Warning spoilers for the whole BTVS series

Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season 8

Written by: Heather Martin

Episode 4: Welcome Home

Prologue

Willow glanced around herself. “This is really nice, Buffy. It’s really spacious.”

“That is because we haven’t purchased everything yet. But when we do there won’t be so much room. It will be filled with wonderful Buffy-goodness,” the slayer replied.

They entered the bathroom. Willow instantly took in the ceiling. “Oh my God, you have a skylight!” She looked over at her friend with jealousy. “How dare you have a skylight!”

Buffy smiled. “I know, isn’t it great? And I can’t believe how good the price was. Makes me wonder what is wrong with it.”

“So far I see nothing wrong. I’m very envious. My apartment is small. I try to think of it as cozy, but it is . . . small.”

Seriousness came over Buffy. “Are you sure you’re okay with this, Will? I mean, you can live here too if you want. Laura won’t mind rooming with Dawnie.”

“Yes, but Dawn might. No, that’s all right. It is time for Willow to go off on her own. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I never intended on staying with you guys as long as I did.”

Buffy nodded. “I understand.”

The couple entered the living room. Buffy sat down on the green couch, one of the few pieces of furniture she actually had at the moment. She grabbed the matching pillow and clutched it to her chest.

“I feel guilty,” Buffy expressed.

“Huh?” asked Willow, confused.

Buffy shifted her gaze to fall on the red-head. “Giles. He’s getting money from his London investments to help pay for all this. How can I ever thank him?”

“Well, you can start by hugging him and going, ’Thanks, Giles,’ ” Willow told her.

Buffy’s mouth went up a little. “I did that all ready. Actually a couple times.”

“He wanted to do this, Buffy. He loves you, ya know.”

Buffy nodded. “I know. And I love him too. I’m still gonna havta throw him a party or something. Maybe with cake.”

A giggle came from Willow. “I gotta go. Kennedy and I are going to check out the city.”

“You guys are getting pretty close, huh?” Buffy inquired. Her words clearly said, ‘Give me all the juicy details’.

A giddy grin passed over Willow. Her eyes sparkled. “Buffy, I think I love her,” she confessed.

Buffy smiled back. “That’s great, Will. I’m really happy for you.”

A couple minutes later Willow left. Buffy sat on her comfy couch, feeling out of place. The house was too new. The walls were too white, without any dings or scratches. The carpet was flawless, without any stains. The place had already been lived in, but it appeared to be just made.

Wonder how long the house will stay this way. Kinda hard to keep your house in mint condition when you are a slayer, Buffy thought.

The sound of footsteps made Buffy turn. Laura stood before her. She wore a white top and tight jeans. Dawn had helped her pick it out at the mall. They both had so much fun and Laura could almost imagine that they were sisters.

“Hey, Laura, how you doing? You like your room?” Buffy asked.

“Yes,” the girl said. “I want to say thank you. I’ve never felt so at home before.”

“Oh,” Buffy muttered. “That’s good. Me, I’m going to have to get used to the place. It doesn’t seem like home yet.”

“What I meant . . .” Laura sighed. “It isn’t the house. I feel at home because you and Dawn are here. You make me feel wanted. My foster homes never did that.”

“You are wanted, Laura. I’m happy you are here.”

Laura smiled brightly.

“So, why don’t you feel okay here? Is it too foreign?” the youngest slayer questioned.

Buffy nodded in agreement. “I miss Rovello Drive.“ She ran a hand over the empty room. “All of our stuff is gone.”

Laura came over and sat down next to Buffy. She bent one leg, while the other draped over the couch.

“If you could bring one thing back from Sunnydale, what would it be?”

“A picture of mom, Dawn, and me,” Buffy lied.

Silently, Buffy answered truthfully. If she could have saved anything from the rubble it would have been Spike.

************************

Dawn hung up the last shirt she owned. Then she stepped back, eyeing the closet. There was too much space left. Back in Sunnydale her closet had been jam-packed.

The teen stepped over to her bed. Next to it was a cardboard box. She reached inside and pulled out a blue book. Dawnie’s diary, number eight. She turned to the first page and began to write.

Dear diary,

I got you yesterday at the mall. I had seven before you, but they all got destroyed. So many memories, even if they weren’ t real. I hope I don’ t forget them.

So, we are finally settled into our new home. It is strange to be here. I’ve spent my whole life in Sunnydale. Which was actually only two years, but to me it was much longer.

