Memory Part 1

[sparkysparky]

Friday, May 30th, 2007
Bryersville, PA

Quinn Davenport knew he was being watched. His so-called `spider-
sense' had been tingling for more than a week now, but he hadn't
been able to pin-point the problem. When he mentioned his suspicions
to his best friends, Jaimie Archer and Ann-Marie Mallory, they had
both laughed at him and told him his paranoia was showing.

"I'm serious! Someone is watching me!" Quinn insisted a couple of
days later. "And it's really freaking me out!"

"Come on, Quinny! Look around! There is no one following you."
Jaimie rolled her eyes at Ann-Marie and the two girls shared a rare
moment of accordance.

Quinn sighed, deciding that there was no use in trying to convince
them that he was right. The one thing Jaime and Ann-Marie had in
common, other than being friends with Quinn, was that they were
stubborn.

"Fine, whatever. Can we just get to class already?" Quinn pulled his
AP English Literature book from his locker and slammed it shut
before striding off to class.

Jaime and Ann-Marie quickly grabbed their books and rushed after
him.

"Look Quinn, we're just saying why would someone be following you?
You're just a high school student," Ann-Marie pointed out.

Quinn knew that, although Ann-Marie had a point, she was
wrong. "We're going to be late for class," Quinn said, and that was
the end of the discussion for the morning.

~*~*~*~

When the halls were deserted and they were sure no one was around,
two beings shimmered into view.

"It's almost time," the female said, her voice low and musical.

"He's not ready," her male companion replied. "He's too young, too
inexperienced."

"He'll have to learn. We can't wait any longer."

"If you're positive."

"When have I ever not been?"

"I'll set the plan in motion then."

The two were silent for a moment, thinking over what was to
come. "It's coming, tnd this time they'll need more than a miracle
to stop it."

~*~*~*~

Los Angeles, CA

"So, Ms. Chase, how does it feel to have all your dreams about to
come true?" the wide-smiled, perfectly styled blonde asked the
equally sophisticated brunette seated across from her.

"Oh, it's absolutely wonderful. I always knew that someday, if I
worked hard enough, I'd make it here, to this place of honor,"
Cordelia paused for effect and then continued, "Was that too much? I
don't want to seem arrogant on TV."

"Cordy, for you that was modest," teased the blonde.

"Buffy, you're not helping!"

Buffy Summers grinned at her lover and was about to reply when
Cordelia suddenly gasped and slumped forward in her seat.

"Cordy?" Buffy asked, leaning forward. When she realized that
Cordelia had fainted she shouted, "ANGEL! WES! Get in here!"

Buffy picked her lover up and set her gently on the couch. Angel and
Wesley rushed into the room, followed closely by Gunn, Dawn and
Lorne, with four and a half year old Conner close on their heels.
Conner took one look at his mommy lying still on the couch and burst
into tears. Angel picked his son up and rocked him gently. "It's ok,
Conner lad. Mommy is sleeping." He turned to Lorne and asked, "Could
you take him for some ice-cream?"

"Sure thing, Angel-Cake. How about some double chocolate mocha fudge
chip ice-cream?" Lorne held out his arms for the little boy, who
gladly went to the green-skinned demon.

Angel waited until Lorne and Conner had gone before easing onto the
couch beside Buffy and asked, "So, what happened?"

"What else? A vision." Buffy reached out and stroked Cordelia's long
brown hair gently.

"Did she say anything before she collapsed?" Wes asked from the
comfort of Gunn's arms.

"No. She gasped and then collapsed."

"She is lying right here," Cordelia whispered weakly.

"How do you feel?" Angel asked softly, placing a kiss on Cordelia's
temple.

"How do you think?" Cordelia snapped, and then sighed gratefully
when Buffy started massaging her temples. Suddenly she brightened
and exclaimed, "Oh, you will not believe what I just saw!"

~*~*~*~

Northern England

Willow giggled as her lover ran the silky feather down her
torso, pausing to dip the end of the soft toy into Willow's naval.

"Tara…" Willow whined.

"What honey?" Tara asked, smiling slyly.

"Please!"

"Please what?"

"Get on with it already!"

"Your wish is my command, love."
Tara giggled devilishly and threw the feather over her shoulder
before lowering her head and placing her lips on Willow's soft
belly. Willow moaned and wound her hands into Tara's blonde locks.

"WILLOW! PHONE!" a female voice called from downstairs.
Willow and Tara broke about with a shared smile. "Never fails, does
it?" Tara asked.

"It's what we get for running a slayer academy."

The two women quickly dressed, shared a kiss and headed for Willow's
study. "I've got it," Willow shouted as Tara handed her the
phone. "This is Willow."

"Wills, it's Buffy."

"Hey Buff! What's going on?"

"I need you here, Wills. You and Tara and a couple of your most
advanced girls." Buffy's voice was serious.

"Are we talking major apocolypse or giant snakey Mayor here?"

"Don't know yet. Wills, just get here as soon as you can, and I will
explain then. I promise it will be worth it."

"We can be there on Monday."

"Cordy will get your tickets. All you have to do is get to the
airport."

"No problem. I can't wait to see you!"

"Me too. See you in two days!"

~*~*~*~
New York City, NY

Xander Harris smiled indulgently at his fiancé, who was gleefully
perusing the classic comics on display at Comic Finds in downtown
Manhattan. "Andy, are you ready yet?"

