Fic: Heroes and Lovers (10/?) FRM/R

["another_soul_lost" <anotherlostsoul@xxxxxxxxx>]

Title: Heroes and Lovers
Author's Name: anotherlostsoul
Author's Email and URL:
anotherlostsoul@...,http://www.hopelessdreams.com
Pairing: W/Buffy
Disclaimer: Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and a lot of other people own
the show and all the characters. The plot and the story are mine.
This cannot be sold or used for profit in any way, shape or form.
Please don't sue me, because I really don't have anything to take.
Rating: R, but may vary by chapter.
Spoilers: Set in season 4 of Buffy, so anything before that is fair game.
Summary: Spike escapes the Initiative without being chipped. How
will this effect the Scooby gang?

Author's Note:  Sorry that this installment has been so long coming,
but here it is.  Thanks again to all the wonderful feedback and
support I've been getting.

Chapter 10 

Willow smiled as she walked toward the library.  Despite her
unintentional efforts to frighten Tara away, the blonde witch actually
wanted to be friends with her!  They'd both been going to the Wicca
group meetings looking for the same thing: other real witches to
practice with.

A sudden chill went through Willow as she walked up the steps to the
library door.  It immediately washed away all of her happy thoughts
and good feelings about her discussion with Tara, replacing them with
a deep dread and a distinct sense of unease.  Closing her eyes for a
moment, Willow focused on the feelings, trying to make sense of them.
"Buffy!" she gasped.  Her eyes snapped open and she turned, taking
off at a sprint for Stevenson Hall.  

* * * * *

Buffy was heading out to look for Willow when the redhead burst
through the door.  Her usually calm girl was clearly agitated. 
"Buffy!  Are you okay?" she asked breathlessly.  "I had this awful
feeling that something was wrong&so I came as fast as I could."

Buffy threw her arms around the upset witch and pulled her into a
tight embrace.  "Will, it's okay, everything's okay."

"But, I felt something from you.  Like you were dreading something, or
something bad had happened," Willow hugged her fiercely, before
pulling back just enough to look her in the face.  "Was it Riley?  Did
something bad happen, `cause if it did, I'll beat him to death with a
shovel and&"

"You could sense that?"  Buffy's jaw dropped open.  "That I was upset
after my talk with Riley?"  

Willow grinned sheepishly, "It's because I've fed from you so much
lately."  She noticed the confused look on the blonde's face.  "The
more often I feed from a single person, the more connected to them I
become."  

Buffy closed her mouth and narrowed her eyes at her lover, "And you
knew this would happen?" 

The deep red blush that flushed her face answered that question before
she even spoke, "I, uh, knew it was a possibility& but not that it
would happen for sure& or even that it would happen after just a
couple days."   A slightly worried look crept across Willow's
features, "I should have mentioned it.  I'm sorry.  The more often I
feed from you, the stronger the connection will get; it'll also start
to work both ways&probably."

"Both ways?"  Buffy asked.

"You might be able to sense what I'm thinking and feeling, the way I
can sense you," Willow bit her bottom lip thoughtfully.  "Or, if this
is giving you wiggins, I&well, I could stop feeding from you, and it
should fade."

The blonde smiled, "It's not a problem, Will.  I think it's cool that
we'll be able to sense each other's thoughts and feelings.  I was just
worried that&" She broke off, looking embarrassed about what she was
about to say, "Well, it's just that I don't think& we should have any
secrets between us.  We kept how we felt secret from each other for so
long that we almost lost out on our chance to be together&"

Willow leaned in and captured Buffy's lips in a soft kiss.  After a
few moments, she pulled back, breaking off the kiss, and whispered,
"You're right.  No more secrets."  Then she pulled back and gave the
Slayer a sly grin, before asking innocently, "Does that include
details about other people we've been with?"

Buffy was absolutely certain that she turned as red as Willow's hair
at that question and its implications, but refused to back down, "That
includes anything you want to know my love, but we'll have time for
that later& we need to go see Giles."

