Buffy woke up wrapped in her lovers' arms, unwilling to allow the world inside yet she snuggled closer. Feeling something akin to a tug-on-a-string, she came to a realization.
Uh oh, we are about to have company. She reluctantly kissed Asher and Damian awake.
"Mom and Dad are coming. We have about 20 minute before they get here. The others probably won't be far behind them. Better get down to the study."
She pushed the covers off them, swatting their butts with a giggle. Their eyes had grown large at her last comment, and she decided to try to take their mind off the impending meeting. Buffy called over her shoulder as she jumped from the bed.
"Last one in the shower's a rotten vampire!"
Three very clean and happy lovers entered the study to find Selene and Zeus waiting for them. Buffy ran to Selene for a warm motherly greeting. She then turned to jump into Zeus' arms for a powerful bear hug. Damian and Asher stood in stunned silence. They knew who these 'people' were but watching them interact. It was no different than any other human parents who had missed their child.
Zeus turned to level his sternest glare on them. His voice filled with thunder, while lighting bolts danced from his fingertips.
"You are the two who dare think themselves worthy of my little one?"
"Daddy!" Buffy pouted, stomping her foot.
Damian and Asher bowed toward Zeus, as they stepped forward to take turns kissing Selene's hand.
"No, we know we do not deserve her, but we love her more than life. And, would willingly die or kill to keep her safe from harm," Damian said, meeting Zeus' eyes.
"She gave me back my life, and caused my heart to know love again. I lay both at her feet to do with as she will," Asher added, standing straight and proud beside Damian.
"That's all I needed to hear. You two know if you ever hurt her lightning will find you no matter where you go."
The king of the gods glared down at his daughter's mates, while lightning filled his grey eyes.
"Zeus, enough, our daughter has chosen well. They are loyal, and their love shines clearly from their eyes," Selene admonished him like a naughty school boy
The rest of the gods and goddess arrived, interrupting anything else the Moon Goddess might have said. Buffy pulled Asher and Damian around the room, personally introducing them to her family. She shared embarrassing moments from Zierra's memories and her own to put them at ease, and to show their very human-like qualities.
Her family had each brought gifts for the newly mated trio. Dite's had Buffy blushing and the men laughing. Damian and Asher couldn't stop smiling when they saw the soft leather whip, matching dominatrix outfit and special application cream.
Hephaestus pulled Buffy aside to whisper in her ear. She let out a high-pitched squeal then picked up the blacksmith to the gods to spin him around. He tapped her shoulder to show his indignation, and she quickly sat him down, ignoring the dark red coloring his ruddy complexion. Buffy grabbed his face and proceeded to press kisses across his face. Glancing up, she burst out laughing, when she noticed that Dite, Asher and Damian had the same jealous expression on their faces.
"Damian, Asher, please step forward," Selene commanded. "As my daughter's bond mates, you will become bound to her father and me. Do you accept this bond as well?"
"We do," their voices chorused.
"Remove your shirts." Zeus moved beside Selene. "Through your rings, you show your bond to her. Through this mark you will show your bond to us and through us the Powers." "
Selene and Zeus joined hands and pressed their combined hands over first Damian's chest in the exact place as Buffy's tattoo. They repeated the process for Asher. Buffy stepped forward to see what her parents had done to her mates. Silver moon tattoos like hers with a bluish-white lightning bolt through the center marked their upper torsos.
"Ooh, pretty," she said, tracing the markings tenderly. "How come mine doesn't have the pretty lightning bolt?" she asked, looking from her mates' mark to her own. Her neck crooked as she compared the intricate designs.
Zeus laughed as he explained, "You are your mother's first born. You're more hers than mine."
"Don't worry; I know you love me best."
She stuck her tongue out at everyone else in the room, causing them to laugh.
It was the day before the full moon. The Council would arrive in one week, and there was still so much to do. Buffy wasn't sure whether it would all come together.
"How are you feeling, Anita?" Buffy asked, before they started their meditation.
"Different, but not in a bad way. I'm coming to terms with my inner beast. These exercises help. Guess, I didn't understand what the pard went through each month."
"You know when you get a gift or a test, whatever. You can either run or face it. I've done both. It's hard when you're so strong that you have to watch how you hug someone, because you could break their ribs."