A knock made Dawn jump. She put her pen down and glanced around her. That didn’t come from the door, she realized. She went over to the door and opened it, poking her head out into the hall. She could vaguely hear Buffy and Laura talking in the living room. Besides that, it was quiet. Shrugging, she went back into her room.

She picked up her pen again, prepared to continue her entry when it happened again. This time it was louder, though, and she could distinguish where it came from. The pounding was coming from the wall.

____________________________________________

Scene 1

Buffy came home from patrol early that night. Erie Street Cemetery seemed to be more quiet than the ones she had been used to. If things continued on the way they were she wouldn’t complain. Well, unless she really needed to release some tension, then her punching bag would come in handy. It wasn’t that there weren’t ‘any’ nasties, just that they were few and not a challenge to defeat.

The girls were in Dawn’s room when she got back. She glanced in to see them sitting on the floor. A bowl of popcorn was between them, and they reached into it greedily. Teen chatter about some boy-band traveled between them. The scene warmed Buffy’s heart. She was glad the girls were getting along so well. It was hard for Dawn and she often felt like an outcast. Now she had someone who understood her. Laura also gave the impression that she needed a friend.

The slayer walked away, heading to the back door. She stepped out into the cool night air. A slight breeze blew through her hair. She tucked the strands behind her ears. She sat down on the porch steps and looked up at the sky. Lights dotted the whiteness above her. They entranced her, drawing her in. She felt as if she would be able to snatch one for her own if she reached out.

Some people think the stars are a guide to heaven. I wonder if Mom’s up there, she thought. Maybe every soul is visible as a star. Was I a star? She wasn’t aware of the hot tears that glistened in her eyes. Is Spike a star?

She had been trying to banish him from her mind. It hurt too much to think of him. It brought up questions like: Was there something she could have done? What if Angel wore the necklace instead? And the worse one, where is he now?

She’d like to think that he was at peace. That he could finally rest. He definitely deserved it. If he had been rewarded by ending up in some hell dimension . . .

“Is there something I can do?”

That voice made her freeze. The soothing, deep, sound that had often sent chills down her spine. The British accent she never thought she’d hear again.

The scent of leather overwhelmed her. Then she felt a comforting pat on her shoulder. The touch broke her, and more tears fell. She turned her blurry eyes to the left.

She stared at what must be a mirage by her side. Bleached hair, duster, and stunning electric eyes. He was even tilting his head in that cute, curious way Spike used to.

Am I the first slayer to go crazy? she speculated.

“Buffy?” he asked, worried. He took his thumb and brushed the wetness from her cheek. “Come on, luv, say something.”

Buffy breathed in deeply. “A-Are you real?” she stammered.

A small smiled formed on his lips. “I feel pretty real.”

She reached up with a shaky hand and cupped his face. His skin felt soft and smooth. It was cool, just the way she remembered. Yes, he felt real.

“How?” she whispered.

“The Powers. They sent me back. I need to earn my way to the good place,” Spike explained.

“Oh, oh my God.”

She embraced him to her. The action surprised him greatly. They had slept together many times, but this was new. The hug was tender and gentle. It seeped warmth not only into his body, but also into his soul.

“Buffy, God I’ve missed you,” he murmured.

This was a miracle. The Powers were finally giving her something besides pain, in return for being their slayer all these years.

Buffy took his head and brought his mouth forward to meet hers. She sweetly caressed his lips. There was so much said in that kiss. He could sense her longing and torture while he had been gone.

They parted, still holding each other. Her green eyes danced before him. The emotion he saw made him believe that the Powers had been telling the truth. Maybe Buffy really did love him.

“Twenty-four days,” Buffy whispered.

“What was that?” he asked.

“You were gone twenty-four days. It was unbearable. How could you possibly survive one-hundred-forty-seven?”

“Twenty-three,” Spike clarified. “Today doesn’t count.”

Buffy smiled. “No. No, it doesn’t.”

She leaned forward to give him another kiss. Moonlight streamed down, illuminating the couple’s reunion.

___________________________________________

Scene 2

“I hear Freddy Prince Jr. is coming out with another movie,” Laura announced. She wiped her buttery fingers off with a paper napkin. Then she reached for her diet Pepsi.

“No way,” Dawn said. “I so wanna see it! Is it one of the romantic teen flicks?”

