Soul Mates 5

They had the spells; they had the ingredients. They had a basic idea of what they were doing. All they needed now was the courage and the certainty that they were doing the right thing. The group waited on Giles to take the next step. He was still conflicted. He was concerned about Tara and Willow doing the level of spells that were required. He was concerned they might be seriously hurt. He truly had no idea of the risk to him or to Dawn as they called through blood and soul to Buffy to return. He still couldn't quite believe that Buffy would respond to him and he wondered if his doubt could adversely affect the spell. He was petrified they would bring her back and see in her eyes that she wished they hadn't. He paced the length of the store, knowing they watched him, waiting for him to move them forward. There was so much at stake. He needed more time, and that was the one thing he didn't have. They needed to do this now, tonight.

The door to the shop opened, Giles having forgotten to lock it as usual. Giles looked up and his stomach clenched at the site of Angel walking through it. Angel cast his eyes over the group, his eyes narrowing when he saw Spike. His gaze returned to Giles.

"Giles."

"Angel."

"What did he tell you? Did you find a spell?" Angel's voice was full of accusation.

His tone raised Giles' hackles shattering his pretend calm. "Why are you asking?"

Angel moved very close to Giles. Spike started to rise to his feet. "Buffy would want me here."

Giles' lips tightened. "Why would you think that?" He tried to ignore the fear that maybe Angel was right, the possibility of that dark and painful.

"She loved me. She's always loved me. She belongs to me. She'll need to be with someone she loves." Giles looked at Angel, saw the demon lurking there. He cursed his racing heart, knowing that Angel would be able to sense his fear. He pushed through it.

"She will be with people she loves, and that love her back. You have no place here, not anymore."

"Yes, I do. She kissed me when I came up the night of her mother's funeral. She still wants me."

Giles ignored the jealous flash that shot through him. "Excuse me, are you trying to say that on the day of a young woman's mother's funeral, when she was feeling bereft and completely alone, that she kissed you and that feels like a victory to you?"

Angel's anger grew at the audacity of this man to doubt his and Buffy's relationship. He shoved him, hard, against the nearest shelves. Spike moved so fast he was a blur. He stepped between Angel and Giles. He shoved Angel back and moved in very close. "You touch him again I'll rip your bloody head off."

Angel laughed.

Spike spoke again. "I mean it. And that goes for everyone else in this room."

Angel laughed again. "Right, like they trust you anymore than they trust me."

Giles walked up to stand next to Spike. "I trust Spike with my life." Angel looked at them both, disbelieving, wondering what angle Spike was up to. Giles continued. "Spike has a place here with us, you do not."

"You mean you're letting Spike be a part of this, but not me?"

"Yes, that is exactly what I mean." Giles voice was getting softer and more dangerous by the minute.

Angel couldn't believe this. "He doesn't even have a soul!"

Giles looked at Angel. "Like you, you mean?"

Angel had the grace to look away, understanding his meaning.

Giles continued. "I trust Spike because he doesn't have a soul. He has conquered his demon in a way you never could. His battle is honest and real. You were swallowed up completely when you were turned, you lost the fight in an instant. You gave yourself up to it with a vengeance, finding a joy in torture and hatred. Only a curse kept you from destroying the entire world. I don't trust you at all, and I certainly don't trust you with Buffy. You are not welcome here, not anymore."

Angel spoke softly. "I only came to help."

Giles stepped closer, Spike right at his side. "No, you didn't. You came to take. That is all you ever did to Buffy. You took her virginity; you took her self-esteem and her self-respect. You took away people she loved, you took away her peaceful nights. You took her blood, and then you took her dreams. You will take no more from her."

"You can't keep her from seeing me."

"No, nor would I try to. But, I will make my wishes known to her, and I will insist that if she wants to see you she needs to go to LA. I don't believe she will go. You are not welcome here, in our lives, in our homes, in this town. If either Spike or I hear that you are in Sunnydale, without an express invitation, we will assume that Angelus has come to play, and we will find you and we will kill you. Am I making myself clear?"

Angel looked at Giles and Spike standing shoulder to shoulder. He knew he was more than a match for either of them alone, but not together. He knew he had lost this round, but they would see. Buffy would call, and Buffy would leave them and come down to be with him. He didn't doubt it for a minute. He turned around and left. Giles followed him to the door and locked it. He rested his hands on the door, taking several deep breaths. Spike moved up behind him. "You all right, mate?"

