Chapter 1 - Lost and Found

Spike laid the roses on the street.

The alley hadn't changed much since Buffy died there. He had first returned a little over a week after the fight with Glory, when Buffy had saved the world again. The first visit had been uneventful, but the second time he had brought her flowers, he had found a pair of leftover minions.

He had killed them both.

The fifth time he had returned, he had found a female vampire luring an incautious young man. He had staked the vampire but had had to be content with terrorizing the man.

Gang Long knew of his growing obsession with the site of Buffy's death, but the young dragon remained quietly sympathetic. Spike didn't know if Ann Grove knew or not, but so far she had said nothing on the subject.

There was the sound of movement from behind him. He turned and caught a trace of white movement that vanished behind one of the dumpsters. Annoyed that his privacy had been broken, he followed.

Rounding the dumpster, he heard a stone or can land just out of sight. He ignored it, mentally sneering at such a poor ruse. He was totally unprepared for the blow that struck him from above. He had a glimpse of a 2x4, held in a grubby hand at the end of a filthy arm, below an upside-down face; the whole apparition hanging by its knees from an unsteady fire escape.

"Buffy," he said, before he lost consciousness.

"Wake up," someone was saying. He assumed it was the same someone who was slapping his face.

"That doesn't work with us," he muttered, opening his eyes.

"What doesn't?"

"Slapping my face, to bring me to. It doesn't stimulate my circulation, you stupid sod, since I...Buffy. It is you."

"You're Spike. I know you."

She was naked and filthy, wild-eyed and nervous. She was back, though, and he was happy for the first time since the spring. He focused on the strangeness of her phrasing.

"Yeah," he said. "We've known each other a few years. How do you feel?"

"Where am I?"

"Contrary as ever. That's normal, at least." He stood up and said, "You're back in Sunnydale. How do you feel?"

"Fine," she said defiantly.

"And that's a damned lie," he said cheerfully. Strange as she was, he couldn't stop smiling. He took off his leather coat and offered it to her.

She took it and just draped it over her shoulders. He held it for her and she slipped her arms into the sleeves.

"What's the last thing you remember?" he asked, turning her around and buttoning the coat.

"Why do you want to know?"

"How old are you?"

"I'm twenty. God, you ask a lot of questions."

"How long have you been here?"

"Part of last night and today and tonight."

"You slept here?" He touched the lump coming up where she had struck him.

"Sort of. I mostly dodged behind things. Sometimes I had to hide inside things. There are some very strange people walking around down here."

"Yeah. Right. We should get out of here," he said, looking around.

"Where should we go? Do you have an apartment around here?"

"Not exactly. My place doesn't have what we need, anyway. This certainly isn't one of the first things I've imagined saying to you if I ever saw you again, but would you like a bath?"

That simply, he decided where to take her. Thinking it over as he helped her into the passenger seat of the Viper, he didn't want to second guess himself.

"Where are we going?"

"A friend's house. You'll be safe there."

"I don't want to see anyone else." She grabbed his arm.

"Ow. Easy, OK!"

"Sorry."

"You seem to have a little continuity problem here, Slayer..."

"My name is Buffy! Not what you said."

"Again, easy. I don't know if you remember, Buffy, but you used to know I won't do anything to hurt you. You used to trust me, just a little."

"I do know that." She relaxed her grip, but did not release his arm completely. "I do trust you. Will you stay with me?"

"I have a room there, just down the hall."

"All right, then."

***

"Ann lives here, doesn't she?" she asked.

"She and her foster son, Gang Long. They're friends of ours."

"Why does she have such a big house?"

"She likes space, and it comes in handy when she wants to display her art collection."

"She's an artist?"

"She makes statues."

"What's that noise?"

"You can hear them now? That's Ann's guardian lions."

"Will they wake her up?"

"It's about two hours before sunrise. I wouldn't be surprised if Ann's awake. She's awake at the weirdest times."

"I don't want her to yell at me," Buffy said.

"Why would she?"

"She didn't invite me."

"She invited you before," Spike pointed out.

"She yelled at me before."

"She still likes you, you know."

"Does she? I was angry with her."

"We were all angry with her. She understood, she was angry herself."

"Spike."

"Yes," he asked when she didn't continue.

"Are you in love with Ann?"

"No," he said, stopping the car in front of the garage. He opened Buffy's door.

"Is she in love with you?"

"No."

"Do we have to go here? Can't we go away somewhere?"

"Buffy. Here's the best place for you to be. At least for now."

"I trust you, but I'm still worried."

***

"I'm filthy. I think I ruined the lining."

"Don't worry about it. It can be cleaned or replaced." He took the coat as she removed it and tossed it out the door. "Is the temperature all right?"

"I guess."

Spike helped Buffy into his huge shower. Buffy slipped on the slick tile. "Here, hold on." He took the folding bench from the storage cabinet and set it in the shower. Carefully, he seated Buffy on it. He stripped off his boots and his leather jeans and stepped into the shower with her. He turned on only the small hand-held spray, not the full array of shower heads.

"Warmer," she said.

"Like that?"

"Fine."

He shampooed her hair and rinsed it thoroughly, then handed her the sprayer and washed her, from face to toes. He took a brush to her feet, washing the last of the alley off her, then he rinsed her.

"Clean feels good."

"Tell me about it. Just lying on the street got me filthy." He tossed his shorts and T-shirt into the sink and showered himself. Turning off the water, he rubbed a towel over his head, then pulled on his toweling robe.

He tried to wrap Buffy's hair in a towel and made a botch of it.

"I can do that," she said.

He took another towel and dried her. He noticed there was another robe, folded neatly on top of the pile of towels. He wondered briefly if Ann was directly supplying material assistance or if her magic was flexible enough to handle a guest. He shrugged and helped Buffy into the new robe. He tied the belt and stepped back from her.

"What about your head, where I hit you?"

"Claire gave me some stuff," he said, opening the drawers under the counter until he found a jar of ointment. "Would you?" he asked.

"Sure." She dipped her finger in the paste and rubbed it over his lump. "It doesn't smell medicinal."

"It works fine, though," he said.

"Yes, it does," she said. "Look for yourself."

Amused, he smiled at her. "Sure. I don't have any slippers for you, but this place is clean, and the radiant heating keeps the floors warm. Have you eaten anything?"

"No, I haven't. I think I'm hungry now. I wasn't until you mentioned it."

"Let's go down to the kitchen. I'll find you something."

***

"You can cook?" Buffy looked around at Ann's huge kitchen.

"I've watched Ann and Señora Rivera. A boiled egg is within my abilities. Have some wine." He poured Buffy a glass of Ann's changeable wine and turned on one of the six burners on the restaurant size stove. "I've even attempted oatmeal, with varied success."

"A boiled egg and maybe toast will do. This is good," Buffy said, draining her glass.

Ann Grove walked into the kitchen. "Oh, hi, Buffy."

"Spike's boiling me an egg," Buffy said. Ann looked at her sharply, her eyes narrowing slightly, then she smiled at the girl:

"That'll be interesting to watch." Ann glanced at Buffy's glass, which refilled.

"Ann," Spike started.

Ann turned to Spike and smiled at him. Reassured, Spike said nothing. "Actually, he can boil eggs quite nicely," Ann said, turning back to Buffy.

"I never knew that," Buffy said. "Ann, can we stay here?"

"Of course. For as long as you want."

"And you won't tell anyone?"

"I may have to tell everyone at some point, Buffy, but I won't tell anyone in Sunnydale for a week. Is that all right?"

"I guess so; a week's a long time. Spike wouldn't take me away."

"He's been making all sorts of adult decisions lately. Do you want some slippers?"

"No, thanks, I'm fine."

"I'm going to the playroom. I'll be gone a while this morning, but I'll be back for lunch. Maybe we can talk more then. Check that egg," Ann said, and left, going out the west door of the kitchen.

"That was all right," Buffy said. "That wasn't bad at all. Does she always dress like that? I mean, just around the house?"

"I thought she looked OK," Spike said, considering Ann's heavy silk pants and fine gauge linen sweater. "She didn't look any different than usual."

"That's what I meant," Buffy said. "At least she didn't fuss. I was worried she'd fuss."

"Not Ann. Ann's calm," Spike said, running cold water over the boiled egg. "You don't like fuss?"

"No. Not now. It's all right here, just us and Ann."

"And Gang Long. You've met him, he's calm, too." He put everything on a tray and carried it to the small north room. Buffy followed.

"The table is smaller than it used to be."

"There's only two of us," Spike said, setting out their breakfasts. Blood and wine for him; egg, toast and wine for her.

Buffy nibbled on her toast, dipped it in the egg and drank another glass of wine. "That's enough, I think," she said, putting down the last bit of toast. "I think I'm full."

"I'll show you how to work the closet in the guest suite," Spike said.

"What do you mean?"

"You need some clothes. The guest suite closet is like mine, it dresses the occupant."

***

"Stand naked in front of the mirror," Spike told Buffy. "You may show up right away, but we'll wait a few minutes, then open the door." He moved back, away from the mirror.

Buffy handed him her robe, and watched the mirror. She appeared startled, then she laughed, and opened the mirrored door. "Look at this: heritage level lingerie! This is better than anything from Victoria's Secret," she said, pulling a linen lawn nightgown with white on white embroidery, pin tucks, insertions of ribbon and lace and a gently ruffled hem of layers of more lace, out of an open drawer.