Laura nodded. “Yeah. It’s about this girl who he loved since sixth grade, but he never told her so. And well, later they . . .”

The sound of tapping filtered through the room. Dawn quickly sprung to her feet. She stared at the wall next to her bed in fright.

“Dawn, w-what is that?” Laura asked, her voice wavering.

“I don’t know.” Dawn looked over at her friend. “Go get Buffy.”

“Okay.”

Laura headed for the door. She hesitated, though, when she heard the tapping become banging. The pulsating was fast and loud, and Laura imagined that it mirrored her heartbeat. She glanced back at Dawn. The other girl was frozen in place, transfixed by the wall, and not blinking.

“Dawn!” Laura said harshly. She came up and shook her. “Snap out of it!”

Dawn flung Laura away from her. Laura landed on the floor with a thud. She sat up, a little disoriented. She watched as Dawn walked up to the wall and stop. The tapping suddenly vanished, filling the room with unsettling silence.

“Dawn?” Laura inquired, scrambling off the carpet.

The wall shifted, becoming liquid, with ripples. A scaly, green arm shot out. The hand wrapped around Dawn’s neck.

Laura let out a piercing scream.

Scene 3

Spike tore himself away from Buffy. His head turned toward the house.

“Was that Dawn?” he asked.

Buffy shook her head. “No. I think that was Laura,” she clarified.

He had no idea who Laura was, but he kept the question to himself. They both hurried inside the house. Spike didn’t have a chance to examine the slayer’s new accommodations. He followed Buffy to a cracked door down the hall. She threw it open.

The sight before them was something they would never have expected. A hand, which came out of the wall, had hold of Dawn. It looked as if it were attempting to strangle her. A girl, which Spike deduced as Laura, was pulling at her, trying to get her free. Dawn’s face unnerved him. She was placid, oblivious as to what was going on.

Laura glanced over at the new arrivals. “I can’t get her loose,” she cried.

Approaching, Buffy took hold of Dawn. Laura let go, backing up. She didn’t even seem to notice Spike.

Buffy tried to pry the hand loose, but it wouldn’t budge.

“Spike,” Buffy called over to him, “Go get a sword.”

He nodded, going to the door. Then it occurred to him that he had no idea where her weapons were kept.

“Where?”

“Huh?”

“Where are your swords?”

One sword, she thought. All the rest were dust in the remains of Sunnydale.

“Under my bed. Next room down the hall,” she informed.

Spike rushed out to obtain the blade. Sure enough it was where the slayer said it would be. He snatched it up and then brought it back to the scene. He tossed it to Buffy, and she caught it with no trouble.

The weapon felt good in her fingers. She tightened her grip and brought the blade down on the green wrist. The sound of a screech could be heard from the wall. The arm retracted back into the wall. The fluid paint solidified once more.

The severed hand fell to the ground. After a second it dissolved, disappearing as if it had never been there at all.

Buffy turned Dawn around to face her. The teen’s expression was confused, as if broken from a spell.

“Dawn?” Buffy asked.

“What . . .?” Dawn looked over at Spike, then to Laura, and then back to focus of Spike. “Sp-Spike?”

Dawn fainted.

_________________________________________

Scene 4

Dawn awoke in Laura’s room. A very concerned trio hovered over her. Her eyes widened when she recognized one as a very ‘dead’ vampire.

“I’m seeing things,” Dawn croaked. She closed her eyes again.

Spike knelt down beside the bed. He took a hand and tenderly brushed the girl’s hair away from her face. “How you doing, Nibblet?”

“Oh God, I’m hearing things too.”

The slayer smiled down at the two most important people in her life. “If you’re hearing and seeing things then so are the rest of us,” she declared.

With that, Dawn opened her eyes. She looked questionably at her sister. “Really?” The hope in her voice was clearly detectable.

Buffy nodded in confirmation.

Dawn sat up. She studied Spike intently. After a long moment, she threw herself at him. The act stunned him. He was not used to hugs, at least not since becoming a member of the undead. Also, Dawn hadn’t been too warm toward him before their parting. He hesitated, and then returned the embrace.

“I missed you,” Dawn murmured.

“Me too,” he answered.

The teen drew back. “We ‘all’ missed you.”

Spike glanced over at Buffy. “So I gathered.”

A slight blush appeared on the slayer’s cheeks. She averted her eyes, embarrassed.

“This is really weird,” Laura commented.

