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"Giles...I'm her-!" Buffy froze in the doorway of Giles' house, her eyes wide as she stared around at the destruction of his home. Clothes, pillows and books were lying about all over the place.
"GILES!"
Giles came to the head of the stairs, carrying a large stack of books, "No need to bellow, Buffy!"
She gave him part-scathing and partly relieved look, "What's going on here? It looks like vamps nested in here!"
"I'm doing a bit of cleaning," Giles replied testily, "Nothing wrong with that."
"This is your idea of cleaning?" Buffy shook her head, "You really are a bachelor."
Giles rolled his eyes, setting the books down on a cluttered table, then glanced around, "It's a bit of a mess...but I must have everything perfect..."
"For what?"
"My grandmother is coming all the way from England to visit...and she's bringing my niece."
"You have a niece? Since when?" Buffy gaped at him in surprise, she had heard nothing of the Giles' family, except for a few tidbits.
"Since only a year. I thought my brother died several years ago...but apparently he just dropped out of sight. He dropped his daughter off at our grandmother's house over a year ago...then took off."
"Harsh...how old is she?" Buffy asked, straightening up as she talked with him. Giles really was a hopeless case.
Giles frowned in thought, "Seventeen, I think...perhaps going onto eighteen...never seen her before...hence the visit."
Buffy nodded, "Do you think she's...all nice and Gilesy?"
"Gilesy?" Giles shook his head, wondering how someone could coin a word out of his name, "I suppose so...but I'm not entirely sure. I've never met the girl..."
"Hmm..." Buffy sighed as she put Giles' books back in the book case, knowing that they would be back out later that day. He couldn't stand to have anything unalphabetized...you can take the libarian out of the library, but you couldn't take the library out of the librarian.
"I hope she's nice...and not all English snotty...but a nice...non-snotty...English...type...person..."
Giles stared at her, "Buffy...you are going into college this fall, correct?"
"Yeah...why?"
Giles shook his head, "Just wondering how you passed the verbal section on the SATs."
"Oh...hilarous!" Buffy rolled her eyes, "What was your brother like?"
"Entirely irresponsible...snotty, as you would call him...very...apathetic towards other people..."
"And he had a daughter...great...what about her mom?"
Giles shook his head, "I'm not sure...I think she died...my grandmother wasn't too clear on the phone..." Giles frowned suddenly, "Actually...she was rather vague...she's almost never vague."
"She's snotty," Buffy sighed, heading towards the phone, "I'll call Wills...we'll get this place clean in a few hours..."
Giles nodded gratefully, "Yes...please...help me..."
"Just out of curiousity...do you have anything beside old people food in your fridge?"
"Good Lord! I need to get to the grocer!"
Buffy giggled as Giles ran out the door, coat tails flapping behind him, "Man...is he clueless..."
"When do we go after the Slayer?" Harmony whined, and Spike shuddered, looking up from his book, "When we get a plan, Harm..."
"Why do we need one? We just kill her...right? Not that hard..."
Spike idly wondered why in the hell he had turned her, but she slipped out of bed, and strolled towards him, completely nude, oh...yeah...that's why..
She wrapped her arms around him, her breasts pressing against his bare back, "Come on, Spikey...you can come up with something, right?"
"Yeah, pet, I always do..." course...it always fails...Spike sighed, why in the bloody hell did I come back here? What am I? A glutton for punishment...?
quot;I know you can do it, 'cause you're my little blondie bear..."
"Harm...don't call me that," He growled, and she giggled, tugging on his earlobe with her blunt teeth, "Come to bed," she purred in his ear, reaching down his body to cup him through his jeans, "You can come up with something while we're...you know..."
"I'm a bit busy he-RE!" He squeaked when she squeezed him, and his cock sprang to life, "All right, then...five minutes...tops..."
By the time they were done, a plan had already formed in his mind.
"So...how am I looking?" Xander asked as he ran his hand through his hair, and Giles groaned, shaking his head, "Tell me why we brought him?"
"You mentioned 'girl' within a mile of his hearing," Buffy reminded him, "You put him on seek and find mode. It's all your fault, really."
Willow giggled as they stood in the LAX, waiting for Giles' grandmother and niece's plane arrived, "Yeah, Giles...plus, you mentioned that your grandmother said she was pretty...bad move."
Oz smiled at his girlfriend, holding her hand. They were the only couple in the group currently, but both Buffy and Xander were hoping that would change once they started attending college.
Xander looked a bit offended, "That is none of the reasons I want to look good!" He protested, "It's because...it's...uh...polite to...all right," he sighed, "I want some Giles action..."
Giles looked at him in horror, "What?!"
Several people turned to peer at them, and he coughed in embaressement while the four teens grinned at him, "Buffy...keep him and his hormones away from my niece!"
"Xander and Hormones...check."
Xander snorted, "How'd I get such a bad rap?" He complained as the plane taxied up to the terminal, and Giles shifted anxiously, watching as passengers started to exit.
He suddenly smiled widely as a small, kindly looking old lady was wheeled out by a steward in a wheelchair, and he headed in her direction as the group followed closely behind, Xander on the prowl already.
He grimaced in frustration when a horse-faced, buck-toothed girl came out behind the old woman, "Oh...great...all my hopes up for nothing."
Beatrice Giles glanced over her shoulder, ignoring the horse girl to call out into the terminal, "Erin, dear...all you all right with those bags?"
Xander froze in his steps as a beautiful girl, with waist-length, curly red-hair stepped out, bogged down with several small bags, and she smiled brillaiantly at Beatrice, "I got it, Grandmother."
"Grandmother!" Giles smiled as he bent, kissing his grandmother on her papery cheek, inhaling her familiar, comforting satchet, "How was your flight?"
"Long...incredible long," the old woman sighed, "At least we had first class."
"First class...swank," Oz nodded, and the girl looked towards them, allowing Buffy and Willow to give her a good look over.
She had delicate facial features, and her long, white dress clung to her dangerous curves, with barely a hint of her full breasts peeking over the top. Buffy noticed her arms were rather toned, and she looked a lot stronger then she let on.
"Oh...kids, this is my Grandmother, Beatrice...and my niece...Erimentha...was it?"
"Erin, for short," she smiled again at him, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Uncle."
"And this is Willow, Oz...and Buffy, of course..."
The old lady clasped their hands each in turn, and Erin shook hands with them also. "And...Xander..."
"Uh...hi...welcome to Sunnydale...I mean...welcome to Sunnydale when you get there...cause you're in LA right now...but you probably know that...but...um..."
"Xander says hello," Giles told Erin dryly, who was watching the brunette almost fearfully, "Is...he...all right?"
"That would be drooling American he's speaking," Willow assured her, "I think it means he likes you."
Erin blushed, glancing at Beatrice, who smiled, "Come, my dear...let us collect our bags...these old bones weren't made for flying."
"Oh! Of course...how careless of me!" Giles stepped behind her chair, kissing the top of her thinning head while the scoobies each took a bag from a protesting Erin, "We'll be at my home within an hour's drive."
After Beatrice and Erin assured the gang that the red-head knew of Buffy's birthright, the ride back to Sunnydale was spent regaling the pair with stories from their exploits on the Hell Mouth, and by the time they reached home, they had Beatrice laughing and Erin giggling.
"A Preying Mantis and a Mummy?" Erin teased Xander, "You chose the nicest people."
"Well...they were all nice...up to the point they were trying to kill me...that kind of sucked..."
"So...have you ever seen a vamp?" Buffy asked, and Beatrice threw Erin a sharp look, but she shook her head, "I'm sure I've seen them...but not...you know...seen them."
"Well...hang out with us, and you're bound to see a whole bunch," Willow promised excitedly, then frowned, glancing at Oz, "That's not a good thing, though..."
