[Reviews - 200]
-
Table of Contents [Report This]
Microsoft Word Chapter or Story | ePub eBook Chapter or Story | Printer Chapter or Story

Has been viewed 43699 times

- Text Size +




Author's Chapter Notes:
Someone asked about this story being finished. I have the story outlined to Season 7, but I will probably make each season into its own 'book'
Willow crept out of bed and opened the trunk at the foot of it. She pulled out some spell components. She quickly looked over at her sleeping roommate, who snorted in her sleep but didn't wake up. Willow carefully closed the trunk lid, and she attempted to make as little noise as possible. Then, she snuck into the bathroom. Willow silently closed the door behind her.

Willow sat in the middle of a circle of red candles that she lit with a plastic cigarette lighter. She surrounded herself with incense, a goblet, a bowl in the center of a pentagram and a tray of different herbs.

"Harken all ye elements, I summon thee now," Willow chanted. She dropped a pinch of herbs into the bowl in front of her. "Control the outside, and control within; land and sea, fire and wind. Out of my passions, may a web be spun. From this eve forth, my will be done. So mote it be."

Willow poured the liquid from the goblet into the bowl. A flicker of electricity connected her to the candles, and all the flames flared up signifying that the spell was successful.

BUZZZZZZZZZ

Willow sat straight up in bed. Whoa, that was a strange dream, she thought. She stretched out her arms above her head. Willow glanced at the clock, and she realized she needed to get moving to be on time to meet the gang for breakfast at Giles's apartment.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Willow stepped into the courtyard outside Giles's apartment where she found Spike and Buffy both standing there in the early morning sunlight. She studied the pair unobserved. Willow was glad to see that they hadn't been overly affected by Angel, and his visit right around Thanksgiving, hadn't overly affected them.

Smoke swirled around Spike's head as he spoke quietly, "I swear we better have someplace to move that ditzy bint by the end of the week, or they are going to kill each other."

"I thought you put a down payment on that other mansion by Angel's," Buffy replied. She leaned into her vampire mate, and she smiled brightly up at him.

"I did. It was for sale when we moved there after your Watcher torched the factory, but just as soon as I wanted the bloody thing someone else placed a bid on it, too," Spike growled. He dropped the cigarette and ground it out with the heel of his boot. Then, Spike put his arms around Buffy.

Now that the blonde couple stopped speaking, Willow heard the vampiress screeching her displeasure to Giles. Giles, in turn, had no qualms about voicing his returned ire.

"I don't like pig's blood. I told you to buy me that special otter's blood. I can at least stomach that," Harmony's whiny voice floated over the courtyard to the eavesdroppers.

"Well, beggars can't be choosers," Giles replied loudly. The eavesdroppers heard the ire in the Watcher's voice.

"What does that mean exactly?" Harmony asked in a confused voice.

"Yeah, they're beginning to sound like they should get married or something. Although that picture ... ewwww," Willow said. She scrunched up her nose at the thought.

Spike and Buffy jumped a little. They had been so engrossed in the argument inside they hadn't heard Willow's approach. They both gave slight waves to the redhead.

"Hey, Will," Buffy greeted her friend. "I guess we better get inside, huh?"

The three nodded slightly in agreement and moved forward as one. Spike opened the apartment door, and he motioned the two girls inside. He closed the door behind him. Spike immediately bumped into the backs of the Slayer and the Wicca. Spike was about to ask why they had stopped when he noticed exactly what was happening.

"It's just so sudden I don't know what to say," Harmony whispered to the man kneeling in front of her. Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears.

"Just say yes, and make me the happiest man on earth," Giles pleaded. He grabbed Harmony's hand in both of his.

"Oh, Rupie Pooh! Of course it's yes!" Harmony gushed. She flung herself into Giles's arms, and they started to kiss in earnest. The duo appeared to be in a world of their own. They didn't even realize they had an audience.

"Consider my mind boggled," Willow whispered. She scooted past the still embracing Watcher and vampiress to sit down at the table.

"Um, Giles?" Buffy attempted to get the attention of her Watcher to no avail. After a few moments, she shrugged. "Xander and Anya should be here in a few minutes, and we can start eating. Looks yummy, Giles."

The table was already set with white plates and silverware on top of rust colored placemats. There were covered plates and bowls that sat around the centerpiece. Willow had already lifted the lids to check what was on the menu. She licked her lips several times, and she looked like she wasn't planning on waiting for the missing members of the gang.

"Where's Reg?" Buffy asked. She and Spike skirted the still smooching couple. They both wondered how much longer before Giles was going to need to take a breath.

"He's having breakfast with your mum," Spike answered. He pulled a chair out for Buffy, and then he settled himself in the one next to her.

