Disclaimer: Joss, man, there are issues that need to resolved, you just left us hanging...I had to do something!
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Friday

Buffy woke up with a brilliant smile on her face. She breathed in and out, happy to be alive. Then she heard the scream.

Buffy heard Dawn bolt out of her room and into Willow and Tara’s. Calmly Buffy threw back her own covers and headed to the congregation of women.

The first thing that Buffy noticed when she entered Willow and Tara’s room was the large amount of sawdust that had exploded all over the room. In the middle of which stood Amy, rat no more.

“Good morning Amy,” said Buffy cheerfully.

“How...How did it happen?” asked Dawn.

“I woke up and just looked at her in the cage all burrowed and sleeping, and then whammy! Amy the rat was not the rat.”

“I feel strange,” said Amy, “like I need to chew on something.”

Buffy snickered. “That’s probably a side effect from being a rat for so long.”

“Probably. Um...could I get some clothes?” asked Amy.
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“So did Willow catch you up with all the happenings about Sunnydale?” said Buffy as she scooped scrambled eggs onto Amy’s plate. Amy had been given some of Tara’s sweats, they were too big, but Buffy and Willow were too short to lend clothes and Dawn was too skinny.

“You really blew up the school?”

Buffy smiled, “Yep, I had help though,”

“And you were dead? But now you are alive, but from the future an old lady from the future?”

“Gee let me guess, Dawn added that part.”

“She said something about not mentioning your teeth.”

Buffy giggled. “I guess I made too much of a big deal about that huh?”

“Willow doesn’t know how I was brought back to being not a rat...”

“Do you?” Buffy asked.

“No, it’s funny, I don’t.”

“Oh well, it’s a good thing you are back to being not rat Amy. I need your help with something though...”

“Sure, it’s the least I can do for ... I don’t know what.”

“There’s this guy, name’s Rack, do you know him, or of him?”

Amy suddenly found her eggs very interesting.

Buffy waited for an answer. When there was none, she continued.

“It’s ok if you do. I need some help tracking him down.”

“What are you going to do to him?”

“Nothing fatal.”
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Buffy and Amy walked into the Magic shop in time for Anya to flip the sign to open.

“Buffy!” greeted Anya happily, “I have some dresses that I’d like you to give your honest opinion on, and who is this?”

“Anya, this is Amy,”

“Amy?” asked Anya.

“The rat,” clarified Amy.

“Right! I remember now. Congratulations on not being a rat anymore.”

“Thanks,” said the witch unsure.

“Anya, Giles called me he said he wanted to talk?” asked Buffy.

“Oh yes, once again he is recounting the...” Anya cringed “rabbit’s feet, he seems determined to find the things.”

Anya thrust a few magazine clippings at her maid of honour. Buffy peeked through them hesitantly. Sure enough among the selections was the hideous dress she had worn to Anya’s wedding the first time around.

“See I like these three, but I’d like a second opinion,” said the bride to be.

“Ok, right now I’m going to say definite no to this one,” said Buffy holding up the picture of the radioactive dress, “This colour green does no one’s complexion any good, plus that kind of bright, the guests will be looking at your wedding party and not you. Trust me on this I’ve been married six times. My third wedding, to this guy named William Blakely, I chose a very similar colour of green, cause it was the in colour that year, as my bride’s maids colour, in the photo’s afterwards, I found Dawn and Willow in every picture, but not me. Learn from me Anya.”

Anya had been nodding the whole time. “What about the others?”

“This mint green, I like it a lot, and the sea foam? It’s not my favourite. I like the mint.”

Buffy handed back the pictures and stalked about the room, looking for the video camera that was hidden there. Unfortunately she was halted in her progress by the appearance of Giles, his nose in a book. With his nose in that book, whatever it was, he failed to notice Amy straight away.

“Hey Mr Giles,” said Amy trying to get his attention.

“Dear Lord, Amy, you...you aren’t a rat!”

“Not a rat.” she agreed.

“Did Willow....?”

“Nope, Willow doesn’t know how it happened,” said Buffy. “Giles you wanted to talk to me?”

“Right, I’ve received an answer to your request for a salary. Unfortunately, despite my best efforts, Travers has denied the request. I’m so sorry Buffy.”

Buffy gave her watcher a smile.