Erin laughed as Beatrice relaxed, "Are all your love exploits...that...strange?"
"Buffy was with a vampire..."
"Xander!" Buffy hissed at him, glaring daggers at her friend, and Erin looked shocked, while Beatrice looked alarmed, surprising Giles. He had told her of Angel.
"Sorry...but he was a good vampire...cause he's got his soul..."
"You can do that? Ensoul a vampire?"
"Absolutly...Wills here is the special vampire-soul-giving girl," Buffy said proudly, patting her friend on the shoulder, "She's does a real good job too."
"Except for timing," She grinned sheepishly, and Beatrice turned towards Giles, "Tell me, Rupert...I hear you ran into your old friend Ethan again..."
"Welcome to the Casa Del Giles...Giles'...Giles..." Xander frowned, "Uh...this is Giles' pad."
Erin laughed as she and Giles lifted their bags out of the back of the van, "Still Drooling American talk?" She asked Buffy as the Slayer took a bag from her, and Buffy nodded, "He's got it bad, girl," she whispered as Xander grinned goofily in their direction.
"Erin...help an old lady," Beatrice called and the redhead immediately moved to her side, supporting her frail body with her own, "Are you all right, Grandmother?"
"Nothing a little Earl Grey won't fix," She replied, and Giles smiled, "Of that, we have plenty in supply."
They all headed into the house, Xander trailing closely behind Erin, making Willow, Buffy and Oz exchange a quick grin, and for Giles to scowl, wanting to tell the boy to stop oogling his newly found niece's rear-end.
Beatrice looked around the spacious living area, smiling as Erin led her to a chair and helped her settle into it, "Thank you dear," The old lady said, patting Erin fondly on the hand while the others took the bags upstairs.
"Uh...I'm afraid that I only have one guest room, so Erin, you may take that one, and Grandmother, you may have the Master bedroom..."
"Oh...dear...Rupert, I don't want to put you out..."
"You're not," he assured her quickly, "I have the fold-out couch down here..."
"I can take the couch, Uncle," Erin replied, smiling, and Beatrice nodded, "And I shall take the guest bedroom, dear. No bother on our parts...she has younger bones then us two."
He looked doubtful, "You take the Master bedroom at least, Grandmother...the bed is much more comfortable then the atrocity in the guest room."
"Rupert..."
"Do as he says, Grandmother...your arthritis has been acting up lately," Erin prodded her gently, and she gave in, sighing deeply, "You two are already consipiring together, I see."
Giles and Erin exchanged a smile as he prepared the tea. "How is the estate?"
"Beautiful this time of year," Beatrice replied, "I am sure you remember the garden...it has fallen a bit into disrepair of late, but Erin here has created some true magic out there. It's almost as good as new."
Erin blushed as she stood next to Beatrice, "It is nothing..."
"Entirely too modest, this one is," Beatrice patted her arm affectionatly, "I don't know what I shall ever do without her."
Giles and Erin had identical puzzled looks on their faces as he laid out the tea and poured her a cup as the others came back down the stairs.
Buffy grimaced, and Giles smiled, "There are cokes in the fridge," he told them, and the kids all looked relieved as they swarmed towards it.
Erin watched them, half-smiling, "I have never heard of a Slayer having friends before...she is quite lucky."
"Yes...they are a blessing, I admit..." Xander accidently bleched, and Giles sighed, "And a burden."
Beatrice laughed softly, "Erin, dear...why don't you have Buffy show you around as I speak with Rupert?"
"Yes..." Giles turned towards Buffy, and she shrugged, "Why not?"
"But try to have her home before dark," Giles warned, "I don't want her running into trouble out there..."
Erin was about to protest that she could take care of herself, but Beatrice shook her head, and she fell silent, "Thank you, dear...you're a doll," Beatrice said as Buffy linked arms with Erin, "You should check out the Bronze...but you might want to get adjusted here before you try the dancing part of Sunnydale," Buffy said as they all headed out the door, "But we're dragging you there eventually...kicking and screaming!"
Beatrice smiled as the door closed, glancing at Giles, "Such a sweet girl, don't you agree?"
Giles nodded, sitting, "Exceedingly so...surprising that she is John's d ter."
Beatrice shifted uncomfortably, and Giles sensed she was still uncomfortable discussing her wayward grandson, and turned the subject to much more pleasant lanes.
"...and that's the cemetary..." Buffy frowned, glancing at Erin and the others,"Wow...I really thought that this town was less boring...guess I was wrong."
"We have to make our own fun," Willow joked, and Oz laughed, squeezing her hand. "It's...big," Erin said, and Buffy raised an eyebrow, "You think this is big? Girl...don't you get out much?"
"Not really..."
"But I thought you and your father traveled around a lot...you know...when you were still living with him?" Willow said, having heard it from Giles before.
"Hmm...?" Erin looked confused for a second, "Oh...OH! Right...yes...we did...but I've never...been to America...it's...bigger then most countries..."
"Even France?"
Willow wrinkled her nose at Xander, "What kind of question is that?"
"Giles said something about France!"
Erin smiled uncomfortably, looking at the cemetary, "Um...is there much activity here?"
"What? Oh, vamp activity? Sometimes...depends, actually. For a week or two after the Ascension, it was kinda slow, but it's starting to pick up again."
"When do you do your patrols?"
"One at ten, another at midnight, and the last at three am," Buffy informed her, sighing, "All in all, it equals little sleep for Buffy, but since it's summer, I deal okay."
Erin nodded thoughtfully, and Oz frowned, watching as her eyes swept across the cemetary. Looks like she's memorizing the lay-out...but why?
Willow squeezed his hand as he and the others continued to walk, and Buffy pointed out the various spots where she had killed weird creatures, and Erin smiled, nodding as she spoke, trying to ignore that Xander was once again looking at her breasts.
"Such an interesting town," Erin observed, "And friends...werewolves, witches...and uh..." Erin glanced at Xander, who shrugged, "I'm the Zeppo."
"Xander! You are not the Zeppo!" Willow protested, "You're a vital part of the...um...group!"
"I know, I just love for people to say it aloud," He grinned mischeivously, and Willow smacked his arm and he laughed, then grimaced, rubbing his arm, "Ow..."
Willow giggled, looking at her watch, "Oops...Giles is gonna wig, Buff...it's a half an hour till sunset..."
"Yikes...a wiggy Giles is an unfun Giles," Buffy sighed, turning to head back to her Watcher's, "Maybe he'll let you out to play with us kids."
"I think he thinks we're a bad influence," Xander said with a grin, "And he's right."
Buffy rolled her eyes, "You so wish, Xander," she teased as Erin glanced over her shoulder, taking another look at the graveyard before turning a corner and losing sight of it.
Erin made her way through the empty streets of Sunnydale towards the graveyard, glancing at her watch. It was summertime, which meant that the sun would rise just a little before five am.
Last ditch vampires...finishing off the hunt before heading indoors...
She encountered a trio of them just as she walked into the cemetary.
They never knew what hit them.
Erin rushed right into their midst, surprising them as she staked one right away, and whirled on the others, smiling sardonically, "Any takers?" She asked sweetly, and one growled, launching himself towards her.
She slipped underneath his arms, then met his fist with her own, his bones crunching against her hand, then she hit him with a right hook that broke his jaw.
He howled as the other one tried to attack her from behind, and she was a blur as her hand plunged into his chest, ripping his heart out.
She smiled again as she crunched it beneath her boot and he dusted, his eyes wide in pain and shock.
She turned slowly on the other one, and his eyes fairly bulged out his sockets as she grabbed his head and twisted it to the side, exposing his neck.
A pair of shocked yellow eyes watched as the redhead fed from his brethren, and he stumbled away as she lifted her head, and her golden-green eyes searched the darkness, as if sensing him from afar.
