Full Slate
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Full Slate 2 – Wedding Night (NC-17 for this part) |
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Full Slate 5 - Homecoming |
“You’re a what?” Rupert Giles exclaimed.
“Dad, I’m a vampire,” his son Randy replied. “I didn’t want to tell you, but Joan insists that it’s the right thing to do. That’s why I had to drop out of school, and why I couldn’t go into business with you in the shop. That’s why I moved out of the house.”
“Joan knew,” his father said, his anger increasing, “She knew, and she didn’t tell me. I suppose that Dawn knows too?”
“No, Dad, no. We didn’t want to frighten her. You know that she has a terrible fear of the undead, especially since...” his voice faded.
“Especially since our parents were murdered by vampires,” said Joan, entering the living room. The Giles’ had moved into the Summers’ home when Henry and Joy had been killed ten years earlier. Henry had left the guardianship of his girls to his old friend and Oxford roommate Rupert.
“And you vowed to hunt down all of their kind and destroy them,” Mr. Giles added. “And now my own son is one of them.”
“No,” said Joan, placing her hand on her childhood friend’s arm. “Not one of them. Randy’s different. He never lost his soul.”
Willow Rosenberg reached into the popcorn tub as the killer stalked his victim on the movie screen. Simultaneously, Joan’s cousin Tara reached in as well. As their hands touched, both girls felt the heat rush to their cheeks, and their fingers entwined amid the greasy topping. Willow’s boyfriend Alex Harris seemed oblivious to their emotions, concentrating only on the cinema screen. He reached for the popcorn as well, and the young women broke their digital embrace with regret. They knew that they had to tell the young athlete, but they both liked him too much to hurt him. Willow and Alex had been together since their second year of high school, and all their friends had assumed that they would marry and build lives together.
Willow had known of her sexual preference for years, although she fought the knowledge. After an argument with Alex, she had engaged in a brief flirtation with Osbert, captain of the computer club. Her experiment with him had failed, and the thought of spending her life in a lie, even with someone she cared about as much as she did Alex, left her cold inside. When Joan’s cousin had come to Sunnydale to attend college, her heart melted and she felt at peace for the first time, peace that was only disturbed by her concern for her boyfriend.
Alex put his arm around Willow’s shoulder, and she stiffened involuntarily, but he didn’t notice.
Tara saw the gesture and her face fell. She was supposed to transfer to UCLA in a week, and she panicked at the thought. How could she leave Willow, when she’d been looking for her all her life?
Dawn Summers curled up on her bed and sighed. She knew that he would never notice her, not the way she hoped. He thought she was just a kid. Life was unfair. She relaxed her hold on the navy jacket he had lent her that cool afternoon, while she watched him playing baseball. Tracing the patch with her finger, she breathed his name, “Harris”. “Oh, Alex,” she said to herself, “You don’t know that I exist.”
Rupert sat on the edge of the bed, his head in his hands. “What’s wrong, darling?” a soft voice asked. He felt strong fingers massage his shoulders, and some of his tension released, but not enough. She pressed harder, trying to knead out the knots that had formed at the base of his neck. “You are so tense, Rupey,” the voice continued.
“I have a lot on my mind,” replied her fiancé. “I don’t even know how to begin to tell you.” He turned to see Anya kneeling on the bed, wearing a little wisp of lingerie. As he embraced her, she smiled and drew him down onto her.
“We’ll talk later,” she said.
“He hates me now,” sighed Randy, sitting on a park bench. “He was disappointed before, but now he hates me.”
Joan placed her hand on his. “He could never hate you,” she said. “I’ve known you both since I was a kid, and I’ve seen you at each others’ throats, but he could never hate you. You’re his boy. He loves you.”
He squeezed her hand affectionately. “Thanks for trying,” he replied. “It was never the same after mom died. You never knew her, but she was so beautiful. He loved her so much. I think that’s the problem. He sees her in me, and it hurts him. Now he won’t even see that. I’m just a monster to him.”
“You’re no monster,” Joan said. “And he knows it. What happened to you was horrible, but it wasn’t your fault. You couldn’t have known that your psych prof was a vamp. She was evil, and crazy, and I’m glad I staked her.”
“I’m glad too,” he replied, “but that doesn’t help me now. I’m just so lucky that Ms. Drew was cursed. If she’d been a normal vampire I would have lost my soul, and I’d be one of those evil creatures that we fight. You’d have to kill me, then.”
Joan rested her head on his shoulder. “I don’t think I could ever do that.” She laced her fingers though his. He pulled away. “Randy, you aren’t really my brother,” she purred. “Not even my cousin. You know how I feel.”
Randy stood up and turned away. “It would be wrong, Joan. Before I turned, I believed I’d be taking advantage of our relationship. Now it would just be wrong. And how would Dawn feel?”
Joan stood beside him and turned his face towards hers with her hands. She pulled him down into a gentle kiss. “I know she’ll be upset,” Joan said, “but I can’t live my life for my sister. I don’t care if you are a vampire, you’re more a man, a good man, and I love you. Always have.”
He faced her now, and allowed his vampire visage to surface. “How can you love this?” he asked bitterly.
“Like this,” she replied, and kissed him again.
After the movie, Alex asked Willow if she would like to head to the Bronze for a while. “If Tara wants to,” she replied. “I mean, it wouldn’t be right to ditch her. How would she get home?” She looked at Tara longingly. “You want to come, don’t you?” she asked.
“Sure,” Tara answered, and followed them into the club. After finding a table, Alex excused himself and headed for the men’s room. Willow reached for Tara’s hand under the table and began stroking her fingers. Tara looked into the redhead’s eyes and was lost. Oblivious to their surroundings, she and Willow moved together, sharing their first kiss. As they embraced, the kiss became more passionate.
