TITLE: Is The Beginning...
AUTHOR: Ragna (writinggoddess@aol.com)
RATING: FRT
SPOILERS: None
DISTRIBUTION: Sure, just tell me!
DISCLAIMER: Everything except what comes out of my pretty little head belongs to Joss and Mutant Enemy. The title comes from part of a Smashing Pumpkins song, featured on the Batman and Robin soundtrack.
FEEDBACK: Wanted. Needed. SEND IT!
DEDICATIONS: Dedicated to Julee (get better soon), Tiki (thanks once more for the awards), Nicole (I really did love my V-Day fic!!!), Ashley (poor girl...hope you have a beeter V-Day next year, but until then...) and Gillian (who jumpstarted my brain...I'll use the ideas soon!) Also to Erica and Cathryn, and Mandy.

***

The next month or so, Spike showed Alex how to survive as a vampire. It was hard for her, and she used magic to cheat...a lot. Not being able to go in the sun was the hardest for her. She had been used to it because of living with Spike, but when her existance depended on it...

The Council didn't make it any easier. She spent countless hours during the day calling other Watchers, ones who would still speak with her. Emma was fighting for Alex to stay on the Council but lose her chance at being the head. They were still deliberating, but she knew Emma would probably overturn their decision and allow her to stay. She avoided her former friends and her family for much of the month as she got used to being among the undead. They also did move into the mansion, and the one time during that month that Alex saw everyone was at the housewarming party Gaby and Xander had thrown. It was as though nothing had changed, really, but Alex was still very uncomfortable. More because she wasn't used to it yet.

As time passed, and she adjusted, she started to think about having her friends around again. She spent many night in the garden at the mansion, looking up at the sky and smelling the flowers. Spike never joined her on those nights. He knew, eventually, she'd tell him what was going on. He spent that time with the Scoobies, training the Slayers and getting information to give to Alex. Everyone missed her, and they wanted her back in the group. But she wasn't ready, and they understood.

That was what she needed. Understanding. She sat and thought about it one night. She thought about the last month, and all the changes. A song was playing on the CD player she'd brought out with her. She'd just picked a random CD of Spike's and put it in. All the songs before it had been rather upbeat, and there was even a song from her friend Billy and his band The Smashing Pumpkins. But there was another one of his, at the end, that had a few of the same lines but a completely different feel to it, and she found herself singing along.

It fit, and she looked at the name of the song. "The Beginning is the End is the Beginning," she muttered, and then looked to see what the first song, the more upbeat one, had been. It was "The End is the Beginning is the End."

Stopping the CD, she went to her laptop and pulled up all the Smashing Pumpkins sites she could on the internet, searching for the lyrics to those two songs. She found part of them on the soundtracks official site, and sang along with the song. Then inspiration hit. She jotted down lyrics almost the exact opposite of the song's chorus.

"It's so dark where I am
Why can't I change?
It makes me scared that I'll never change
And in my darkest hour, I start to fade
And watch my world be devoured in my pain

She gathered her things and went inside, not knowing what to do. Knowing those were her true feelings, she set the poem on Spike's CD and walked outside, towards the one place she felt at peace.

After casting a spell to let her stay in the sun for the day.

***

Spike was alarmed as he came back, close to dawn, and found Alex missing. Not being able to go look for her, he feared the worst, until he saw a piece of paper on his CDs. He recognized her writing, almost childlike, and frowned a bit. They reminded him of one of the songs on the soundtrack it was on top of. Placing it in they CD player and forwarding it to the end, he listened to the sorrowful song and frowned even more until he saw her spellbook open on the bed and the supplies for the sunlight spell nearby. Grabbing the phone, he dialed someone he hoped she would listen to.

"Hello?"

"Rupert? I have a problem."

"Spike? What's wrong? Is Alex there?"

"No, and that's the problem. She's...alive, but just gone. I think I know where she is, but I can't leave."

There was a pause. "Very well. I take it she went to the beach, or that's what you hope."

"Yeah. Over by the pier. Could you check?"

"Yes. Thank you for telling me, by the way."

"You're welcome. I know she loves and respects you, and you'd be the best to go talk to her." He hung up, worry overcoming him, and held the poem in his hand, listening to the song, as tears fell down his cheeks. And one thought ran through his mind. Did I do the right thing?