She shook her head slightly as she ripped back into the vampire's throat, bleeding him dry hungrily.
She finally dropped the vampire and staked him, elimnating any evidence of her blood lust as she straightened her blood-stained dress, wiping her scarlett mouth.
As she turned from the graveyard, the witness to her carnage raced towards his Master's lair.
As Erin returned to Giles' home, she saw Beatrice standing at the top of the stairs, and turned her eyes away in shame, "I tried to fight it, Grandmother," she muttered softly, and Beatrice nodded, closing her eyes to her blood-covered creation, "I'm sorry, dear..."
Erin didn't answer her as she went to change, dropping her ruined dress in the trash.
"I don't like this," Harmony whined after Spike dismissed his pratically babbling minion, "It's bad enough we got Slayers! Now we got people draining us? What's up with that?"
Spike shook his head, deep in thought. There was something tugging at the back of his mind, something he knew he should know...why the fuck can't I remember? Shit...
quot;I don't know, Harm...but it's bound to be fucking bad, I can tell you that," he sighed, rolling his eyes, "I should have fucking stayed out of Sunnyhell."
Harmony pouted, "But you wouldn't have met me!"
"I repeat...I should have fucking stayed out of Sunnyhell."
Harmony glared at him as she stomped towards the bedroom, leaving the blond master to his thoughts.
What the fuck is going on around here?
He had no idea, but he knew there was a way to find out. He grinned suddenly and called for his fledglings.
Giles thought Erin seemed oddly quiet during breakfast, barely picking at her food, and he feared he had botched it up. He really wasn't used to cooking for anybody, let alone himself.
Beatrice was watching her worriedly, "You should really eat, dear...put some meat on that little body of yours."
Erin laughed mirthlessly before she could stop herself, and met Beatrice's eyes, before casting hers down, "Sorry, Grandmother...I'm...just not hungry at the moment."
"Are you quite all right?" Giles asked, frowning slightly, and she nodded, "I'm well, Uncle, really. I'm just not hungry," she assured him as she stood up and washed her plate at the sink, "If I may, I would like to go for a little walk."
Beatrice nodded, "All right, Erin...do be careful."
Erin nodded, sighing a little as she went to change, and Giles exchanged a look with his grandmother, "Is she all right? She seems a little...put out."
"Jet lag," Beatrice made excuse, "That and the fact that she's not much of a morning person."
Giles chuckled, "Buffy's much the same," he frowned suddenly, "Was that her I heard coming in last night?"
Beatrice choked on her tea a bit, then smiled wanly, "Uh...yes...I dropped my pills in your car...she just went to get them for me."
"Ah..." Giles nodded, relieved, "I heard the door close, and I was just wondering..." he shook his head, "Never mind...have you decided how long you're going to stay?"
"I would like to leave within a week..." Beatrice set down her tea before finally broaching the subject she had been waiting for, "Rupert...as you know...I'm coming along in my years..."
"You're not that old..."
"I'm not exactly a spry ninety-three anymore," She smiled, then shook her head, "I'm afraid I'm not much company for a seventeen year old girl. The house is way out in the country...and it's...not really fit for a teenager any longer..."
"Grandmother...what are you getting at?"
"She's been a great help to me...but she deserves something better know...she's adjusted quite well to her...uh...father leaving her...but I want her to be happy...to have friends..."
Giles set down his tea, gaping at her, "Are you asking me to take her in?"
"Yes, Rupert...Sunnydale is full of bright kids...young faces..."
"Demons and vampires...she'd be in constant danger!"
"I don't think we'd have to worry about that much," Beatrice replied vaguely, "But no more then those other children. She'll be a grand addition to your team...she can fight rather well...and I want her to have a life here. There's no place, really, for her back home..."
Giles shook his head, "This is a lot for me to take on, I mean...between my Watcher duties...and Buffy..."
"Please, Rupert...at least consider it," Beatrice begged gently. "She's family...and nothing's more important then blood."
Giles sighed, "I think about it, Grandmother...but no promises."
She smiled gratefully, "That is all I can ask, Rupert...thank you..."
Giles sighed as she stood slowly and he helped her into the living room. Good Lord...
As Buffy and Willow went up to Giles' door around noon, they jumped in surprise when he suddenly flung it open and rapidly came towards them, looking a little wild around the edges.
“Giles…are you all right? You look totally stressed,” Buffy told him, raising an eyebrow at his hair, which was sticking up slightly on end from his constant movement of running his hand through his hair.
“Huh?” He looked confused for a minute, then nodded, “I'm fine, Buffy…but I need to speak to you about something…”
"Sure...fire away, G-man."
He gave her a light glare and she grinned innocently, “My grandmother…just asked me to take on Erin…”
“For what? The rest of the summer? I'm cool with that…she's pretty nice…”
“No…Buffy, she wants me to take over her…upbringing entirely…”
Buffy gaped at him in surprise, “You mean like…Daddy Giles or something?”
He looked shocked by the prospect, but he shook his head, “She's seventeen…I suppose she just needs a place to stay till she finishes High School…and perhaps college…but my grandmother feels…that it's best here for her, for some strange reason…”
“So…why are you telling me?”
“I am your Watcher, Buffy…and I am sure that she will…detract time from your training…”
Buffy put a mock disappointed look on her face, “Well…darn…I guess there's nothing we can do about that…I'm willing to make the sacrifice, Giles.”
“Uh-uh,” He eyed her doubtfully but she gave him a wide grin, and he sighed, "I haven't decided yet what I am going to do about her..."
"Well...whatever you decide will be cool with me," Buffy said, "Right, Willow?"
"Oh...definitly...she's nice."
"And if you decide to keep her...Xander will be grateful for the rest of his life...and will find millions of ways to let you know...and when he marries into your family..."
"Buff...that seems more like an argument to send her back to England."
"Good point," She giggled at Giles pained look, "All right...I'm done torturing you. What's on the agenda for today? What fun is to be had?"
“I'm taking Grandmother to your mother's gallery…would you two like to come?”
“Uh…I have…Oz stuff to do,” Willow said with a smile, but Buffy looked horrified, “NO! Art stuff is bad…turn people into zombies, remember?”
Giles shook his head, “A simple no would have done, Buffy.”
“Can Erin come out and play?” She asked, and Giles chuckled, “Maybe later…she's coming with us…your mother expressed a great desire to meet her.”
“Oh…” Buffy gave Willow a look, “We so have to rescue her later…”
“Bronze? Oz is playing tonight.”
“Great…and Xander can…scare her with his dancing.”
“Oh,” Willow frowned, “Maybe Bronze not good idea…”
“It's that bad?” Giles asked hopefully, and Buffy nodded, “He's scared off lesser women with the patented…Xander butt-jiggle.”
“Then take, by all means…make her…uh…watch Xander dance…”
“Now, Giles…if I didn't know better…I'd think you don't want Xander hitting on your niece.”
“Was I being too subtle?” He asked with a smile, “Anything to report on patrol?”
“Nope…that's about it…vampires…stake…poof…move on.”
Giles nodded with a sigh, “All right, Buffy…thank you…bye Willow.”
The two girls exchanged a look as they turned to leave, “Wow…Giles…doing the parenting thing…how scary is that?”
“Ten to one…he goes insane living with a teenage girl within a month,” Willow said with a wicked grin, “I HEARD THAT!”
Willow blushed, looking back over her shoulder at Giles, smiling sheepishly, “Oops…”
“And this is our Italian Collection,” Joyce showed them into another room. Giles and Beatrice looked around interestedly, but Erin only gave it a cursory glance, barely stifling a yawn. She liked art just fine, but they had already been there for two hours, and there was no sign of them leaving anytime soon.
