Title: Heart and Soul

Author: Alan Hitchen

Email: darkmere2000@yahoo.co.uk

Disclaimer: BtVS belongs to Joss Whedon and others

Dedication: For Sarah (Star) whose idea it was to give Drusilla a soul.

Pairings: Willow/Tara, Anya/Xander, Spike/Xander, and others to develop later.

Rating: R (for sex and violence)

Information: This is a post season five AU which ignores the canon events of season six.

Summary: A new role in unlife beckons for Drusilla.

Quotation: "No coward soul is mine, no trembler in the world's storm-troubled sphere: I see Heaven's glories shine, and faith shines equal, arming me from fear."
Emily Bronte (Last Lines)

In a lush apartment in LA, it is day and Drusilla is sleeping peacefully. Darla, her childe and paramour, is making herself a snack of the delivery boy who was dropping off a parcel for the owners of the apartment, who themselves fell victim to Darla and Drusilla's sharp fangs not so long ago.

"Aaaggghhh!!! No! No! No! It can't be! Jesus and all the Saints preserve me! No!" Drusilla screamed out in shock as she awoke with a start.

"What's the matter, sweetheart?" Darla asked as she hurried into the bedroom to investigate the commotion.

"Oh God, can it be true? I'm a vampire?"

"Yes, hun, you're a vampire, a mad one, but still a vampire. And could you knock off the religious references, they're turning my stomach and I've just eaten."

Drusilla did not seem to hear her partner, she just sat up and continued to ramble to herself. "Yes, I remember now. It was Angel's doing. No, not Angel, but Angelus. He tormented me, destroyed everything I love, drove me insane, then, when I turned to the church for comfort, the final indignity, he turned me into this. And then... Oh, dear, sweet, forgiving Lord. I did such terrible things, and for so long."

Darla sat down on the bed next to Drusilla, her face creased with concern as she tried to fathom out what was going on. Then it hit her and she shivered in horror. "Oh no," she cried out, "not you as well! You have a soul! You've got your soul back!"

Drusilla turned to address her childe directly. "Yes, vile creature, I have my soul and my reason. The Lord has decreed it. I see clearly now, He was testing me and I was found wanting, but in His mercy, He has given me another chance to redeem myself. I shall not fail Him this time."

She instinctively grabbed for the wooden spindles of the decorative headboard and snapped one off before plunging it through Darla's chest in the blinking of an eye. As Darla erupted into a cloud of dust particles Drusilla stood up and spoke again.

"Even if it takes me an eternity. I declare before Almighty God that I shall wipe all such creatures from His clean earth. I, Drusilla Wilson, your humble servant, so swears it... But wait... there already is the Slayer, the Chosen One." She bowed her head. "Forgive me, Lord, I was presumptuous." Her head came up again. "The way ahead is now revealed to me. I must go to Sunnydale and help the Slayer in her holy task, and none shall stand in my way," she vowed emphatically.

Night had just fallen in Sunnydale when the doorbell rang at 1630 Revello Drive. "I'll get it," Willow said loudly, and went to answer the door. "Drusilla!" she gasped in surprise.

"Be not afraid, Willow. See? I wear the cross. I am reborn." She moved to embrace Willow but was prevented from crossing the threshold by an invisible barrier.

Willow wondered at her puzzlement and turned to call out, "Hey, Spike, your nutty ex is at the door," before returning her attention to obviously deranged Drusilla. "Have you forgotten? Vampires have to be invited in before they can enter."

Before Drusilla could reply to that Spike came clattering down the stairs. "Dru?!"

"William," she responded with disdain. "Why do you permit this?" she asked Willow.

"Permit what?"

"The vampire. This is the house of the Slayer is it not? Why does she not slay it?"

Willow looked from Drusilla to Spike and back again. "You don't know, do you? Buffy and Spike were... co-workers."

"How can this be? Did she not learn her lesson from Angelus?"

"Look, Dru, things have changed since you left me. I've got a chip in me head and..." He suddenly turned and ran back up the stairs.

"He was going to cry," Drusilla noted with astonishment. "Why is that?"

Willow sniffed as she blinked back her own tears. "Buffy's dead. Spike did his best, we all did, but we couldn't save her from Glory's scheme. She's dead, dead for good this time."

Just then a white panel van pulled into the driveway and Xander jumped out. "Hello there," he greeted the visitor, then as she turned he yelped, "Dru!" and leapt back defensively.

"Don't be alarmed, Alexander, I'm not here to hurt you."

"Then what are you here for?" he asked, playing for time as he continued to back away towards the stake and holy water he had in the van.

"I came to help the Chosen One, but Willow tells me she is safe in the arms of our Lord in Heaven."

"Willow! Thanks so much for keeping the fact that we're Slayerless a secret!"

"Sorry, it just slipped out."

"Yeah, now if you don't mind, I'll just stake Dru and our secret will be secret again."

"No need," Drusilla said calmly, "as I was trying to tell Willow, I have been reborn. My soul has been restored to me. I am whole again. I will help you until the new Slayer arrives. I, Drusilla, the vampire killer, am at your service."