"Holy moley! What the heck is going on here?" Xander's surprised voice heralded his and his girlfriend's entrance. The couple stood in the doorway. Their mouths were agape as they stared at the mindboggling sight in front of them.

"Not entirely sure, Harris." Spike was first to speak up. "Bring those doughnuts over here. I sure hope you got the jelly filled. Strawberry's my favorite," Spike waggled his eyebrows at his now blushing mate, who gently whacked him on the arm.

"Oh guys. You'll never believe what's happened. Rupie Pooh and I are engaged to be married." Harmony gushed when she and Giles finally broke apart. She rushed around showing off a thick silver signet ring to the other girls in the room, who all politely told her it was quite beautiful.

"Sit down." Giles motioned Xander and Anya towards the table, and then he turned to Harmony. "Oh darling, I'm sorry I only have pig's blood for you. I'll go out to get that special otter's blood later."

"Oh thank you, Rupie Pooh," Harmony said. She didn't notice how the others cringed at her nickname for the Watcher.

Giles hurried into the kitchen, and in several minutes the ding of the microwave was heard. When he came back into the living/dining room, he handed a cup with the words 'Kiss The Librarian' on one side to Harmony.

"Here you go, darling. It's 98.6. Just the way you like it," Giles said. He leaned down, and he kissed Harmony quickly on the lips before he sat down in his chair.

The newly engaged bride and groom discussed wedding plans as the breakfast progressed. The rest of the table were totally unsure of what they were supposed to do or say. So, they pretty much didn't say or do anything except eat. Their reprieve came when Spike's cellphone rang. The call turned out to be from the realtor who announced that the bid for the mansion on Crawford Street had gone through. Spike was now the proud owner of a rundown, piece of crap, mansion.

The mated Slayer and vampire used the excuse of inspecting the property to escape the cooing of the two lovebirds. The other three members of the Scoobies soon trailed behind them.

"Wow, love's in the air, isn't it?" Willow muttered, "There's Giles and Harmony. Oh, also Mrs. Summers and Reg. Spike and Buffy are so darned happy, I don't think even Angel and his crew descending on them would bother them at this point. And you, you demon love magnet Xander, you have yourself another demon. Well, she's an ex-demon. God, I hope Oz gets back soon."

"Willow, quit babbling, and what do you mean demon love magnet?" Xander asked. He put his arm around Anya who leaned into his side.

"Well, let's look at your bio, Xan-man. We have Insect Lady, Mummy Girl, not sure Cordelia qualifies as a demon, and Anya," Willow announced.

"I'm sorry you are missing Oz, Wills. I am sure he will be back soon. Maybe you should find a hobby to do or a club to join to occupy your mind." Xander's voice filled with a slight amount of hurt. He hadn't sought out demon girlfriends.

"Yes, you're right, Xander. Thanks for being such a great friend. You, too, Anya." Willow hugged the ex-demon and her demon magnet boyfriend. "There's a Wicca group starting up at the college next week. That would be perfect." She bounced out of the courtyard, her face aglow with possibilities.

"So, wanna go back to our apartment and have lots of orgasms?" Anya asked.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Do you trust me, Slayer?" Spike asked as he dangled the scarf in front of Buffy's face. They sat in the kitchen and enjoyed some hot chocolate in the afternoon sun. They were both happy to get away from the newly aquired mansion and back to their clean little house.

"Of course I do," Buffy answered. She turned her head to let Spike put the scarf around her eyes. Buffy allowed him to pull her to her feet and guide her to the other side of the kitchen.

Spike grabbed his mate around the waist, and he hoisted her onto the counter. He felt her shiver with anticipation as he opened the fridge door. Spike grabbed a jar, unscrewed the lid and delved his fingers into the contents.

"Open up that hot little mouth of yours, luv," Spike murmured. When Buffy followed his directions, he plopped a maraschino cherry onto her tongue.

"Mmmmm, love cherries." Buffy licked her lips seductively.

"Me, too. Unbutton your shirt, and let me see your cherry red nipples." Spike quirked an eyebrow while he watched his Slayer hurry to comply with his wishes. He grabbed another jar out of the fridge, and he repeated the procedure from before.

"Spicy, hot pepper. Drink now. Cruel, cruel vampire." Buffy puckered her mouth. She took several quick breaths as she tried to cool down her flaming mouth. She smirked to herself when she heard her mate catch his breath. Buffy gulped down the glass of water that Spike shoved in her hand.

"Well, sweets, hitch up your skirt and rid your spicy little quim of undies." Spike had to suppress a groan when he watched Buffy jiggle around on the counter as she pushed up her skirt and pushed down her lacy thong panties. He was pleased to see her pubic hairs already glistened with her arousal. He grabbed a plastic jar out of the fridge, smeared his finger with the contents, and offered the covered digit to Buffy's mouth.

