Part Five

Interlude

Buffy thought waking up in a coffin had been bizarre and disorientating however, this had the potential to be almost as peculiar.

She knew for a fact that she was not in Sunnydale. The last thing she had remembered before appearing in these unfamiliar woods was facing the demon Chronozon with Spike. She had been standing in the middle of the cemetery with the vampire when suddenly; she materialized into a strange place with no memory of having been whisked away. Her first thought upon arriving was to investigate and in the course of all that, she had come across a group of men fighting for their lives against a cadre of vampires. Naturally, whenever anything pesky or tedious was going astray with her existence, Spike was almost always in the thick of it. If things were not complicated enough, it appeared that somehow in this mess that she had yet to unravel, was Angelus, the vampire her former lover Angel had been prior to the curse that had seen his soul returned to him.

"Stop hitting me!" Spike barked at her.

"Stop being a pain in the ass!" She returned sharply. When she was confused, she was particularly temperamental. "Tell me what’s happening?"

"If you bloody calmed down, I would Slayer!" He snapped.

"Jesus Christ," Buck Wilmington groaned in exasperation at the display by too seemingly adults. "You two sound like you’re married!"

That silenced both of them immediately.

"Chris you want to handle this?" Buck stared at the gunslinger that appeared in the midst of trying to sneak away without being discovered.

"Not really," Chris sighed, suddenly having this massive headache coming over him. "I was kind of hoping to ride to Purgatory and go on a drinking binge for a couple of days to forget any of this is happening."

"Oh great, so we’re getting the lush to explain things to me?" Buffy stared at the men impatiently.

"Let me get this straight," Chris glared at her and offered Spike a wholly sympathetically look. "This is the girl you’re in love with?"

"What are you the town crier? Do you have to tell everybody?" Buffy threw her hands up in frustration. "What’s next, a full page ad?"

Spike started to swear a litany of curses under his breath and walked away before he said any of them aloud since it would probably get him punched again for it. As he drifted away, Buffy was certain she heard him curse ‘bloody women!’

"This is the Slayer?" Ezra said not at all impressed because the girl for all her physical abilities was rather shrewish, although he had to confess that she did sort of remind him of Maude. That alone was enough to make him want to accompany Chris to Purgatory for that drinking binge. "This is my descendant?"

"What are you talking about?" Buffy groaned. "Are you telling me that this is for real? that I’m in the past?"

"Yes Buffy," Giles stepped out of the darkness, having come to discover the welfare of the others once Vin had taken Tara to safety and stumbled upon the rapidly deteriorating discussion the slayer was having with the seven men. "That’s exactly what’s happened."

An amazing thing happened when the slayer saw the Englishman. Her discontented expression evaporated and her face exploded into a radiant smile that reflected the beauty and the heart that the vampire Spike so obviously loved. Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Giles with nothing less than sheer delight. "Giles? Is that really you?"

"Yes," Giles returned her ecstatic expression with one of gentle caution.

"Oh Giles!" Buffy did not hesitate to run to him, wrapping her around the Watcher in a warm embrace that reeked of joy and gratitude. She hugged him hard, never thinking it could be so good to see her old friend again and in some respects the man who was more her father to her than her real one every tried to be. "I knew you’d come back! I knew you’d come if I was in trouble! I’m so glad to see you!!"

"Buffy," Giles was rather taken back by her display. By definition, Watchers and Slayers were meant to be close but not so close that the girl should be this happy to see him. However, Giles did recall what Spike had told him about his counterpart’s relationship with his slayer, that there was almost paternal affection in how he regarded the Slayer. It was evident in her reaction to his being here that the vampire had not lied about that and their feelings for one another ran very deep.

"Buffy," he pushed her gently away, "I’m not your Giles."

"What?" She stared at him in bewilderment, unable to process it at first. "What do you mean?"

"Perhaps we ought to discuss this in the house," Giles cast his gaze at the other men present. "We certainly don’t want Angelus and his minions to return and catch us unawares."

"Fine by me," Chris replied, "I could use that bottle I’ve got hiding away about now."

********

Spike wondered if he was better off in that world where Master was alive and he was the Big Bad once again. Certainly, it would be more dignified then remaining by the Slayer’s side, accepting the crumbs she threw at him occasionally and breaking his heart every time he gave her the chance. He had been so happy to see her again that he had forgotten how it was with them. That to her, he was merely a convenience, not someone that could ever care about him the way he did her. When she was gone, all he could think about was getting her back and now that she was returned to him, he realized that she was never his to get back in the first place and it hurt remembering that.

"You okay?" Chris asked quietly as Giles explained things to Buffy much to her astonishment.

Spike met the gunslinger’s gaze, somewhat surprised by the inquiry. "Yeah, I’m bloody charming."

"She’s quite something," Chris remarked, glancing at the spirited young woman briefly before turning back to Spike. "I guess things between you aren’t mutual."

"Only when she feels like it," he said bitterly but was not about to elaborate any further. He could have easily told Larabee that he and Buffy had made love, that they had shared a night of searing passion only to have her discard it and him the morning after. She had vowed to kill him if he told anyone, never thinking that the mere suggestion had hurt him as much as the rest of the things she had said to him. "I’m a moron for wanting her, a bloody, lovesick moron."

Chris took a swig out of the bottle he was holding and handed it to the vampire. "I think you could use some of this."

A little smile crossed Spike’s lips at the gesture and he accepted the bottle and took a deep gulp and handed it back to the gunslinger. "Sooner we get back to our time the better. At least things make some crazy sense there. In this time, we’re displaced. I can’t help looking at who I used to be and not feel a little sad that it’s all gone. I envy William a little I guess, he’s got it all too look forward to and I," he paused a moment to collect his thoughts, "I don’t."

There was real pain in his eyes and Chris wished he knew the words that might make it all better but in truth, this vampire had lived a life longer than his ever could and he doubted that there was very much that Spike could not handle, even this. However, there were times when what one needed most above all else including advice or sympathy, was just one person who was willing to listen and understand. When Sarah and Adam had died, Buck had been that person for him. Unfortunately, it would take more than listening for Spike to feel better, it would require the young slayer admitting something she found utterly unimaginable at this time, if she even felt it at all and that she might care for Spike.