***

She sat on the pier, a vision in white. She was wearing a short white sundress that was holding onto stray bits of sand, and a pair of white sunglasses. Her red hair, now long and curled, was flying about in the breeze, and she absently pulled it into a ponytail with a white Scunii.

"Thought you'd be here," a voice said behind her. She didn't turn around; she knew who it was before he'd even spoken.

"Who, you or Spike?" she replied, avoiding looking at him.

"Both. When he called to say you were gone, we both guessed. And correctly, it would appear." Giles sat next to her, both of them dangling their legs over the edge.

"Good for you two." She stretched back, the sun hitting her fully on the chest.

"If you were going to leave, why didn't you say anything?" Giles asked his niece, who ignored him. "Alright, another question. What's wrong?"

"Nothing, really. I needed to get away from the mansion, the mess. Why haven't you left for London yet?"

"No fair changing the subject, dear. I know that's not all that's wrong. Spike's been telling us what's been happening. You have been withdrawing from everything and everyone. Why? You know we all love and accept you."

Alex sighed, even though she didn't have to. "But I don't love and accept me. That's the problem. I mean, I know I'll always have Spike, which is of the good, but I have to watch all of you grow old...and die."

Giles actually laughed, and Alex turned to him with a hard stare. "Dear, think of it this way: you'll be around to tell generations of this family what life was like. You'll know everyone, and you'll be able to see how each and every child turns out. And I had some news that no one else knows."

"And what would that be?" Alex asked, thinking about what her uncle had said.

"You will have three to watch over very soon," he said, smiling. "I'm going to be a father...in about eight months."

Alex smiled and hugged her uncle. "Wow. And you'll be a damned good one. I have one question, though."

"Yes?"

"Promise you'll explain why his or her cousin can't come out in the sun with a sense of humor? We don't want to frighten the poor kid." And for the first time that month, Alex laughed.

And it felt nice.

***

They stayed there for a while, and Alex went back to the mansion. When Spike heard the door open, he sprang out of his chair and went to the door.

"Are you okay?"

Alex looked at him, then dropped her head. "I'm sorry I scared you. I needed...I needed life. And peace. So I went to the beach."

He walked over to her and gently lifted her head with one finger. "I just wished you'd let me have gone with you. So, you're better now?"

She nodded slightly, then threw her arms around his neck and held him. "Just let me be sorry for a bit. I've treated everyone badly, and I feel bad."

"Fair enough. But don't be that way for too long." She pulled back a bit. "Oh, and I have some news. Not only will I be an aunt soon, but I'll be a cousin in about eight months."

Spike smiled. "That's a good thing, I suppose."

"A very good thing. It also got me thinking. I'm going to be around to see them grow up, and see any kids they may have, and their kids, so I get to be a Watcher in another sense."

"Oh," Spike said, reaching for something in his back pocket, "this arrived for you. Buffy brought it in." He handed her a thin envelope, with the official Watcher seal on it. Slowly, she opened it and read the letter, a smile building on her face.

"What is it, love?"

"A cause for celebration," she replied. "Not only am I still a Watcher, but they want me to have an honorary position as advisor. Oh, and they want you as well. We'd be advising the Council on vampire's ways of fighting and such."

"I'm for it, actually, which is rather surprising. They do realize that before I got a soul, I had killed three Slayers?"

She nodded. "But you know more about tactics than almost any other vampire. And I told Emma to try and get something done. And my uncle will be taking my place for heading the council, so it's a good thing he's moving."

"That is quite a bit of good news oin one day," Spike murmurred, gently nibbling at Alex's ear. "Why don't we go and celebrate?"

"Yes, why don't we?" she said, kissing him lightly as he picked her up and carried her to their room.

***

It had been 20 years since she was turned. Many things had changed...Gillian and Joe had reunited, and now lived in Boston, watching the new Slayer there. They were happy, and Joe ran an independent graphic arts firm, with Gillian in charge of the artists and Joe in charge of the business aspects.

Xander and Gaby finally got married, and had four more children. Both of them were happy and relatively good parents. Willow and Oz got married as well, at the same ceremony, and, with the help of some people Gillian knew, they managed to find a cure for Oz's lycanthropy. Instead of risking that their children might have those tendencies, they adopted a set of twins, and raised them as their own. Both couples moved away from Sunnydale, finally settling in Gaby's hometown of Beaufort.

