Subject: [BA_Gutter] Dream Once More 33 Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2004 03:41:42 -0000 From: "Tracy" Dream Once More 33 Author: T. Claybourne Rating: up to NC-17 Disclaimer: 20th Century Fox Film Corporation and Mutant Enemy own all the characters except for my little Mary Sue named Emma. I do this for entertainment purposes not money. Comments: Please pretty please! Summary/ Teaser: Buffy comes to LA but things are different. Angel is not as she remembers and Spike is with some one else. Drusilla crept through the sewers; she knew there was some reason she was here but that reason suddenly evaded her. A piece of metal shone up at her and she was surprised to find that her thinking had suddenly turned to her Spike, her sweet William. She decided to see him. Skipping, she made her way to the hotel where Spike lived now. She listened oh so carefully but she heard nothing. Sneaking up the stairs, avoiding any sunlight, she followed her past love's scent. Spike had his shiny soul, but Drusilla wanted to see him, talk to him, and maybe torture him a bit. Opening the door, she made no noise; a ghost she was, she told herself. The barrier at the door stopped her cold. That meant the slayer lived there too. Drusilla grew angry. He was hers; she had made him. What right did this other girl have to him? Spike woke suddenly and sat up. He caught Drusilla's scent and knew she was close, and angry. Some of the feelings he had once had for her surfaced. Spike reasoned that although he knew she was evil, he still had feelings for her because she was his first love. He changed and let the demon show, then headed, pants in hand, out of the bedroom. Drusilla stood in the door, stopped only by the invisible barrier created because Emma, as a human, lived there and claimed the rooms as hers. "Oh Spike," Drusilla whispered too softly for human ears. "My sweet William, I've come for a visit, but you already have company; shame on you!" Spike donned his pants. "No need for that; I've seen the little spike before, haven't I?" Spike exited the apartment, grabbed her hand, and drew her further down the hallway. "Rude, very rude, won't even offer me a drink. You are a very rude man!" "What the hell, Dru? Why would you come here? I'll have to…" "You won't, or is it can't? Spiders chat, you know, but only the widow kills." Spike closed his eyes. As he opened them he saw that Drusilla had moved closer. She ran her nail across his neck, bringing small dots of blood to the surface. Leaning in, she looked as if she might kiss him but only breathed in deeply. "Sweet slayer blood? Mmmm, William, you were always so fond of it. I remember once you loved the taste of me." "Long time ago, before…" Her eyes narrowed. "You sought a soul. Such a disappointment you are, my childe. I made you for evil, for fun and games, not a soul and slayer." Six months ago that would have pissed him off, but now all he wanted was to get Drusilla away from there. "Drusilla, love, you are not welcome here. Go before I have to…" "Wake your slayer, ha! Dead slayer, so sad, so lonely, so lost, so silly. Wait, the witch, she is the foe, she with hair of embers. Spike?" Drusilla tilted her head, then suddenly looked afraid. "No, you mustn't, you naughty boy! My naughty boy, I want you back. Daddy and I need you back, although Grandmother is gone. Great- Grandpapa will be arriving in a gilded carriage very soon." She turned and with her vampire speed was gone. Spike stood, a fear he hadn't felt before creeping up his spine. The words `dead slayer' stuck in his mind. * * * * * Wes had insisted that Buffy go take a shower while he scanned a few more books. They had to get going; they needed to set things in motion. Fred had called again to tell him that she had the solution that would save Angel. As Buffy came out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel, he disappeared into the shower himself. "I see how you are; just let me take one alone!" Buffy griped, knowing why he had. Never had she been so distracted so easily from her duties. Wes, however, was the disciplined one, and he knew what to do to keep them on track. He was out and dressed before Buffy had finished dressing. "Think they'll notice I'm in the same clothes as yesterday?" she asked. "I doubt it, love. I'm probably the only one who noticed what you were, or rather weren't, wearing." Buffy stiffened momentarily at his calling her love. "Buffy, please, you aren't upset by that are you? I mean, I did notice how your red tank top hugs you in all the right places and how those jeans are low enough that your belly button peeks…" "Stop it, ok? You win. I don't care if they notice anyway." Wes smiled as he enjoyed her grin. * * * * * Spike walked back to Emma in the bedroom. She