Chapter 51
Buffy and Connor woke up happy and content wrapped around each other. She looked at him closely as he asked, "No regrets?"
"No Stephen, none we don't know what is going to happen but right here right now. I am happy and safe with you. I know something is coming and I don't know what will happen but no I don't regret last night or this morning?"
"This morning, huh, so does that mean?" He smiled to himself then gasped as her hand began to move over him under the covers.
Buffy moved over the top of him straddling his body as she smiled down. "That means my love that I am going to give you a proper good morning." She slid her body down his and did exactly that.
Later when they walked down into the dining room Faith crowed. "Well, well, looks like big sis had a good night or was it a good morning?"
Wesley had given Faith and Spike his room so he was sleeping on a pull out in the den. "Leave them alone Faith." He looked at her sternly, he for one was glad the young couple who were so obviously in love were happy.
"It is okay Wesley and it was both." Buffy shot back at her sister slayer. Wesley almost spit his coffee across the table.
"Woo hoo go B! So S, how is it hanging?" Faith punched him in the arm then began to shadow bow with him pretending to jab at him.
"Just fine Faith and you?" Connor liked Faith almost as much as he liked Anya. Both women were up front and honest they just said whatever they thought. He liked Tara too; she was just so quiet he didn't know her as well.
"No complaints nope none at all." The two just grinned at each other then turned when they were hit with a toast. They turned to see Buffy with an angelic smile on her face; everyone started laughing.
Later that day Connor and Buffy decided to return to the Christmas tree lot. Buffy saw something and touched it with her boot. She was suddenly falling through the ground to a large cavern. Connor rushed over "Liz baby are you okay? Hold on I will climb down."
"No, Stephen, I'm fine. Go see if you can find some rope or something. I will be fine; I'm armed and I won't go far from the opening."
" I'll be right back so be careful." Connor ran off to find some rope as Buffy pulled the sword from the sheath she had on her back.
Her senses were quickly on high alert as she heard a growl. She spun around and there standing about twenty feet away was the Ubervamp. It was coming at her fast but Buffy held her stance waiting for it. Her new senses were hoping but there wasn't any pain. The Turok-Han couldn't say the same; the closer it got to Buffy the more intense its pain became. Roaring its nails slashed the air as it tried to pounce on her. Buffy spun smoothly on the loose soil crouching low she sliced across the vampires torso with her sword.
The ancient vampire screamed from the intense pain of being so close to her. It was as a wild animal caught in a trap. Buffy slashed, kicked and dodged its fists and claws. It caught her across the stomach when she didn't pull back fast enough. Buffy followed through as he again dodged at her. She ended in a back-to-back position with her sword raised spinning out she sliced across the back of its neck. The Turok-Han exploded into dust. "Man, I thought we were going to have to find another rocket launcher for you baldy. No wonder they bit humans there were just plain ugly," she giggled.
She turned quickly feeling something or someone else's presence. An old woman with long white hair wearing some type of robes approached her. The woman didn't cause Buffy's senses even to bleep. She relaxed some but didn't sheath her sword.
"Thank you child I have been held here for a long time. I hoped never to be needed, finally to go to my rest without ever completing this task. Please come with me."
"Who are you lady? I don't usually just follow stranger people around in the dark. Well I do but oh whatever. Who are you and why should I follow you?"
"I am the Guardian and you must follow me child to retrieve the key." The woman simply walked off down a tunnel opposite to the way the Turok-Han had exited.
"Where did that come from? I don't remember seeing but one tunnel. Of course, I was never a girl scout and grey, bald and ugly interrupted but," Buffy stopped to look down the tunnel the Guardian had went down.
"Child come along."
"Talk about pushy," Buffy grumbled to herself. She walked down the tunnel into an opening filled with light. "Where does the light come from?"
"Inside," the Guardian answered. Great just what I need now a cryptic old lady. "Please come it is here." The Guardian waved her hand towards the other side of the room.
There embedded in a stone stood a gleaming silver scythe. Its handle was black and red and the end was shaped into a fine point like a stake. Buffy felt drawn to the scythe like a pulling from inside her. Her feet moved automatically towards it until she stood before it. She put her hand out to touch it then pulled it back.
"Go ahead, child, pull it from the stone you were meant to. It was put there for you and has been waiting all this time."
Buffy grabbed the scythe to pull hard but it smoothly slide from the stone with ease. She looked at the gleaming weapon; it was beautifully made. "What do you mean it was made for me?"