“Woah,” said a shocked voice. “What is going on?” The two young women broke apart as they realized Willow’s boyfriend had returned. “I don’t know whether to be upset,” said Alex, “or excited.” He thought a moment. “No, I’d say I’m upset.” He turned to leave. “I hope you two bitches are very happy.”
Tears came to Willow’s eyes, as she instantly regretted the pain she had caused her old friend. Tara put her arm around the other’s shoulder and held her close. “It’s better,” she whispered, “It’s better for him if he knows. There was no good way to tell him.”
“Then why do I feel like crap?” replied Willow.
A rustling in the bushes behind the bench brought Randy to instant alert. Three vicious vampires leapt out at the couple, and Joan pulled a stake from her pocket, lunging at the closest to her friend. “Stay away from Randy!” she cried, as the vampire exploded in a cloud of dust. The other two killers attacked Joan from both sides. As she kicked the right one in the abdomen to send him flying, Randy pulled the other away from her and swung him out towards the playground. He threw the dark vampire easily and it impaled on a tree branch and dusted. Randy and Joan reached the remaining vampire at the same moment and staked it together.
“Once again we have faced combat with the forces of darkness and triumphed,” announced Randy. “Once again good has prevailed. Once again...”
“You talk to much,” interrupted Joan. “I could stake you,” she said seductively, “or I could find other ways to shut you up.” Undoing his bow tie, and the top button of his shirt, she reached he hand under the fabric and stroked his chest.
Randy was embarrassed. “Stop it, Joan,” he said. “Quit playing around. I know what kind of girl you are.”
“Really?” asked Joan. “I wish you did.”
The next morning, Rupert and Anya walked hand in hand down the sidewalk leading to their magic shop. “You were wonderful last night,” she said.
“Was I?” replied her fiancé, stopping to clean his glasses.
She took them from his hand, reached up and placed them back on his nose. “I never want to fight again.”
He bent down and kissed her. “Nor do I, darling, though I don’t know how realistic that is. Patterns of behavior are difficult to change. I do know that I never want to leave you again.”
“I can’t believe you actually ran away to England,” she said petulantly.
“I wasn’t half way across the Atlantic before I realized what a fool I’d been.” He took her hands in his. “I loved the look on your face when you walked into the magic shop and saw me standing there.”
“I thought I was dreaming,” she replied. “I didn’t know whether to kill you or kiss you.”
“Well,” he said, as they neared the shop entrance, “I’m certainly glad you chose the latter.”
He put his key in the front door lock and turned it. The little gold bell over the door tinkled as they stepped inside. “Bloody hell!” he exclaimed at the violent disarray within. Statues and orbs lay smashed on the floor, volumes were ripped apart and herbs scattered everywhere.
“Oh, Rupert,” she cried, picking up a particularly expensive votive candle with a long crack through its base, “Who could have done this?”
“I don’t know, darling,” he said, holding her close, “But I plan on finding out.”
Two vampires walked warily through the tunnel into the old sewage treatment plant. The first carried the object of their quest tightly under his arm. While they knew their master would be happy that the book had been obtained, they weren’t sure how his gratitude would be expressed. Their jobs lacked security.
“Ah, so you have found it,” said The Master Vampire, a grin of pleasure creeping across his ugly face. He was the oldest of their kind, and the years had not treated him well. Bald, snaggle-toothed and wrinkled, his nosferatu quality was matched only by his sadistic wit. “Now I will be able to break the spell that holds me, and finally be free of this ridiculous prison.” He smiled at his minions. “Come here, boys.”
The two vampires knelt before him, the first holding the book out in supplication. Their master reached out smoothly and took the volume, turning to the center pages. “This will do. Thank you, gentlemen.” He raked his long fingernails across the forehead of the second vampire, leaving ragged welts, which would never heal. “I was expecting you back hours ago. You know how I hate to be kept waiting.” He scanned the pages, looking for a particular passage. “By tomorrow midnight, I can escape this hell hole, and make the whole town into a bigger, better hell hole. Afterlife is good.”
“Have you found if anything is missing, dear?” called Rupert across the room, as Anya compared the items in the shop to the inventory list.
She laughed nervously. “Nothing much. Just a book.”
“Oh really,” said her lover, walking to her and reading over her shoulder. “Which book?” He read the listing where her finger pointed. “What the hell were we doing with the volume of Rassion?” he exploded. “Don’t you know how dangerous that is? The book itself can cast incantations. It’s the most deadly volume on vampires ever written. Where did it come from?”
Anya wrinkled her nose nervously. “It was a special order. A customer paid us a lot for it. I tracked it down through our supplier in Istanbul, while you were in England.”
“Which customer?” he asked angrily.
“Oh Rupey,” she replied, “don’t be cross. I didn’t know. It was a Mr. Lindsay, from Wolfram and Hart, you know, the law firm? They just opened an office here in Sunnydale.”
Rupert took a deep breath and tried to calm himself. He took the younger woman by the shoulders and looked into her eyes. The fear and guilt he saw mingled melted his heart. “Darling, I know you didn’t understand how dangerous it is. But why would a lawyer need such a volume?”
“Hobby?” she replied.
As if on cue the little bell tinkled, and the handsome young lawyer stepped into the shop. “Miss Anya, you called me? I’ve come for the book.”
Rupert put his finger to Anya’s lips. “I’ll handle this, dear,” he said. “I’m sorry sir, but we’ve had a break in. The book seems to have been stolen.”
“Well,” said Lindsay, “we paid a great deal of money for it. It’s essential to a...case we’re working on. Get it back.”
“Really sir,” continued the shop owner, “I don’t see how we can. We will of course refund your deposit...”
“Get it back,” the lawyer repeated. “Get it back or pay the consequences.”
