Title: The Assistant 18/?
Author: Sweetdoggie
Email: (stirling_summer@yahoo.com)
Pairing: B/G
Rating: R
Summary: Merrick didn’t die. A/U
Spoilers: Up to mid-season 3
Disclaimer: No permission has been granted to use the characters. They are owned by their creator, Joss Whedon, Twentieth Century Fox, UPN, WB, and Mutant Enemy. This story is non-profit and is intended solely as entertainment. No copyright infringement is intended.
Notes: Pretty much A/U right from the start. I don’t know how many parts this will be but I’m not going to leave you hanging. The rating is me being ultra-conservative. 99% of all the sex takes place off scene. B/A fans—it never happened

Surprisingly, the three couples sharing the house worked out better than any of them had suspected. Chores were pretty evenly divided and everybody did their share. Giles and Joyce were the only two working outside the home, though Wes and Merrick had their Watcher’s salaries. Buffy and Faith were content to go to school, slay, and have an occasional night out with their friends.

Joyce’s pregnancy was progressing normally. She had developed morning sickness and could be seen running for the nearest bathroom at any time of day. Merrick learned to stock up on soda crackers and kept a supply by their bed. If she ate a couple before trying to rise, she was less likely to be ill. They all worked on a nursery for the new arrival, though Joyce claimed the smell of new paint made her feel ill.

The Scoobies spent hours of time researching the Mayor and found quite a bit of scary information. For one thing, the man was much older than he looked. They could trace him back to the very foundation of Sunnydale more than a century earlier. When Buffy found this out she was resigned.

“Well, this doesn’t look good.” She told her husband.

He looked at her worriedly. “No, it certainly doesn’t. I can’t imagine that living on the Hellmouth for one hundred and twenty five years has done his disposition any good.”

Buffy sighed. “Which came first, the Hellmouth or the Mayor?”

Rupert shrugged. “It would be hard to say, I suppose, except the Spanish do talk about this place being la Boca del inferno long before Sunnydale was settled.”

“Doesn’t mean he wasn’t around, I guess. Just that he hadn’t founded our town yet.”

“Quite.” Giles busied himself looking through a couple of manuscripts.

Buffy settled back on the couch and mused about her life. When she was Called at fifteen, she never thought she would see the day that she would be living in a house with three Watchers, two of whom were related to her by marriage, that her mom would be pregnant by one of these men, that she would have a friend and sister who shared her fate. She looked at her husband. He was a good man, she knew. Smart, handsome, even funny if you looked under the surface long enough.

“Do you ever wish we could have a baby, Rupert?” She asked almost out of the blue.

“What?” He looked up from his studies, confusion written on his face.

“I said, did you ever wish we could have a baby?” She repeated.

His face took on a pinched look that indicated he was concealing something painful. “Yes, that would have been a great gift, but it wasn’t meant to be for us, love.”

“I know. I guess, I just mean that if something...happens to me, I want you to feel free to go on with your life. I don’t expect you to be alone forever.”

He stood so rapidly that his chair fell over backwards. Going to her, he wrapped her in his arms and pulled her tightly against him. “Buffy, if anything happened to you, I would follow within minutes, either because I was at your side when it happened or because I perished fighting that which took you from me. I will never live without you because that wouldn’t be living at all, merely existing until this old body shuts down.” He had tears in his eyes as he rocked her slowly back and forth.

She patted him on the back, rubbing tiny circles up and down his spine. “Shh. Rupert. It’s all right. Shh.”

When he had settled down somewhat, she looked seriously into his green eyes and told him that they needed to see that things never actually came down to that. He agreed and they both went to their room to reaffirm their love and commitment to each other. ‘After all,’ she told Faith later, ‘I’ve already died once. That should be enough for anybody.’

Strangely enough, it was Joyce who found out the secret of the Sunnydale Mayor. She had purchased a large collection of boxes at a garage sale hoping for hidden treasures for her art gallery. What she had found instead were a pair of 19th century diaries from one Richard Wilkins. She had been intrigued by the seeming coincidence of names and had begun browsing the volumes. Within five minutes, she knew she had something extraordinary. She called Merrick.

“John, can you come down to the gallery right away? I’ve made quite a find and I’d like you to see it.”

“Of course, my dear. I’ll be right down. What did you run across?”

“Well, I’d like it to be a surprise.” She said, not wanting to talk out loud outside of the house about the Slayer. “But I think it’s something Wesley and Rupert would like too.”

Merrick was puzzled. What on earth could Joyce be referring to? “I’ll be down in ten minutes if that’s soon enough?”