"So you’re telling me that Chronozon’s revenge on Spike is erasing me from existence?" Buffy exclaimed with no small measure of dismay.

"If what Spike tells me about him is true, yes." Giles nodded. "In the world I’m from, you were never the Slayer or born for that matter. The slayer that came to Sunnydale was Kendra and Spike killed her. At least the Spike from our world."

Despite how unbelievable it sounded, Buffy believed Giles when he explained the reality of her situation. Had it been anyone else, she would not have accepted it but something inside of her was incapable of distrusting Giles. Even though he was not from the world she knew and had never laid eyes upon her before this night, Buffy still thought of him as her Giles and she could not believe that he would ever lie to her. However, if this was real, if she was indeed in the past, then Buffy was facing an entirely new threat and she was uncertain how to handle it.

"Spike didn’t kill her," Buffy countered once her thoughts returned her to the present conversation. "Drusilla killed her when Angelus tried to awaken Acathala."

"That’s not how we remember it," Giles explained, aware that in her mind many things would be different. A part of Giles had difficulty believing that Angelus would become his trusted friend and protégé but apparently, Buffy’s memories of Angel’s time in Sunnydale were very different indeed.. "A great deal differs from your reckoning and ours. However, we do know that it all stems from Mr. Standish not being killed approximately two nights ago."

"My grandfather’s name was Ezra," Buffy muttered, staring Ezra in the face for the first time since Giles had told her the truth about whom the gambler was. A part of her wanted to rebel at the thought that she was related to this man who sounded like something out of a Gone with the Wind movie but she knew it was the truth. She looked into his eyes and she saw Joyce. It was almost painful to do so because it reminded her that Joyce was gone and she could never look into her eyes again. "He died when I was about ten but it’s supposed to be a family name I think." She offered after a moment, her head spinning a little.

"Well I’m grateful some members of my future progeny had sense in naming their children," Ezra retorted feeling just as uncomfortable by the way she was staring at him and could only express himself with a glib remark.. "Might I ask what sort of a name is Buffy?"

Buffy shot him a venomous look through narrow eyes, "you know I can still break your bones, I don’t have to kill you for that."

"Mind your elders luv," Spike who was still seated next to Chris remarked sarcastically.

Buffy turned on him remembering that he was the cause of all this and was the appropriate person upon whom to vent her anger. "This is entirely your fault! If you didn’t help me, none of this would have happened!"

"Oh bloody hell, not this again," Spike groaned in exasperation and rolled his eyes, wondering what he had been thinking when he had embarked upon this insane quest to save her. It was not as if she would be grateful, just her usual antagonistic self.. "If I hadn’t help you kill him you’d still be wondering whether or not it was right to kill a human and Chronozon would have caused hell on Earth! Did it occur to you that my being able to kill him means he wasn’t bloody human any more! He was a bloody demon! Once again, I show myself to be the biggest traitor in the demon world by killing him and all you can do is bitch about it. Who knew that bastard was going to take it so personally? I thought if he was going to take revenge on me he’d do something less extreme, like killing me! Although biting the big one would sure as hell be better then listening to you bitch like some stupid cow!"

"I’ll have you know that cows do not bitch and you’re not the only one who was wishing he didn’t kill you either!" She shouted back angrily. However, Buffy was unable to deny that perhaps she was feeling a little guilty about taking out her anger on him.

"ALRIGHT KNOCK IT OFF THE BOTH OF YOU!!" Chris Larabee roared in a voice that demanded silence and obedience in immediate proportions because he had just about as much of this bickering as he could take. He had shot people for less in the past.

"That took a lot longer than I thought," Buck remarked with a big grin as he stared at his old friend.

"At least a minute longer than I thought it was," Nathan added with the same flippancy as Chris smouldered.

"I was actually giving him another two minutes," Vin added.

"Boys," Josiah, ever the voice of reason chose to advise. "This might not be the best time for this."

Being on the receiving end of the infamous Larabee glare seemed to indicate that the former preacher might be right and the three men immediately fell silent and allowed their leader to continue his tirade.

Once Chris had ensured no more flippant remarks from his comrades in arms, he turned to the visitors from Sunnydale with an expression that could only be called stormy. Leaning forward, he fixed his steely gaze on both Buffy and Spike. "You, Slayer, calm the hell down and Spike, get back in your corner and stop snaking her."

"Thank you," Giles said gratefully and thinking to himself that Chris could teach Angel a thing or two about presence, "couldn’t have said it better myself."

"Giles!" Buffy pouted feeling a little betrayed by that crack. "You’re supposed to be my Watcher!"

"And I’m being a responsible one by reminding you that at this time, we have bigger problems then whose fault this is. Right now, we have Angelus, Darla, Drusilla and this time period’s version of Spike in Four Corners desiring to get their hands on Mr. Standish because of our determination to keep him alive."

"Got ya," Buffy sighed and had to concede that Giles and the hottie were right. Even Spike seemed to agree and had returned to his corner so to speak, bringing the room to some semblance of order once again. "So we got four of the Big Bads in town?"

"As bad as they can get," JD replied passionately. "The crazy lady one almost took my head off."

"You’re lucky she didn’t take more then that off," Spike added. "Dru can hold her own in a fight."

"And Angelus is leading them I suppose," Buffy mused, venturing a guess. It was hard to equate Angel with the ruthless creature that was now seeking to end her existence without even knowing it. She wondered what he would think if he knew the real importance of Ezra Standish. Would it alter his decision? After all, there were occasions when Buffy had saved his life not to mention given Angelus to emerge when his evil was submerged by the curse and the return of Angel’s soul. Probably not, Buffy decided after awhile. If anything, Angelus would find it highly amusing even if it cost him his existence.