Buffy had died, killed by a vampire when she was in her late 20's, but Angel had been nearby and turned her. At first she resented it, but considering that she had already had to deal with Mike's death a few months before, she accepted it and moved on. She and Angel, both with souls, lived in Los Angeles now, helping to keep that Hellmouth closed. With her death, Julee and Nicole were both activated, and now there were three active Slayers, for the demon problem had worsened. Miraculously, both Slayers survived until retirement.

Giles and Patricia moved to London, and became the proud parents of a son and a daughter, who had the mark of a Watcher on her. Both were relieved at that. She was also a natural witch, and was full of surprises for her parents. She also had Alex's telepathic ability, which unnerved her parents quite a bit.

Alex and Spike were the only ones to stay in Sunnydale. They watched whatever Slayers would come, and there were many. When they weren't doing that, they were advising the Council or something along those lines. They even had a few Slayers who were unofficially adopted by them, girls with no family. Currently, they were watching a Slayer named Ashley, who might be the next to live long enough to retire...she was only a month away.

And even though everyone had left, they'd made a pact to meet in Sunnydale 20 years after Alex's turning, which had been close to Spring Break. They would meet at a place they all knew well...Sunnydale High School.

***

"Where the bloody hell are they? It's not all that hard to find this place!" Spike muttered as he paced out front of SHS. Both him and Alex, as well as Angel and Buffy, had undergone the spell to let them stay in the sun. The four of them looked like local college students, save for the fact they were all pale.

"Calm down, boy," Buffy said dryly as she looked up at him, her dark sunglasses on top of head. "They'll be here by noon. And if they're a little late, don't go postal."

Angel smiled at his beloved as he moved out from under the doorway. "Yeah. Where'd Alex go?"

"I'm right here, brood boy," she said lightly, walking up behind Spike. "My uncle just called. They're all outside of town, but they had car trouble. They'll be here in about a half hour." She giggled a little as Spike embraced her from behind.

"What happened?" Buffy asked.

"Apparently, my cousin Alicia decided to play around with her magic. She overheated the engine when she tried to make it go faster." Alex smiled. "So, Xander and Gaby stopped to help and drive up onto a nail, blowing their tire. Oz stopped his car to help him change it, so as soon as that's finished, and my uncle gets done scolding Alicia for a bit, they'll be here. 16 year olds are such fun. Ashley was like that back then."

As she said that, a nice sports car pulled up, and parked by them. Gillian and Joe got out, both looking very dignified and not much older than thirty. "Hey!" Gillian said, loosing all semblance of adulthood and running to her friends. She got to Buffy first, and hugged her. "I would say you haven't changed a bit, but we all know why."

Buffy shrugged, a large smile on her face. "Well, it's the truth." Joe came up and hugged Alex, and shook Angel and Spike's hand. They waited around for a half hour, and finally, three cars pulled up. Spilling out were six adults and ten children of various ages.

"Uncle Rupert!" Alex yelled, running towards her uncle and hugging him. As she held on to him, tears falling down her cheeks, she saw Gaby's youngest child, a boy named Adam, tug on his mom's dress.

"Mommy?" he asked, being only seven or eight years old.

"Yes?" Gaby replied, her long dark hair pulled up in a bun.

"Is that my aunt? The dead one?" he asked. Gaby nodded. "So why is she hugging Rupert?"

Gaby frowned. She hadn't done a good job explaining the concept of vampires. "Remember Dracula?" she asked her son. He nodded. "Well, she's like him, only good."

Alex looked over and smiled. "I promise I won't bite, Adam. I'm a good vampire. I don't hurt people." Timidly, he came over to his aunt as she let go of her uncle and touched her arm.

"You're cold." Alex laughed, and knelt down to his eye level.

"I know." Then he hugged her, a little afraid, but he'd seen his brothers and sisters do it before. The others knew about it, all being older. And it was a thrill for them, but they never told anyone. An inside joke was that the Giles family slightly resembeled the Munsters. In spirit, anyway. Just to be on the safe side, everyone introduced themselves, because some of the children didn't know each other. Gaby and Xander's children went first. There were the twins, Alexandra and William, who turned 20 that day, then the 16 year old, May, the 14 year old, Alexander, Jr., a 13 year old named Allyson, and Adam. Then Willow and Oz's twins, Brian and Malcolm, spoke up, both of them being 17. And Alicia and her brother David, who was 19, chimed in.