"Sweet... sticky... honey... yum." Buffy sucked on Spike's fingers long after the honey was removed. She knew he was watching her slide her mouth over the digits as he pretended it was some other part of his anatomy.

"Oh ya, I can see all your sweet, sticky honey, luv..." Spike was done playing. It was time to get down to some serious shagging.

Buffy squealed in delight as Spike somehow managed to simultaneously flip her onto her stomach and remove her unbuttoned shirt in one move. She wiggled her bottom against his denim clad cock when Spike pulled her body up against him. Buffy shuddered in pleasure as Spike's hands played with her nipples.

Spike nipped along Buffy's neck and shoulder blade. He was pleased when she began to moan and shudder. When he got to a particularly sensitive spot, he secretly smiled as her hips rolled and bucked frantically trying to put pressure on that special little spot at the apex of her thighs. Spike pulled away for a second to smirk down at his impatient mate.

"Sweets, I want you to get a tattoo right there in that sensitive spot on your shoulder blade. I designed a pretty little S decades ago that would be perfect," Spike whispered against Buffy's ear. His hands slid down her stomach and around her hips to avoid the counter she was pressed against. He used one hand to part her upper folds and the other hand to rub her needy little button. Spike used the claim to make Buffy's nipples feel as if he was gently twisting them in time with his rubbing fingers lower on her body.

"Only if you get one, too," Buffy shrieked as she came hard and instantly. She ripped the blindfold off and bucked Spike off with her hips. Buffy whirled around, and her hands cupped Spike's face as she smashed her lips to his in a fiery kiss. Buffy dropped to her knees in front of her mate, ready to pleasure him, but she was interrupted by a loud banging on the front door.

"Expecting someone, Slayer?" Spike asked. He watched Buffy's forehead crease in a frown, and she shook her head. "Better get yourself together while I go answer the door then."

Buffy scrambled to her feet. She straightened her skirt and Spike adjusted himself. He ambled out of the kitchen as she began to frantically pull on and button her shirt. When Spike's 'Bloody Hell' sounded from the foyer, Buffy rushed to see what was going on.

Spike, Xander and Anya leaned heavily against the front door while the hairy arm of a demon waved around frantically as it tried to push its way into the house. Buffy grabbed a small dagger from the drawer in the nearby table. She stabbed the demon's arm. It yelped from the sudden pain, and it dragged its arm back out the door. The door slammed shut loudly putting the three people leaning against it off balance, and they fell to the floor.

"Board up the windows, and barricade the doors," Xander yelped. He visibly flinched as the door reverberated under the demon's fist.

"Demons! They keep coming and coming. They broke into the apartment. We killed a Pargo demon by drowning it, but when more showed up we ran away," Anya gasped. She was out of breath from the frantic run they had taken from their apartment.

"Yeah, we thought we'd lost them, but just as we got here that one jumped out and...." Xander began to shudder. It was obvious he couldn't continue what he was going to say.

"It handed him some flowers and kissed him. I have never seen a Qikl demon actually try and copulate outside its own species before," Anya informed Spike and Buffy, "And I'm not even sure this one's a female."

Four sets of eyes opened wide when loud, angry growling sounded from the other side of the door. Spike, Xander and Anya rolled over to peer out the small windows that ran from ceiling to floor next to the door. They pressed their faces against the glass.

"What? What's going on out there?" Buffy asked when the others gasped.

"Ya gotta see this, luv. Peaches is out there, in full game face, challenging the Qikl for the right to court Xander." Spike chuckled happily as he threw a look at his mate over his shoulder.

"Say what?" Buffy flung open the door. Her jaw dropped when she saw her ex-boyfriend battling the demon, but for some reason she was inexplicably happy about it too.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"How about a daytime ceremony in the park," Harmony said. She moved over to her Rupie Poo and climbed into his lap.

"Fabulous. I'll just enjoy my honeymoon with a big pile of dust," Giles replied. He curled his hand around Harmony's hip as he wrote something in a notebook.

"Under the trees. Indirect sunlight only," Harmony whined. Her lower lip stuck out in the patented Kendell pout.

"Warm breeze tosses the leaves aside, and again? I'm registering as Mr. and Mrs. Big-Pile-of-Dust, darling." Giles grimaced in pain as he thought of his ladylove dusting.

"Stop it! This is our wedding, and you're treating it like a joke," Harmony cried. She tried to leap up from Giles's lap, but he wouldn't let her.