"Yep," Spike nodded watching her closely for her reaction, more than aware of their past history. He told himself to take it easy on her because there was a connection between Buffy and Angel that he could never break, no matter how much he might hate it. It had to hurt her seeing Angelus. "This is his show all the way."

"But he doesn’t know why my great, great grandpa is so important?" She looked at Ezra and still found it difficult to imagine they shared the same genes. The mention of the word grandpa in association to him made the gambler wince with distaste. It was a reaction that made Buffy feel better though because it was nice to know that he was just as freaked out by this as she.

"Not at this time. He only knows that we’re protecting him." Chris answered the girl now that she was asking sensible questions. When she was not being a typically headstrong, pain in the ass woman that is.

"So we’ve got to get them to leave, without killing any of them." Buffy stated again, her scepticism showing in her face.

"Yes," Giles nodded the affirmative. "The timeline must be maintained."

"That’s easier say then done," Spike voiced what everyone was thinking. "He’s gonna be especially interested now that he knows that there’s a slayer here."

"We’ve got to find them first," Buffy announced firmly seeing no other way to proceed but was open to a different plan if either Giles or the handsome man in black had one. "Sure as hell they’ll be making more vamps and coming after him once Angel, I mean Angelus regroups."

"What if I were to leave?" Ezra inquired. He did not much like the idea of leaving his friends but to spare them from the onslaught of more vampires, he was willing to make the sacrifice. "He cannot find me if I choose to disappear. I do know how to make myself scarce."

"No way Ezra," Vin Tanner declared from his corner of the room. "You ain’t facing this thing on your own. Together, we might be able to fight them off. Alone and you’re easy pickings."

"Nicely put Mr. Tanner," Ezra frowned at the tracker for putting it quite so bluntly.

"And he’s right," Buffy agreed. "If Angelus is interested, he’ll track you down. Believe me, I know. Best thing we can do is stay put and fight."

"I...I...don’t think that running would work anyway," Tara declared. Since regaining consciousness, she had been listening quietly to the conversations being carried out by the others. It was her habit in Sunnydale to fade into the background. Those who knew her were aware she would speak when she had something to say. It was nice to know the seven felt the same way about her but then Tara noticed they were an eclectic bunch who were forced to become accustomed to each other’s way in order for their friendship to endure.

"What if you have to meet your wife here?" Tara offered further. "If you leave, you might not meet her and maybe you’ll never have a family."

"She’s right Ezra," Buck agreed with that assessment. He did not know anything about timelines or alternate realities but he did know something about fate and life had taught him that the more you tried to go around it, the more you ended up in the same place anyway. Fate would not be denied. However, it was never wise to flaunt it either. "You need to be here as planned for things to go as they should."

"So we’re back to square one," Buffy responded a little less encouraged. "We have to make them leave without killing them."

"Something like that," Giles frowned, feeling the impasse as much as she.

"In that case I’d suggest that we move my great great grandpa somewhere else," Buffy suggested grinning at Ezra, being able to tell by the scowl on the gambler’s face that he truly hated being called that. Hey who said she couldn’t have a little fun with this?

"Please don’t do that," Ezra grumbled giving her a dark look. "Its hard imagining that I’ll be siring a gaggle of children, let alone a vampire slayer. I’m not even married!"

"Oh come on," Buffy teased. "I haven’t even told you all the great family stories yet! If we were at home, I’d show you me and Dawn’s baby pictures!"

"Dawn?" Ezra raised a brow because that was a name he had not heard.

"Your other, great, great grand daughter." Buffy took great relish in the groan that escaped the gambler at the mention of her little sister. However, she was suddenly struck by the realization that if she did not exist then the monks protecting the key would not have thought to use her to give it human form. Dawn would not exist either. It took whatever amusement she had derived from the moment.

Fortunately, Ezra was spared having to respond to that statement when they heard pounding at the front door of the shack. Their initial reaction was that the vampires had come back but then realized that the creatures were not in the habit of knocking. All eyes turned to Chris since it was his home and the gunslinger whose gun came unsheathed in his hand, walked cautiously to the door to open it. The knocking had a ring of desperation to it and Chris wondered if a more conventional form of trouble had come to Four Corners in the seven’s absence. The rest of the seven were similarly alerted with weapons drawn while Spike wondered what the concern was all about when his heightened senses detected nothing that could be danger on the other side of the door.

When Chris opened the door, he found that it was not a vampire or any denizen from the underworld but rather Mary Travis, who looked rather dishevelled and clearly frightened.

"Oh Chris!" She cried out unbelievably grateful to see that he was alive and well. Without thinking about the propriety of it, the newspaperwoman wrapped her arms around Chris and embraced him hard. "Thank God you’re safe. I’m so sorry, Chris, I had no choice! He was going to kill her! I had to tell him where you were!"

"Mary calm down," Chris felt slightly warm at the feel of her body against his but did not think it was appropriate for in front of so many people, no matter how thrilled she was to see him or how much he enjoyed the sensation.

"What are you talking about?" He asked when he gently parted from her .and looked her in the eye once more.

"One of those visitors we had to town!" Mary stammered. "I don’t know what his name was but you know who I mean. The ones we thought were European aristocrats! He was a vampire! I know it sounds crazy but its true! He was going to tear this poor girl’s throat out in front of me. I had to tell him where you were!"

"Wow, she’s loud," Buffy quipped, stating the obvious.

Chris shot her a scalding glare before turning back to Mary again, realizing what had caused her terrible panic. Chris was horrified by the notion that Angelus has come after Mary. It had never occurred to the gunslinger that she might be in danger but then he supposed he should have known. Mary was a part of their tight knit group, even if she was not apart of the seven. "He came after you? Did he hurt you? Are you okay? What were you thinking coming here at night? He could have still been out there!"

"Now, he’s doing it." Buffy added.

"Will you cut that out!" Chris fairly roared and it was some feat considering he was not a vampire. "I’m sorry Mary," Chris said turning back to Mary, "it never occurred to me that he’d go after you."