Not all of them knew the four vampires, though most knew Spike and Alex. Buffy and Angel introduced themselves, and as soon as they were done, Julee and Nicole arrived, with their husbands, high school classmates of theirs. More introductions were made, and then everyone headed for the mansion.

***

"Wow!" That was what the younger people in the group said upon seeing the mansion.

"You guys really live here? Alone?" May asked. Alex laughed.

"There's one other resident," she said. "Ashley!" she yelled towards the stairs. A blond girl, about 20, came bounding down.

"Oh, you guys are back!" she said, her green eyes lighting up as she looked at some of the guys her age mixed in the group. Spike saw that and laughed, and Ashley responded with a blush.

"Yeah. Umm...why doesn't everyone under the age of 21 go off with Ashley? She'll show you guys where to put your stuff." It had been agreed everyone would stay at the mansion for a week. All of them complied, and followed her back up the stairs.

"She reminds me a lot of Buffy here," Giles said, looking fondly over towards his former Slayer. "I must say, I'm proud of you. All of you. Everything seems to have turned out well."

"Pretty much, G-man," Xander said, breaking into a smile. He had turned out well, as had everyone else. All were successful, though cynical and still careful.

"It's been a long time since I heard that," Giles said, smiling as Patricia patted his hand. He looked much older than his fifty or so years, but only in the face. In fact, the last time he and Alex had seen each other a few weeks before, he beat her in a fair fight.

"I just think it's nice to see everyone again," Gillian said, getting nods of agreement from everyone else.

"So, I mean, what is everyone doing?" Alex asked. "I've been curious."

Everyone started to talk about their lives. Xander took care of their kids while Gaby did freelance webpage design. Willow taught at the University of South Carolina at Beaufort in their new technology department, while Oz was a musician and a substitute teacher at the local high schools.

Gillian and Joe were still running their business and were in the process of buying out another company. They were still on a waiting list to adopt a child, but were moving towards the top fast. For right now, they were foster parents, but had no foster children at the moment. Giles was a teacher at Oxford and also head of the Watcher's Council after Emma had left in order to pursue a career, while Patricia had her own clinic in London.

Alex, Spike, Buffy and Angel filled everyone in on their various adventure in Sunnydale and Los Angeles. Sometimes they had worked together, but most were just tales of what had happened and various demons that had been fought.

"Our lives sound so pale in comparison," Willow said dryly, throwing a glance over to Oz. "I miss those days," she continued. "You know, when we fought for good, and all that stuff."

"I remember," Oz said. "Once we got used to it, it wasn't so bad."

"Speak for yourself!" Buffy said. "Remember, I died doing what had to be done, and now I'm a vampire because I, once again, died trying to save the world." But she said it with no malice.

"And you did a damn good job," Angel said.

"What about me and Alex?" Gaby said. "We knew what we were since we were little kids!"

"Yeah," Alex said, finally laughing and getting everyone else to join. "What about us?"

"Enough!" Patricia said, doubling over as laughter shook through her. "I think the wretched demons are coming back. Present company excepted."

"Ha-ha," the four vampires countered simultaneously, eliciting another round of laughter. The kids came back downstairs, and David looked at his parents.

"What's so funny?" he asked.

"Mum made a bad joke, twit," Alicia said rolling her eyes and accepting a high five from May.

"Don't call me a twit, trainspotter."

"I'm not a trainspotter, David. You're just a barmy mate!"

"Alicia, you...you..."

"Call me a bean-flicker and I'll deck you!"

"Children!" both Giles and Patricia said, and they, as well as Willow, Oz, Buffy, Alex, Gaby and Xander, all looked over and said, "Yeah?" The adults looked sheepish as Spike and Angel joined the children in a round of laughter.

"Instant reflex," Alex said. Spike was laughing so hard he didn't see her mumble some words. Suddenly he flew off the seat and landed on Angel. "Whoops. So was that." She smiled at Spike as he stood up, with a look on his face that clearly said "I'll get you back when we're alone."

"What were you two saying?" Malcolm asked.

"Random insults. I can teach you some," David said, and before their parents could object, they had dashed back up the stairs.

"I'm going to get that propellerhead. If he thinks by dashing out on me he's out of a ruck, he's a bloody loon. The plonker's a bit off his trolley," Alicia said, and the only one who nodded was Spike.

"Indeed he is mate. You seem a bit hacked off with him right now," Spike said, and a smile spread on Alicia's face.