“Thanks for putting in an effort Giles. It’s not your fault that they are all stick in the mud overbearing pompous pricks. This just means it’s time for plan b.”

“Plan b?”

“B, as in blackmail.”

“You intend to blackmail the watcher’s council?”

“Oh I’ve got dirt on them like you wouldn’t believe.”
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“Are you sure about this?” asked Amy.

“Yes, I am. Look just tell me where Rack’s place is and you can go,” said Buffy.

Buffy and Amy were walking in the afternoon sun, up and down the alleys in Sunnydale’s questionable down town district. Suddenly Amy stopped dead.

“There,” she said. “Right in front of you.”

“Thanks.” Buffy put her hand up in front of her and pushed forward, her hand disappeared. Buffy pulled her hand back and turned to the witch. “You don’t have to stay.”

“You sure you will be ok?”

“Oh ya, I’ll be fine. Amy? When you go back to my house...If there is an ugly garden gnome next to one of the trees? Smash it for me?”

“Uh...sure Buffy..” Amy turned and ran back down the alley.

“Here I come” muttered Buffy as she passed through the barrier into Rack’s lair.
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Buffy looked at the cowering mass of what was once the mighty Rack before her feet. She really didn’t understand his reaction. After all she hadn’t laid a hand on him, technically. Buffy looked with pity on the other two magic junkies that were in the room. They had seen Buffy pull all of Rack’s powers out of him, leaving him the way he was.

Buffy stepped away from Rack and to the doorway. Looking over her shoulder, Buffy whispered one word,

“Forget”
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Buffy skipped home in a gleeful mood. She had promised to wow everyone with her not yet famous vegetarian lasagna. She had loved the reaction from Dawn when she had offered to cook something, from scratch.

“Do you expect us to survive this onslaught?”

Yes, in fact, she was tempted to tell Dawn that her lasagna was the only way that Eleanor would eat her vegetables for two years. But then Buffy thought it might not be a good idea to start talking about Dawn’s kid with Dawn

There was a lot of things that she shouldn’t talk about with the rest of the Scoobies, but Buffy didn’t care. If she did something wrong, she could chalk it up to being a crazy old lady. She’d been one for so long...

Buffy laughed to herself , then took off down the road.
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Buffy ran into Restfield cemetery. She fully expected him to be asleep, it was noon after all, and there things to do for tonight, grocery shop (with Spike’s money), find the company plates, start her blackmailing letter to the Council of Wankers and clear out a couple of drawers for Spike to move in. He wouldn’t be staying in the crypt anymore if she could help it.

Buffy opened the door to the vampire’s home quietly and trod down stairs. Buffy’s breath caught as she spied him lying spread eagled on the bed, his bleached locks tossled, and covered only by the sheet that had fallen just past his waist. She was getting turned on just by looking at him.

Stealthily, she removed her clothes and slipped into bed with him, snuggling close to him. He smelled so good, looked so good, and he was in her arms. Unbidden, tears started forming in the corners of her eyes.

Spike groaned and turned over in his sleep, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her closer.

She had been so lonely for such a long time, because of him. He had ruined her for other guys. No man she had ever met, much less married could compete with his memory. Ya it was unfair, but then, she was entitled to her eccentricities. Her second husband had made the unfortunate mistake of initiating the who loves who more game one night, three weeks after their wedding. She had ended the game, the conversation and the marriage with one phrase: Not as much as Spike did.

And now she was crying, because she had missed him, because he was here now, and because she couldn’t think up a way for him to come out of the battle with the First Evil with out him dying.
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“There’s a Slayer in my bed,” he said two hours later.

Buffy had been just sitting there, holding on to him, enjoying the intimacy.

“Good afternoon!” she beamed.

“I didn’t go to sleep with a slayer in my bed.”

“Nope, you didn’t, good thing to, cause if it’s not me who’s the slayer in your bed, I’m gonna kick Faith’s ass.”

A smile spread over Spike’s face, like he had just realised something.

“There’s a naked slayer in my bed.”
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Buffy didn’t actually get home again until nearly 4pm. She would have to hustle to get dinner ready by six. Dawn was put on cheese grating duty, while Willow chopped veggies. Tara was drafted to find the company plates and set the table. Buffy stood stirring the sauce while the noodles cooked. Buffy couldn’t remember the last time she had had an opportunity to make her special dish for anyone. It was probably at the last Summers family reunion, when Buffy had been informed that she was going to be a great great great aunt.

