Chapter Summary: Tara found Buffy and Spike, and she decided to help them as her dream insinuated. Tara took care of a bunch of errands for Spike. She even picked up some books that she hopes will help them to help Buffy with the trauma of why her death happened. She met Valerie, Spike's lawyer, to get all of the papers for a house and car. Spike is worried about Angel or other vampires being able to get to Buffy. So the house was put in Tara's name. Tara found out that evil law firm doesn't necessarily mean evil lawyers. Now Spike is stuck waiting for the sunset with too much time on his hands to think about all the perils headed their way.

Spike waited in the crypt for the sun to set. He held no concerns about Tara meeting his lawyer. He'd met Valerie once when he first arrived in Sunnydale two years ago. He would, however, like to know where he stood in case he needed to vacate quickly.

Valerie seemed like a very competent woman and attorney. She held various degrees, and he liked her personality. After he'd been chipped, and set free from the Scoobies, Valerie organized the retrieval and sale of the bulk of the Amara treasure. Several pieces of jewelry, and a weapon or two, were still under lock and key at the office, due to his lack of a secure location in which to store them. Now that he would have his own home again, he should probably retrieve them.

'It will be nice to have a house again.' Spike thought. He'd almost found himself a place a few times, but it never felt right to have a home in Sunnydale. A house was permanent; it meant that he had a reason to come back besides the blood and the mayhem.

Spike always tried to tell himself that he wasn't staying forever in Sunnydale, just until he killed the slayer, or until the chip came out. Now he knew that he was being delusional to think that he would ever leave Buffy or the Nibblet behind. He loved them both too much. Nope, he'd be staying in Sunnydale until he was dust or his girls wanted to go with him.

With a sigh, Spike looked around the dank crypt he was sitting in. The place was pretty disgusting, even for a crypt. Maybe it was because this was the place that his Buffy was attacked in. Perhaps the death of the Slayer in this place made it seem even darker than it was. As soon as the sun set, he was getting out of this hellhole. If Tara arrived before then, he'd take Buffy over to the house directly. Otherwise he'd take her to his crypt to wait for Tara.

"My poor, sweet Buffy." Spike ran his fingers through her matted hair. He hated seeing her like this. It tore him apart to look at her dead body after she'd fallen from the tower to close the portal several months back. Now he was looking at her dead body again. Only this time he knew she would awaken to a whole new world being opened to her. His feared whether or not she would accept the world she'd been given. Would Buffy hate him for eternity now?

"I've got to protect her." Spike knew that any vampire who found out about the Slayer's change would try to challenge his Childe. She would be a prized commodity in the demon world. Turned Slayers were an oddity that others would usually try to show off. He had no intentions of showing Buffy off. He was going to try to help her live as normal of a life possible. That was if she let him live past her first meal.

'I hope Dru is far away from here.' Even though Dru drained most of his blood from him that night back in the 1800's, her link wasn't as strong with him because she wasn't his true Sire. If she was a certain amount of distance away, she wouldn't feel much of Buffy's awakening.

'Of course the Great Poofter is another story.' Spike sighed. There was no way to hide Buffy's awakening completely from his true Sire. Angel would have to be very far away to keep from telling who Spike's Childe was. Even the fact that Spike had made a Childe would be odd enough for Angel to investigate. He had no desire to deal with an Angelus style beating at this time. His only hope was that the wards he requested would be enough to confuse the feelings his Sire would get when Buffy awoke. Hopefully it would hide at least her identity from his Sire.

Tara drove through downtown Sunnydale. Usually she walked everywhere she went, but she was going to be using this car a lot for a while. She'd need it to drive from her new home to the college. She wanted to check and see if Spike would let her keep it. It would be less noticeable then Spike's car.

So many thoughts and scenarios went through Tara's head as she drove. The sun would soon set, but she wanted to check the house out before she brought Spike and Buffy to it. She wanted to verify the wards surrounding it.

The house Tara now owned was across town from Revello Drive. It was unlikely that the Scoobies would happen upon it easily. That specification was intentional to keep any accidental meetings from occurring. Buffy would have enough to deal with when she first awoke. She shouldn't have to fear looking out her window to see Xander or Willow peering in from across the street.

