Fic: Something Wicked 7/?

["jillbone" <jillbone@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I'm so sorry that it's been a while since I've posted a chapter on 
this.  For all disclaimers please the first part of this story.  And 
if anyone needs the other parts:
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Chapter 7: Old Home Week

	Faith and Buffy were just about to call it a night when half 
a dozen vampires surrounded them.  Quickly staking the closest two, 
the slayers fought back to back, trying to find an opportunity to 
drive their stakes home.  As Faith's second vamp dusted himself
on a branch after being kicked a good ten feet, she turned to see how 
her sister was doing.

	Buffy brought her arm up and knocked the two vamps' heads 
together momentarily stunning them.  As she rammed her stake through 
one's chest, she saw Faith's remaining vampire turn tail and 
run.  "Faith."  She caught her eye and nodded her head
towards the retreating vampire.

	The brunette nodded and started running after him, calling 
over her shoulder.  "I'm on it, B."

	The last vampire used Buffy's temporary lapse in 
concentration to get the upper hand and flipped the slayer over his 
head onto a tombstone.  As he brought his head down for a snack, 
Buffy pushed upward with her knee and slipped her stake into his 
chest.  Coughing from the dust, she stood and tried to wipe off her 
clothes.  (I need to start carrying a lint brush or something.)  She 
heard deliberate clapping behind her and thought that Faith was back 
and making fun of her&until she heard the voice.

	"Well, well.  Thought you were dead, slayer.  Guess I'm
going to have to try a bit harder this time, eh?"

	Buffy slowly raised her head locked eyes with the one vampire 
she had hoped never to see again.  "Spike."  The word barely
sounded human, snarled out beneath flashing yellow eyes.  Her eyes 
flickered to his left and took in the tall dark vampire beside him.  
(We should kill him now.  I bet we could make the pain last for 
days.)  Beyond reasonable thinking, the slayer agreed with her demon 
and charged the bleached blond with a growl.

	Catching him off guard, Buffy was able to land two or three 
hard punches before Spike could react.  He brought his hand up and 
clipped the slayer hard on the side off her head, throwing her 
several feet away.  His face lit up as he saw the little blond 
panting on the ground.  The vampire next to him had yet to move and 
just stood watching.  "You always were too hot-tempered,
luv."  He slipped into game face and licked his lips.  "I
guess some things never change."

	"And then again&some things do."  Spike turned towards
the voice and Faith jumped up and planted both feet squarely on his 
chest, knocking him backwards.  She trotted over towards Buffy and 
helped her off the ground.  Seeing that her sister was okay, Faith 
turned her attention on the two vampires.  "Willy, long time no 
see."  She cocked her head at the second silent vamp and 
smirked.  "Who's your new boy toy?"

	Spike growled and started in her direction when the dark 
vampire put a hand on his shoulder.  "Stop."  His voice was
soft but commanding.  "She's a slayer too&and now's
not the time.  The Master will take care of them soon enough. 
Come." 
They turned and walked away, with Spike throwing one last glare over 
his shoulder.

	As Buffy began to hurry after them, Faith stopped her.  "B, 
wait."  The flinched from the glare the blond threw at her. 
"As much as I want to kill him too, we should probably tell Giles 
about this.  Something doesn't feel right."

	Buffy sighed angrily and pushed her hands through her hair, 
trying to get control of the bloodlust.  "You're probably
right, but next time&"  Buffy looked off in the direction the 
vampires had taken.  "Next time, he won't be so lucky."

**********************************************************************

	"You say there was another vampire with Spike?  Can you 
describe him?"  The slayers and Giles sat at a table in the
library.  Amy was waiting for everyone else outside the library.

	Buffy sharpened her favorite stake and attempted to control 
her demon's hunger for violence.  (Why are we sitting here? 
Let's go find Billy Idol and turn him into vacuum chow before he 
hurts someone.)  She growled and pushed him towards his cage.