"I'm not. I just don't want to lose you now that I found you. I lost Jenny, and I don't want to lose you," Giles said soothingly as he nuzzled against Harmony's neck.
"Jenny, Jenny, Jenny. Well, where would Jenny like to register? Can we use the photo-taker Jenny would've wanted? How about what kind of flowers would Jenny want?" Harmony cried, and her eyes filled with tears.

"Hey! You think I don't live with the shadow of all those young boys you used to date over my head.? Do you think that I'm not wondering if you're going to think of them on our honeymoon when you're making sweet love with me?"

"Oh Rupie Pooh, I'm so sorry. I never even thought about that. Please forgive me?" Harmony immediately pressed sweet little kisses all over Giles's face.

Giles began to play with the top most button of Harmony's shirt as he said, "Wanna go upstairs and get a head start on the honeymoon, darling?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spike, Buffy, Xander and Anya watched the Qikl demon and Angel circle each other. The two demons tossed insults and death threats at the other. It was then that they noticed the dark shape of Cordelia as she attempted to sneak past the two combatants into the house. When the two supernatural creatures launched themselves at each other, she took the opportunity to streak towards the open door.

"What is going on?" Buffy asked the newcomer happily. She leaned into Spike, and she looked up at him with happiness shining in her eyes.

"Not sure. Mid morning Angel and Doyle got so antsy about wanting to come to Sunnydale." Cordelia rolled her eyes. "We started out at dusk, and everything was okay until we hit the city limits," Cordelia announced, "Then they both started to go crazy, asking me all sorts of weird questions about Xander."

"Questions about me?" Xander asked. He kept his eyes on the two battling demons on the front lawn. Xander was getting a bit worried about how possessive the vampire half of that argument was sounding.

"Oh ya. They wanted to what you liked, what you didn't like, how you kissed, and even how you were in bed. As if I knew that! Then Angel got all grumbly and jealous of Doyle's questions. So, he hit Doyle over the head. Doyle's still knocked out in the car." Cordelia pointed out towards Angel's convertible parked half way down the block.

A feral roar and the cracking of a neck pulled the group's attention back to the fight happening on the front lawn. A dull thud sounded the Qikl demon's fall to the ground. Angel's yellow demon eyes fell on the group just inside the doorway. His gaze lit on the object of his desire. Before anyone uttered a word, Angel streaked across the yard and swept Xander into his arms.

"Xander, my beloved," Angel rasped. He mashed his lips down onto the lips of the flabbergasted human. He ignored the cries of outrage from said human's girlfriend. Before anyone could say or do anything, Angel became lax. He fell to the floor at Xander's feet.

"Don't touch my Xander," Doyle screamed. He stood in the doorway. In his hands he held the tire jack from Angel's car that he then dropped to the ground. Doyle leaped over the fallen vampire, and he grabbed Xander by the hand. He pulled Xander through the house towards the kitchen.

Anya took up chase. She followed her demon love magnet, and his newest demon wannabe lover, to the kitchen. She found them playing a game of keep away around the kitchen table. She practically growled in outrage, and she stomped one foot in anger. "Make him go away, Xander."

"Buffy, call Giles. Pleaaassse," Xander screeched. He was getting out of breath, and he didn't know how much longer he could outrun the other man. "Ropes. Need ropes."

"Okay, I would be happy to call Giles," Buffy called from the hall happily. "There are ropes in the weapons chest, Spike."

"Gotcha, Slayer," Spike announced. His voice was filled with unrestricted happiness.

Xander heard Buffy on the phone in the front hall happily talking to Giles and Spike banging around the weapons chest in the living room. We're overrun by lovesick demons, and those two are way to happy about it? He thought to himself. Xander's inner musings were interrupted when the back door banged open.

"What is that?" Anya exclaimed when she saw the small furry demon, "I thought I knew all the demon species." She grabbed the broom in an attempt to push the fuzzy creature back out the door. Instead the creature sidestepped the broom and launched itself at Xander.

Xander tried to leap out of the way of both Doyle and the furry demon, but he tripped over his own feet. Sprawled on his back, the furry demon leapt on his chest where it settled contentedly and started to coo.

"Bloody hell, Whelp. Where did you find the Tribble on steroids?" Spike asked happily. He caught a hold of the back of Doyle's shirt and easily pushed the Brachen demon into one of the kitchen chairs. In a matter of minutes he had the other male tightly secured.

"Giles is on his way," Buffy proclaimed when she came into the kitchen. Her voice was fused with happiness. "Close the door, Anya, before anything gets in. Um, Xander ... just do whatever it is you're doing. Spike, help me tie up Angel."

"My pleasure, luv." Spike smiled happily at Buffy. He was just so gosh darned happy not even Angel being in his house bothered him. The vampire and the Slayer left the kitchen. The others heard them dragging the older vampire around in the other room as they tied him up.