Spike turned toward Laura. “So, you’re a slayer?”

She nodded. “Yeah. And you’re a deader than dead vampire?”

He let out a gentle laugh. “Bout right.”

“Yes, defiantly weird.”

Buffy crossed her arms. The slayer in her called for authority. “Okay, we need to find out about this wall demon.”

“Oh, right,” Spike muttered. He stood up.

Dawn began to get out of bed.

“You sure, Dawn?” Buffy asked. “You were doing an impression of an inanimate object a moment ago.”

Dawn got to her feet. Her legs seemed to be supporting her fine. “I feel fine.”

“Okay, first off, no one is to go back in that room,” Buffy said. “It is strictly off limits.”

“Hey, I’m not arguing,” Laura commented. “That was the most scary thing I’ve ever seen.”

Dawn furrowed her brow. “Wait a sec, wall demon?”

Spike eyed Dawn with worry. “What is the last thing you remember?”

“Well, I remember seeing you. Before that, um, the tapping. I asked Laura to go get Buffy. Then, nothing.”

“She must have been in some kind of trance,” Laura deduced. “She didn’t even blink.”

“A hypnotizing wall demon,” Buffy said. “Sounds like we need to do some research.”

Spike shoved his hands into the pockets of his duster. He smiled. “Guess it is time to gather the scoobies.”

Buffy smiled back at him. “Come on, we’ll assemble at Giles’s.”

Scene 5

The ex-watcher had purchased a nice home, similar to the one he owned before moving to England. The group stepped up to the door and stopped. Buffy pushed the doorbell. She frowned, realizing how late it was. I’m probably waking him up, she thought.

A while later, the door swung open. Giles stood there, in a blue robe. His hair was disheveled, and he looked at the visitors with contempt. Suddenly he comprehended who was before him, coming out of his groggy state.

“Buffy? Do you know what time it is?” Giles asked.

“Hey, Giles. Sorry about waking you up,” Buffy apologized.

“Do you need something?”

“Yeah. We found out why the house was so cheap,” Buffy told him.

He looked at her confused. “Excuse me?”

“Wall demon. We need to research.”

“Ah,” Giles remarked, as if he understood perfectly, which he couldn’t possibly. He opened the door invitingly.

Buffy went inside, Dawn and Laura filing in after. When Spike followed, Giles’s gaped in disbelief. Spike smirked.

“Nice to see you again, Rupert,” the vampire greeted.

“S-Spike?” He took off his glasses and cleaned them. When he put them back on the image of Spike was still there. “How is this possible?”

“Later,” Spike said. He took a step toward the door and then stopped. “Uh, can I come in?”

Flustered, Giles replied, “Yes, um, c-come in.”

They gathered in the living room. Buffy called Xander and Willow, who said that they would be right over.

Willow was the first to arrive. She came in with a sleepy smile. “What’s up?” Then she saw Spike. “Oh!” She pointed at him. “Oh. . . Oh! Do you people see what I see!?”

“Spike’s back,” Buffy informed happily.

“How?” Willow asked.

“Yes, I’d like to know that as well,” Giles said.

“It isn’t as interesting as you people are making out,” Spike voiced. “It can wait until after this whole demon mess.”

“There’s a demon?” Willow questioned.

“Wall demon,” Laura added.

Just then Xander walked in. “A what demon?”

“Wall demon,” Dawn said.

“Oh, a . . . Hey, what is dead dead boy doing here! Isn’t he supposed to be dead. Um . . . Deader?”

Spike rolled his eyes. “Fine, you people want to know so bad? The powers brought me back. They couldn’t send me to hell or heaven, so they sent me back here. End of story. Now, back to this demon. . .”

Everybody stared at Spike.

“The powers?” Xander questioned.

A groan came from Spike. “Okay, the powers are . . .”

_______________________________________________

Scene 6

Willow typed away on her laptop. It was the only means of research they currently had.

“This will take hours. It will be a miracle if we find anything at all without any books of reference,” Giles commented. He sat in a chair and watched Willow with forlornness. He so wished he could have saved the council and magic shop’s books at that moment. It wouldn’t have had to be all of them either. But having none . . . It was tearing Giles apart.

“I found something!” Willow declared, happily. She glanced over at the ex-watcher. “Sorry, Giles.”

“No, no, quite all right. I just have to come to terms with my loss and surrender to the modern era. As much as I loathe it.”

