REPLAY



Author: Heather Martin (SinisterChic)

Rating: PG13

Spoilers: Season 6, Season 7, Angel season 5

Summary: S/B, Learning of Spike’s resurrection Dawn and she venture to LA in search of him. But they are too late. . . Or are they? Is there a way to fix things before they began to get dark?

Archive: Just let me know where



Chapter 19- Could be Worse



Buffy must have been the only person to ever relive her twenty-first birthday. Most people would have been thrilled to go back and visit their youth. Buffy, on the other hand, wasn’t too keen on visiting any date that happened to be the anniversary of her birth. Even in her pre-slayer days something would go wrong, let it be parent quarreling or an earthquake. She was simply doomed to ever celebrate being alive in peace.



The alarm rang in her ear. Buffy shot the retched alarm clock a glare. She was very tempted to just close her eyes again. A naughty smile came to her lips. She could go to Spike’s and sleep . . . er, ‘spend the day in bed’.



There was a knock at her door. Buffy groaned.



“Who is it?” she called.



“Your sister. Can I come in? Spike didn’t sneak in last night, did he?”



She giggled. “I wish, but no.”



Dawn opened the door. She stepped in, laden with a tray. She set her load down on the slayer’s lap, revealing eggs, toast, and bacon.



“I’ll be right back with juice,” Dawn informed.



The sight made Buffy salivate. It looked scrumptious. Still she had a bit of doubt.



“It isn’t poisoned, is it?”



Dawn crossed her arms. “No,” she said. “No worries, kay? This is going to be the best Buffy birthday bash ever.”



“You don’t feel rejected?”



“No wishes this time. You already killed the sword demon last night. There is nothing but clear skies ahead. Now eat before the food gets cold.” Dawn hurried to fetch the orange juice.



Buffy took up the fork. She stabbed a bit of scrambled egg. Hesitantly she brought it up to her mouth. She let it enter and waited. Mmmm, it tasted good. She started to devour the rest of the meal.



Okay, something went right. Maybe this wouldn’t be such a bad day after all. Miracles did happen sometimes.



“Oops!” Dawn yelled from downstairs. “I’ll clean it up!”



Buffy banged her head back. Then again miracles only occurred rarely.



+ + +



Buffy swung the front door open. She smiled in greeting.



“Hey, Tara.”



They gave each other a hug. Tara handed her a small present.



“Thanks,” Buffy said.



“So-So, how are you?”



“Nothing world shattering has happened yet.” Buffy glanced at her watch. “Still got four hours left.”



Tara hung up her coat. “Maybe this time will be different.”



Just then Willow came down the stairs. The two witches stared nervously.



“I have to . . . uh, with the thing . . . ya know, the snacks. Yeah, snacks,” Buffy rambled. She snuck away.



Willow made her way to the bottom of the stairs.



“Hey,” Willow said.



“Hey,” Tara replied. “How are you?”



“Good.” She paused. “Better.”



“I heard about what you did. I’m glad. Proud.”



Hope sparkled in Willow’s eyes. “Thanks. That means a lot.”



+ + +



Buffy hopped up as soon as she heard knocking. She opened the door to let Spike in. He carried a six pack of beer. She eyes it skeptically.



“Not really a wild party, Spike.”



“I need it if I’m goin to be around the whelp.”



Buffy shook her head.



Spike stepped aside. Clem entered, shyly.



“Hope you don’t mind that I brought a friend.”



Buffy grinned. “Of course not. Good to see you again, Clem.”



The demon seemed surprised. “You remember me?”



“Of course. Come on in, join the fun.”



Buffy stepped up and gave Spike a lingering kiss. She delved her tongue inside his mouth, tasting what could only be described of as home. He had a big smirk on his face when she pulled away.



“What?” she questioned.



“Nothing. Just maybe I should leave and come back more often if I get a greeting like that every time.”



“Oh, shut up and come ‘ere for more.”



She pulled him back toward her.



+ + +



Things were going too well. For one thing Richard wasn’t around. Giles was here this time, which was a bonus. His present consisted of a leather-bound diary. He said it was to get her thoughts straight. No one got it except for her. She loved it. Dawn gave her a legitimate coat this time. Giles pitched in with the expense. Willow still gave her the uncertain back massager. She was delighted to receive the crafted weapon chest. Xander gave her a concerned look when she got teary eyed over it. It had been one of the mementos Buffy had missed most after Sunnydale’s destruction.



Spike was last. He took her privately aside. At first she thought he was planning something crude. Instead he slipped her a small velvet box. She held it for a moment, basking in the realization that it clearly contained jewelry. She lifted the lid. Inside was a silver ring, displaying a joined moon and sun.