Anya was about to close the backdoor when she noticed Joyce and Reg sneaking in the gate from the alley. She motioned them to hurry into the house. Once the older couple was inside, Anya closed and locked the door.

"What's going on here?" Joyce asked. Her eyes darted back and forth from Xander on the floor with the cooing demon to the handsome young man tied to the chair proclaiming his eternal devotion to the man on the floor. Her attention snapped back to the young woman. "We heard there were 'gang members on PCP' over here. So, we drove by to check it out. Did you know that the front yard is filled with demons?"

"Apparently wealthy demons," Reggie announced, "You should see the pile of presents and money stacked on the lawn." He took Joyce's hand, and he guided her over to one of the unoccupied chairs. Reggie sat down beside her.

Spike and Buffy held a squirming, slightly out of it Angel, between them when they entered the kitchen followed closely by Cordelia. The two blondes plopped the irate vampire down in the remaining chair.

"Mom, Reg. I'm so happy to see you," Buffy cried happily. She rushed over to give her mother, and her mother's boyfriend, a big hug. "Spike's happy, too. Aren't you, baby?"

"Absolutely, luv," Spike answered. He smiled happily at his mate. He crossed the room to kiss Buffy on the cheek.

Everyone's eyes lit on the backdoor when a quiet knock sounded on it. Anya sidled towards it while Spike and Buffy fell into fighting positions.

"Who's there?" Anya called out. She knew she wasn't going to open the door to just anyone.

"Giles and Harmony," A familiar voice answered, "Let us in."

Anya hurriedly unlocked the door and opened it. She ushered the Watcher and the vampiress inside. Then, she closed the door behind them, and she relocked it.

"Rupie Pooh, why are we here again?" Harmony whined, "I want to go back home and continue our cuddle time." She plastered herself to Giles's side. Her hands rubbed up and down the Watcher's chest.

"As soon as we ascertain what is happening here, Harmony, darling," Giles assured the girl at his side. He linked his arms around her and kissed her on the forehead.

"Oh Xander, my darling," Angel piped up, "As soon as I get out of these ropes, I'm going to steal you away. We will spend the day making sweet passionate love underneath the sun."

"You'll be dust, you big Xander stealer, and then it will be me loving him." Doyle tried to kick out at the vampire, but he missed. So, he turned his big brown doe eyes towards the boy, and he pouted as prettily as he could.

"Xander knows I'm the only demon for him." Angel shouted, "You were right, my darling. I was checking out your lovely neck that night while we were searching for Buffy. You were so handsome in the half-darkness. The night I was offering you to Spike, it was all I could do not to throw you down and..." Angel's voice became muffled when Buffy happily stuffed a nearby dishtowel into the vampire's mouth.

"Thank-you for shutting the big lug up. Now I can tell my dandy Xandy how much I adore him." Before the Brachen demon could say anything else, Buffy bounded across the kitchen, and she stuck a dishtowel in Doyle's mouth, too.

"Thank-you, Buffy," Xander exclaimed from his position on the floor, "That is one of the creepiest things I have ever had happen to me. Even creepier than Preying-Mantis woman or the Inca princess..." Xander's voice trailed off, and you could almost see a light bulb pop on over his head. "Buffy, Spike, how are you feeling right now?"

"Happy," the mated pair said in unison. Then Spike continued on, "I don't even care that the Poof is here. Nothing can interfere with my happiness at this moment." Spike and Buffy fell into hugging each other.

"Willow," Xander muttered. He shifted the 'Tribble' off of his chest and sat up. "I think Willow had something to do with this."

"Whatever do you mean?" Giles asked.

"This morning after we left your place she said Spike and Buffy were so happy that even a visit from Angel wouldn't bother them." Xander began to lay out his brainstorm. "They didn't start to act so sappy until they saw Angel standing outside."

"Oh, oh." Anya bounced on her feet and pointed at her boyfriend. "And she said that you were a demon love magnet."

"Well, the other odd thing is that Giles and Harmony have suddenly decided to get married," Xander observed, "Did Willow say anything about that?"

"Yeah, she did," Spike answered, and he got a look of deep concentration on his face, "Now what was it? Ah, yes, and I quote, 'they're beginning to sound like they should get married or something'."

I think we need Willow to figure this out," Reggie said, "We should call her. Don't forget to tell her to sneak in the backdoor."

Buffy nodded. Then, she hurried into the other room to give the young witch a call. She forgot temporarily, in her happiness, she could communicate to the witch through the claim. The others could hear her soft voice rise and fall in cadence as she talked. In a few minutes, she came back into the kitchen, and she indicated that Willow would be over in as soon as she could get there. Buffy snuggled up against Spike's side.

