Reminding the Fallen
by zenithar
Chapter 18
[reviews]
Disclaimer: Joss owns it all. grrrr
Everything up to the episode Empty Places has happened, just a few changes from the last season. One: Wood and Caleb did not show up. Two: So obviously much changeings to endings of series. Also the weapon that Buffy got is changed to an actual scythe.
Other places this is found:
http://www.wiffy-dreamverse.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=486
Author's Note: Once again thanks to Rebelrsr for help on the fic, couldn't do it with out you. ' ' indicates Buffy's demon. ( ) indicates human thoughts.
Really, is having the disclaimer and everything really needed by this point?
Reaching the Summers' home the married couple went into the living room, Faith went to the kitchen, and Dawn headed downstairs. In the basement Dawn spotted Spike watching the television. "Hey, Spike, anything on?" she asked.
"No, and I think they're taking Passions off the air," Spike growled out.
"Aww," Dawn whined, "They were just about to get my favorite couple together."
While turning off the TV the vampire asked, "So, niblet, what do you want from Uncle Spike?"
"Nothing much; we're just having a mini-Scooby meeting upstairs. We're going to see what everyone thinks about the new Buffy. So I was wondering if you'd want to come," the brunette informed Spike.
"If you sodders think that Buffy's done something wrong, you're way off base," the demon said angrily while rising to his full height.
Backing up some from Spike Dawn quickly spoke, "N-no that's not it. It's just we're not fully com-comfortable with Buffy being a vampire yet."
Looking at the girl for a moment he nodded his head, "Alright, I can accept that. What's got you all spooked, other than her being a blood-sucker now?"
Heading back up the stairs Dawn responded, "Well, for me it's what she eats now, not sure about the others."
"What's the matter, drinking animal blood instead of eating its meat too inhumane for you," Spike smirked. Reaching the top of the stairs the vampire took care to avoid the sunlight in the room to reach the safety of a living room corner. Seeing Xander and Anya on the couch with Faith lounging across the arms in one of the armchairs and there not being a sign of Buffy or Willow around he guessed the 'bit was serious. "Mind closing the blinds?" he asked no one in particular.
Dawn went over and shut them before sitting down on the dark slayer's stomach and leaneing against the back of the chair.
Xander had overheard Spike and Dawn's conversation and decided to fill everyone in on Buffy's eating habits. "Um, just so everyone's clear. Buffy can't drink animal blood."
All present turned to look at him like he had two heads. "Of course she can drink from animals, she's a vampire," Spike said.
"Not from what I saw. When I gave her some blood from the butcher's she spat it out. The only thing I know she can eat is human blood, because normal food doesn't help either," Xander explained.
"See, I told you she's just going to rip out all our throats," Anya said worriedly.
"No, B's not going to drain anyone. She drinks vamp blood now," Faith pointed out.
"Wait, what!?" Spike nearly shouted. "You mean she actually drank another vampire's blood?"
"Yeah, what's the problem, fang? Afraid Blondie's gonna eat ya?" Faith said tauntingly.
"No, it's just... It's just wrong for a vampire to feed off another," Spike whined. "Vampire blood is supposed to taste like ash and death to other vampires."
"Not from what we saw. Last night when she drained one she kinda seemed to enjoy it... a lot. Almost too much," Dawn said worriedly. "It made her seem way too much like a-a..."
"Vampire?" Anya suggested. "That's because she is one, and it's only a matter of time before she kills us all."
"No, Buffy would never do that. She may be a vampire now but she's still our Buffy, right?" Xander asked. Spotting Willow descending the stairs decked out in black leather pants and a deep blue t-shirt, he decided to ask her. "Hey, Will, is Buffy still acting like Buffy?"
Everyone stopped and looked at the Wiccan as she continued down the stairs. Both Faith and Spike shook their heads before focusing on the redhead again. Stopping at the head of the coffee table, with Xander and Anya to her right while Faith, Spike, and Dawn were to her left, Willow looked over the gathered Scoobies and shrugged. "I don't know. She seems like the Buffy we knew from a year ago, just with a demon in her head."