Dawn had a free afternoon period, and instead of studying, left the high school grounds to watch Alex at football practice. He heaved the ball at his teammates, without any of the usual control he normally exhibited. Dawn could see that he was upset about something, and she longed to make him feel better.
He noticed her on the sidelines and joined her. “Hey, Dawn,” he said, “Shouldn’t you be at school?”
“Spare,” she replied. “I should be heading back in a minute. What’s wrong, Alex? I’ve never seen you throw that bad.”
He tossed the ball from hand to hand. “Nothing. I’m fine.” He put his hand on her head and rumpled her hair. “A-ok, kid.”
She hoped he wouldn’t notice the blush rising to her cheeks. She lay awake at night wishing he would touch her, and even though he treated her like a younger buddy, the feel of his hand on her head sent warmth through her.
“So,” he said, “when’s your cousin Tara heading out?”
“Why?” she asked.
“Oh,” he said nonchalantly, “No reason. Nice talking to you Dawn, but I have to get back to practice.”
“See ya,” replied the young girl, as she turned towards the road to hurry back to class. She decided to take a shortcut through the woods, since they should be safe enough in daylight. As she weaved through the trees, a strong arm reached around her waist and pulled her towards him. The man held some kind of acrid-smelling cloth over her face, and she passed out.
Tara and Willow sat together holding hands under a tree in the local park. “Don’t leave me,” Willow pleaded. “We just found each other. I can’t stand to have you go.”
Tara’s eyes filled with tears. “I don’t want to go. I don’t know what to do. All the arrangements have been made. I could quit school…”
Willow was shocked. “You have to finish school. I don’t want to screw up your life. There must be a way.” She pulled a hanky from her pocket and wiped Tara’s tears away. “Don’t cry. I’ll start.”
“Oh Will,” Tara said, embracing her new love, “what are we going to do?”
“So that’s the situation,” said Rupert to Joan and Randy, as they sat in the family living room. “It seems that this book is of great importance to the lawyer, but we don’t know who took it. Due to the dark magical nature of the text, I do not want to bring in the police. I daresay Wolfram and Hart want it even less. So the question is, where do we go from here?”
“Joan and I aren’t detectives, Dad,” replied Randy. “We fight vampires.”
“I don’t know,” said Joan, “lawyers, bloodsuckers…”
The phone rang and Anya moved to answer it. Her eyes opened wide with horror as she listed to the message on the other end. “Oh my god, Rupey, they say they have Dawn!”
Rupert rushed to the phone and listened. “If you do not bring the book to the parking garage by midnight tomorrow your daughter will die. Do not inform the authorities.” The electronic voice clicked off, as Rupert dropped the receiver to the floor.
“If we don’t give them the book, they say they will kill Dawn,” her guardian said numbly.
“No!” cried Joan. “They can’t mean that. They can’t...” her voice broke into a sob. “What will we do?” she whimpered.
Randy put his arm around her shoulder. “Don’t worry, love,” he said, “We’ll get her back.” He wished he were as confident as he seemed.
Dawn came to in a dark room. She was lying on a bed. She thought she might have been tied up, but to her surprise she was unrestrained. “Where the heck am I?” she thought. Getting down off the bed, she felt her way around the room to try and find out any details she could. Her hand touched a toggle switch on the wall, and as she flicked it up, light filled the room. Instead of the cell she expected, she realized that she was in a tastefully furnished bedroom. No, not a bedroom, a hotel suite. She tried the door, but it was locked from the outside. Looking out the window, she saw the lights of the city. “That isn’t Sunnydale,” she said. “I think I’m in Los Angeles.”
“I could do a spell,” suggested Anya. “I could find the book, or Dawn, or both.”
“Yeah, step mommy, that’s a great plan,” said Randy sarcastically. “Probably turn Dawn into a bunny rabbit. I’ve heard about your spells.”
“Don’t talk to Anya like that,” snapped his father. “She’s trying to help.”
“You told him about the bunnies?” asked Anya in disbelief.
“I came up in conversation. In any case, it is a possible plan. Though you must admit, darling, that when you try to work spells they rarely turn out the way you intended. I’d take a crack, but I’m not sure where to begin.”
“Tara,” said Joan. “Cousin Tara has been experimenting with magic. She could help, Uncle Rupert.”
“Right then,” he replied. “Call Tara.”
An hour later, Tara appeared at the Giles’ door hand in hand with Willow. “Will,” said Joan, “what are you doing here? And what...”
“You should know, Joan. You all should. Tara and I are out.” She waited for their reaction.
“Out where?” asked Anya.
Rupert patted her hand patiently. “I believe they mean that they are lesbians, dear.”
“Oh,” she replied. “Okey dokey. Now let’s get to that spell.”
“I can find Dawn, I think, if you have something of hers, like a lock of hair, but the book won’t be so easy.” Tara pulled a bag of powder from her purse. “Everyone, get in a circle.”
Joan ran upstairs to her sister’s room and found her hairbrush. She pulled the clump of hairs from the bristles and hurried back to the circle. “This should do,” she said.
Willow sat in an armchair and watched the group. “If you don’t need me, I’ll stay over here. Magic gives me the ooglies.”
“That’s okay, baby,” Tara replied. “We only really need three to complete the circle. Anyone else is a bonus.”
Randy looked at her with trepidation. “Would it make any difference if anyone were, say, a vampire?”
“Sure would,” Tara replied. “That would give us a magic boost. Why do you ask?”
“Because,” said Randy quietly, bowing his head. “I’m a vampire.” Joan squeezed his hand.
His father looked at him with pride. “That was very brave, son.” Randy beamed. “He’s a good vampire, all of you, so don’t be nervous,” Rupert continued. “We can all trust him.”