"Giles, Willow said that she dreamed last night that she did a spell," Buffy informed the Watcher. Her voice was filled with worried happiness. "She didn't think anything of it until I told her what was going on."

"This whole mess is because of a dream spell?" Cordelia asked, "Is that normal?"

"No, it is not," Giles answered, "Apparently I need to call Serina once again and ask her if she can make the journey to Sunnydale a bit sooner."

"Good idea, Watcher," Spike said happily, "We have enough chaos around here without adding magic to it." The vampire was interrupted by loud growling and ear-piercing screams from the front of the house. Spike and Buffy looked at each other before they raced for the front door.

When the door swung open, the mated couple saw that the demons that had congregated looking for Xander had found two of the commandos. For some reason, that they were the demon-hunting commandos plaguing Sunnydale hadn't sunk into the brains of the demons, and they merely thought that the two humans were there for Xander-loving, too.

Some of the others had followed the Slayer and her vampire to the front door, including Xander and Anya. When the demons saw the young teenager, they dropped the commandos. The demons moved closer to the house until a growling game faced Spike stopped them.

A demon with large, floppy ears and alot of loose skin stepped out of the crowd. He raised his hand in greeting to Spike, "Hey Spike, missed you at the last kitten poker game. We were just wondering if Xander could, you know, come out and play."

"Hey, Clem," Spike growled out his greeting. His voice was a mixture of happiness and exasperation. Spike wasn't worried about Clem being a threat to anyone in the house. The loose skinned demon was basically harmless unless you were a kitten. "Xander belongs to the Slayer and I."

One of the other demons stepped forward, and he bellowed, "I don't see your claim on him. Send our pookie bear out."

Spike huffed, and he snarled happily at his mate, "Buffy, time to expand the clan, unless you want to take on the entire Sunnydale demon population."

Buffy simply nodded in agreement. Her Sultana fangs descended, and her eyes glowed green-gold. She hissed at the demons in the front yard as she forgot about the two commandos still out there somewhere amidst the chaos. Buffy grabbed Xander's hand, and she gently bit into his wrist. She swallowed a minute amount of blood. She raised her head to lick the punctures closed.

"I claim thee, Alexander LaVelle Harris, as one of our own, belonging to the clan of Sultana-Aurelius. Our Witness," Buffy proclaimed, her voice filled with her happiness. She dropped Xander's arm, and she turned her glowing eyes on to the crowd of demons.

The less aggressive of the demons, including Clem, slinked away. That left only the most combative ones who all milled around as they tried to determine if they should rush the house to get to their intended goal.

Xander's eyes widened with wonder as he could feel the others at the edge of his consciousness. He felt kinship with his new family, and he knew he would never need to rely on his human family again. Xander was in awe at how much love and devotion he felt towards the others. A quick mental lesson from Spike showed him how to block his thoughts and feeling from the others so that they each could have privacy.

Guys, can we include Anya? I don't want her to feel left out, Xander asked.

Buffy nodded to the teenager. She moved to Anya, and she took the other girl's arm. She waited a moment for Anya to protest. Buffy bit gently into Anya's wrist, then pulled away, and said, "I claim thee, Anya Christina Emmanuella Jenkins, as one of our own, belonging to the Clan Sultana-Aurelius. Vengeance is ours."

With a puff of blue-gray smoke, a rather tall blue-gray demon appeared on the already overcrowded front porch. He was bald, had several sets of horns, pointed ears, a white beard and clawed hands. Sharpened teeth graced the demon's smile.

"Hoffy," Anya cried, "What are you doing here, you bastard?" She removed her arm from Buffy's grasp, and she marched over to the demon where she wagged a finger in his face. "Xander might be a demon magnet, but he's mine. You'll just have to find someone else to have orgasms with."

"My dear Anyanka, I'm not here for your precious human boy," D'Hoffryn said politely, "If I was here for any of you, it would be Miss Rosenburg. What a brilliantly vicious spell, even if she only dreamed it."

"I didn't mean to," Willow said contritely. She had come in the back door of the house to find Angel and Doyle glaring at each other as they struggled to get their ropes undone. When she used the bond, she realized everyone else had moved to the front porch. She felt the new additions to the clan as well, and she smiled.

"In other circumstances, you would have been deliciously effective as a vengeance demon." D'Hoffryn waved his hand in dismissal at the petite red-haired witch. "I'm here to congratulate Anyanka on fulfilling her destiny. Over a century ago, the Powers That Be came to me to reveal that one of my demons would be needed to fight with a Slayer."

"And you knew it was going to be me?" Anya asked curiously.

"No, my dear Anyanka," D'Hoffryn answered. He moved closer to the young woman, and he smoothed a hand over her hair. "Not till last year when you lost your amulet. That's when I knew that the time of the Sultana was at hand."

