Joss and the WB own all that you know and love. I own my plot, twisted imagination and student loans.
Author's note: See from previous chapters.
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Part Thirteen
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Joyce walked into the living room to see that Whistler was seated with Rupert, Xander and Oz. Willow was sitting on the chair across from them and Cordeila took the other chair next to her. They all looked up at Joyce as she entered the room.
"Uh, I have something to say to you all,"Joyce started nervously."Um, this maybe a shock to you, but, I have something to say."
"Yes, Joyce?"said Giles paiently. He noted that she seemed more agitated than usualy.
"Well, I have invited, for several times, someone that you all consider unsuitable into the house,"she started."And I want you all to remain calm, because he won't hurt any of you. He promised."
"Who,Mrs. Summers?"Willow asked. Suddenly, loud growls and a crash was heard from the kitchen. Joyce turned and ran towards it, with the other hot on her heels.
* * *
Joyce ran into the kitchen, and her heart flew into her throat. Spike and Angel had their game faces on, and were wrestling with each other on the ground. They flung themselves over the kitchen island. Joyce tried to follow them, but Giles grabbed her and held her back from the melee.
"God! That's Spike! How did he get in here?"
Joyce turned to answer when she heard another crash from the two. She turned to see a fist flying in the air. Finally standing, Angel grabbed Spike by the shirt, and threw a hard right that only fazed Spike a little. Still standing, Spike growled then held Angel's shirt with his left and gave Angel a right cross then gave him a knee in the groin. Angel went down. Spike then threw Angel against the wall, when Joyce cried out.
"Stop! Stop this! Liam! Stop!"
Joyce's eyes went wide when she saw Hlin come from behind Spike as he turned to look at her with his normal face. Next thing she knew, she was grabbing Spike's shirt and throwing him to the side. She screamed as she felt a hot, searing pain at her right shoulder, then felt herself falling to her knees.
"*NO!* MUM!"shouted Spike as he saw in slow motion the stake come down into Joyce's right shoulder. He made to catch her before she fully hit the ground. "MUM!"
"Joyce!"Rupert shouted as he saw Joyce fling Spike away and take the stake that was meant for Spike into her shoulder.
Spike cradled Joyce in his arms, and shook her a little. Spike paid little notice to the fresh, warm blood that was covering his hands. He touched her face and cried desperately,"Mum...Mum, are you all right? Mum, speak to me! Mum!"
thought Spike wildly. Spike shook the still form in his arms again."Mum! Wake up! You're not really hurt, Mum! Mum, wake up! Wake up...Mummy, don't leave me...Mum."
Hlin saw in horror what she had done. In trying to kill the vampire, she had somehow harmed the Slayer's Mother. Now, hearing the pleas of the vampire who held the Slayer's mother, she was a little unsure of what was going on, except that she had to correct the damage that she made. She knelt before the vampire that was cradling her, and reached out to him."Give her to me, Spike."
Spike growled at her."You stay away from her, you bloody bitch! You stay the bloody hell away from her, you caused this! It's all your fault!"
Spike was about to rise to attack the woman that dared to hurt his Mum. "I'm gonna kill you slowly, bitch,"he threatened.
"No,"said a hoarse voice. Then stronger."No, Liam, you promised, no killing in this house."
"Mum?"Spike questioned hopefully. She opened her brown eyes at him."Mum!"
Joyce smiled weakly before she touched his badly scarred face with trembling fingers.She looked at Spike, her eyes pleading."Liam, you said that you could help Buffy. You need help to save Buffy. Please...no fighting. Just bring her back to me, Liam. Help bring my little girl home, for me."
Spike's jaw hardened before he nodded."I'll get her back for you, Mum. I promise."
He lifted her up into his arms, intent on taking her to a hosptial when Hlin stopped him."I can heal her,"she declared. Spike raised his scarred eyebrow at her skeptically.
"I can heal her before you reach the hospital. She's lost too much blood,vampire. She could die before you reach the hospital,"she declared again.
"You won't bloody well touch her,"he growled."You'll end up killing her, like you nearly did me."
"Why should I kill the Slayer's Mother?" She shot back."I have no quarrel with her. Only you demon."