"Put it on."

"I wonder what else is in here," she said, dropping the nightgown over her head. She removed a matching robe and started to open another drawer, then abruptly yawned. "Huh, I guess I'm sleepy." She tossed the robe over the chair and got into bed.

"Let me tuck you up. Now, sleep." She was asleep before he straightened the bedclothes over her. He hung her toweling robe in the bathroom and left the guest suite.

Chapter 2 - Rest and Recuperation

Back in his room, he pulled on a pair of loose pants and some boots. That yawn had been very well timed, and he want to talk to Ann anyway. He went down the back stairs, and down another flight to the first basement. Opening the door to the playroom, he saw Ann.

The tumbling mats were out. Ann was wearing a black high cut leotard, which she had probably put on as he came down the stairs. She was supporting herself on her forearms, slowly lowering her bare feet in front of her face, then she slowly came upright.

She turned to him. "Hi."

"What happened was this." He spoke for about six minutes, starting with the roses and ending with the nightgown.

"Severe amnesia."

"Yeah. Can you fix it? Willow fixed her last spring, when she went catatonic on us."

"There's nothing wrong physically, her body's fine--"

"God, yes."

"--and I don't heal minds quickly. Stable fixes take time. Most of that sort of healing is supporting her as she heals herself."

"How?"

"We can go talk to Claire," Ann said, her clothes shifting back to pants and sweater. "I was planning on having breakfast with her, but that can wait. Do you want a shirt?"

"I guess. Seattle's always cold."

"Has she mentioned why she's back?" Ann asked, handing him a black silk T-shirt.

"No."

"I dare say we'll find out why she's back in due course. She'll stay asleep for a couple of hours."

***

"Good morning, Ann. Spike, come in. I've wanted to talk to you." Claire's red curly hair was down this morning, just held back with a barrette. Her bright brown eyes were alert as she handed the vampire a cup of tea. "I'm still searching for a trustworthy neurosurgeon. Unfortunately, so far any surgeon skilled in the technique of chip insertion either worked for the Initiative or now works for some semi-official military organization. Ann says I should not trust any of them at all."

"Ann's right."

"It's a pity Ann's magic does not interact with vampire magic in a predictable manner."

"It doesn't? Why not?"

"You're not part of my original briefing, Spike," Ann said. "I am learning about vampires, but I'm not proficient enough to remove the chip. Vampires, oh, let's say, you interfere with me, or that I have blind spots where you are concerned. It's not something you do, it's what you are."

"You think you'll be able to get it out eventually?" he asked.

"Given that you and I are immortal, yes. When, I can't estimate. But that is not why I brought Spike to see you, Claire."

"Oh?"

Spike again told his story.

Claire had more questions than Ann had had. Most of them were concerned with Buffy's demeanor, appetite, and sometimes, her exact words. When he was done, Claire glanced at Ann, who said:

"Physically," Ann said, "she's not wounded or ill. Her brain is fine, but her mind seems to have taken a little vacation."

Claire nodded. "There isn't much either Ann or I can do. She seems to display the classic resurrection complications," she said "Amnesia surrounding her death, focus on the moment, lack of volition. What have you done with her?"

"Washed her, fed her, and put her to bed," Spike said.

"Sleep spell," Ann said.

"The complications are usually temporary and should subside with time. I would suggest letting her recover at her own pace."

"Claire, it's not just amnesia, at least not only what you just described, she's acting as if she trusts me, and that's not the way it was, ever."

"It might be the way she wants it to be. Resurrection amnesia refers only to the loss of memory of what occurred from shortly before she died until she returned. Amnesia, not resurrection amnesia, amnesia in general, arises because her life was, to some degree at least, unacceptable. She may want parts of her life changed. For your own sanity and happiness though, Spike, remember, she may recover her memories as suddenly and completely as she lost them."

"No one wants you hurt, either, Spike," Ann said quietly. "As I remember, Claire, you once said recovery from amnesia may not include memory of the time between the original loss and the recovery. If she recovers from the amnesia, Buffy may not remember this time."

"That's correct," Claire said. "And I cannot offer an opinion when that recovery might occur--it could be later today or seven years from now or never. I'm sorry, Spike."

"Yeah. What do I do?"

"Ann's wine is good for most things. Sleep will help her integrate her memories and experiences. Exercise will help her sleep and restore her strength. Activities, meals, card games, word games, may divert her mind and keep her from worrying. Keep her busy, keep her occupied and don't talk about her past before she does."

"Do we tell her she has amnesia?" Spike asked.

"Let her tell you," Claire said.

"I'll send you home, Spike," Ann said. "Put the Viper in the garage and if you don't want to be disturbed, don't answer any of the phones. Anyone seeing you or talking with you will wonder why you're so happy."

"It shows?"

"You're doing the Very light imitation again," Ann said, and waved him home.

***

Spike garaged the Viper, and went upstairs to the guest suite. Buffy had burrowed under the bedclothes, only the top of her head visible. He closed the curtains on the west and south windows.

Buffy stirred, rolling over and pushing at the blanket. He pulled the bedclothes away from her face, then brushed her hair back. He bent to kiss her forehead and quietly left the guest suite.

His own room was down the hall on the north side of the house. Usually he liked it. This morning, it seemed cold, empty, and too large. He poured himself a glass of wine, which promptly changed to brandy, his favorite serious drink. He drank it in one swallow, which was an insult to Ann's brandy, tossed his clothes at the closet, and went to bed.

Chapter 3 - Memory ...

***

In the guest suite, Buffy woke up. She sat up, looked around and frowned. She picked up her robe and put it on while she walked to the door. Down the hall, she opened Spike's door softly and walked inside.

Spike was sleeping soundly. Silently, she hung her robe in the closet, and draped her nightgown on the chair by the bed. She slipped in beside Spike, laid her head on his shoulder and her arm across his chest. Better, she thought, and slept.

***

"Buffy, this is not a good idea."

"This is a great idea. Shut up and kiss me again, Spike."

***

After Buffy slept again, Spike pulled on his robe and went looking for Ann. He found her in the library.

"Something weird just happened, Ann."

"I know," Ann said.

"You know? Good. I..."

After a long silence, Ann asked, "Yes?"

"She..."

Another silence. "Yes?"

Silence.

"All right," Ann said, "You listen, I'll talk: Buffy's almost twenty-one, she will be legally an adult on her next birthday. I think that you achieved your majority when you defied Glory to protect Dawn and that you even have the scars to prove it. As far as I'm concerned each of you is a consenting adult and if the two of you want one another, I'll support you."

"Ann, she came to my room. Before that, I hadn't touched her, well, maybe a kiss, but...."

"Going to you may be one of the few independent decisions she has been able to make since she became the Slayer."

"She said her name was Buffy."

"I know you would never hurt her, Spike, and it's obviously too late to remind you of what Claire said. Beyond that, I think the matter is entirely private to you and Buffy."

"Not everyone will agree with you."

"They won't bother me at all and they won't bother you in this house," Ann said flatly. "Is there a change in her mental state?"

"No."

"I'm going to fix lunch. Join me? Gang Long's back."

"We'll be down."

Spike went up to Buffy, still asleep in his bed. "Hey, sleepyhead. Wake up, Buffy."

"Umm," she said, slipping her arms around his neck.

He gave her a quick kiss. "Up," he insisted. "Ann is making lunch, it's two in the afternoon, and we should get up."

"You should come back to bed."

"Lunch," he said, pulling her up.

"Oh, all right." Buffy got up and went over to his closet. "Hey, look at this: it works here, too. Good. I've always wanted to own a kimono. This is nice, too. Do you like this dress?"

"What there is of it, yes, but I think jeans are more appropriate for today."

"It is sort of party clothes. Jeans it is, and a halter top. What are you going to wear?"

"Jeans, shirt, boots, you know, clothes."

"Ann always looks so good."

"So do you," Spike told her.

***

"Hi, Buffy," Gang Long said.

"Hi." Buffy seemed a little wary of Gang Long, but after greeting her calmly, he finished setting the table. Buffy relaxed.

Ann came in and everyone sat down. "I thought lobster salad, if no one is allergic."

"Good," Spike said.

"Yes," Buffy agreed.

"Buffy," Ann asked, "do you play Mahjong? We need a fourth."

"I think I did, once."

"We'll have a game after lunch. Then, I think I'll swim a while."

Ann had obviously briefed Gang Long: the two of them kept the conversation light and almost completely in the present. 'After lunch' was as far away in time as they touched on. They were careful to mention no one from Buffy's previous history. Ann discussed an art exhibit in San Francisco she had gone to some unspecified time ago, and Gang Long described surfing in Hawaii. Buffy stayed relaxed, and Spike managed to enjoy the meal.

"Let Spike and Gang Long clean up, Buffy. You and I will set up the Mahjong table." Ann picked up her wine glass and led Buffy to the library.

"I remember the rugs," Buffy said, looking down at the Isfahan and over at the Ardabil.

"They were gifts," Ann said. "I treasure them."

"Giles," Buffy fell silent for a moment, "Giles likes them, too."

"Giles has good taste. We'll need the four folding chairs from the cabinet by the computer," Ann said, setting up a bridge table.

"I'll get them."

Ann brought out Gang Long's bamboo and bone Mahjong set and began placing the tiles on the table. "We use American rules."

"There are others?"

"Oh, yes."

