Banner by Spikeslovebite
Return to Updates

Part Three
Return to Normal continued

Chapter 21
The Morning After

Author’s note: The hotel room Buffy and Spike are in has three rooms. You walk into the room and it contains the bed, there is a small sitting room on one side and of course the bathroom. Part of this was written for Wulfie. You’ll know which section and on that note I will be introducing a new pairing into this fic. However, please note there will not be long scenes with this pairing in the fic, nor will there be sex.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Faith watched Anya as she slept. This relationship was different then anything she had experienced before. She enjoyed casual sex, getting some and then getting gone. No strings to tie you down, no feelings to get hurt, always leaving meant you were always the one with the power. And she never wanted to be powerless again. But this time was different. She knew that they started this as friends, then friends with benefits, but still - she wanted the strings - hell she wanted the whole package.

So why did staring at her lover hurt so much? If she only let herself, she could love Anya. Love her with a passion that scared her. What would happen if she lost her? What if Anya decided to move on? Was the passion enough to keep her? Was it worth the risk to be powerless once more?

Doubts flooded Faith’s mind. As much as she wanted Anya to be the one, as much as she believed that it could happen, she had doubts. Faith wanted what Buffy had. Not the man, er, vamp necessarily. But the look in Spike’s eyes when he thought no one was watching. The devotion, the love, and the all consuming need. They both looked at each other as if there were no one else in the room. Faith wanted that, craved that. To be the center of someone’s world; and she had a sinking feeling that Anya would never look at her the way that Spike gazed at Buffy.

It wasn’t fair.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Anya woke up alone with no lover to cuddle into and no one holding her while she slept. Grumbling she rolled over, her eyes searching for Faith. Finally her sleepy mind registered a presence on the balcony, smoke curling up from her lover’s lips. Grabbing a robe, she stepped out, shielding her eyes from the bright morning sun.

Faith slipped one arm around Anya and was silent. Too many thoughts whirled around her head and finally she asked Anya the very first thing that popped into her mind, “You love him don’t you?”

Blinking, Anya stared at the brunette. Her mouth was open in shock and she could only utter an incoherent, “Huh?” Granted it wasn’t the most original thing to say, but after very little sleep and that strange statement, it was about the most complicated response she could utter.

“Giles … I saw the two of you dancing last night. You looked good. So what’s the sitch, you guys hook up in the last time line, or something? ‘Cause from where I was standing it looked like you had a thing!”

Anya stared at Faith and tried to process what was going on, her mouth opened and closed without a sound. She didn’t know what to say to that kind of statement. She cared for Rupert yes, but she wasn’t ‘in love’ with him, she was dating Faith.

To impatient to wait for an answer, Faith threw down her cigarette and stomped off. “Whatever, it’s five by five – I am so outta here.”

Slamming the door behind her Faith made it to the elevator before she started to cry. She wasn’t sure what she had just done. She knew that Anya wasn’t in love with Giles, but the expression of her face was clear. She wasn’t in love with Faith either.

Composing herself, Faith wiped the tears away. She had to stay in control. She had to keep the power.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Spike woke up and looked around. He was a bit disoriented; he couldn’t have been asleep more then a few hours. For about a minute, he stared at the door. Then he heard it again, a soft knock. Getting up, he slipped on his pants and crossed the room. He opened the door to a very subdued Anya.

“Faith left; you have all the money, so I can’t go home. Can you call me a cab?”

Spike opened the door further so she could come inside the room. “Sure luv, why don’t you have a seat?”

After a few minutes of trying to locate the phone he finally discovered it under a pile of clothes in the sitting area. Making all the arrangements necessary to get Anya home, he turned to find that she had disappeared. He followed her scent back to the bedroom.

“Anya….” Spike’s voice trailed off as he noticed that both blondes were cuddled up to each other fast asleep. Shaking his head, he went back to the phone to cancel the cab.

It was going to be a long day.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Faith headed to Andrew’s house to get the spare set of clothes she kept there. Slaying had a tendency to wreck havoc on her outfits, so she kept a spare set at all of the little slayertte’s houses. She didn’t know why B had never thought of that before. How many slime creatures do you have to kill before you realize that extra clothes are always a must? Especially ones that you could go dancing in post-slay.