They all smiled at him, not so sympathetically.

The slayer in the room stepped over to gaze at the computer screen. “What have you got, Will?”

“Sarah Parker was the first person to occupy the house,” Willow told her friend. “She built it herself. After about three weeks later she moved away.”

“Why?” Buffy asked.

Shrugging, Willow shook her head. “It doesn’t say.”

Buffy frowned. She didn’t want to say it, but this bit of information didn’t help much.

“Two other families have lived in that house since. They both uh . . . disappeared.”

Buffy’s green eyes widened. “Disappeared?”

“Yeah.”

“I say they were torn to pieces and then eaten,” Laura spoke up. “That demony thing was out for Dawn‘s head.”

“My basement’s free, Buff,” Xander offered.

Buffy looked over at him. “Thanks, Xand, but no thanks. I would rather sleep with an attacking demon than shack-up with Andrew down there.”

Everybody was apologetic that Xander had to live with Andrew. It always seemed like Xander got stuck with the lowlifes. Giles took in the boy for a day, but found that he couldn’t control his temper. He actually made Andrew cry by yelling at him over crumbs on the couch.

“Don’t worry, I’ll get rid of this thing. I already chopped off its hand. If I have to cut it up piece-by-piece that is exactly what I’ll do.”

Willow raised her head. “Buffy, you should go talk to this Sarah Parker. She is the only surviving resident of the house. She might know something useful.”

“Well, where can I get in contact with her? And please don’t tell me she lives in Canada or Mexico now.”

“Actually no. She lives here in Cleveland.”

“How is that possible? I thought you said she moved.”

“She did,” Willow replied. “But she only moved a couple miles away.”

“Oh.” Buffy grinned. “Good. Let’s go then. Who wants to go with?”

Giles cleared his throat. “Buffy, may I remind you how late it is.”

“If this Sarah is connected with this bad then I think she deserves a night of unrest. If not . . . I think a good apology is in order.”

A giant yawn came from Xander. “I’m right with you, Buffy. Just let me go get my wake-up pills.”

Buffy smiled. “Go home and sleep, Xander. I can handle this.”

He nodded. “Thanks.”

Buffy looked over at Willow. “You too. You did your part for tonight.”

“You sure?” Willow asked, uncertainly.

“Yeah.”

Buffy faced Giles. “Can Dawn and Laura sleep over here?”

“Of course,” Giles answered.

The blond woman met Spike’s blue eyes. “You tired?”

Spike laughed. “I got plenty of sleep to last me awhile.”

“Right,” Buffy said with a knowing smile.

She understood what he meant. After coming back from the great beyond she slept only because it was a means of escape. She hadn’t really gotten tired until weeks later. A warm feeling rose up in her chest. Spike didn’t seem like he wanted to run away. No, he was happy to be there. With her. She had the urge to grab his hand, but didn’t. There were too many people around and she wanted to save her tender moments with Spike for when they were in private.

“So, are you inviting me on your outing, pet?” the vamp asked, raising an eyebrow.

“You’re welcome.”

“Right then. Off we go.”

Spike headed for the door with Buffy right behind him. Giles came over, stopping his slayer.

“Buffy, may I have a word with you?” Giles inquired.

They went into the hall.

“Okay, Giles, but be quick. I sorta want to go home sometime without having to worry about my little sister getting eaten,” Buffy told him.

Giles took off his glasses. He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Buffy, about Spike . . . “

“Okay, stop!” Buffy said sharply. “If this is about Spike and me, stop!”

Giles raised his head, peering at her.

“Giles, about my speech on you teaching me all I need to know, I wasn’t shutting you out of my life totally. I still want you to give me advice. About ‘slaying’. When it comes to my personal life, I want you to stay out. I think it is time I made my own decisions about how to live, don’t you?”

The man sighed. She was right. That was the whole reason he left for England. It was time for her to make her own decisions.

“Yes, Buffy. I understand. And I wasn’t going to give you a lecture.”

She seemed surprised. “You weren’t?”

“No actually. I was going to tell you that as long as you are happy I will standby whatever decisions you make.”

“Oh. Good. Then you will be okay with it if I decide to have Spike stay with Dawn, Laura, and me,” Buffy declared.

Before Giles could make a come-back, Buffy left saying, “See ya, Giles.”

Scene 7

She found Spike waiting for her outside by the door. He smiled at her as she approached. “So, what did the good ol’ watcher have to say?”