"I think I'm getting that. I had to learn how to control my necromancy to keep the dead from showing up at my house."
"Sex mojo? Oh, the arduer, yeah, well, how do you get around that? I'm sure I'd want him; I mean he's gorgeous, hard to keep your hand's off him. Plus, you're one to talk, look at Damian and Asher. Their both from Belle Morte's line. So, they carry the arduer as well. You didn't seem very resistant to them, in fact, you moved on both of them, practically at the same time from the moment you saw them. How can you know what you feel for them is real and not the arduer?" Anita asked, trying to keep the self-satisfied smile from her face.
She couldn't help it. Buffy was always lecturing her about her life, while she was off sleeping with not one, but two vampires from the same line as Jean-Claude. Who was she to come here and tell everyone how to live?
"I'll lay it out for you. The sex mojo doesn't work on me. Yes, their gorgeous to look at but believe me it doesn't come close to what I see when I look at their auras, their souls. That's what I fell in love with. Have you ever heard if you had all the colors in the spectrum, you'd only see white?" Buffy paused, and Anita shook her head, but her expression showed her confusion.
"Anita, when Damian, Asher and I are together, we create white. We complete each another. If you look at our auras when we're together, you'd understand. Pretty packages are okay, but if you open the box and it's empty you just have trash!"
Buffy tried to explain it as simplistically as she could. She hated this task, and didn't think she was doing too great of a job of it most days. The fighting the Council she could do, no problemo. They were evil bastards with no hope of redemption, and she only had to figure out when and where to go after them. It was the human emotional interaction she sucked at most times. She hadn't forgotten her last days in Sunnydale, which had sucked beyond belief. Everything had fallen apart. Buffy knew she was in large part to blame, and had sworn she would try to speak up when things were wrong rather than holding everything inside and hoping it would somehow resolve itself. So, not ever going to happen.
The problem she had with Anita was that she had never had to interact much with someone who really didn't much care for people as a whole. Or, that's how Anita came across to her. Faith had her issues when they met, and goodness knows they grew substantially after that, but it didn't cause her to dissociate herself from the world. Did she become wary of people, sure? But, she still lived her life out in the world, vampires, alligators, bikers, and all its glory. Anita only wanted to allow people she approved into her clubhouse, and the rest of the world could pretty much go to hell. She wanted to shoot anyone that dared to trespass into her sacred territory or infringe on her members list. Perhaps, Buffy wasn't seeing the real Anita, but in all honesty, the woman hadn't given her the opportunity to see much more than anger and gun barrels.
"What could we do to take our powers out of the picture?" Anita asked after several seconds of long silence.
Buffy kept her inner Snoopy dance to herself. Sometimes people surprised her at the oddest times.
"There are spells that will remove the signature of power from a certain person's perception. They only last for about a month, from full moon to full moon. You'd have to agree willingly but it would answer your questions. We could do it after the business with the council is through. Think it over and let me know."
The Lupanar: The pack felt the munin rush through them, empowering them with strength.
Anita's Backyard: The pard felt the munin race through them and roared. They had never felt this way before, strong, predator, like the powerful animals they were. Anita felt her beast and let it free to wash over her pard. They rolled on their backs, breathing in her power.
Wererat Clearing: Rafael watched his rodere as the munin touched them. He got the feeling their lives were about to change forever.
Buffy lay between her mates, while she idly ran her hands through their hair.
"I have to leave tomorrow to make the Council house go boom. I want to give you Hephy's gift now; I'm surprised you haven't asked. Though Dite's gift was delish, mmm, no, don't get me started. Here put these on."
She handed each man an earring. They quickly put them into their right ear lobes. The earring held a single stone that changed color with the light, capturing all the colors of a flame.
"You both look very piratey; me likes, me likes a lot."
"What do they do? Buffy? Hephaestus' gifts always do something," Damian asked.
"Have you ever heard of the gem of Amara?"
She watched their expression shift from question to amazement.
"That's impossible it doesn't exist! It's a myth. The Council searched centuries and never found it. How? Why!" They rattled out questions at the same time.