"I, Drusilla, the vampire killer, am at your service."

As Xander and Willow attempted to process this startling announcement, Tara and Dawn drew up to the kerbside in front of the house.

"Stay in the car," Xander warned as he moved protectively towards them.

"I mean you no harm," Drusilla said plaintively, wondering why no one would believe her.

"Tara," Willow called out from the doorway, "can you read her aura? What can you see?"

Tara cautiously emerged from the vehicle and carefully scrutinised Drusilla for some time.

"Well?" Xander asked Tara impatiently.

"She reads the same as Angel, a vampire with a soul."

"Are you sure, honey," Willow queried.

"Positive."

"Well?" Xander asked Willow.

"Well, I think we have a new ally," she answered. "Come on in, Drusilla, tell us what's been happening to you."

"Gladly."

As Willow ushered the happy Drusilla inside, Xander turned again to Tara. "Are you absolutely sure about this?"

"Absolutely. She has a soul, and it's a good one."

"Okay, now what do we do with Dawn?"

"I'm right here you know," Dawn interrupted as she got out of the car, "and I'm fifteen, you don't have to treat me like a baby all the time. I could have seen the movie on my own."

"I couldn't," Tara said with a shiver, "it was too frightening for me."

"Don't I know it. You are so embarrassing, Tara." Dawn grinned, very pleased that it was Tara that needed to hold her hand and not the other way round. "C'mon we're missing all the excitement," she said, and scampered up the path and into the house.

Willow appeared at the door again. "Xander, could you go upstairs and look after Spike. He's upset again. Dru wasn't too tactful when they met just now. And, Tara, our guest wants a cup of tea, could you do that for me?"

Tara nodded her agreement and went into the house leaving Xander alone. "Okay, Xander Harris, vampire babyitter, at your service," he said to himself, echoing Drusilla's statement. He then pulled a wry smile and a twinkle appeared in his eye before he went inside to look for the blond bloodsucker.

"Okay, Drusilla, how did you get your soul back?" was Willow's first question after the vampire had finished drinking her refreshing cup of tea.

"It was the work of the Lord." Drusilla beamed with pride at the others sitting opposite.

"The Lord? Not a gypsy curse?"

"No."

"Is it permanent? Any get-out clauses?"

"As far as I know, yes and none, but what the Lord gives the Lord can take away."

"I see. And now that you're back on the side of good you came here to help Buffy?"

"The Chosen One, yes, but you tell me Buffy has passed over, then where is the new Chosen One?"

Willow looked to Tara and Dawn, they gestured for her to go on. "Well, it's like this: six months ago we went up against Glory. Glorificus was a hell-goddess from another dimension. She was searching for the key that would end her exile on earth." She looked again at Dawn, who was now clutching Tara tightly, and both of them were fighting to stay in control of their emotions. "She found the key, but Buffy stopped her; she would have destroyed everything, but Buffy stopped her; it cost Buffy her life, but Buffy stopped her."

Willow dissolved into tears and the others followed suit as Drusilla offered up a silent prayer for the departed Slayer. After the flood of emotion had finally been staunched. Drusilla again asked the vital question. "Where is the new Chosen One?"

"We don't know," Willow answered quietly. "We thought at first there was no replacement because of Faith."

"Faith? Ah, yes, the second Slayer. But she is in jail in LA is she not?"

"She was. You see, Buffy died once before, temporarily, and Kendra was called. Then she was killed - by you!" Willow said sharply and Drusilla bowed her head in shame, "and then Faith was called. She is, was, the Chosen One."

"Was?"

"She's also dead. She found out about Buffy. I don't know how because no one told her, the Slayer connection I suppose. She went mad with grief, or guilt, or something. She went completely berserk and attacked the guards. She killed five of them before they finally shot her dead."

Drusilla offered up another silent prayer then looked again at Willow, the question this time remained unspoken.

"No new Slayer has been called after Faith. Giles has gone back to England to help the Watchers Council find out what is going on. This has never happened before. No one knows why, even the powers-that-be are baffled, but for the first time ever the world is without a Slayer," Willow said dramatically.

"No need to rush, luv, the girls will be yakking for ages yet, and you know how much I like a kiss and a cuddle after sex," said Spike, watching Xander hurriedly pull his clothes back on.

Xander stopped what he was doing and glared at the flaccid vampire lying naked on the bed. "Spike," he began, stopped to think, then started again. "Spike, what am I doing? I'm a happy nearly-married man. You've recently lost the woman you say you loved above all. Yet every time I go to comfort you over your loss I end up in bed with your cock in my ass. Why is that?"

"You like having having my cock in your ass?" Spike replied with a wicked grin.

Xander couldn't help but smile back. "Yes, there is that," he admitted. "But I'm cheating on the woman I love, an ex-vengeance demon I might add, who will have my nuts for a necklace if she even suspects what's going on between us." He shook his head. "I must be mad. And speaking of mad, your loopy love-bunny ex has come to visit claiming she's got a soul. Aren't you just the slightest bit curious about that?"

Spike yawned. "I'm done with Dru, that's why I faked a fit of the vapours to get out of her way."