“Oh,” said Anya, “So that’s what you were trying to tell me last night. I’m not afraid. He’s a good kid, I knew that. A little mouthy, but one of the good guys.”
Randy started to snap at her, but he bit back his words. “Thanks, Anya,” he said.
Tara put the powder and hair in a bowl in the center of the circle, and instructed the group to join hands. As she chanted her incantation, the powder billowed up to form a cloud, and the image of a vast city dotted with lights appeared through the cloud. It zoomed in closer and closer until it focused on an old hotel, then closer still to a room, then finally to Dawn’s frightened face. “Los Angeles,” Tara cried, “She’s in a hotel in Los Angeles.”
“Oh no,” said Joan. “We don’t know anyone in LA.”
“There is no time to waste,” Rupert stated. “We’ll take my car and head straight out. Tara, could you find the hotel?”
“I think so,” she replied. “I saw a street sign, but not the exact address. I did see the room number. I’ll know the place when I see it again. We have to be careful. Her door is guarded.”
“My car won’t hold everyone. Willow and Anya, you stay here in case the kidnappers call back. Tara, Randy and Joan, come with me.” Rupert grabbed his jacket and headed out the door, stopping quickly to kiss Anya goodbye. “I love you,” he said to her. He bustled the others out the door. “Let’s go.”
Before they could climb into Rupert’s red sports car, a pair of vampires leapt at Dawn’s attempted rescuers. “Tara, Dad, get in the car. Joan and I will hold them off. Hurry.” Randy and Joan kicked and punched the vampires while the automobile sped off down the road.
“Traitor,” the taller vampire spat at Randy, “we came to offer you the chance to pledge allegiance to our Master, but you shame our kind.”
“He’s not your kind!” screamed Joan, as she drove a stake through his heart and watched him evaporate.
She was about to stake the other vampire when he said, “You will know the curse of Rassion when our Master is freed. No one will escape his wrath.” She held the stake high, but Randy held her arm back.
“Rassion, Joan. That’s the name of the book that was stolen. If we get the book back, we can trade it for Dawn.” He watched the young woman drop the stake. The second vampire broke free and ran towards his home base. “Follow him, Joan,” Randy cried. The two took off in pursuit.
“I was counting on Randy and Joan’s help,” said Rupert, as he pressed the accelerator. “I don’t know what the two of us alone can do to rescue Dawn.”
“Stop,” cried Tara, and Rupert hit the brake. The car skid to a stop as the occupants were thrown forward into their seatbelts. She rolled down the window and leaned out. “Alex,” she called, “Come here. Please.”
Alexander Harris was walking down the road dejectedly. He was startled to hear his name, and even more startled to see who was calling him. “What do you want, bitch?” he called.
“Alex, we need your help,” cried Rupert.
“Oh, Mr. Giles, I didn’t see you there.” He ran to the car. “What’s the problem?”
“No time to explain. Dawn’s been kidnapped. Come with us to Los Angeles, now. Please.” Rupert opened the door and Alex climbed in.
“I don’t know what I can do,” the young athlete said, “But I’ll try anything to help the kid.”
“Look,” pointed Joan. “He’s going into the old sewage treatment plant. Ew!”
“Then we’ll have to go in after him,” replied Randy. If we can get that book back, it will buy us some time to find Dawn.”
“They’re going to kill her either way, aren’t they?” asked her frightened sister, her lip quivering as the truth dawned.
“Not if we find her first,” he answered, holding her tightly. “I won’t let anything happen to her. Neither will you.”
Joan pulled away and checked her pockets for stakes. “I guess we’d better get in there, then.” She looked up at him and gained strength from his eyes. “Ready, Randy?”
“Ready, Jo…” He cut himself off. “Maybe you should stay out here. It’s going to be very dangerous in there. If anything happened to you...”
“Hey, don’t go all protective on me,” she pouted. “Who’s killed the most vampires here, anyway? We go in, we go in together.”
Her childhood friend smiled. “Ready, Joan,” he said.
As the car raced along the highway, the lights of LA shone out of the darkness. “We need a plan,” said Tara. “The door is guarded by two thugs, and they aren’t going to let us in. This is dangerous.”
“I’ve got an idea,” said Alex, as he explained it to the others. Rupert nodded in agreement.
“Actually, that’s rather a good plan,” he said with surprise. “Well then, Harris, it’s up to you.”
Randy and Joan kept close to the walls as they navigated the inside of the old plant. Keeping to the shadows, they narrowly missed a few vampires on their way towards the Master’s lair. Joan turned a corner and stood face to face with a particularly mean looking bloodsucker. Before he could respond, she staked him into dust. Further down the corridor they could see the shapes of more vampires, a large group. They were outnumbered.
Randy took Joan by the arm and pulled her forward. “Hey,” he called, “I’ve come to join you. I brought you a human girl, very tasty.”
Joan looked at her love in shocked amazement.
Alex walked down the hotel corridor with a room service cart. He wore the staff uniform that Rupert had rented from one of the bellhops. His palms sweated on the cart handle, and he tried to breath slowly. “Big game,” he told himself, “Bottom of the ninth, bases loaded. Harris up to bat. Keep your cool. Everything depends on you.”
He approached one of the goons. “Room service. I was called to this room.”
“Yeah,” the big oaf said, “I guess it is time to feed her. I’ll take it in.”
“No,” said Alex, “I could lose my job if I don’t take it in myself.”
“Okay,” the goon replied, “I’ll go in with you.”
They entered the hotel room and closed the door. Alex turned and decked the big man with an unexpected right to the jaw. Before a shocked Dawn could call out, her friend covered her mouth with his hand. “Shh, Dawn,” he whispered. “Be quiet and I’ll get you out.” He took the plates from the cart and placed them on the desk. “Get in here, and hurry.” He lifted the edge of the tablecloth covering the cart and she climbed underneath. “Let’s roll.”