Buffy picked up one of the tiles and turned it over. "Is this old?"

"Not really, I got it for Gang Long back in 1920--something."

"That's old."

"Giles plays Mahjong, too. We should invite him to play some time."

"No hurry," Buffy said quickly.

"None at all," Ann agreed.

With only an occasional quick glance through the rule book, Buffy enjoyed the game. When the round was over, Ann said: "Buffy, you and Gang Long go swim. Spike will help me clean up here, then I'll join you in the pool."

"OK," Buffy said. "Spare suits are in the downstairs bathroom, right?"

"Yes, by the back door."

Buffy went to the downstairs bathroom.

"Do I have to wear a suit, Jingwu?"

"Yes, wear a suit," Ann said. "I'm going to."

"Oh, all right." Gang Long shifted to dragon, then to swimsuited boy and went directly to the pool terrace through the French doors in the north wall.

Ann turned to Spike: "She remembered Rupert for a moment, but didn't mention him again. There seems to be a lot of what we say that she doesn't want to hear, so she just tunes it out."

***

"Where'd they go?" Spike asked Gang Long.

"Jingwu went to the playroom and Buffy followed her."

***

"This is wonderful, Ann. Whenever you mentioned the playroom, I never imagined anything like this."

"Do you want a bag? I know you can use one."

"A punching bag? What for? Who uses the bars?"

"Gang Long is coaching Spike on the bars and on dagger work."

"I bet I can still remember the warm up routine from cheerleader practice," Buffy said.

"Go ahead," Ann invited. "I'm going to do some forms."

***

"I think I'll take a nap before dinner," Buffy said.

"We'll eat about 8:30. Gang Long wants roast demon again, but I think we'll have pheasant. Do you like pheasant?"

"I suppose. I like chicken, turkey, game hens, and even duck. Pheasant sounds interesting," Buffy said.

"Good. Pheasant with calvados and apples," Ann said.

"Spike, are you going to come nap?"

"Sounds good. I think I will."

"He'll join you in a minute, Buffy, go on up."

Spike watched Buffy go, then turned to Ann: "What?"

"This is curious," Ann said. "She shied away from the bag I installed for her. She ignored the weapons on the wall and the fact that you were practicing knife fighting. She said the forms I danced through looked very `martial arty,' and declined an offer to practice with a crossbow, saying she'd never used one. She did cheerleader routines--very athletic routines, but nothing resembling the Slayer's training I saw Rupert put her through."

"She wasn't happy being the Slayer, towards the end. She was talking about quitting. She seemed desperately unhappy about everything."

"As Claire said, there were things in her life she wanted changed and that appears to be one of them."

"Ann," Spike realized, "she hasn't mentioned vampires, she doesn't know I'm a vampire."

"What are you going to do about that?"

"Do I have to do anything?"

"Spike: your vampire status isn't just from her past, it's also your present. What do you think?"

***

That evening, Buffy watched as Spike prepared his pre-dinner cocktail of a beef bullion cube dissolved in vodka, mixed with Cambells canned blood and served with a dash of Tabasco sauce over ice in an old fashioned glass. "You really are a vampire," she said, reading the empty Cambells' can. "Aren't you?"

"Well, yeah. I've been one for years, over a century in fact."

"And your heart doesn't beat."

"Just as I showed you."

"And it doesn't have anything to do with that scar on your chest?"

"That's something else," Spike said.

"And you're not a vampire," Buffy said to Ann, "but you do other things."

"Yes," Ann said calmly.

"And Gang Long isn't a vampire."

"No."

"And I'm just a girl."

"Right," Spike said, carefully ignoring the faint frown Ann wore.

"OK."

***

"Spike, I've told Dawn you were up in Seattle--"

"Oh, hell, the party!"

"--and that you might not make it."

"No, I should go, I promised I would."

"I think so," Ann said. "Neither of us have seen anyone else from Sunnydale for four days. That may draw attention to us and our current problem."

"If we don't show up somewhere, they may come calling?"

"Certainly, a possibility. We can do without additional complications."

"How can we work this? We can't take Buffy, we can't leave her here alone, we can't tell Dawn or anyone in Sunnydale she's back."

"Spike, think a minute: Gang Long and the lions are here. She's safe here, with us or alone. We should talk to her."

"And say what?"

"Explain to her that you and I have a previous engagement, made before she came to stay here, that we should attend; but that it's going to be a really big party and we're sure Xander and Anya--who are friends of ours--wouldn't even notice one more guest."

"Yeah?"

"So why doesn't she come with us?"

"She probably won't want to go around that many people."

"And if she does, we'll take her with us."

"No!" Spike said at once.

"Why not?"

Spike thought quickly and produced the best reason he could: "Anya will never forgive us if we do. She doesn't like being upstaged."

"We'll show up two hours early and I'll do the buffet," Ann said. "I'll even stock their linen closet and the china cabinet."

"Bribe her, you mean."

"Yes," Ann said.

"That'll work," Spike admitted. "All right. We don't mention that Harris and Anya are friends of hers?"

"If she asks, certainly."

***

"Oh, no, thank you. I'll just watch TV."

"You might have a good time," Ann said.

"Maybe next time," Buffy said.

"All right. Here is something I've been meaning to give you."

"A cell phone. How nice. Thank you."

"You can call anyone you want."

"Like if the house is on fire?"

"9-1-1, yes. Or you can use this phone, it's a land line, or if you want to call your lawyer, you can use this one."

Buffy glanced at the large crystal in a silver-colored frame that stood on the shallow table behind the large sofa in the library. "That's a phone?"

"You touch it, and say the name of the person you want to talk with."

"I have a lawyer?"

"Yes. Nancy Polias is your family lawyer. Here's a list of people you may want to call, and which phone you can use to reach them most easily."

"I seem to know an awful lot of people," Buffy said. "Thank you." She folded the list and tucked it under the cell phone, which she left on the table beside the crystal phone.

***

Chapter 4 - Parties

"I don't have a housewarming present," the vampire said.

"The closet came up blank?"

"I didn't even try the closet, I just couldn't think of anything. What are you bringing?"

"Cookware. Tara and Willow say Anya wants to continue cooking."

"After those cookies?"

"We don't mention the cookies."

"May I raid the wine cellar? Does it turn out mundane vintages?"

"Mundane, but not pedestrian. Help yourself. Anya likes champagne."

***

"You're not losing a store manager, Giles, you're gaining a carpenter," Spike told him.

"We've had, god help us, bridal consultants cluttering up the shop. They insist I make the first toast."

"I'm sorry I missed them."

"I thought you were avoiding them on purpose."

**

"No cookie sheet?" Willow whispered to Ann.

"As it happens, one isn't included with this particular set."

"How hard did you have to look to find it?"

"Actually, I made this set myself," Ann said softly.

"Is that where you've been recently? We've scarcely seen you."

**

"So where have you been?" Dawn demanded.

"Vampire stuff. I wanted to talk some things over with Claire."

"Can she get that chip out?"

"She's still looking for a trustworthy surgeon."

"You said you'd help me with my German, Spike."

"Warum?"

"Because I've got homework, that's why."

"Tomorrow, at the shop. Remember, I don't do it for you, I just talk and correct it."

***

"Dawn needs help with her homework," Spike told Ann as he drove back to the house on Los Robles Road.

"No, she just misses you," Ann said. "She'll be very hurt if you drop her as soon as Buffy is back."

"Am I dealing with sibling rivalry here?"

"I think she wants to be liked for herself, not just as Buffy's adjutant."

"She's not. I do."

"So help her with her German," Ann said.

***

"I cooked four dinners in a row. I was thinking we'd go out tonight."

"In Sunnydale?" Spike frowned.

"No, San Francisco."

"And we'd get there how?"

"I'd move us."

"Ann," Spike started to protest. He looked at her, then asked: "Do you think she's ready for that much weirdness?"

"She's living with a vampire in a house with responsive closets," Ann reminded him.

"Neither of those is dangerous." He noticed her amused expression. "Which, I suppose, is your point."

"I already had this discussion with Mellisande and Rachel recently, about Tara. It's been ten days since she came here. Ready or not, I think Buffy has to be made more aware of her wider surroundings and some of the dangers therein," Ann said. "I'm not certain of her current Slayer status, but I do know we're still in Sunnydale, where weirdness abounds and where she has many enemies, and where, at some point, she may want to go for a walk. Imagine Buffy walking into Willy's tonight, not knowing what to expect or what to do."

"I take your point. Let me think about it. Where in San Francisco?"

"Chinatown. If you agree, suggest it to her."

***

"Spike says we're going out for dinner?"

"Yes. I'm tired of cooking."

"Will we see anyone I know?"

"Probably not. We're going to San Francisco."

"How fancy?"

"Like this," Ann said, and her clothes shifted to an Armani pantsuit: Green silk pleated pants and lapel-less jacket over a black V-necked silk blouse. "The closet should have something for you."

"I'll look." Buffy went upstairs.

***

Spike came out of the bathroom. Buffy was standing in front of the closet.

"Elegant," she said to the mirror. "And silk, if you can."

"Shoes," Spike said, grinning at her.

"Shoes, too," Buffy told the mirror, holding one bare foot up to it. She waited a minute, then opened the door. "Hey, Ferragamos. And Jil Sander. And Victoria's Secret. Good. Oh, my hair! What about my hair?"

"It looks fine, all clean and shinny."