	Seeing the her sister struggle, Faith piped up.  "Oh, you 
know, tall, dark, and broody.  Just the way Willy likes them." 
She paused in thought.  "He seemed to have Spike's number
though. He was like a puppy at Broody's every command."

	"He followed this other vampire's orders?  And mentioned a 
Master?"  Giles looked pensive.  "Interesting."

	"What's interesting, G-Man?  More hellmouthy fun?" 
Xander asked as he, Willow, and Amy settled around the table. 

	Giles removed his glasses and cleaned the lenses.  "Well, 
yes.  Something interesting from last night's patrol."  He
slipped his glasses back on and glared at the boy.  "And I do
believe I've asked you not to call me that."  Xander shrugged
and smiled sheepishly.  "A powerful vampire has come to town.  One
that we have had dealings with before."  He broke off and looked 
towards Buffy, unsure of how much to reveal.

	"So what's the big?  Buffy and Faith can go slay him and
then we'll have pizza."

	Buffy snarled and snapped her stake in half, causing the room 
to jump.  

       "It's not that simple, Xand-man."  Faith sighed
and looked at Giles, begging him to change the subject before Buffy 
completely freaked.

       "Yes.  It's rather complicated."  He looked at
Willow, Xander, and Amy.  "Does anyone have a free period this
morning?"  Xander raised his hand and Giles smiled.  "Good. 
You get to stay and help me research."

       Xander groaned and laid his head on the table.  "What,
there's homework now?  When did that happen?"

       Faith chuckled and headed for the door with the others as the 
bell rang.  "It's all part of the glamorous world of vampire
slaying."

**********************************************************************

	After first period, the gang burst into the library hoping to 
reap the fruits of research.  The banging doors startled Xander out 
of his nap.  Giles walked out of his office with a worried appearance.

	As everyone else sat down, Buffy paced, noticing her 
watcher's expression.  "What?  What is it?"

	Giles sucked in a deep breath, knowing no other way of 
breaking the news to his slayers.  "I believe the Order of
Aurelius is in town."

	Faith jumped up and headed towards her sister.  Buffy's eyes 
were yellow and feral.  As Faith reached her, the slayer growled, 
warning her to back off.  Hesitantly, she took a step back.  Willow, 
Xander, and Amy looked on in shock and confusion, while Giles and 
Faith simply looked pained.

	(This is the last thing she needed to hear.)  Giles cleared 
his throat as Buffy headed for the door.  "Buffy?  Don't."

	As she pushed open the doors, Buffy stopped but didn't turn.  
Her words were barely distinguishable between growls.  "I
won't.  I just&can't be here right now."  She slipped
out of the doors before anyone could stop her.

	"Ok.  What's with the freakfest?"  Xander asked looking
at Giles and Faith.

	The brunette clenched her fists and breathed deeply.  "Shut 
it, Xander."  Seeing Willow move towards the exit, she gently
grabbed her shoulder.  "She'll be alright.  Just leave her
alone for a while."  The redhead turned and cocked her head at
Faith, her eyes showing her concern.  "I promise."  (It has
to be.  I
can't go through that again.)

	The bell rang for the next period and everyone agreed to meet 
after school.  As Faith split off to head for her class, Willow's 
soft voice stopped her.  "What's going on?  Why would she
just bolt like that?"

	Faith's eyes met hers, full of pain and unshed tears. 
"It's not my place to say.  Sorry, Red."  She moved in
the direction of her own classroom, leaving behind an even more 
confused redhead.

**********************************************************************

	When Buffy failed to show up back at school, Willow decided 
to skip the meeting and look for her.  She was anxious to find out 
what made the slayer so upset.  Ruling out cemeteries and the Bronze 
because of the hour, she headed to the Espresso Pump to think.  
Walking in, she immediately spotted Buffy in a corner booth with an 
untouched coffee.  She ordered a mocha and slid in across from the 
blonde.