He knocked and the other guard opened the door to let him out. “Your friend says that there was enough food for both of them, so I guess you have to wait for dinner,” said Alex.
“No way,” mumbled the guard, and he entered the room. Alex swiftly closed the door and locked it. He pulled Dawn from the bottom of the cart and they both ran down the corridor towards the fire exit and stairway. They could hear the sound of the thug pounding on the door as they escaped.
Randy pulled Joan into the center of the Master’s chamber. “See what a lovely, er, wench I bring you.” The Master gestured for the pair to come closer.
“Don’t think I trust you for a moment,” he growled. “The only reason that I let you get this far was because I knew you couldn’t harm me.”
“Oh no?” cried Joan, as she lunged at him with a stake. She was thrown back by the invisible barrier that protected the ancient vampire.
“Before I kill you, I want to know who you are,” the Master said. “It’s just a little quirk of mine.”
“I’m Joan, the Vampire Hunter,” said the blonde woman.
“And I’m her boyfriend Randy.”
“Really?” said a delighted Joan.
“You fools,” said the Master. He tapped the cover of the volume lying on the armrest of his chair. “The prophecy of Rassion states that I can be destroyed by neither human nor vampire.”
“That’s too bad,” said Randy, staking the Master through the heart. “Because I’m both.” The dust cloud was particularly thick.
Two hours later, the group of family and friends sat together in the Giles’ living room. “Then Alex and Dawn jumped in the car and we drove back,” Rupert stated. “What about you two?”
“Once we had the book, we walked right through the crowd of minions,” replied Joan. “They didn’t even try to stop us. You were right. It’s a very powerful text.”
“Which is why I am loathe to give it to Wolfram and Hart,” sighed Rupert. “Whatever they plan for it must be evil indeed.”
Anya picked up the book and looked inside. “I don’t think you have to worry about that, honey. I’d give it to them.” She held up the book and flipped through the pages. “See,” she said, “It’s blank.”
Rupert grinned. “The Master’s death must have inactivated the text. We can give it to them in good faith. How wonderful.”
“Look, Anya,” said Randy. “I want to apologize. I’ve said some pretty nasty things to you, but it really wasn’t personal. It’s just, you’re so different from Mom...”
Rupert touched the frame of his late wife’s photograph. “Jenny was a beautiful person, but she wanted me to move on.” He cupped his son’s chin in his hand and looked into his eyes. “She’d be so proud of you.” The two men embraced affectionately.
Willow looked at Alex and sighed. “I’m sorry for what happened. I didn’t want to hurt you. I guess you’re a hero now.”
“Then in true heroic fashion,” he replied, “I guess I have to forgive you. Look, it isn’t your fault, either of you. Tara’s a good person. I want you both to be happy.” Willow threw her arms around him and hugged him hard. “Hey, the breathing,” he gasped.
“I just wish I knew what to do,” said Tara. “I can transfer back to U of Sunnydale, but I gave up my place in residence. I have nowhere to go.”
Joan took her hand. “You can move in here, Tara. I’m leaving.”
“What do you mean, leaving?” asked Rupert.
Randy put his arm around Joan’s shoulder. “I don’t know what you’ll think of this Dad, but we’re getting married.”
His father embraced them both. “Son, that has always been my fondest wish. I have always considered the Summers’ girls my own daughters. I’m delighted that it will be true.”
“There’s just one more thing,” said Randy, breaking away and facing Joan’s younger sibling. “Dawn,” he said, “I’ve always thought of you as my sister. I care about you more than you’ll ever know. But I have a secret that I can’t keep from you, and if you never want to see me again, I’ll understand.” He took a deep breath. “I’m a vampire.”
“I know,” she replied. “Tara told me. I want to see.”
Randy shifted his features into the frightening visage of the vampire. Dawn reached up and touched the lumps on his forehead. “You’re still my brother,” she said, “I’m not afraid.”
Joan, Randy and Dawn embraced. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room.
They had always dreamed of fairytale weddings; Anya with crowds of friends and admirers and fluffy pink taffeta bridesmaids; Joan with a chapel, a white lace dress, and Prince Charming. In the end, they chose a simple ceremony in a small hotel function room with family and friends, a joint ceremony uniting the girls with father and son. They couldn't be happier.
They did have their Prince Charmings, though. Randy and Rupert, elegantly dressed in black tuxedos, standing tall and proud at the front of the room, watching their girls as they joined them. Beauty that took their breath away (if Randy had had breath). Wonder in the girls' eyes at the splendour of their men. Joan finally appreciating Randy in a bow tie.
The Unitarian minister leading them through the vows that would join them "til death do us part", then encouraging them to "kiss their brides." Rupert taking Anya in a deep dip of a kiss, Randy gently pressing his lips against Joan's. Laughter and rice. Hugs and kisses from the onlookers.
Alex Harris' heart doing a double beat at seeing how grown up Dawn looked. Reminding himself that she was only fifteen. Dawn noticing him looking at her, and having her heart skip too.
Willow and Tara, holding hands, wishing for a world that would celebrate their union. Feeling complete within themselves nonetheless.
Family and friends, sharing the joy.
Rupert dropped the room key into the door slot, waited for the green light, and pulled it out. He pushed down the handle, opened the door, and holding it with his foot, swept Anya into his arms. He carried her over the threshold, letting the door swing shut behind him as he laid her on the king-sized bed. They kissed deeply. "Mrs. Giles," he said, as she pulled his tuxedo jacket from his shoulders. She loosened the bow tie and pulled it from under his collar.
"These shirt studs are a pain in the neck," she said, struggling to undo the front.