Tara craned her neck over the steering wheel as she drove through what was to be her new neighborhood. It was a beautiful place to live. She marveled at how such a beautiful and serene looking neighborhood could be in the same city as a Hellmouth. It was all too surreal to think about.

A part of Tara was sad at the thought of leaving Willow behind on Revello Drive. Tara needed to talk to Mr. Giles about Willow's magic. She was sure that he would agree with Tara's assessment and concerns. She'd overheard an argument between Willow and he when he'd returned from England. She needed this time away from Willow. Maybe she would return to Willow later, but it was going to take a long time before she would trust Willow again. Her family played with her mind for years. To find out that Willow used magic to tamper with her mind was the worst thing Willow could have done to her.

Tara pulled into the driveway of the address on the papers. She would have laughed at the irony of the lovely colonial style home with a white picket fence around the property if the seriousness of these life changes hadn't still hung over her mind. She stepped out of the car. There was a garage at the end of the driveway. Without a handle on the front of the door, she assumed that it opened with an electronic garage door opener. She'd look for that later.

Tara walked to the side of the garage to unlock the entryway. The picket-like privacy fence lined the entire property. There wasn't an entrance off the driveway without going through the garage. It was probably more for security purposes. She figured that she would usually be parked in the garage anyways. So that was fine. She would scout out the rest of the property later to see if there was any other entrance gates on the other side of the house or out front.

When Tara emerged from the garage she was surprised at all of the landscaping on the property. The house had to be sitting on at least an acre of land, which was unusual for a city setting. White and red rose bushes lined the front porch area. It was a covered porch lined with tinted glass in front of screens. She wondered if the glass was specially tinted for vampires like the regular windows were supposed to be. 'That would be nice for Buffy and Spike if they can come out on the porch during the day.' She stopped to smell the snapdragons and other flowers interspersed in front of the roses in the flower garden.

Tara looked through the various keys on the chain with her car key. She finally fished out the right one she needed for the porch door. "None of the doors have the same key. That will make it a little harder to break into." She looked down at the little sheet of paper with 6 numbers on it. When she reached the actual metal front door, she realized that the code must belong to the security panel next to the entry. She punched in the 6 numbers. After she heard the beeping of release, she unlocked the door with another key.

Nothing could have prepared her for the inside décor of the home. "Wow." Tara's eyes widened at all of the extravagances around her. Deep crimson draperies made of velvet hung around the main windows with white eyelet lace inserts to cover the windows when the draperies were open. All naturally stained cherry wood floors covered the majority of the downstairs, even into the kitchen.

The living room appeared to be decorated with various Victorian style couches and chairs. Everything was decorated with lavish materials, but it still felt like a place you could live in. "This is amazing." She had no idea that a vampire would ever live like this. Had Valerie changed the decorations to Spike's tastes, or was this how the last vampire had lived too? Either way it was gorgeous. It was like she'd stepped back into another era of time.

In the kitchen, Tara found that it was stocked as Valerie said it would be. She got a chuckle that the area for the blood bags had it's own shelf door to keep it hidden upon first opening the fridge. The kitchen as a whole was set up that no matter if human or demon visited, they would be comfortable and unoffended at what the cupboards and fridge could hold.

The first floor was complete with a fair sized office/den and bathroom towards the back of the house. A back door led out into the spacious back yard.

Tara walked through the four bedrooms upstairs. Each had it's own design or theme, but they all seemed practical as well as elegant. Each bedroom was large enough to be a master bedroom. 2 bedrooms were on one side of the hall and the other 2 were on the other side. The 2 adjoining bedrooms on one side shared a large master suite like bathroom. A non-shared bathroom separated the other 2 bedrooms.

Tara decided to wait to pick out her bedroom until Spike chose his and Buffy's. She had a feeling that Spike would pick the shared bathroom suite for him and Buffy. That way they'd each have separate rooms, but he'd also have a way to care for her without anyone else having to see. It seemed the most sensible thing to do.