"God, I hate him."

"Join the club."

"I hope he comes back."

Spike grinned at him. "I hope he does too."

They both walked back to the rest of the group who had watched the whole interplay with fascination and dread. Their relief at Angel's departure was palpable. Xander spoke, "Wow, Giles, feeling suicidal much?" Giles sent him a glare.

Spike grinned, "I'm just glad it wasn't me hearing the 'stay away from Buffy' speech. Been there, didn't like it." Giles sent him a glare too, but Spike sent him an unrepentant grin in return. Spike was very glad not to be on the receiving end of Giles' threats. It was not a comfortable place to be. God, he loved seeing Angel squirm. It was worth giving up the killing just to see that. He really hoped Angel was foolish enough to come for a visit.

Giles nodded at all the ritual accoutrements gathered. "Let's get started." He hadn't resolved all his conflicts, but facing down Angel had given him a boost of courage. They all knew their roles. They had been over it more times than they could count. He looked at Dawn, walking over to her putting his arm around her. "You ready? You feel up to this?"

She looked up at him, trembling a little, "I feel like I'm gonna barf."

Giles squeezed her tighter and whispered in her ear. "Me too."

She smiled at that. She had been very relieved to hear that both she and Giles would be together in the circle. She felt that he would protect her. It didn't make her less scared, but it made her more willing. Besides she wanted her sister back. Badly. She felt homeless and lonely. She was tired of feeling fearful about her future. She wanted Buffy back and she wanted her with Giles. She would feel safe and secure with the two of them looking out for her. She smiled at him. "Okay, I'm ready." He took her hand and they walked to the circle. They entered it and going down on their knees, sat back on their feet, facing each other, hands clasped.

Tara closed the circle and started lighting the candles. Anya and Xander took their places across from each other, one behind Dawn, one behind Giles.

The spells were relatively simple, but dangerous. Dawn and Giles would do a calling, projecting themselves out, sending it to Buffy. Anya and Xander were to focus on them both, providing a metaphysical lifeline to guide them back to their bodies. Tara and Willow would be summoning the magic required to support them all. Giles nodded to Willow, and she and Tara both began to chant in unison, starting the ritual.

"Blood calls to blood."

"Soul calls to soul."

They chanted together, they chanted in strength, they chanted with all the love they had for Buffy in their hearts. Dawn sent her longing out in her thoughts. She held in her hand, clasped in Giles larger one, a piece of cloth with a few drops of her blood on it. She held it up as if in offering. She remembered Buffy's words. We have the same blood. It's Summers' blood. She sent out that thought, taking strength in Giles' hands holding hers, knowing he was searching with her.

Giles allowed himself the vision of him and Buffy. He channeled every drop of his love for her and visualized it as a bright light that he sent out, calling for her, calling for her to love him, and return to him. Calling to her with the promise of everlasting love, a family, the protection of loved ones, his heart, his soul. He poured everything he was into the calling.

Spike paced softly in the corners of the shop, not wanting to disturb, but prepared to protect. He could feel the magic in the room, and was impressed by it, awed by it. He felt his commitment to these people grow, respectful of their courage and their strength. He knew if anyone could bring Buffy back, it was this group.

It seemed to last for hours. They knew it could take a long time. They knew they had to keep going, taking no rest until it was finished one way or the other. Weariness was starting to creep in but the resolve was still strong. No one faltered.

Suddenly the candles began to glow very brightly. In seconds the whole room was awash with light. There was a gust of wind, it centered itself between Giles and Dawn, spinning frantically, whirling like a tornado. Dawn screamed. "What's happening?" She was afraid to open her eyes.

Giles yelled back, trying to make himself heard over the moaning of the wind. "Dawn, hold on!" It twisted faster, buffeting them both, the noise, like a freight train, growing stronger and stronger to almost unbearable levels. He couldn't open his eyes, the pressure from the wind too hard against his face. He felt a body close to him. "Dawn, don't move, stay still."

"That's not me, I haven't moved, what is it?" Her voice was shrill, fearful. She couldn't get it out of her head that somehow it was Glory, come back for her. She felt herself on the verge of panic.