Storming in, Faith headed straight for the bedroom. There was no way she was going to go home and deal with Anya. Perhaps she could crash with Andrew. Not like his family would ever notice anything other than Tucker. Hell, Andrew would probably think it was an honor to have her… Faith stopped dead in her tracks at the site of two blondes in the bed. What the fuck? Andrew and … Harmony?

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Several hours later, Faith was desperately wishing for nightfall. She needed to slay… to kill something. After girlish shrieks from both blondes, she’d had to listen to an hour long explanation of how geeks were “cool” now. After all, once Cordy had gotten back from that frat party, she had allowed Jonathon to fawn all over her at the Bronze. Then Cordy went and had her heart broken by none other then geeky Xander Harris. So if a geek like that could make Queen C flee the county without even bothering to pick up her Prada’s, there had to be something there. It was like a rerun of a bad high school flic. Without the cool soundtrack… or a decent geek.

This day just couldn’t get any worse.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Chapter 22
The Weapon

Author’s Note: This is the weapon. Don’t look at it quite yet… wait until the third paragraph at least.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Buffy looked at the small red and grey object with terror. It should definitely be counted as a small but dangerous object. How could people have created such a device? Didn’t they understand the damage that this kind of weapon could cause? If someone besides the person it was meant for managed to take possession of it…

Buffy shivered, looked around and dropped the Layaspot in her previously empty hand basket. Perhaps if she hid the small toy from Spike he would never know that she purchased it. If he ever got a hold of it, well, she didn’t think she could recover from the delicious things he might think of to do. Honestly, could they have created a better shape?

Biting back a moan at her thoughts and shifted uncomfortably. Just looking at the pretty multi functional vibrator was making her wet. She could envision the torture that Spike would create with it… running it over her most sensitive spots, turning the speed up then down. She knew he would start with her clit. He would turn the vibe on its lowest setting and place it on her, letting it sit in place stimulating her ever so gently. Then he would turn it up higher, one setting at a time. Letting the vibrations work her up slowly until she feels like she is dying from the stimulation. He would forbid her from touching herself. Not allowing her to release the tension it would keep building until she thought she might explode, he would allow her to get so wet, so needy that only a touch would send her crashing into orgasm and then he would remove the toy from her clit and slowly carass other parts of her with it. The vibrations that rumble against her nipples would make them peak, and against her ass would make them her groan with passion and grow even wetter.

However, they both knew he would just be teasing her, letting her calm down slightly before tormenting her swollen clit even further. He would torment her for hours, driving her crazy with the vibrations, the gentle insistent massaging… not enough to allow her the release she would seek, but more then enough to keep her on edge. She would be begging him to finish her, to take her, to release her from this torment. He would enjoy his mastery over her. Finally he would decide to take pity on her, to give her the friction, the touch, the fast and furious fuck she would desire. He would reposition the vibe so that it would stimulate her without blocking his access. His cock would slam into her, and finally she would reach her crescendo, exploding, screaming and finally drained of energy he would claim her again.

Yes this would be a deadly and effective weapon against her. Perhaps if she accidentally left it on the bathroom counter …

Anya’s voice cut through Buffy’s musings as she watched the former demon cross the store with an overflowing basket of goodies. Buffy giggled slightly and tried to look sympathetically at her friend. When other girls broke up there was normally crying, ice cream, a ton of chocolate. She didn’t know why she had expected the same out of Anya. The first break up Anya had ever experienced had sent her back into the vengeance fold. This one instead had sent her into a subdued depression for two days and then she had determinedly dragged Buffy into “The Toybox,” an upscale adult novelty store that catered specifically to women’s needs.

Other people dealt with pain by chocolate… Anya by avoidance, shopping and orgasms.

Before Buffy could stop her, Anya grabbed the lone item in Buffy’s basket and began to inspect the outside packaging.

“This is an excellent choice Buffy! I wonder if they have one for me. I will get a different color of course. Do they have one in green? “

Buffy looked at Anya’s overflowing basket of toys and cocked one eyebrow at the girl.

“What? You have Spike to satisfy all of your carnal needs.” Anya’s eyes grew bright and it looked like she was trying to refrain from crying. “I still don’t know why Faith broke up with me – I thought we were doing fine, and while going for rebound relationship would make some people happy, I hardly have the time. Do you know how much work it is to run the Magic Shop, attend high school, and balance everyone’s checkbooks not to mention their investments? Besides having orgasms with someone new never works out. First there are orgasms, then tears, then behold the vengeance plea because someone always gets hurt.”