"This is our first real date, isn't it?"

"Yes," the vampire said.

"I'm excited. Why haven't we ever gone out before?"

"We've been busy a lot."

"Well, I'm glad we have time now." Buffy put her hands on his shoulders and kissed him. "Now, get out of here while I get ready, I want to surprise you." She went to the bathroom door, looked in, and said, "Oh, cosmetics! I've missed lipstick." She disappeared behind the closed door.

***

"How did you ever find this place?" Buffy asked.

"I know the cook," Gang Long said.

"Will it be crowded?" Buffy asked, growing a little nervous.

"Probably not," Ann reassured her.

Buffy kept close to Spike as they entered the restaurant.

The hostess greeted Ann and Gang Long in what Buffy assumed was Chinese. Ann and Gang Long replied in the same language. After Gang Long spoke, the hostess laughed and led them to a table.

Ann switched to English: "And we leave the meal in your hands. We are moderately hungry and we all drink beer."

"We're ready to serve now, Jingwu."

"Very good."

The food relaxed Buffy. She found she could use chopsticks, which delighted her, and she rediscovered Chinese mustard, which made her eyes water. She didn't care for the jellied chicken feet, but she ate all the twice-cooked pork with sesame seeds and the cheese-filled wontons.

Spike stopped eating first, then Ann put down her chopsticks, but Buffy and Gang Long cleaned the platters and called for dessert.

Ann settled the bill and they left the restaurant.

On the street, Ann said, "We need to find a secluded spot, so we can get home without shocking the tourists."

"Teleportation," Buffy said. "Are you a witch, Ann?"

"No, but I can do anything a witch can do."

"Willow can't do anything like Spike's closet."

"I don't know if she's ever tried."

"You don't need a closet, do you?"

"The closets are for my guests," Ann said. "You made good use of the one in your room."

"Thanks. This was fun," Buffy said. "Next time, let's invite Willow and Tara along, too."

"Good idea. Next week, why don't we all go out for fish?"

"No rush."

"No rush at all. Here will do," Ann said

Gang Long grinned over at her, said: "Surfing, I'll be back tomorrow," and blinked out.

Ann moved Buffy and Spike to her foyer.

"I haven't seen Willow in a while," Buffy said.

"Shall I bring her over?" Ann said.

"No," Buffy said quickly. "No, it's late."

"She won't mind," Ann told the girl. "She'll be glad to see you."

"Another day. I think I'll go up now."

"We're going to have a nightcap, will you join us?"

"No, no thanks. Spike, don't be long." Buffy went upstairs.

Spike didn't watch her go, but walked into the library. Ann followed him. Silently, Ann handed him wine. The glass shifted to a brandy snifter and the red wine changed to a pale amber. He tossed it off. Not looking at Ann, he said: "I don't want you to meddle any more."

"Sod that," Ann said.

He jerked his head up and stared at her.

"Tell me you don't miss the Slayer."

"I don't miss the Slayer," Spike lied steadily. Ann smiled at him. He threw up his hands and turned away from her.

"The Buffy we have now would have made Joyce very happy and proud. She is beautiful, sweet tempered, athletic, clean, tidy, polite, a joy to have around the house, and a real danger to herself and her friends. Furthermore, she's not whom you fell in love with."

"I do love her."

"You love all of her, including the missing parts: the salt, the spice, the deftness with edged and pointed weapons. You didn't fall in love with the cheerleader, Spike; you fell in love with the Amazon."

"Yeah." He glanced at his glass. It had refilled and he emptied it again.

"Which is not the safest act in the world."

"Ann, she's happy. I don't think she's been happy since she became the Slayer. Look at the way she laughs and smiles."

"This is not an asylum for the happily ignorant; she is not a prisoner in my home. If she's an adult who can come to your bed, she's an adult who can leave whenever she wants. She can walk out or here tomorrow and probably get herself killed before she's been on her own for more than ten minutes. You know how exactly happy you would be if that happened again."

"It's not that simple."

"I say: If A, then B. And you've heard me expound on freewill enough to know I won't let you keep her here if she wants to leave."

"I know." He put his glass down next to the crystal phone, then wandered over to the computer, but did not sit down. "She wants to be with me. If she doesn't..." He turned back to Ann: "We could leave."

"Yes, you could. And the first human who tries to harm her?"

"Does," Spike said quietly, "because I couldn't stop him."

"Probably."

"What do you want to do?"

"If you agree, toward the end of the week, say Thursday, I ask Willow and Tara to come to swim and to stay for dinner."

"What does Claire say?"

"That I should let her make a choice, that I should provide her with an out, an escape option."

"How does that work?"

"You and Buffy can have dinner upstairs, in the west suite, if she doesn't want to join us after you tell her Tara and Willow are coming."

"And I tell her when?"

"Thursday after lunch, that afternoon sometime. Don't give her a long time to worry."

"And you tell Willow and Tara when?"

"I'll them only if Buffy agrees to come down and not until after they arrive. Willow will listen, understand and be centered again in twenty minutes. Tara will take a little longer."

"Why Thursday?"

"School holiday on Friday. Rupert won't be surprised or suspicious if the girls go on a brief break, away from the Magic Box or even away from Sunnydale. I may have to take them to Seattle to talk to Claire."

"Good point. All right."

"I have a late date in Taos. I'll be back in the morning."

"A one night stand?"

"Lindsay was in court longer than he estimated, and he's busy tomorrow, too." Ann ported out.

***

Chapter 5 - A Gathering of Friends

"Ann, isn't it a little cold for swimming?"

"Yes," Ann said. "So we're going to skip that part and get right to the talk."

"See, I told you. She always has an ulterior motive," Tara said.

"Still, dinner will be good," Willow said. "And we haven't seen Ann much at all lately."

"I would like each of you to promise that you won't talk about what I'm going to tell you until the second person joining us for dinner gives you permission, but we'll get to that later."

"Spike? What does he want?"

"It's not Spike, although he is featured in this story. Spike has been leaving roses in the alley where Buffy died."

"That's sweet," Tara said.

"That's not healthy," Willow said.

"That's fortunate," Ann said, "since it meant he was there when Buffy returned."

"Buffy's back?" Willow asked. "Buffy is back! Is she all right?"

"Wait. Are you sure it's Buffy? There are some nasty things that can mimic dead people."

"It's Buffy. That was the first thing I checked," Ann told Tara.

"When? When can we see her? When did she get back? Why didn't you answer about her being all right?" Willow asked.

"Because she's not all right. She has amnesia. A specific and selective amnesia: She has forgotten she was the Slayer."

"She really didn't like being the Slayer, the last few months she was alive. Would that be enough to do it?" Tara asked.

"Claire thinks it might."

"You've talked to Claire? It's really serious, then," Willow said.

"Yes. Claire agrees that it's serious. I talked to her again recently about bringing you in. Buffy wanted me to promise not to tell anyone she is here, but I agreed to only a week's seclusion."

"She's been back a week? And hasn't wanted to see us?"

"She was afraid you'd fuss at her," Ann said. "The way you appear to be fussing now."

"Well, I'm sorry, but I'm in shock," Willow snapped.

"Which is why she's upstairs and won't come down until we're all calm again. You can fuss at me all you want, for as long as you want, but you won't see Buffy until you've chilled."

"That's a good idea," Willow said. "But as I said, I'm in shock."

"Has she said why she came back?" Tara asked.

"We haven't asked and she hasn't volunteered that information."

"Why did you pick us?" Willow asked.

"We all went out to dinner a couple of days ago, and Buffy said the next time we go, we should invite you two to come along."

"You've been taking her out to dinner? Out in public?"

"Protected by me, Spike and Gang Long, yes."

"Has she asked about Dawn?"

"No, and Claire said not to press her about people or events she doesn't mention first. She's mentioned you two and Rupert."

"Is he coming tonight?"

"I thought three people at once would be overwhelming."

"You're probably right, but, Ann: Giles misses her, too."

"I know. I'll talk to her about him soon."

"How is she physically?"

"I think she's stronger that ever. It's difficult to judge, since her only exercise is cheerleader routines."

"Oh, dear," Willow said.

"Yes," Ann said.

"So what are we doing tonight?" Tara asked. "I mean, if we can't talk about what happened and we can't mention anyone we know, what do we talk about?"

"You can mention people you know, just don't insist that she knows them, too. As for topics, choose almost anything: Gardening this summer, the quilt that wouldn't stop, the unfortunate incident of the cookies. Avoid using the word remember and also avoid any story involving fighting or weapons."

"We all agreed not to mention the cookies," Tara said.

"Campus concerts this summer? The terrible summer movies? Like that?"

"Yes. Current classes are also fine," Ann said.

"We've never talked about that sort of stuff. Oh, damn."

"And how is she getting along with Spike? Is he still here?" Tara asked.

"That's right," Willow said. "I mean he's a vampire, does she remember about vampires?"

"She knows Spike is a vampire, but she seems to have forgotten everything she used to believe about vampires. After all, Spike is not an average vampire, but he is the only example we have at the moment."

"Oh, this is just too weird."

"Very much so," Ann said. "So do you want to stay for dinner?"

"Yes, of course," Willow said. "Can we? Am I unfussy enough?"

"You'll do fine. Now, Spike told her you were coming to dinner, and she agreed that I could tell you about her and that she would join us. I don't want either of you to tell anyone else without checking with her. I think she needs to be in control of more aspects of her life."