“Nothing much,” she said cryptically.

Spike let it drop, although he was very curious as to what had actually been discussed. He imagined it had something to do with himself.

Buffy held up a small piece of paper. She scanned the writing on it. “Okay, Sara Parker lives on Davenport Ave. I’m not really coherent about the city yet, but we can always ask for directions.”

“Sure, pet,” Spike agreed.

The two walked in companionable silence. They moved in congruent strides, a little too close. Occasionally, they would pause and give each other a smile.

After what seemed like hours, Buffy broke the silence. “Nice night.”

The vampire glanced up at the darkened sky. “Tis that, luv.”

They stopped, standing in front of each other. Green eyes met blue, and just held in place. Finally Buffy took initiative and rested her head on his solid chest. She breathed in the scent of him, savoring it for future reference.

“Have I told you that I missed you?” Buffy whispered.

He stroked her silky hair. ‘My Goldilocks’, he thought, his lips tugging upwards.

“Mighta let it slip in there somewhere tonight. Maybe not in so many words, but I think I picked it up.”

She raised her head to look at him. “Well, if I didn’t, I’m saying it now. I’ve missed you, Spike.”

“I missed you too, Buffy.”

She grabbed him and brought his lips to meet hers. It was hard, yet tender at the same time. Spike took his thumb and ran it softly down her cheekbone. The touch made her shutter.

They parted, Buffy breathing in heavily. I love you, she wanted to say. She almost did, but hesitated. It wasn’t time yet. She didn’t want to tell him on the way to interrogating someone about a demon. She wanted it to be in bed, preferably naked. Naughty Buffy, she scolded herself.

Instead of speaking her emotions, she tried to show it. She took his hand and they both continued their way to Davenport Ave.

___________________________________________

Scene 8

Sara Parker lived in a little blue house. It would probably be classified as cute and cozy. There were flowers in the yard and the porch had a swing. All it needed was a white picket fence.

Buffy stepped up to the door. She saw a doorbell and pushed it with her pointer finger.

It took a while for anyone to answer. When someone finally did, the vampire and slayer came face-to-face with an unhappy woman. She looked to be in her late thirties. She wore a blue nightgown and fuzzy slippers. Her blond hair was tangled around her head.

“Do you know what time it is?” the woman demanded.

Buffy forced a smile. “Yes, sorry. Are you Sara Parker?”

The woman crossed her arms. “Maybe.”

“Did you used to live at 51132 Erie Avenue?”

“Who wants to know?” the woman snapped.

“The current owners of the house,” Buffy told her.

A frown appeared on the woman’s face. “You are a fool to buy that house. Didn’t you look into its history?”

“So, you are Sara Parker then?” Spike pressed.

She sighed. “Yeah, I’m Sara Parker.”

“May we come in?” the vampire wanted to know.

Sara glared. “No, you may certainly not come in!”

“Ms. Parker, I would like to know about the second bedroom. Did anything ‘unusual’ happen while you stayed there?” the slayer inquired.

“Unusual? Are you some those sci-fi junkies?”

“Sara Parker, my sister almost died tonight! Now I would like to know what is in that room!”

“This is not my problem. I no longer live at 51132 Erie Avenue. Goodnight.” Sara Parker began to shut the door in their faces.

Spike took action. He grabbed the door before it could close. He growled, letting his demon surface. Sara’s brown eyes widened, but not in fright. She was not scared, only surprised.

“You are a vampire,” Sara stated.

“That’s right, ducks. And you’re going to tell us what we came here to suss out.”

Sara glanced at Buffy and then looked back at Spike. Her body relaxed, giving in.

“Fine, but you are to leave right after I tell you,” Sara informed.

“Right then, get talking,” Spike instructed.

“I built the house on Erie Street. About two weeks later a job opportunity opened up. A secretarial position. I wanted it really bad. So I did a spell. It was sort of a creation incantation. It was supposed to ‘create’ luck and prosperity. Well it backfired. I got the job, but it also created a demon.”

“Bloody hell. What is it with spell casting? You can’t do a spell anytime you bloody well feel like it. There are always consequences involved.”

Sara ignored the vampire‘s comment. “I did another spell to trap the demon in the wall.”

Astonishment flowed over Buffy. “You just left it there!?”

Sara turned her head in shame.

A snort came from Spike. “Great. What kind of demon is this? How do we kill it? How do we get it out of the damn wall?”

