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Chapter Twenty-Three Buffy smiled as she snuggled down into Logan’s arms. She looked around at all the people she could gladly call friends. It had seemed like forever since she enjoyed a movie night with friends. Just a group of people watching a variety of movies and just relaxing, enjoying each others’ company. Completely forgetting that there was evil outside their door and just enjoying themselves. Bobby and Rogue were cuddled up on the floor in front of the TV, while Kurt and Ororo occupied the other end of the sofa. Even Scott and Jean were cuddled together on the other sofa. Most of the students had gone home for several weeks and they were taking advantage of the rather quiet mansion. Scott looked over at Buffy. “I can’t believe you chose this movie.” “Why? I like it.” “It’s not accurate,” he argued. “So? It’s funny,” she said with a grin. “But...” “I like it,” Rogue said. “I think Sammy’s kind of cute.” “Isn’t he?” Buffy giggled. “I had a huge crush on him when I was younger.” Logan grimaced. “You’re kidding, right?” “Nope. Watched every Corey Haim movie out there, but this one is still my favorite.” “It’s a vampire movie!” Scott protested. “And probably way better than the one you rented,” Logan said. “Did I miss anything?” Oz asked, sitting in one of the large armchairs. “Then what are you? The flying nun?” Buffy quoted. “Damn, good scene,” Oz said. “You too?” Scott exclaimed. “It’s a classic,” the werewolf said with a shrug as if that explained it all. Scott just resignedly shook his head and turned back to the movie. An hour or so later, Professor Xavier joined them as Scott switched movies. “I thought everyone would enjoy some popcorn,” he said, handing out several bowls. “Thanks, professor,” Bobby said, taking one for him and Rogue. “You’re quite welcome. What’s the next film?” Xavier asked. “Cyke’s pick, so it’s probably something artsy,” Logan said in disgust. “I don’t know, Logan. He might surprise you,” Jean said with a grin. Seeing Logan’s disbelieving look, Ororo laughed. “He will.” Logan’s eyes widened as he recognized the opening credits. “I’m impressed Cyke. Didn’t take you for the action movie type.” “He likes to watch things blow up,” Jean said, patting Scott affectionately on the knee. Buffy unsuccessfully tried to hide her giggle as Scott blushed slightly. She felt Logan move to say something and she elbowed him in the ribs. “Ow! What was that for?” “You know,” she said lightly before tossing a piece of popcorn in the air and catching it in her mouth. “Now watch the movie.” Logan rolled his eyes at her orders, but followed them anyways. He hated to admit it, but Scott had chosen a good movie. Before long he found his attention riveted to the screen. Buffy, on the other hand, was finding it hard to concentrate. She suddenly felt very uneasy, but she couldn’t figure out why. There wasn’t anything that should set her nerves on end and yet she could feel her body tensing for a fight. It was if she was unconsciously trying to prepare herself for whatever was coming. Try as she might, she couldn’t relax and enjoy the movie. A quick glance at the others told her that she was the only one getting creepy feelings. Which worried her even more because it meant that it was probably slayer related. Before she knew it, the movie was over and she had missed it. She just wished the feeling would go away. “What’s wrong?” Logan whispered in her ear. Despite her distracted state, his warm breath on her ear caused a shiver to go down her spine. “I’m not sure,” she confessed. He gently kissed her neck. “Do you need to go patrolling?” She felt some of the tension leave her as he kneaded her shoulders. “Maybe later,” she admitted. “Can we start the next movie?” Scott asked in exasperation. His apparent frustration dampened somewhat by the smile that kept twitching at the corners of his mouth. “Sure,” she said. Scott turned to put the DVD into the player when the entire mansion began to shake. Rogue screamed as Scott nearly fell on her. Seconds later it was over. “Is everyone all right?” Kurt asked. A chorus of fines rang out except for one. “No, no, no, damn it, no,” Buffy muttered. She sent Oz a knowing look and he nodded. The two of them go up and started moving. “What’s wrong?” Logan asked, following them. “Apocalypse,” they answered. ********** Rogue ran into the room where Buffy, Oz, and the X-Men were getting ready. “Buffy, phone call.” “Take a message,” she said, handing Scott a sword. “It’s Wesley. He says it’s urgent.” Knowing that Wesley would have only said that if it was, Buffy followed Rogue. The mutant led her into an office and pushed a few buttons before handing her the receiver. “What’s up, Wes? I’m in the middle of something here.” “It’s more than you may realize,” Wesley said over the line, his voice laden with tension. “You see...” Buffy could hear someone grappling for the phone and complaining. A second later another familiar voice came through the phone. “The hellmouth is opening.” “Cordy?” Buffy asked in surprise. “Yeah, yeah. I just woke up. Can we move past that and to the huge vision I had that woke me up in the first place?” “Umm, sure. I had already guessed the apocalypse though. Earthquakes aren’t really common in New York,” Buffy replied, happy to hear