"What does Claire say?"

"Go slowly. She is of the opinion that the intervention you performed in the spring was an adequate patch for a difficult situation, but a slower therapy may result in a more thorough, more permanent, cure."

"OK," Willow said.

"Claire also says that if you want to consult with her, you can come to breakfast tomorrow. I'll port you there and back."

"I'd like that," Tara said.

"Good," Ann said. "We're having crab cocktail, turkey and four mushroom casserole on green noodles, braised endive aux amandes and cherry tarts with rum."

"See, I told you," Willow told Tara. "Dinner is going to be excellent."

"I'll go call Buffy," Ann said and left the library.

***

"Hi, Buffy," Willow said.

"Hi, Will. Nice pants." Buffy was a little stiff. Spike could see she was tense, but she handled meeting Willow calmly, at least on the surface.

"Low, low hip huggers," Willow said. "You look good." Willow was also stiff. She was careful to be restrained in her manner and to let Buffy set the tone of their meeting.

"Ann has these magic closets," Buffy explained. "No wonder she always looks so good."

"She cheats," Willow agreed.

"Please sit down," Ann smiled, taking the head of the table.

Spike sat facing from her, with Buffy beside him. Willow sat across from Buffy, with Tara beside her, at Ann's right.

"So where's Gang Long tonight, Ann?" Buffy asked.

"Australia again," Ann said. "Apparently it's the season for high surf."

"Did you know," Willow asked the table, "that sundials in Australia go backwards?"

"Yes," Spike said.

"No," Buffy said.

"Can you explain why?" Ann asked, smiling at the Witch and the vampire.

Spike and Willow, using a daisy from the centerpiece, most of the knives and the coaster from Spike's cocktail, demonstrated the difference between northern hemisphere sundials and southern hemisphere sundials. Buffy relaxed and even Tara smiled.

***

There were some awkward moments:

"He cooked for you?" Willow asked, glancing over at Spike.

"He said he'd been watching Ann and Señora Rivera cook and he thought he could boil an egg." Buffy smiled at Spike. "Who's Señora Rivera, anyway?"

"Dawn's and Giles's housekeeper," Tara said.

"She's a really good cook," Willow said.

"She's the mother of a vampire friend of mine," Ann said.

"I guess there could be more than one vampire, couldn't there?" Buffy asked.

"Yeah, there are more of us," Spike said. "And not all of us are as nice as I am, remember."

**

"So what else have you been doing, Buffy?" Tara asked.

"There are haiku bulletin boards on the net, did you know? I've been reading them. Ann has a lot of books of haiku, and I've even tried to write one--but it's not ready to be read yet."

"OK."

"Are you thinking taking that poetry class again next semester?" Willow asked.

"No," Buffy said at once and more firmly than the topic deserved.

"Next semester isn't till next year," Ann said. "You may change your mind by then."

"Maybe," Buffy said.

**

"Whose cell phone?" Willow asked, picking it up off the floor and putting it on the table.

"Oh, mine probably," Buffy said. "I leave it all over the place.

"I found it in the refrigerator the other day," Ann said.

"Yes, it's mine. Ann taped those numbers on the back for me. She's really sort of insistent about me carrying it."

"Well," Willow said, "you may want to call someone, sometime."

"Sure," Buffy said. "Sometime."

***

"Scrabble or Mahjong?"

"Scrabble," Buffy said. "Gang Long doesn't play Scrabble, and I've wanted a change from Mahjong."

"Fine," Willow said.

"All seven letters and a double word score."

"No personal names!"

"Is that a formal challenge?" Spike asked.

"Uh..."

"Challenge or accept."

"Challenge," Buffy said.

"Bartlett: a widely grown type of pear," Tara read.

"Capitalized?"

"No, I've seen both bartlett and anjou uncapitalized."

"Oft. uncap." Tara continued.

"Oh, shoot," Buffy said.

"Oh! Oh!" Willow said. "I can use the `t' and the `r': Theocracy! Triple word score and using all my letters."

As Willow started to add up her score, Ann's large crystal phone started a rapid chiming and flashing.

Ann ported into her library and touched the face of the phone.

"Ann, Ann, ANN!"

"Hold on, Cordy," Ann said. Cordelia Chase appeared in the room. Ann caught her, lowering her to the floor. "I'm here."

Willow left the Scrabble table and ran to the dining room.

Cordelia was clutching her head and sobbing. "It's bad."

"What, honey? You know you can tell us anything. Tell us," Ann was gentle with Cordelia.

Spike left the room.

"Glory's family! They've found out who killed her."

"Who killed Glory?" Buffy asked, looking confused and shocked. "I didn't, did I?"

"No," Tara answered. "It was Giles."

"They want to kill him," Cordy was saying. "And take back Dawn."

Buffy's face cleared. "Well, they won't," the Slayer said, standing up.

Willow ran back in with a glass of wine and handed it to Ann.

"Drink this," Ann told Cordelia. The phone started ringing again. "Get that, will you, Buffy, someone? Come on, Cordy, all of it."

Buffy touched the crystal. Angel appeared in the phone. "Is Cordy there? Is she all right?"

"Oh, hi, Angel. Yes, Ann's giving her something."

"Buffy. You're back."

Spike returned and handed Ann a damp napkin.

"Yes. Excuse me, I have to change clothes. Talk to Spike." Buffy ran out the door. As she went, she heard Spike saying:

"Angel, Cordelia's all right, just the usual headache, and that's fading."

"How many of them are there, Cordy?" Ann asked softly.

"Two and groupies. Lots of groupies." Cordelia struggled to sit up. Ann helped her to the chair in front of the computer, and handed her the damp napkin. "Lots and lots of groupies, and soon."

"Fine," Ann said. "We'll deal with them. You don't need to worry about them anymore. I'll send you home, all right?"

"I guess." Cordelia wiped her face.

Ann went to the phone. "Angel, Cordy's coming home. We'll get back to you." She touched the phone off. "Here," she handed Cordy a split of wine and a small package. "Wine, and some of the fancy lemon drops Claire gives Angel. She thinks they'll work with you."

"Was that Buffy?"

"Yes. She's back."

"Tell me what happens," Cordy said.

"Yes," Ann said, waving the girl back to Los Angeles. She turned to Spike: "So now we may know why Buffy returned. I'm fetching Rupert and moving Dawn. This is for Buffy, and this is for you." She handed the vampire a sword and a long knife.

Spike left the library and went upstairs.

"Tara," Ann said, "Decide if you stay or go. We'll be right back." She disappeared.

"Stay," Willow said, getting her backpack and removing some necessary ingredients.

"Stay," Tara agreed.

***

Chapter 6 -- Maneuver...

Spike went up to his room, where Buffy was taking a pair of sturdy boots out of the closet. She tossed them on the bed beside a leather jacket and pants. She had her Slayer look back. "This is for you," he said, handing her the sword, complete with belt and sheath.

She tossed it on the bed beside the boots and the jacket. "I'm going to Giles's," she said. "Will you drive me?" She pulled on the black leather pants.

"Ann's bringing him here and moving Dawn somewhere safe."

"What do you mean? Dawn's safe with my dad." She looked at Spike. "Dawn is with my dad, isn't she? Spike?"

"Dawn is probably being driven to her lawyer by their housekeeper."

"Her who? Their what? Wait! Señora Rivera! Dawn's housekeeper?"

"Yes. It's complicated, but after Ann and Nancy Polias forged Joyce's new will, they said Giles and Dawn needed a housekeeper. For appearances' sake."

"Faith's lawyer is also Dawn's lawyer?"

"Yes. Ann said it would be easier to establish a will written by a reputable but out-of-town lawyer who was agreeable to some mild chicanery in a good cause. Nancy can also protect a client even more strongly than Ann can protect Tara. Dawn will be the safest of us all."

"Why driving? Why didn't Ann just move them?"

"She says teleporting Dawn is a bad idea."

"Why? No! Later," Buffy said. "We'll talk later."

"OK." Spike drew the knife. "Oh...," he said.

At Spike's awed voice, Buffy looked over at the knife. It was a dagger, about as long as her forearm and it seemed to be made of cold flame. It was green, actually many shades of green, ranging from very pale at the edges to near black around the center rib. "Did she make that?"

"Probably." Spike strapped the sheath on to his right arm and slid the dagger into it. He took a short leather jacket out of the closet and put it on, checking the sleeve width around the wrist. The hilt was almost unnoticeable and readily available. "That's good."

Buffy took up the sword and drew it. It was obviously made by the same weapons smith. The sword was light for its length and wonderfully balanced. It was sharp on both sides of the tip for about ten inches, and was single edged from there back to the hilt. This weapon was ice colored, pale gray-blue at the tip and the edge, shading through blue to black along the back. The hilt was black and the crosspieces steel gray. "How did she know I can use a sword? All she's seen me use are stakes and crossbows."

"I believe Angel mentioned it," Spike said.

"That one was a stick, compared to this. When did you and Angel start being civil to each other?"

"At your funeral."

"At some point, I want to hear every detail." Buffy sheathed the sword and pulled on her boots.

"Sure. I'm going to call Gang Long," the vampire said, heading out the door.

"Why? If he's safely away, leave him alone."

"He's not just a boy. He eats demons. It's his job. Oh, and remember I said there are lions here?"

"Yes, but I didn't understand."