"It has always been feared the balance would be disturbed by man in their ignorance and arrogance. Knowing that if a way could be found to return a warrior who was exceptional that evil would gain a foothold once again. This blade was made to aide in the return of the balance. It has waited for the warrior to arrive and wield it."
"So, it could have been anyone not just a slayer?" Buffy looked at the white haired woman trying to absorb everything that she was telling her.
"It would have to be a Warrior of the Light of great worth to the Powers to tip the balance so greatly child. Do not think so little of your worth and accomplishments. Now I soon must go there is one other thing you should know about the scythe." The Guardian put a cool hand on Buffy's arm as she studied the young warrior before her.
"Wait first can I ask you about my friends. It seems as if the ones who brought me back their lives haven't been well good for them. They all went through hard times two of them have recovered and are doing well but the other two aren't doing so well."
"Were your friends Warriors of Light as well?" the Guardian asked. She was pleased even though time was important this warrior still put others before herself. Yes, with her fighting for the Powers surely the light will continue to shine.
"Well yes, I guess you would call them that. Most of them had helped me fight since I was sixteen. So does that make a difference?"
"Yes child it does. They are being tested by the Powers; it will depend on how they survive the hardships given to them what their fate will become. Whenever a Warrior of the Light falls from the path the Powers provide a test to decide what their final fate will be."
Buffy paled at she thought of the things that were still happening or had happened in Willow and Xander's lives. "You mean they screwed up and now if they don't pull themselves together on their own and fly right they will be punished even more?"
"Their fate will be determined by their transgressions. The Powers are shrewd in determining what fate is appropriate and best fits each crime. Now child please listen to me carefully for the balance will depend on you understanding my words. You will be able to use the scythe but for its true purpose to unfold you must also feel it. When the time is right, you will know what to do. Keep my words close to your heart. Many ears are listening some trustworthy others are not by their faces they seem the same."
"Huh, oh, just don't tell anyone what you said, got it." Buffy looked down at the scythe in her hand. She looked up to thank the Guardian but she was gone.
Chapter 52
"Liz, where are you?" Connor shouted down into the cavern.
She could hear the panic in his voice. Buffy ran back to the opening and looked up. "I'm still here Stephen. I'm okay."
"Where were you?" He sighed with relief to see her face.
"I found Mr. Uberugly but he is history and as a party favor I won this shiny new toy. Cool huh?" She gave him a blindingly beautiful smile; he couldn't stop the immediate smile that spread across his face.
Connor dropped the rope down to her. Buffy stuck the scythe through her sword sheath and climbed up the rope. Connor pulled her the rest of the way out then checked her over for injuries.
She laughed, "I'm fine baby just a scratch on my tummy. It will be okay probably already scabbed over. Good news is Uberugly is gone. I think this is the key thingy everyone is looking for. Let's go show it to Giles." Buffy pulled him along to the Magic Box.
That night everyone showed up at the Magic Box but Angel and Cordelia and of course Xander. "Where are Angel and Cordelia?" Lorne asked.
"Cordy had a bad night and Angel is staying with her," Fred explained.
Giles' eyebrows rose as he looked at Buffy. She just shrugged; she wished Giles hadn't called Angel. Fred and Gunn were a great part of the team but the other two she could do without. "Well let's get started then. Buffy found the Turok-Han and killed it this morning."
"How the hell did you do that?" Kennedy exclaimed in an angry voice.
Buffy looked at the girl closely wondering at the anger in her voice. "Seems Giles was right the only way to get rid of grey, wrinkled and ugly was by beheading it." She watched Kennedy's reaction there was just something off about it, but her senses didn't go off. It was almost like she wasn't there or something. Tara said the same thing when she tried to read her aura.
"What does it matter, she killed it. Now we know for sure how to do so, as well. If there are any others around," Wesley asked.
"I just think it is interesting that we have all been attacked by it but her. Then she comes and says she killed it. Maybe, we were all wrong about the prophecy about who is suppose to lead and who will follow. She is the one that is deceiving everybody. I think everyone was right Faith has changed; she is just as much a slayer as Buffy. Plus, she doesn't run away every time something happens. How many times does this make Buffy, two, three?" Buffy looked at Willow who blushed turning away. "I say we vote who we think is the real leader and who no one trusts. Then we know who we have to worry about sticking a knife in our backs." Kennedy sneered at the oldest slayer as everyone looked on in shock.