"I'm getting dizzy from the tag team interrogation. It's real and belonged to 'Pollo. He hid it until there was someone worthy enough to wear it. He and Hephy played jeweler, and tada. We can spend the morning playing by the pool or in the garden or anywhere in the daylight. Any questions?" She paused, smiling at their awe struck expressions, before she continued. "Now, you're impossible to kill by anyone, except my parents or me. Mom and dad wanted to ensure you could be with me, until the end if that's what you wanted. I mean...living with me...until the end, that is..." Tears spilled down Buffy's cheeks as she looked at her two husbands. "I couldn't bear to lose you. Not once, I've finally found you. I want my life to be with my mates until the end of time. Can you do this for me, - for us?"
Her mates gathered her close, purring to calm her, and then wiped away her tears. She hiccupped against their necks, slowly calming in their warm embrace. Buffy's lips turned up into a naughty smile as her hands reached out to flick the jewels in her mates' ears.
"So, what do you say to a day of swimming and loving each other under the sun?"
They simultaneously pounced, kissing and nipping at her. Her laughter filled the room, followed by their satisfied purrs.
"I'll take that as a yes."
Later that evening, Buffy met with the Vargamors and Anita. They were going over last minute plans for tonight's ceremonies. Buffy felt their nerves and wanted to calm them as best she could, knowing that they needed clear minds.
"Guys, do you have any questions about tonight? Don't doubt for one minute that you're ready for this, because I don't. After you call the munin for strength, you need to have everyone pledge fealty to the Moon Mother. Anita, you need to be with your pard, and call on your inner beast. The oath, plus the training we've been doing should give you some extra ammo. Everyone, go rest tonight is going to be intense."
Everyone started to head out the door, when Buffy called out, "Anita, you stay."
Anita bristled at the tone in Buffy's voice. "Yes Mistress."
Buffy raised an eyebrow, while staring at Anita with eyes that were chips of green ice barely starting to glow. Anita unconsciously stepped back, before she caught herself. She had never seen Buffy this angry before and a shiver went down her back. She had pissed the blonde witch off several times before, but today was different. The air around her crackled. Anita not used to feeling this way and normally channeled her fear into anger. For once, she stayed quiet hoping Buffy would cool down.
Damian and Asher tried to calm Buffy through their bond. She told them through the rings it was time for a little ass kicking.
No more, Miss Nice Guardian, I've had it with their pettiness.
Buffy paced the foyer then went to open door just as Richard and Jean-Claude were about to knock.
"You two in the living room now, sit down and shut up!"
Buffy's power rolled off her in waves. Richard and Jean-Claude slowly walked toward the living room, stopping when they saw Anita. Richard stiffened, but Jean-Claude smiled. Buffy rolled her eyes at the vampire's antics, and the wolf's childishness. She pushed the men into the room.
"Has it slipped your minds that the Council arrives in two days? And, the three of you are still playing games. Richard, get over yourself already, Anita broke up with you, so grow up! You're the Ulfric; I thought you didn't want to act like the previous jerk!"
"I'm nothing like him," Richard growled, pushing his power out into the room.
Buffy put her hands on her hips and stared at him. "Oh, is that right Dick? You could have fooled me. Does that mean you suddenly have the right to run your pack's enitire lives? Like, oh say, their jobs? Everyone should quit working for Jean-Claude, right. You're no better than Raina. She saw them as pawns, and so do you. Jean-Claude's no saint, but he doesn't force anyone to work for him. In fact, his clubs are the only place known pack members 'can' work. DICK are you independently wealthy, as a teacher? Are you going to support everyone? Did you even ask them if they wanted to stop working there? Oh, I forgot you're the Wolf King. Mmm. Let me see your reason for this is to protect you pack. NO! You want to show Anita and everyone else you have the biggest dick. Well, all you proved is that you are one!
Her brow inched up along with her power when Richard's growl grew louder. "Don't you dare growl at me, puppy. I'll put you in obedience school if you push me too far," she warned as her voice went from shouting to deathly quiet.
"How dare you tell me how to rule my pack? I'm the Ulfric. Are you challenging me?" Richard shouted at her. His eyes turned amber and his beast roared in his chest.