	Buffy's head whipped up and Willow noticed she looked less 
angry and more frightened.  (She looks so lost.)  "Missed you in 
class today."  Buffy looked back down into her cup.  "I got
your homework for you."  Still no response.  (Maybe I should try 
being direct for once.)  "What happened?  Why did you leave like
that?"

	(Should we tell her?)  (No way.  She'll think we're weak and 
leave.  Who wants a slayer that can't defend herself against one 
measly vampire?)  Buffy shook her head at the demon.  (She's
going to hear about it eventually, you know.)  The demon scoffed at 
her.  (Alright.  You're in charge.  Just remember&I warned
you.) Buffy lifted her eyes to Willow's, realizing she hadn't
said anything out loud yet.  With a deep breath, she began the tale 
she had hoped never to tell anyone again.

	"I've dealt with the Order of Aurelius before.  Back when we 
lived in Boston.  Almost a year ago, I ran across one of the younger 
members, William the Bloody, also known as Spike.  He's close to
200 years old, but still one of the youngest members of the
Order."  Willow gasped and Buffy rushed to continue. 
"Anyway, he was sent to kill me.  Seems his specialty is killing 
slayers.  I know he's bagged at least two."  She hesitated,
looking 
deep into the redhead's eyes.  "Well, three&if you
include me."



Boston 1996
	She tried to duck, but Spike's fist caught her in the jaw, 
knocking her backwards several feet.  Jumping quickly to her feet, 
Buffy circled Spike, looking for a chance to strike.  She swung a 
foot at the vampire's head, snapping his head back.

	"Feisty, aren't you, luscious?"  He licked his lips as
his eyes traveled up her body.  "Don't worry.  I like that in
a slayer.  Makes the reward even sweeter."

	Buffy swept at his legs, trying to knock him off balance, but 
lost her own when he hooked her leg and pulled.  She fell face 
forward onto the alley floor.  Spike bent down to whisper in her 
ear.  "Maybe I'll go visit `sis' when I get through. 
Wonder if she tastes as good as she looks?"

	Buffy brought her head back with a growl catching Spike in 
the face.  She spun around, eyes yellow and full of anger.  "No 
vampire will ever touch my sister."  Thinking only about wiping
the smug grin off of Spike's face, she threw a punch which would
have flattened him.  If he hadn't caught her fist first.

	Squeezing her hand, the vampire promptly landed several blows 
to her face and body.  Buffy was rapidly losing consciousness as he 
continued to pummel her.  The last thing she saw before her eyes 
closed was Spike's fangs getting closer to her neck.



Sunnydale 1997
	"From what I've been told, Faith found me in the alley, face 
down in a puddle.  I'd been drained of quite a lot of blood and 
wasn't breathing.  She started CPR and rushed me to Giles." 
Buffy turned her head away.  "I didn't even know I had really
died until we found out the next day that Faith had been called."
She cleared her throat and looked down at her coffee.  "So
that's the whole sordid story.  Pathetic, right?"

	Willow sat stunned with tears streaming down her cheeks.  (Oh 
God.  She really died.)  Silently, she stared at the blonde.  (What 
do you say when someone tells you they died?)  After a moment or two 
of silence, Buffy raised her eyes to meet hers.  Willow could see the 
pain and fear in the slayer's eyes as Buffy reached over to wipe
away her tears.  The redhead closed her eyes as a shiver ran through 
her.  (I could've lost her before I even found her.  It hurts so 
much.)

       Her eyes flew open.  (I think I'm falling for her.) 
Unable to process the thought so soon after Buffy's tale, she
jumped 
up and ran from the coffee shop.  

	Buffy could see the surprise and panic on Will's face before 
she ran.  She crushed her cup and never felt the hot liquid on her 
hand.  Her demon sneered at her in disgust.  (Told you so.)

**********************************************************************

	Buffy stalked through the cemetery trying to ignore the group 
with her.  (I don't care what Giles said.  They should have
stayed home.)  She looked back at the rest of the group, her eyes 
catching Willow's.  (How can I avoid her if she's always
here?)  She sighed and picked up her pace.

