Friends Last

Halfreck carefully added a few more branches to the fire. According to her body clock it was about 2am. Of course, that could be way off, what with the dilemma of not knowing where she was. A slight whimper brought her attention back to Anya. She tiptoed to where the blonde lay sleeping and knelt down next to her. She looked cold. Halfreck removed her velvet green skirt and laid it over her before brushing a wayward strand of hair out of Anya’s eyes and rising to her feet.

She had to laugh as she looked down at herself, now dressed in a large white oxford shirt, green velvet vest, and black tights. Shaking her head, she walked to the water’s edge. The gentle lapping of the waves on the shore was surprisingly very soothing to her. She breathed in the salty sea air and blew out the breath heavily.

This is entirely my fault, she thought. I have to find a way out of this. She turned to look at Anya once again. Have I ever been in love? She returned to the waves.

She hadn’t loved Slake. She didn’t even really like him. He served well as a distraction for a time. Well, that was over.

“Halle?”

Halfreck turned around. “Yes?”

“What time is it?”

“It’s still early sweetie. Go back to sleep.”

“I’m cold.”

Knowing that she was probably about to make the biggest mistake of her existence, Halfreck moved to Anya’s side and lay down next to her, taking the weary blonde into her arms. “I’ll keep you warm,” she said.

Anya didn’t even stop to think before snuggling into Halfreck’s embrace. She let out a little yawn and drifted back to sleep.

Halfreck held Anya tightly, one hand stroking her soft hair. Damn, she thought. I could get used to this.



Xander sat on the bathtub in silence. He didn’t know what to think. Anya was missing. The only person who could help her was him. And Spike. He didn’t like the thought of Anya being stranded somewhere, but also knew that his effort of riding in to rescue the damsel in distress would be an effort in futility. He loved Anya, yes. But he just couldn’t see himself spending the rest of his life with her. Still, it cut him to the quick to see her with another man. No, not a man. A vampire. Not just a vampire, but Spike. Of all the vampires in Sunnydale, why did she have to choose him?

And speaking of Spike, why did he keep staring like that? Xander knew that Spike’s chip prevented him from doing any real damage, but still…how long would it take to shove a knife through Xander’s chest? Not long enough.
Xander shifted on the edge of the tub. Spike’s gaze was making him uneasy. “Stop staring at me,” he said.
Spike shifted his eyes. “Sorry, didn’t know it bothered you.”

“Well, it does.” But why? There was something there. A thought in the back of his mind that was just out of his conscious grasp.

“Look, pet, we need to figure this out. As appealing as the thought of spending the entire night in Buffy’s bathroom is, I’d really like to get out of here.”

“Are you gonna help me or not?” Xander blurted out.

“I already said I would,” Spike spat out.

“Then it’s settled. Call the others, let’s get out of here.”

Spike didn’t move. “I won’t leave you there, you know.”

“What?” Xander did a double take.

"Well...good."

“You heard me.”

“But there is something you should know.”

Here it comes. “What?”

“I don’t know if I’m going to be able to get us back.”

“What do you mean?”

Spike sighed. “I don’t know a bloody thing about spells, even less of how to cast them.”

Xander breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s all? Tara will show you how to do that.”

“Your faith in my abilities is endearing. But I thought it fair to warn you.”

“Consider me warned.”



Dawn sat on the sofa, turning the pendants over in her hands. How can one little gem contain so much power? She thought of the few instances when she had had contact with vengeance demons. It wasn’t a life that she would choose for herself. She had learned firsthand what happens when you make a wish that you don’t really want.
Suddenly, the house seemed very big. There had been no sounds from upstairs in quite some time. The hairs on her neck began to stand on end. She couldn’t sit there any longer. Rising to her feet, she shoved the amulets back into her pocket and headed up the stairs.

Just as she disappeared from sight, a vibrant display of light appeared next to the sofa. Slake stood in the center of the beam, a look of determination on his face. He sniffed the air. The scent of the jewel was strong. Bending down, he lifted the cushions of the couch, tossing them aside. It is here.

Dawn stopped outside the bathroom door. “Is everyone okay in there?”

“Dawn? Is that you?”

“Xander? Are you guys alright?”