"Are we too late to vote?" In the doorway stood Cordelia, Angel and Xander.
"No, I think you have just as much say and know Buffy as well as anyone." Kennedy invited them to join the rest of the group.
The waves coming off the combination of the three made Buffy glad she no longer felt the pain. No wonder Xander hadn't been around, and looking at Angel under her lashes, she noticed he was carrying himself like Angelus. Something was definitely up with him but his soul was bound, so what was going on? Buffy knew this wasn't going to be easy. She held tight to Connor's hand under the table.
"To make this fair no slayers will vote that gives us thirteen. I'll tally the votes." Kennedy pulled out a piece of paper and a pen. "Angel who do you vote for as leader?"
He glared at Buffy, "Faith." She went around the room until Giles and Anya were left. Connor, Wesley, Lorne and Tara had voted for Buffy.
Everyone waited to hear what the couple would do. Giles looked at Buffy closely then said, "Faith." Anya turned her head looking at him. "I vote with Rupert."
"That does it then; see Buffy nobody trusts you not as the leader not as anything. You should leave," Kennedy hissed.
"Enough Kennedy!" Giles exclaimed. "I'm sorry Buffy. It's just I have to support my slayers. You left for no apparent reason and"
"That is okay I understand. My not coming back hurt my relationship with everybody. None of you trust me anymore; so, I will leave." Buffy cried as she stood with everyone who had voted for her by her side.
"Connor, sit down you are my son you will stay here with us," Angel demanded.
"Go to Hell, Angel." Connor led Buffy out of the shop.
Angel stood to go after him but Cordy cooed in his ear. "Sweetie we will get him back later. He will listen better when she isn't around." Pushing him into a chair, she crawled onto his lap and pulled his mouth to hers.
"I say good riddance," Xander shouted.
Giles ignored the comments; he hated what had just happened. Spike who was sitting next to Angel sniffed the air.
"What are doing Billy Idol? Faith come and call off your pet," Cordelia snapped. Spike looked at the two closely, his eyes narrowed as he pushed his chair away.
Faith had ran after Buffy. "B wait, I hoped it wouldn't come to this. I didn't ask for it."
"I know Faith just watch out for them and yourself." Connor hugged her close as they climbed into the car. Buffy curled into him as they headed home.
Chapter 53
Later that night, everyone was sitting in the den as they tried to help Buffy relax. Giles and Anya appeared in a puff of blue smoke.
"Hello Professor Dumbledore," Buffy laughed as she ran to his waiting arms.
Giles picked her up, holding her close. "Don't ever make me do that again." He closed his eyes as he held her then finally put her down.
"Rupert has been upset Buffy. I tried to make him think of it like role-playing. Just like when I'm the naughty nurse and he's the doctor but he just wouldn't." Anya explained as Giles smiled at his lover.
Buffy laughed then hugged the ex-vengeance demon. "Anya, I have missed you so. Your view on things is always so interesting. So Doctor," Buffy wiggled her eyebrows as Giles blushed. "What is the verdict? Might I say really cool entrance."
"Well hum yes about that; we were worried we could be followed so we went from home. I take it Tara has warded the house?"
"Yes, our little Samantha has been twitching her nose like crazy. What a cute little nose it is." Lorne answered for the shy witch.
Tara blushed, "No one can overhear us here or enter without an invitation. The house will treat everything like a vampire."
"How did you come up with that one dear?" Giles asked intrigued.
"Well I kinda um. I asked the house for protection. I found it in some old Irish text about Brownies."
"Tara that is amazing I can't believe we never thought of it before." Giles looked at the powerful witch as if he were seeing her for the first time. "You are Druidic! I thought the bloodlines were gone and their magic lost."
She became still then let out a sigh as she began to speak. "My mother's family have handed down their knowledge in the traditional way. Her line reaches back to the Isles. It was one of her books I looked in. Books are rare most of what I learned was taught memory."
"What is that?" Buffy asked. She knew there was much more to her friend than she showed the world.
"Druids had no written language; they handed down their knowledge by telling it in stories. Children would start from an early age quoting lines in songs until they knew it by heart." Tara's face held a look of remembrance as she thought back to the time when she sang the little songs.
"That is amazing. Do you have any other relatives to share your history with?" Wesley asked.