Beatrice patted her hand as she pushed her wheelchair along, and Joyce smiled as she came to her favorite collection, “These…are…uh…by a local artist before he moved,” Joyce said, gesturing at a series of paintings, smiling to herself. “He donated them personally.”
“These…are quite…accurate,” he said in surprise, eyeing a picture of a game faced vampire clothed in shadow, “How did he…uh…”
“He saw them once,” Joyce bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing, “I guess…the image stuck with him.”
“Hmm…” Giles peered at the corner, but only saw the initials `WG,” but no signature.
“He did several for me, and others he did…quite a few years ago,” Joyce said as they continued along the wall, stopping to gaze at the dark-themed paintings. “However, my favorite is displayed in the main room.”
As they walked in, Joyce continued talking, “I could never get the story behind this one…but it's interesting to say the least…I've already had six people bid on it…but I'm not quite ready to part with it yet…”
Giles nodded as he turned his eyes to the painting Joyce indicated, and he raised an eyebrow in surprise.
It was a painting of a redheaded girl, nailed to a cross in a wide, open field, her head thrown back to the sky as blood ran down her body, staining the white dress she was wearing.
A man with blond hair knelt before it, his head bowed, and his back to the person viewing the painting, but something seemed oddly familiar about the whole scene.
“Grandmother…isn't that…?”
“Erin!” Beatrice watched as Erin bolted out of the room suddenly, and Giles frowned, “Is she all right?”
Beatrice didn't answer him as she looked back at the painting, shuddering.
“I'll…go check on her…” Joyce said worriedly, heading in the direction that Erin had gone in.
Joyce found the redhead in the bathroom, just coming out of a stall. Her face was deathly pale and her lips were almost white. "Erin? Are you all right?"
Erin nodded stiffly as she splashed some water on her face, "Yes...I've...just been feeling a little ill of late..." she made excuse, shaking her head, "I...I am going to head back now...could you do me a little favor...and tell grandmother to tell him or I will."
Joyce frowned in puzzlement, "No problem," she said as Erin headed towards the door. Erin paused with her hand on the knob, "The artist...William...you said he moved?"
"Yes...to Brazil...less then a year ago."
Erin nodded again before slipping out.
As Joyce headed back to the others, she frowned in sudden realization. She hadn't told Erin the artist's name!
"What's going on around here?"
Erin was thinking along the same lines herself as she sat down on the steps outside the gallery, hanging her head between her legs and waiting for her nausea to pass.
As soon as she saw the painting she knew. She knew he had painted it...and it had sent an odd shock through her that made her feel sick and elated at the same time. The elation had quickly passed, but the ill feeling had lingered.
She buried her head in her hands as the tears came, then it shot up when she felt something prick her arm.
She looked down, pulling out an odd-looking feathered dart, and then she was falling...
"Got her!" The minion dropped the rifle on the floor of the van as he pulled on a face mask, the others doing the same.
They were all completely covered head to toe with thick, black leather that would protect them from the sun for a short period of time and the van pulled up to the steps of the gallery.
Six of them ran towards the downed girl, who was lying on the steps at a haphazard angle, and two others lingered by the van, waiting as they picked her up and started to take her back down the steps.
Just then Giles and Joyce came out of the gallery, and the Watcher let out a shout when he saw his niece being kidnapped and launched himself at the nearest vamp, the wind being knocked out of him as he rolled down the steps with the vampire.
"GO!" One of the vampires by the van shouted as Joyce raced down after them. Giles jumped to his feet, and got in front of the men carrying his niece, and punched one in the face, making him drop Erin to retaliate.
"Get her out of here!" He shouted at Joyce, who was grabbling with her own vampire, and she shoved him aside as Giles ripped a crucifix out of his pocket, shoving it into the face of another vampire coming at him.
Joyce pulled a stake she always carried with her out of her pocket and jabbed it into the chest of a vampire trying to pull Erin away from her, and the redhead groggily opened her eyes as the vampire grabbed Joyce around the neck and threw her backwards.
Joyce slammed into the sidewalk, groaning loudly as Erin slumped to the ground.
The vampire grabbed Erin and jerked her to her feet, unaware she was semi-awake.
Erin forced herself to react and she yanked away, trying to regain her feet, then spun, kicking the vampire down the steps.
Giles whirled when he heard the vampire's yelp, then gasped as another grabbed him around the waist, squeezing viciously, "Get her! Master Spike not to let her get away!"
Spike...?
Erin saw Giles and she snarled, taking a running leap down the steps, and delved into the mass of vampires, a stake she had hidden on her body plunging into the chest of a vampire as she avoided a punch, then grabbed the fist coming at her back, twisting it behind the vampire's back with a loud snap as it broke.
He screamed in pain as the other one let go of Giles, shaking his head, "Fuck! There was enough trank in there to down a fucking elephant!" He shouted, "Retreat, damn it!"
The few remaining vamps made it back to the van, and it raced around the corner as Giles helped Joyce to her feet and recovering his dropped cross.
They exchanged a confused look, then looked up at Erin, who was rocking unsteadily on her feet, several dust piles around her.
As she started to pitch forward, Giles grabbed her, and she let out a pained hiss before her eyes closed and she slumped back into unconciousness.
Giles heard an odd sizzle, then looked down where the cross in his hand was touching her bare skin and tore it away in shock, "What in the world...?"
Joyce stared at the burn mark on the girl's skin, then at Giles, "What's going on around here?"
Giles shook his head with a frown as he leaned Erin's weight against him, then looked up at the head of the steps, where Beatrice was sitting, watching them almost guiltly.
"Call Buffy...tell her to meet me at my house," he sat a bit coldly, and Joyce nodded, "I'm coming with you...Naomi can watch the gallery for the rest of the day," she said softly, and Giles nodded, "We'll be waiting...I have a feeling this is going to an interesting explanation."
"YOU FAILED?!"
The minions flinched as Spike raged, flinging a scotch bottle at them, "One fucking girl! And you couldn't get her?"
"Master...Master Spike...we tried...but..."
"Oh...right...you tried..." Spike said in deceptive calmness, "THAT ISN'T FUCKING GOOD ENOUGH!"
He forced himself to take a deep breath as he stared angrily at his cowering fledglings, "One girl...and you didn't even have to fight her openly..."
"Master Spike...we hit her with the dart...but...the Watcher showed up...and...she woke up!"
The minion who had shot her stepped forward, "Master Spike...I was a vet before I was turned...there was enough horse tranquilizers in there to drop a charging rhino! I made sure of it! There was no way she could have woken up!"
"But she did," Spike said, crossing his arms across her chest, "And she left you a sorry looking bunch...how long was she out?"
"About five minutes...when I attacked the blond woman trying to get away with her..."
"The blond woman?" Spike frowned, "The one who works at the Gallery?"
The minion nodded, and the others flinched as a stake appeared in Spike's hand and then it was in the minion's chest, dusting him. "I TOLD YOU THAT THE SLAYER'S MUM WAS OFF-LIMITS! DOESN'T ANYONE FUCKING LISTEN TO ME ANYMORE?"
Harmony cowered as Spike turned towards her, "As soon as the sun is down, I want you to go to the Watcher's house and...watch it. If the redhead leaves, follow her," he tossed her a cell phone, "Then call me when you have her position...got it?"
Harmony nodded slowly, "And avoid the Slayer...the others don't know you're turned, but she'll know in a second," he warned her, then turned to the others, "Do up another dart...double dosage..."
"Master Spike...it could kill her..."
"Yeah? And she could kill us if she wakes up too soon. If you screw up again, I will kill you all slowly. Now GO!"
They all quickly scattered, even Harmony, leaving the blond to continue his rage by himself. He slammed his fist onto a table, snapping it in half as he growled.
