Bound

Chapter 13 Back To Normal?

Back at the mansion ,Darla and Lawson were going over their stories and getting to know each other. When Lawson explained the how and why of his being turned Darla was fuming. He told her that he had a conscience and had found the hunt less than appealing. Darla had found the same problem and Dru's influence on her had pushed her into hunting at first as she was only a fledgling. She told Lawson about the lawyers in the wine cellar incident and how it was shortly after that that she felt the pain of remorse and guilt.
Penn came back and had told Lawson the tales of his time with the great Angelus and Darla. He told how Angelus had taught him the art of the kill and how he had excelled in it.
It occurred to Darla that Penn was possibly the only vampire from the Aurelius clan that had nothing tying him down and stopping him from hunting. Spike and Angelus had a soul , she and Lawson had a conscience that weighed heavily on them if they killed. Dru was clinically insane and unable to hunt effectively . Darla looked up at heaven and sighed . What a sorry bunch of vampires they had become. This definitely would never of happened if the Master had of been alive today, she thought.
Angel stood at the bottom of the stairs.
"I'll be going back to L.A. Will you be coming back?" he asked Darla.
"No, I will be staying here and working with the slayer. She can use me, which is more than can be said of you. She has the right idea and , she has a tough time coming up, I can feel the evil brewing here. The Hell mouth is getting ready for something big and she will need us all if she is to survive."
"I can't stay, sure you understand. I'll take Dru and go .She has Spike now, and we'll just be a distraction. They have claimed each other and that has made Dru unpredictable. I'm not good at goodbyes so I'll just go."
"Touching.. is that the speech you gave the poor girl last time?" Darla sounded pissed
"More or less " he answered
Darla huffed " I suggest that you say goodbye to the two of them and make things right, I get the feeling you will need them too, at a later date Angelus, do not let your pride get in the way"
Angel nodded and turned to leave


Dawn burst through the door and walked into the kitchen and went straight to the fridge and pulled out a carton of orange juice and drank from it, walking around the island and plonking herself down on a stool. Willow dropped her keys into the bowl on the table, Xander walked in, picked up the remote for the T.V and flopped onto the couch. Willow followed Dawn and tutted as the youngster sipped from the carton still.
"There's an invention made especially for drinking , it's called a glass" she said as she got one from the cabinet and put it in front of Dawn.
"But the fun is in drinking from the carton. It takes skill to drink from it without it spilling down your top" As Dawn said it, the cartons cap hit her nose and she spilt it down her top.Dawn screamed as the cold juice hit her ."See" she laughed
"Point " Willow smiled and went through into the front room.
"So work on the new school huh?"
"Yup, and the goodness that comes with work is more money, which keeps Anya happy"
"So where is this new Sunnydale high going to be?"
"Same place" Xander rolled his eyes "You would think that the planning committee would have researched the plot first but oh no, hell mouth seems a good place to put a school.. again"
" Bet the Governor for the committee is evil, or some sort of demon, possibly a vampire"
"No I ruled vampire out cos of the whole on sight in daylight thing"
Willow mouthed 'Oh'

Dawn watched the cartoons and spoke without dragging her eyes from the T.V "Do you think they'll be awake yet?"
Willow looked at her watch "It's still only ten am honey, I doubt it considering all they've been through"
Xander rubbed Dawns back "Just hope all of the relatives have gone now, having all of Angels family here wasn't doing much for my sanity, I still remember them the first time round"
"Still creeps me out, I mean how did Darla come back from the dead? "
"Big mojo and lots of darkness. I doubt I could ever be that powerful" Willow said enviously
"Hey Buffy, you did that thing with Buffy, now that was pretty radical" Dawn smiled at her, trying to make Willow feel better.
"Well, this wicca best start doing you all some breakfast." Willow looked in the fridge and saw blood, eggs and not much of anything else. She whispered an incantation and the island was suddenly full of pancakes , eggs, bacon and fruit salad and some fresh orange juice. Happy with her little spell, she walked back in to Dawn and Xander smiling." It's ready"
Her companions shot off the couch and ran into the kitchen and got stuck in to the food. Willow rushed up the stairs and knocked on Buffys bedroom door.
She heard groans and a yawn followed by a "C'min" in a masculine voice

