the side that took pleasure in causing pain. Pain to Angel. Not that he regretted what he’d done. He didn’t and that sealed it for him.

If he couldn’t even bring forth the most humane emotion of compassion for an obviously disturbed creature like Angel then he was of no use to Buffy or Joyce.

He was quite sure they didn’t need him.

So that was why he was waiting for a plane headed back to London. He couldn’t explain the unexplainable.

If he was going to sink into the black abyss of Ripper, he would do it on his old stomping grounds.

~*~

Willow tried hard to understand what had just gone on in the span of two days. But she was having problems.

It seemed Wolfe had run away with Mornay, Angel was back from hell, Giles had been torturing him, and Buffy and Spike were not really handling it all well. Not to mention the man who was currently studying his surroundings at the Bronze with keen interest.

Docker Jones, Willow mused. Was a Keeper of the Balance and when he turned his violet eyes her way she had the insane urge to start stuttering and blushing. He was gorgeous. Beautiful but in a manly way. Skin the color of dark chocolate, a strong finely shaped face, prominent cheekbones and those eyes capped off the look of Docker the Keeper of the Balance.

He smiled at her now and she let out a nervous laugh and smiled back.

Things should have been easy. Things should have been explained and left at that. But that wasn’t the way things had gone. Words had been said.

That couldn’t be taken back.

Willow was sure that Giles had a good reason for doing what he’d done to Angel, she’d been eager and hopeful for an explanation that made sense. That would make not just her but everyone including Buffy understand why he’d kept this huge secret.

But what she’d been hoping wasn’t what they got. Giles……..Giles had been pensive and non-responsive.

The only event that had been explained was Docker here and she still couldn’t believe it. Neither could any one else much less Buffy or Spike.

Her eyes drifted past Docker to the dance floor and rested on Spike wrapped up with Faith.

Her eyes narrowed and she was sure she knew what had led to this little display of rebellion. It had everything to do with Angel.

Willow was concerned for Buffy if she found the two together who knew what would happen. Especially after what had happened. She’d thought for sure things had been looking up for the pair.

She had half a mind to tell them both off when a warm hand was placed over her own and she jumped startled.

Looked up at Docker and found him staring intently at her.

She blushed and let out another nervous giggle.

“All is not what it seems Willow,” he murmured encouragingly.

Willow frowned but somewhat placated she settled back down and decided glaring would work just as well.

~*~

Buffy prowled the catwalk with quick angry steps that belied her own angry thoughts.

Her eyes were narrowed in on the couple on the dance floor.

Zeroed in on Faith and stayed there. Anger had formed and passed long ago, now there was only a simmering fury. Buffy wasn’t quite sure how she’d let it get this far.

However, she was damn certain it wouldn’t be going any further. And when Spike sent her a patent smug look her jaw clenched and her eyes flashed briefly.

Things were really getting out of control, she mused as she slowly prowled down the stairs.

And she was going to make sure it stayed that way. Slipping seamlessly through the sea of gyrating bodies she let her eyes meet Faith’s over Spike’s shoulders.

Watched as Faith licked her lips and whispered in Spike’s ear.

Spike turned and grinned at Buffy.

Buffy ignored him.

Faith smirked as she caught Buffy’s cold gaze.

“Gotta say you’ve got great taste B. Blondie here’s one hell of a dancer. I’m sure, he is skilled in the sack too. I’ll have to give him a test drive,” she taunted as she brushed past Buffy.

Buffy turned slightly reaching out and snagging one of Faith’s belt loops tugged her back and spun her around.

Green and brown eyes clashed as Buffy offered a plastic smile.

“Listen good Faith. I’m only going to say this once and only once. Whatever it is Martha sent you here to do forget about it. Leave it alone. I’d say we could start fresh and get to know eachother. However, I can tell that’s not what you want. That’s cool. But if you continue with this plan, I’ll take you down. Mess with me or mine and you’ll regret it.”

Faiths face tightened in anger and a sneer formed on her mouth as she glared at Buffy.

“You know what? It’s going to be a pleasure takin’ your skinny ass down B. In fact, when I’m done with you I think I’ll take this one for a ride and then that other one. Your Angel seems like a sturdy enough stud. Take them for the rides of their lives.”

Buffy let go of Faith’s belt and stepped aside.

She dropped the fake smile, let her contempt, and mistrust shine through.

“Remember what I said,” she warned before she turned and grabbing Spike’s arm strode away.

Faith stared after them a contemplative look in her eye.

~*~

Spike pulled away from Buffy as soon as they reached the alley behind the Bronze.

He cast her a quick curious look before he began to dig around for a fag.

“What was that?” he demanded.

Buffy scowled and rubbed her temples.

“You know this can’t turn out good right?” she asked as she closed her eyes.

Spike gave up on finding a fag and shoved his hands into his pockets. He glanced at her then at the ground.

“You wanted it like this,” he felt the need to remind her.

Buffy opened her eyes and gave a wan smile.

“Sure but only because you jinxed us Spike,” she muttered.

Spike smiled slightly.

“Well I didn’t know you believed in rot like that. I said things could not get much worse than they were. At that moment.”

“And what happened after that Spike?” Buffy asked in mild amusement.

“Things got worse,” he grudgingly admitted.

They were silent a moment before Spike moved towards her and reached out. Lifting her chin with one lean hand, he studied the large bruise that had formed on the left side of her face.

He felt the anger begin to rise again and barely managed to tamp it down.

“So?” he asked.

Buffy shrugged pulling away from him for a moment as she zipped up her coat and reaching out took his hand.

“So what?” she asked as they wandered out of the alley and made their way down the street.

“So Slayer what the hell are we going to do now? We have just about alienated everyone in our lives tonight. In some way or another. Not to mention the boy. He’s gone off to parts unknown and—“

“And Docker explained it to us. This has really been one of the worst weeks of my life. We’re all so screwed up Spike. We can’t even manage to be in the same room together without it turning into a fighting match. I wonder—I wonder how much more we can take before we all crumble. It’s only a matter of time,” Buffy sighed tiredly.

Spike hissed out a breath, slung his arm around her shoulders, and tugged her closer.

“Well I won’t let that happen,” he murmured confidently. “No matter what happens I won’t let you or us crumble. We’re in it for good luv. Now sure the others have problems but for now we’re gonna, have to deal with our own. Rupes is a grown man. He can take care of himself. So can Wolfe.”

He paused and turned to look at her.

“What?” Buffy asked self-consciously as he eyed her closely.

He fingered a strand of her hair and when his eyes met hers, they were blue shards of ice.

A chill went through Buffy.

“If he touches you again,” he issued softly. “If he hurts you again I will kill him. No matter what you want Buffy. No one touches you and gets away with it. I’ll let this go once. Only once,” he warned softly.

Buffy fingered the freshly healed wound on her neck and let a deep sigh out.

“And if it happens again I’ll let you,” was her only answer as she tucked her arm into his and they continued on.

Buffy wondered how it had gotten so out of control. Why she’d been blind to it all and now that it had blown up in all of their faces she wasn’t quite sure they would all come out unscathed.

~*~

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