“We’re okay. Get Tara and let us out.”

“She went with Willow to the Magick Box. They should be back soon. Buffy went on patrol. I think she needed to beat something up.”

“They left you here alone?” The voice came from Spike.

“Don’t worry, I’m fine. So…how’s it going?”

Spike sat up quickly. He face shifted to it’s vampire form.

“Whoa, what are you doing?” Xander asked, jumping to his feet.

“Be quiet,” Spike hissed. He smelled the air. Something was coming. Something bad. “Dawn,” he called. “Get out of the house. Now.”

Dawn raised her eyebrows. “What-“

She was cut off by the hand grabbing her hair. Her gaze met with the wrinkled face of a man standing next to her. He was very short; their faces level as she sat on the ground. An ear piercing scream escaped her lips.

Xander and Spike both jumped at the sound of Dawn’s scream. Spike scrambled to his feet as Xander rushed at the door. “Dawn? Dawn? What’s going on?”

Dawn couldn’t respond. The hand clasping around her throat prevented breathing, let alone speaking.

“Dawn! Answer me!” Spike rushed at the door, but Tara’s spell held strong.

“Spike, do something!” Xander yelled.

“Dawn!”

Dawn tried with all of her power to fight of the man who held her captive. “Please,” she whispered weakly.

“Where is the jewel?” Slake growled.

Xander and Spike pounded on the door, to no avail. “Dawn! What’s going on?” Xander knelt down, trying to peer under the door.

Slake reached into Dawn’s pocket and produced one of the pendants. “Ahh,” he hissed.

“Did you think you could hide it from me? Did you think I would not find it? You’ve a lot to learn girl. And I have half a mind to teach you.”

“Dawn! Who is that?” Spike yelled. “Who is out there with you?”

Slake grinned at Dawn, causing her eyes to widen even more. The intent in his eyes taught her more about mortal terror than anything she had encountered living her short life as the sister of the slayer.


Buffy met Willow and Tara on the sidewalk in front of the house. “Get everything?” she asked.
Tara held up a paper bag in one hand. Her other hand was otherwise occupied, holding firmly to Willow’s.
Buffy decided not to mention the hand holding for fear that it would embarrass them. Instead she just smiled at the pair and led the way up the front walk.
As soon as she opened the door she knew that something was very wrong. The sofa cushions were thrown about the house, the sofa tipped up on its side. “Dawn?” she called. Willow and Tara followed her horrified gaze. Buffy ran to the stairs and took them two at a time.
“Halfreck will pay for this. Just as you will pay for keeping from me what is mine.”
Buffy stopped short when she saw the source of the voice. Dawn was on her knees, tears spilling from her eyes. The man was holding a knife to Dawn’s face, making another of several deep gashes down her cheek. She could hear Spike and Xander pounding furiously on the bathroom door, both screaming at Dawn to reply. Without a thought, she rushed at the man, knocking him to the ground. She held a dagger to his throat. “Who are you?” she demanded.
But to reply came. The figure vanished from beneath her, causing her to fall to the floor.


Spike returned from the kitchen with a bowl of warm water and a wet cloth. He sat on the other side of Dawn, who was leaning back on Buffy for support. He dipped the cloth in the water and gently brought it to Dawn’s face. She winced, causing a minor bolt of pain to shoot through his head. He threw the rag onto the table. “Someone else do this, I’m not a bloody doctor.”

It was Xander who realized Spike’s predicament. He took up the cloth and set about cleaning up Dawn’s face. Tara moved to Spike’s side and lifted up his hand. “It’s broken,” she said, seeing the angry bruises and swelling. She looked at his other hand, a mirror of the first.

“Well, this wouldn’t have happened if someone hadn’t locked us up, would it, witch?” Spike was more than annoyed. He should have rescued Dawn.

Dawn spoke up. “It wasn’t your fault, Spike.”

Spike smiled at the girl before turning back to Tara. “Let’s get started, witch. What do we have to do?”

Tara held up several pages of script. “The spell must be cast the second the sun goes down on the night of the full moon. Tomorrow night.”

“Tomorrow!” Buffy exclaimed. “We have to wait a whole day?”