Willow peered round the door, making sure they were decent
"Just thought you guys would like breakfast, it's ready and in the kitchen. I'd hurry if you do, Xander has that 'could eat til I explode' look.
"Would actually see that, do you think it's possible Red?" Spike said in a teasing tone.
Ignoring his comment Willow smiled "See you downstairs in five then" she closed the door and bounced down the stairs.
"Guess that's us awake now then " Buffy purred as she stretched
"Mornin' gorgeous" Spike kissed her lips and his mark that had healed overnight
Buffy moaned "Morning yourself"
Spike got up and shrugged on his jeans and t shirt, throwing her robe at the bed "Get up wench, need my blood"
Buffy raised her brows "Like that now is it?"
"Well the claims like a marriage of sorts so, get up and do your wifely chores bint" He curled his tongue behind his teeth.
Buffy got the stake out from under her pillow and spun it in her hand "I could start with a little light dusting ... honey" she returned his trademark tongue thing.
Spike looked up at heaven and muttered "M' I doomed to be loves bitch for all eternity?" he walked towards the door.
Buffy pulled her robe around her and followed him. "Nope just mine" she laughed

Buffy pulled Dawn into a hug and kissed her sister on the forehead. "Hope I didn't worry you too much honey?"
"Oh nooo , you didn't" she looked at Buffy with sad eyes
"How would you like a night out? In fact all of us, like old times? A night of Bronzy goodness, who's up for it?"
They all agreed that it would be a great idea.
"We could celebrate the return of your memories , would be of the good" Dawn said as she impaled another pancake onto her fork and placed it on her plate.
Spike removed his cup from the microwave and sipped it. Standing behind Buffy, he kissed the claim mark "We can also celebrate Buffy n me being hitched too" He walked into the lounge as the stream of questions started .

After explaining to Dawn and her friends , Buffy scowled at him. He laughed at her and kissed her shoulder "Sorry pet that was evil of me, forgive me" he pouted at her and she couldn't help but laugh at him.
"Forgiven"
"We best go over and see who has left and who has stayed pet, when your up for it that is"
"Your right, do you think we can trust them?"
"Trust who?" Xander and the two girls stood in the doorway
Spike looked up at them "Darla and Lawson and yeah I guess,I trust 'em. They could 'ave killed you while you were amnesia annie an' they d'int"
"I guess" Buffy answered him , she sat on his lap and Spike wrapped his arms around her.
"Well I for one will always carry a can of vampaway spray whenever they're around, sorry , they might be your relatives or whatever Spike but I still remember Darla on her psycho ' Buffy stole my boyfriend' rampage.
Spike shrugged "Your call Whelp"
"Will you not call me that" Xander shook a pointed finger at the vamp who was trying hard not to laugh
"K whelp"
Buffy slapped Spikes arm
"Ow , watch it Slayer"
"Hungry now" Buffy got up off his lap and went into the kitchen to grab some of the delicious looking food.
The phone rang and Dawn bounced out of her chair "I'll get it"

Buffy it's for you, it's Giles"
Buffy came out of the kitchen swallowing the mouthful of pancake and taking the phone from Dawn
"Hey, how's England?"
"Hello Buffy, I'm glad your back to normal"
"I'm feeling that, what's up?"
She cringed, one of these days she would learn not to ask that particular question. 'Talk about curse yourself Buffy'.
"A Watcher friend of mine found a codex that he thinks relates to the mysterious storms that happened a while ago. Do you remember them?"
"Yep, we haven't had one since I lost my memory and regained it" The penny dropped "Okay Giles spill it, what have I done now?"
"Have you and Spike performed the mating claim?"
"What does that have to do with the storms?"
"Buffy please, have you?"
"Yes , we did it last night, why?"
"Oh thank god"
"Giles please, just tell me what's going on"
"I can't tell you over the phone, I'm getting the first available flight back, I should arrive tomorrow morning. It's the Hell mouth again Buffy. Is Angel still in the picture?"
"No he went back to L.A and took Dru with him"
"Right, you need to get them back there, I'll be bringing the codex with me, can Spike read Latin?"
Buffy turned to her vampire lover and he nodded .Buffy frowned at him "Vampire hearing pet "
"He said yeah he can." Buffy yawned
"Good. I have to go Buffy but I shall see you tomorrow night"
Bye then and Giles?"
"Yes Buffy?"
"I'm sorry if I was a bitch before"
"That means a lot to me , thank you"
"Bye Giles"
"Goodbye"
He hung up and Buffy turned to her 'family'. " Giles has found a codex which means hellmouthy ungoodness. We need to get Angel and Dru back here. We won't know more until he gets here tomorrow, he also said it was good that we had completed the mating claim."
"S'not all bad then" he smirked
"We can't do much until he gets here and Angel and Dru return so, tonight's still on, may as well have some fun while we can"


Angel arrived just as everyone was getting jackets and shrugs before they all headed to the Bronze. Angel had bought his team with him and they all decided to join the 'Scoobies' in their night out.

The club hadn't changed since Angel was here . He felt out of his comfort zone and groaned as the next song started blaring out and teens took to the dance floor. Spike hung onto Buffy and nuzzled at her neck and his mark , making Angels heart sink just a little more. Cordy was dead so he had nobody to take his own solace in. Watching his brood start, Willow, Wesley and Dawn dragged the bulky vamp onto the dance floor, much to his protests. Xander watched as Angel shrugged his shoulders and let out his inner Wayne Sleep.

The Scoobs that remained at the table and had been watching with interest, spluttered, coughed and sprayed their drinks as Angel proceeded to dance like a headless chicken in a round cage, as Spike so eloquently put it between his own fits of laughter.
Buffy was crying as Wesley seemed to be in tune with Angel and danced with the same finesse . Feeling a bit of pity, and wanting to get Spike dancing, Buffy pulled him up and pulled him into the crowd.
" You can sit there looking all cool and laugh at them but I can't say I remember us ever dancing, now if you don't get jiggy I'll forever think that you dance" she nodded towards the funky chickens " like them"
"Oi!" he stiffened "Take that back bint"
"Na Ah " Buffy let herself go and started dancing around the blonde vamp , she really knew how to push his buttons.
"Slayer"
The music kicked up a notch and th ebeat became fast and she let go, she should have been X rated by now he thought.
"Gah, bleedin' hell" Spike smirked and gave her some of the same, moving his taut body behind her in tune with hers.
Anyone watching would have been enthralled by them, it was poetry, also, like sex in an upright position and while wearing lots of leather.

The music died away and everyone made their way back to their seats to gulp down their drinks in an effort to replace lost fluids. The team drew attention from passers by, they were stunning, envious eyes watched from the balcony.

Buffy felt the slayer in her go into highly alert status and she scanned the club for vamps, other than the ones that were now family and couldn't detect any.
Spike watched as his girl went into Slayer mode, Angel and Darla noticed it to and immediately flanked her.

"What is it pet?"
"Someone's here "
"Is it a vamp or demon?" Angel asked, his hands now out of his pockets and clenched at his sides.
Darla sniffed the air "It's a slayer"
Buffy and Angel both looked at each other "Faith" they said in unison.
Buffy frowned and turned to Angel "I thought she was locked up and all repenty these days"
"So did I Buffy, only thing I can think off , is that she heard about the storms and my turning again and escaped to help you"
"Me and Faith? Totally non mixy, I doubt she's here for snuggles with our family Angel, and its not the vibe I'm getting"
Buffy walked towards the back of the club, flanked by Angel and Spike. Darla and Lawson remained with the rest of the group .

"Well if it's not lil miss goody two shoes. Gee you stepped up to the plate since I left B, two vampires now, wasn't Angel giving it to you good , although hell B , good upgrade"
Spike growled and Angel watched him, just in case he fancied death by rogue Slayer. Buffy smiled sweetly .

"Faith, keep your mouth shut and just go" Angel said sternly
"I'm not leaving, not when this town is overrun with vamps and dirty slayers"
Buffy laughed "That's rich coming from you, what's up Faith? Redempion not what it's cracked up to be?"
"Was doin' fine til one of the Watcher types sprung me to get Sunnydale clean"

Her declaration sent the vampires and Buffy reeling.
'Okay so she's not the bad guy here ' Buffy thought 'Time to back down'
"Back off guys, go and see if the gangs okay"
Spike refused to go and stood firm , Angel hovered and then disappeared, earning him a snarl from Spike.
Faith appreciated the gesture and relaxed, her stance now casual , she leant against a table and lit a cigarette. Squinting through the smoke that curled around her face, she eyed up the blonde vamp suspiciously
"Don't I know you from somewhere Billy idol" she nodded at him
Spike rolled his eyes ' How soddin original' "Doubt it, can't say I hung out at any sleazy enough joints"
Faith wasn't phased "So B , what's the sitch here, must be outta control if Watcher Central want me here to put the Hellmouth back on track"
"There's no problem, well okay, maybe the usual, but I can take care of it. "
"Looks like you have a tight team there, how comes you work with more vamps than just your honey?" Faith eyed up Lawson and Darla.

The table was watching the meeting and the vampires could all hear what was being said. Darla put her hand on Angels arm for reassurance and as a gesture of sympathy.

"Lets get this all straightened out" Buffy pulled Faith over to the table. "First of all, Angels not my honey, Spike here is. This is Darla, Angels sire and that's Lawson, Angels his sire .That's Anya, ex vengeance demon and the rest you pretty much know. Wes works for Angel in L.A with Fred and Gunn. Now your all caught up. Oh and all the vampires have souls of some sort and have pledged to help and not hunt, so no staking, they're family"
Faith strained to take it in and caught up eventually. "So you got yourself an Adams Family of help against the forces of darkness, wicked cool. So where do I fit in?"
"Always room for one more" Angel said
Buffy looked up at Angel and frowned . Whilst she may have bought the rogue Slayer up to speed, she wasn't quite ready to trust her yet, after all she had said she was contracted by the Watchers Council to take them all out.
Spike hugged Buffy and kissed her cheek "More drinks I think, you, look like you need it" he whispered in her ear before kissing her again and disappearing to the bar, taking Xander with him.

"K , Whelp spill what you know about the dark Slayer bint"
"Caused trouble for Buffy, blamed the death of a guy on Buffy when it was her that killed him . After that she worked for the demon Mayor and helped him with the Ascension , tried to kill Buffy and Buffy put her in a coma . Pretty much covers it"
"Not to be trusted then?"
"Nope, she headed off to L.A and tried to take Angel out when she woke up"
"Not so bad then, maybe she gets one tick in her plus box for that"
Xander sniggered and watched the table while Spike made his long order.

Loaded with trays of alcohol, the two men made their way back to the table and saw Angel stroke Buffys arm. Trust the brooding tosser to still try. It was only when he heard Buffys sobs that he gave no more thought to it and took his girl in his arms.

"What bought this on pet?"
"The Council have the transcript on the threat that's rising, it has something to do with Dawnie . God, I thought we stopped that with the whole Glory and the swan dive of death"
Spike looked at Faith "Have you seen the transcript?"
"Done better than that" she reached down the back of her jeans and pulled out a crumpled wad of papers and slapped them on the table " Those idiots left me with them for half hour, what's a con to do" she smiled. "Look B, I'll be straight for once, it's not good. I best go, Watchers watch and I don't wanna cause you more shit, I'll lay low, not draw attention to you and keep them off your back, but I will have to have a smack down with one of your pets, won't stake em though, you got my word"

She made sense, if she made it look like she still batted for their team, she could stop them from causing more trouble for her , leaving her time and space to deal. She also understood when she said that she should have a smack down with one of the vampires , just for observation purposes. If she did stake one, then all bets were off and Faith will find out exactly what her family could do.

"Okay good plan, come by the Magic Shop tomorrow, we'll talk strategies then and hopefully we'll know more about the threat on Dawn"
Faith nodded and drank her drink down in one and left.

"Brace yourselves everyone, hurricane Buffy's about to hit the Hellmouth" Dawn said