"You could have opted for a zipper," he replied, reaching around her body and undoing the buttons down the back of her dress. She let go of his shirt and turned, letting him deal with the little pearl buttons. They ran down her back like an army protecting her once-held virtue. One by one, they sat in defeat. He lifted the dress over her head, and soon her silk slip followed. Finally, he peeled her stockings and wisp of lace panties down her legs.
He had always loved her body. He never tired of the look of her. Once again he wondered at the fate that brought such a beautiful creature into his life. He had despaired of ever finding love again after Jenny died, and yet here he was with another wife, a beautiful glowing ember of a girl he loved completely.
She, losing patience with the studs, ripped his shirt open. She ran her fingers through the hair on his chest, rubbing her thumb over his nipple, and he groaned. She lay back and smiled as he took her breast into his mouth and sucked. He knew how she liked that. She writhed with pleasure.
Randy and Joan paused at their hotel door. He bent down and kissed her. "This is it," she said. He carried her over the threshold, then placed her gently on the floor inside. They kissed again.
She looked around at the suite, and gasped. It was decked with flowers; abundant with roses. The sheets were turned back, and the bed strewn with pink petals. "Do you like it?" he asked.
"I love it," she said with wonder. "I love you."
"I know it's been hard on you," he said, "waiting like this. I wanted you to be my wife; our wedding night to be special."
"I know that you didn't want to take advantage of me, of our relationship," she replied. "But do you know how long I've waited? I fell in love with you when I was ten years old, when you and your father came from England to look after Dawn and me. I feel like I've been waiting forever."
He stroked her cheek. "The wait is over," he said, "for both of us."
She picked up her bag from the floor and headed for the washroom. "Let me get ready, then. I'll see you in a minute."
"Wait," said Anya, "I'll be back in a minute." She rose from the bed and headed towards the bathroom. Her husband grasped her arm and pulled her back.
"Not tonight," he said. "No precautions. I'm ready now."
Anya threw her arms around him. "A baby?" she said. "Oh Rupey, you want a baby too?"
He kissed her tenderly on the forehead. "I can think of nothing I would like more than to create new life with our love."
Anya undid the buttons of his tuxedo pants and pulled them from his body with his briefs. He was obviously ready for her, as he always was. She pushed him back on the bed and mounted him, shuddering with pleasure as she moved, up and down, feeling him deep within her. He cupped her breasts in his hands and stroked the nipples with his thumbs, gently. She guided his right hand down, and sucked in her breath as the fire rose inside. She tightened her muscles, as they matched thrust for thrust, and felt him release as she crested.
Still within her, they rolled over. She felt his weight against her as she kissed him. He started to move away, but she held him tight. "I want to feel you in me for awhile," she whispered.
Joan opened the door shyly, wearing a peach lace peignoir. Randy stood waiting in a pair of silk pyjama pants and a long blue satin robe. They gazed at each other.
"You're beautiful," Randy gasped, seeing the way the nightgown draped her bosom, the lace revealing enticing glimpses of the skin beneath.
"So are you," she sighed, the robe framing his pale marble muscled chest and washboard abdomen.
She sat on the edge of the bed and he sat beside her. "I'm a little nervous," she said. "It's my first time."
"Mine too," he replied.
She was surprised. "But you're older. I always assumed..."
"Joan," he said, taking her hand in his, "How could there have been anyone else? I've always been in love with you." He pulled the lacy over robe from her shoulders. Such thin little straps held up the nightgown beneath. "Only, ever you."
She helped him out of his robe and touched his shoulder. It was cool, smooth. Not quite like marble, though, she thought, as she ran her hand across his chest. Flesh, too. Her breath came quicker, and feelings she had never known coursed through her body. "I'm ready, Randy," she said.
He kissed her and pulled her nightgown over her head. She was so thin, so small, but muscular. A dancer's build. Her breasts were small and pert, her stomach flat. Exquisite. She lay back on the bed, her golden hair cascading on the pillow. He smelled roses and spice.
He pulled his pyjama pants off and tossed them beside the bed. She lay with her knees bent and apart, ready to receive him. Her eyes were closed. "Look at me," he said, and she did, overwhelmed by the passion in his expression. So much love.
She reached out with curiosity and touched him. Hard and long, texture like velvet. Instinctively, she squeezed, and he gasped. "Now, please Joan," he said, as he pushed his way into her; buried himself in her.
Pain. She felt like she was being ripped in two. Pain, but pleasure. The feeling of pressure deep in her core. He pulled out a bit, and she rose to meet him. He thrust back deeply. How could pain and pleasure combine so perfectly? Her heart beat faster, in time with his rhythm, a heart beating for both of them. In and out, her breath, his body. In and out, faster and faster. Something exploded inside her. His face contorted in ecstasy.
It changed. No longer human, his was the face of the vampire.
Anya lay stretched out on her stomach, hugging her pillow, watching Rupert as he heated oil in a little pot over a candle. He poured a bit of the warm oil in his hands, and rubbed them together. Straddling his wife, he began rubbing her shoulders, massaging the scented oil into her muscles.
"Hmmmmmmmm." she moaned. "Chocolate mint. You know what I like." She pushed him up a bit and flipped over.
Retrieving more oil, he worked his hands along her collar bone and down onto her bosom. She ground her body into his with pleasure, as he kneaded her breasts gently. He leaned down to lick her nipple. "I'm rather partial to chocolate myself," he said.
"Rupey," she asked lazily, enjoying the feel of his hands as they stroked her midriff, "Where are we going on our honeymoon?"
"I thought you wanted to be surprised, dear," he replied, shifting down onto her legs so her could work the oil into her abdomen.
"Oh, that's good," she said, momentarily distracted. "I've decided that I want to know."
"I'm taking you to the Giles' family estate, in England," he smiled.
"Estate?" she exclaimed, sitting up suddenly and knocking him back. "You have an estate?"