“We need the time, Buffy,” Willow said gently as she began wrapping Spike’s hands. “Spike has to be taught how to do the spell.”

“Hold on there, Red. If this spell must be cast at sundown, how the bloody hell are we going to get back?”

“The spell that will bring you all back is a little different,” Tara explained for Willow. “It requires a few more ingredients and is a little more complex but it doesn’t require a certain time.”

“More complex? Marvelous.”

“Buff?” Xander’s concerned voice spoke up. “I think Dawn may need stitches.”

Buffy turned her attention to her sister. “Dawnie, he’s right. We need to take you to the hospital.”

Dawn’s eyes flashed back to her mother’s death. “No,” she said firmly. “I won’t go back there.”

“Honey, you have to,” Buffy said. “Those cuts are deep. They may even scar.”

“She doesn’t have to go if she doesn’t want to,” Spike spoke up. “The little bit has had enough traumas for one night. Leave her alone.”

“And just what do you suggest, Spike? That I just let her lay here and bleed?” Buffy glared at him.

“No, slayer, that isn’t what I meant at all.” He pulled his hands from Willows probing fingers and moved to stand next to Xander. “Scoot over, mate.”

Xander rose and moved across the room. Spike sat down next to Dawn. “Hurt?”

Dawn nodded. “It stings.”

Spike smiled softly. “At least I can do something,” he muttered, leaning down.

“Spike, what are you-“ Buffy tried to take a step forward but Xander held her back. He knew somehow that Dawn was safe. He watched in silent fascination as Spike lowered his lips to Dawn’s cheek and ran his tongue along her wounds.

Willow and Tara exchanged a glance as the scene unfolded before them. Suddenly Spike sat up. “There,” he said to Dawn. “All better. How do you feel?”

Dawn reached up and touched her face. The cuts were rapidly closing. “Tingly,” she replied.

The room seemed to breathe a sigh of relief as Spike patted her hand and stood up. He walked over to Tara. “What do I need to know?” he asked her.

Tara blinked. “Um, here,” she said, thrusting the papers at him.

Spike glanced at the foreign text and snarled before shifting into gameface and sitting down against the wall.

“Um, they are in Latin,” Tara said. “I can translate them for you.”

“No need,” Spike said. He scanned the document quickly and shifted back into his human form. “Seems simple enough.”

Buffy glanced out the window. “The sun is coming up,” she said. “Let’s move this into the basement.”


The gentle morning sun danced upon Anya’s closed eyes, causing her to awaken. She sighed as the events of the previous day returned to her mind. She looked around. The fire had dwindled down to almost nothing, just a few branches smoldering in the ash. With a start, she realized that she was held tightly in Halfreck’s embrace. She looked up at her friend to find that she was sound asleep. Good, Anya thought. She needs to rest.

Not wanting to disturb her, Anya remained where she was, her head resting on Halfreck’s shoulder. Despite the fact that they were stuck on a foreign piece of land just outside of the middle of nowhere, Anya felt surprisingly safe. She lifted her head and looked upon her friend’s sleeping face.

Halfreck’s dark curls lay on a pillow of sand and Anya reached up with a tentative hand and moved one from her friend’s eyes. It was soft. More so than Anya expected it would be after the day they had shared. She ran her hand along Halfreck’s cheek. She had not been this close to her friend with her human face before. Usually when the two of them had been forced to share close quarters, Halfreck, as well as herself, was in demon form.

To Anya’s surprise, Halfreck opened her eyes. Anya snatched away the offensive hand and lowered her eyes. “Sorry,” she muttered.

Halfreck brought a finger under Anya’s chin and lifted her head to look into her eyes. “I don’t mind,” she said softly.

Anya held her friend’s gaze, unable to look away. Slowly, offering her plenty of chance to turn away, Halfreck brought her lips to Anya’s.

Anya raised her eyebrows in surprise, but soon fell into the moment, pressing her lips down gently. She rested her hand on Halfreck’s cheek, pulling her closer.

Halfreck felt her heartbeat quicken as Anya kissed her with an increasing sense of urgency. She moved her hand to the back of the blonde’s head as her tongue trailed over Anya’s lips, gently tracing the outline of her mouth. A low moan escaped Anya as the feel of Halfreck’s tongue sent shivers throughout her body. She opened her eyes with a start when Halfreck broke contact. “What’s wrong?” she asked breathlessly.