“Are we still going to the beach tomorrow?” asked Dawn as she grated mozzarella.

“You betcha!” Buffy smiled. “I can’t wait to see your new suit and I bought a video camera for the occasion.”

“With your Sugar Daddy money?”

“Absolutely!”

Willow stopped chopping. “Sugar Daddy?”

“Oh yeah” Buffy turned off the burner cooking the noodles and took the pot to the sink to be drained.

“Buffy Anne Summers! Are you going to tell me or not?” asked Willow, waving the knife around.

“First of all, Wills, put down the knife and step away from the cutting board.”

Willow gave that nervous giggle of hers and put down the knife.

“You will find out the identity of quote, unquote Sugar Daddy, at dinner. It’s like mystery dinner theatre, except for the theatre part.”
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The mood around the table was mixed. Buffy herself, was vastly pleased with pretty much everything. Dawn was equal parts moody teen and happy kid. Willow was cautious, Anya bubbly, Giles serious and Xander glared menacingly at Spike who looked very uncertain. Tara was glad and Amy, well not being a rat anymore, it had it’s perks. She refused to eat anything pellet shaped or with cheese (with the exception of tonight’s meal, as it was polite and it was the least she could do...for she didn’t know what).

Dawn was the first to try the main course, eagerly the rest of the guests watched in awe and apprehension.

“Wow! Buffy you learned to cook!” gushed Dawn. “It only took you 102 years...”

“Hey! I’ll have you know that I’ve been making this since ... Well never mind since, it’s been a good long time.”

Buffy inwardly chastised herself. Must stop thinking about nieces!

Buffy’s guests raised their forks and dug in.
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As the meal wound down, Buffy took a momentary lull in the conversation to make an announcement.

“I have something I’d like to say. Several things actually. First we are all going to the Beach tomorrow, Bronzing tomorrow night, at which point I intend to get completely hammered, and hope to be poured into bed by Spike.”

This earned a grunt from Xander.

“I’ve asked Spike to move in here with me.”

Buffy waited for the collective gasp, but it didn’t come. Xander did try to say something, but his mouth was promptly covered up by Anya.

“I love him and I am gonna love who I wanna love. I’ve been alone for a long time and it’s time this Slayer stopped being alone. Who wants pie?”

“I want pie,” said Dawn right away.

“That was beautiful Buffy, can I use that in my wedding vows to Xander?” asked Anya.

“What the pie part?”

“No the alone part.”

“Of course Anya.”

Buffy left the table to get the pie, only to be followed by Spike, who hadn’t said a word.

In the kitchen the silence was deafening between them. Buffy could hear Dawn in the dinning room giggling about Buffy and Spike smoochies, and Willow asking if Spike was the sugar daddy.

“I love you,” he finally and simply said.

“I know, cause I love you too. Took me a hell of a long time to figure it out.”

Spike started to walk towards her but she held up her hand.

“Hold that thought.”

Buffy grabbed the pie, the pie plates and forks and the server and headed into the dining room.

“Here’s the pie, I have some place to be right now.”

Buffy turned, leaving a rather bewildered group of people returned to the kitchen, grabbed her boyfriend and headed out the door.
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“You realise when I move into your house, we won’t be able to have middle of dinner sex, pet,” Spike said as he stroked her arm.

Buffy rolled over the edge of the bed to look for her shoes.

“Life’s too short to not do what you want to do Spike. It’s my house, if I want to make love to you between the main course and dessert, then I will. Have you seen my other shoe?”

“Where are you going pet?”

“Mmmm,” she moaned and rolled back into his arms. “We, are going on patrol, and then we are going to pack up your stuff, and then we are moving you to our house.”

“Is that so pet?”

“That is so. I’ve decided that what is going to happen, and by golly, it’ll happen. I’m THE Slayer, Buffy Anne Summers, Master Trainer, Head Watcher and World Saver time and time again and oh crap I’ve said too much haven’t I?”

“You were the head of the bleedin’ council of wankers?”

“Head Wank herself.” Buffy fell back on the pillows of Spike’s bed.
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tbc...