He would have the strange creature that apparently befriended the Slayer and her friends...and break her to use for his own means. Someone with that much strength can kill the Slayer for sure...He grinned suddenly, contemplating his plans.
Nothing could stop him once she was on his side, he was sure of it. And Buffy would finally die, once and for all.
Once the entire gang was gathered in the Watcher's home, with Erin upstairs, sleeping off whatever drug was entered into her system, Giles turned on his grandmother sternly.
"What is happening here, Grandmother?"
Beatrice looked uncomfortable under his gaze, flashing back to his 'Ripper' days, "Buffy...in my room, there's a small black bag...could...you bring it down for me?"
Buffy disappeared for a few moments as Giles prepared some tea, and Xander glanced at Willow and Oz before cautisiously asking, "What's going on, G-man?"
"I'm hoping to find out," Giles said coldly, and Joyce patted his arm reassuringly, "Spike's back in town, we think..."
"Spike?" Willow squeaked, "Did he have any broken bottles?"
"We didn't see him," Joyce sighed, glancing at Giles, "He was the one who did those paintings...the last one was postmarked less then a week ago from Brazil..."
"Probably so he wouldn't alert us to his prescense," Giles shook his head, "It would have taken him a lot more then a week for him to retake Mastership of Sunnydale...but why was he trying to kidnap Erin?"
Buffy returned downstairs, catching the last part, "Who tried to kidnap Erin?"
"Spike," Oz answered, "He's back."
"With broken bottles!"
"Wills...you have to get off the bottles," Xander said, and Buffy looked worried, "Spike's back? Great...just what I needed..." She sighed as she handed the bag to Beatrice, who lifted out two leather-bound books.
"The vamps that attacked her...shot her with a tranquilizer dart first...so he wants her alive, obviously...but we can't figure out why...or why Erin's skin burns when she's touched with a cross..."
Buffy's eyes widened as she stared at her Watcher, "But...she's not a vamp! She's...out during the day and stuff!"
"You're only half-right," Erin said as she came down the stairs, still looking sleepy, but the drug seemed to be wearing off, and Beatrice sighed, "Erin..."
"No, Grandmother...I told you to tell them right away...and it almost got Joyce and Rupert killed."
"Tell us what right away?" Buffy asked as Giles and Joyce joined the rest of them, and Erin sat down on the couch, raising an eyebrow at Beatrice.
She sighed, "A few years ago...Lord Denton...a member of the Elders, a good friend of mine...found a pair of journals in the...Gray Collection..."
"The what?" Willow asked, frowning and Giles shook his head, "It's a collection of books and journals that are only available to the Elders for various reasons...ancient prophecies that relate to the Slayers...Watcher journals that are special in some way..."
Beatrice nodded, "He found a pair that came from our own line, written by a William Anthony Giles the Third..." She tapped the two books, "These journals...only copies...but they were written over two hundred years ago..."
"Two hundred and three to be exact," Erin corrected with a sigh, and Beatrice looked at her sharply, "Sorry."
"Why were they in the collection?" Xander asked curiously.
"Because...William...was engaged to his Slayer...breaking one of the cardinal rules of being a Watcher..."
"Never get too close to your Slayer," Buffy said, throwing a look at Giles. That was precisely the reason Giles lost his job. "Did he lose his job?"
"We managed to keep it hidden," Erin answered, and everyone gaped at her, "Whoa...did she say...we?" Xander stammered out, and Erin nodded, "Yes...we."
"You're a Slayer?" Buffy gaped at her, and Erin simply nodded again.
"These were the only two journals...the first one...and the fourth one in the collection...there were no others, and I became...interested in what happened to them, since the family history never mention William Giles, other to say he was a disgrace to the entire line," Beatrice continued, forcing the attention away from Erin.
"So...I did a little spell to conjure up the spirit of Erin...but she became trapped between both worlds, unable to enter ours, and unable to return to the afterlife. I learned much about her during that time as I tried to find a way to free her. The way she died, what her life was like...what she was like..."
Beatrice smiled at Erin, "She become inexpandable to me...so, instead of trying to send her back, I decided to bring her forward again. With the help of my friends in the Council, they found me a spell to bring...people from the In-between worlds, where she was trapped. However, the spell...was ancient, and vague...not a lot of research had been done into it. It had nothing to do with Slayers, really."
"Grandmother..." Giles sensed she was stalling, and she sighed, "The spell called for the blood of a human and the blood of a night creature. I mixed some of mine with that of a vampire...and I brought her here..."
"With a few little additions," Buffy finished, looking at Erin warily, "Like what...wanton blood-lust...fangs? A vampire just without the aversion to sunlight?"
"In essence, yes..."
"Good God, Grandmother...!"
"But she does not lust for the blood of humans," Beatrice finished, "She consumes either animal...or most often...vampire blood."
"A Slayer...that drinks from vampires..." Xander cocked his head, "Talk about poetic justice!"
"So...she's not my niece," Giles shook his head, "This...this deceit is...unforgivable..."
Beatrice looked away, "Tell him the rest, Grandmother," Erin said suddenly, "Don't leave the best part out." Her voice sounded bitter, and Beatrice looked towards her.
"I'm sorry, dear...if I had known..."
"TELL HIM!"
"Tell me what?"
"Erin...she died...she was crucified...in a field outside the estate..."
"So...what does that..." His mind suddenly flashed back to the painting that had upset Erin, the redheaded girl on the cross...the open field that looked familiar...the house in the...background...
Joyce's eyes were wide as she stared at Erin, "Spike...Spike is...?"
"William the Bloody was my Watcher," Erin finished for her, closing her eyes as she rubbed the bridge of her nose wearily, "And my Fiance."
Buffy stumbled to her feet in shock, staring back and forth between Beatrice and Erin, "Oh...my...god!"
Erin snorted, standing up, "I'm going for a walk...I need to get out of here..."
"Erin, Spike just attacked you...you so can't leave!" Buffy protested, and Erin rolled her eyes, "I can take care of myself, Buffy..."
"She's right, dear...you really should stay inside," Beatrice added, but Erin ignored her, glancing towards Giles, who shook his head.
Erin sighed, rubbing her eyes again, "All right...I'll lay low till we leave..."
"Erin..." Giles glanced at Beatrice, "I've decided...she's staying here, Grandmother..."
"Rupert...are you sure...?"
"Grandmother...you're getting old, you said so yourself...and I'm hoping it was just that affecting your decison making process. Before...you would have never done something like this! It's irresponsible, cruel to Erin...and decietful to the rest of us. I'll watch over her from now on."
Beatrice bit her lip slightly as his cool tone, but she knew it was to be expected, "Very well, Rupert...my...plane leaves tomorrow..."
Giles nodded as he turned back to the others, "Patrol with Buffy for the next few days...I don't know what Spike is planning, but it's bound to be bad."
Buffy nodded doubtfully as Giles glanced towards Erin, "I'm sorry...I forgot to ask...how are you with this?"
Erin glanced at Beatrice, then sighed, "I understand why," she said a bit sadly, "Thank you, Grandmother...for all you have done for me..."
Beatrice smiled gratefully at her, "You're always welcome, dear..."
The parting the next day was strained between Giles and his grandmother. She understand that she had created a rift in their relationship, perhaps permanantly, but she still tried one last time to heal it.
"Please, Rupert...hear my reasons..."
"I have, grandmother...and every one them sounded selfish...can you deny that?"
As she was taken into the airplane, she was sad to find that she couldn't.
The next several weeks passed uneventfully.
Erin tended to stay indoors during the day, and never went out at night.
Buffy didn't meet with any real trouble on patrol, and she was forced to admit to Giles that maybe Spike hadn't come back to Sunnydale at all. "I mean...come on...the guy's never patient...he's got hyeractive written all over him! He is the one who had to launch an attack two days before St. Vigeous, remember?"