"Great! Well, before Morticia came to call we were going out on patrol as usual. So get your lazy ass down to the van and I'll get the Buffybot into gear."

Spike mock saluted his lover. "Anything you say, Colonel Xander, Sir!"

"Six months," Drusilla marvelled, "you've kept this a secret for six months. But how?"

"The power of technology," Willow replied. "Spike had a, um, replica built, the Buffybot. It's not as good as the real Buffy in combat, but it's good enough to fool the vampires and demons into thinking that she's still guarding the hellmouth. And because we've always helped Buffy in the past no one's noticed that we're doing most of the fighting for her now. Well, Spike and Xander do the fighting, we just cast a few spells from the sidelines."

"Spells?"

"Yes, Tara and I are witches."

"Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live," Drusilla announced with a righteous glint in her eye.

"What?"

"It says so in the Bible," Drusilla explained patiently.

"That would be bad witches," Dawn chipped in brightly to defuse the awkward moment. "Willow and Tara are good witches, like the Halliwell sisters in 'Charmed'. Willow is Prue, always bossing everyone around, Tara is the kind and sensitive Phoebe, and I'm going to be Piper."

"Oh are you? And who's playing Leo?" Tara gently teased. Dawn blushed and fell silent again.

Willow, ignoring the 'bossy' jibe, used the opportunity to return to the main topic. "So, Drusilla, you see the problem, we can't keep up the pretense forever. Now, I don't think it's a coincidence that you've been sent to us..." A sudden thought struck her and Willow stared at Drusilla in shock. "You're not the new Slayer are you?" she asked in breathless anticipation.

There was stunned silence for a moment, then Drusilla emitted a genteel laugh. "No, I'm not the new Slayer. I was sent to help the Chosen One. I am not her."

Willow coughed feebly in a doomed attempt to cover her embarrassment. "Okay, well, it was just a thought. So, are you up for joining us on patrol? We usually go out about now."

"Will William be going with you?" Drusilla asked coldly.

"Yes, and I should explain about Spike. He's not the big bad vampire he used to be. As you saw when you arrived, he's quite a sensitive soul these days."

Drusilla wrinkled her nose in evident disbelief. "He mentioned a chip?"

"Oh, yes, Spike was captured by a secret government agency. They fitted him with a behaviour modification device, a sort of artificial conscience. It prevents him from killing, or even harming, any human. Luckily for us he can still kill and hurt vampires and demons."

"Really?" Drusilla responded dryly. "But even so, how can you trust this... creature?"

"We didn't at first, but he's proved himself many times over, and Buffy trusted him implicitly. He's one of us now. And I think I should tell you, he, er, developed, ah, feelings, for Buffy."

"He loved her?"

"In his own way, yes, he did."

"How strange, but then he always was. I know he loved me, the vampire me, and it wasn't just because I was his sire. He was always different from other vampires, as was I, the big bad persona was largely an act designed to impress Angelus. He killed two Slayers just to build his reputation." She sighed wistfully. "But he never needed to put on an act with me." Her expression hardened. "But that was then and this is now. I don't think I could face him at the moment."

"Okay then, seeing as Anya hasn't turned up yet, could you look after Dawn while we go out?"

"Hello, I'm still here," Dawn interjected, "I keep telling you guys I don't need a babysitter."

Drusilla was surprised. "You trust me?"

Willow glanced at Tara to check before answering. "Yes, we trust you."

Dawn snorted in disgust. "Don't mind me, I'm invisible."

Dawn waved to the others as the van drove away from the house. Drusilla turned to Dawn and gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, the Lord will protect them from harm." Dawn looked at her quizzically, still not sure what to make of the slim brunette vampire. "Tell me, who is this Anya who was to look after you?"

"She's Xander's girlfriend, well, fiancee really, they've been talking about getting married. Well, she has anyway, Xander doesn't seem to be so sure these days." Dawn glanced at her watch, it was a schoolnight and it was nearly time for bed, but Drusilla didn't know that. "Wanna watch a movie?"

"But haven't you just come back from one?" queried Drusilla.

"I meant on TV." Dawn moved into the main room and snatched up the TV Guide. "Satan's School For Girls is on. Hey, Shannen Doherty is in it, she used to play Prue in Charmed; and there's Kate Jackson, she used to be one of Charlie's Angels; and Julie Benz, I don't know her."

"No, I don't think so," Drusilla said firmly. "Anything with Satan in the title cannot be suitable for young minds."

"Awww!" Dawn flopped dejectedly onto the sofa. "Anya would've said yes."

"Then it is as well that she is not here," Drusilla rejoindered and took the seat next to Dawn. "Why not tell me about yourself instead."

"What's to tell?"

"Well, who is Leo, is he your young man?"

Dawn laughed. "No, he's a television character."

"But Tara said..."

"She was talking about Andrew. He's a boy in my class. Tara thinks I've got a crush on him. She thinks Andrew is playing Leo to my Piper."

"I'm confused."

"There's no need to be, it's very simple. I'm not interested in Andrew. Don't get me wrong, Andrew is a good friend, but that's all he is. I am interested in someone, it's just not him."

"Then who?"

