Banner by Selene

Chapter 35

Angel, Buffy, and Spike walked into the dining room carrying several plates of omelets and a bowl of fruit salad amongst them. The research party was grateful for the interruption and quickly turned away from books and scrolls to devour the food giving off such a scrumptious aroma.

Dawn bit into her omelet and sighed. She turned to Angel and said, “I take back that comment about your cooking being like Buffy’s. This is awesome.”

Angel, slightly mollified, gave her a hesitant smile. Dawn returned with one of her own. Spike, not to be outdone by his grandsire, quickly announced, “Try the fruit salad, ‘Bit. I made that.”

Dawn turned to him and rolled her eyes. Not wanting to hurt her pseudo-brother’s feelings, she took a bite of the fruit and announced, “Also, very good!” At his slightly offended look she added, “Actually, the best fruit salad I’ve ever had.”

Buffy, from her position in Spike’s lap, snorted. “Like it’s so hard to make a fruit salad.”

“Bite your tongue, wench. I slaved hard over that salad.” Buffy objected to the “wench” and gave him a good poke in the ribs. “Ow! What the bloody hell was that for?”

“That, was for calling me a wench.” Buffy smiled sweetly up at him.

Angel hated to break the light mood that had settled over the room, but it was time for him to tell the others what he had managed to find out about the portal. “Now that we’re all here, I guess I can tell you what I was able to find out about the portal.”

Those that were eating stopped mid-bite to look at him.

“You all know that the portal is scheduled to open next Thursday. Well, I’ve found out that Buffy, as the guardian will be needed to close it. This time, once and for all. I managed to pry out of one of the seers that ‘The Guardian holds the key.’”

Wesley, Fred, and Giles just looked at one another before announcing simultaneously, “The scythe!”

“It makes perfect sense. After all, that’s what started this whole ‘connection’ thing to begin with,” Giles opined.

“I quite agree,” Wesley added. “Willow can use the scythe as the catalyst that helps to close the portal.”

“Don’t forget about the blood, mate.” This from Spike. They all turned to him questioningly, confused as to how he would know about this.

Buffy answered for him. “It’s always about the blood.” Spike smiled at her, both remembering his words from long ago.

“I think Spike has a point here,” Giles replied. Soon, the four – Giles, Willow, Fred, and Wesley – were deep in conference, discussing various means of enacting the spell.

After a moment, Angel broke into their heated discussion.

“We still need to figure out a plan of attack for next Thursday.” The others stopped their conversation and looked at him. Angel glanced at Spike and Buffy, before turning back to the four huddled on the far side of the table. “I think we need to call Faith.”

Giles started to sputter, shaking his head. “She’s needed on the Cleveland Hellmouth—”

Buffy cut him off, well aware of Angel’s train of thought. “No, Angel’s right. We need her here. She came through before. Besides, if what I’m thinking is similar to Angel, she will give us a good cover.”

“Exactly my thoughts.” Angel went on to explain. “That demon we encountered has no way of knowing his spell was unsuccessful. I say we bring Faith here, leaving Buffy and the other slayers hidden until we get the portal closed, then bring them out as our secret weapon.”

Buffy grumbled at this, hating to wait while the others fought, but realized that Angel was right. Her attacker didn’t know that his plan had failed, but if he saw her, he would instantly know, blowing whatever advantage that they might have.

In the end, everyone agreed with Angel and a call was placed to Faith. It was decided by everyone not to tell Faith about what was going on until she arrived. So when she showed up Thursday, a week before the scheduled portal opening, she was completely shocked to see not only Angel and Buffy, but Giles, Wesley, Fred, and Spike. Spike? When the hell did that happen?

Then her eyes zeroed in on Buffy.

“Damn, B! What the hell have you been up to over here?”

~*~*~*~*~

“Damn, B! What the hell have you been up to over here?”

Buffy opened her mouth to answer, trying desperately to wrap her tongue around the words that would explain her situation. In the end, it was Giles that came to her rescue.

Giles turned to the man standing silently behind Faith.

“Mr. Wood, good to see you’ve sufficiently recovered from your previous injuries.”