Anya looked like she was going to say more, but then she turned to the nearby shelf and muttered, “nope no green, well pink will work I guess.” Throwing the small vibrator into the basket she headed towards the front counter.

“Let’s go Buffy - I want to try this new dolphin. It promises hours and hours of satisfaction.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Spike sat in the back of the magic box flipping through catalogues. He didn’t know how he managed to get talked into helping to watch the store while Buffy and Anya were out shopping.

It was a devious plan, first the demon-bird dropped a few hints about how she wanted to go shopping, how money couldn’t keep her warm at night, and how it wasn’t fair that he got to be happy while she was suffering. Then a sniffle. Then the next thing he knew he had been volunteered to help Giles with opening weekend, while the girls shop and Faith avoided the entire gang. He would have thought nothing would have stopped Anya from racking up the sales.

“SPIKE!”

Spike sighed and got up to see what the Watcher wanted, “Yeah”

“Please actually pay attention to the store while I am interviewing this young lady.”

Giles turned and nodded for the young woman, “Lorraine, we need a competent day shift to manage the store from 10 to 4 everyday while Ms. Jenkins and I are at Sunnydale High. Should you obtain this position, would you be able to begin Monday?”

Spike propped himself up on the counter. You would have thought that the Watcher would have remembered that the store was a bloody present. The point of a present is to get out of things such as shop-sitting. ‘Can’t they just blow the school up already?’

Groaning as the door chimed yet again, Spike turned slightly to get a better view of the next annoying customer and froze in shock.

It was a living, breathing Harmony. The world narrowed as he heard her laugh and her annoying voice screeched out “Blondie Bear!” As he desperately looked for a place to hide from the oncoming visitor, another annoying, but highly familiar voice cut through the air, “Don’t worry Honey Pot, we will be in and out of the store before you know it. I just need to check in with the gang to make sure they don’t need my help with patrol.”

Spike watched flabbergasted as Harmony continued into the store draped all over Andrew. She cooed as he pranced around the store, picking up supplies. After five minutes of being stared at, Andrew finally made it to the counter, “Greetings my undead friend. I have come to ensure the safety of all mankind from those unsouled vampires who torment us so. Are my services needed tonight in the quest against evil?”

Spike stared at Andrew and finally shook his head once.

“Wonderful, then we will be off to make our battleplans for the upcoming graduation massacre. It is up to us to prevent this terrible future. But never fear, I shall save the day once again.”

With a flourish of his hand, Andrew twirled and walked out of the store. Spike waited until he couldn’t hear Harmony any longer and then broke down into laughter.

Another figure emerged from the training room – Faith had finally resurfaced.

“If you think that is bad, try staying in the guest room at his house. Half a night of “Oh Blondie Bear” and “Honey Pot”.

“You know slayer, you could always come back home. It is your home as much as Anya’s or ours.”

“It’s 5 by 5 Spike. I like it there, cept’ the whole Andrew bit.”

Anything further was interrupted by the emergence of Giles. “We will call you with our decision Lorraine; thank you very much”

As the woman walked out of the door, Giles turned to Faith, “You start Monday and don’t bother to argue with me, as a Slayer you are meant to fight evil and protect mankind. That woman was evil incarnate and who knows if she might come back.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Buffy rearranged the bedroom for the fifth time. She wanted the room to look perfect for when Spike came home. It was essential if she wanted the game to play out right. She had put new batteries in the vibrator and carelessly left it in a drawer that was slightly open. It looked just right. Like she had been contemplating using it before he came home, but as if she hid it quickly so he wouldn’t find it. Her clothes were strung out all over the room, like she couldn’t wait to get naked. Each article was placed strategically throughout the room, so that he could imagine her undressing enough to touch herself, to play with herself; to bring herself to the brink over and over.

The hardest part of this scenario would be to compensate for the vampire’s senses. She wanted him to get hard by imagining her masturbating. She wanted him to think of her touching herself, pleasuring herself, and trying to restrain himself from taking her. She wanted to tease and to torment, and only then when he couldn’t take anymore she wanted him to pounce on her, to take his mate and “punish” her for starting without him, by teasing and tormenting her for hours. It would become a battle of wills. Would he be able to draw out her torture and bring her to the brink over and over without letting her come? Or would she be able to prevail and make him lose all semblance of control, ravishing her until they both collapsed sated? Either scenario would be delicious and would last well into the night.