"Promise you won't tell."

"I promise."

"It's Tara. Yes, I know; it's just a crush; I'm too young; she's happy with Willow; nothing can come of it. But I can't help the way I feel about her, she's so special, you know." As Dawn spoke Drusilla's expression changed. "What? Don't tell me, the Lord disapproves of lesbians."

"No, it's not that, the Bible only proscribes male homosexuality. I was thinking of Darla. She was my partner. I loved her. But I still killed her without a second's thought."

"She was a vampire, right?"

"Yes, she was a vampire, a soulless killer, but still..."

"Well, that proves it."

"What does?"

"That you've got a soul and a conscience. Killing is never easy, nor should it be."

"Those are wise words."

"Yeah, that's what I thought when Tara said them."

Drusilla managed a weak smile. "I think I like this Tara of yours."

Dawn grinned back. "She's the best. Are you hungry? There's blood in the fridge if you are."

"Blood?"

"Pig's blood. We have it for Spike. It doesn't taste as good apparently, but it's the best we can do."

Drusilla shuddered at the very idea. "I'd rather die."

"But you will if you don't eat." Drusilla did not respond further. "Okay, no blood, but can I ask a favour of you."

"What is it?"

"Can you go 'grrr' for me. You know, change your face."

"Why would you want me to do that?"

"Just curious."

"Very well."

Drusilla concentrated and her visage seemed to melt momentarily before reforming into the vampire game face. Dawn was fascinated by the transformation seen close at hand for the first time.

"May I... May I touch you?"

"If you wish."

Dawn's sensitive fingertips traced every line, crease and fold of the forbidding brow that was backed by solid bone. The teeth were equally interesting as Dawn discovered how their special shape enabled the elongated incisors to act a hypodermic needles. Finally, there were the hypnotic golden yellow irises of her eyes which slowly became the warm brown of the originals as Drusilla transformed back to normality.

"Wow! That was amazing." But Dawn quickly realised it was her face that was holding Drusilla's attention. "What is it?"

"What are the colour of your eyes?"

"Nothing special, a bluish-grey."

"Not a bright luminous green?"

"No!"

"I thought not, I would have noticed that immediately. But they are that colour now."

"Oh no, the Key!"

"To our salvation!" Drusilla said joyfully. Her face slowly came close to Dawn's and their lips met in a kiss.

Dawn had imagined this moment many times over, okay, it was not with Tara this time, but what the heck, this was heaven. Her lips parted and something, not Drusilla's tongue, something, entered her mouth and exploded in soft waves of indescribable emotions that flooded her entire body.

Dawn pulled away to see that Drusilla was equally amazed, but at least she knew what had happened, what Dawn had now become.

"Behold the Slayer," she said with due reverence.

"W.. what d... did you say?" Dawn stuttered in complete surprise, her eyes ablaze with verdant fire.

Drusilla's beatific smile said it all. "You are the new Chosen One. The Slayer is returned to us. Praise the Lord."

Dawn just sat there in something approaching shock. She didn't even react when the doorbell rang. "I'll get it," said Drusilla.

"What? Oh, yes," Dawn replied belatedly as she regained her senses and her eye colour. Drusilla opened the door to the caller.

"Vampire!" Anya said at once.

"Demon!" retorted Drusilla.

"Friends!" interjected Dawn, quickly coming to the rescue. "Anya, this is Drusilla, she's a good vampire. Drusilla, this is Anya, she's an ex-demon."

The two women contined to regard each other warily as Anya entered the house and everyone sat down.

"Where have you been, Anya?" Dawn demanded.

The blonde was puzzled by the question. "Where I always am, running the Magic Box for Giles. We had a big day today, there was a lot of money to count, that's why I was late," she explained.

"She's the only person I know that can get an orgasm just from counting cash," Dawn whispered into Drusilla's ear with a mischievous grin.

"I heard that! It's not true," Anya complained. "I like money, but it doesn't give me orgasms, Xander does that, and he's very good at it," she said proudly.

"Oh, Xan, don't stop, oh, oh, oh, that's sooo good," Spike moaned in ecstacy as Xander pleasured him expertly. "Your magic mouth is gonna make me..."

"Come on, Tara, the Buffybot is getting out of sight," Willow whispered anxiously to her lagging girlfriend.

"Sorry, Will, but the heel is coming off this shoe," Tara replied while hopping about on one foot like an injured bird.

"Okay, let's take a break. Buffy!"

The Buffybot stopped hunting and returned to where the redheaded witch was magically mending Tara's footwear. "You called for me?"

"Yes, have you seen any vampires so far?"

"No. The cemetery is nice and quiet, just how you like it."

"Good, or is that bad?"

The Buffybot looked confused. "I don't understand the question."

"Sorry, Buffy, it's good that it's quiet, but it would be bad if it meant that the vampires were planning something," Willow explained.

"I understand. You are so clever, Willow, I'm proud to be your friend."

Willow's eyes began to water. "Oh, Buffy, if only you were real," she lamented.

"But I am real," the Buffybot insisted. "I'm the Slayer."

"I'm the Slayer," Dawn informed a disbelieving Anya.

