Joss and the WB own all that you know and love. I merely created a playmate and plot for them to frolic in.
Author's note:Takes place after Becoming. In my sequence of stories, after Evening in Los Angeles and before Not Too Late.
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Part Two
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Joyce put on her sunglasses as soon as she walked outside the hotel. She took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled, and then strided purposefully to the nearest tour bus stop. It was going to be a great morning, she had made her morning call to Rupert, then to Buffy. Her daughter was alive and she was going to enjoy this gallery convention even if it killed her.
When she got to the stop, she was pleasently greeted by a very familiar face. "Franklin! Hey! It's great to see you!"
The stylish man that was reading the local newspaper looked and broke into a happy smile and walked over to her. "Joyce! How good to see you! I didn't think that you were going to come!"
Joyce shrugged as she stood next to him."I decided that I couldn't miss this for the world, and so here I am. So how are you, Franklin. You, uh, look great!"
Franklin smiled widely at her."The hell I do, Joyce. I'm dressed in a pair of faded jeans, a faded polo shirt and my hair is all over in this wind. In short, I know that I look like a slob. And it's heaven."
"Well, I guess that it is a bit weary to be wearing suits all the time,but that's the price that you have to pay in order to be Head of Justine Galleries,"Joyce laughed."So where are you headed?"
"I was about to head to the showing on the waterfront, to see the display of Asian art. Though I'm not so sure about going there now,"Franklin said as he showed Joyce the headlines:"NURSE'S BODY FOUND DROWNED IN THE AMARU PIER: Locals afraid."
"I don't get it,"said Joyce, her voice puzzled."What's going on at the Amaru Pier?"
Franklin sighed as he folded up the paper."This is the sixth incident so far at the Amaru Pier. The nurse's body was found, last night, drowned, but it also indicated that she was exsanguinated. Seems that this killer likes to drown his victims first and then take their blood away. Like a vampire took her blood. Sick, huh?"
Joyce shuddered."Yeah, sick. So where's the location of the Asian art part of the convention? Amaru Pier?"
Franlin shook his head."Nope, near the local clinic just a pier away."
Joyce forced a grin on her face."So then we should be safe enough. It's broad daylight and a pier away. No hope in drowning. And definitely no such thing as a vampire."
"I guess so. Hell, why not?"Franklin agreed. He let out his arm for Joyce to take."Shall we go ma'dam?"
"We shall,"Joyce curtsied and then took his arm.
* * *
"What the hell is going on here?"groused a voice in the dark."Who's this that's been killing these people?"
"Got me, but it ain't good,"answered another voice. A vampire stepped out to look at his companion's newspaper better. Another flanked the other shoulder. The three vampires were standing against the sewer wall, ignoring the dribbling of the water. Rancid sea air mixed with the garbage scents of the world above, but they didn't notice it.
"Sounds like one of us, if not for the drowning bit. Don't know anyone that wants salt water in his diet,"said the other."Maybe it's another demon that's around."
The vampire with the newspaper hit his companion in the head."Oh, please. That's just what we need, Another demon that's trying to horn in on our food supply. So what else is in the news?"
"Heard that Spike's somewhere in town,looking for his girl,"offered the hit vampire."But no one's really sure yet."
"That Demon Slayer? Here? Nah, he'd have made himself known by now,"the vampire with the newspaper snorted."He ain't exactly the shy type."
"Nope, but I hear that he's changed. Rumor says that he helped the Slayer in the Hellmouth stop Angelus and caused his Drucilla to run out on him. Think it's true?"
A vampire snorted."If so, then he's a wuss. He's killed two Slayers, and that's two more than all of us has killed."
"Yeah. Met him once. Nastiest vampire you ever saw and smart as a whip. Mean as ten alley cats and six Masters all together, but around that girl. Sweet as candy and then some. Hard to beleive that he would help a Slayer."
"Heard he saved the Slayer's mother in L.A. few months back."
"The Slayer has a mother? That's weird, you been drinking tainted blood from winos again?"
"No,"said the vampire impaiently."Heard it from another vamp called Rickster. Said that Spike threatened him if he tried to feed on the Slayer's mother."
"Why?"
"Something about brassing off the Slayer if the Rickster tried to feed."
"Makes sense. piss the Slayer off by eating her mom. Not good move at all. Spike was right to threaten Rickster. But that story about helping the Slayer save the world? Pure crapola if you ask me."
"Yeah, your ears must've gotten it all wrong. Let's grab some sleep."
As the three vampires walked off deeper into the tunnels, they failed to notice a figure watching them.
Spike thought wryly as he lit a ciggarette. He blew smoke out of his lungs and then glanced at the newspaper the three vampires had left. He picked it up and skimmed through it.
* * *
"I know, Rupert, but it seems so strange. Yes, I know that I said that I would enjoy myself, but..."Joyce turned to look at the amber and blue skyline in frustration."Rupert, this all sounds very suspicious. Six drowned people that have their blood drained? Hello? Sounds like vampires to me."
"Yes, you look into it. Please. And how is my daughter, anyway? Is she eating right? She's not making a mess of the house, right?"
Joyce listened to Rupert's reassuring voice."Xander *ate* most of what I left in the fridge already? You're going to bring them pizza and hamburgers? Oh, Rupert, I cooked at least twelve different dishes for her and everyone to eat, but..."
Joyce nodded her head tiredly and then laughed."All right. I promised that I wouldn't worry. And I won't call you again today. Wait, there's someone at the door."
Joyce put the phone down to answer it. She smiled at the dashing sight that Franklin made. With flourish he presented her with a rose.
"For you, my dear Joyce,"he said with a huge smile. Joyce took the rose and smiled as she smelled it.
"Thank you Franklin. How sweet of you,"Joyce said.She indicated for him to sit as she picked up the phone.
"Rupert? I'm going out to dinner now, so I've got to get off. What?"
Joyce looked at the phone then continued her conversation slowly."I am going out to dinner with my friend, Franklin Morse of the Justine Galleries,Rupert. We're going to have a nice dinner near the convention by the Bay, near Samson Street...Good-bye Rupert."
Joyce hung up the phone in strange wonder. Franklin stood up.
"Angry significant other?"
"No, inquisitive friend who's taking care of Buffy. Shall we eat?"
Franklin shrugged."As long as he doesn';t come after me with an axe, it's ok by me."
"Nah, I'd go after people with an axe more than him He'd use a cross and stake."laughed Joyce as they left her room.
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