"Oh! And we should talk to him about Spike last night too& A
ghostly-vampire isn't exactly normal& even if we grade on the
`We-live-on-a-Hellmouth' curve," Willow added a moment later as they
walked out of the room and into the hallway.

`It's time for the whole world to know this girl is mine,' Buffy
thought, taking Willow's hand.

"Very true... plus we probably need to patrol tonight," she said,
intertwining their fingers as she pulled the door to their room closed
behind them.

"Oh, and I think Porter dorm's having a `We Got Our Voices Back' party
tonight," Willow said, smiling as one of the male residents of their
dorm stared at them briefly, having noticed the distinctly couple-type
handholding going on.

"Ah, this from the dorm that brought us the `Somebody Sneezed' party
and the `Day that ends in Y' party," she quipped happily.  

"Well, they are pretty generous with the milestones&  We should stop
by after; there should be much fun to be had."

"Sounds very plan-like to me."

* * * * *

`We're holding hands& in public even!'  Willow thought happily as she
and Buffy walked across the campus to Giles'.  `But what does that
mean?' another, less certain, voice asked in the back of her mind.

"Uh, Buffy?" she asked gently.  When the blonde looked at her, she
hesitated for a moment and then dove right in, "You know, not that I
mind or anything, but uh, with the handholding thing?  Does this mean
we're together? I mean, like together-together, cause you know,
obviously we're together walking but  "

"Do you&" Buffy paused, sounding uncertain, but hopeful, "want to be
together like that?  To be my& girlfriend?"  She bit her lip nervously
after she said it, as though afraid of what Willow would say next.

Willow's heart was in her throat.  `Is she asking me because it's what
she wants, or because she thinks it's what I want?' she wondered.  She
stopped walking, and turned to Buffy.

"Do you want me to be your girlfriend, Buffy?"  She swallowed hard,
trying to keep her own insecurities from showing.  She desperately
needed to be sure that this was what Buffy wanted before she could answer.

Buffy looked her in the eyes, "Willow, I want it more then anything. 
I spent so much time trying to hide my feelings for you& and then I
nearly lost you forever.  I know I said that I didn't want to rush you
into anything you'd regret..." She paused and took a deep breath. "But
I can't do this without you.  Every night since I went to face the
Master, I've gone out and fought demons and vampires, not because of
some sacred duty& I've done it to make the world safer for you.  I
love you Will, and I want to be with you forever."

"Oh, Buffy&" Willow's voice broke as she spoke, tears streaming down
her face. She put her arms around the petite blonde and pulled her
close, kissing her passionately.  "I want this too," she said softly,
several kisses later.  "I want it so much, that I keep expecting to
wake up, to find that this was all just a wonderful dream."

The look of absolute joy on Buffy's face told Willow everything she
wanted to know about how the other girl felt about the news.  After
several more minutes of celebratory kissing, she pulled back slightly
and looked into Buffy's eyes, "I love you Buffy, but unless we want to
continue giving the campus a free show, we should probably get going."

Buffy cocked her head, with a wicked twinkle in her eye, as though
considering the options.  "I guess you're right," she admitted with
mock reluctance.  Smiling brightly, the blonde took Willow's hand and
started walking again.

As they entered the courtyard of Giles' apartment, Buffy stopped
suddenly and turned to face Willow.  "Will, are we going to tell
everyone?" she asked abruptly.  "I mean about us&being together.  I
mean, I want to, I want to shout it from the rooftop for the entire
world to hear& but if you aren't ready& I mean, this is kind of a big
deal and we can keep it secret until you're ready&"  

Willow realized that she hadn't really thought about it.  She knew
what Buffy meant about wanting to tell everyone, but it was scary. 
How would they react?  Would they freak out knowing that she and Buffy
were getting all couple-y?  Then she remembered how Giles reacted when
she told him that she was in love with Buffy.  `They may not
understand right away,' she thought. `And Xander may be a little hurt
by it, but they're our friends and they'll be happy for us.'

She smiled; suddenly completely sure of herself in a way that she
never thought was possible.  She walked wordlessly to Giles' door and
knocked before turning to Buffy and saying, "I think we should tell
everyone."