"Sure you are, Dawnie, and I'm ten feet tall. I don't know what Dracula's daughter here has been telling you, but you're not the Slayer, and your eyes are not green."

"But they were."

"We've only got her word for it."

"I saw what I saw," Drusilla stated firmly.

"The Key?"

"The Slayer!"

"Where is Xander and Spike?" Tara asked the Buffybot over Willow's shoulder as she hugged and comforted her distressed girlfriend.

"I don't know. I couldn't see them."

Willow pulled away from Tara and blew her nose on a handy tissue. "Some Slayerettes we've turned out to be. The idea was to trap the vamps in a pincer movement, but we're here and they're 'there' and there aren't any vamps about anyway. I say we find the boys and go home," Willow sniffed.

"Good idea," Tara agreed. "Buffy, go find Xander and Spike and tell them we're going back to the van, the patrol is over for tonight."

"I like Spike, he is so strong and handsome," the Buffybot said perkily, "and Xander is also good looking."

"Yes, I know," Tara replied patiently. "Now go tell them what I said."

"Right away, Tara," the Buffybot replied brightly, then turned and moved away rapidly to carry out her task.

Xander zipped himself up and looked about anxiously. "Dammit, Spike, I don't see the girls. They should be here by now, they could be in big trouble."

"Nah," said the blond vampire, lighting up a cigarette and relaxing on a handy tombstone, "it's dead tonight," he chuckled to himself.

"Then where are they?" asked the worried brunette. "Oh, hold on, here comes the Buffybot."

"Willow is going to be very angry I let you stay up late," Anya complained. "And she has such a sharp tongue these days, I'm surprised Tara lets it into her mouth, let alone her..." The doorbell interrupted her flow, much to Dawn's relief. "Now who could that be?" she asked herself. She got up to investigate and opened the door to find the familiar figure of a bespectacled tweed-clad Watcher standing on the doorstep, bag in hand. "Giles!"

"Giles!"

"Anya, how nice to see you again."

The blonde ex-demon frowned and did not return the compliment. "Are you here about the money?" she challenged.

Giles was bafffled by the question. "I beg your pardon?"

"The money, the shop, have you come back to check up on me?"

"Oh... no. I'm sure you're doing a grand job looking after the Magic Box. That's why I left you in charge.

Anya beamed with pleasure at Giles's words. "Thanks. I run a tight fist."

"Don't you mean, tight ship?"

"No, fist. I had to punch out a shoplifter today," Anya reported, proudly showing off her bruised knuckles. 

Giles raised an eybrow at that. "Ah... spendid, is anyone else at home?"

"Hi, Giles"

"Hello, Dawn and... Drusilla!"

"Long story," Anya sighed, "come on in and they'll explain it to you."

"And what were you boys doing anyway?" Willow asked directly. "You hadn't moved from the start point. How are we going to catch any vamps if no one follows the plan?"

Xander fumbled for an explanation that didn't include the word 'blow-job'. "Err.. umm...  We were..."

"We were bored," Spike interjected. "So we stopped for a chat and a smoke. And we didn't catch any vamps 'cause there was no vamps to catch. I told you things have been quiet lately, but no one hears a word I say, least of all redheaded witches."

Before Willow snapped his head off, Tara tried a question. "But why are things so quiet?"

"Yes, Spike, why?" Willow echoed her lover's question. "We're listening," she said with a menacing undertone.

"Well..."

Now it was Xander's turn to come to the rescue. "Spike thinks there's a new player on the scene."

"Oh, really?" Willow responded sarcastically. "And does this new player have a name?"

"No, but I have heard..."

"We're here," Xander interrupted again as he turned onto the Summer's driveway and parked the van.

Willow could tell that Spike was pulling her chain but she couldn't be bothered to pursue it right now. "Okay, Spike, we'll discuss this later," she declared dismissively and leapt out of the vehicle.

"Well, Drusilla, glad to have you on board," said Giles, extending a welcoming hand to the vampire just as the others tumbled in through the front door.

"Giles!" said everyone and crowded around him in greeting.

"Thank you, thank you all. I'm fine and I see you are all well also. Now, if we can all find seats, I have something important to tell you."

After everyone had sat down, Giles, who remained standing, began to speak. "As you know, I've been with the Watchers Council, assisting them with their enquiries into the Slayer problem. It appears that the temporary opening of the dimensional gates has caused great disruption at the highest levels. We think this is the reason that the next Slayer has not yet been called. Simply put, they've dialled the number but the phone lines are down."

"So they sent a letter instead."

Giles was thrown off his stride. "What?"

"And Drusilla was the envelope."

"Dawn, this is not the time for jokes."

"I know, Giles, but it's just occurred to me why what's happened has happened."

"Dawn, time for bed!" Willow ordered in her severest voice.

"I told you she'd be mad," Anya said smugly.

Dawn stood up and faced the others, the very picture of a petulant teen about to whine about how unfair everyone was being. But instead she smiled sweetly, said "I'm sorry", and to everyone's surprise went upstairs to bed without another word.