“Oh, yes. That would be great.”

John hurried to the Gallery and found Joyce in her office surrounded by dusty old boxes. She handed him the diaries without explanation. He looked at them for no more than a minute or two before looking up. “Good lord! Do you realize what we have here?”

Joyce grinned. “Well, it looked to me like it was the Mayor’s diaries that pretty much spelled out his plans for the next century or so. Is that what you think they are too?”

John goggled at her briefly. Sometimes women had the strangest sense of humor! “Yes, that is exactly what they are, my dear. I need to show these to Rupert and Wes, right away.” He got up and started for the door, belatedly stopping and turning back to her to give her a light kiss. “Will you be all right?”

“Go!” She waved at him with a smile. “I know you’re dying to see what’s inside those books.”

Merrick bee lined for the high school. Rupert and Wesley were deep in their books when he entered the room. He called them into the office where they could be at least semi-private and they began reading the books. What they found horrified them. The mayor was planning an ascension. He wanted, God knew why, to become a demon. Reading the diaries gave the men chills. They were a litany of human sacrifice, torture, deals with demons, blood, pain and degradation. Merrick had to stop reading several times and walk around the room. Giles looked pale and Wesley was quietly sweating and looking rather green around the gills.

They were able to pinpoint the Ascension by looking at the dates certain planetary bodies fell into alignment. “Good Heavens!” Wesley exclaimed as he finished the final calculations. “Isn’t that...”

“Yes, the day Buffy’s class graduates from Sunnydale High. The Mayor is due to give the commencement speech. There is a solar eclipse that day exactly at noon. It will give him enough power to begin the transformation.”

Giles looked up. “He means to devour the entire graduating class, does he not? It would be his first act as a Hell beast. We must stop him or the world will see a reign of death and destruction like nothing that has come before.”

Wesley shuddered. “Do the journals reveal what particular type of demon he wishes to become? It could be important as to how we stop him.”

“Nothing terribly specific, I’m afraid. Some vague references to magic spiders, assorted specific sacrifices to build power, nothing terribly useful.”

Buffy entered the library and found the three men huddled around the books. “So, looks like you’ve found something?”

Merrick looked up. “Joyce found something. She purchased a group of boxes that contained two of the Mayor’s journals. Apparently, he wishes to become a demon and will do so the day your class graduates from high school.”

“Why do I hear “that’s especially bad” when you say that? She asked.

Rupert got up to greet her with a hug and a kiss. “Demons usually need to consume vast amounts of food after ascending. I believe it is quite safe to assume he will devour your class, and indeed, all of Sunnydale should he be left unchecked.”

“Has this ever happened before? A human turning into a demon, I mean?” She wondered.

The three men looked at her, then at each other and dived for their books. Wesley groaned as he read something in his text. The others waited till he was done, looking at him anxiously.

“Pompeii.” Was all he said.

Five minutes later, Rupert rubbed his eyes. “I have another.” He waited till they focused on him. “Krakatoa.”

Buffy sat down next to her husband. “Geez. Does it always have to be volcanic?”

Merrick, deeply absorbed in his book, slapped it shut with a groan. Looking at him expectantly, they held their breaths. “Tunguska.”

“I thought Tunguska was a comet?” Buffy said. They looked at her in surprise that she had even heard of the event.

“Apparently, when the man transformed he shot into the air. Unable, or unwilling to control his decent, he hit the earth at great speed, creating a blast radius comparable to a 40 megaton bomb.”

“Wow!” Buffy said. “So, he’s going to blow us up?”

“Probably not.” Rupert said tiredly. “I imagine his first action after the initial bout of transformative destruction will be to open the Hellmouth.”

Buffy ruffled her hair angrily. “How come demons always want to open the Hellmouth? How come nobody ever wants to open a fast-food franchise or a bookstore or something simple?”

The three Watchers turned to look at her, unable to form replies to her question. Demons did what demons did. They were evil. Finally Giles spoke. “I suppose it’s the power. You could open a store or start a business, but that wouldn’t give you power. It doesn’t extend your life-span, you can’t control lives.”

“That’s just dumb.” She commented sagely. “I’m way more powerful than you guys but I don’t want to control you or anybody else except maybe myself. I guess I do want to extend my life span. I’d like to live a normal life, graduate from high school, maybe go to college, live with my husband and maybe have a kid or two. I’d like for there to be no monsters, no demons or vampires. I’d like a world where magic doesn’t actually work, where werewolves don’t date your best friend, where your high school isn’t sitting on the mouth of Hell.” She sighed and looked off into the distance. “I can’t imagine wanting to be a demon, to kill people to make myself stronger, to open the Hellmouth and bring even more evil beings like me here.”