Tara returned to the living room with the small bag she carried in with her. She laid out several ingredients along a leather scrap of material. She lit different scented candles, each with their own purpose or cleansing qualities, in a wide circle around her. She sat Indian style within the circle, closed her eyes, pinched her thumb and index finger together, and started to chant.

Spike stood up as soon as the sun fully set. He lifted Buffy up into his arms. He cradled her head against his chest. The cool of her body caused him to shiver. He was glad that he had the two days to get used to her new status. He needed to be sure that he never flinched at the touch of his Childe. She was going to have a hard enough time of accepting it without him flinching from her. He would not flinch in disgust, but he was used to her body being so warm compared to his. He needed to adjust his way of thinking when it came to Buffy.

Spike shifted Buffy in his arms. He turned around to be sure that he wasn't leaving anything behind. He wasn't sure if Buffy's attacker would try to come back or not. If he knew what was good for him, he wouldn't come back. Not that it would save the wanker from Spike's hatred and revenge. His Childe needed a human meal for her first one to become strong. A human who would rape and murder the woman Spike loved was not worth living.

Spike opened the door, slipped out into the night, and closed the door again. He was careful to stick as much to the shadows of the night as possible. He was unsure if any of the other Scoobies realized that Buffy was missing. He wasn't up to dealing with a confrontation with any of them right now.

Spike kicked open the door to his crypt. The startled scream of a woman hit his ears too late to realize that someone was in his crypt. He had been so focused on the path to his crypt that he hadn't noticed a human was in it.

"Spike?" Dawn looked up from Spike's chair in front of the TV. She jumped up, heart racing, to face Spike. "Oh my God! Buffy!" She ran towards Spike.

"No! Dawn!" Spike quickly turned away from Dawn. She shouldn't have to see her sister like this. He was in a state of panic. What should he do? He'd promised Dawn that he'd never let anything happen to Buffy again, but he wasn't there to save her from the human. Would Dawn hate him?

Tara blew out the candles surrounding the circle. She gathered up the remnants of her supplies. All was safe for now. She still had to see a Wicca friend to complete the memory protection spell on her, but she should be fine until she could meet her friend. She had a warning spell in place if anything tried to alter her memories, but she'd feel a lot better once the full protection was in place.

Tara quickly locked everything back up. She frowned at the darkened sky. She hadn't realized that she'd been under the trance for so long. Now she'd have to head to Spike's crypt. Maybe she should make a pass by Revello Drive first. If no one was around she could sneak out some clothes for her and Buffy. She knew Spike wanted to bathe Buffy and put her into clean clothes.

Tara decided to do a quick sweep by Revello Drive . She hoped it was empty. Spike would already be at his own crypt by now so he could pack. It was best to make use of the time she had available now.

Luckily Willow was still at classes or out. All of the lights were off at the Summers' house. She assumed Dawn was out with her friend Janice. She wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. She quickly grabbed one of her own suitcases and one of Buffy's. She packed the essentials she would need for herself. She and Spike were trying to think of a good cover story for their absences. They didn't need the Scoobies trying to find them. At least the wards would make any locator spell void. When they were in the vicinity of the house it would be as if they didn't even exist on this plane.

Tara tried to pick up things that Buffy would usually use every day. She gathered up some of Buffy's memorabilia and personal effects including her pig, Mr. Gordo. In just the few pages that she'd skimmed of the books she bought, it emphasized having comforting and familiar things around the victim. It was going to be hard on Buffy being at a whole new house. So, Tara needed to bring as much of Buffy's personal things as possible.

Tara hauled another suitcase onto Buffy's bed. She packed both casual and patrolling clothes. She didn't think Buffy would be too keen on patrolling, but it would be something to help her work out frustrations. She made sure that she packed enough comfortable clothes for lounging around in too. After adding a good amount of personal and intimate undergarments, she packed a few dresses and skirts. Anything else they'd need or want, she was sure that Spike would let them buy. This was enough to start with.