	"How come you get to be Shaggy?"  Xander whined.  Again.

	Faith rolled her eyes and smirked.  "'Cause Buffy and I do 
all the dirty work.  You know, getting chased around and shit.  Giles 
is Fred since he always comes up with the plans.  Red is obviously 
Velma the smart one."

	Willow snorted unsure whether she was flattered or insulted.  
She tuned Faith out and stared at Buffy's back.  (Wish she would
slow down.  I need to explain about this afternoon.)  Putting on her 
resolve face, she squared her shoulders and jogged up towards the 
slayer.  (No time like the present.)  "Buffy, we need to
talk."

	Knowing there was no way left to avoid this, Buffy slowed her 
pace to walk beside Willow.  (Can you get the brush off speech before 
you're even together?)  "Yeah."  She cleared her voice
when it cracked.  "I guess we do.  Will, I &"

	Willow held up her hand to interrupt.  "Me first.  I need to 
apologize about earlier today.  When I ran out.  It's just that
all of a sudden I understood that you really could've died and I
realized something.  Something good, but it scared me.  I got scared 
and I ran.  I'm sorry.  I know that's not what you needed
right then, but I couldn't help it."

	During the babbling, Buffy's demon taunted her still.  (I bet 
she realized what a loser you are.  Should have listened to me and 
not told her.)  The slayer flinched and then stopped.  (Wait.  She 
said `something good.'  What?)  As the redhead paused to take
a breath, Buffy broke in.  "What did you realize, Will?  What
scared you?"

	Willow sucked in a deep breath and her eyes locked with 
Buffy's.  (It's now or never, Rosenberg.)  In a voice so soft
only a slayer could hear, she took the plunge.  "I realized that
I'm falling for you&hard."

	Shocked almost beyond comprehension, Buffy indicated that 
they should stop for a minute.  She looked back towards her sister 
motioning for her to keep the others away and to keep an eye out.  
She took Willow's hand and led her over to a tombstone.  Sitting,
she shook her head in disbelief still not believing she had heard 
correctly.  "I don't know what to say.  I mean, that was the
last thing I expected you to say."  She felt Will's hand
start to pull away and continued quickly.  "But it was the one
thing I'd hope you'd say.  I think&no, I know I fell for
you
that first day in the library.  I looked in your eyes and knew you 
were meant for me."  

       Buffy paused unsure of how to proceed.  "There's
something you need to know first though, before you decide to be in a 
relationship with me.  You won't just be in a relationship with
me."  She saw Willow's eyes widen.  "Oh no.  I mean it
would just be you and me, but there's more to being a slayer than 
Faith and I have told you guys. We&we have another side to us.  A 
demon. They're what makes us stronger, faster, more agile than
normal 
humans. They're controlled.  And they're not evil, just
aggressive
and a tad violent.  It's the side you see when we slay."  She
took a
deep breath.  "Being with me means being with all of me."

	Willow shuddered delicately and met the slayer's sincere 
gaze.  (Could I really back out now?)  She could feel the anxiety 
flowing from the slayer.  (She trusts me so much with her secrets.  
She trusts me&And I trust her.)  She smiled softly at the nervous 
blonde.  "I trust you."  Before she could say anything
further, Faith gave a shrill whistle and pointed behind them.

	Without tearing her gaze from the redhead's, Buffy tossed one 
vampire over her shoulder and thrust her stake back into another.  
She held the other on the ground with her foot and casually flicked 
the stake into his heart.  Never pausing, she grabbed Willow and 
crushed their lips together.  As her tongue slipped past Willow's 
lips, she caught the hacker's gasp and held her tighter.  (Mine.)
(Hell yeah.  You finally did something right, slayer.)

	A few feet away, Xander and Amy gawked at the pair as Faith 
smiled.  "Isn't it funny how slaying makes you hungry and
horny?"  Two sets of eyes turned towards the brunette who
shrugged and walked off towards the Bronze leaving the sputtering duo 
to catch up.





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

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