"Chris he knew my name and it felt like he knew me personally but I’ve never even spoken to him. He knew me well enough to know that I would not allow him to kill that girl and he’s a vampire Chris, did I mention that? I know it sound insane!" Mary continued to rave, showing no signs of stopping.

"Excuse me," Spike found the need to interrupt irresistible. The woman’s prattling was getting on his nerves and they were getting nowhere with their discussion about how to deal with Angelus. "Did he looked something like this?" Without giving Mary any warning, he morphed into his vampire’s visage.

Mary’s eyes widened at the sight of him before she let out an ear splitting scream of fright.

Then she fainted.

"Mary!" Chris caught her in his arms before she could land on the floor and then glared at the vampire that was chuckling to himself with a devilish smirk even though the rest of the room was enveloped in muted silence.

"Well that was productive," Giles broke the silence by staring reproachfully at the vampire.

"It got her to shut up didn’t it?" Spike reasoned innocently.

**********

Angelus was even more confused then ever when he returned to the Landers farm in order to rejoin the rest of his family. He would collect his minions’ tomorrow night and then decide what he wanted to do. At the moment, however, he was trying to wrap his mind around what had taken place tonight. How on earth had they managed to bring a slayer here? Angelus was aware like most vampires that the slayer was presently residing in Rhodesia. It was one of the reasons the family had opted to stay away from Africa despite William’s insistence to face her. Both Angelus and Darla knew that as exceptional as his potential might be, William was simply not experienced or seasoned enough to face a slayer and the one that Angelus had seen tonight was certainly that and more. The power he sensed emanating from her was proof of that.

For the second time in as many days, he was forced to run and it was not a situation that he was found at all acceptable. He was Angelus. He ran from nothing, not humans or traitorous vampires and certainly not from slayers. However, he had to recognize the danger the slayer presented and this needed discussion with Darla. His mate had been on this earth far longer than he and while she allowed him to be master of their family, there were times when he needed her counsel. Besides, after the failure tonight, he needed badly to be with her. He had told the family to stay put but conceded that even Darla was not required to obey him unconditionally. She needed to feed just like he did.

When he entered the home they had claimed for themselves only two nights ago, he saw Darla coming out of one of the adjoining rooms to greet him.

"Where have you been?" She demanded, her lovely features etched in worry.

"I’ve been dealing with the humans my love," Angelus responded and saw genuine anxiety on her face and knew something was worrying her beyond the fact that he had been gone for a length of time. They were both creatures of the night and while they hunted together on most occasions, it was not unusual for them to be apart. "What’s happened here?" He asked, his hand cupped her cheek and he began to caress her pale skin gently with a finger.

"Its Drusilla," Darla explained as she broke away from his touch and led him towards one of the rooms. "She’s had one of her turns. A pretty violent one in comparison to the usual."

"Is she alright?" Angelus asked, both concerned about his minion as well as curious regarding the vision that would have precipitated such a dramatic seeing. After the way this night has transpired, he was in need of some good news.

"She’s better now but she was in a terrible state a short time ago," Darla responded as they both entered the room being occupied by Drusilla and William. Naturally, Drusilla’s predilection for dolls and little girl’s toys had made her inclined to claim the room that had belonged to the Landers’ youngest child, a golden haired cherub who had not lasted long in Drusilla’s company. "William is with her now."

"How long ago?" Angelus asked because the timing of it seemed extremely coincidental with what he and his minions experienced prior to reaching humans at Larabee’s shack. They had approached on horseback but Angelus has sworn that as they were nearing the parcel of land, the sky was charged with what felt like a thunderstorm. However, upon reaching their destination, all evidence of it had disappeared, not to mention the lack of one drop of rain anywhere. His senses had told him that there was something strange about the phenomenon and considering that his main opponent was another version of one of his minions, Angelus wondered if Drusilla’s episode was not somehow connected with the bizarre things that were taking place right now.

"Not very long. No more than two hours. Why?" She looked at him suspiciously, realizing that it was not merely an idle inquiry but a question with purpose. "What happened with the humans?"

Angelus did not answer her as they entered Drusilla’s room. William looked over his shoulder and immediately rose to his feet. "Where the hell have you been?"

"I don’t recall having to explain myself to you William," Angelus met his blue eyes with sharp points of warning.

As usual, William showed very little effect of being effected by his threat and retreated only because the young vampire did not wish to distress his black princess. Instead, he ran his fingers over Drusilla’s brow, whispering gently into her ear. "There now pet, look whose back." He cast a brief glimpse at Angelus before returning his attention to Drusilla.

"Hello darling," Angelus moved into Drusilla’s view and the young female raised her unearthly eyes to his face, breathing life into her listless expression.

"Daddy’s home," she smiled sweetly, the traces of holy water that had scarred her the night before was gone. "Something tore a hole daddy, a big hole. The noise hurt my head."

"What was it my precious girl?" Angelus smiled at her, drinking in her delight at seeing him. Drusilla had been his masterpiece and he treated her that way. She had been the culmination of his obsession, a piece of art that he had painstakingly cultivated until all that was pure in what she had once been was stripped down to its bare bones and encased in darkness. He liked to think that she was the caterpillar that had been turned into the butterfly thanks to his hand in her metamorphosis. "Tell daddy what made your head hurt."

Drusilla blinked, taking on that expression she sometimes did when she saw things that were more than just the reality before her. Her eyes could pierce through the seemingly impregnable walls, to catch a glimpse of shadowy reflections of an entirely different order. "She’s here daddy, the one of power, the ones that comes to destroy us all. She’ll tear the family apart."

"Who is she talking about?" Darla demanded, anxious of anything that might ruin what the four of them had. As vampire clans go, there were strong and they were all direct sires of the Master himself, the clan of Aurelius. Darla had been the Master’s sire and in turn she had helped in the creation of the most brutal trio of vampires that had ever walked across the earth.

"The slayer," Drusilla whispered, not really listening.

"The slayer is here." William’s eyes widened with excitement. "Are you sure pet?"