Spike would have disagreed with that. When he really wanted something, he was as patient as a saint. Every night, he'd send minions or Harmony to watch Giles' house. They'd catch glimpses of his prey, but each time, she never ventured outside.
Spike himself took virgil himself, but still nothing happened, but still, he was patient. He knew you couldn't keep a teenage girl inside for long, especially one that could rip the heart out of a vampire.
As Erin drank her dinner out of a mug, she gave Giles a pleading look, "Please?"
"No," he repeated for the sixteenth time as Buffy leaned towards him, "Pretty please with a cherry on top?"
"NO!"
"Oh...come on, Giles," Willow gave him a wide-eyed look, "The Dingoes are playing tonight and she hasn't seen Oz play yet..."
"No," Buffy opened her mouth again, "Nononononono!"
"One word vocabularies are so dated, Giles...you should add another word...like yes..."
"Buffy, you know that Spike..."
"Hasn't been acting up! He's probably moping somewhere, trying to think up a new way to kill me! Erin's been inside for the last three weeks...and I'm starting college soon...so I can't be hanging out here all the time anymore...she'll go insane! She'll be another Drusilla!"
Erin shot her a dirty look, and Buffy grinned sheepishly, "Sorry...didn't mean to use the 'D' word."
"As much as I agree with you...it's just too dangerous...Erin could be hurt..."
"Wow...protective much? Giles...she can take care of herself...and you've been training her like there's no tomorrow...plus, she's a Slayer...she should be out...slaying..."
"Plus, Xander's in Erin withdrawl...and if he can't see her in an outdoor setting, he'll start coming over here more...and he'll want to eat...alot!"
Erin shook her head, "Oh...please...anything but that..."
"Well...you're dating..."
"We're not dating! He brought me coffee once! That's not dating...and I'm not interested in dating...all right? Could someone please tell him that?"
Giles looked like he was wavering, and Buffy went for the throat, "Besides...my mom has an opening at her gallery tonight...she'd...really kind of like to see you there..."
Giles looked at her, "Really?"
"Definitly," Buffy nodded, "And you don't want to leave Erin here all by her lonesome..."
Giles scowled at her, then sighed, "Fine...but be home by ten! That's an order!"
"Thanks, Uncle Giles!" Erin smiled sweetly as she gave him a kiss on the cheek, grabbing her coat, and he rolled his eyes, "I'm not your Uncle!" He reminded her as the three girls rushed out the door, and she laughed, "Wear the blue suit, uncle...it really brings out your eyes..."
Giles watched them go, then sighed again, looking at his watch, "Blue suit?" He repeated thoughtfully, then smiled slightly, "Blue suit."
Harmony watched as Willow, Buffy and Erin left the house, hopping into Xander's car, and grabbed out the cell phone Spike had given her, hitting the number programmed into it, "They're on the move," she said officially when he picked up, then smiled brightly when he let out a roar of triumph.
There was going to be major payback for this, she thought to herself as she hopped into her car, following. Really good...orgasmy payback...
Erin flinched as soon as she, Buffy, Xander and Willow entered the Bronze, "Oh...that noise is awful..."
"Careful," Xander said in her ear as he took her arm, leading her towards the table, "That's Oz's bands..."
"I meant awful in a good way..."
"Uh-uh," Willow shrugged, "Oz says they suck...but I don't think so...and you've never really been around this type of music...you've only been around...like...waltzy stuff."
Xander took Erin's coat, eyeing her green dress appreciatevely. It clung to her curves, and it allowed a little more cleavage and thigh showing that she normally liked, but Buffy had forced her to buy it in the magical possibility that Giles would let her out of house arrest. Silently, Xander was thanking every God that ever was and Buffy very profusely.
She brushed a strand of blood-red hair out of her emerald green eyes, glancing around the Bronze, "It that what you Americans call dancing?" She asked, her eyes widening as she watched the people entwining together on the dance floor.
"Yeah...great, isn't it?"
"I don't think I'm dancing tonight," Erin shook her head, "It's a violation of my air space...anyone attempting to do it will be shot down..."
"Xander lent you a couple war movies, huh?"
"Yes, to Giles ever-growing horror," Erin grinned as she sat down with the others, "Now what?"
"Well...the non-couply portion of the group wish that we had someone to dance with...and Willow gives Oz goo-goo eyes all night...and then there's usually big carnage," Xander informed her, still hoping to get in for a dance. He just hoped he'd be shot down in a good way.
"Big carnage...I can live with that..."
The others gave the half-vamp an odd look, and she shrugged, a bit sheepish, "I just meant...anything will be an improvement over PBS."
"All right...your statement makes a lot of sense now...and can I be the first to say...so sorry...we should have disconnected that before we allowed you to move in with him," Buffy said, patting her hand apologetically, "We had no idea this was going on...it's child abuse..."
Erin laughed, "Well...at least sometimes I manage to catch a few soaps...except, I have no idea what the hell is going on with Passions...Giles really hates that one."
Buffy stood up, "I'm heading to the bar...who wants a drink?"
"I'll take a coke," Willow said, and Xander grinned at Erin, waggling his eyebrows, "I'll take a Sex on the Beach."
"And I'll have a 'You're dreaming, pal...and I can so kick your ass," Erin retorted, and Xander pretended to pout as Buffy laughed, "That'll be four cokes then...not that you two need anymore caffeeine."
Spike met Harmony outside the club, accompained with twenty minions, three of which were carrying rifles, "She's here?"
"Sitting at the loser table," Harmony grimaced, "She's sooo in the wrong clique."
Spike rolled his eyes in annoyance as he turned to his minions, "Go in and fan out...you two, don't fire unless Marcus doesn't get a chance...I don't want her dead...just sleeping, got it?"
They all nodded, and Spike gestured for them to proceed him, "Games faces on, people...I want maximum panic to mask the shooters."
Xander finally managed to coax Erin out for a slow dance when the band took a break, and Oz sat at the table, his arms around his girlfriend as he watched Xander try to cop a feel and Erin slapping him in the arm.
Buffy laughed when he yelped, "Serves him right."
Behind her, the three shooters headed up the stairs to the catwalk, taking their positions above them.
Oz's nostrils flared suddenly, even as Erin and Buffy both tensed.
Buffy stood, and Erin let go of Xander, saying something to him. He immediately headed for one of the doors, slipping out at her warning.
She headed towards the tables, meeting Buffy half-way, "There's a lot of them, Buffy...I can smell and sense them," Erin told her softly, "Tell Willow and Oz to scoot while I start getting people out..."
The doors all burst open at once, and vampires rushed into the throng of people, and everyone started screaming and panicking, trampling towards the only free exit, the one Xander had chose.
"GO!" Buffy whipped out a stake even as Erin did the same, and they met the vamps head-on, plunging into the fight.
Above them, Marcus trained his rifle on Erin, then swore when a few teens rushed past her, blocking his shot, and he glanced towards the others. One of them motioned he had a clean shot, and he nodded at him.
Spike trailed in with Harmony, making sure his minions weren't snacking on the patrons. He only wanted them scared...this wasn't a pleasure visit. He watched as Buffy moved farther into the middle, her stake methodically hitting the right spots, dusting vamps right and left, and he grinned evilly.
He stepped behind her, "Hello, cutie..."
Buffy whirled at his voice, and he blocked her arm when she tried to stake him, then backhanded her, sending her crashing on top of a pool table.
Erin ducked a blow from a vampire as he drove her away from Buffy, and she whirled on her feet, sending a kick into his chest, and he flew backwards into two of his friends, knocking all three to the ground.