“It’s Robin, and thanks. Had some help in that department,” he replied, his arm settling around Faith’s shoulders, giving her a quick squeeze. She rolled her eyes at him at that, but a soft smile played across her lips. After Robin had healed, he’d insisted that Faith and he take things slowly. At first, she tried to seduce him into changing his mind, determined to not let her emotions get involved. But Wood had been adamant, his will in this being much greater than hers. In the end, Faith had allowed him to set the pace and slowly the two of them had built a relationship on trust and honesty.

“Er, Robin, of course. Faith, Robin, why don’t we step into the office so we can explain what’s going on.

“Giles, we may as well go to the living room. There’s more space there anyway. And now’s a good time to let the other slayers in on the plan,” Buffy said.

“Yes, of course. You’re right. The living room, then.” While the others made their way to the living room, Buffy kept walking down the open foyer to the classroom that the girls were currently occupying, Buffy refusing to allow their tutoring to slip. It was the same reason Dawn was currently at school and not at home. Buffy wanted to maintain some type of normalcy with her girls and schooling helped in that endeavor.

~*~*~*~*~

As Buffy sat anxiously waiting behind the cover of the trees, she thought back over the previous week: the explanation to Faith and Wood, of Buffy’s new role as the Guardian slayer, and the events leading up to it; the week-long research marathon that left everyone tired, yet determined; the nightly lovemaking sessions that would have her blushing in memory if she were able. She hadn’t had another “vampire episode” in the past week and Buffy was secretly thankful for it. Giles had said that it would become their top priority once this Draemuir dimension issue was resolved. Buffy still hadn’t heard from Xander and she silently hoped that her friend was alright.

Everyone had decided to remain at Buffy’s place for an impromptu holiday celebration after closing the portal to partake in some American turkey dinner. Well, after some much-needed rest anyway, since it was just after midnight. By the time this confrontation was over, they’d all be ready for some much-needed rest. Buffy pulled her thoughts from the previous week and concentrated on what was happening now.

Buffy, Willow, Dawn, and the other slayers were hiding in the trees as Spike, Angel, Faith, and the others made their way into the clearing to confront the Draelorn demons that were quickly filtering out of the open portal. Willow and Dawn stayed hidden so they could put up a barrier that would make it impossible for anyone to leave. Some of the demons had gotten through the portal, but they weren’t going to be going too far. Buffy and the other slayers stayed hidden – temporarily – for another reason; they wanted to lure the demons out, especially the one that had attacked Buffy. He had no way of knowing that his plan hadn’t worked. So, for now, Buffy and the others waited. Once the portal was closed, all bets were off. Buffy never allowed others to fight her battles and she wasn’t about to start now.

“Have you got the barrier up?” Buffy whispered anxiously to Willow. She blinked in amazement as she noticed Willow’s appearance. She looked like an avenging angel; her hair practically glowed white, yet her eyes were pitch black.

“Uh, Wills, you okay over there?”

“I’m fine, Buffy. Honest,” Willow replied. “I’ve learned to control this a lot better than before. I’ve been busy these last few months.” Buffy didn’t doubt her friend. Willow spoke in a slow, even tone, her youthful appearing belying the maturity of the voice that spoke to her.

“Okay….the barrier?” she once more asked.

“It’s up. Now to work on closing the portal. Angel said that he was told that the ‘Guardian holds the key.’ I’m…we’re… sure that means the scythe. After all, that’s what started this whole thing, right?”

“I guess so. That’s what Giles and the others thought, anyway.”

“Okay, then. Let’s get started. Bring the scythe and place it in the circle. Just make sure you don’t disrupt the protective ring.”

“Right.” Buffy placed the scythe inside the circle; Willow sat Indian-style before it.

“Now nick yourself and sprinkle a little of your blood on the scythe.” Buffy complied, nicking her wrist with her fangs, allowing her blood to drip along the length of the scythe. When Willow nodded, she pulled her hand away and licked her wrist, closing the cut she had made. Willow began chanting then, the foreign words sounding oddly melodic to her ears and Buffy turned to the portal, waiting for it to close so she and the young slayers could join the others in the battle.

