XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“Well, I guess this is goodbye,” Buffy said, “I’ll see you guys some other time”

She hugged Dawn and Spike, before heading off for her plane

“One down, one to go,” Spike said, watching the plane take off

“I really kinda don’t wanna go back to New York,” Connor said

“Your father did call me, me all of people,” Lindsey said, “He said it’s been a while since he and Cordy last saw you and they wanna talk to you”

“Why couldn’t they talk to me on the phone?”

“Not so fast, Junior,” Spike said, “It’ll be face-to-face for you”

“Great,” Connor said, his shoulder slumping in defeat, “It’s gonna be awkward now”

“Just try to forget about the whole Jasmine thing,” Lindsey suggested

“Dad and Cordelia tried that with a spell. And I accidentally broke it; so I don’t think it’s gonna work this time around. I’ll just call Cordy by her name”

“That’s the spirit,” Spike said, “And now, I think your plane is boarding. Hurry up”

Connor sighed and shook hands with Spike and Lindsey, as Dawn gave him a hug

“Call me, okay?” she asked

Connor nodded and headed off for his plane, as Spike turned to Dawn

“‘Call me?’ You gave him your number?”

“Yeah, so? It’s not illegal, is it?”

“It’s Angel’s kid, so straight up, yeah it is”

“I’m not fifteen years old, Spike. I can make your own decisions”

“I know you can, Nibblet. Just make the right ones, okay?”

“Sure thing. Now, I’ve got to head back home. Got school tomorrow”

Giving Spike a heartfelt hug, she left the airport and got into the taxi, as Spike sighed and faced Lindsey

“Kids. Come on, everyone’s gone, so we might as well skedaddle”

Arriving back at the apartment, Spike shrugged his duster off and flopped onto the bed, as Elena jumped on beside and snuggled up to him, his arm coming around her shoulders

“Where’s your mother?” Spike asked

“She went out with Drakky,” Elena replied, “She said she wouldn’t be gone long”

“Right then. I’ll wait”

Sitting upright, Spike grabbed the remote and flicked on the TV

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“I said this won’t be easy searching for the Spider,” Illyria said, “You don’t listen”

“No, I do listen. Spike is the one who doesn’t,” Dracula said, “Spider would still be in the city. With one master dead, she’ll seek protection from the other master”

“Why bother searching for her when we could be looking for Pavayne?”

“We don’t have the proper firepower to fight Pavayne. So it’s Spider or Lucas”

Dracula looked around, before transforming into a wolf and taking off into the darkness of the park. Sighing, Illyria ran after him, as they left the park and crossed the street, entering an alley where they came across the body of a young woman, drained of blood

“We were too late,” Illyria said

Dissolving his body into mist, Dracula then transformed into a large bat and took flight, as Illyria continued on through the alley. There was nothing she could do for the woman. Someone would find the body. She hurried after Dracula, leaping around the obstacles and coming up onto someone running away from her. Putting on a burst of speed, Illyria closed the gap, but it wasn’t enough. Exerting her power over time, Illyria managed to slow the person down so she could tackle him, as Dracula landed beside her

“Finally caught me, have you?” Lucas asked, his human face on, “Congrats”

“Where is Pavayne?” Dracula asked, baring his fangs slightly

“What makes you think I have anything to do with the Reaper?”

“Because I can smell him on you,” Illyria replied, holding him in a half-nelson

“What can you tell us about the Reaper?” Dracula asked

Lucas kicked Illyria in the shin, then flipped over her, breaking himself out of the hold, then shoved her towards Dracula, all in one smooth fluid motion. As Illyria and Dracula tried to orient themselves, Lucas took off into the night, disappearing quickly

“Dammit. He got away,” Dracula cried, “Now what?”

“He will appear once again. And then, we’ll catch him,” Illyria replied

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“Matthias Pavayne is back?” Wesley asked, “And he wants something with Elena?”

“Yeah, what am I speaking, Urdu?” Spike asked, “Look, Pavayne wants her for something. She’s like Connor, you know, not supposed to be born, but was. There’s something mystical about that. See what you can find”

“I’ll look into it. Take care, Spike”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever”

They both hung up, as Wesley went into his office and started pulling out books, before sitting down and reading through them. He knew Connor was a miracle child, so there was no doubt that Elena wasn’t. And there was always something special about miracle children. Now he had to find out what was so special about Elena that would make a Reaper like Pavayne take an interest in her. Just then, the phone rang

“Wesley Wyndam-Pryce here, how can I help?”

“Wesley? It’s Cordelia here. I’m wondering if Connor has shown up there yet?”

“I’m sorry, Cordy, but he’s still in England with Spike, last I remember”

“I know, but Angel and I are worried about him. We need to talk to him”

“I’m sure he’ll be fine. Don’t worry. Connor will come back. It’s not like he’s going to stay away forever. Plus, I’m sure Spike will force him to come back”

“Yeah, knowing our favourite peroxided friend. Okay, thanks, Wes”

“Goodbye Cordelia. Take care”

Cordelia hung up, as Wesley continued on with his researching

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“So, we’ve got nothing on Pavayne then?” Spike asked

“Complete zilch,” Dracula replied, “Lucas got away”

“Yeah, he’s always been a slippery bastard. Hard to pin him down for long”

“What do we do now?” Illyria asked

“I say we head back home. If Pavayne really wants us, he’ll follow us back and then, we can get Wesley to banish him or something”

“So we’re not going to bother with Pavayne then?” Lindsey asked

“No, we’re not,” Spike replied, “We’ll lure him back to Los Angeles and then-”

KRITCH!!

The window exploded as Spike was blasted across the room. Lindsey and Dracula got to their feet, as Pavayne floated into the room, a grin on his face. Dracula drew his sword and charged, but Pavayne dodged him, throwing him against the wall, before kicking Lindsey in the stomach. Spike and Illyria got up, as Pavayne smacked them aside, before advancing upon Elena. She screamed and he grabbed her, hefting her onto his shoulder, fire-fighter style. Dracula got up, but was kicked in the stomach, as Pavayne jumped out of the window. He landed on the street three stories below, before racing off

“Bollocks! Not a-bleeding-gain,” Spike cried, rushing to the window

“Why is Elena so important to Pavayne?” Lindsey asked, “What does he want her for?”

“Don’t care. I’m getting her back and this time, I’m killing Pavayne”

“I’ll come with you,” Dracula offered, “Two wolves are better than one”

“We’ll comb the streets,” Illyria offered, “See what we can get”

“Good, you do that. Ready, Vlad?”

“Ready, William”

Spike and Dracula jumped out of the window and as they fell, they both transformed into wolves, landing on the street on their feet, before taking off after Pavayne

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX