The Key

Layla had shown Xander and Willow what she could do. She had also met Buffy's handler Giles and Buffy's younger sister Dawn. All of the information was a little much for Layla to handle so she went into the kitchen by herself. She sat down at the counter. 'Vampires, werewolves, and shapeshifter. You only hear about them in the movies. And now they are real here in Sunnydale,' Layla thought. 'This is going to be one interesting visit in Sunnydale.' Layla was still sitting in the kitchen when the kitchen door had opened. In walked the most handsome guy she had ever seen. He stood around 6' with the blondest hair and bluest eyes which was surrounded by the most chiseled looking cheeks. The guy noticed her sitting there and stopped. They sat and stared at each other.

Spike was ready to help Buffy go patrolling for demons when he walked into her kitchen but he wasn't ready for what he saw. Sitting there was the most angelic creature he had ever saw and he has seen many different women in his 500 year existance. Her hazel eyes were fixated on him as he entered. The only thing he could do was stand there and stare. She had taken his breath away. He was afraid that if he moved she would disappear.

Buffy entered the kitchen. She saw Spike and Layla staring at each other so she interrupted. "Spike? What are you doing here?" Buffy asked. Spike tore his attention away from Layla and looked at Buffy. "Spike," Layla whispered not meaning to say it out loud. Her cheeks grew hot as Spike looked back at her. He loved hearing her call his name. She jumped up and said, "Uh excuse me." She ran out of the room. Buffy took Spike's chin in her hand and made him face her. "No, Spike, No," she talked to him like she would have a dog. "What?" he said in his British accent. "Layla is my cousin. So that means off limits. Besides she doesn't know that you are a vampire," Buffy said. "But she knows about vamps right?" he asked. "Yeah. So?" Buffy said. Spike knew that this girl was too special to pass on just because she is a slayers cousin. There was something deep inside of him telling him that he needed to get to know this girl a little better. "Hello. Spike? What are you doing here anyway?" Buffy asked. "I came to see if you needed help patrolling tonight," he said. Buffy thought about it. "Let's see. Willow is going with Giles to the abandoned warehouse. Dawn and Anya are going to be staying here looking after things. I will be going to the school and Xander and Layla will be heading to the graveyard. You can..." Spike interrupted Buffy. He didn't like the thought of Layla going out with Xander. He knew Xander couldn't fight his way out of a wet paper bag. "No. I don't think you should stick your cousin with Xander. He can't handle himself. How is he going to protect her out at the graveyard?" Spike said. Buffy didn't like the reaction he gave her. She could see his protective nature start to show and it only came out when there was something he liked at stake. "Believe me Spike. Layla can handle herself," Buffy said. Spike knew when Buffy had made up her mind there was no changing it but he was still going to look after Layla. "Okay fine. I will go with them to the graveyard," he said. "No. You have to go with Andrew downtown near the clubs. I am sure people are still out and still need to be protected down there," Buffy said. Spike opened his mouth to protest but Layla walked in. "I'm sorry to interrupt but Xander wants to go ahead and leave. He said something about the sooner he leaves the sooner he can get back. So we're gone," Layla said talking to Buffy. As she left the room she smiled at Spike. Spike went to follow her but Buffy grabbed his arm. "Off to downtown you go," she told him. "Fine," he said walking off to find Andrew. Even though he has another agenda in mind.

Spike found Andrew hiding in the basement and together they set off for downtown. Of course Spike would see what was going on downtown before he headed back towards the graveyard. He had to get to know Layla better no matter what Buffy says. "I don't wanna go down this way," Andrew whined. "You have got to be kiddin me. For you to be into all of that witchcraft junk you have got to be the most afraid little nerd I have ever been around," Spike said. "For your information, the witchcraft I do is not junk," he said. "Yeah, well, why don't you use it to give yourself some guts," Spike said as he entered Bloodthirsty, the best nightclub in Sunnydale.

Xander and Layla had reached the graveyard on the other side of town just before midnight. "So do you guys do this every night?" Layla asked. "Yeah pretty much. Sometimes we take turns on who stays in and who goes out but someone is out every night," he said. "That must get pretty difficult. I mean you never really have much of a life. So how do you stay sane?" she asked. "Sane?" he repeated. Just then a vampire jumped out of the bushes at them and Xander put a stake through his heart dusting him. "By trying to stay alive," he said answering her question. Layla watched the dust from what used to be the vampire floating in the wind. Seeing a vampire for the first time set her adrenaline on high. She prepared her mind for a harsh battle. She had no idea of what to expect. Xander walked off in front of her. She saw the most beautiful angel statue crying over a grave so she headed off to the left to get a better look. The statue stood well over 7 feet. She saw its face. The angel was crying. Then she looked dawn at the headstone to see who the angel cried over. She knelt down and brushed the leaves off of the headstone. "Mary Parker Beloved mother and wife Now resting in Heaven," she said reading the headstone. Layla touched the angel and imaged rushed into her mind.