Giles stepped forth."Ahem! Spike, give Joyce to me. By the time you reach the hosptital, she could be dead. And we have no choice."
Spike looked at the Watcher hard then gently placed her in his arms. Giles made off to her room, and laid her on the bed. Her eyes were closed again as he gently drew the hair from her face. He turned to face Hlin. He gave her a threatening look. "You won't have to worry about Spike if you hurt her."
"I'll be dead before I hurt the Slayer's Mother intentionally,"she muttered as she sat beside Joyce on the bed. She reached into a pouch that was at her side. She took out some brown dust with her right hand, hovered her left hand over it and started to chant. "From the earth we came. From the earth we will return the same. Until the time when We of the earth are all One,Heal this wound that was done. So I pray, so I will,So this shall be, I pray, so mote be."
Hlin the sprinkled the dust over Joyce's wound, and then quickly pulled the stake out from her shoulder. Joyce screamed, and Spike lunged at Hlin. Angel and Giles caught him, wrestling him away from Hlin as she placed her right hand over Joyce's wound. Suddenly, a glow came from under her hand, and then stopped. Hlin turned to face Spike. "You could hardly expect her to heal with that stake sticking out from her shoulder. Come let us go, she needs rest. She will be better within the hour."
Hlin turned heel and went down the stairs. Reluctantly, they followed with Giles closing the door.
* * *
"So what's the deal? Why the hell are *you* calling Mrs.Summers 'Mum'?" demanded Xander. Spike ignored the annoying human and looked at the Watcher in disgust.
"I need help to save the Slayer,"he said with disgust. Giles looked at Spike with surprise.
"You want us to help you save Buffy?"
"Why?"Angel growled threateningly. Spike growled back.
"Because if you don't then all vampires are going to go the way of the dodo, you nit!"
"Explain to me on why this is a bad thing,"Xander demanded."It would be a pretty good future to me if there were no more vamps in this world. An even better future for Buffy."
"She wouldn't even have a future, you nodcock! She's be pushing daisies,"Spike said in disgust."Listen up, people. The Slayer's the key to all this. Lilith kills the Slayer to kill all the vampires in the world, but that's not all that she wants to kill. She decides to kill all of humanity with them. After about ten thousand years, she's decided that humans are not worth being around, and since you all have a real death wish. She might as well get rid of all of us at one shot."
"Who did you say was the one that wanted to kill the Slayer?" asked Whistler. His face was pale, even for a demon.
"Lilith. She's the first demon of our kind, and we all obey her, to an extent. Especially if she has the power to eat us,"Spike said a bit impaitently."Now are you gonna help me or not?"
"I'm still stuck on why he's calling Mrs.Summers 'Mum',"said Xander as he looked at Giles.
"Well, I'm stuck on this Lilith chick," Oz admitted as he looked at Willow then at Giles. She looked at Giles after galncing at Oz.
"I'm stuck on the ten thousand,"she admitted.
"And I'm still stuck on the killing of Buffy that will lead to the killing of all the vampires and humanity part. I mean, isn't there a way to do half a spell?"asked Cordelia.
"I don't beleive this! Are you all like this daft?"said Spike stunned as he involuntarily looked at Angel.
"I'm stuck on the fact as to why you are willing to help us rescue Buffy,"Angel growled."What the hell does this matter to you?"
Spike took a threatening step towards Angel."Pay attention you fool, I'm helping you noddies for three reasons. First, I'm helping you idiots to save the Slayer because I have no desire to be like a dinosaur. Second, when the Slayer is free, she'll go after Dru who is in this blasted town. And, third,"he dropped down into a mumbling , but no less threatening tone,"Mum asked me to."
After a moment, Hlin asked,"What do you know about this ritual? Or when it is to happen?"
"It will happen on the night of the full moon, which she called the Night of Gaia. The ritual is some kind of dance relating to Shiva. And no, I have no idea of where it's going to happen. They were going to move again when I rushed here." Spike answered. He thought some more."She also said that if her friends should reach her, it wouldn't matter. It would be too late."
"How do you know so much about this?"Xander asked suspiciously.
"Because I over heard her. She was telling the Slayer why she was going to kill her as she brushed her hair,"Spike shook his head."She's some weird chick. Went on about how her kid was killed by vampires and how she had waited for this Slayer to show up."