was sitting up in bed. "What is it, Spike?" "It was Drusilla, come to visit." He heard her take a deep breath, the only sign of a reaction. "You didn't kill her?" Spike looked down for a moment. "No, love. She said something and then I was distracted and…" Emma reached her hand out to him. "I don't care. I mean, it would be an easier fight without her in the mix, but now that she knows I'm alive she may alert Angel." Spike shook his head. "It wasn't a very lucid moment for her; perhaps not. Em, I'm sorry, I should have…" "Spike, I will kill her. I have to, she is too dangerous to you and to the others." Emma saw the confused look in his eyes. She wasn't sure if it was because she would kill Dru, or because he couldn't or wouldn't. She kissed him, hoping to rid him of the look. His eyes cleared and then he said, "Guess we got to move now. I'll call the others; you get ready." Emma felt her stomach roll but she went to the closet and took out a pair of black jeans and a black long-sleeved turtleneck shirt, dressed, and put on her black steel-toed boots. Grabbing her long vinyl coat, she headed out to the living area. Willow was sitting on the couch. "I'm sorry, Spike, I went over it all. The curse was designed specifically for Angel. The magic just won't work for us. I came up with a spell but it wouldn't be permanent. I would have to be out of the fight to keep it going, which is probably not a good idea." "What magic?" Emma asked Willow looked up and saw Emma all in black, her hair was pulled back in a bun at the base of her neck "Nothing now, love. Just was hoping to put the soul back in the two slayers Angel turned." Emma didn't respond but began thinking of what being turned would be like for them. "Those poor girls. I wish there was something we could do for them. I'll ask Gunn to dust them as soon as possible. It will be easier for him than either of us." Giles knocked and Emma let him in. They explained Drusilla's visit and he agreed that it was time to leave for the warehouse. Spike had called all the others. Fred, Gunn, Wes, and Buffy were on their way. As the witch, the watcher, the slayer and Spike left the rooms, Spike picked up his duster and threw it over his arm. Willow and Giles headed downstairs first; Emma held back to talk to Spike. "Spike, no matter what happens, you know I love you, right?" She saw the pain in his eyes. "Remember, slayers have a short shelf life, but you- your're special, a vampire with a soul. You can go on fighting and, well, you will, right? Even…" "Emma, love, don't say it. I refuse to make this a goodbye. You deserve a life and you will have one if I have to die trying." Emma smiled then. "At an impasse, aren't we? Guess we'll both have to live!" Spike dragged his thumb across her jaw and then circled the bite marks on her neck. "Yeah, sounds like it." He handed her the duster. "Wear this." Emma cocked her head. " No, you should. It…" "I want you to," he said, interrupting her. "Spike, honey, I'm not ungrateful and I'm extremely touched but, really, that didn't bring the last slayer who wore it much luck." He looked hurt by her reference. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean… I'm just nervous or anxious or something," Emma babbled "Be a piece of me with you." Emma took the coat then. Shrugging off her cheap vinyl one, she put her love's soft leather coat on. It was a bit big, but for Emma it fit well enough. The length was only an inch above the floor but it would work. She liked the weight about her body and it smelled like Spike, tobacco and leather. It felt like he'd wrapped himself around her. Tucked in the interior pockets were several stakes. Suddenly the lobby below them erupted in squeals. Buffy had arrived to find her friends. Spike almost laughed. Emma smiled broadly. "Guess she's not upset at me emailing them?" Spike took her hand and they went down to the happy reunion. Buffy looked over and saw Emma, all in black and in Spikes duster. She seemed eerily like a ghost, but dressed in all in black. Her fair skin seemed even paler against the black. Buffy could also see that she moved better than yesterday, and looked better as well. Giles approached her. "Emma, Willow and I brought this for you." He handed her a velvet-covered box. Emma opened it to reveal a large silver cross. "Oi, better not think of wearing that one to bed, love." Emma kissed Giles on the cheek first, then Willow. Fred and Gunn arrived at the same time as Lorne. The demon was staying behind to watch out for the younger slayers. Gunn was in street clothes and Fred carried the dart gun, which she handed to Emma along with two syringes. Emma tucked them in the interior pockets of the duster; she smiled, but Spike suspected it was just bravado. "Let's GO!" announced Emma. TBC