"Have some of that! Someone who understands what I'm bloody well saying! Tell me, is there a place around here to have it large?" she asked him to see if he knew what she was saying, but Alex answered instead.

"The Bronze, cuz." She smileed over at her. "I knew what you were saying, too, just didn't want to spoil the fun."

Buffy leaned over to Spike. "What were they saying, anyway?" He whispered it into her ear, and she started to laugh. "You've got to be kidding!" she said when he got done, but he shook his head. "Giles, you have no idea what they said, did you?"

"Vaguely, but I choose to ignore it. Like I chose to ignore you so long ago."

***

That evening, Alex and Spike took Ashley, Alexandra, William, May, Brian, Malcolm, David and Alicia to the Bronze while the rest stayed at the mansion, talking and enjoying themselves. As they walked over to the Bronze, the new insults were flying between the siblings until Alex was fed up.

"Shut your holes!" she said as they got nearby.

"Hey, Aunt Alex, can you show us your game face?" May asked, having been one of the few to see it.

"Why?" she asked pointedly.

"It's cool. Besides, that way, we know what the vamps look like."

"You're a twit, but fine." Alex changed faces, and looked at their reaction before switching back.

"Cool!" Alexandra said. "You do that too, Spike?" she asked, looking at Spike. Gaby's children generally accepted him as their uncle, but they rarely used the term. He nodded, then changed faces. They looked over in awe.

"Knock it off, guys. Let's get in." Alex held open the door to the Bronze, which was still operating even after all this time. While they went to go mingle, Alex paid their cover charge while Spike got their normal table. Alex joined him when she walked in.

"Remind me to be glad we don't have any kids," she said, looking up at him as she leaned against his chest. He kissed her softly, then with more passion, until they heard the cat calls from their charges.

"Remind me to kill the little buggers one of these days," Spike murmured, his lips still pressed to Alex's.

"I would, but we have souls. Can't do it."

Spike pulled back and realized Ashley and William were dancing together, fairly close. "Seems like the Slayer has a crush on your nephew."

"I won't interfere...I'll just watch them closely," she said, noting the others were off making random conversations with local teenagers. "Want to continue?"

"Thought you'd never ask," he said, kissing her again as they started a rather long make-out session.

May and Brian looked over at them. "Good thing vampires don't have to breathe," Brian said.

"I don't know. In their case, it may mean we'll be here all night. Since we can't leave without them."

Alicia joined them. "I could get used to clubbing at a place like this and not having to deal with those hanging raves." She sipped some of her soda and looked around. "It's a right nice place here."

"If you don't count the demons and stuff," May said. "You know, it's weird. Our parents used to hang here when they were younger. Well, not yours, Alicia," she continued, and Alicia nodded.

"I know what you mean. This is the place where my parents met," Brian said. "My dad was lead guitarist for this band called Dingoes Ate My Baby, and he saw my mom dressed up as an Eskimo. It was practically love at first sight."

"Weird. I hope they don't show up to reminisce," William said as he and Ashley came up to them. "I was just talking to the singer. Turns out he's the lead singer of Dingoes Ate My Baby's son. He was surprised when I told him who our dad was. Oh, they want to know if we want to jam with them. I don't play, but I told them you do."

Brian nodded and went up, talked to the lead, then took the guitar from him. They talked for a minute, and ended up nodding. The lead singer, Guy, went up to the mike. "Hey, guys. This is weird. Most of you know about the last house band, Dingoes Ate My Baby, from your parents, if they lived around here. Well, my father was the lead singer, and this guy right here is the lead guitarists son Brian. We're gonna play one of their old songs, which has always been dedicated to Willow, who is, coincidentally, Brian's mom."

Then they launched into a song that hadn't been played at the Bronze in almost 20 years, but the crowd of teenagers loved it. Even Alex and Spike got up to dance, smiles on their faces as they remembered dancing to it as Oz played and Devon sang. When it was done, they got a loud round of applause.

"That kicked, man!" Guy said as Brian gave him back the guitar. "You gonna be here through break?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Come jam with us. You and your friends get in free, if you do, and I saw how many of you came in."

"Sure, man!" Brian said. "Where do I have to be?"