“What does it mean?”



“Tis a promise ring. Ya know, forever together and all that rot. Girls like that sort of thing. Well, normal girls. Maybe . . . If you don’t . . .”



“No! I love it. Put it on me.”



He blinked as she held out her left hand. He gingerly took the ring and slid it on her slim finger. She examined it in the light. She became mesmerized by it.



“Is it supposed to be us? The sun and moon?” she asked.



Spike grinned. He stroked her hand.



“It represents us, yeah. You belong in the light and I the darkness. Still we manage.” He met her eyes. “You’re the one, Buffy.”



Her throat tightened.



“You all right, pet?”



She held back the tears. “Yes. I’m perfect.”



+ + +



“Bye, guys,” Buffy said.



Xander and Anya bid their friend farewell for the night. Anya reached for the doorknob. She turned it but nothing happened.



“It seems stuck,” the ex-vengeance demon declared.



“Let me try,” Xander said.



He tried to exit with the same result.



Buffy shot Dawn a glance.



“Wasn’t me,” Dawn said.



Spike gave her a funny look. “Course it wasn’t you, nibblet.”



Slayers could sense evil. She could feel it now, somewhere lurking.



“This is my worst nightmare,” Buffy muttered. Buffy shivered.



From her peripheral vision she spotted Spike. No, it wasn’t, she realized. Things could be ‘much’ worse. Spike could be dust. At least she was stuck with the ones she loved.



+ + +



Dawn’s mind ran wildly. There had to be a way to get out of the house. There just had to be.



“If I had my books I could research,” Giles said.



“I could try the net!” Willow exclaimed.



“Good idea, Will, start the hacker action,” Xander said.



Xander noticed Anya as she sat off to the side. She was freaking out. She tugged at her collar and practically hyperventilated. He hurried over to her in attempt to sooth her panic attack.



“It’s so hot in here,” Anya complained. “God, I can’t breathe.”



“Take it easy, Ahn,” Xander told her. He ran a hand over her hair. “We’re all going to be all right.”



“I’ve never been trapped like an animal before. This is ridiculous. If I were a vengeance demon I could transport out of here.”



“Shhh,” Xander shushed his fiancé.



A vengeance demon, that was it! Eureka! Dawn couldn’t help the glee that spread through her. She had the solution.



“Hey, Anya!”



Anya whipped her head around.



“Vengeance demons wear necklaces, right?”



Anya nodded. “Yeah, so?”



“I think there was one at my school. She tried to get me to make a wish but I wouldn’t. She had a pendant with a blue stone.”



“Oh for crying out loud!”



“Yeah, do you know her? You could call her here and we could wish whatever is locking us in here away.”



The ex-demon stood up. She stared up at the ceiling. “Halfrek! Hallie, get your ass down here!”



A puff of smoke emerged in the middle of the living room. When it faded a woman became revealed. She wore a black dress and had wavy hair. She scanned the crowd.



“You rang?”



“Hallie, we need your help.”



Halfrek crossed her arms. “I don’t answer just any wish, you kno- . . .” She stopped. Her eyes landed on Spike. “William?”



A frown came to Spike’s lips. “Wait a minute.”



Buffy looked at Hallie and then Spike. “You know each other?” Her voice sounded more jealous than she intended.



Spike grabbed her hand. He gave her a deep look. “Was a long time ago, luv.”



An amused expression came to Halfrek. She tore her gaze away from Spike and focused back on Anya.



Dawn took a step forward. “I wish for whatever keeping us here banished.”



“Oh, very well, since it was you who asked. I am fond of little girls.” Dawn didn’t look too fond of the ‘little girl’ comment. “Wish granted.”



Another puff of smoke filtered through the house. Hallrek disappeared. Buffy turned warily toward the door.



“Do you think it worked?”



Spike let go of Buffy. He went over to check the door. It opened easily.



“Coast is clear,” he said.



+ + +



Giles was the last to leave. He gave Buffy a meaningful look.



“You don’t deserve these burdened Birthdays. Maybe we should set up protective wards next time,” he suggested.



She smiled slightly.



“Not a bad idea.”



He gave her a fatherly hug. “Regardless, happy Birthday.”



“Thanks.”



Pulling away, he slipped on his coat.



“Giles?”



He turned. “Yes?”



Her face fell. “Something was here. I felt it. It’s gone now, but I don’t think Halfrek got rid of it for good.”



“Was it something you dealt with before?”



She shook her head. “No. This is new.”



________________________________________

Ah, what is it!?