Buffy leaped across the room and lifted Richard up by his throat. "If I wanted your pack then they'd already be mine. Anita, if you put your hand one inch closer to your gun, I'll show you what I do when I'm really brassed off."
She shook Richard as if he weighed nothing, before throwing him across the room. He slid down the wall into a heap of tangled limbs. Her eyes glowed brilliant blue as she turned on the Vampire Executioner.
"Since you couldn't sit with your hands in your lap, it's your turn Anita. You formally stepped down as lupa, the rumors of your interference and questions into pack business is causing confusion and strife. Your pard should be your concern, but you're not working on bonding your inner beast with them. Before you accepted it, I warned you what you needed to do. You've done a half-assed job. If you don't accept them completely then find them a true leader. Are you two hearing me?"
She whirled around after hearing a bark of laughter from the Master of the City.
"Ah, Jean-Claude, you I saved for last. Just because the wolf is your beast to call, you have no business using it to find out info on Richard and Anita. What are you people still in high school? Consider yourself in the principal's office about to be expelled."
"Little sorceress, please understand."
Buffy's patience finally snapped. Previously her shields were down slightly more than normal. She looked at the three of them and lowered it to half then pushed with her Guardian powers for justice and judgment. Her hair flew around her face as her eyed deepened to rich royal blue.
Richard, Anita and Jean-Claude felt as if someone had just slammed them into a brick wall. Buffy moved closer to them and they froze with fear as her power overwhelmed them. Asher and Damian each grabbed one of her hands, and with their other hand turned her face to them. They looked deeply into her glowing eyes, speaking through their bonds.
"Buffy, please calm down little goddess."
"We will help them understand."
Buffy took several deep breaths deeply then closed her shields. Everyone sighed in relief.
"Mon Dieu, I knew you were powerful but nothing like that! With that much power, you could do anything you wanted with your magic. Why don't you?" Jean-Claude asked honestly, not understanding someone not using power for gain.
"You never learn do you? I'm not here to take lives. I'm here to protect them. My powers are to fight evil not become it. Everyone has the right to choose for themselves. I don't interfere, until those choices harm innocents. Don't you get it? Great power is both a gift and a burden. You have to use it wisely and sparingly or it will corrupt you and those around you suffer for it."
Buffy sat down on the couch between Damian and Asher. They each took a hand and started, rubbing their thumbs over her knuckles.
"I'm over my bitchfest. We need to do several things to prepare for the Council's visit. I wanted to meet here so no one could overhear what we say. I found a secret weapon. The Council thinks Anita's your human servant. We also want them to think you three have created a triumvirate. So, for all of your sakes, you're going to have to pretend that you like each other. Richard, you and Anita can announce it to your people on the full moon. Everyone needs to see you together. I know what I'm asking is hard, but to get everyone out of this in one-piece you're going to need some extra oomph. I found a spell that creates an intricate glamour, no one will see through. To all outward appearances, Anita and Richard will appear marked. You will smell it and your power signature will reflect it. Belle will find it delicious. They'll see you as even more worthy of the Council. I can set it up so that you can call on me for extra power, and it will feel like you're simply opening the link to each other. Now, are your people, your city and one another important enough for you to put away all this crap and do what's necessary?"
Anita turned to look at both men and said, "I'm in."
She faced Buffy, staring her straight in the eyes with her anger and power bubbling close to the surface. Buffy returned her stare, with an equally hard one of her own. Anita closed her eyes and mentally forced it to dissipate. The meditation techniques she had learned were helping her allot. She realized that she needed to work hard with her pard and her own aura.
Damnit, I can do this. I'm not giving up my pard.
Jean-Claude asked, "You are sure Belle Morte will not see through this? She could force the information from me."
"Nope, no tracy. She won't be able to force anything after tonight at full dark. I'll perform the ceremony of fealty for the vampires. They'll all be at the Circus at Midnight, right? Can we roll back the big top for moonlight? If not, I'll just use my tattoo."
"You can't use your tattoo! You'd bare your breasts, before the entire St. Louis kiss? No, you are our mate!" Damian growled, prowling toward her with green fire in his eyes.
"Hey, I have great breasts. You don't think they'd enjoyed the free peep show?"
Buffy crossed her arms over her chest to stare at the vampire stalking her. Her eyes alight with feline delight, while another conversation continued without her.