"You should tell everyone what?" Giles asked, having opened the door
in time to hear her declaration.

* * * * *

Buffy looked at her ex-Watcher in surprise.  It seemed somehow absurd
that after everything she had faced and all the apocalypses she had
stopped, she should suddenly be so scared of telling Giles about her
new relationship with Willow.  But somehow over the past few years,
he'd become so much more than just her Watcher, he was more like a
father to her than Hank Summers had ever been, and the thought that he
might not approve terrified her beyond words.  The very notion was
like ice-water in her veins. 

She felt Willow's hand slip into her own, and give a gentle,
reassuring squeeze.  She glanced at the redhead and couldn't help but
smile at the silent support; a part of her knew that no matter what
how she responded to Giles, that it would be okay.  She could feel
Willow's unconditional support and love flowing through her and for
the first time in her life, Buffy was completely content.

She turned back to Giles and smiled broadly before answering, "Giles,
Willow and I are in love&with each other."  Despite everything, she
mentally braced herself for his response.

The Englishman smiled at her warmly before he spoke, "Buffy, Willow
that's wonderful news.  I hope the two of you will be very happy
together.  You certainly deserve it."  

It took several moments for his words to sink in.  Of all the
responses she'd imagined, this was one she had most hoped for and
least expected.  Willow spoke almost immediately, as she impulsively
threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "Thank you, Giles. 
You've no idea how much your approval means&to both of us."

"You really do&approve, don't you?"  Buffy asked tentatively, as
Willow released him and stepped back, smiling.  "I mean&"

He smiled reassuringly, "Yes, Buffy, I most certainly do.  I've
suspected how you both felt for some time now, and I'm quite pleased
that the two of you have finally admitted it to one another."

She smiled broadly and threw her arms around Giles, hugging him
fiercely.  "Thank you, Giles!" she whispered as happy tears began to
spill down her face.

* * * * *

Willow couldn't help but smile as Buffy hugged the man they both
treated like a father.  She could feel the relief and happiness
radiating from her girl, and it was an amazing feeling.  Suddenly all
of her fears and doubts about how her friends and family would react
to the news seemed so silly.  

When the petite blonde finally released her ex-Watcher, she turned
immediately to Willow.  With a joyful smile, Buffy pulled the redhead
close and captured her lips in a passionate kiss.  For a brief moment,
the world around them fell away and nothing else existed.  In that
instant, Willow opened herself to Buffy's emotions, drawing strength
from the Slayer's emotions, and she felt complete for the very first
time in her life.  

The soft sound of a startled cough from Giles was all it took to
shatter that moment, and the world exploded back into being around
them.  Reluctantly, Willow stopped her feeding and pulled away from
her lover with a sheepish grin.  Giles was polishing his glasses and
staring intently at the ground, which was more or less what she'd
expected to have happen.

`Sometimes,' she thought amusedly, `he's so English it's painful to
watch.'  Buffy's soft laughter echoed through her mind in response and
the blonde grinned mischievously.  

Willow's eyes widened in shock as she heard Buffy think, `I bet we
could make him blush as red as your hair, Will.'  

`Vixen!' she thought back.  She recognized the wicked gleam in Buffy's
eyes and realized that the Slayer had chosen to take that as a
challenge&or possibly as permission&to see if they really could make
Giles blush that badly.  

Acting quickly, Willow interrupted the blonde's plan, "Giles, Spike is
back.  Well, sort of anyway.  He's all incorporeal and he picked last
night to do the ghost thing in our dorm room&"

Giles' smile slipped slightly as he put his glasses back on, "Spike? 
Are you quite certain?"

Willow smiled slightly as Buffy's entire demeanor changed before she
spoke.  Suddenly she went from being just Buffy to being the Slayer: 
all business and entirely focused on the baddy of the week and how to
take it down.  It was a change that Willow had seen a thousand times
but it still surprised her.  

"It was definitely Spike, Giles," Buffy confirmed.  "No one else could
possibly have been that annoying."