Tara drug the suitcases down the stairs as quickly as possible. She loaded up the trunk of the Taurus. After a second trip to grab the third suitcase and Buffy's weapon's bag, she closed the trunk and got back in the car. It was time to head to the cemetery. Hopefully Spike had all he needed packed by now too.

"What's wrong with her, Spike?" Dawn stayed behind Spike, but she bounced on her heels to try to see over his shoulder. "Please, Spike. I need to see her."

"You don't want to see this, Nibblet. Trust me on that." Spike's voice shook. 'Damnit. This is what you get for not paying attention.'

"Why? Is she ... Is she ..." Dawn's voice cracked over the two repeated words. She couldn't even get the last word to come out of her mouth.

Spike hung his head and sighed. What did he tell Dawn? "It's complicated, Lil Bit." He rested his cheek against the top of Buffy's head. "I didn't want you to see her this way."

"What way, Spike?" Dawn was beyond scared now. True Buffy and she hadn't had a very good relationship since Buffy's return from the dead, but she loved her sister more than anything. Buffy and Spike were her only true family left. Buffy was her blood sister, and Spike was everything that a brother would ever be to her. He protected her all summer when Buffy had been dead. He was there for her when everyone else was dealing with their own grief and ignoring her.

"I found her in a crypt." Spike started to speak. He tried to carefully think out each sentence, but he failed to find the right thing to say. In the end all he knew to do was be honest with the girl that he looked at like a younger sister. Joyce, Dawn and Tara were the only ones to ever really accept him. Anya never seemed to care one way or the other. "She'd been attacked."

"What kind of demon?" Dawn had a sinking feeling of the worst kind. Buffy hadn't moved the whole time in Spike's arms from what she could see. She also hadn't woke up either. That wasn't like Buffy.

"I'm afraid it wasn't a demon, Bit." Spike sighed. "She was ... She was shot by a human." Buffy needed to be the one to decide whom she told about the rape. It was something that he didn't think Dawn could handle now on top of the other.

"Oh my God!" Dawn ran in front of Spike. She fell to the floor on her knees at the sight of Buffy's blood soaked clothes. "No! No!" She cried out. She buried her face in her hands. "Oh God, she's gone again!"

Spike's heart was torn in two. Both of the women he loved were broken right now. He sat Buffy down in the chair carefully. He covered her body with a blanket to keep the haunting scene from Dawn's eyes. He pulled Dawn up from the ground to hug her. He rocked her back and forth. "Shhh ... She's not really gone this time." He kissed the top of Dawn's head.

Spike's words broke through Dawn's grief addled mind. "Not really gone?" She pulled back in Spike's arms just enough to look into his eyes. Her eyes widened with the knowledge of what Spike must mean. "You turned her?!?"

Spike cringed. 'Damn, but the Bit is a smart one.' He sighed and nodded. "I'm sorry, Nibblet. I couldn't let her go; not this time."

Dawn gasped in shock. It wasn't that she was mad at Spike turning her sister, but she found it hard to believe that he had done it. He loved Buffy, and she knew that it would break his heart for Buffy to come back as an evil demon instead of the woman he loved. "Why?"

"Because I love her." Spike stuttered on quickly. "She'll keep her soul. All Slayers do. She might kill me, but she'll still be Buffy. I promise." He tightened his grip on Dawn, afraid that she had a stake hidden somewhere. He had to be there when Buffy awoke. After that he'd gladly take any stake that she or Dawn felt was necessary, but he had to see to her recovery first.

"Easy Spike." Dawn's voice was soothing. "I don't hate you." She hugged Spike tighter. "After this summer you should know that I would have asked you to turn her if there wasn't any other way to save her." She spoke the truth. She'd missed Buffy so much over the summer. Having her back now was a gift that she would have done anything to keep Buffy. She didn't care if Buffy was a vampire so long as she was still her Buffy.

"No, Spike. If you say that she'll be Buffy, then I believe you." Dawn had faith in Spike long before anyone else did. She looked up to him as an older brother, and it always made her mad how the other Scoobies treated him. Even after everything he'd done for them during the summer, they went back to hating him as soon as Buffy was back. She refused to be that way.