She tensed, looking up just as a rifle went off, and she felt the pin prick in the back of her neck, and she swore even as she fell to the ground, feeling the darkness trying to claim her for it's own.
She tried to get to her feet, but two more darts struck her in the back, and she went down, entirely gone.
Spike leapt up on the table, and Buffy shot to her feet, her knee coming up to hit him in the groin, but he squeezed his legs together, capturing it as he punched her in the face quickly three times, then snarled, gripping her around the neck and lifting her off her feet.
"Spike! We got her!" Harmony yelled, and he turned briefly to glare at her.
Oz grabbed a pole cue and stepped towards him as he gripped Buffy's head, twisting her neck to the side. The werewolf tensed, then flung it like a javelin, and Spike howled as it pierced his chest, just below the heart.
Buffy felt his grip loosen, and broke free, kicking him in the stomach, then spinning to plant another kick in the middle of his chest, sending him falling back on the pool table.
She grabbed the cue, and tried to restake him with it, but he rolled to the ground, sprinting in Harmony's direction.
She was about to hurl it like Oz had did, but she felt something strike her in the arm, and she had enough time to remove the dart before she fell back off the table, and Oz caught the unconcious Slayer before she could hit the ground, staggering under her momentum.
She had a last glance of a bunch of vamps grabbing Erin beneath the arms and dragging her out the door with Harmony supporting Spike's weight...then everything went dark.
Buffy slowly came too with a groan, then jumped, seeing Giles hovering above her face. "Buffy, are you all right?"
She nodded, then groaned again, seeing the IV in her arm, then looked around at the concerned faces of her friends and Mom, "I'm in the hospital? Why?"
"The tranquilizer used in those darts...they were stronger then you could handle," Joyce said concerndely, "You've been out for two days...oh...baby...I thought you were in a coma!" Buffy allowed her mom to embrace her as she struggled to remember what happened, "Oh...God...Erin!"
"She got shot with three of them," Willow said softly, "I saw her...I don't know if she could have survived that...your heart nearly stopped with just the one..."
"Yeah," Xander sighed deeply, "She told me to get the G-man...but I called the police instead...I figured that with Spike's boys...someone was bound to get hurt..."
"How many died?"
"None, actually..." Giles shook his head, "Apparently there was a no feeding order...you were the only one who ended up here."
"Great...lucky me," Buffy rubbed her throbbing head, "What about Erin, though...we can't leave her with Spike."
"That's an obvious statement," Giles said, and Buffy flinched at his tone of voice.
"Wow...is this a 'I told you so,' situation," she shook her head, "I'm sorry, Giles...you were right...we didn't give Spike enough credit..."
"Yes...well...and now my niece is in the clutches of the vampire that killed her!"
"Uh...Giles...you realize that she...isn't your niece..."
"Of course I know that!" Giles snapped, shaking his head, "We've already searched the cemetary, and most of the abandoned factories...but so far...nothing..."
Buffy sighed, "I'll hit Willy's and pound some info out of him..."
"I'll do that," Giles said testily, nodding at Joyce, "Thank you for helping out, Miss Summers."
"My pleasure, Rupert," she smiled wanly at him as he strode out, and she turned towards Buffy, "Don't be too hard on him, honey...he hasn't been taking this well. He's really worried about her..."
"Yeah...when he found out, you should have heard all the threats! Some of them freaked even Oz out! I mean...he blinked!" Xander shook his head, "And to tell you the truth...I hope he does each and every one of them to Spike."
"Me too, Xand," Buffy sat up, and slid her legs over the side, "Spike's got a two day head start on us...and we just gotta hope he's still in Sunnydale..."
Spike hadn't been in too see his prisoner yet. He had been too busy recovering from the nearly fatal wound that the werewolf had inflicted, and he thanked the Powers that it wasn't an inch farther up, or he would have been dust.
But with Harmony fussing over him for the last two days, he almost wished that it had been a little higher up.
He winced as he buttoned his shirt, waiting for his minions to bring the redhead too him.
He gestured for them to chain the still unconcious girl in the corner of his room, glancing at her as they did so. Her head was bowed, and according to Marcus, she was still feeling the effects of the drugs. She was awake, but just barely.
He picked up a bucket of cold water he had ready, and stood in front of her, "Wakey, wakey," He called cheerfully, and she groaned softly, not lifting her head.
He shook his head as he allowed his eyes to roam over the pale expense of her legs, slightly smudged with dust and ash from her fight, and he grinned evilly, "You need a shower, pet, really..."
Her gasp was loud as her head shot up, the cold water soaking her to the skin and jerking her from her drugged haze.
Spike's eyes widened, and he stumbled back as her eyes met his, the bucket dropping from his suddenly limp hand.
"Erimentha?!" He pratically screeched, and she dropped her head again, shivering in the cold air, "Great...just bloody great..." she mouthed as he sat on the bed, staring at her with wide eyes, his mouth open in shock.
His hands shook as he grabbled with his pack of smokes, lighting on up and sucking on it deeply, as if the sudden nicotine rush would make her go away.
She finally lifted her head again, smiling wearily, "So...is that how you're going to greet your ex, love?"
Spike nearly choked on his cigarrette, and flung the burning stick away, his eyes narrowing as he picked up a knife off of his bedside table, stalking towards her, "What the fuck are you?"
Erin looked confused, and he snarled, his hand coming up as if to slap her, then she felt the tip of his blade slice into her cheek, cutting a thin furrow down her face.
"Who the fuck are you?" He repeated in a low, dangerous voice as Erin tried to move her hand to her face, wanting to wipe away the blood, "You know who I am, Will..."
He stared at her levelly, but his hands fidgeted with the knife in his hand, "You look like her...you sound like her...but you're not her..."
"Could have fooled me..." She hissed as he cut her other cheek, his eyes narrowing again, "What's your game?" he asked, and she panted in pain, her eyes squeezed shut, not answering him.
He growled, grabbing a fistful full of hair, yanking her head back.
Her eyes opened, the green glistening with pain, and she gasped lightly, "Will...you're hurting me..."
"What are you?"
She tried to struggle, but his grip tightened as he pressed the blade to her throat, "What are you!?"
"Vampir..." she muttered in her native tongue, "Halb-vampir..."
"Half-vampire?" He glared at her, "You're lying..."
"Taste me..." she winced as he pressed the blade harder against her, "My blood...it's part human...you can taste it..."
He hesistated, then leaned forward, running his tongue along the bleeding cut.
He abrubtly let go of her, stumbling to his feet, "Shit!" He had only heard legends of such...
"It was a spell...that did this to me...Beatrice Giles...your great-great-great-great-great-great grand-niece..."
Spike shook his head, "Prove it."
She thought for a few minutes, then gestured him forward, "I have a scar right behind my ear...crescent shaped from when I was little..."
Spike glanced behind her ear, seeing the familiar scar and tensed slightly as he moved behind her to get a closer look, "And I have three, thin scars from a Fliak demon...he slashed my lower back when I rolled to get away..."
Spike took the zipper of her dress, and pulled it down, revealing the three scars. He peered at them, then brushed his lips across them. She tensed instinctevely as he straightened, and he shook his head, "Nice try, Erin...you're probably some bloody shape-shifting demon that did his homework..."
She smiled suddenly, "You only call me that when you're angry."
Spike froze, then turned back towards, "What did you say?"
She cocked her head slightly, lowering her eyelids, "Will you kiss me?"
Spike's mouth opened and closed ineffectually for several seconds, as his mind tried to process her words, "Say that again..."
"Will you kiss me...?"
Spike took a few steps towards her, and she bit her bottom lip in a familiar gesture of anticpation, and he grinned suddenly, wrapping his arms around her waist as he yanked her against him, his mouth latching onto hers as he plundered her mouth with his tongue.