Merrick came to her and put his arm over her shoulder. “That’s because you are not evil. In fact, you are its antithesis.”

Buffy gazed at him, eyebrow raised questioningly. “You represent the forces of Light, of goodness and the battle against Evil. Your wants and desires are simple, human things, yet they define you and make you part of the great equation. You focus on life, not on power and it’s acquisition.”

“Thanks, Merrick. Sometimes, I forget the important stuff.” She said quietly.

He smiled down at her. “Buffy, dear, you never forget the important stuff.” He kissed her hair and released her. Rupert and Wesley looked on, eyes suspiciously bright. They returned to their books desperately searching for some way to stop the madman that governed their town.

Buffy wanted to stay and help, but Rupert made her go to class. “We’ll find something, love. Come for lunch though. I’ll order enough pizza for all the Scoobies and we can make plans for a research party tonight.”

She looked up at him. “I love you, Rupert. “ Leaving the library she nearly ran over Principal Snyder.

“Pay attention to where you’re going, Ms. Summers. This hall is not a race track.”

“Uh, no. Sorry. I was, uh, just thinking about my next class...” She explained breathlessly.

“Oh, save it. You kids think anyone over thirty is hopelessly old and stupid. Well, here’s a newsflash, missy. I know you and your oddball friends are up to something and I’m going to make it my job to find out what.”

She gazed up at him, face blank, desperately fighting the urge to simply pummel the man into unconsciousness. When he gave her two hours of detention after school for running in the halls she was even more tempted. Instead, she simply nodded and went on her way.

When her last class ended, she ran to the library, looked in and told Willow who was already seated at the library table that she would be home late and to let the guys know. “Detention.” She mumbled as she ran to the classroom where the punishment session was being held. She had just taken her seat when she saw Rupert walk in.

He met the detention keeper at the man’s desk. “I’m removing Buffy Summers from detention.” He told the man.

“I’m afraid I can’t authorize that, Mr. Giles. Principal Snyder himself ordered her to have two hours of detention for running in the halls.” The man spread his hands out in a ‘what can I do’ gesture.

“I’m not asking you to authorize anything. I am merely removing Buffy from detention. She will not be serving any more sentences for any petty infraction of the rules that Snyder chooses to punish her for. You may tell him that when he asks.” He looked to Buffy and held out his hand. “Buffy, come with me.”

She grabbed her books and walked to him, slipping her hand in his and smiling shyly. The other students goggled when they saw the librarian openly showing his affection for a student. Some of them were wigged, but most of the detainees had suspected there was something going on between these two for at least a year. There were those rumors about sex in the library, after all. Everyone kept their eyes peeled as the teacher stood up.

“You have no authority to take a student out of detention.” He told Giles sternly.

“Parents and legal guardians can do so, however.” Giles stated calmly.

“Well, yes, but you are neither of those things.”

“No, but I am her husband. I should think that counts for something.” Giles said.

“What! No, that’s impossible. You can’t have married a student, everyone would know.” The teacher argued.

“We have been married for nine months. Nobody noticed even though we have both worn our wedding rings every day since then.” He held up their linked hands and everyone could see the matching gleam of gold on their ring fingers.

“I thought you were gay! I mean, you live in a house with two other men...you have to admit, that looks suspicious.” He was babbling now.

“I also live there with my wife and two other women, one of whom happens to be Buffy’s mother. Is there anything else you’d care to know about my living arrangements?” Giles spoke coolly.

“No. Take her and get out.” You could practically hear the man making a giant ‘eeeeuw’ sound in his head. “Snyder is going to hear about his.”

Rupert looked at him coldly. “No doubt.” They left.

The room exploded into a mass of gossip. “Wow, man! Can you like believe it?” “Totally weird! I always knew there was something going on with that pair.” “So, if there’s three men and three women, do they like swap partners or something?” “Gross.” The teacher watched the class for a moment before making a failed attempt at regaining order. “Class, you are dismissed.” He finally had to let them go. The minute the last student cleared the door, he hotfooted it to Snyder’s office.

“Do you really think that was a wise move, Rupert?” Merrick asked him that evening.

“We need Buffy here, helping with research more than Snyder needed her for another unjust punishment.” Giles said with a shrug. “Now that our marriage is out in the open, I’m hoping Buffy will face a bit less persecution. As her husband, I have the right to simply step in and say that she will not be punished. It’s better this way.”

Merrick nodded. “Perhaps you are correct. I’m certainly glad that Buffy will not have to face any more detentions.”