"I agree, little witch, your breasts are glorious."
Anita's head wiped around to glare at Jean-Claude. "When did you see her breasts?"
"When she healed Asher, it was part of the ceremony." He gave a Gaelic shrug of his elegant shoulders.
"What, you got naked in front of all of them?"
Anita spun back around to glare at Buffy. Her hands on her hips, inching toward her gun.
"People get on track here. I wasn't naked, only topless."
She sent Asher an impish smile over the head of her red headed mate.
"Wish, I could have been invited to help," Richard said aloud, causing Anita to growl.
"The top rolls back, Oui," Jean-Claude laughed.
"Cool, then I'll see you at the circus at midnight."
"We have enough time to perform the spell now if you're ready?"
She moved forward, meeting her stalking mate. Damian buried his face in her neck and breathed in her scent. Asher joined them to complete their triad. Buffy reluctantly extracted herself from their loving arms to head for the study, knowing the reluctant pseudo-triumvirate would soon follow.
Richard, Anita and Jean-Claude cautiously walked in to find her busily flitting about the room. She seemed to blur from one table to the next, mixing and murmuring under her breath.
"Sit in the center of the silver circle and hold hands."
A large silver circle stood directly beneath the moonlight from the sunroof. Once everyone settled on the floor, Buffy poured red sand on the edge of the silver circle. She went back to the worktables and grabbed a small anthem with moonstones embedded in the handle. Pricking each of their fingers, she put a single drop into the cup then added several herbs. Buffy chanted under her breath and lit the mixture on fire. When it started to smoke, she told them to inhale deeply. Saying several more words, she poured the mixture over the sand and it flared into flames then dissolved.
"Presto chango whamo, okay kiddies. Now, don't let me see you in my office again, or I'll have to put you in detention for real. Bye-Bye, I'm going to go play with my mates 'till I have to go stand in a building full of vampires."
Buffy paused, as she leveled them each with a stern look. "Think about what I've said tonight. No matter what shitty things are happening in your life - the mission comes first. We have some Council Ass to kick, so focus people!"
The entire time Buffy spoke, she had moved them toward the front door, before finally pushing them out and closing it in their stunned faces. Anita, Richard and Jean-Claude turned to one another in stunned bewilderment.
"Did what just happen really happen?" Richard asked. "I thought my chest was going to cave in."
"I am so pissed right now I could spit. How could this little blonde come into our lives and turn them upside down. Where did all that power come from?"
"Ma petite, you're angry because she is right. She, as you say, saved our asses many times. Buffy just showed us she doesn't need us, we need her. We have enough time to dine out together, before tonight's ceremonies."
"We pretend until the Council's gone, and then return to the way it is now?" Richard looked at Anita and Jean-Claude not sure, how he wanted them to answer.
"Yeah, except I promise no jealousy, no mixed signals and no interfering. The pack members like Jason that I'm friends with, we'll keep our conversations away from pack business."
Anita looked away from the two most important people in her life, and wondered how she would survive this with her heart even remotely intact.
"I will butt out of their lives as well. If they want to keep their jobs, they won't have any problems from me."
"Ma petite, Richard, I too am sorry. Shall we call a truce, until we, as Buffy said, kick some Council ass?"
They looked at Jean-Claude a moment then cracked up laughing. Hearing Buffy's words said with his sexy French accent seemed so out of character it was funny.
Buffy stood on the Circus of the Damned's center stage, with Asher and Damian beside her. The tattoos on their bare chests glowed softly underneath the moonlight shining down from the center opening. Buffy smiled at her mates, they were so different from each other, but they both loved her with a protective passion that was humbling.
Over three hundred vampires had packed into the Circus. Standing this close to so many vampires had Buffy's spidey sense on overload. The crowd suddenly went completely silent. Damian and Asher held her hands in reassurance. Buffy hadn't faced this many vampires since her confrontation with the First and its legion of ancient vamps in her last battle on the Hellmouth. But, these vampires were different and she felt each one of them and saw their souls like a gleaming mist. Zierra's spirit, the Guardian's Spirit called to her.