"Yes, well, where was I?" Giles continued. "Disruption at the highest levels. So, we think that the message to activate the Slayer has been sent, it just hasn't arrived yet. Which is unfortunate, because there is other news that is far less reassuring. Drusilla's conversion to the side of good could not have come at a more opportune moment, because if the rumours are true, and we think they are, then we're going to need every source of assistance we can find."

"Come on, G-man, spit it out," urged Xander, as all eyes fixed the Watcher with dread expectation.

Giles took deep breath before replying in a calm and steady voice. "Glory is back."

"But isn't Glory dead?" queried Xander. "Didn't you kill Ben, and so kill her?"

Giles didn't reply at first, he just stood there, polishing his spectacles in obvious agitation. "Yes, God help me, I killed Ben, and yes, Glory should have died with him. But her acolytes thought differently and we wondered why. So we checked the records of the monks. Glory killed them all in her search for Dawn, but they left some record of what they'd done. As we know to our cost, a god is nearly indestructable. And so the monks took precautions against Glory surviving the death of her host. They prepared several alternates, to which she would be transferred at the moment of the host's death. But we don't know who or where these alternates are."

"So, in a nutshell," said Xander, "there's another Ben somewhere out there. And at any time Glory could pop out and it starts all over again. Except this time she knows who and where the key is."

"Yes," Giles replied with a heavy sigh, "and there are rumours, unverified as yet, that she is alive and on the move.

"Bloody marvellous!" Spike said with a feeling shared by all except Drusilla.

"Who's going to tell Dawn?" Tara asked nervously.

"I will," volunteered Anya with an unseemly eagerness as Xander winced.

"No, I will," Willow said forcefully before turning to Tara. "I won't let her hurt you again."

Tara gave Willow a tiny smile and lightly kissed her on the cheek. "I know you won't, but I'm not who she wants, Dawn is. How are we going to protect her?"

"I know not of this Glory, but I do know Dawn needs no protection," Drusilla said in answer to the blonde witch's question.

"Oh really?" Xander scoffed. "And how's that?"

"She thinks Dawn is the Chosen One," Anya said dismissively.

Willow was as surprised as the rest by this revelation. "Is that what Dawn was on about?"

"I thought she said something about a letter," Tara added.

"God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform," Drusilla began.

"He plants his footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm," Giles continued. "A hymn by William Cowper," he explained to the others. "Look, Drusilla, I don't know what's been going on, but perhaps now is the time to tell us."

"As you wish, it's very simple. God sent me, not only to assist the Slayer, but to create one. I carried the vital spark within me, and when we kissed, Dawn became the Slayer."

"You kissed her!" Willow exploded.

Spike was equally disturbed. "That's low, Dru, even I wouldn't touch the niblet."

"Spare me your false concern, William," came the frosty reply. "There was no sexual intent, I was merely an instrument of His will."

"What on earth did Angelus see in this religious prig?" Xander whispered to Spike.

"God knows," Spike chuckled back.

"Shut up, Spike, you too, Xander," Willow snapped. "I've had enough of you both for this evening. And as for you, Dru..."

"Yes, yes," Giles interjected testily to silence Willow. "You kissed Dawn, and?"

"And the spark went from me to her and the Chosen One was made the Slayer."

"Well, I've never heard of this happening before, but it could be I suppose." Giles removed his glasses to rub the bridge of his nose. "Dawn, the Slayer, hmmm... She knows this?"

"She was there, how could she not know? We told Anya of this when she arrived. But she did not believe either."

"Why should I", countered Anya. "Vampira is not the most convincing type, and it's only ten minutes since Dawn told us she wanted to be Card Captor Sakura, so when they went on about bright green eyes I just lost interest."

"Hun, she actually said she wanted to be Gabrielle to Buffy's Xena."

"Gabrielle, Sakura, what's the difference, they both use sticks don't they?"

"Bright green eyes?" asked Tara, trying to concentrate on the important point.

"That was how I knew she was the Chosen One."

"Giles?"

"I've no idea, Tara. We know Dawn is the key, but we don't really know what that means. And if she is the Slayer as well... then anything is possible."

"So, what do we do, run?"

"It didn't work last time did it? No, running away is no solution. It's best we stay here and make the strongest defence we can. She has the advantage of strength, but she has lost the element of surprise, we can prepare."

Spike laughed bitterly. "Prepare what? How we're going to die? Face it, Rupe, against Glory we don't have a chance. The best we can do is hide the little bit and hope for a quick death."

"Ever the optimist, William," Drusilla sneered. "I have faith in Dawn. Remember the story of David and Goliath."

"Fantastic! Lay in a supply of slingshots and stones and the problem's solved."

"Spike! Quiet! I'll tell Dawn now, no use putting it off, then we'll all discuss this rationally, okay?"

"Okay."

Willow left the room to bring Dawn down, but she returned just moments later in a state of sheer panic. "Dawn's not in her room! She's gone!"

Giles was first to react to the news. "Gone? How so, did she leave or was she taken?"

"I don't know. The room is a mess, but then it usually is, and the window was open. It could be either neither or both," Willow gabbled in reply.

"What are we waiting for?" said Xander as he made for the door. "The quicker we start looking the quicker we find her."