Then just as suddenly, the wind was gone, and the candles extinguished. They were all left in darkness, their senses reeling from the silence. The sudden lack of noise felt invasive. Giles tried to pull himself together; he needed to ensure that everyone was safe. His senses started to return, and as they did he felt her. He opened his eyes. She was there, lying against him, her eyes closed, not moving. He tightened his hold on Dawn's hands to get her attention, and then dropped them to place them on Buffy. He moved one hand up to her neck to feel for a pulse. He felt it, beating strongly. He watched her and saw her chest move. No one said a word, the room felt like a sacred place.

Finally Giles whispered her name, "Buffy?" He rubbed her arms, trying to bring her around. She moaned, moving a little. Again, "Buffy?" She opened her eyes. Closed them again, opened them. They sat, watching her, waiting, allowing her to slowly emerge. Spike moved closer, softly, and crouched down, watching and waiting as well.

She sat up, holding herself up with her arms, shaking her head as if to clear cobwebs away. Giles looked at Willow. "Can you light a couple of candles?" He was concerned too much light might be painful for Buffy right now. Willow complied and light softly brightened the circle. Giles asked one more time, "Buffy?"

She turned her head towards him, gave a soft cry and threw herself in his arms. "Giles? Oh God, Giles." She started to softly cry.

He held her, stroking her hair, her back, willing his love and strength to her. She stayed like that for some minutes. Dawn started to shift impatiently, feeling her legs cramping from holding her position for so long. Giles nodded at her and she gratefully sank down, accidentally jarring Buffy. "Oops, sorry."

Buffy sat up again, looking around, seeing Dawn. Her face lit up, awash with joy. She held her arms out, calling to her. "Oh Dawn, I've missed you so much. I felt you calling to me." Dawn let out a cry and fell on her, holding her tightly enough to hurt anyone but her Slayer sister. Giles watched, sitting back as well, tears in his eyes. Buffy released Dawn and looked around the circle. Willow walked over, opening up the circle with a sweep of her hands. She looked at Buffy and Buffy looked back. Willow didn't think she had ever seen Buffy look so peaceful, so content. Her face was open, filled with love and life. Willow reached for her and they embraced. They all came forward, one by one, except Spike and Giles. Spike figured some explaining was called for before he started hugging on Buffy. Didn't feel like getting staked quite so soon. Giles wanted her to have this time, or so he told himself but he was afraid, even with her here, having felt her in his arms, he was afraid. Afraid she wouldn't love him, afraid she would reject what he had offered to her.

Buffy felt his absence. She broke off her embrace with Xander and turned to Giles. She sat there, looking at him, drinking him in. She had felt his call. Dawn had provided the way, but Giles had been the reason. She walked over to him and knelt in front of him. Her eyes full of love she captured his face with her hands. She moved her face towards his and placed her lips on his. He started but she held him firm, and increased the pressure. He kissed her back, his arms going around her, pulling her into his lap. They held each other, communicating all their love through that kiss, until, by mutual consent they pulled apart. Giles looked at her, his face full of love and wonder, and then looked up to find the whole group grinning at them, tears running down their faces. He grinned back, holding Buffy to him tightly, showing her he was never going to let go. She hugged him back. She had no intention of letting him let her go.

She shifted her head, looking at Spike. Giles noted her movement and said softly to him, "Take his hand."

Buffy looked at him questioningly, but did as instructed. She reached out and Spike clasped her hand. She felt the bolt of magic flow through her, saw what he had done, what he had given up for her. She saw into his heart and saw the love and commitment there, and the demon firmly leashed. While never pulling completely away from Giles, she reached over to give him a hug, whispering softly in his ear, "Spike, thank you." He smiled at her, hugging her back, then released her back to Giles. She turned around, leaning with her back against Giles, his arms around her, resting underneath her breasts. She felt his warmth and snuggled deeper against him. He smiled resting his head against hers. She took in all the people in the room, loving them all so dearly, moved beyond words that they were hers, and she was theirs, feeling their love for her like a living song. She smiled at them and spoke. "So, what's the sitch?" They laughed, and proceeded to answer her question, the group whole, once again.


Quentin Travers replaced the phone in its cradle and started to laugh. Jesus, he thought, trust the two of them to throw convention even in death's face. He shook his head at the thought. Unbelievable. The whole thing was terrifying in one respect, but he was a practical man. The Hellmouth had a Slayer again. He might not approve of what they did, wouldn't have allowed it if he'd been asked. He snorted at the likelihood of that ever happening, them asking or of them listening. But, the world had a Slayer again, and he was grateful. He would sleep better tonight knowing. The world was again in good hands.

The End
July 2001



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