"Xan, they have X-Men Volume 3!"

"Original?"

"Yeah! Buy it for me?" Andrew batted his long lashes in Xander's
direction.

Alex sighed and pulled out his wallet and handed his credit card
over. "Go to town Drew."

Andrew kissed Xander gratefully and scampered off to buy his fabulous
find. While Xander was waiting, his cell phone rang. "Alex Harris
here."

"Whoa, way to sound all adultish Xander!"

"Dawnie! How's my best girl?"

"About to turn 20, Xan. I'm your best woman now."

"So, to what do I owe the pleasure, oh ancient one?"

"How do you feel about a vacation?"

"Is this a pleasure-type vacation, or an apocalyptic vacation?"

"Don't know yet. Can you be in LA by Monday?"

"Yeah. I have some vacation time coming. Besides, I'm the boss. I
can take off whenever I want to. And I'll even drag Faith, Robin and
their little one along. Conner will be glad to have a playmate."

"Could you do us another favor?"

"Sure, you know I'm favor boy."

"Can you take a drive down to a town called Bryersville in
Pennsylvania?"

"Why? What's there?"

"Not really sure. Cordy just says it's important to her vision
somehow. Angel just wants to know if there is anything wonky going
on there."

"Anything in particular I am looking for?"

"Just the usual badness."

"I'm on it."

"We knew we could count on you, Xan! I can't wait to see you! Love
you!"

"Love you too," Xander said and then pressed the end button on the
phone.

Andrew had returned, clutching his plastic bound comic to his chest
by the end of the conversation and he mock-glared at Xander's. "Should I
be jealous?" he asked as he slid a slender arm around his lover's waist,
the mischievous look in his eyes belying his stern words.

"Nothing to worry about, baby. You know you're the only one for me."

"You're such a sap, Xan," Andrew said, although his happy blush told
Xander that his words meant a lot to Andrew. Andrew started to walk
faster.

"What's the hurry?"

"We have a lot to do. We need to call Faith and Robin, pack, get
someone to water the plants, call the airline, get a babysitter for
Mr. Spock…"

"Drew, calm down. Don't wear yourself out. Mr. Spock will come with
us, Cordy will take care of the tickets, and we still have most of
what we need packed from the last apocalypse. We'll get it done."

"That is just like you Alexander Harris. Wait to the last minute to
do everything!"

Xander pulled Andrew to a stop and placed a light kiss on the man's
lips. "I love you."

Andrew melted into Xander's embrace and laid his head on the strong
shoulder of the man he'd loved for almost forever. "We've come a
long way, haven't we?"

"Yeah. Love you."

"Love you too."

Xander leaned down and captured Andrew's lips in a gentle but
passionate kiss. He took Andrew's lower lip into his mouth and
suckled.

Andrew stepped away reluctantly and smiled shyly. "Race you home!"
And he as off running toward their apartment.

Xander smiled and raced after him. He caught him several blocks into
the race and swung Andrew over his shoulder in a fireman's carry.

"Xan, put me down!" Andrew insisted.

"No," Xander said as he maneuvered the two of them into the apartment
building.

"You're making a scene!"

"Don't care."

"Are we interrupting something?" a sardonic voice asked from the top
of the stairs.

"Hey Faith. No, you're not interrupting," Xander replied, setting
Andrew down just in time to catch the pint-sized toddler in his
arms.

"Unca `der!" the little girl cried. "Spin me!"

"As you wish, your highness," Xander replied, and swung the little
girl in a fast circle before handing her to Andrew and then turning
to Faith. "You saved me a phone call."

"Why's that?"

"We are needed in LA. Something big is going down."

"Cool. It's been too quiet here for me," Faith said, a gleam coming
into her eyes.

"We leave tomorrow. Side trip to Pennslyvania first."

"I'll be there. Robin will be too. School is out for the summer, so
he's free."

"That's my girl!" Xander said, unlocking the door.

"So, what brings you downtown?"

"Wanna babysit?"

~*~*~*~
London, England

"Ripper, phone's for you."

"Thank-you, Ethan. I'll take it in here," Rupert said, picking up
the office extension.

Ethan perched himself on the edge of the oak desk, and shamelessly
eavesdropped.

"Rupert, are you there?"

"Wesley?"

"Yes. Rupert, we need you and Rayne to come to LA."

"What's wrong?"

"We're not sure. That's why we need you and Rayne to come here.
We're calling in all the troops."

"When do you need us?"

"Can you be here, Monday?"

"Sure."

"Great. Cordelia has arranged for you to be on the same flight as
Willow and Tara. They will be at your apartment tomorrow morning."

"See you Monday, then." Rupert hung up the phone.

"So much for retirement, eh Rips?"

"Do you mind?"

"No. Being around your flock feeds my chaos addiction for months."
Ethan came around the desk and straddled Rupert's legs. "So,
whatever shall we do until Monday? He slowly rotated his hips and
smirked when Rupert responded eagerly.

"Pack?" Rupert asked as he placed kisses down Ethan's neck.

"Sounds like a plan to me."

~*~*~*~

"It has started." The woman's voice was smug.

"You said it would."

"Everything is on schedule. It won't be long now."

"No, it won't will it?"

"Are the others ready?"

"As they'll ever be."

"Send them in."

~end part 1~

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