Title: The Assistant, part 65
Author: Sweetdoggie (stirling_summer@yahoo.com)
Pairing: B/G
Rating: R
Summary: Merrick didn’t die. AU
Spoilers: season 4
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.
Everyone stared at Xander, mouths open in wonder.
“Well, something good is coming from all this!” Spike said happily. “Can I watch? I hate that bastard.”
“I think we have a few more important things to decide besides dusting Angel,” Buffy said. “Though the idea is pretty tempting. Does anybody remember the exact wording of that prophecy about the vampire with the soul?”
“It was in Grey's Codex of Unusual Prophecies,” Xander told her. “I've never understood why they were unusual. I mean, prophecy—not exactly run-of-the-mill.”
“Maybe because they were understandable. Most prophecies are full of mystical crap that has to be interpreted,” Buffy told him. “You know, 'when the two-headed horse meets the feathered serpent, then pizza will fall from the sky.' It's all interpretation.”
“Pizza?” Xander asked.
Joyce handed him a plate of pancakes. “Start with this. Work your way up to pizza.”
Wesley found the exact quote, “In the final days, the ensouled undead shall battle great evil. His place will be next to the Slayer and it is by his hand that all will be revealed. Should he prevail, humanity will be restored.”
“Are we absolutely sure that it refers to Spike and not Angel?” Giles asked.
“I don't know if there is any way of being sure until it happens,” Wesley replied.
“Do you see why I hate prophecies?” Buffy asked rhetorically.
“I can't believe I'm actually growin' a soul!” Spike told the room at large. “And you think that it's because these monks dumped the Key into me?”
“Got to be,” Buffy said glumly. “And they also said I have to protect you.”
“I can protect myself, love,” the vampire preened.
“Not against that blonde psycho, you can't,” she told him sourly. “I think either Spike's got to move in with us, or I have to move in with him.”
“Well, you bloody well aren't moving in with a vampire!” Giles told her furiously. “If we have to have him around, he can stay in the basement.”
Buffy looked at him. “Giles, we have two babies in this household. Is it fair to them to have a vampire living under our roof?”
“I've got a soul now!,” Spike protested. “I wouldn't hurt 'em.” He looked puzzled. “How did you get two babies?”
Joyce rolled her eyes. “One's mine and John's, one's Buffy and Giles'.”
“Cor! You had a baby, Slayer? Can I see it?” The vampire looked eager.
She rolled her eyes. “Why?”
“I just wanted to see your baby. I'll bet it's cute. Boy or girl?”
“Girl. We named her Dawn.”
“Nice.”
“Back in 'seventy-seven, I think it was, I killed that Slayer in New York. Nikki. Yeah. That was her name. She had a sprout of her own too. Cute little bugger,” Spike reminisced. “I wonder what happened to him?”
The Watchers bristled angrily at this story. Spike looked up, surprised by the waves of anger directed at him. “I was a vampire! It's what vampires do!”
“Well, what are you now?” Anna asked him curiously.
“Damned if I know, Nibblet.” He sighed gustily. “I was a good vampire, but I was a pretty poor excuse for a man. Lived with my mum, couldn't get my girl interested in me at all, wrote sodding poetry. Then I got turned. I had a purpose. I killed people and I was good at it. Now, I'm turning back into bloody awful William. It's enough to make a creature of darkness weep.”
Anna patted him lightly on the arm. “I'm sure things will turn out for the best, Spike.”
“Besides,” Willow told him, “you aren't really a creature of darkness anymore. Your soul glows like nothing I've ever seen.”
“Huh,” was his response as he plopped down on the couch.
“I suppose we need to get him a bed and stuff,” Buffy said in a resigned voice.
“I'd like a King-sized water bed,” Spike threw in.
“I was thinking more of a cot,” she told him.
“Get him a water bed,” Wesley said tiredly. “At least if it leaks in the basement, it won't matter.”