William had been wanting to meet a slayer since Angelus had told the young vampire about the chosen ones, the line of females that were capable of defeating them, who was the only creature alive that could hunt a vampire. The prospect of one being here sent shivers of anticipation through him. Suddenly, the entire situation in Four Corners seemed unimportant next to the possibility that he could face a slayer at long last. Angelus had denied him the chance by avoiding Africa where the slayer was supposed to have been. William did not wish to question what forces had brought her here, not when it would allow him to have his first kill of a slayer.

"Yes," she looked at him strangely and for a moment William saw what appeared to be tears in her eyes as she reached for his cheek. "Oh Spike, she’s going to take you and daddy away. She’s going to leave me all alone."

"That will never happen," Angelus smiled reassuringly at her.

However, Drusilla would not be consoled and she turned away, tears running down her face. "I see it all coming apart daddy, like cobwebs in my head. She’s a spider and she’s eating us all. She’ll take you first daddy and then mummy and when she’s had her fill she’ll take you too my darling Spike, she’ll leave me alone."

"I’ve never seen her like this," William stared at Angelus, sensing the fear from his lover even if he did not understand it. She was terrified. He could feel it oozing out of her like blood. "She’s bloody terrified." William stared at Angelus, hoping he had an answer because he had known Drusilla longer. It was the one time when William wanted Angelus to do something because he could not bear seeing his lover in such a state.

"Dru," Angelus said soothingly. "No one’s leaving you. We’re all here and we’re sure as hell though enough to face anything that might come after us. You’ll never be alone, you’ll always have us. We’re family aren’t we?"

Drusilla did not seem any more at ease because she looked him dead in the eyes and answered. "No you won’t. You won’t be daddy anymore, you’ll be Angel."

***********

Darla followed Angelus out of the room a short time later, sensing something from her chosen mate that disturbed her even more than Drusilla’s visions. When Darla had made Angelus almost a hundred years before, she had only wished to take a mate because at the time, the young man she had encountered in that alley with his dark, brooding good looks and the devil’s own charm, had interested her. She thought to enjoy him for a time but had never imagined that he would become her equal. Within him was darkness waiting exploitation and the demon she unleashed in him revelled in every brutal and sadistic pleasure, teaching her things that even she had not dreamed in her already jaded non-existence. Within a year of taking him as her own, he had made her his and she knew every aspect of him, loved him for his complexity, for making vampires not merely feeders of blood but something to be whispered about by other demons in horrified awe.

That is why she had followed him when he left the room because she knew he was shaken. He had hidden it well of course, Darla was certain that neither William nor Drusilla suspected how shaken he was but she could tell. They had spent a hundred years together, she knew him inside out and she could tell that something Drusilla said had unsettled him greatly. He had walked out of the room, oblivious to the fact that she was behind him, expecting an answer. Darla closed the door behind her for good measure, wishing privacy because she did not want an audience when she confronted him. It would give William to much pleasure to see Angelus upset.

"Angelus, what troubles you?" She asked.

"Nothing," he muttered uncomfortably.

"You cannot hide from me," she said gently and slid her arms around his waist, binding her to him so he could not run but could take some comfort in her touch. "Tell me what is wrong."

"There is a slayer," he answered after a long pause. "I saw her tonight. She was there when I went to get Standish. She killed most of the minions I sired last night."

"Is she the one from Rhodesia?" Darla inquired, surprised by the fact that the slayer whom by all reports was in Africa had somehow miraculously appeared in Four Corners, in the heart of the New Mexican territory.

"I don’t think so," he responded. "She didn’t look African and her clothes were strange. She wasn’t dressed like anyone I’ve ever seen."

"There cannot be two slayers," Darla stated.

"She was a slayer," Angelus insisted. "I felt her power. She was fought well and…." His voice drifted off, almost as if he could not bring himself to say what came next.

"What is my darling boy?" She coaxed gently, sensing his worry growing deeper.

"She knew me," he finally answered. "She looked at me and she knew me."

"I don’t understand," Darla’s brow furrowed. "How could that be? Have you ever met her?"

She was certain he could not have. They had seldom been apart in almost 100 hundred years. If he had encountered a slayer, he would have told her. There were no secrets between them.

"I’ve never met her," Angelus responded, putting to rest her thoughts on that.

"Then how is it possible?" She mused.

"I don’t know," Angelus pulled away from her so that he could turn around. "She knew me and she called me Angel."

Darla stared at him, understanding why he was fearful. If Drusilla was right about that, was she right about everything else? It was clear Angelus feared she might be and if he had reason to worry, then Darla knew something had to be done. For now however, she needed to reassure him.

"Nothing is going to happen to us my darling boy," she smiled as she leaned forward and kissed him passionately. "I won’t allow it. Tomorrow night, we will gather our forces and we will go pay these humans a little visit. We’ll finish them once and for all."

"I like the way you think," Angelus smiled at her, drawing strength from her determination. There was very little that Darla did not accomplish when she set her mind to it. "However, I think we need to take more direct means of finding out what is going on. Care to take a little trip with me tonight?"

"I think I can accommodate you," Darla smiled. "What do you have in mind?"

"I plan to find someone who can answer these questions for me," Angelus responded. "One way or another."

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

"This is all so incredible," Mary Travis mused as she took a sip of the cup of tea in her hands. "I mean I saw it for myself but I can’t believe it."

After Spike’s surprise disclosure, Mary had been revived enough for complete explanations to be made and while the lady had difficulty grasping all of it, the evidence of her eyes convinced her that everything said was the truth, no matter how incredible. Although they did not anticipate trouble this evening, Chris was reluctant for any of them to travel under the cover of darkness and though it was going to be cramped in his small shack, it was agreed that everyone should stay put for the rest of the evening. Since the seven were accustomed to being on the trail, their bedrolls were permanent fixtures on their saddles and the group prepared to bunk down for the night with the ladies taking up the small bedroom.