"And her name was Lilith,"Whistler said slowly."And she's gathering all the vampires here to Sunnydale."
"What? What do you know?"Giles asked. Whistler looked at the Watcher, not really seeing him.
"I'm not sure, but...Did she say anything else?" Whistler asked Spike. He shook his head. "I can't remember ten thousand years ago so well, it's all very vague."
"So we only know why and when she wants to kill Buffy, but not where,"Joyce said slowly as she came down the stairs. Giles and Spike went to her, but she waved them off."I'm fine. Whistler, what else do you know? Why did she let us believe that Buffy was dead?"
"Mum, you sure you should be up?" Joyce gave Spike an impatient look."You look weak."
"I'm fine, Liam."
Xander piped up belligerently."What's with this Liam and Mum stuff? Why are you calling her mum? I mean, she's not your mom, she's Buffy's mom."
Spike growled at Xander."I can call her Mum if I want to."
"Not if you value you life,Spikey,"Angel growled. Spike started to go towards Angel again, but Joyce stopped him with a small touch on his shoulder. He looked at her hand.
"Boys,"said Joyce tiredly. "Stop this fighting right now."
Then the phone rang. Giles answered the phone."Hallo? Oh. Mr. Summers. It's Rupert Giles. Oh, I'm here because of- "
He listened to the ranting man for a moment."Yes, she's here now. I'll give it to her right away."
She went over to answer it and gave Spike and Xander a severe look. "Not another word from any of you."
"Hello? Hank.Hi. What's-"she started, then listened.
"No, the funeral's not set yet. But Buffy's not dead." She pulled the phone away from her ear.
"No, it was another girl that was wearing Buffy's jacket. No, she's not here. I really don't know where she is. Hank-"
"Hank-"she started again."Hank. Buffy's-. Hank!"
Spike grabbed the phone from Joyce's hand. And growled into the phone."Your daughter's bloody not here, ace. She's not dead though. We're still out looking for her. And now it's four in the morning, and we're all bloody tired. Mum's very tired from a long day. So we're goinna go to sleep now, so call back later, mate. Bye."
He hung up the phone with a smart click. Everyone was staring at him."What?"
Joyce sighed."So what do we know about Buffy's disappearence?"
Willow summed it up for everyone."Buffy's in the hands of a demon called Lilith who intends to sacrifice her to destroy the vampires and humanity. We have an obscure prophecy to look at. Vampires are gathering in Sunnydale at the night of the full moon. And Oz will be a werewolf for the next three nights."
"And she said it all in one breath. I am impressed. How are you at mouth to mouth?" said Whistler. Xander and Oz glared angrily at him. "What did I say?"
"Just keep your thoughts about her breath to yourself, boy,"Oz said.
"So what's the deal?"asked Cordelia. Hlin answered.
"We wait until the texts get here. Then we must plan to find out where the Slayer is, and act accordingly."
Giles agreed."In the meantime we all should get some rest."
Joyce nodded."You're all welcome to crash here. Hlin, Willow, and Cordelia, you can sleep in Buffy's room if you want. Xander, Oz, you can have the guest room. Whistler? Do you need to avoid sunlight?" Whistler nodded."Fine then. You, Angel, and Liam. The basement has two beds and a couch. Decide who gets what. Giles, you know your usual room is ready."
At this, everyone turned to look at the Watcher's red face. Spike and Angel both took an unconcious step towards the Watcher. He stammered. "Ah, she means the usual guest room that I stay in. The one next to the study."
Joyce looked at Rupert increduously."Well, of course it's the room next to the study. Which one do you think I meant?" She then looked at everyone's faces in the room. From Rupert's red one to Whistler's and Hlin's amused one. And to Willow and Cordelia's pink blushing ones."Oh. Well then...Move along."
As everyone broke up to go to their respective quarters, she heard the arguements fly.
"I need the bathroom, first." "Don't take too long."
"Want to raid the fridge, Oz?" "Sounds cool."
"I need a book."
"I get the bed." "And so do I."
"Dream on, Angel boy, dream on. It's mine. I'm more of a welcome guest than you."
< I need a bed. Fast. >thought Joyce.
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