*But no my daughter cannot do this. I will never let her be this whatever you call it - a lady said from a hospital bed.
She has to do it. She will save us all one day- a man in a leather overcoat said.
Never will she know this is her destiny. I will never tell her - the woman said*

Layla felt the desperation in the young mothers voice. She felt the pain in her heart. Layla put her hand on her chest and pulled the other hand off of the statue. Tears were in her eyes. A hand touched her shoulder. She turned around throwing up her shield. "Woah take it easy. Put that thing away before you hurt me," Xander said throwing his hands up. "Xander I am sorry. I..." Layla said. Xander noticed the tears in her eyes. "What's wrong Layla?" he asked. "I just touched the statue and saw things," she said. Xander looked at her like she had lost her mind. "You know never mind. I think I am just spooked," she said wiping her eyes. "As well you should be," a menacing voice said. Layla turned around. About 10 vampires were standing there watching them. "What a tender morsel," one of them said. Xander pulled Layla next to him. "Are you ready?" he asked. She looked at him. "Ready as I'll ever be," she said. They charged the group of vampires.

Spike was looking for anything suspicious in the club when a feeling of anxiety came over him and he thought it was about time to head to the graveyard. He found Andrew. "Come on. We're out of here," he told Andrew. "Great it's about time we went back to Buffy's. I'm tired," he said. "Oh we're not going back just yet, Slick. We are heading to the graveyard," Spike said cutting through the woods. For some reason he felt he had to rush there. "Th..the graveyard?" Andrew stammered as he followed Spike. "We can't go there. All kinds of creepy things show up there," he said. Spike ignored him.

Layla had dusted her first vampire and headed towards her second one when she heard Xander call for her. She looked back. He was being held down by two vampires while a third one kicked his butt. Layla started to run to help him when one of the vampires grabbed her arm and threw her to the ground. That made her angry. She jumped up before he could lay a hand on her. She felt her hands tingling. She looked at them and saw sparks. "Good time to show up," she said to her powers. She raised her hands at the vampire in front of her sending electric bolts at him. He flew away from her. She turned to Xander. She now had the attention of all of the vampires in the graveyard. She raised her hands and sent the ones near Xander flying with the bolts of lightening. She was ready to shoot again when one of the vampires behind her tackled her. They fell to the ground. Layla's head hit the ground hard. The vampire wouldn't get off of her. "Get off of me," she said. The vampire laughed and leaned down to her ear "Who's gonna make me?" She then felt the weight of the vampire being lifted off of her and turned around to see it was Spike that had pulled him off. "Me," Spike said. "Spike," she said relieved. He dusted the vampire and bent to help Layla up. She took his hand and he pulled her to her feet. "Thank you," she said. "You are most certainly welcome. Are you alright?" he asked her looking at the cut on her head. "Yes. I will be even better once we dust all these creeps," she said. "A woman after my own heart," he said in his British accent. They took off after the other vamps. Andrew was surrounded by two so Layla went to help him. She dusted herself two more vampires. "I think I am getting the hang of this," she told Andrew. "Good thing you are because I have never been really good at fighting. I am better at running," he said. "Well, you better get to running," Layla said taking off as three vampires ran towards them. Andrew saw them and ran after Layla.

Hours later the graveyard was clear. Layla went up to Xander. "Are you okay, Xander?" she asked. "Yes but that is the most vampires I have ever seen in one night," he told her. "That was the most I have ever seen in my life," she said smiling at him. She tried to make him feel better and it worked. He laughed. "Let's head back," he said. "Good idea," Andrew said practically running out of the graveyard. Layla started to follow but a hand slipped into hers stopping her. She turned and looked. Spike was looking at her. "We haven't properly met yet. My name is Spike," he said holding out his hand. She took it. "I am Layla. But come on. Spike can't be your real name is it?" she asked. "No. I was given that nickname a while back. My real name is William Devlin," he said. She smiled at him. He noticed they were still holding hands. He pulled away. They started back towards Buffy's. "What made you come to Sunnydale?" he asked trying to make conversation. "I wanted to see my friends here. You know catch up on times missed. I never expected this coming back," she said. "How long have you known Buffy?" she asked. "Ever since I came to Sunnydale 5 years ago. I helped her to get rid of Harsenale," he said. She looked at him. "Who?" she asked. "That was the demon Buffy was dating," he said. "Did she know what he was?" she asked him. "Yes, she knew when they first met. Buffy is just weird like that. She seems to fall for the really bad ones," he told her. "I guess it has something to do with her slayer thing," Layla said thinking aloud. "You know for you to be just now finding out about demons and vampires you sure are taking things lightly. It's like you have known about these things your whole life," he said. "You have no idea," she said giving him a playful look as they ducked through the trees at the exit of the graveyard.

Spike walked Layla up to the front door of Buffy's. "Aren't you coming in?" she asked. Spike looked at the sky. Morning was coming soon. "I would love to but I need to be getting home. Take care of that cut on your forehead," he said as he walked away. He turned and looked at her. She went inside. His heart broke. He wanted to stay with her but how could he. Daylight would be here soon and vampires and daylight just don't mix. How could he tell her he was a vampire? He couldn't and probably never would. He walked the lonely road back to his lonely apartment in town.

Layla went inside and looked out the window. She didn't see Spike so she headed for her room. "Xander told me what happened tonight. Were you scared?" Buffy asked as Layla stepped on the stairs. "I was but then Spike showed up. He helped us out," Layla said. "Spike? You shouldn't get to involved with him. He is not good for you," Buffy said. "Yeah neither is chocolate but I still eat it," Layla said going up stairs. She knew Buffy was just trying to protect her but Layla still felt like Buffy was hiding something. Layla laid down on her bed. The images from the angel statue flooded her thoughts. 'How did that happen?' she thought as she drifted off to sleep.