"I have an estate. With servants, and gardens, and peacocks." He knew what her reaction would be.
"You're rich? I mean, I knew you had some sort of inheritance to buy into the shop, and that you've been supporting Joan and Dawn, but rich?" The colour rose in her cheeks.
"Stinking, actually. Wads of cash, along with the property." The look on her face was priceless.
She punched him. "And you never thought to tell me before?"
"Do you like your wedding present, dear?" he asked.
"I love it," she cried, throwing her arms around his neck. She ravished him.
Randy's face shifted back. "I'm sorry," he said. "It just came out."
"It's okay," replied Joan. "I love you. All of you." She turned her head and exposed her throat to him. "It's okay. I trust you."
Randy was shocked. She was in such a vulnerable position, lying joined with him, naked and exposed. How could she...?
"Joan, I've never...I mean, I came over with a soul." His voice dropped. "I've never bitten anyone."
"But the blood," Joan said, "don't you need blood?"
"I drink animal blood. It's been enough." The thought of biting humans had tempted him, but he had always been able to resist. Now, with her lying naked beneath him...
"Taste me, Randy. I want to be the first." She pulled him into a deep, passionate kiss, exploring his cool mouth with her tongue. She felt him hardening again inside her. She saw his vampire face resurface, and with a low growl he dropped his mouth to her throat.
She felt his teeth puncture her skin. It hurt for a moment, but the feel of his tongue as it lapped at her throat, the feel of lightness as the blood left her body, was almost as exquisite as the feel of him within her. Her legs curled around his body, and she pulled him close.
She tasted like liquid fire; sweet and salty. Her blood filled his mouth, and he swallowed deep. Heady, fulfilling. Everything within him was aroused. He took another mouthful, and started to rock, his body thrusting into hers once again. Suddenly, he was afraid. What if he had taken too much? His fangs retracted and he was human-faced once more.
She was fine. She was smiling. She looked at him as they continued their motion, her eyes open wide with pleasure. As she climaxed, he looked as though he were surrounded by sparkling lights. Almost as though he had a halo. "My only angel," she sighed.
They met their friends at the hotel restaurant for breakfast. It was a dark room off the lower lobby. Rupert and Anya yawned, exhausted. Randy and Joan held hands, playing with each other's fingers.
"Did you have fun with Willow and Tara?" asked Joan of her younger sister.
"Great," she answered. "We made 'smores. We all stayed up watching TV 'til forever. You guys can all go off and honeymoon as long as you want."
"It was fun," added Tara. "Dawn's my favorite cousin," she teased, knowing that she cared for her and Joan equally.
"We aren't going on a honeymoon, at least not yet," said Randy. "I need to get a job and save up some money."
"That's okay," said Joan. "I have enough to do redecorating his apartment."
"I've told you," Randy's father said, "Neither of you have to worry about money."
"And I've told you, Dad, that I want to make it on my own." Randy was adamant.
"At least go back to university. You could take night classes." Rupert was proud of his son's independent streak, but he knew that as a vampire, and a dropout, his chances were slim of finding anything worthwhile.
"No, Dad, I..." Joan cut her husband off.
"Yes," she said. "He'll let you put him through school."
"Both of you," added Rupert.
"Both of us," said his daughter-in-law. "As long as I can keep patrolling. The vampires of Sunnydale aren't going to wait for me to finish classes."
"I guess I'm outnumbered then," Randy acquiesced. "Thanks, Dad." He leaned over and kissed his wife. "So, is this what life is going to be like? Me agreeing with everything you say?"
Joan smiled. "Works for me," she said.
Randy and Joan said their goodbyes to Rupert and Anya, who were flying off to England for their honeymoon. The weary, happy couple returned to their hotel room and crawled into bed. Randy wasn’t used to being up in the day, and Joan hadn’t slept the night before, so they snuggled together as they drifted off.
They had extended late checkout to five pm (newlywed privilege), and the hotel clock radio blared at four. Joan woke up and stretched, and turned on the light in the room. Randy was still asleep, and he looked so innocent and peaceful that she hated to wake him. She crawled back beside him and kissed his forehead, saying “Wake up, sleepy,” but he didn’t stir. She tried kissing his mouth, which obtained the desired reaction.
He opened one eye. “Hey, Mrs. Giles,” he said.
“Hey, husband,” she replied. With only forty-five minutes to check out, she knew they should move, but she decided that rushing wasn’t an option, even though they could ill-afford an extra night’s stay. Making love one more time couldn’t hurt.
Afterwards they lay together, as Randy stroked the small wound he had left on her throat the night before. “Did I hurt you, pet?” he asked.
“Quite the contrary,” she smiled.
“What time is it?” he asked. He looked at the alarm clock. “Quarter to five. Bloody hell, we’d better hurry!”
They rushed about the hotel room shoving possessions in their travel bags, trying to put the rental tux back in the bag without too much damage, and attempting to pack her wedding dress without wrinkling it. Joan picked a long white envelope off the floor. “What’s this?” she asked.
“Dunno. Dad gave it to me this morning at breakfast. Open it, love.” He tried to juggle the bags and open the room door.
She picked up her bouquet and one of the bunches of roses Randy had arranged for to bedeck the room, and went to the door. “Let me help you. I’ll open this when we get to the checkout.”
They headed to the lobby. Randy went to pay the attendant at the desk, who said, “Your room has already been paid for, sir. Your father put it on his bill.”
Randy was a little chagrined, since his father knew that he didn’t want handouts, but relieved that he had one less expense to worry about. He watched Joan open the envelope.
“Oh, Randy,” she said, “He’s booked us a week in a fancy hotel in LA, and there are theatre tickets. We can have our honeymoon after all.” She threw her arms around her husband and hugged him. “See, here’s the note.”