"Well, it probably would have helped if you Master of Tact over here hadn’t scared you half to death with his game face. " Buffy found herself needing to apologize for Spike and then came to the horrific realization that it was a very girlfriend thing to be doing for the vampire. She narrowed her eyes and shot Spike a venomous glare for placing her in such a position in the first place. Spike caught her expression and furrowed his brow in confusion wondering what had he done now that she was pointing daggers at him.

"It helped didn’t it?" He asked innocently.

"Next time, let me do the explaining," Giles responded, giving Spike a look that bordered on parental disapproval. "I’m more likely to be able to manage without incurring fainting spells."

"Sorry, I forgot what women were like in this day and age," Spike grumbled. "Always fainting or getting the vapours. Got too used to the bra burning types. It’s all petticoats and a complete lack of backbone now isn’t it? Letting the men do all the work, while you sit around at home being pretty."

"Oh boy," Buck winced, wondering if the vampire knew what he had gotten into. "You done it now boy. I’m going to get my stuff, anyone coming with me?"

At least four hands shot up and within seconds, half the seven’s compliment seemed to suddenly come to the conclusion that it was best to make themselves scarce, pre-empting the tirade they knew was going to come from Mary.

"Done what?" Spike stared at him and noted that remaining men were directing him a look of sympathy, even as they were retreating to minimum safe distance. Even Chris Larabee was somewhat anxious and Spike wondered why they were suddenly so nervous.

"Being pretty?" Mary stood up straight and declared hotly. "I’ll have you know that I do not faint regularly Mr. Spike! However, I do think that on this occasion, being confronted so starkly with your demon presence took me by surprise and I was allowed my discretion. I see chauvinism is alive and well in the demon world not to mention the future. I had hoped that blight would be eradicated in a hundred years but I suppose only the times change, men remain the same! Chauvinistic and ill tempered, not to mention misinformed! I do not sit around and let a man do anything for me Mr. Spike! I run my own newspaper and have been doing so quite well since my husband passed on. Most women are in the situation we are because stupid, arrogant men who seem to think that they are the only creatures on God’s green earth with a brain run the world will not allow us to be anything else! Heaven forbid if a woman showed the slightest bit of intelligence!"

"You tell him sister," Buffy grinned, deciding there and then she liked Mrs. Travis quite a bit. She must have been the Gloria Steinham of her time.

"And you Chris!" Mary glared at the gunslinger in her tirade, allowing no one to escape unscathed.

"What did I do?" He cried helplessly and then shot a look at Spike, telling the vampire he would pay for this later on.

"You could have told me that there were vampires roaming about town!" Mary said angrily, wishing she had a bit of warning instead of being taken by surprise as she had and fainting like some weak female.

"I didn’t want to scare you!" He replied automatically and decided that was probably the worst thing he could have said.

"Oh so you just let this creature appear at my door, rather than warning me? What if I had invited him in? Did you ever think about that?" Mary stared at him.

"Well, no…" Chris stammered to explain and then gave up all together. "I thought it was best not trouble you."

"I am not some delicate flower that needs protecting Mr. Larabee! I thought I had proven myself to you on numerous occasions that I am capable of taking care of myself!"

"Sure you are," Chris snorted, feeling his own anger get the better of him. "That’s why I’m always hauling your ass out of trouble. Face it Mrs. Travis you get into more hot water than any woman alive!"

"My ass," Mary hissed, "is none of your concern!"

"Don’t flatter yourself," Chris snapped. "If it was ass that I was after, I can find plenty to accommodate me that wouldn’t give me half as much lip as you do!"

"You pig!" Mary cried out in outrage.

"They always like this?" Spike asked Ezra Standish as they continued to watch the unfolding melee with fascination..

"Oh yes," Ezra grinned as he watched Chris being torn to strips by the lovely blond newspaperwoman. It was always gratifying to see someone as self-assured as Chris Larabee off balanced by Mary Travis. Their arguments were the stuff of legend even though to anyone who saw them together, the reason for such heated emotions was clear enough. "This is one of their more restrained jousts."

"She is so into him," Tara stated quietly.

"Nah," Buffy shook her head. "He’s into her."

"She’s seems a rather spirited woman for her time," Giles agreed, feeling a sliver of pain inside him which he hid from everyone because she reminded him a great deal of Jenny Calendar, a woman he had loved deeply once and had lost to the Master. Jenny had been a techno pagan and had been instrumental in introducing the librarian to the world of computers when she had begun teaching at Sunnydale High. Jenny was one of the first lives the Master had taken upon his emergence from exile and ever since then Giles had avenged her with each vampire he killed.

"Mary’s a tough lady," Vin Tanner agreed. "Ain’t many women who goes through what she does in the Territory, running a newspaper, raising a son and all."

"Well someone ought to separate them before blood gets drawn," Giles commented.

"Oh they’ll be fine," Spike shrugged and then a thought filled his head which brought a smile to his face which he just had to share with Buffy. "Sometimes all it takes for two people to get going is just a little bit of violence to kick start things."

His response earned him a sharp nudge in the ribs to which he chuckled deviously to himself, enjoying the private joke immensely, much to the slayer’s chagrin.

"That’s not very romantic," Tara looked at him with her nose wrinkled in disapproval and wondered if this was vampire humour or was he really serious. Did people have relationships that started this way? Still Chris and Mary were fun to watch. "I think they’re kind of cute actually." She took up her observation of the feuding couple once more.

"Cute?" Vin looked at her with a smile and then glanced at Ezra with mischief.

"Mr. Larabee will be thrilled with that description," Ezra remarked and was almost tempted to tell him if he knew that it would probably get him shot, especially after how the gunslinger’s mood would probably be when he and Mary were done arguing.

"I dare you to tell him," Vin challenged.

"If I am going to gamble with my life, I would prefer a less dangerous outcome if I were to lose," the gambler said good-naturedly.

"Now there’s an idea," Spike looked at Ezra with interest. "Fancy a game of poker?"

Ezra raised a brow. The last time he had engaged in a game of poker he had almost been killed for his trouble. "That depends."

"On what?" Spike asked.

"On whether or not you will attempt to tear out my throat if I lose," Ezra retorted.