"Be here tomorrow at four for a sound check." Brian nodded and walked off, rejoining the others. After about two more hours, Alex walked over, a look in her eye. "We gotta book. Ashley, go patrol, but be quick. Scan the cemeteries and stuff." She nodded and grabbed her bag, leaving the Bronze. Everyone else followed and headed towards the mansion again.

"It's been a long night," Spike whispered in Alex's ear as they trailed behind the teenagers. "Tired?"

"Not that much," she said softly. He kissed her lightly and they followed the teenagers all the way back, noting that the lights were out and everyone was asleep. Or so they thought. Buffy and Angel were outside they gate, chained up. "Gods below, what happened?" Spike asked as they got nearby.

"Kidnapped. They were all kidnapped. And we were left out here to wait for the sun," Angel said as Alicia worked some magic and undid the chains.

"Who did this?" Alex asked.

"Would you believe Ethan Rayne?"

"Shit," Alex and Spike said. The teenagers looked at them. "Get inside. We have a problem," Alex said, and watched them go inside. "What are we going to do?" she asked the other vampires.

"Kick some butt," Ashley said, standing behind them. "I heard from the first vamp I killed and jetted back here. Let's sleep first, and strategize tomorrow."

Spike nodded. "Good idea. But first, let's gently calm them down."

That didn't seem necessary. The seven teens left had already decided sleep was best, and had crashed on the couches.

"Well, I say we crash, too, and kick butt starting tomorrow," Angel said, and all but Angel and Buffy went upstairs.

"This is like a really bad case of déjà vu," she muttered.

***

The next morning was not a time spent worrying. The four vampires stalked around, all fearsomely pissed off. Alex was the worst. To finally calm her down, before she ripped someone's head off, Spike led her back upstairs, as she started to sob.

"I can't believe this," Buffy said, watching them.

"That she's upset?" Angel asked.

"No, that Ethan would wait this long to strike back."

"He was waiting till everyone was together," Alicia said. Everyone turned to look at her. "I thought you all knew I was a telepath," she said calmly.

"You mean you can read minds?" William asked, and she nodded.

"Do you know where he is?" her brother asked.

"Of course I do, you twit! I'm picking up Mum and Dad's thoughts."

"No need to get pissy, Alicia," David replied. "Where are they?"

***

At the warehouse, Ethan had decided to be...decent to his captives. They were in the same room, which had a thick padlock on it.

"Comfortable?" Ethan asked with mock sincerity.

"Rot in hell," came the reply from Giles. "Why do you have us here?"

"Well, Ripper," Ethan began, "the intent was to finish you off before I die. I just happened to be back here when you were supposed to return, and I decided...now would be the best time."

"The best time for what?" Gaby asked, going towards the door.

"Revenge," Ethan said maliciously.

***

"I hate this! We know where he is, and we can't do anything!" Alex said, up in the room she shared with Spike. She was punching at a punching bag that was hung up in one of the corners.

"And what would you want to do?" Spike asked as she sent an left hook to the bag.

"Rip his heart out and let him watch it stop beating."

"Can you do that?"

Alex smiled devilishly. "Yes, I can. Did it once before." She delivered some more punches and a few kicks to the bag. "You know me well," she said, taking a break.

"How?"

"You knew I wanted to beat something up. I may be a vampire with a soul, but I can still hurt things. If I'd stayed down there, I might have done something I'd regret later."

"You're right. I do know you well."

"It's been, what...29 years now? 30?"

"Somewhere around there. Feeling better?"

"Not really, but I won't hurt anyone, if that's what you mean."

***

"So what do we do?" Ashley asked. She was whittling stakes, and Malcolm was helping.

"Go after them?" May said, her eyes lighting up.

"Wait," Angel said. "Alicia, does Ethan still practice magic?"

"Yeah, he bloody well does. And it's still dark."

"Do you practice?" Alex asked. Alicia nodded. "I'm not that good, but I haven't had much practice. I can do a few things."

"Anything will do. Brian, Malcolm, do you know if your mother still practices? Or if she remembers any spells?" Alex said, shifting her gaze.

"Yeah, she knows a few. Mostly diversionary, but some that might help."

"I think I see where you're going, love," Spike said. "You want a diversion inside and out to split his attention?" Alex nodded. "Sound idea. Who's attacking?"

"Us four," she said, motioning to the vampires, "Ashley, and Alicia. The rest of you will stay here. I don't want any unnecessary deaths."

"Sounds good," Ashley said.

