Blood Red Rivers
Part 3 – Shockwave
“Hrlge!”
“That’s my little boy! That’s my Jesse!” crooned Xander.
“Ahem.”
Xander looked up at Angelus standing in the doorway. “Sorry, Dea-Dad. What’d you need?”
Angelus strode into the room, “Did Jericho really find a prophecy about your boys?”
“Yeah, but I don’t see what the big deal is,” said Xander, placing Jesse back in his crib and shrugging.
“Why?”
“ ‘Cause the way I figure it, that prophecy’s talking about their roles in the new world when they get older.”
“What do you mean?”
“Gods, Deadboy, have you even seen the prophecy?” asked Xander, a bit irritated. “One of them’s going to be Chaos and the other will be Peace. Jeez, you are dense.”
Angelus growled and leapt toward Xander. The two grappled for a minute before Xander sneakily unsheathed a stake he had hidden earlier and plunged it into Angelus’ chest. Then he stood, panting, and stared at the unmoving body of his adopted Sire.
Jericho walked into the room at that moment and sighed. She tried not to sound too amused as she reproved Xander, “Again? Xander you two have got to learn some self-control.”
“Hey! He attacked me! It was self-defense,” protested Xander.
“Right, and you weren’t provoking him?”
“Um… Oh, look! Babies!”
“Nice diversionary tactics,” said Jericho dryly. “Anyway, I managed to get Wesley away from Joh long enough to look at the prophecy. He’s working on it right now. But he did say something about a Giles being much better with prophecies than him. Shall we hunt him down?”
“Sounds like fun,” said Xander. “Oh, by the way, how did the Watcher’s Council fare?”
Jericho hid a smile and tried to look mournful, “The Council was swarmed by vampires. I’m afraid the Watchers are no more.”
“Darn,” said Xander, mock-pouting. “Spike and I wanted to get rid of them ourselves.”
“We do still have their library, though,” mused Jericho.
“Do you think there’s anything in there about the prophecy?” asked Xander interestedly.
“Hmm, I don’t know,” Jericho looked thoughtful. “I’ll have to go see.”
“Can Spike and I go too?” asked Xander, making puppy-dog eyes at Jericho.
Jericho swatted at him, “Of course you can. Besides, I’m sure Angelus and Doyle want a little time for themselves.”
“Will we be gone before he wakes up?”
“We can be.” Jericho raised one eyebrow, “Why?”
“Why do you think?” asked Xander sardonically.
Jericho snickered, “Good point. Let’s get Spike, and get out of here!”
“Angelus?” Doyle called, searching for his missing lover. He caught sight of Xander and Spike. “Hey, have either of you seen Angelus? I can’t find him anywhere.”
Xander immediately qualshed a guilty look and put on an innocent face. “Why would I know where Angelus is? Nope, not me, definitely haven’t seen him.”
Doyle gave Xander a considering look, “You killed him again, didn’t you?”
“No!” protested Xander. “Well, I mean, maybe I did kill him a little.”
“And exactly how does that work, Pet?’ asked Spike interestedly. “You either kill someone all the way, or they’re not dead.”
“C’mon,” sighed Xander. “You know it’s not permanent. Besides, he attacked me first.”
“Which makes it completely alright,” said Doyle tiredly. “What about when he wakes up?”
“We’ll be long gone,” said Xander.
Doyle narrowed his eyes. “Where are you going?”
“England!” said Xander excitedly. “We’re gonna go see the Watchers’ library and see if there’s anything there about the prophecy.”
“Oh.”
“Yep, now, we still have to get the babies,” said Spike.
“You’re taking the babies?” Doyle was incredulous.
Xander smiled, “No, Jesse and Daemon are going to stay with their uncles Joh and Wes. Wes wants to see what it’s like to look after a baby. And Spike and I want some alone time.”
Spike smirked at that comment. “I’m sure you and the Great Poof want to shag, too. Make some little Brakken-vamp brats to follow in your footsteps and all that rot.”
Doyle blushed, speechless.
Jericho came down the hall. “Aren’t you two ready, yet?”
“Coming!” they chorused, leaving a still speechless Doyle standing in the hall.
“Where is he?” yelled Angelus.
“Gone, Master Xander’s gone,” whimpered the minion.
“Gone where?”
“I don’t know! Lady Jericho came and took them somewhere.”
Angelus paused at that. “Them? Spike’s not here, either?”
“No,” said Doyle from the doorway. “And if you would’ve just ask me, instead of terrorizing the minions, you would already know that.”
With Angelus’ attention elsewhere, the minion scrambled out of the room.
“So, where are they?” snarled Angelus.
Doyle looked Angelus squarely in the eyes and said, “If you don’t stop your snarling, I won’t tell you.”
Angelus backhanded Doyle in the face and the half-demon crumpled with impact. “Don’t talk back to me. I am in charge, and if you know something, you tell me.”
Doyle glared up at Angelus through watery eyes. “No.”
“Fine,” snapped the angry vampire. “Then we’ll just see how you like some of my toys.”
Doyle blanched, but remained firm.
* * * *
Wesley stared at the two babies that had been shoved at him and Joh with a quick, “Have fun, we’ll see you in a week or two. Instructions are in the diaper bag.” “Quick Pet, let’s leave before he changes his mind.”
“Makes you wonder what you’re getting into, doesn’t it?” snickered Joholen.
“They’re just babies,” scoffed Wesley. “How hard can this be?” Daemon began screaming. “Oh, dear. Daemon, shhh! You’re with Uncle Wes now. You’ll be fine.”
An answering wail was started up by Jesse. Wesley looked over to his crimson-haired lover. “What do I do?”
“Here, rock him like this,” said Joholen, demonstrating with Jesse.
After a couple of minutes, both babies were asleep. “How many children do you have?”
Joholen looked thoughtful. “Um, well, I don’t really know for sure. I’ve only raised three myself. And I am currently in touch with maybe… twenty?”
Wesley looked stunned. Then laughed, “That’s terrible, Joh. You really ought to know how many children you’ve fathered.”
“Oh, they’re all written down somewhere,” said Joholen dismissively. “You just wait until you’re as old as I am, then you’ll understand.”
* * * *
“Yay, London!”
“Xander, luv, quit bouncing. You’re making me queasy,” said Spike, tugging on Xander’s arm.
“Sorry, Spike,” said Xander unapologetically, still bouncing. “I just, I mean, we’re finally here. You have to show me everything. Where you lived, where you died… And I want to see where Jack the Ripper killed all those women.”
“And the Watchers’ library,” chimed Jericho. “We’re not here on holiday, Mr. Bouncy-man. Besides, think of the impression you’re making on the English demons. They must be aghast.” She shared a look with Xander as Spike began to sputter.
“I can’t believe… Of all the nerve… Not all Brits are stuffy, you know,” said Spike angrily. “Especially English demons. They’re some of the wildest ones out there.”
“He walks into this argument every time,” snickered Xander.
Spike stopped ranting and narrowed his eyes at his mate. “You did that on purpose. Bloody evil thing to do. I’m so proud.” Xander beamed and Jericho stifled a laugh.
* * * *
“You can’t talk, Faith?” asked Willow.
Faith shook her head.
“We don’t know why,” said Buffy. “She can’t exactly tell us.”
“But you could write it down for us, can’t you, Faith?” suggested Giles.
Faith shrugged and turned away from the others.