"I'm with you, Xan," said Spike, following the brunette out of the house.

"Tara and I will take the car," said Willow, recovering her composure.

"Right," Giles agreed. "Drusilla, could you come with me, and Anya..."

"Yes!" Anya interjected in eager anticipation.

"You stay here in case Dawn returns."

"Oh," Anya sighed disappointedly.

"She's gone!" The others turned to find Xander back inside the house. "The Buffybot has gone. We left her in the van. She was switched off, but she's gone as well."

Tara had an idea. "Dawn must have taken her." She looked to Xander. "What you said about Xena and Gabrielle. Dawn's gone out with the Buffybot to play at being the Slayer."

"She is not playing, she is the Slayer."

Willow could take no more and screamed at the vampire. "You stupid, stupid, bitch! You say you came here to help us, but you fill Dawn's head with fantasy and send her to her death! How can you do that? She's only fifteen, she hasn't lived yet!"

"Willow," Tara said forcefully, taking her lover into her calming embrace, "shout at Dru later, let's find Dawn now."

"Sorry," said Willow, then a thought struck her. "The tracker! If Dawn is with the Buffybot then we can track them down. Everyone in the van," she ordered. "Not you, Anya, stay here and hold the fort. Not you either, Drusilla, you stay here and pray Dawn is alright."

Drusilla bowed her head in contrition. "I will do as you ask."

The front door slammed shut and the ex-demon looked at the reformed vampire with a wry smile. "So, how does this prayer thing work then?" she asked.

"Okay, Buffy, we're at the cemetery, what do we do now?"

The Buffybot looked concerned. "Are you sure about this, Dawn? Willow always says you're not to go on patrol because it's dangerous."

"That was before I became the Slayer."

"But I'm the Slayer."

"And I'm a Slayer too."

"Yes, but you're my sister, I love you, and I don't want you to get hurt."

Dawn impulsively hugged her artificial sibling. "I love you too, Buffy, but like I told you, we're both Slayers now, so we can patrol together, no problem."

Sufficiently reassured the Buffybot smiled at her sister-Slayer. "Okay, patrolling is really easy. Just walk quietly, keep your eyes and ears open, and let your Slayer sense guard your back."

Dawn now realised why it was that the Buffybot got into trouble so often. It didn't have a Slayer sense, which is why the others had to be there to protect it from sneak attacks. "Tell you what, you go first and I'll copy you," she said, thinking that way she could protect the Buffybot while it thought it was protecting her.

"Okay," the Buffybot agreed, "but let me do the rough stuff."

Dawn grinned, intending to do no such thing. "Sure thing, Buffy, sure thing."

In the darkness ahead of them, yellow eyes glowed and bloodless tongues licked bloodless lips in hungry anticipation of a hot liquid meal to come.

"Why isn't this working?" Willow complained loudly.

"Try switching it on," Xander advised.

"Oh, right." Willow's face turned as red as her hair as she waited for the GPS to produce a location. "Come on, come on, there!" She plotted the co-ordinates on her map. "Got it! They're in Green Lawns. Turn left and step on it!"

Xander did as he was told and Giles was catapulted into Spike's arms. "I gotcha, Rupe, no need to throw yourself at me," Spike quipped, flicking his eyes up to the rear view mirror, hoping to catch a jealous glance from Xander.

"Yes, thank you, Spike, but kindly stop calling me Rupe."

"Jeez, is that the jet-lag talking or do you just not like me?"

"I just don't like you."

"Oh, that's a pity, 'cause I like you."

Spike grinned as he saw Xander flinch in response, just the reaction he was looking for. Xander suddenly braked hard and turned sharply into another corner, causing Giles to fly out of Spike's grasp and to crash into the unyielding metal wall of the van.

Tara shrieked in terror as Xander braked and swerved again to avoid the man crossing the road in front of them. "You too, fella!" Xander yelled at the angry pedestrian giving him the finger.

"Xander, for God's sake, slow down before you kill us all," Giles groaned in agony. "I think you've broken my arm."

The van came to a halt opposite the cemetery gates and Giles screamed in agony as Spike helped him up off the floor. "That's my broken arm you bleach-blond moron! Why do you think I was holding it like that?!"

"Sorry, I wasn't thinking," Spike apologised. He secretly congratulated himself for getting back at the smug Watcher without penalty from his ever-vigilant chip, and for making Xander jealous. A double triumph!

Willow impatiently got out of the van and slid open the side cargo door. "We haven't got time for this," she growled. "Spike, help Giles into the front seat. Xander, you take him to hospital then get back here PDQ. Tara and I will look for Dawn with Spike." Then with a voice thick with menace she added, "And, Spike, if Dawn has so much as a grazed knee, Miss Kitty Fantastico will be using Vampire brand litter in her tray this week."

"This isn't down to me!" Spike replied indignantly. "I didn't fill the niblet's head with daft ideas and make her run off to play Slayers and Vampires, did I?"

"He has a point," Giles interjected, sliding himself into the front of the van and shooting a pointed glance at Xander. "Not everything is his fault."