She looked away, her eyes turned sad. "My father didn't like my mother's family after she died I lost all contact with them. My brother doesn't believe in any of it and refused to learn."
"Maybe when this is all over I could help you find them. I have made some contacts that could help," Wesley offered with a smile.
"I wouldn't want to be a bother." She looked at Wesley and thought he had the kindest blue eyes she had ever seen.
"It would be no trouble at all," Wesley insisted. He thought she was one of the most remarkable women that he had ever met.
Buffy saw the looks between the two and smiled. They would be good for each other. Who knows stranger things have happened on the Hellmouth.
Chapter 54
"What is up with Angel and Xander? I have to tell you I thought my hair was going to stand up when the three of them walked in. We already knew about the Breast Queen but the other two. I knew something was off after the other night with Angel." Her voice trailed off when she realized what she had said.
"What happened the other night?" Giles demanded. Buffy looked away.
"He tried to force himself on her." Connor answered as he pulled her onto his lap.
"I will kill him," Ripper roared.
"Giles, I already kicked his ass. I told him if he ever touched me again he was dust, soul or not." Buffy's voice left no room for further discussion on the matter.
"This place really is hell." Lorne swallowed a large gulp of his martini.
"Welcome to my old life. Everything should be coming to a head soon. Giles, do you or Wesley have any idea on the time? I think I already know the place; it is where I found the scythe. There were two tunnels; so my guess is the one grey and ugly came out of. The end of the tunnel should be where the big throw down happens." Buffy paced around the room then stopped and looked into space.
"Rupert, is she broken or something?"
"No, dearest, she is just thinking." He kissed her head as she cuddled next to him.
Buffy turned to look at her watcher; he could see the bright light shining in her eye. He knew that look she had figured an important piece of the puzzle out, something no one else had seen or thought of. "Now I know why it looked so familiar. Giles can you look up or better yet have Willow look up the tunnels. I think it will lead to where I killed those Raggedy Andy monks before."
Giles had to process what she was saying then nodded. "Buffy, I do believe you are right; that is very sound reasoning. It makes sense, the First must need the power from that particular coordinate. How should we handle this with Faith and Kennedy?"
"Well since Faith is the leader and I'm the deceiver then Kennedy has stayed true. My guess is she will turn on us in the fight but until then she should be okay. It's in her best interest to get us there. The biggest problem will be to keep her away while I fight the First."
"I think it is time I call in some favors and find out more about her. Yours and Tara's instincts are right and she is somehow able to block herself from both of you."
"I'll call as well. There are still some old acquaintances that I am still in good standing with," Wesley offered.
"That is good the more we know about her the better. Any guesses about Angel and Xander? Are we going to have to fight them as well?"
"I don't believe it will go that far, hopefully. But Buffy more is at stake here than them."
"I can do whatever I have to Giles. But, it will just be difficult to take on the three of them plus the First." Buffy looked him in the eye so he wouldn't doubt a word of her commitment to this fight.
The doorbell rang, Buffy went to answer it as Giles and Anya hid. Spike and Faith stood there unsure of their welcome. "Get in here you guys."
They sighed and walked into the house. "We said we had to come and get our stuff. B I don't want it to be like this. We were finally becoming friends again," Faith said sadly.
Giles and Anya walked out. "It is all right Faith we expected Kennedy to pull something. We were prepared but couldn't say anything. Your reaction had to be believable." Buffy looked at Faith. "Can you forgive us for not telling you? It is okay to talk here Tara sound proofed everything."
"Go Glinda. Yeah B I understand had to make it real."
"Got some news for you gits. Oh, don't go upsetting my lady again, or chip or no chip you will regret it. Angel is feeding off the cheerleader." Spike delivered the news with relish at the stupidity of his grandsire.
"What?" Wesley exclaimed then understanding dawned.
"But isn't biting part of sex for vampires?" Connor asked.
Faith blushed looking away as Buffy's eyebrow quirked at her. "Yeah Junior, can be right pleasurable for both parties. But any wanker knows a vampire don't drink demon blood. Peaches is such a git. I think they took his bleeding brain when they gave him a soul."
"Why don't they drink from demons? Plus Cordy is only half." Connor and everyone else was trying to understand the seriousness of what Spike was trying to tell them.
"It makes 'em off their noodle; the demon takes over and they are out of control. Do stupid things even a fledge wouldn't do." As Spike explained, everyone turned to look at Buffy. "What did Capt. Forehead do to you Slayer?" his voice soft.