Buffy heard a car door slam shut and sprung into action. Quickly thanking whoever had the common sense to install a bathroom into their remodeled basement bedroom she ran in and slammed the door shut. Already naked, she turned on the shower and hopped in, moaning as the heated water slid over her body.

The only way this game was going to play how she wanted it to, would be to overload the vamp’s senses with her own desire. The scent of her arousal would taunt the vampire into taking her, especially if he thought she had already been playing with herself for hours.

Buffy moaned as she slipped her fingers into her wetness. She couldn’t believe how turned on she was. Between the fantasy at The Toybox and the preparations for Spike coming home, she was already soaked. She could barely think of anything other then Spike taking her; Spike slamming his cock into her, filling her completely. Toys were nice, but nothing could compare to how he completely filled her, how his movements would bring exquisite pleasure and make her arch and demand more.

A soft chuckle made Buffy’s eyes fly open. The vampire had already snuck into the bathroom and discovered her new toy.

Moaning she closed her eyes again. She could feel him watching; feel his eyes on her as she pleasured herself. Felt his stare as she thrust into her pussy over and over again. The movements coming quicker and she got closer and closer to the brink.

And then she felt a cool hand grab her hands. Eyes flying open she watched as the now naked vamp held her hands over her head pushing her back against the shower wall. A low buzz filled the air as he pressed the pretty new toy against her clit.

“Miss me Luv?”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Chapter 23
Graduation Part One

Author’s Note: The song that is playing in the Bronze during the Faith song is Alive by Joey Lauren Adams (listen here). Go ahead listen to it while you are reading the scene. I dare you! Much beta love to the wonderful and incomparable Spikeslovebite and Betafish. Last note: I was informed by a brit that Giles would call all deserts pudding.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The night before graduation

The music pulsated throughout the club as patron after patron danced the night away. The music was loud and the dance floor packed; it seemed that the entire senior class had turned out for one last party. Everyone knew something big was coming, and they seemed to understand the unstated; that everyone would not survive the fight.

Buffy had argued for hours with her watcher and with Spike. They had foreknowledge of the mayor, knew his weaknesses and how to kill him. She didn’t want a repeat of the senior year. They had won, but with heavy casualties to the senior class. She wanted everyone safe and sound. Yet, if the senior class stayed at home; there was no one to stave off the vampires who would surely attack before they could get the Mayor under control.

They needed the seniors to act as a distraction for and as a fighting team against the vampires. It was the only way they would be able to survive long enough to enrage the mayor and make him follow her into the school. She wasn’t even sure it would work this time, without the issue of Faith. Would she be able to pull this off? Could she live with herself if she used the senior class as cannon-fodder? She remembered the funerals; could she really go through that again?

Unable to deal with thoughts of the impending battle, Buffy jumped up and went to join the other Scoobies on the dance floor. This time would be different. They had two slayers, a souled vamp, and the knowledge of a battle they had already won. They could take the mayor quickly and return to the front lines to deal with the vampires. They didn’t have a choice.

She just hoped she live with the decision they had made.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Faith nodded to Buffy as the blonde joined her on the dance floor. They moved together, both slayers lost in the pounding sensation of the music.

Faith loved the way that the music pulsated through the crowd, vibrations strumming though the air. She could feel the beat deep inside her; throbbing, needing, pushing as she gave to the music and where it would take her.

She knew why everyone was at the Bronze. They were all there for the same reason. The music was loud and the beat solid. You could lose yourself for a moment, forget about the battle tomorrow. Ignore the death and destruction or life and love. You could let go and pretend that tomorrow would never be.

On the dance floor there were no worries, no apocalyptic battles. There was only movement, passion, lust and desire. There was just the dance, the lustful eyes, and the rising libidos that would inevitably be drawn to you.

She could feel those eyes now, all around her, drawn to her body, to her passion, and she reveled in it. Tonight there would be no recriminations, no doubts about relationships ended. Tonight would be about living, about feeling, about getting some, then getting gone.