"They'll all help. Slayer, this is probably the best defended house in Sunnydale, at least against demons." Spike left.

***

Gang Long ported into the library. He was in dragon shape. "Demons," he said, his long red tongue flicking out and in.

"Lots of them, according to Cordelia Chase," said Spike.

"Here's Giles," Willow said, looking into the foyer.

Giles walked over to the stairs, sat down and put on his shoes. "Ah, Spike, Willow. Ann says Glory's family is after me. Hello, Tara."

"So we're told. Buffy," Spike called up the stairs. "Giles is here." Giles stared at him, then up the stairs.

The Slayer came down. She was carrying the sheathed sword, but put it down to hug him.

Giles paled. Buffy pulled back and looked at him. "She didn't tell you?"

"I...." Giles sat back down. This time, it was Spike who went for a glass of wine. Buffy sat down beside her Watcher.

"It's me. I'm back, my memory's back. She should have warned you."

"She may have. I woke up fully to find Carlotta Rivera and Dawn running down the stairs and Ann briefing me as I was trying to dress. Then she sent me here. Thank you."

Spike handed Giles the wine, which shifted to single malt. Giles drank it.

"Where's Dawn now?" Buffy asked.

"Señora Rivera is driving her to Nancy's, wherever that is. Ann wouldn't tell me, in case we lose tonight."

"You forged Mom's will?" Buffy asked.

"We were considerably upset, all of us. Dawn didn't want to leave Sunnydale. Ann and Nancy arranged it."

"Where's Ann?" Tara asked.

"She went on to Xander's and Anya's."

"Gang Long," the vampire said. "Do the lions need to be alerted?"

"I'll go tell them. They may want to move the cubs." The long ported out.

"What is this with lions?" Buffy asked.

"Guardian lions," Giles said. "What most people call Fu dogs. Dawn likes the cubs."

"They like her," Willow said.

Gang Long and two huge curly-maned lions ported in. Buffy recognized them as the statues from driveway gate. Now they were walking and were jade-colored, one very light lilac and the other palest milky green. OK. Buffy decided to think about them later.

Ann ported into the foyer. She looked over at Gang Long and the lions: "Good. We are sufficiently private here that you may join in the fighting if you wish."

"In our own forms?" the green lion asked. Buffy stared. Walking statues were strange enough, but talking, walking statues were even stranger. On the other hand, it was Ann's house and strange things happened here all the time.

"Certainly," Ann said. She raised her head, listening, then Anya and Xander appeared. He was holding a crystal vial, which he immediately held to his nose and sniffed. He seemed to wait for something. When nothing happened he grinned, capped the vial and put it into his pocket. "Buffy. She meant it."

"Xander," the Slayer said, hugging him.

Ann nodded. "Now," she said. "Cordelia Chase's vision shows Glory's family and groupies coming here after Giles and Dawn. I assume she means the other Hell Gods, Glory's father and son, and more minions. Three sets of enemies. I think I'm best used against the senior god. The junior god, the war god, is for Buffy. The rest of you, Tara, Willow, the shouyu, Xander, Anya, Spike, Gang Long, protect Giles, keep the minions from stabbing me or Buffy in the back and kill all minions you can."

"Sounds good," Buffy said. "War god?"

"More or less. Soldier's god," Ann's voice held distaste. "Army god. He's not as strong here as he is in his home dimension, or as strong as one of the free local gods. You're stronger now than you ever have been, Buffy, stronger than you ever will be again. At the moment, you are very nearly as strong as either of them."

"They still defeated Glory," Xander pointed out. "I mean we did too, but just barely and it took all of us and a wrecking ball."

"It took both of them and an army," Ann said. "It is very possible they are overconfident, since Glory died when Ben was presenting, Ben being only human and easy to kill. They may think we are a walk-over. I would like you, Gang Long, and the shouyu," she turned to the huge lions with a graceful inclination of her head, "to be concealed at first. Show yourselves after the fighting starts, then do what seems good to you. Do you want me to send the cubs away?"

"Send them to Claire's, please, Jingwu," the lilac lion said. "Despite their opinions, they are too young to deal with kuangmei, although they are advanced for their age."

Ann nodded and waved one hand. "Buffy, keep the sword sheathed until they confront us. Spike, the knife too."

"Are they good against gods?" Spike asked. "Or just demons?"

"Both," Ann said. "One thing, Buffy. As in some fairy tales you may have read, if you don't kill him outright; if you just wound him and he begs to be freed of his pain, don't, do not, strike him again. Everyone remember that."

"You don't have your sword," Willow said.

"Not this time," Ann said. She smiled over at Gang Long, who grinned back at her. "Guns for everyone else, I think. These will work well against the minions. Don't bother trying to hurt either of the gods with them."

"Uzis," Xander said. "Good. Anya, I'm setting yours for single shot. You get excited."

"Only when people are trying to hurt me. I don't deal well with pain."

"So where so we find them?" Buffy asked.

"They'll come here," Ann said. "When they don't find any of you in Sunnydale, they'll find this address and they'll come here. I left a note on the front door on Ravello and on Tara's and Willow's."

"Slaughter and maneuver," Buffy said, and smiled at Ann.

Ann smiled back and said, "Exactly. I want to disguise you a bit, Buffy. They don't know you're back."

"They've never seen me."

"The minions may have."

"All right."

Ann put her hands together over Buffy's head, spread them and moved them down the girl's sides to Buffy's feet.

"Wow," Willow said. "That's good."

"Can I see?" Buffy asked.

"Only until you draw the sword."

Buffy looked in the mirror by the closet. "I like the eyes," she said.

"You and Liz Taylor," Spike said.

"Spike!" Willow said.

"A very young Liz Taylor," he said. "You never saw her when she was young."

"He's right," Ann laughed. "I copied her eyes."

Chapter 7 -- ...and Slaughter

"Cars," the pale green lion said.

"We will fight on the terrace," Ann said.

Gang Long nodded and he and the lions walked out the back door.

"Do we go to meet them?" Giles said.

"Half-way," Ann said.

"Cars?" Buffy said. "That always bothered me. The minions are just minions, I mean it's surprising they are able to read and drive, but not surprising that they have to drive if they want to get somewhere, but why didn't Glory move around the way you and Gang Long do?"

"She never bothered learning? I don't know what went on in her mind, Buffy. I do know human magicians can learn teleportation, so it should not have been beyond her. It does require effort, however, and she did strike me as lazy as well as irresponsible." Disapproval was plain in Ann's voice. "She spent a lot of energy keeping that face beautiful, both those faces beautiful; which just shows that vanity is stupid, even in gods. Especially in gods."

As she had been speaking, Ann led the way out the back door, to the terrace by the pool. Gang Long and the lions were nowhere to be seen.

Ann had not bothered setting up for the forgotten swimming party, so the tables, chairs and lounges were in the storage sheds, leaving the wide flagstone paved terrace bare.

Stone benches made a boundary on the north side of the terrace, above the steepest slope of the hill the house occupied. Below, the terrain had been left natural--a lot of blackberry vines and a few small oaks grew in the lowest folds of the hill. The hill sloped more gently away to the east and west, where there was a narrow stone path leading around the house to the side of garage.

Ann didn't use the torches that she preferred for entertaining, but flipped the switch. The harsh exterior lighting came on. The swimming pool, located in the east half of the terrace, glinted black under the bright artificial lights.

They heard at least two cars stop in front of the garage. Doors slammed shut.

There was a long delay.

"I hate an unpunctual god," Xander muttered. Spike grinned at him.

Finally: "Get out of the way!" a voice roared.

"Yes, you heard his pre-eminence. Get out of the way!"

"I meant you, idiot."

"Yes, of course, ten thousands apologies...aargk."

A minion peeked around the north end of the house, saw the assembled humans, and ducked back. "This way, your mutual eminences. Not that way, this way."

"You idiot," another voice roared.

Around the south-west corner of the house, came two tall human figures, each surrounded by a herd of minions.

As the parade reached the light, Buffy saw the human in the lead was a tall, Roman-looking man, wearing an all black toga, pulled up over his head like a shawl. The toga was so long it trailed on the ground, without getting in the least dusty. The Julius Caesar bangs on his forehead were inky black against his skin.

Most of the minions surrounding this god wore tattered black robes, but there were a few brown robed minions scattered among the black robes.

The second human figure was as blond as Glory and in a masculine way just as beautiful. His head was leonine, with tawny shoulder length hair. He was tanned a warm gold color and had slim, dark, curving eyebrows and prominent and wide cheekbones. Under a full mouth that hinted at petulance, his pointed chin had a faint cleft. He wore an ornate breast plate, with armlets and a skirt of red leather straps, heavily adorned with gold fleurs-de-lis and other metal flourishes. He was surrounded by minions in ragged dark red robes. He also had a small number of brown robed followers.

"The elder is Ligulf," Ann said softly.

"How do you know that?" Giles said.

"Berengar's employer's library."

"Armor?" Buffy said.

"Ignore it," Ann said. "The sword will. That is Gavius, Glory`s son."

"Which one?" Gavius said. "Who killed my sister?" He had a beautiful voice, like Richard Burton's in that old movie about Alexander the Great.

"Don't listen, Buffy," Ann said softly.

Buffy jerked and looked away from Gavius.

"Sister?" Willow asked.

"It's complicated," Ann said.

"Or at least sordid," Tara said. "Yuck."