“It is a one of a kind,” Sara said. “I tried to kill it, but it simply won’t die.”

“Tell us how to get it out of the wall and we’ll deal with disposing of it,” Buffy said.

Sara laughed. “You are fools.” She dashed into the house.

Buffy and Spike’s gazes met. They both were positive that Sara wasn’t coming back. To their revelation, she did return. The woman threw out a dusty book at them. Buffy caught it single-handedly.

“That is where I found the encasement spell. If there is a way to free the demon it may be in there. Now leave! Keep the book, just leave!” Sara shouted. She slammed the door shut with a bang.

Buffy and Spike stared at the book. It was called Dark Wonders. The pages were yellowish and brittle.

“Should we get this back to Red?” Spike asked.

“Let’s wait until tomorrow,” Buffy replied. “I think we all need our sleep.”

“So, it’s back to the watcher’s?”

“I guess.” Buffy smirked. “Unless you’d rather go to Xander’s?”

Spike pinched her arm. They both smiled broadly at each other.

Scene 9

Willow went through the whole book. She found nothing about a reversal spell. She checked the internet for a release spell, but came up empty handed.

“Sorry, guys, I’m finding nothing here,” the witch told them.

“So, what do we do? Sell the house?” Dawn asked, forlornly. She loved the house. Her room was substantially larger than her old one. And the closet was a walk-in.

“We are not selling the house,” Buffy said firmly.

Willow raised her hand. “I have an idea.”

All eyes went to her.

“Okay, how about I write my own spell?”

“I-I don’t know, Will. Isn’t that risky?” Buffy had visions of dark Willow pass through her head. But then again, she had went all white-goddess while casting the slayer spell.

“I can do this, Buffy,” Willow assured her.

“Okay,” Buffy agreed after pondering it awhile.

Scene 10

Buffy gulped down half a glass of water without taking a breath. She set it down on Dawn’s dresser. Then she stretched and massaged her neck.

“Okay, I’m ready,” she told Willow and Spike.

The blond vampire tossed her a sword. She caught it, giving him a smile of gratitude.

Willow sat in the corner of the room, Indian-style. A piece of paper was placed in front of her. It had words for the spell in blue ink. She took a deep breath, preparing herself.

What was imprisoned is now released

Free to roam throughout this home

The encasement is broken

The room is free territory

Show yourself in all your glory

Buffy glanced over at Willow with an upraised eyebrow.

Willow shrugged. “It’s my first time,” she defended.

The room suddenly began to shake. The wall became liquid. A growl erupted through the air. A scaly green monster came charging out of the wall.

The slayer noticed that he had both his arms. She cut one off last night.

“Shouldn’t you be a lefty?” she questioned.

The demon snarled. He came at her with great force. She took her blade and thrust it into his chest. Yellow blood flowed from the wound. She withdrew the sword, smiling.

“That was easy,” she said.

She spoke too soon. The cut closed up within seconds.

Gaping, she said, “Uh, super healing here.”

Spike let out a battle cry. He rushed at the demon, knocking it to the floor. They wrestled. The demon sunk sharp fangs into the vampire’s white jean covered leg. Spike let out a howl.

The demon rose up. He went at Buffy again. She kicked him in the middle, making him stagger backwards into the dresser. The glass toppled over, spilling its contents on his skin. It smoked, and the demon cried out in pain.

Buffy’s green eyes lit up.

“Water!” Buffy exclaimed in triumph. “Water can hurt him!”

Willow jumped to her feet. She ran to the kitchen. She opened the fridge, grabbing a jug of Hawkin’s water.

The red-head came back to the bedroom. She dumped the clear liquid onto the demon. He singed and then began to melt. His body dissolved into the floor, until there was only a white stain left on the carpet.

The three inhabitants stared at the spot.

“I’d call for a shampooer,” Willow recommended.

“Anybody else thinking Wizard of Oz here?” Buffy asked.

“Actually I thinking Signs. With the water and all.”

“Haven’t seen it.”

Spike smirked. “Should, luv, great film.”

They looked at each other and burst out laughing.

___________________________________________

I am so relieved this episode is over. I really can’t wait to start the next one.

Next week on Buffy TVS . . .

Episode 5: Broken Hearts

Relationships are never easy on the hellmouth, no matter which one you are on. Love turns to hate when a female demon comes to town.

Title Page
Author's Page
NEXT