Willow’s chanting came to an end, and she opened her eyes, shaking her head to clear the haze.

“Did it work?” Willow asked.

Buffy glanced over at the portal. Demons were steadily streaming out of the opening. If they didn’t get the thing shut soon, they’d be too many for them to handle.

“No, Willow, it didn’t work,” Buffy cried, her anxiety making her voice sound unnecessarily harsh.

“I don’t understand,” Willow whispered to herself. “‘The Guardian has the key.’ Those were the exact words out of Angel’s mouth. This should have been all we needed to do to get the portal closed.”

“Me either, but if we don’t do something soon, there’s gonna be too many demons for us to handle.”

“Uh, guys,” Dawn broke into their conversation. Buffy and Willow turned to Dawn.

“Ummm… maybe…uh,” she broke off, unsure.

Buffy walked over to Dawn, placing one of her hands under her chin to gently force Dawn to look at her. “What is it, Dawnie?”

“It’s just… I mean…I was supposed to be used to open portals. Maybe I need to help close this one?”

“The ‘Key’. Dawnie, that’s brilliant,” Willow cried from her seated position in front of the circle. “Buffy, you and Dawn come over here. You’re both gonna need to cut yourself. Let your blood mix before letting it fall to the scythe.”

Buffy and Dawn quickly walked over to the circle.

“Sorry, Dawnie,” Buffy whispered, moments before her fangs sliced a line across her palm. She quickly did the same to her own hand. Interlacing their fingers together, their blood mixed before slowly falling to the scythe that lay on the ground.

“That should do it, Buffy,” Willow said, before beginning to chant once again.

Buffy pulled their joined hands from over the scythe. She unlinked their fingers, bringing Dawn’s palm to her lips to close the wound before repeating the same action to her own. Buffy reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind Dawn’s ear.

“Okay?” Buffy asked. Dawn just nodded, unable to speak. Her sister’s fangs hadn’t hurt as she’d cut a line across her palm, but when their blood mingled before falling to the scythe, Dawn could feel tingles rushing through her body. Instinctively, Dawn knew that this was what needed to be done, that this time the spell would work.

Sure enough, the girls watched as the portal slowly got smaller, before finally closing. It was time for Buffy and the others to go to work.

~*~*~*~*~

Spike quickly found himself surrounded by Draelorn demons. He held his sword loosely in his hands waiting for the first to strike. After what seemed like hours, but in reality was mere seconds, the first one made his move, swiftly bringing up his sword to strike in a downward arc. Spike was ready for him and quickly blocked the move. His attacker tried to land several more blows that he was able to easily parry before landing his own death blow: as his attacker made his last lunge, he overcompensated his swing leaving his head vulnerable for Spike’s death blow, effectively severing the demon’s head from his shoulder.

Spike had no time to congratulate himself on his kill as his next attacker made his move. As his second attacker charged him, running full force, Spike waited to the last second before ducking, effectively sending his attacker flying over his shoulders and down his back to sprawl on the ground behind him, momentarily dazed. Ignoring him for the moment, Spike concentrated on the next two that appeared ready to engage him. As they both inched forward, Spike swung his sword in a sweeping arc before him, causing both of his would-be attackers back a few paces. This allowed Spike to regroup and prepare to meet their charge.

His attackers thought they would be smart, one circling around to attack his back while the other made his move on his front. The demon in front of him surged forward, attempting to drive his sword down to imbed itself in Spike’s shoulder. Spike managed to deflect the blow, surging in close to his attacker so that their bodies were practically touching. Neither was able to use their sword against each other. Out of the corner of his eye, Spike saw the attacker that had swung around move in for an easy kill. Quickly, Spike pushed away from the attacker that had him pinned, the momentum allowing him to swing his body in a complete circle giving extra force for his sword to strike his attacker’s middle. His attacker got in a lucky block, but Spike quickly attacked again. The downward thrust of his sword tearing into the flesh of his shoulder.