"He wouldn't believe me when I said I didn't want him so he tried to convince me."
"That motherfucker!" Faith exploded. She was pale but her eyes filled with hate and anger.
Spike pulled her into his arms. "Ssh pet, Peaches will get his, you'll see." Then in a voice, that was barely a whisper. "Tisn't you. You are here with me, safe. I won't ever let anyone hurt you again."
"He got one lesson already from me." Buffy moved forward gently pulling her out of Spike's arms. "We are both okay, little sis. We are in this together, 5x5." Buffy rubbed her back then kissed her forehead.
"How do you do that? What is it with the warm tingles when you kiss me? If we both weren't spoken for B, I think I would change sides so you would do that all the time."
"I don't know what you are talking about, F."
Chapter 55
"Uh, Sugar Plum, when you kissed Faith's forehead what were you thinking?" Lorne looked at Buffy a question clear in his eyes. He already knew the answer but wanted her to better understand what he was about to explain to her.
"Just that I wanted her to feel better and I wished that she believed I loved her." Buffy turned her beautiful eyes up to her friend as she tried to understand what she saw in his.
"Well there you go Twinkie; your wish or feelings were transferred to Faith with your kiss. Just think of them as angel kisses sweet potato." He smiled down at her then pulled her into his arms for a big hug.
"So, every time I kiss someone they feel something? What does it feel like?" Buffy's voice was quiet as she looked out at everyone in the room.
"Not everyone honey bun just when your thoughts and feelings are behind it. So, if say Tara were upset and you hugged her then kissed her cheek. If you wished she felt better she would."
"You mean like a magic smooch all better?" Buffy's nose wrinkled.
"No, just a feeling of peace and warmth goes through your body, Buffy. The first time you kissed my cheek like that it was amazing," Wesley admitted.
"Oh!" Buffy looked at all the people in the room. She had kissed all of them that way.
"It is just your inner self peaking out, Sugar Plum, in the most scrumptious way.'" Lorne toasted her with his Martini glass causing Buffy to laugh.
"Enough with the show and tell." Buffy hugged Lorne then went to sit on Connor's lap.
"Not quite Slayer, seems Spike's ole sniffer was going into overtime tonight. Seems the new slayer's scent is on several people not just Red." Tara gasped. "Sorry Glinda. The whelp and the cheerleader have both taken a ride on the Kennedy Express. Cheerleader's is recent only maybe a day or so but the whelp's his is deep. I would say just as long if not longer than Red. Got to give the chit points for shear stamina." Faith slapped his arm. "Tis true, followed them after the meeting broke up. The whelp has gone dark; seems he is into the slap and tickle, without the tickle. Right mean tosser he is becoming but the chit ate it up, literally."
"But he would never even let me spank him when we were together." Anya pouted crossing her arms across her chest.
"Don't seem like he liked to receive so much as give. Very inventive too didn't know the boy had it in him. But ole Ken is into the giving back to Red everything the whelp has given her. Smelled blood on Red noticed that she was moving a might slower than her usual bouncy self. Now the interesting thing is I smelled cheerleader's blood on Ken but hers was on the cheerleader. She has a right bleeding menagerie of peccadilloes happening." Spike smiled as if he was remembering something then quickly straightened his face when he saw the look he was receiving from Faith.
"All right, so, she has Willow, Xander and Cordelia and by association if not in actuality Angel. What about Fred and Gunn?" Buffy looked at Wesley for an answer.
"They are back together and much too straight shooters for her to mess with. Her moving on them could bring down her house of cards. My guess is she will think they are sheep and will follow Angel and therefore her. She will most likely make a play for Angel and possibly you or Faith or both," Wesley said.
"Our best chance seems to be the sooner we go the better. Giles, we need to have Willow find those tunnels right away. We go in tomorrow night. We will already be in place waiting for you. She will make her move then so Faith maybe you and Spike can just move into an abandoned house to stay under her radar. Meet only at the Magic Box with others around and stay together. Kennedy could decide you would be more vulnerable if Spike were out of the picture."
"We'll call Willow and have her meet us at the shop. Let me use your phone and I will learn what I can about Kennedy." Buffy showed him into a small study then closed the door. Wesley went to call his friends as well. Then she went to help Faith and Spike pack their things and hugged them goodbye.
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