"Ah, yes, well& I can't recall having ever encountered an instance of
a vampire returning as a ghost, but I'll certainly look into it." 
Giles glanced over his shoulder, clearly thinking aloud, "Perhaps
there's a reference to it in one of the older Watcher's diaries&"

`Should we tell him what you found out about Riley and the commandos?'
Willow asked Buffy silently.

`I don't think so, not yet anyway.  Riley was pretty specific that it
would be safer for everyone if I kept quiet.  I wouldn't want to put
him in any unnecessary danger until we have to,' she replied.

* * * * *

Maggie Walsh looked over the soldiers that comprised the Initiative's
Sunnydale field teams.  They had long been aware that Sunnydale was an
extreme hot spot for Sub-Terrestrial activity and as such, the agents
assigned to her operation were among the best the military had to
offer.  She smiled slightly at the thought that her work was making
them even better.  She cleared her throat and instantly, the room went
deathly quiet, with all eyes on her.

"Gentlemen, this is your objective."  She pushed a button on a remote
she was carrying and an image of Buffy appeared on the monitor for
everyone to see.  "This hostile goes by the name of Buffy Summers and
is the active Vampire Slayer.  Agent Finn has seen the hostile in
action and will brief you on the target's particular hazards and
defenses."

Riley stood up and turned to address the commando teams.  "As
Professor Walsh has stated, the hostile in question is a Vampire
Slayer.  She appears to be a normal human female, but don't be fooled.
She is stronger and faster than any sub-T we've faced to date.  The
target is also extremely resilient, difficult to hurt, and heals
quickly."  Riley pointedly looked each of his team leaders in the
face, one after the other, as he spoke, emphasizing his point.  "It's
a combination of abilities that make the hostile extremely dangerous."

"The target's primary means of attack is to engage hand-to-hand where
its strength and speed play heavily in its favor.  It's also known to
employ archaic weaponry: crossbows, wooden stakes, swords and the
like."  A couple of half-suppressed chuckles rippled through the
assembled teams and Riley glared directly at the culprits.  "It may
seem hokey, but it's very effective.  Do not underestimate it."

Professor Walsh smiled as Riley turned and sat back down.  She waited
a moment before continuing.  "The information that we have on this
Slayer is fairly limited.  Reports from various sources indicate that
the target is one of the most widely feared Slayers in recent decades,
so we must proceed with extreme caution."  

"What we do know, however, is that this hostile is aware of the
existence of our operation and has made some fairly accurate guesses
about our mission.  The identity of at least one of our operatives has
been compromised as well," she looked at Riley reprovingly.  "The
continued presence of the Slayer poses a significant threat to
achieving our objectives, and it must be dealt with accordingly."

"As a result of the security breach, Agent Finn is restricted to base
until the threat is neutralized; he'll be coordinating the tactical
operations from here on in," her smile went cold as she looked around
one last time.  "Failure is not an option.  If this threat is not
dealt with, everything we've worked for could come to an end."

Riley stood back up and took the floor, "Per orders from the brass,
we're doing this strictly by the book.  Operation will proceed in
three phases.  Phase one is recon and surveillance.  There are a lot
of gaps in our intel, gaps that we need to fill before we can prepare
an effective tactical response.  Patrol teams," he paused for a
moment, looking directly at Forrest before continuing, "be on the
lookout for the hostile in the field at all times.  Observe and
record, but do not engage.  "  

"As some of you may know, the subject is also enrolled as a freshman
here at U.C. Sunnydale.  Keep your eyes open at all times; the target
has been passing itself off as a normal human for years, something
that it couldn't do without accomplices.  We need to identify these
accomplices so that they can be dealt with as well," Riley paused for
a moment before continuing.  "Avoid contact with the target at all
times. Who's got questions?"

When no one spoke up, Riley went on, "All right then, suit up and move
out, team leaders get your patrol assignments from me.  Agent Gates,
alpha team is yours. "

Professor Walsh smiled as she turned and walked away, confident that
Riley and her boys had the situation well in hand.

* * * * *

Drusilla slid through the cool evening air, gliding in slow circles
through the twilight shrouded garden of the Crawford Street mansion. 
She danced to music that no one else could hear, the sounds of the
stars singing for her filled her ears.  She smiled and laughed aloud
as the breeze whispered naughty things to her.  