"The old, tall, skinny male," a brown robed minion said. "That one." It pointed at Giles.

"And where is the Key?" Ligulf asked. His voice, when not yelling at his minions, was calm and reasonable.

"She is not present, my lord. Perhaps she is within the dwelling."

"Fetch her," Ligulf ordered.

The minion, ignoring Buffy and everyone else, tried to pass around them to the back door. "Willow," Buffy said softly.

The Witch spoke one word and clapped her hands. The minion froze, petrified. Willow repeated the word and clapped again. Another minion became a statue.

Gavius drew his sword and walked towards Willow.

Buffy drew the sword from the sheath and tossed the sheath aside. Her disguise vanished. The god's head swiveled around and he stared at the naked blade. His eyes flicked up to her face, and he frowned as if he were puzzled.

"The Slayer," a brown robed minion said.

"You said she was dead," Gavius said, sounding extremely annoyed.

"I was," Buffy said. "Now, I'm back." Everything else fell away from Buffy's attention. Only Gavius mattered.

Spike glanced at Buffy and saw the Slayer, finally completely restored. He looked around the terrace, not wanting to interfere with Ann's or Buffy's actions.

Ann's clothing shifted to red and black tunic and loose pants as she walked forward. She started whispering. Ligulf turned and looked at her. His hands came up and he made a small gesture.

Ann's hands rose, palms out. She paused, then resumed walking. She never stopped whispering.

Minions continued to arrive, coming around the corner of the garage in monotone groups. Xander moved ahead of Willow and Tara and fired a short burst into the group of multicolor-robed minions directly in back of Gavius and Ligulf. Giles came up beside him and also fired.

"Look," Tara said. She was watching Ann and Ligulf.

"I knew she was strong," Willow said. "I didn't know she was that good."

"What do you see?" Spike said. He didn't see anything beyond Ann walking slowly forward.

"Magic," Tara said. "They're fighting with magic."

"It's like two thunder clouds," Willow said. "Dark clouds lit from the inside with lightning. Sometimes, the lightning from one cloud hits the other."

"Witch sight," Spike said. "Ann didn't know if vampires had it or not. We don't, not the way you two do." He drew his knife and glanced east, past the library end of the house. The lions were there, mauling a force of minions that had tried to flank them. Gang Long ran north, through the air, then swooped down the back side of the hill. That end looked under control and Spike checked on Buffy again.

Two minions were circling around Buffy, moving between the two gods and her and Ann, trying to get at her back. Xander and Giles didn't have a clear shot. Spike intercepted one and, intending to stab it, sliced it nearly in half. Yeah, it was good against demons. Ann did marvelous work. He turned to the second one. It fought, but Filis's and Gang Long's coaching in knife technique were very much to the point. Good thing I listened to Filis, Spike thought, killing it slightly more neatly than he had the first.

A minion stuck its ugly head out of the blackberry bushes that grew on the lower slopes on the north side of the hill. It scrambled up, away from the horrible dragon that was eating its friends.

Spike saw it arrive on the hill top behind Ann and look around, then its gaze settled on Ann. Spike ran over to it and kicked it back. It fell, arms and legs flailing, into another minion and took them both down the hill. Two others managed to avoid the falling pair and gain the hill top. Spike stabbed one and sliced the other. He heard Gang Long roaring but couldn't see the long at all.

More minions wearing all three colors of robes started straggling up onto the terrace from the north side of the hill.

A minion opened the back door. Tara noticed it, spoke the word and clapped her hands. She moved around behind Willow, who kept facing west and north, stoning any minion Giles, Xander and Anya didn't shoot. Tara had a clear view of the east end of the house as well as the back door, so she was ready when minions began swarming out of the library's French doors.

Their first rush carried many of them across the flag stones into the pool. Apparently, none of them could swim. Tara froze the most of the rest as they turned west and came toward Ann's and Buffy's backs. The ones Tara missed ducked back inside the library.

Spike could see Ann's lips moving, but could not hear what she was saying. She was sweating and her hands had developed a tremor. Ligulf, about three yards away from her, glanced over at the vampire and gestured. Spike felt a wave of coldness sweep over him, but nothing else. Ann took a step forward.

Spike checked his body, he could move, he still didn't have a heartbeat, so he assumed he was still a vampire, and he still had his knife. He didn't know what had just happened. Neither did the god, he realized, as the god glanced at him again. Ann took another step.

The god's eyes flicked back to her, and he gestured again, this time at Ann.

Nothing happened to Ann, but that didn't seem to bother Ligulf, who just shrugged.

A noise from downhill arrested Spike's attention. He looked down the side of the hill, checking for more minions. He caught a glimpse of Gang Long, galloping counter-clockwise around the hill, heading for the shallower slope up to the driveway. The hill seemed clear of minions at least at the moment, and Spike turned back to Buffy, who was still fighting.

Willow pushed at the pile of stoned minions, sending it flying across the flagstones past Buffy, straight at into the area around Gavius's feet. Gavius yelled and jumped over the moving heap, which went beyond him and down the back of the hill.

Ligulf glanced over at the Witches and gestured again.

Ann's hand moved, waving from the Witches to Gavius. Gavius yelled again and this time staggered back.

Buffy started forward but Gavius did a forward somersault, the tip of his sword cutting down Buffy's cheek

Buffy ignored her wound, caught Gavius' sword on her own and pressed it to one side, thrusting forward at the same time. Gavius leapt back to avoid the thrust but took a wound on the left arm as Buffy changed to a quick slash. The sword split the leather armlet as if it had not been there. Gavius looked surprised at the wound and howled his pain and rage.

Three minions popped out of the back door at once. Tara got two, but the third grabbed her hand, preventing the final part of the spell. Spike raced across the terrace, dodging the stoned minions still littering the middle part of the battlefield, and sliced its head off with a single stroke, his vampire strength with the knife's marvelous sharpness making a deadly combination. Blood sprayed over Tara and Willow.

"Oh, yuck," Tara said, and, turning away from Spike, vomited.

"Not now," Spike told her.

"I'll be sick if I want," Tara managed to snap at him. She felt around in her pack, locating smelling salts and used them. She dropped the vial, said the word and clapped her hands, then she said, "Behind you."

Spike turned back and saw a stone minion blocking most of the main back door. He left it there. The minions behind it were at a severe disadvantage now. Spike stabbed one, and its corpse added to the blockade.

Tara came up beside him, speaking the word and clapping her hands until the minions inside were all stoned.

Ann took another step forward. Her clothes were soaked in sweat, her hair damp and limp, her arms were visibly trembling. She continued to whisper.

Ligulf was still grave and haughty, although he was no longer smiling and the hair on his forehead was slightly damp with sweat. He glanced at Gavius, then at Buffy. He caught Gavius's eye and raised his hand.

Spike, watching the god, realized he was going to try to attack Buffy with that same attack that had proved so ineffective against Spike and Ann. Two immortals, Spike thought suddenly. Buffy was wholly mortal. He ran past Buffy and got between her and Ligulf in time to catch most of what Ligulf was casting before it hit Buffy. Again he felt the cold sensation, but he was still moving.

Buffy's sword arm and the toes of her right foot went cold and unresponsive. She fell, losing her sword. Gavius laughed and raised his sword. Spike lunged at him. The god's eyes left Buffy briefly to try to backhand the vampire away.

Spike dodged the blow, threw his knife to Buffy, who caught it left handed, surged up to her knees and stabbed the knife up into the god's chest.

Gavius stared at the knife, at the Slayer, and pulled his sword back to stab. Spike swiveled on one hip and kicked Gavius's sword out of his hand. Ligulf looked over at his companion. Willow and Tara clasped hands. Willow made a tube of her free hand and whispered through it. Ligulf flung one hand up against Willow and staggered. Ann stepped forward, still whispering, and touched his forehead.

Ligulf froze, becoming a classical statue, his black toga and hair changing to white marble.

Ann breathed deeply, then again, and touched the god's chest, over his heart.

Ligulf fell apart, like an over-dry beach sculpture, into a pile of fine dust.

Ann took a third breath and blew it out on the pile, which whirled away and was gone.

Chapter 8 -- Oldest is Fate

The remaining minions shouted in dismay, then stood very still. The lions came around the library and sat down, watching them. Gang Long stepped on bodies and fallen statues as he came from the driveway. He stopped in back of the remaining group of minions, hissing faintly to announce his arrival.

Gavius, looking down at the dagger in his chest, moaned in pain. He fell on his side and curled around the knife. "Finish me," he whispered. "I can't stand the pain."

"Well, no, of course not," Anya said. "Pain hurts. Everyone knows that."

Spike came over and held his hand out to Buffy, who took it and rose to her feet. She walked over to her sword and picked it up. Her hand was still tingling, but it functioned.

"Put me out of my misery. It's the only humane action you can take."

"I'm a vampire," Spike pointed out.

"Don't let me suffer!"

"Ann, can I get my knife back?" Spike called over to her. Buffy was cleaning her sword on the robes of a dead minion.

"Give him his knife," Ann ordered Gavius. She was stretched out on the ground with an arm over her eyes.

"Ann," Giles said "Are you all right?"

"I will be," Ann said, sitting up. She froze a moment, listening. She sighed. "I have to report in," she said, and blinked out.

"And what are we supposed to do with these guys?" Xander demanded.

"I can take care of them," Gang Long said. "You may want to go inside," he advised.