Meanwhile, Buffy, Willow and Cordelia moved to prepare a large supper for the group. Buffy told her story.

“Wow! That is just awesome, Buffy.” Willow said happily. “What do you think will happen now?”

“Well, there’s bound to be flack from Snyder. Rupert has made it clear that we are married. I mean, he flat out said it in front of witnesses. Even Snyder can’t think he was joking about it this time.”

“Will you guys get in trouble?” Cordelia asked her.

Buffy shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m legally married and my husband happens to be the librarian at my school. It’s a little odd, but we have my mother’s approval. Geez, I don’t know.”

“I guess you don’t have to worry about a date for prom at least.” Willow said philosophically.

“Yeah, there’s that.” Buffy grinned. “Do you really think he’ll take me?”

“Why wouldn’t he?” Cordelia said impatiently.

“Terminal embarrassment?” Buffy offered. She proceeded to set the table. “Anybody seen Faith tonight?”

Willow looked up. “I thought she was going to patrol early?”

“Yeah, and I was gonna take the late shift, but usually she should be back by now.” Buffy said, worry beginning to color her voice.

Just then, the front door opened and the dark haired Slayer staggered in. Under her arm she clutched a padlocked metal container about the size of a large shoebox. She had obviously been in a fight and had numerous cuts and bruises on her face and body. Wesley sprang up and carefully put his arm around her. Giles ran to get the medicine kit, and Merrick took the box and set it on the table. Buffy and the other two girls came into the room at a run, while Xander and Oz dropped the books they had been reading and gathered round the disheveled Slayer. Joyce came out of the back bedroom, yawning sleepily. “What’s going on?”

Faith looked around at her family and began her story. “I was down by the docks when I heard some vamps talking. They were waiting for a shipment for the boss. I figured I’d stick around and see what was what. They kept talking and after a while, it became pretty obvious that the boss was Mr. Trick. The shipment came and the vamps ate the driver. I fought them. Got two right away, but there were four more and they put up a good fight. They almost had me a couple of times, but eventually, I got three more of them. The last one ran. I expect he’s reporting to the Mayor what happened to his little box.”

“Do you know what’s in here, Faith?” Wesley asked her tenderly.

“Nuh uh. Probably something bad though. The vamps had strict orders not to open it.” The younger girl said as she relaxed against the soft cushions of the couch.

“Then I don’t think we should be messing with it either.” Buffy said adamantly. “Tomorrow, we can take it someplace and crush it or blow it up or do something that is really destructive to it, but I vote no on the opening.”

“Me too.” Faith said tiredly.

Giles looked at Buffy. “I don’t think you should patrol tonight. He will have his minions out looking for the box or one of you girls—any of you, for that matter. I think we should all remain here until we have destroyed it. We can go somewhere tomorrow and destroy it.”

“If I don’t come home tonight, I’ll be in trouble.” Cordelia said.

Faith looked at the older girl. “If you do go home, you could be dead.”

“Well, there’s that, I guess.” Cordy agreed.

Merrick went to one of the rooms they used for storage and pulled out the sleeping bags. Buffy found extra pillows for everybody. The gang called their respective homes, Willow and Xander covered for each other, Cordelia said she was staying with a friend and Oz called his aunt who was used to him staying out whenever he felt like it so no adult caused them problems. They ate their dinner and curled up on the sleeping bags with books for further research. It was sort of like a slumber party with the added threat of imminent death. Nothing they weren’t used to, in other words.

They searched high and low for some reference that would help them in their quest but found only vague snippets of information. They made plans to never be alone, at least until they figured out how to destroy the box.

For three days, they were able to go everywhere in groups. They had noticed an increased presence of demons and vampires on the streets at night, but there had been no overt attacks. After spending most of the morning searching through Giles’ library, Willow decided to stretch her legs for a moment. She turned to the others in the room. “Guys, I’m just going to step outside for a second, OK? I need to breath non-book smelling air.” She went to the back door and stepped outside.

When she hadn’t returned in five minutes, Buffy went to look for her. The back yard was deserted. She ran back into the house. “Giles, she’s gone! Willow’s gone.”

The entire group made for the back yard. Buffy sniffed the air like a hound taking a scent. “Something was here. It wasn’t human.”

Merrick snapped his head around to look at her. “Can you track it, Buffy? Willow’s life may be at stake.”

A soft breeze blew through the yard. She shook her head. “No. It’s pretty much gone now anyway.”

They trooped back into the house, deeply disturbed. “What are we going to do?” Xander said near tears.

NEXT