"Spike cheats at kitten poker!" Buffy blurted smugly and drew a look from her sometime lover.

"Quiet you," he growled, not wishing to explain that to this crowd. "That was playing with demons, this is for real."

"I’m not even going to ask what she means by that," Giles retorted, deciding a little bit of diversion was not a bad idea. Lord knows their attention was already focus on demons and vampires overlords ruling the future and as entertaining as Chris and Mary were, the duo would soon tire or kill each other, which ever came first. "However, if you’re talking about a straight game of poker, you can count me in."

"Me too," Vin added. "Someone’s got to keep you guys honest."

"I resent the implication Mr. Tanner," Ezra stared at him. "I never cheat when it comes to poker."

"Yeah right," Vin remarked in a tone that was completely sceptical of that claim.

"Hey Tara," Buffy motioned the shy young witch to her. Even though it was explained to Buffy that this was not the Tara that she knew, Buffy could not help feeling the same way towards Tara that she felt for Giles. To her, they were still the people she cared about, even if they were from different dimensions.

"Have you noticed how these guys didn’t even ask us if we wanted to play?" Buffy whispered quietly in her ear.

"I did kind of," Tara nodded and noted that the men had gathered around the table with Ezra producing a pack of cards. Mary had walked into Chris’ bedroom and slammed the door on the gunslinger, deciding to turn in for the night rather than continue arguing. Chris in turn had left the shack, opting to seek out the rest of his companions who had decided to take an extra long time in retrieving their bedrolls rather than get caught into the duo’s cross fire.

"We ought to teach them a lesson," Buffy gave Tara a look, her brow raising just a notch in a proposal of mischief.

Tara’s smiled spread across her lips and she found herself asking, "what did you have in mind?"

**********

"Can I play?" Buffy asked about an hour after the men were into the game.

"Can you play pet?" Spike looked over his shoulder at her, somewhat surprised that she wanted in. After all she had never professed any ability to play cards. In fact the last time he had actually been at a poker game, Buffy had not shown the slightest bit of interest.

"Sure I can," Buffy replied confidently. "I played in college."

"You played poker in college?" Nathan exclaimed. "In school?"

"What else are a bunch of college girls going to do at night in a dorm after curfew?" Buffy answered. "Its either poker or all night eating binges where we talk about boys and sex."

Vin and Ezra started choking on their spit and Buffy realized that was probably more than they needed to know. "Sorry," she apologized.

"I suppose sleep is out of the question?" Giles retorted feeling just as uncomfortable about Buffy’s last statement as his old west comrades, but not as obvious in his reaction.

"Giles, you really need to get a life," Buffy pointed out. "Okay deal me in."

"I am certain a descendant of mine will have the skills necessary to acquit herself in this game. After all, gender has never stopped my dear mother from playing with expertise." Ezra recovered enough to say.

"Ezra," Vin stared at him. "Your mother plays better than you."

"Really?" Buffy asked, thinking it kind of cool that her great, great, great grandmother was such a skilful cardsharp.

"I will die before I admit that," Ezra retorted with a completely straight face.

Buck, JD and Josiah were outside taking watch, choosing not to be unprepared if Angelus should choose to come back for a second round tonight. Chris had decided that it was best if they stayed put at least until the morning before they headed back to town. At least in daylight, they could be assured of making that journey safely, especially now that Mary was counted among their number. The lady herself had chosen to retire following her argument with Chris and had promptly taken residence within the small room, which served as his bedroom. The gunslinger himself had opted to stay out of the game. Chris chose to spend the rest of the night staring out the window, claiming that he was keeping watch even though most could tell that his quarrel with the lovely newspaperwoman had upset him more than he liked to admit.

Buffy had not lied when she said she knew how to play poker. In the days before she had started dating Riley at college and when Willow was out with Oz, she had plenty of time to spend by herself in her dorm and had joined a few of the after hours activities undertaken by those who had nothing better to do. Poker had been one of these. Of course, that brief flirtation with the pastime did not mean her skill was anywhere matching that being shown at the table. Although Ezra was the professional card player at the table, Vin and Nathan appeared to be pretty good. Giles managed to hold his own but it was clear that the real challenge lay between Ezra and Spike. She could not tell this time whether or not the vampire was cheating when he had been playing for kittens but he seemed to very good at it.

However, it soon appeared that luck was tilting in her favour as the right cards seemed to come to her with every hand. Sooner than anyone would have liked, Nathan, Giles and Vin had been played out of the game and it was left to Buffy, Spike and Ezra. It pleased Buffy to no end to see the expression of astonishment on Spike’s face at her skill and it was nice to know that occasionally, she could surprise him. In a non-sexual way that is.

"Life must have been pretty boring before Captain Cardboard," Spike commented. "You must have been playing a lot of bloody games."

"I can’t help it," Buffy smirked at him, not at all upset by his less than flattering reference to Riley because there was more to her skill then he knew. "It’s in the genes."

"To that I have to say its true," Ezra responded. "She does have the Standish touch."

"You mean the ability to hide aces up your sleeve?" Nathan quipped with a little smile as they continued to watch.

"I take umbrage at that remark Sir," Ezra declared hotly. "My skill is in the hands. Besides anyone with expertise would never be fool enough to use an ace, its too easy to remember. One picks a card that does not stand out in memory."

"Oh my god," Buffy stared at him. "I really do come from a long line of cheaters’

"That is a harsh word my dear," Ezra said smoothly. "I believe illusionist is a better word."

"Houdini was an illusionist," Buffy retorted not at all fooled by the colourful terminology. "Hiding cards in one sleeves is cheating."

"She’s got you there Ez," Nathan grinned. "Nice to know that one of the Standish’ is gonna learn that. Makes me know that my hard work trying to teach Ezra some scruples isn’t going to waste."

"And I thought slaying was hard," Buffy teased.

"You know, you’re supposed to be on my side, being family and all?" Ezra reminded her.

"I could bite her for you if you like," Spike offered Ezra sweetly.