"We'll wait a while, before you start a feeding frenzy," Willow told the dragon.

"All right. Couple of minutes?"

"At least an hour," the Witch said firmly.

"The noise that one is making is really annoying," Anya said, indicating Gavius.

"I can fix that," Gang Long said.

"Ann said we can't hit him again," Buffy said.

"I suppose that includes eating him," Anya said. "Too bad," she told the dragon.

Ann ported in. "I have to let you go."

"What!" Gang Long said.

Spike looked over at Ann: "Talk about snatching a stalemate from the jaws of victory. What are those feckless thugs thinking?"

Ann looked disgusted with something or someone and did not answer the dragon or the vampire. "You are declared persona non grata," she told the demon god on the ground. "Willow, we'll need to open a temporary gate, can you?"

The Witch swallowed. "Yes. If you can handle the coordinates and Tara can help with the energy."

"Tara?"

"I won't be able to keep it open for very long."

"Hear that?" Ann addressed Gavius and his minions. "Get ready. The gate opens, you go through. Whoever is left here when it shuts is eaten by the long and the shouyu. Understand?"

A bier appeared and Gavius was carefully place on it by some red robed minions. Other minions picked up the bier.

Ann glanced over at Gavius. Spike's knife left the god's body and appeared in Ann's hand. She checked that it was free of ichor and handed it back to the vampire.

Gavius looked at the knife, looked at Buffy's sword, looked at Ann: "When did you become a lackey of the powers that be?"

Ann have a short, unamused laugh. "Eldest of all is Fate, who rules both gods and men and who occasionally indulges in a very low sense of humor." She made no further response to the god, but bent to remove a flagstone from the center of the terrace, revealing a silver circle inlayed in the earth.

Willow looked at Tara, who nodded. Tara moved behind Willow and chanted softly. Willow brought her hands together about waist level, slowly spreading and raising them, until she seemed to be holding an invisible ball with a radius the length of her arm. Tara's hands came up to rest on Willow's shoulders. Willow's hands turned, palms facing out, and she pushed at the air in front of her.

A glowing ring moved away from her, growing larger and brighter. Ann caught it, rotated it and lowered it gently.

"Step through," Ann said, as the lower edge of the ring touched the silver circle set in the ground. The remaining minions, mostly red robed, but with a few black and brown robes among them, some carrying Gavius on his bier, silently walked through the glowing ring

When the last minion was gone, Willow brought her hands down and together with a very soft clap. She sat down suddenly on the ground. Tara bent over her, helping her to her feet.

"Gang Long, please bring me the picnic basket from the Mercedes."

"All right, Jingwu."

"Anya, put the safety on. No, let me." Xander removed the Uzi from Anya's hands. "There."

"That was fun," the ex-demon said. "I want to do it again."

"I'm not sure this was a good idea," Xander said.

"We smell," Willow realized.

"And we're sticky," Tara agreed. "Spike got minion blood all over us. My hair."

A car drove down the driveway. Gang Long, coming back as a boy, said, "A bunch of minions escaped. Shall the lions and I chase them?"

"Leave them," Ann said. "We can hunt them down later." She replaced the flagstone, covering the silver circle.

"I had the strangest image," Xander said. "The way the minions kept coming, I imagined them arriving in clown cars."

"Oh, that's scary," Willow said. "I never liked those things. Not clowns, clowns are OK, but I kept thinking the cars started out normal sized, then shrank around the passengers."

"That's awful. I'm going to dream about that, I just know it," Tara said.

Gang Long opened the basket and removed a bottle of Ann's champagne. He opened it and filled one of the crystal flutes. Ann took it and drained it. "Ah. That's better." Her hands were shaking less as she held the empty glass out. Gang Long filled it again. Spike handed Buffy a flute and opened another bottle. After filling Buffy's glass, he handed the bottle to Xander and took out the rest of the glasses. There weren't enough to go around, but they could share. Ann sipped her second glass and seemed much restored.

Spike opened another bottle and refilled Buffy's glass. He didn't give it back to her, but wet his finger and started to trace the cut on her cheek. She jerked her head away and glared up at him.

"Stop that," she snapped, stepping back from him.

"Buffy?" Spike asked. "What's the matter?"

"Buffy," Ann's voice cut in, "what is the last thing you remember before this fight?"

"Diving through the hole in the sky."

"Nothing else?" Spike asked.

"Like what?" Buffy asked.

"Where you were, before today," Willow said, firmly grabbing Spike's arm.

"I was there," Buffy said. "Now, I'm here."

Spike looked down at Willow. He was the only one who heard her silent whisper: "Not one more word, Spike, or I'll turn you into a statue."

"No," he said, aloud.

"Yes," Ann said calmly, also aloud. She came to stand beside the Witch. "Claire said this was a possibility. Willow's advice is quite good, too, Spike. You should do as she says."

He looked at the Witch, then Ann. They were serious. Either of them could do what Willow had threatened; hell, Ann had, not once but three times. He looked over at Buffy, who looked back at him, annoyed and impatient. He looked back at Ann and Willow. "All right," he said. He raised the glass to them, drained it, handed it to Willow and walked away, toward the garage.

The driveway was completely blocked: Tara's Saturn was there, as were a strange Lexus and a Lincoln Navigator. There was no chance of getting the Viper out of the garage. Dawn was only half an hour away--he couldn't walk anywhere else. He went in the side door, up the back stairs. He locked the door to his room and poured the first glass of brandy.

***

As Spike walked away, Buffy glanced after him and demanded: "What's his problem?"

"He finds rudeness depressing," Ann Grove's cool voice answered her. "I find it intolerable. He saved your life three time in the last five minutes of the fight. A thank you might have been appropriate."

"Ann!" Giles said.

Buffy spun and faced her. Before she could speak, Ann continued: "Gang Long, please send the Watcher and the Slayer to Claire's house."

"Certainly," the boy said.

"Hey," Buffy started to say, then she dropped her sword again, the north terrace faded away, and she and Giles were standing in the front hall of Claire's house in Seattle.

Claire was standing in front of them, holding a open book. "Ah," she said, shutting the large book. "Excellent. Ann said I would have no problems unstoning you."

"She stoned us?" Giles asked.

"Not she, but you arrived in that state."

Buffy looked out the window. "What time is it?"

"Early afternoon. Ann was asleep until just now. Willow refused to wake her, saying she was exhausted. Let me see that cut, Buffy."

***

At Three Los Robles Road, Anya said to Ann: "I want to thank you for a lovely evening, and have I mentioned lately how much I like your shower gift?"

Ann looked over at Anya and laughed. "I'm glad you like the pots and pans, Anya. I'm sure if Spike or anyone saved your life and you'd noticed, you'd thank him." She picked up Buffy's sword, lying where the Slayer had dropped it. Slowly, she stabbed the point into her other hand. The sword went into her hand and did not come out the other side. Ann brought her hands together and when she lowered them, the Slayer's sword was gone.

"Are you mad at Giles, too?" Tara asked.

"No, but I'm too tired to deal with his questions, second-guessing, and general criticisms. I didn't want them here, and with that carload of minions still loose, they couldn't go alone to the house on Ravello; Claire can offer better medical treatment than I can right now, anyway, as well as a complete explanation. I'm taking a bath, then a nap. Tara, would you do the honors about breakfast, please?"

"Sure."

"Thank you. There's a lot of food in the butler's pantry, under stasis spells."

"After baths for everyone," Willow said.

"The red room is free, so is the west suite," Ann said. She turned the electric lights off. The east was paling. "Sort yourselves out. Willow, can I talk with you a minute?"

"Sure. I'll be right up, Tara."

"I'm taking the red room for us, Willow," Tara said.

"Fine," the Witch told her lover.

Tara, Xander and Anya looked at the mess of minion statues and corpses blocking the back door, and used the kitchen door to enter the house. Ann looked at Willow.

"How did you know?"

"When I picked up her cell phone. She had her hand on his thigh all through dinner, and she was playing footsie with him during the Scrabble game, too. How did it happen?"

"He put her in the west suite, she left there and moved in with him. Why did you stop him from arguing?"

"Dawn," the Witch said. "It would be Giles all over again, getting Buffy to agree to let Dawn still see Spike, if he got her mad by insisting they'd been lovers while she had no memory of that at all. Poor Spike."

"Yes," Ann agreed. "You have a fine heart, Willow, to go with your smart head."

Willow looked at Ann, then glanced away, then back. "Ann, err...are you a servant of the powers that be?"

"No. Leave it at that. Thanks for your help."

Willow looked at Ann for a moment longer, then went in.

The shouyu and Gang Long approached Ann.

"They wouldn't listen," Ann said quietly.

"The kuangmei learned much," the lilac lion said.

"And got away with what they learned," Gang Long said.

"Yes. My controllers turned this from a poorly planned and disastrous raid into a successful reconnaissance in force." Ann said. "Live fire training. If we face them again, next time will be harder, because of what Gavius and his advisors learned today."

"Why?" Gang Long asked, "Why did they make you let Gavius go? I mean, just because Ligulf is dead here for a long cycle, doesn't mean he's permanently dead in his home dimension, anymore than Glory is permanently dead there."

"It does slow them down a little," Ann smiled. "At least Ligulf and Glory should return there at about the same time. That may keep them all occupied."

The green lion growled.

"I can hope, can't I?" Ann said.

(return to Main Page)