"That's right, blame the Zeppo," Xander muttered under his breath. Forcing a smile, he announced, "Close the doors please. ER next stop." Willow closed the passenger door and Spike the cargo door, then Xander drove off at the moderate speed dictated by Giles.

Willow looked about the sidewalk for someone who wasn't there. "Where's Tara?"

"She took the tracker and went off on her own," Spike informed the volatile redhead. "No, don't tell me," he sighed as he watched Willow sprint rapidly into the distance. "I'm responsible for her safety too."

Switching to close range mode, Tara watched the glowing LCD panel intensely as the tracker led her inexorably towards the Buffybot, and hopefully Dawn. As she made her way swiftly along the asphalt paths of the cemetery, so intent was she on following the tell-tale arrow that she didn't see the figure blocking her way until she almost crashed into the back of her. The blonde woman dressed in red turned to face the startled witch.

"G-G-Glory!" Tara stammered out in terror as the figure regarded her with curiosity.

"Who's Glory?"

"It's okay, Tara," said Dawn from her nearby perch atop a tombstone. "This is Harmony. You remember, the vampire who kidnapped me about a year ago?"

"V-Vampire?"

"Not a very good one," Harmony admitted ruefully. "As Buffy said, when it comes to being bad, I suck, so I thought I'd give being good a go."

"Tara? Harmony? Dawn?" wheezed a breathless Willow as she caught up with her girlfriend.

"Hello, Harm," Spike added laconically, lighting up a cigarette as he strolled up behind the others.

"Spike," Harmony replied cooly, wrinkling her nose in distaste.

"What's going on?" Willow panted. "And where's the Buffybot?"

Dawn hopped down from her seat and joined the others on the path. "Sorry about that guys, she got broken again."

Tara, quickly recovering from the shock of meeting Harmony, followed Dawn's pointing finger and walked over to where the now lifeless automaton was lying in the grass. It didn't seem to be damaged apart from bite-marks on the neck. She felt for the power switch and pressed it. The Buffybot jerked into life, rolled onto its back and sat up in some confusion.

"Hello, Tara. I was attacked and then I fell asleep. Is Dawn okay?"

"She's fine. How are you?"

The Buffybot paused, then stood up and smiled in self-congratulation. "I seem to be in one piece."

"Good," said Tara and walked her round to stand with Spike and Willow.

"So?" Willow asked accusingly.

Dawn looked at the concerned faces and realised her first patrol had not been the rip-roaring success she'd expected it to be. "So I snuck out with the 'bot, went on patrol, got into a heap of trouble and nearly died. Happy now?" she said, folding her arms defiantly.

Willow was far from happy and showed it as she sighed in disappointment before asking, "What happened?"

Dawn quickly decided that it'd be best to tell the truth. "A vamp appeared out of nowhere and jumped on Buffy's back. Must've broke something 'cause she dropped like a stone. Then he bit her and snapped his fangs on her steel neck. He was so busy moaning and cussing he didn't even notice when I staked him from behind," she said proudly.

Harmony suddenly coughed in a 'don't forget about me' way. "Oh, yeah, well. I was so busy staking him, I didn't realise there was another one creeping up behind me until Harmony dusted him for me. Thanks, Harmony, I owe you." Harmony beamed at Dawn and she returned the smile.

Watching this interaction, Willow silently groaned as a feeling of deja vu swept over her. First Buffy and Angel, then Buffy and Spike, now Dawn and Harmony, or was it Dawn and Drusilla? Another Slayer-Vampire romance just didn't bear thinking about, so pushing that disturbing thought aside, she asked a more practical question. "Harmony, I heard from Cordy you were in LA. You didn't pick up a soul while you were there did you?"

Harmony's smile faded. "No... She didn't tell you then?"

"Tell me what?"

Harmony looked embarrassed. "That, like, I betrayed her."

Willow's eyes narrowed. "No, she didn't tell me that."

"Well, I did. I sold her out, along with the rest of the LA gang, to Doug Sanders."

"Who's he?" asked Dawn.

"Who was he, you mean. A vampire with a plan. A big plan. That Angel stopped."

"No honour amongst cheerleaders, eh, Harmony?" Willow sneered at the blonde.

Harmony shrugged. "Yeah, I finked on Cordy. But when she turned the tables, when she could have dusted me, she didn't. I thought about that. I thought about that a lot. You can laugh, Spike, but I did. Y'know I used to think being a vampire was cool. Living forever. Never growing older. No wrinkles or plastic surgery. Okay, the no reflection business is a pain. I mean, have you ever tried to put on makeup without a mirror?"

"Is there a point to this?" Willow interrupted sharply.

"Yes. Okay, I was a rotten person, poor cheerleader, and an even worse vampire. But I'm looking for a chance to make good here."

"She did just save my life," Dawn quickly added to back up her friend.

"And why's that?" Spike chipped in. "She's just told us she betrayed the others. How do we know she isn't betraying us now? How do we know she isn't working for Glory?"

"Glory?" Dawn began to feel uncomfortable as a wave of panic began to rise within her. "Tara mentioned her too. But she's dead isn't she?... isn't she?!... isn't she?!!"

TBC