She met him eagerly, her tongue teasing and playing with his, even as her hands twisted, gripping the chains holding her captive.
Spike jerked away when he heard one snap, then suddenly, it was wrapped around his throat, and she pulled on it fiercely, sending him to his knees as she ripped the other out of the wall.
"Bitch!" He hissed at her, and she pulled on the chain around his neck again, and he grunted as the thick links cut into his throat, "Not now, William..." she said, then pressed a hand against her forehead, Christ...what did they put in those darts anyway?
She tried to straighten, but she stumbled, still weak from the drug, and from not eating for two days.
Spike caught her before she could hit the ground, and he unwrapped the chain from his neck. She tried to push away from him, but he held her firmly, "Shouldn't have spent your strength with the bondage games, pet," he admonished her lightly, taking in her death-like pallor, "What's wrong?"
"I haven't fed yet," she replied testily, then groaned, "And I have a bleeding headache!"
Spike frowned, "What do you eat?"
"Animals or vamps..." she looked up at him, a small smile tugging at her lips, "Why? You volunteering?"
He pulled her to her feet, feeling her still shivering from the cold, "Is it really you?"
"Yes...it's really me..." she said, then tensed when he lifted her up and set her on the bed, "What are you doing?"
"Relax, luv," he shook his head as he wrapped the covers around her, then headed towards the door.
He opened it up, and ordered a minion to come in.
As soon as he was in, Spike slammed the door, and grabbed him by the head, dragging him towards Erin.
It was the same minion that had alerted him to Erin's prescense, and he grinned as he forced him to his knees, "Here you go, pet. Fresh too."
"In a manner of speaking...it's still cold," Erin said with a sigh, and he watched interestedly as she vamped out and sank her fangs into the minions neck, and Spike held his hand over his face in case he tried to scream.
He inspected her face as she fed, noting that she had only small forehead ridges, barely visible, and had two white canines that fell down, instead of the mouthful of jagged teeth the others sported. Even her eyes were different. They were a greenish-gold instead of full-out yellow, surprising him.
When she had finished, she delicately wiped her mouth, and Spike grinned as he staked the minion, "Feeling better, luv?"
Erin nodded, then winced, rubbing the back of her neck, "Except for the million aches and pains that constitute me."
Spike sat down beside her, and she eyed him a bit warily, "Can I leave?"
He looked disappointed as he looked at her, "You want too?"
"Course I do! Giles is probably having kittens...and Buffy...and the others..."
Spike sighed, "Guess that means I have to leave town again," he shook his head, "Yeah...pet...you can go."
"Thank you," she smiled a bit self-conciously as she zipped up her dress.
Spike watched her, then sighed again as she went towards the door, "I'm sorry, Erin...for what I did...for killing you..." he gestured at her still cut face, but he could see it was already healing, "And I'm sorry for hurting you..."
"I know," Erin smiled again, "I saw the painting at the gallery..."
He blinked in surprise, then swore, "Oh...shit..."
"And the nice little caption in the corner...written in blood, I gathered from the smell..."
"My own, pet, so don't give me that look..."
"Live to borne...and born to die...and so shall I follow..." Erin shook her head, "I really didn't get it at first..."
Spike would have blushed if he could have, "Uh...well..."
She stepped back towards him, brushing her lips across his pale forehead, "Live to borne the pains and born to die from them," she muttered, "Isn't that what you told me once?"
Spike looked surprised as she straightened, "Good-bye, William."
She was at the door, but he once again stopped her, "Erin!"
She turned again, raising an eyebrow, "Yes?"
He looked almost shy as he looked at his feet, "Will you kiss me?"
Erin laughed, and he grinned at the sound, standing and striding towards her, but he paused a few feet away, "Well?"
She only smiled, and he took that as consent as he once again wrapped his arms around her, tilting her chin up.
He tenderly brushed his lips across hers, before running his cool tongue along her lips, asking for permission.
His hand cupped the back of her head as her lips parted, and he dug his fingers into her thick hair as he tangled her tongue gently with his, drawing out the kiss for as long as possible.
She finally had to push on his chest, breaking away, entirely breathless, "Some of us need to breath, William..." she told him, then gave him another quick kiss on the cheek, "Good-bye Will...I mean it this time..."
He watched as she left him without even a backwards glance, flinching as the door slammed shut.
He then collapsed backwards on the bed, groaning and throwing an arm over his face, Bloody hell...
Giles grabbed a bunch of stakes, angrily shoving them in a bag before he headed down to Spike's hide-out.
He had beaten the crap out of Willy, literally making the little weasel squeal, and had found out where Spike's location was. He was just waiting for Buffy to show up, and he glared around the empty house as he slammed back another scotch.
He felt like screaming, he was so frustrated. Between being worried over Buffy and being deathly afraid that he would find Erin hanging on a cross in his front yard, he was going insane.
When he had been at the gallery opening, he had stared at the painting that Spike did for ten straight minutes, staring at Erin's face, her eyes closed, and her head thrown back.
When he had first seen the painting, he had thought she had been screaming, but then...on closer inspection, it looked like she was praying...he didn't know why he thought that, but he did.
He had gone back that very day to drop off something for Joyce and looked at it again. He stared at what was apparently Spike, which was obvious from the blond hair, but not the clothes, seemingly kneeling before the cross in triumph, probably laughing over her spilt blood.
He tried to remind himself that she wasn't really his niece, but he couldn't stop the fiercly protective feelings he had for her. She was pratically blood...his grandmother's blood had gone into the mix.
Spike had once been a Giles...
He shook his head at that thought. He didn't want to think of that black spot on his family tree. Instead, he concentrated on the many ways he wanted to kill Spike.
Crucifying him with rusty spikes seems a fitting punishement, he thought with a grim smile as the door opened, "About time, Buffy, we've got to get going..."
He turned with the bag in his hand, and Erin raised an eyebrow, "Is this all for little old me?"
Giles cried out in shock, then dropped the back to gather the small redhead to his chest, hugging her tightly. "Didhehurtyou?Didhedoanythingtoyou?howdidyougetaway?" he asked in one breathless whoosh, and Erin smiled, gently prying him off of her.
"Just superficially, no, and he let me go," she answered him, and Giles glared at the almost healed cuts on her cheeks, "The bastard," he growled, and Erin shook her head, "It's all right, Giles...uh...he thought I was some kind of shape-shifting demon...and this was his idea of interogation...but we straightened things out...everything's fine..."
"Straightened things out?" Giles stared at her like she had gone insane, and Erin smiled, "Is it all right if I just get a shower and some sleep? I got a bleeding headache...I'll explain everything tomorrow..."
"Fine...Buffy and I will take care of him..."
"He's taken care of, Uncle," Erin replied, glancing over her shoulder at him, "He won't be bothering me anymore..."
Giles frowned as she headed up the stairs, having caught the small, sad inflection in her voice. What happened?
He shook his head, deciding to let it slide for the time being as he called up Buffy and told her not to bother coming.
He took one last glance up the stairs as the shower started up, then smiled, grabbing his scotch. At least she's safe...
Spike watched from the street as Giles and Erin embraced, frowning slightly. Have to find out what that's about! He thought, then nearly groaned, realizing he was jealous...of Giles!
Well...look what happened with her last Watcher, he reminded himself with a small wince, watching as Erin headed up the stairs. He waited for about twenty minutes before the light in what he had figured out was her room lit on, and from his vantage point, could just see into her room with his keen vision.
He watched as she dressed, a slow trail of cigarrette smoke pluming out of his mouth, and he watched in pained silence as she buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed into them.
He finally turned away, slowly making his way back into the darkness that embraced him whole-heartedly, throwing a regretful glance back towards the window as she pulled the blinds shut, effectively blocking his glimpse into her life.
Never again, mate...just get used to it...
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