She needed a release from her tension and she knew that there was someone who would be able to help her with the problem. After all; who knew what tomorrow would bring? According to B she wasn’t even in the last fight. Something about being in the hospital.

Over the head of her diminutive dance partner she met a set of startling blue eyes. She was fascinated by how bright they were, and the rest of him was pretty easy on the eyes. He was standing apart from a few other guys who looked boring, but blue eyes looked intriguing.

As the heavy beat seemed to fade away, a more melodic ballad came on. It was one that she knew quite well and was perfect for seduction. Breaking away from her dance partner, she switched her dancing style to a more relaxed, but seductive sway.

“I'm feeling nothing”

Faith took a step closer towards blue eyes.

”But all alone”

Keeping her eyes focused on his, she raised her hands over her head and swayed her hips in an enticing dance.

”Just missing someone; I don't even know”

Another twist closer.

“But until I find them; I'll wait patiently”

Running her hands down her breasts.

”Just feeling nothing; Inside of me”

The music was taking her over, their eyes fusing, and she began to mouth the next words:

And where are you baby; Where can you be
Why aren't you here; Loving me
'Cause I want to kiss you; And make you feel right
I want to lay with you; all through the night”

Faith’s seductive dance towards the mysterious stranger was driving them both crazy. She felt wanton and wild. So very wet, but barely restrained by the pace of the music.

“And I want to feel passion; I want to feel pain
I want to weep at the sound of your name”

Suddenly she was in front of him, her eyes never leaving his.

“Come make me laugh; Come make me cry
Just make me feel; Alive”

The world narrowed to just the two of them.

”And so I wait; For that glorious day
When the one I dream of; Comes my way
But until I find them; I'll wait patiently
Just feeling nothing; Inside of me”

Faith brushed against him, lightly. The feel of their skin contacting was electric, racing up her arms and engulfing her in a trembling desire of need. She took a step closer, every move she made brushing against him,

”And where are you baby; Where can you be
Why aren't you here, Loving me
'Cause I want to kiss you, and make you feel right
I want to lay with you, All through the night”

Her gaze locked with his, she could feel him reach out to her

”And I want to feel passion...”

He pulled her against him and their lips met.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Buffy smiled as she felt Spike come up behind her. She pressed back and sighed deeply when his arms surrounded her. Here, safe in his arms was one of the few times she truly felt content. Every change to the time line, every decision they made worried her. Who knew what the ramifications to the world would be? She was trying to make things better, but was she?

Case in point; Anya and Faith had what seemed to be a loving relationship, and then it blew up. Faith had all but moved out and into Andrew’s house. She couldn’t even imagine someone choosing to live with the twerp but apparently he idolized Faith and she enjoyed bossing him around. Strange that his parents never noticed either one of them there….

What if the changes in Anya and Faith’s relationship caused one of them to be distracted later? What if the person Faith was kissing was a mass murderer? What if Buffy was responsible for someone else getting hurt and she changed the time line into an impossible mess?

True, both Faith and Anya seemed to be recovering from the whole break-up, but Buffy was well acquainted with hiding pain behind false exteriors.

Buffy stared in shock as Faith stepped away from the man she had been kissing. It had been years since she had seen him but she recognized him. She hadn’t known him very well, but she was uncomfortable with the idea that he was in Sunnydale and he was here earlier then she would have expected.

Sighing, Buffy tried to relax into Spike’s arms and recapture a sense of peace. Being at the Bronze was futile. She couldn’t be surrounded by all those who might die; by people she remembered as dead, and be expected to smile and laugh. If she survived tomorrow’s fight and the ramifications it would bring, she would ask Faith about him. She just hoped that Spike hadn’t seen him.

Turning she stood up on her tiptoes to whisper to Spike, “Please take me home.”

Spike nodded, his hand came up to caress her face as he looked into her eyes. “Come on luv.”

The world, and its tough decisions, would still be there in the morning.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Anya sighed as she finished the last of the nightly paperwork. She hated to work this late, but moments before she was scheduled to close, a gaggle of teenage girls had come into the shop. They had browsed for almost half an hour before purchasing some books and some pre-made compounds in a bag.

She enjoyed them spending their money, of course, and had been quite willing to keep the store open, but now it was quite a bit later than she would have liked. She was nervous about the Ascension. Last time around she had safely run away. Now she would be in the middle of the fight. She sighed again; at least a snake wouldn’t have a sword to run her through with.