that her friend was better. “Wes told me about the attempted apocalypse from a month ago.” “The one with the amulets? We stopped that one,” Buffy said, a little confused. “No, you didn’t. There were two more amulets,” Cordelia said. “They’re just now opening the hellmouth.” “How do we close it?” Buffy asked. “Kill that snakey thing that always tries to come out first?” “Wesley says there’s a spell in the Hebron’s Almanac. Rogue and Bobby should be familiar with it.” “Damn,” Buffy muttered, she seemed to remember the spell herself. It seemed that the two teens had their own role in this after all. “Anything else I should know?” “There’s going to be other demons and vampires there to make sure that nothing interferes and it happens tonight.” Buffy sighed. These things could never be easy. “Thanks, Cordelia.” “That’s what I’m here for. Vision girl making with the warnings.” “I’m glad you’re ok. I know Angel was worried.” “Yeah, Brood-boy and I need to have a long talk. Of course, that will have to wait until after we take care of our own little apocalypse.” “Give him hell. I’ll call you guys in a few days,” Buffy said with a grin. “Will do,” Cordelia said before hanging up. Buffy turned to Rogue after she hung up the phone. “Get Bobby and the Hebron’s Almanac, then meet us in the planning room.” ********** “Alright guys, here’s the deal,” Buffy said when Rogue and Bobby joined them. “We’re in the middle of a major apocalypse. I mean mondo, huge.” “How can you be sure?” Jean asked. “First clue - I’ve been uneasy for the past few hours for no real reason. Second clue - the earthquake. The first time I faced an apocalypse after an earthquake, I died. Third, and the biggest, Cordelia woke up in L.A. to warn me. That’s who called.” “Who is Cordelia?” Scott asked. “She’s a half-demon seer. She receives visions from the PTB. Normally they’re for Angel, but this was a special case.” Buffy frowned slightly. “I think there was probably more to the vision since she mentioned an apocalypse in L.A., too. So it’s gonna be a big night for everyone.” Buffy took in everyone’s grim but resolute faces. It was hard to believe that just minutes before they had been enjoying the evening, blithely unaware of the lurking danger. She sighed to herself at her uncanny ability to disrupt other people’s lives. “Scott, can you bring up the map of the hellmouth?” Once the 3-D image was up, she began, “Out problem started when we attempted to stop the apocalypse last month.” “But we did stop it, didn’t we?” Ororo asked. “We missed two amulets. They were somehow activated and have been slowly opening the hellmouth ever since.” Scott shook his head. “It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t hurt you, we would have really stopped the apocalypse.” “No, it’s mine,” Logan argued. “I was so concerned with Buffy that I forgot about the amulets.” “How about it’s no one’s fault?” Buffy interrupted. “These things happen. So if you two are done, can we plan a battle?” The two men sheepishly nodded their heads. Their expressions however, clearly showed that they still blamed themselves. “Does this fact change anything?” Xavier asked, already sensing the answer. While he was still unable to read Buffy’s mind, her stronger emotions bled through. “Yes. It means we have to concentrate our efforts on closing the hellmouth instead of preventing it,” she said. “And how do ve do that?” Kurt asked in his softly accented voice. “We don’t,” she replied. Her hazel eyes settled on the two teens. “Bobby and Rogue do.” “Us?” Bobby nearly squeaked out. “It’s gonna take a spell to close the hellmouth. This is what you two have been training for. If it’s too much...” “No!” Rogue quickly cried. “It’s just...” “A little surprising,” Bobby said. Buffy gave them a wry smile. “It is, a little. But I need you.” The teens exchanged a quick look and grinned. “What’s the plan?” Rogue asked. Pointing at one end of the clearing, Buffy said, “I want the two of you to be stationed there. Stay out of the fighting as much as possible, you’ll need to conserve your energy for the spell.” “Why not perform the spell now?” Jean asked. “There’s a proximity thing for starters, and the hellmouth has to be open for it to work.” “But isn’t it open now?” Ororo asked. Rogue shook her head. “It’s kind of like limbo. It’s not closed or open, just in the process. At least, that’s the way the amulets were supposed to work.” “Jean and ‘Ro, I want you to stay and help protect Rogue and Bobby.” Buffy held up a hand at the teens’ protest. “I want your full concentration on the spell. This way your attention won’t be divided.” Buffy’s eyes studied the map for a moment before continuing. “Logan and Scott, you guys enter from here while Oz and I will come from there.” She pointed at opposite ends of the clearing. “Hopefully they’ll get crushed together and panic. Kurt, I want you to hover around and help where it’s needed. Everyone with me so far?” “Works for me,” Scott said, nodding in approval of her plan. “What’s gonna happen when the hellmouth actually opens?” Logan asked. “There’s this snakey, many headed demon that tries to come out first. We should be able to hold it off until they complete the spell.” She gave them a small smile. “Let’s go save the world... again.” Previous Part Looking For Tomorrow Menu Next Chapter |