He hadn’t forgotten about the attacker behind him, and as Spike saw him raise his sword, he quickly loosed the sword from the first attackers shoulder to bring it up to deflect the blow by the second. His attacker wasn’t expecting to be blocked and was thrown off balance. This allowed Spike to finish off his first attacker. With a sweeping arc of his sword he decapitated the first and used the momentum of his attack to twist around to face the second attacker. A few quick thrusts and this foe, too, was dispatched. Spike allowed himself a quick glance around the room to see how his teammates were doing, before he was once again sucked into the thick of battle.

Together, the two walked towards the group waiting patiently for them.

~*~*~*~*~

It was a grateful, yet tired group that entered Buffy’s home back in Rome during the predawn hours. Without words to one another, they quickly broke off to get some much-needed sleep. Everyone was exhausted after spending the past week researching or planning the coming confrontation, sleep calling to all to recharge their battle-weary bodies.

~*~*~*~*~

Several hours later, everyone began filtering downstairs. Since Angel turned out to be such a good cook, he was nominated by everyone to cook the turkey. Grumbling about the unfairness of the vote, he volunteered Spike, Wesley, and Robin to help him. The women of the household quickly seconded Angel’s idea, snickering behind their hands at the thought of the men finally being the one to cook the traditional Thanksgiving meal.

The women congregated in the living room, while Angel, Spike, and Robin were busy in the kitchen. Giles, not wanting to be the only male in the living room with a roomful of girls, escaped to the kitchen to join the men.

Willow and Faith quickly caught the others up on what they had been doing since they were all last together. Faith blushed a becoming shade of red when mention was made of her relationship with Robin. The other girls, seeing this, soon began teasing the brunette.

“So, Faith, how’s it feel?”

“Yeah, how’s that ‘wood’?” Buffy added. It finally felt good for Buffy to be on the giving end of the innuendos.

The girls all dissolved into giggles at Buffy’s comment. They laughed even harder when Faith didn’t comment, just blushed even more.

“Why, Faith, is that a blush?” Willow teased. She been on the receiving end of some of Faith’s comments about her sexuality, and payback was finally being had. Although, this time around, there was none of the malice of before. This time, the girls were just gossiping, as women were wont to do.

The ringing of the doorbell interrupted their teasing, and Faith pounced on the opportunity to leave from the room, yelling a quick, “I’ll get it” over her shoulder.

“It’s good that she’s finally happy,” Buffy commented.

“Yeah, Wood seems to agree with her,” Willow replied. She flashed a wide-eyed, innocent blink at the others before dissolving into a fit of giggles again. The others in the room soon joined her.

Buffy stopped abruptly when she noticed the newcomers standing in the entryway. Xander, along with a petite, dark-haired girl, stood hesitantly just inside the living room. Faith had moved behind the two, preventing their escape.

“Xander?” Buffy called softly, coming quickly to her feet.

Apparently, Alaine didn’t like being talked about as if she wasn’t here, if the elbow to Xander’s ribs was any indication. Xander’s breath left him in a rush and he rubbed his stomach to ease the sudden ache. Buffy liked her immediately.

Buffy walked around the couch and stood in front of the girl. She had noticed the scent of werewolf on her, watched as said werewolf sniffed the air and caught her scent.

“Hi, I’m Buffy. Welcome to my home,” Buffy said to the girl, holding out her hand. Alaine gave Buffy a shy smile, reaching out her own hand.

“Alaine.”

“Alaine, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Buffy glanced over at Xander and noticed his relieved expression. As if she would fault him for dating a werewolf. They’d all been down this road before. “Why don’t you come in and have a seat? Would you like something to drink? Xander? A beer?”

Alaine told Buffy that a soda would be fine; Xander concurred with the beer request. She looked up as she walked in the foyer on her way to the kitchen and noticed the guys had all come out of the kitchen and were standing there, watching their new guests. Buffy just shrugged her shoulders.

“Spike, can you get a soda and a beer for me?” Spike nodded and walked back into the kitchen. The others followed Buffy as she turned around and reentered the living room.

“So, Xander, what have you been up to?” Buffy asked. He hadn’t sat down, just stood next to the chair Alaine was sitting in.

“Uh… well… that is…” he trailed off. Buffy watched as Alaine placed her hand on his arm, immediately soothing him. Buffy was impressed. It appeared that Xander had come a long way in dealing with demons and such.