"But, Hoffy, how could this be in your best interest?" Anya questioned her former boss. She knew how self involved D'Hoffryn was, and he didn't do anything that didn't serve his own purposes in the end.

"I contacted my friend Melvin. You know the one with the inside scoop to the oracles." The others just nodded like they knew what he was talking about. "He showed me how bad things would have gone."
"How bad?" Giles asked.

"The big dolt of a vampire tied up in the kitchen attempted to take on the senior partners of Wolfram and Hart. Instead he destroyed the dimension." D'Hoffryn waited for the gasps and murmers to die down before he continued on. "This is the one dimension that holds the wolf, the ram and the hart back from taking over all of the dimensions, including mine."

"What did you do, Hoffy?" Anya asked suspiciously. She moved over to Xander, and she took his hand.

"I went to the Powers with my knowledge, but they kept going on and on about Angelus and his soul." D'Hoffryn let out a fierce growl, and he pulled hard on his beard. "Stupid higher beings! They can't see past their own noses. I told them for nine months they were relying on the wrong vampire to get the job done."

"What changed?" Giles inquired.

"My demons review all wishes, even those that are not asked in vengeance," D'Hoffryn told the Watcher, "A few months ago, one of my girls brought me a wish asked for by Joyce Summers." D'Hoffryn pointed to the older Summers woman.

"Me? I don't remember making a wish. It wasn't bad was it?" Joyce's question ended beseechingly.

"Of course not, my good woman. You merely wished that your daughter would find the love of her life, a man who would treat her right and would know exactly who she is." D'Hoffryn's hand gentled on his beard, and he stroked it as if soothing himself. "From my look into the future, I knew that was to be William the Bloody here, so I went to Kibene at the Well of Devotion.

"Hoffy, what did you do?" Anya demanded.

The big blueish-gray demon actually looked a little ashamed of himself. "It appears I need to brush up on my courting skills."

Anya began to laugh. Soon she had fallen to her knees, and the former vengeance demon was literally rolling around on the ground laughing as the others stood gaping at her.

Buffy used the distraction to sidle over to Willow, and ask happily, "Can you remove the spell, Willow?"

Willow nodded, and she began to intone an incantation, "Let the healing power begin. Let my will be safe again. As these words of peace are spoken, let this harmful spell be broken." As soon as she had spoken the words there was a crash of thunder and a bolt of lightning.

Three things happened at the same time. The happiness spell finally wore off of Spike and Buffy, not that they noticed that much. The demons that remained in the front yard all took on a dazed look. They were easily run off by a growl from Spike and a well-placed stake in the ground by Buffy. Giles and Harmony flung themselves away from the other. Both spitted and spluttered as they thought about what had almost happened if not for the call from Buffy that had interrupted their plans earlier.

Buffy eyed the courtship gifts. Some of the items were quite valuable, not to mention the neighbors would probably notice the pile in the morning. So, she indicated to Spike, Xander and Reggie that the stuff probably should be hauled into the garage.

Giles had gone inside for a drink of whiskey as he muttered about the taste of Harmony lingering in his mouth while Harmony gagged out that she had kissed 'old man lips'. The formerly betrothed pair ignored each other even as Harmony continued to complain until Spike instructed her to go to the mansion. Once she got there she was to check in with Brian, the head minion, to see if he had anything she could do for him.

Cordelia, and the still apologetic Willow, adjourned to the kitchen to take up the task of untying the now embarrassed Angel and Doyle. They rejoined the others in the living room. Neither Doyle nor Angel could look at Xander in the eye.

Spike chortled when he took in the mortified vampire and demon. The peroxide blond vampire couldn't resist ribbing his grandsire a bit. "Come on, Peaches. It's not like Harris is the first male you've ever macked on."

"You would know, wouldn't you, William?"

"Of course, I would you big poofter. I was there, wasn't I?" Spike said mysteriously. He sat back in his chair, and he patted his lap for Buffy to sit down in it. Once she had settled there, they stared into each other's eyes for a few minutes until she wrinkled her nose.

"Angel, how could you?" Buffy asked disgustedly.
"It was Angelus that did that, Buffy, not me," the vampire muttered morosely.

"Just keep telling yourself that, Peaches. Maybe someday you'll believe yourself," Spike commented. Then, he turned to Willow. "So, Red, what the bloody hell happened here?"

"I don't know," Willow cried, "I dreamed I cast a spell. That's all." She twisted her hands in her lap. Willow leapt to her feet, and she rushed into the kitchen where the others could hear her banging around in the cupboards.

Cookies. I make cookies when I feel guilty, Willow told the clan through the link.