***

The captives were very hungry, partly because Ethan hadn't counted on all of them being there, and didn't have enough food. At least, he hoped this was all of them...

"Tell me, Ripper, whatever happened to that lovely niece of yours, the one named Alexandra?"

"She died," Giles said simply, it not being too far from the truth.

"Pity, really. One less victim to torture, I suppose. I'll probably let the children go. I've always had a soft spot for children. Had a daughter, myself."

Giles said nothing, thinking about his dear, dead niece. And hoping to God she'd pick up on it.

***

At dusk, everything was set. They were ready to attack. Ethan paced in front of the door, rambling on.

"If he doesn't kill us soon, I might do it myself," Willow mumbled.

"How long has he been going on now?" Joe asked, and Gillian looked at her watch.

"Almost six hours. I hope their plan works," she said quietly. A very soft telepathic signal, one of Alicia's, gave the signal. Willow started to do a fog spell, nothing hard, and a slow fog wafted around the outside of the warehouse. She then changed it slightly and made it seem as though another part of the warehouse was on fire.

But Ethan didn't leave. Or shut up, for that matter. He just sent some lackeys to deal with it, but that was all it took. A side part of the warehouse was reduced to dust, and in walked four ticked off vampires and a Slayer. Alicia had been told to stay outside unless called for. Giles looked at the door. "Damn, what I wouldn't give to see this fight."

Willow smiled. "One free view, coming up." A mist began to form in the center of the room, and suddenly everyone could clearly see the fight. And what a fight it was! Ashley went after a few of Ethan's undead goons, staking them easily. Buffy, Angel and Spike were dealing with the larger group that had just gotten back from the "fire", and Alex and Ethan had faced off, both of them creating swords out of thin air. They parried, and thrusted, both of them taking hits, though Alex, being a rather brassed off vampire, did more damage. Ethan lost quite a few fingers in that fight. And for each one, she entertained the notion of punning, or at least imitating that guy on "The Princess Bride." But she didn't...she had much worse plans. When the fight was almost over, and Ethan was begging for his life, Alex decided to have a bit of fun. She had the door opened, and made sure the kids had been taken outside for Alicia to watch. Then, she began.

"This," she said, taking her sword and slashing his chest, "was for hurting my uncle as much as you did. This," she said, slashing again, "is for hitting me in the head with a baseball bat 30 or so years ago."

"But I thought you were dead! Ripper said you were dead!"

Alex vamped out. "Oh, but I am. This," she continued, "is for every malicious thing you have ever done." She muttered some words, and Ethan looked up in terror, seeing a crowd of people leaning down and watching him. "And this," she said after she finished the spell, "is your punishment." She cut his heart out and held it in her hand, as it stopped beating, stopped pulsing. But Ethan stayed awake, and looked up in absolute horror at Alex. "So...sorry," he said weakly. And then he died.

***

The week went by too fast, and soon, everyone had to leave again. It had been hard to say goodbye, because the adults knew it was probably the last time they'd all be together again. The usual promises were made to write and call more, but everyone knew they probably wouldn't be kept. The children, however, had much more interesting ideas, and it was agreed that, 20 years later, anyone still alive would return to Sunnydale, and meet again. It was to become a tradition, stopped only when the last vampire left this earth. Alex smiled feebly as she watched the last car pull away, and her lip quivered. The other vampires were inside, and she went in to join them.

"Come here, love," Spike said gently. Alex sat next to him, resting her head on his chest and curling up into a small ball, while he stroked her hair.

"I...I...I don't want them to die."

Spike looked at Buffy and Angel, and they nodded, heading upstairs to leave Spike and Alex alone.

"I know you don't, love, but you can't turn them all. Besides, maybe, for some of them, death would be better than an eternity of...existing." She pulled her knees up towards her chest and nodded her head. He looked down at her, and waited. For the tears he knew would come. But they didn't. Not right then. "When...when they die, I...I think I'm going to see if they can be buried together. By my parents." She started to cry a little. "They've always been close, and it would be right."

Spike nodded, still being silent, and she continued. "I want...I want to be near them, even when they're gone. Spike?"

"Hmmm?"

"Promise me we won't leave Sunnydale. And that, if I ever...get dusted, that you'll sprinkle my ashes over their graves."

"I promise, as long as you promise to do the same."

"I will." And that was when the tears flowed, and he just held her until she fell asleep. Just like before, and just as it would be for a long time.