“I toured a bit, finding the occasional new slayer to send on their way to you or Giles. But then, well, I got tired. Decided I’d had enough and was determined to start a new life. A normal life. I met Alaine here, and I thought I had found that. Turns out I just wasn’t meant to have normal. See, Alaine here is a werewolf. And, I love her.” His smile said it all. He did love her, and that love had appeared to take away the cynical edge that seemed to mark her friend since his friend Jesse was killed by a vampire.

“Oh, Xander. That’s wonderful!” Buffy cried. There were well wishes all around the room for the couple. Hugs and kisses were exchanged. It was like the Scooby gang had never been apart.

It was as Xander gave Buffy a huge hug that he blurted out teasingly, “So, Buffy, when did you become a vampire?”

Buffy pulled away and stared at him with her mouth open. “You know?” Xander gave her a knowing look. “Uh, Buffy, have you looked at yourself in the mirror?” Then, he promptly burst out laughing at his own joke. Buffy stared at her friend in shock.

“Okay…who are you? And, what have you done with my friend Xander?”

“Buffy, as long as I spent on the Hellmouth, did you honestly think I wouldn’t notice?”

Buffy let out an unnecessary sigh.

“You’re okay with this?” Buffy asked hesitantly.

“He better be okay or he can just turn around and walk right back out the front door,” Spike said from the entryway. To prove he meant business, he gave Xander an evil glare.

“Pffft,” Xander replied, his arm slung casually around Buffy. Spike quirked his brow at Xander’s response.

“Hi, Spike! Nice to see you among the undead again.”

“Alright, who are you and what have you done to Xander?” Turning to Red, he questioned, “Is this a Xanderbot?”

“Ha ha, deadboy,” Xander replied, although there was none of the malice of before in the name. It almost sounded like grudging affection.

“Watch your mouth, whelp. I don’t have a chip that’ll prevent me from hurting you.”

Spike watched in amazement as Xander just snorted at him. His gaze narrowed as his saw his arm still around his girl.

“And get your hands off my girl!”

“Okay, okay…” Xander replied, raising his arms up in an innocent gesture. “A mite touchy, aren’t we?”

Buffy rolled her eyes and walked over to give Spike a quick kiss. “You’re not burning anything are you?”

“You should be asking Angel that, love. He’s in charge.” The guys took the hint and retreated to the kitchen, Xander included.

The girls got back to their gossip, eager to get Alaine’s story on how she had met Xander. The retelling had all the girls in a dither, their laughter resounding throughout the room.

When they heard Spike shout, “Bloody hell, Xander. You are a demon magnet,” Willow and Buffy lost it. Tears began to stream down their face in their merriment. They were laughing so hard, they didn’t hear Xander reply, “Shut up, fang face.”

~*~*~*~*~

The meal was finally finished and everyone was seated around the dining room table. Mini conversations were being shared as trays were passed around the table. The smells caused several to lick their lips in anticipation.

It was by far the best Thanksgiving Buffy had had since her mother had died. Tears welled in her eyes as she stood up. Everyone stopped speaking to look at her. She looked around the table at her friends and family, a lump forming in her throat. She swallowed subconsciously to regain control of the emotion that threatened to consume her.

“I just wanted to say… Happy Thanksgiving…to all of you. My friends, some new, some not so new. And my family. And to tell you how much you mean to me. How much I love you. All of you.” Her eyes made contact with everyone at the table. “I hope that all of you may one day experience the joy that I’m feeling right now. And, I want to welcome you to the first annual Buffy Thanksgiving. There’s no reason why we can’t get together at least once a year to see how we’re all doing.” Again she looked around the table, noticed that everyone nodded, and smiled back at them. “Good. Now that that’s settled, let’s eat.”

Giles stood up as Buffy resumed her seat. “To friends,” he said raising his glass. Everyone stood up and raised their glasses.

“To friends,” they chorused.

“To family,” Giles added.

“To family,” they all replied. Raising their glasses higher, they all took a drink, sealing the toast that sounded suspiciously like a vow.

The End

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Epilogue