The stars above her spoke, their soft voices giving her good news. 
She twirled in a slow circle, watching her stars twinkle above her. 
She loved to dance, and her William loved to watch her.  But now, that
was all her poor sad childe could do, stand aside and watch.  

She stopped and turned to face her darling boy.  "The Angel-beast is
coming, Spike," she giggled girlishly once again, "and he's going to
stay for tea."  She twirled in a circle, laughing richly at the voices
in her head.   "But we won't let him leave until after the party," she
added in a conspiratorial whisper.

She went back to her dancing.  Very soon, they'd have everything they
needed to help her beautiful Spike, and then the streets would run red
with the blood of the innocent.  It would be a lovely party.

* * * * *

"Doyle, what did you see?"  Angel asked softly as the Irishman
swallowed the aspirin that Cordelia had handed him, chasing them with
a generous swallow of scotch.

"It's the Slayer, Angel.  I saw her fighting a crazy vampiress with
dark hair, I think it was Drusilla&" Doyle replied, his voice shaking
slightly.

"How do you know Drusilla?" Angel asked abruptly, narrowing his eyes
at the half-demon.

"That's a long&boring story for another time, right now we should make
with the riding to the rescue."  Doyle responded evasively.

Deciding now was not the time to press the issue, Angel turned to his
other employee, "Cordelia, call Giles and let him know I'm on my way.
Warn him that Dru's in Sunnydale, and she's there for Buffy."  Angel
spun toward the elevator, only to have Doyle grab his arm.  

"You're not going alone, I'm coming with."  There was a strange edge
to the Irishman's voice, a hardness that Angel couldn't recall having
heard before.

Angel paused for instant, considering the statement.  It wasn't like
Doyle to volunteer to get involved if he didn't have to.  The vampire
suddenly realized there was something that he'd seen that he wasn't
sharing.  And whatever it was, it wasn't good.  He nodded a curt
acceptance of Doyle's offer and the pair entered the elevator.

They'd be in Sunnydale before midnight.

* * * * *

Giles' jaw dropped open as he read.  He'd spent the last several hours
researching Spike's return and the implications of his ghostly state.
Staring up at him from the page was a reference to an obscure volume,
rumored to contain a ritual that would not only restore a ghostly
vampire to corporeal form, but also render it invulnerable to any form
of harm.

The only known copy of the volume was lost centuries ago, but the
sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach reminded Giles that lost
things often managed to fall into the worst possible hands. 
Especially on the Hellmouth.

"Bloody hell," the former Watcher spat as the phone unexpectedly rang,
startling him.  He took a deep breath to steady his suddenly rattled
nerves, and then scooped up the infernal device, answering it with a
polite "Hello?"

"Giles!  Giles you have to warn Buffy!" came an excited, vaguely
familiar female voice through the phone.

"Cordelia?" he asked, confused.  "Calm down.  I need to warn Buffy of
what?"

"Giles, Doyle had a vision.  Drusilla is in Sunnydale and she's going
to go after Buffy.  You have to warn her.  Angel and Doyle are on
their way to help&"

Giles nearly dropped the phone in shock.  "Are&are you certain?"  The
presence of Drusilla certainly made sense given Spike's return, but
the implications of it were just too dire.

"Positive, Giles.  Doyle's got a direct line to the Powers.  His
visions have never been wrong," the ex-cheerleader replied with no
small amount of fear evident in her voice.  "And if they're going to
all the trouble to warn us, then something really bad is going to happen."

The sinking feeling in his stomach suddenly turned to pure ice.  `If
Drusilla has a copy of that book,' he thought uneasily, `then everyone
in Sunnydale is in very real danger.'

"Buffy and Willow left here almost an hour ago to patrol," he replied,
his voice sounding strangely flat, even to his own ears.  He could
only pray that the girls were okay.







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"It's a good fight, Buffy, and I want in."
"I kinda love you."
Buffy & Willow, 'Choices'

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