The task in front of her needed her total concentration. There were those here who planned to betray them. Buffy knew each of them and could see their judgment lain out before her, but now simply was not the time to think on that. Jean-Claude moved to center stage, his power was tangible; it flavored the air. Buffy saw it floating around him like the flamboyant clothes he favored.
"Welcome, my children. We have received news that the Vampire Council are heading to our fair city. They plan to replace me with Yvette, some of you have heard of her. She's the favored child of Morte De Amour, even though she's not attained the level of Master. They're breaking our laws. They want our city and will do whatever they can to take it."
Angry snarls echoed throughout the crowd at his words. Jean-Claude played them beautifully. He waited for them to calm, before he continued speaking.
"Buffy, has come to give us the protection of the Moon Mother in exchange for our oath of fealty."
"Why would this witch care about us?" a voice shouted from the crowd.
"No one deserves to have their lives taken away on a whim. The Council created the laws and Jean-Claude has broken none. You and your city should not be punished." Buffy's voice rang out. From the corner of her eye, she saw several vampires slip out the back.
She hoped Jean-Claude was paying attention. Buffy turned to look at him. "Okay, Fang-Face its time. Roll back the tarp."
Jean-Claude motioned toward his men to remove the tarp. It rolled backward in one smooth, dramatic mechanism. Jean-Claude was ever the showman. The canvas top lay drawn back, leaving only the skeletal structure looming over them. Moonlight softly danced across the Circus, filling it with silvery light and outlining the inhabitants with its touch. He noticed Buffy's necklace and glanced at her mates matching tattoos. Something about them caused a memory to niggle in the back of Jean-Claude's mind.
Buffy stared out at the crowd as her eyes softly started to glow. She lifted her head to the moon.
"Mother, all before you swear an oath of fealty to fight in your name, to protect their home and way of life against this threat. Do you accept?"
The moonlight flared brighter as it burst over those within the Circus of the Damned, rushing over them like a tidal wave. Many cried out in fear at first, and then purrs only vampires could hear replaced them.
"The Mother accepts the fealty you've sworn here today. Jean-Claude remains the Master of the City, but your fealty is not to the Council who comes to dishonor your laws. The Mother Moon has judged them and found them wanting."
Buffy turned and walked away with her mates. Jean-Claude followed her, grabbing her by the arm to stop her from leaving. Asher growled at him, causing Jean-Claude to look at him in shock and hurt.
"Do not touch our mate, Jean-Claude," Damian said in his quiet way. "No one touches her but us."
Jean-Claude stared at the two men, towering over the tiny blonde. They looked ready to kill him for merely touching Buffy. He could understand this from Asher, but not Damian. The Viking had always remained so calm, almost passionless.
"Pardon moi, petite sorciere, I meant no disrespect to you or your mates. I wanted to know if you had had any more visions."
"Don't worry about it JC and the answer's no. Now, if that's all, I'm tired." Buffy's voice was raspy and her mates looked on in concern.
"Richard, Anita and I wanted to let you know that we talked, and agreed to work together to get us through this situation with the Council."
Buffy nodded her head wearily at his word. Damian hurriedly picked her up and flew off with her into the night.
"Is she okay, Mon chardonette?" Jean-Claude turned to his friend and ex-lover with concern in his eyes.
"She's tired, Jean-Claude. She barely sleeps and we have to force her to eat. Buffy feels responsible for ensuring that you're completely damned city survives the Council. Damn you, Jean-Claude, I blame you and your hunger for power for this. If anything happens to her, I will make you pay," Asher threatened, with cold hard eyes.
"Mon ami, please what have I done, She came to us and offered her help," Jean-Claude asked in shock at Asher's vehemence.
"Buffy tries to save everyone, even you. Any she can't she thinks it's her fault. The reason the Council's coming here, because you had to mark, Anita. She's a necromancer, Jean-Claude; even you aren't arrogant enough to think that had you succeeded and lived, the Councils eyes wouldn't turn this way."
Asher, sweetie, come home to me, this bed doesn't feel right without you. He's a little boy playing grown up games. Leave him , alone and come home to me, I promise to play much nicer games with you.
"Au Revoir, Jean-Claude my mate calls to me."
And, with those cryptic words, Asher flew off, leaving a bewildered Jean-Claude staring after him.