Getting out of high school, yet again, would certainly be a relief. You would think after 1100 plus years of living, the concept of high school would have been easier for her. Especially since she managed to have to do it again, ‘oh well,’ she thought, ‘at least this time I’m not flunking math.’

Anya’s eyes lit up as Giles walked into the store. “Shouldn’t you be resting? We have a high school to blow up in the morning.”

Giles smiled at her, “Why yes we do, but I thought I could do with a cup of tea and a bite of pudding before retiring for the night. I saw the light was still on; is everything all right?”

When Anya nodded affirmatively, Giles paused in thought, and then continued, “Would you care to join me at the diner? I can’t promise a decent drink, but the pie is quite delightful.”

Debating for a few seconds, Anya’s need for a friend waged war with her desire to just stay in and sleep. At least if she slept she would be free from troubling thoughts. The need for friendship finally won and she nodded, “Okay, but you’re buying. I’m still a poor high school student.”

Lost in their thoughts, they walked to the nearby diner. The conversation was stilted at first; but then they started discussing old rock and roll bands that Giles admired. Soon they were laughing at Anya’s descriptions of what really went on behind the music scenes and how much of history had been shaped by vengeance wishes. Apparently groupies were an endless source of scorned women. It explained so much about the music scene.

“So, how did the wish you granted break up the Beatles?”

“One word, Yoko”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Buffy curled up and cuddled into Spike on the couch, ignoring the soft sounds of the television in the background.

Spike was content to hold her, to stoke her hair and just be there for her. He knew she was conflicted about the upcoming battle. If only would have realized that they needed to kill the Mayor before it had gotten to this point. By the time everyone had finished arguing over the fate of the man, the mayor’s hundred days of immortality had already begun.

Spike knew Buffy; he knew she would blame herself for any of the deaths that would come. She knew people were going to die, and she put them on the front lines anyway. She seemed strong. But this had the potential to tear her apart.

So he held her, he stroked her hair, and silently feared what tomorrow would bring.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Chapter 24
Graduation Part Two

Author’s Note: Obviously this scene relies heavily on Graduation Day Part 2.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Spike waited in the shaded wing of the school, anxious to get to the fight and release the nervous energy that had built up. He smirked knowingly as Willow and Oz rushed in late for the ceremony and blushing as they took their respective seats. ‘Now why didn’t I think of that?’

The speech seemed to stretch out. Each of the fighters watching for signs of the eclipse and the changes that it would signal. Buffy, however, was lost in thought. Could she save some of the seniors if she had them take other positions in the fight? Would that compromise the fight? Would it save them, or would it sacrifice someone else in their place? She was frozen with indecision. As before, she had left the decisions up to Xander in hopes that they could distract or kill the mayor before he took a bite out of any of the students. Perhaps, if she positioned herself closer to the student body, she could deflect some of the blows….

Lost in thought, Buffy didn’t realize that the mayor had started to change into the giant snake-like demon until everyone surged to their feet. ‘It’s too late,’ was followed by a wail of anguish, ‘What have I done?’

Anger rose at the mayor, the situation, and for the decisions that had to be made. Her voice rang out steady and sure- “NOW!”

As one, the maroon graduation gowns came off, the tasseled caps fluttering to the ground. The clothing underneath was uniformly practical, and all of them fairly bristled with weapons of destruction. The determined seniors lifted their crosses, stakes, and holy water guns and rushed forward. Spike leapt into the fray, taking position against the Mayor.

Buffy’s voice continued to ring out with confidence. “Flame units!”

She watched as Larry led a determined team try to flay the mayor. Although she is hit hard with the memory of the boys funeral, she nods to Xander, encouraging him to take control of the senior class.

Xander nodded back and bellowed out, “First wave!”

At his command, Willow, Amy, and a large group of students aim their cross bows at the Mayor.

“Fire!”

The ascended mayor swayed back and forth in an effort to avoid the flying weapons and the flames that are spurting from the units. Spike danced around the huge snake-like creature, trying to keep him distracted and away from the students.

The snake bellowed and lunged towards the seniors, knocking Spike over in the process. The snake swallowed a student as Buffy stared in shock ‘Who did he just eat? Who had she just let die?’