"You could try," Buffy glared at him. "And when you’re done trying, I’d stake you."

"Where did you learn to fight like that?" Vin asked interrupting the two of them before they were treated to the Sunnydale version of Chris and Mary.

"Reform school," Spike retorted and earned a jab in the shoulder for his trouble.

"Giles trained me," Buffy answered after a second of staring hatefully at Spike.

"You taught her to fight like that?" Chris exclaimed, somewhat surprised that the gentle librarian had the skill to teach the girl to kill vampires and to defend herself in general with such polished savagery. The rest of the seven present shared his astonishment as their eyes turned to the Watcher.

"Well not this Giles," Buffy quickly clarified for their understanding. "My Giles, the one I remember." She met Giles’ gaze, wishing he was her Giles, the man who had been there for her during the hardest events in her life, who always ensured that no matter how many times she fell, he would be there to pick her up and set on her feet again. He was also the one who had left her because he loved her enough to let her go because she needed that nudge to stand up for herself to reclaim her life and her existence. As much as Buffy hated him for that, she also loved him for it. "It was his job."

"I must say he did exceptionally well," Giles swallowed wishing that he had known what it was like to be her Watcher because the affection in her eyes touched him deeply. A Watcher’s allegiance was to the Council first, the slayer second. It was clear that her Giles had crossed the emotional barriers that were supposed to keep the Watchers neutral. Buffy had loved his alternate self like a father and he could not help being moved by that affection as well as feeling a little envious. He had always hoped to be Watcher to a slayer but that was not meant to be. He had not regretted it until now.

"Yeah," Buffy nodded with a bittersweet smile. "You could say that."

"Well young lady," Ezra stared pointedly at her direction returning her thoughts to the game she was playing. "What do you bet?"

Buffy allowed a smug smile to steal across her features before shifting her rather sizeable win into the centre of the table, making the pot already there look even more tempting. "Everything," she said confidently.

"Everything?" Her opponents voiced their surprise quite vocally.

"If I were you guys, I’d start to worry," Chris remarked with an amused smile, speaking for the first time in a while.

"She’s bluffing." Spike stated.

"What makes you say that?" Vin asked, not believing him for a second. The slayer looked all too satisfied to be playing a bluff.

"Because you don’t spend as much time wanting to kill a person without learning something about her," the vampire retorted but he did not seem nearly as certain as Buffy did about her hand.

"I must concur with my demonic opponent on this," Ezra added his voice into the mix, studying the young woman closely and was sure that this was a bluff. He had paid attention to where the cards had gone and noble types like her were too pure to cheat, even if she had Standish in her bloodline. "I believe the lady is bluffing, in which case I match your bet and call."

"Spike?" Buffy turned to her lover. "If you wanna see my cards, you’re going to have to pay."

"I still say you’re bluffing luv," Spike declared and took up her challenge by matching her stake in the center of the table.

"Buffy perhaps it was unwise to take such an exorbitant gamble," Giles found it necessary to remark, although he supposed that would have been a better warning if he had made it before the other two opponents had called her bluff.

"Trust me Giles," she gave the Watcher a confident grin, unable to help feeling the same towards him as she would with her Giles, especially when he wore the same comfortable manner.

"Alright then my dear," Ezra stared at her in expectation. "It is time to see if you have inherited the Standish touch. Let’s see your cards."

Buffy took a deep breath and presented her cards to her opponents, relishing their exclamations of shock when they saw what she had been holding in her hand.

"I don’t believe it," Nathan cried out. "A royal flush!"

"But…but…that’s impossible!" Ezra stammered as he stared in shock at the perfectly sequenced collection of spades, starting from the ace and finally reaching its customary end at the ten. "I was certain I saw those cards before."

"Don’t be a sore loser Ez," Vin drawled.

Spike however, did not say anything for a few seconds. Instead he looked around the room and noted that Tara was seated by herself in a corner, appearing to read but somehow her concentration as elsewhere. He watched her for a few seconds as Ezra tried to comprehend how Buffy could have won with the cards she had and noticed that Tara took an inordinately long time to turn the page she was reading. Suddenly, it came to him what tricks the slayer was up to. He was almost tempted to expose her but the argument she was presently having with her gambling ancestor was just too fun to watch.

"Are you accusing me of cheating?" Buffy’s voice sliced through his consciousness.

"If I did not think you incapable of it, I would say yes," Ezra responded haughtily. He had watched the game closely, there was no way she could have cheated without his knowing it. Ezra prided himself in knowing every trick to the game. There were people he could tell were cheating just by the look on their faces.

"Jesus, Ezra," Chris found himself saying. "Take it like a man."

"But…but…there is just no conceivable way she could have done it!" Ezra cried out in exasperation and looked to Spike. "Do you not find it peculiar?"

"Sure I do mate," Spike chuckled. "But then I’m used to dealing with Slayers and their magician friends."

"Hey I resent that!" Buffy said defensively but not before a smile of pure mischief crossed her face. "Tara likes to be called a witch not a magician."

"Thank you," Tara chuckled from where she was, enjoying her part in this little mischief. She did not get to do it often enough.

"You cheated using magic?" Ezra stared at her in accusation, not knowing whether or not he should be angry or proud.

"How else was I gonna teach you guys a lesson for not inviting me?" Buffy winked as the room started to rumble with laughter.

Unfortunately, whatever amusement to be had in Buffy and Tara’s little bout of trickery was soon forgotten when JD burst into the room, awkwardly supporting Buck on his considerably smaller frame. The big man was bleeding from the neck from what appeared to be a bite wound. Buck, JD and Josiah had been keeping guard outside, even though Chris had not thought that the vampires would be back tonight. However, it had seemed prudent to take the precaution. Now, it appeared that once again, he had underestimated Angelus’ determination to discover the truth.

"Where’s Josiah?" Chris demanded when he realized the preacher was not with them.

Buck seemed too dazed to answer but JD’s expression was grim and without even speaking, they knew what his answer would be.

Josiah was with Angelus.

TO BE CONTINUED