"Ya know, Will, that really... doesn't... help..." Xander ended up whispering the last of his sentence because he had happened to notice a mark on Willow's neck. In fact the mark seemed to be right on the pulse point of her throat. Getting up from his seat he slowly moved towards the witch till he was within arms reach. Taking a swallow to try and calm his nerves, he asked the redhead, "Willow, please tell me that is not what I think it is," pointing at the mark he could faintly see under the red tresses.
"Tell you what's not what?" Willow asked confusedly while reaching for her neck. Once she felt her fingers graze of the fresh scar she knew exactly what Xander was thinking and froze. "Xander, it's no-not what you think. I-I mean it is, but it-it isn't."
The dark slayer was already beginning to assume the worst with how Xander had was reacting, so she slowly stood up and deposited Dawn back on the armchair. The final hint that nailed things down was the feeling she'd gotten before; she had felt another vampire's presence when Willow came into the room. "What's the matter, Xan? What are you pointing at?" Faith asked in a cold voice.
Spike too was connecting the dots. From the feeling he had gotten when Willow came in the room to how the Wiccan was currently dressed was just screaming vampire. "Come on, Red, you can tell us," Spike asked quietly while moving out of the corner he had been staying in.
Noticing her friends start to surround Willow like she was an enemy Dawn spoke up, "Guys, what are you doing?"
"What it looks like, Dawn. They think Willow's a vampire," Anya said with another of her unique insights.
"Bu-but I'm not. Buffy would never d-do that. Come on, you all kn-know she would never do somethi-something like that to me," the redhead pleaded and backed up till she ran into a wall.
"Yeah, maybe the B we use to know, but this new one? Somehow I can easily picture her turning you, Red." Taking a step forward Faith continued. "I got a vibe from you that's just screamin' vampire, so there's no point in trying to deny it."
"I got it too, Red," Spike said while calmly walking to the redhead's left, "and the clothes? They're a big tip off for the newly raised."
"But I'm telling you I'm not dead! When Buffy drank from me I'm sure I would have remembered swallowing some of her blood and being killed," Willow argued.
"If what you're saying is true, Will. Then why is the bite mark already fully healed?" Xander asked while cautiously moving to her right.
Blushing Willow looked down to let her bangs hid her face. "Be-because I let her lick it closed. You guys could just put your hand on my wrist and you'd feel my pulse," she said softly.
No one caught sight of the blush because of Willow's hair. The following silence was broken when Xander asked, "Oh, so we're supposed to just believe something you could fake with a spell. And it's true? This demon Buffy is a dyke? So only does she turn my oldest friend, but she uses Buffy's body in ways she never wanted!"
Willow's head shot up at the last comments. "Goddess, Xander! It still is Buffy. Everything she's done since getting back is what she has wanted. She might be a vampire but I gave her her soul back!" Willow said adamantly. "And if you don't believe me when I say I'm alive then fine!" Lifting her hands to point at the blinds they suddenly flew open. Spike dove out of the way into a shadowed corner as sunlight filled the room.
Everyone blinked as their eyes adjusted to the new light and expected to see ash floating where Willow had recently been standing. They were surprised to find the Wiccan still standing in direct sunlight.
"But... but I don't get it. I know what I felt and the bite mark proved it," Faith said with confusing written across her features.
"I don't care what you felt. I'm just glad I finally found out how much you all really do care about me and Buffy." Turning away from the gang Willow began storming up the stairs.
Dawn was the one who reached out and took a hold of the angry redhead's wrist. "Willow, wait, please," the younger Summers pleaded. "We didn't mean this. It's just we're all afraid of Buffy now, and when we saw the bite mark we just assumed the worst."
Looking at Dawn strangely Willow asked, "What's to be afraid of? It's Buffy, your sister," she finished quietly.