Several of the students panicked. They broke formation and started to run away.

Buffy was dazed by the chaos around her. There would be more deaths, more people she failed to save, even with her knowledge. She quickly made her way over to Spike.

Oz watched the students who tried to run away quickly become dinner for the slowly advancing vampires. Helpless and angry, he called to Xander and nodded towards the approaching demons.

Xander’s voice rang out, “Arm bow men!”

Oz’s line of archers lit their arrows and carefully took aim.

“Fire!”

Flaming arrows flew through the air. Several found their targets and turned the vampires into flaming dust.

Xander’s attention was brought back to the front by another bellow from the snake.

Jonathon flew through the air and landed on a group of fleeing seniors. Andrew and Harmony rushed to his side, checking him for injuries.

“Fall back!” Buffy yelled out to the students. She turned to Spike. “I need you with the students.”

Spike started to refuse, but her anguished expression stopped him. “Please, Spike. Angel was here to help them last time. I need you there with them. I need to know they’re safe. I can’t fight this thing unless they’re safe.” Her green eyes brightened with tears even as she gripped her weapon harder.

Sighing, Spike nodded and headed into the crowd. He would see who he could save.

Before he got more than a few feet away, Buffy heard a loud clicking noise and she turned. Larry. Horrified, she watched the snake’s tail began to descend. Sprinting forward, she lunged at the football player and pushed him out of the way. The tail caught her instead and threw her into the air. She crashed hard into Spike, who had raced back to assist her.

“Thank you.” She let out a shaky breath and winced as he helped her to her feet. Spike glared at her and gave her a rough kiss before disappearing into the crowd once more.

Across the quad, several girls screamed as the Mayor swallowed Snyder in a single gulp.

“Fire!” Xander called out and another round of flaming arrows was launched. The vampires turned, looking to regroup, when they discovered a formable team of students behind them. Faith led the way with Wes and Percy flanking her. Both groups eyed each other. In an instant, Faith lunged forward at the nearest vampire and the battle was on.

“Xander, take them down,” Buffy’s voice rang out. She found Willow and nodded to her, then she turned to look for Harmony and found her still situated next to Andrew and Jonathon.

Xander watched as Spike entered the group of fighters and made eye contact with him. Pulling a stake out of his back pocket, he tossed it over to the vampire and then grabbed another one for himself. “Everyone, hand to hand!” he shouted. “Everyone, come on! Let’s go! Move! Move!

Faith pummeled the vampires. Fists were flying and her team, composed mainly of brawlers like herself, were holding their own with the confused vampires. They were driving them back up the steps when the lead vampire turned back.

“Get the kids!” he yelled.

The vampires, eager for a snack and a chance to regain their strength turned, only to meet an angry mob of teenagers armed with stakes, crosses, and baseball bats.

The crowd rushed forward. Jonathon leapt at a vampire and they tumbled down the steps. Andrew engaged a vampire in hand to hand, desperately trying to find an opening to stake him. Finally the vampire was dust. He turned in time to see Harmony dropped to the ground by an ugly vampire.

Xander barked out more orders. Looking around, he sighed in relief as he saw Anya and Amy fighting next to each other. More punches thrown and he lost track of everyone

A distraught Andrew rushed over to Harmony, not realizing that it is too late. He struggled to pick her body up, wiping the blood off of her. ‘God, it’s all over; her neck, her face, her clothes.’ He gathered her up and staggered off, thankfully unmolested by the attacking mob.

Anya turned and watched Amy go down; her neck snapped from the force of a vampire’s blow. She shuddered and pressed on.

The seniors were slowly gaining the upper hand. Surprise and sheer numbers seemed to be working. Cordelia staked a vamp, while Willow and Oz fought back to back. The crowd kept surging forward and the vampires began to disperse and flee.

Finally Buffy managed to get the mayor’s attention. Angry that she had ruined his big day and enraged at the revelations that the Deputy Mayor had been working with them, he took off after her fleeing figure. His pride would be his downfall.

A few quips later, Buffy was running down the main hallway of the school building with the serpentine Mayor in hot pursuit. She ran into the library and vaulted over the banister. Still running, she kept going until she crashed through the opposite window.

The mayor stopped, apparently confused for a moment. His, “oh, gosh” could be heard echoing through the library.