"She will, Bit." Spike explained, "But she won't be able to be around humans for a while. I don't know everything that happened to her. I only know how I found her."

Dawn nodded in understanding. "Fine, but I want to see her as soon as you think she can handle it." She wanted to argue with Spike that she should be there, but she knew it was pointless to argue with Spike if he'd made up his mind. She saw the determination in his face. He wasn't going to budge on the issue. "Please tell her how much I love her, no matter what."

"Everything is set at the house. I was able to get some ..." Tara 's voice trailed off when she noticed Dawn standing in Spike's crypt. "Dawn?" She panicked, looking around for Buffy's body.

"Bit was here when I moved from the other place." Spike explained when he saw the confusion on Tara 's face.

Spike nodded. "Sussed it out pretty quickly." He hugged Dawn. "She's a right smart girl. Aren't you Nibblet?"

"Sometimes too much for my own good if Spike's reaction was anything to go by." Dawn rolled her eyes. She tried to keep the conversation light.

"I explained it to Spike, yeah." Dawn nodded her head. "I take it you are going to be there too?" She looked to Spike for confirmation. He'd said that Buffy couldn't be around humans. So she wondered why Spike was letting Tara be there.

"Tara is a witch, Dawn." Spike explained. "We needed protection, and I needed a human to own the home we'll use. I figured Glinda would be the first choice for support amongst the Scoobies."

Tara opened her arms for Dawn to move into. "As soon as it is safe, we'll bring you to see her. We promise." She stroked her hand down Dawn's hair. This girl had suffered through a lot more than someone her human age should. She didn't care if Dawn was a mystical key before. Now she was just a teenage girl who suffered too much heartache.

"I don't care what anyone says or will say." Dawn hugged Tara then opened her arms for Spike to join them in the hug. When he reluctantly moved forward into a three-way hug she continued, "I will stand by you both, no matter what."

"Thanks, Bit. I have a feeling that we'll need all the support we can get." Spike kissed the top of Dawn's head again. "You can't tell anyone at all." He pulled back to look into Dawn's eyes. "Tell the Scoobies that Buffy needed to get away for a little bit to deal with some things. She told you that she'd contact you specifically off and on, but that she didn't want a whole Scooby troupe to try and find her."

"They won't be able to do a locator spell on her, Dawn. So, don't worry if they try one." Tara explained. "It will enforce to them that Buffy doesn't want to be found, hopefully."

"Okay. Anything else I should do?" Dawn wanted to help in any way that she could.

"Tara will be living with us. We'll figure out what to tell Willow, but for now just say that Tara is staying with a friend until she gets some things sorted out."

Tara nodded in agreement with that idea. "Sounds fine to me. I'll try to keep in touch. I'll still be going to school. So, I'm sure I'll run into Willow at some point."

"I don't give a damn what they like and don't like." Spike started to get angry. He wasn't upset at Dawn, but it always peeved him off how the Scoobies thought they had the right to run Buffy's life.

Tara put a hand on Spike's arm to calm him down. "They'll have to live with it. Since they know we took Buffy from Heaven, I am hoping they will understand the absence."

Dawn nodded. She looked over at Buffy's body in the chair. She shivered at the stillness of her sister. "May I say goodbye?"

Spike nodded. He watched Dawn walk over to Buffy, kiss her forehead, and hug her. She walked back towards the door. "Take care of her, or you will have one pissed off teenager coming at you with a stake or a torch."

Tara gulped. She knew Dawn well enough to realize she was serious. Spike nodded. He breathed a sigh of relief once the door shut behind Dawn. "Well that wasn't planned."

Tara half chuckled. "Definitely not. The house is all in order though." She looked over at Buffy's body, sleeping while it healed itself. "Are we ready?"

"I won't take long." Spike jumped down the hole to the lower level to pack what he wanted to take with them. Mainly he'd just need some clothes. He has some special personal items as well that always traveled with him too.

Review Me Please! Icon created by Dasugraphics.
Previous Chapter	Twists Index	Next Chapter

Review Me Please!

Icon created by Dasugraphics.

Previous Chapter

Twists Index

Next Chapter