"I'm calling Serina in the morning to advise her of the situation," Giles commented. He took another long drink of his whiskey. "I will urge her to partake in her journey to Sunnydale sooner."

Anya had finally calmed down from her hysterics enough to restart her questioning of D'Hoffryn. "So, Hoffy, Kibene finally got you in her grips. What did you do?"

"As you very well know, Anyanka, Kibene cannot make feelings appear that are not already there," D'Hoffryn announced quietly, "We simply looked into the hearts of the Slayer and the Vampire, and we realized that they locked their true feelings for each other away under the guise of being mortal enemies."

"What did you do?" Anya asked again. She moved in front of the head vengeance demon. She stood there indignantly with her hands on her hips.

"We merely lifted the rejection from their hearts so they could see each other in a new light," D'Hoffryn muttered.

"So our getting together was a lie?" Buffy cried. She struggled in Spike's lap, but the vampire wouldn't let her go.

"No, Sultana, of course not. I have a question for you." D'Hoffryn hurried to assure the Slayer. "If you didn't trust the vampire, why did you never revoke his invitation to your house?"

"Yes, luv. Why was my invitation still good at your mum's?" Spike asked his mate. He began to seductively circle the sensitive spot on her back that he had discovered just a short time before.

Buffy glanced at Spike through her lashes, and she squirmed a bit as his hands began to affect her. "I knew you would never attack us at home. Oh, and Mom really likes you. Don't you, mom?" Buffy turned and glanced at her mom.

"Of course, I do," Joyce assured her daughter, "Spike is such a gentleman, which is more than I can say about other vampires I've met." She looked pointedly at Angel.

"I need to finish this up here," D'Hoffryn said, "So, once the Slayer and Spike mated, I took the news to the Powers That Be. They informed me that I was to return all of Anyanka's powers once she became part of the Sultana Aurelius clan."

"Will I have to once again exact vengeance on anyone?" Anya asked almost eagerly. She rubbed her hands together in anticipation.

"Only if your clan is involved, Anyanka, and only in protection. Here is your amulet. Please be careful this time." D'Hoffryn handed the young woman a necklace.

Anya put the amulet on and a bright light shot through her body. She beamed in delight before she asked, "Anyone want to try it out?"

"Sure," Buffy answered, "I wish that those commandos outside would think that nothing out of the ordinary happened here tonight."

"Done." Anya's visage flashed to her demonic face and back as she granted Buffy's wish.

"On that note, I'm off to visit Kibene." D'Hoffryn disappeared much like he had appeared, with a puff of blue-gray smoke.

Willow entered the living room carrying a plate of oven-warm cookies. She circled the room, offering everyone a cookie as she said sorry to them all again. Everyone sat quietly for a moment as they munched on their cookie.

"Well, I think we have to get going, too," Cordelia said. She waved good-bye to the Sunnydale crew before she herded the still embarrassed Doyle and the slightly irate Angel out the door.

Angel couldn't figure out why he hadn't been able to speak during the discussion. He didn't know that the head of the vengeance demons had cast a little silence spell on him. Once the AI gang hit the Sunnydale city limits, the vampire could speak again. He grumbled all the way home much to the exasperation of both Cordelia and Doyle.

"Well, this has been an interesting day," Giles muttered. He took his glasses off and polished them on his shirt tail. "I'm going home now. Good evening." Giles was about to leave abruptly when Xander and Anya said they'd walk him to his car before they returned to their apartment.

"We have much to talk about before the orgasms commence," Anya divulged. She then followed Xander and Giles out the back door.

"Mom, Reg, can you make sure Willow gets back to the dorm okay?" Buffy inquired, "We don't go out after dark alone now, especially with those commandos spying on us."

"Sure honey, we'd be happy to," Joyce answered quietly. Then she turned and looked shyly at Reggie. "Would you like to come over for some coffee afterwards, Reggie?"

"That sounds delightful, Joyce." Reggie picked up Joyce's hand, and he kissed the knuckles. He enjoyed the flushed look that graced the elder Summers's cheeks. Reggie escorted the two ladies out the back door to where Joyce's car was parked.

"Alone at last," Spike whispered in Buffy's ear, "I believe we were in the middle of somethin' before."
Buffy nodded, and she slid down to the floor. Her hands reached for Spike's zipper.

~~~~~~~

Hours later, after great sex and patrolling, Spike and Buffy were curled up on the couch watching the late show when a flash of light from the kitchen caught their attention. The mated pair cautiously made their way towards the other room. Their eyes widened, and they glanced at each other when they saw what had caused the bright light.

On the kitchen floor, naked as the day he was born, laid Doyle. He looked up at Spike and Buffy. "M-mistress," he stammered out, before he collapsed in a faint.





You must login (register) to review.