Giles pushed down on the trigger and a gigantic explosion ripped through the school.

The fight had been won.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Buffy staggered up to the front of the school, staring at the dead bodies that littered the ground. She felt relief at the sight of Larry, who was alive. One less funeral for her to attend.

She stopped, her expression stricken at the sight before her. Andrew and Jonathon had dragged the newest members of the gang away from the others and were crying over them. Not only had she lost Harmony again, but she’d lost Amy, too. Amy, who was not suppose to be dead, who was suppose to have a second chance at life while studying with the coven and learning to overcome her addiction to darker magics. Amy, who went to the prom with Xander. Amy, who would have been alive- although perhaps a rat for a few years- but alive if it wasn’t for Buffy’s actions.

Andrew looked up, his expression accusing. “Did you know?”

Buffy tried to shake her head, to make a sound. Any sound. Horror and shock overwhelmed her. ‘All these deaths… this is all my fault. I should have prevented them, I should have stopped this… It is all my fault…’

Blackness rushed up to meet her and Spike barely caught her before she fell.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Chapter 25
Aftermath

Two weeks later

Spike watched as Buffy ducked a blow from Xander and swung around with a roundhouse kick that connected with the Whelp’s stomach. Even pulling her strength, the blow looked like it had hurt.

Normally he would enjoy seeing Xander getting beat on, but the fun was lessened by the pain of what his mate was going through.

Buffy had never recovered after graduation day. She was still Buffy, still happier then anytime after her first resurrection, but she was missing the giddy confidence and happiness that had been there when they first had returned to this timeline.

Buffy was no longer quite sure that everything would be magically better. She knew things could always be worse. Faith and Anya were strong forces for good. Jonathon and Andrew were meshing nicely with the others, and would not be hooking up with Warren. Willow would gain magical training before she had a chance to kill a man.

The odds were in their favor with the knowledge of everything they had lived through, but the deaths of people who had been alive in the previous timeline, and the deaths that she felt she could’ve prevented weighed heavily on her mind.

One result of her guilt was the thrice-weekly training session that every member attended. Buffy was taking no chances with anyone’s safety, knowing that this changed time line could bring new dangers along with the old foes of the past.

She even practiced with the newly souled Harmony. They were not sure about the happiness clause, but since in theory a Harmony without a reflection could never be that happy…

It really didn’t matter though, Harmony was never very different with a soul than without. If she ever lost it, they probably wouldn’t even notice.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Faith watched as Xander sat down and Andrew stepped up to the mat.

Her current life seemed like a dream to her. She would never admit that she liked living with Andrew, but it was very peaceful. Andrew was like having an annoying little brother. Even Harmony could be tuned out after a while. The house was spacious, there was plenty of food, and she even managed to have her own room with a king sized bed. Staying there was calming and soothed something restless inside of her.

Living with Buffy had been nice, and it had been the first time she truly felt like she had a home, but after the break-up with Anya, she had needed a place to retreat to. No one understood why she did it, but she knew she had been right. The pain had finally faded, and lately a set of blue eyes had been flashing through her memory.

It wasn’t the way she’d planned to spend the night before graduation, but blue eyes hadn’t wanted to move past the kissing stage. Although his kisses were pretty amazing.

They had ended up talking until the wee hours. He told her about growing up in California and she had regaled him with tales of Boston. They had laughed and joked, and in spite of the simmering tension, they had been quite comfortable with each other. It was something she had never experienced before.

She wondered if he would be back.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Anya smiled as Giles picked her up for dinner. They had been going out frequently since graduation. It was nice. For once she was being treated as a member of the team and like someone who had valuable knowledge to share. It was strange that it took dying and coming back to get some respect.

She wondered if he would be as good in bed as he looked.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Buffy finished training and looked up to see Spike watching her. She knew he was worried about her. She smiled.

She would be okay. Yes, she knew training everyone so intensely was probably overreacting; she just didn’t want to take a chance. She had even signed her mom up for private lessons. Everything was so different this time. She knew what was coming, but not everything could be predicated. She was determined to save her mother, Tara, and others that had been lost before their time. But the First was still out there. It would still rise up and strike.

They knew what was coming, but together, with her mate, they would survive.

Book One is now complete, please check the GOTS Main Page for updates in this universe.