Halfreck closed her eyes, struggling to compose herself. “You don’t want this, Anya. I know you don’t. As much as I want to continue, I don’t want it like this. Not now. Not when your human emotions are running so wild.” She sat up, rubbing at her eyes. I wonder if that worked.

Anya watched the back of the brunette’s head. “Halle?”

“Yes?”

“Never mind.” She sat up as well. “Want some breakfast? We’ve got coconuts, coconuts, and the special of the day: coconuts.”

Halfreck chuckled. “Sounds good.” She stood up and held out her hand for Anya to join her. They walked about two feet when Halfreck suddenly stopped.

“What is it?” Anya asked, looking around.

“I believe I have to pee.”

“What? Oh, me too.”

The two broke into a fit of laughter and headed for the nearest palm tree. “After you, Milady,” Halfreck said, extending her arm in a grand motion.

Anya grinned and ducked behind the brush.

Nature’s call being heeded, the two headed for the stream, eager to rinse off after a night of sleeping the sand. Halfreck shucked her clothes and stepped into the water.

Anya followed suit, taking her dirty t-shirt and dipping it in the cool stream. She rinsed it out and handed it to Halfreck. “Use this to wash off. I’ll just let it air dry when we’re done.”

Halfreck took the offering and ran the cloth over her arms. Anya watched in silent awe as the brunette set about scrubbing the sand and mud from her body. Halfreck caught Anya watching her and smiled, handing over the shirt. “Your turn.”

Anya took the cloth and Halfreck turned away, bending down to catch handfuls of water to rinse herself off. The blonde could not tear her eyes away from the sight. She seemed so…earthy. With newfound determination, Anya dropped the shirt on the bank and stepped up behind her friend. Her arms encircled Halfreck and she whispered into her ear. “This is what I want.”

Halfreck turned to find herself face to face with Anya, their bodies pressed together. “Don’t say it unless you mean it.”

Anya kissed her fiercely, passionately, her hands traveling up to tangle in the gathering of curls. Halfreck growled softly and wrapped her arms around Anya, pulling her ever closer. She carefully led Anya back, laying her on the bank, never breaking the kiss. Her hands trailed up and down Anya’s sides, causing shivers of pleasure to erupt throughout the blonde.

Halfreck broke the kiss and brought her lips to Anya’s neck, slowly kissing and nibbling her way down to her breasts, circling her tongue over one of the pink nipples. Anya arched her back, moving into Halfreck’s touch. The brunette continued her journey downward, stopping only when she reached the soft mound of curls nestled between Anya’s legs. “Tell me you want this, Anyanka.”

Anya nodded. “I want this, Halle. I want you.”

It was all the invitation Halfreck needed. She lowered her mouth to Anya’s core, her tongue gently probing until it found its target. Anya’s hips reared up of their own accord as Halfreck found her secret spot. The one her own fingers sought out time and again when she pleasured herself.

Halfreck continued her gentle assault, her actions rewarded by Anya’s encouraging moans and cries. She brought her hands to Anya’s hips to steady her, as she could feel the heat beginning to overtake her lover.

Anya wrapped her legs around Halfreck’s shoulders, trying to pull her closer, pull her inside, keep her there forever.

But forever would have to wait. The tingling sensation soon became a full blown eruption as the waves of pleasure washed through her. She cried out Halfreck’s name as each wave brought her to a higher plane of rapture. Just as she thought she could go no higher, another wave lifted her up, sending her further and further into ecstasy before leaving her to drift back down into her body. She slowly opened her eyes.

Halfreck lifted her head and planted a kiss on the small of her stomach. She rose over Anya and rested against her, body to body. She leaned down and kissed Anya gently.

Anya smiled. She tried to roll over, but Halfreck stopped her. “No,” she said tenderly. “That was for you.”

Halfreck kissed her once again and rose to her feet, lifting Anya with her. She handed the shirt to the blonde with a wink.

Anya grinned, unknowing that she had already satisfied Halfreck. She, in relenting to the passion, had fulfilled an image that had haunted the brunette’s dreams for several centuries.