Randy read: “Son, I know you want to make it without the family fortune, but I want my children to have a happy honeymoon before you get on with your lives. Consider this a wedding gift. Love, Dad.”
Randy smiled, “Well, Joan, I guess we’re going to LA.”
High over the Atlantic, Rupert Giles held his bride’s hand. “Happy, dear?” he asked.
“Are we nearly there yet?” she replied. “This is a very long flight. I mean, I knew England was far away, and we did have that little stopover, but this is a long flight.”
“We have hours left dear,” he answered patiently. “We’d best make the most of it.”
“Rupey,” she moaned in his ear, “Have you ever heard of the mile high club?”
Rupert removed his classes and cleaned them vigorously with his handkerchief. “I understand your impatience, darling, but we’ll be landing soon enough. I would have thought that last night would hold you for one day.”
“Oh,” she pouted, “Do you really feel that way?” She lowered his tray table and reached under it.
“I can certainly see your perspective,” he moaned. Just then the stewardess came by with the drink cart.
“Champagne for the newlyweds?” she asked.
“Yes, please,” replied Anya, taking the plastic cup with her left hand.
“Not right now, thank you,” said Rupert.
Dawn, Tara and Willow sat in front of the Giles’ TV, sharing a tub of Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey. “So,” said Tara, “Randy and Cousin Joan are off on a honeymoon anyway. Though LA isn’t quite as romantic as England.”
Dawn smiled. “The way those two are, I think anywhere would be romantic. Sometimes they make me sick.”
“Oh, yeah,” said Willow. “You love it. All your favorite people are getting together. You couldn’t be happier.” She held Tara’s hand with her left while delving into the ice cream with her right.
“Not all my favorite people.” She sighed.
“Alex is way too old for you, said Willow.
“Hey,” replied Dawn, “Who said anything about Alex?”
Randy and Joan drove to LA in his father’s red convertible. They pulled up in front of the hotel and he gave the keys to the attendant. “Wow,” said Joan, “This is fancy. I could get used to this.” She walked hand in hand with her husband into the lobby. “Look at the wood. Look at the antiques. And all the brass. It’s so beautiful.”
“This is generous of dad,” said Randy, “But don’t get used to it. We can’t afford something like this. Fighting evil doesn’t pay this well. In fact,” he sighed, “It doesn’t pay at all.”
“Don’t worry, honey, everything will be all right.” She smiled with encouragement. “Your father will put us through school, we’ve agreed, and then you’ll find something. Something you can do at night, or from home. While we fight the forces of evil.” Her eyes opened wide at the big chandelier hanging overhead. “Anyway, I don’t need this, nice as it is. I have you.”
Randy led them to reception. “Mr. and Mrs. Randy Giles. I believe the reservation was made by my father, Rupert Giles.”
“Ah, yes, Mr. Giles,” said the attendant, “The honeymoon suite.” He called a bellman over to take their bags, and headed up the elevator. The antique wrought iron doors closed and the lift rose.
“Here we go, sir,” said the bellman, opening the door and handing Randy the key. “Will there be anything else?”
“No, that’s fine,” answered Randy, fishing in his tweed pocket for a tip.
“Don’t worry about that sir,” said the bellman. “Everything’s been arranged.”
The newlyweds stepped into the suite. It was magnificent. Joan walked through the sitting room in awe, looking at the antiques and prints lining the wall. “This is amazing,” she said.
Randy stepped into the bedroom. “Look at this.” A large canopy bed filled the room, with burgundy silk sheets turned down at the top. On each pillow sat a Godiva chocolate. “Dad’s really gone all out. I wonder what step mommy thinks of our family digs.”
Joan pulled him on to the bed. “I’m sure that they’re having a wonderful time. However, at the moment, I have other things to think about.”
Rupert pulled into the long estate driveway in his rental car. He drove down the tree-lined path and parked in the semi circle in front of the manor. He exited the right hand door, and opened the passenger side for Anya. “So,” he asked, “What do you think of the place so far?”
She looked at the great oak doors. “All this is yours?”
“No,” he replied, “All this is ours.”
They walked up the steps, and Rupert pulled a key from his pocket. He placed it in the lock and turned it. Pushing the great doors open, he called, “Hello, Fenwick, anybody home?”
The head butler hurried into the front entrance. “Oh, you’re here sir. Very good. And may I say sir, how wonderful to have you home at last.”
“Thank you, Fenwick,” Rupert replied. “I’d like you to meet Mrs. Giles. Anya, Fenwick has been with the family since I was a lad.”
“Lady Giles, ma’am, a great pleasure to meet you. We were so happy to hear of the master’s marriage. And of course young master Randy’s, as well.” Fenwick pulled a cord, and a young man joined them. “Evans,” he said, “Take Sir Rupert’s bags from the automobile.”
“Right away, sir,” the young man replied.
“Sir Rupert?” Anya gasped. “You’re, like, royalty?”
“Not exactly,” he laughed. “Fenwick, are the rooms ready?”
“Of course, sir,” the butler replied.
“Good. Lady Giles and I will be retiring. We’ve had a very long and tiring journey.” Rupert took her hand and led her up the stairs. She almost tripped from the distraction of the family portraits that lined the staircase.
At the top of the stairs, she stopped and stared at the full-length portrait of a beautiful, dark-haired woman in a bridal gown. “Who is this?” Anya asked. “She’s beautiful.”
“That’s Jenny,” Rupert replied, “Randy’s mother.”
Randy and Joan decided to walk back from the theatre. They were unfamiliar with the area, and found themselves in an alley.
“Looky here,” said a raspy voice. “Hors d’oeuvres.” A trio of vampires leapt out of the darkness. Without thinking, Randy shifted into his vampiric visage.
“Here, Joan,” he cried, pulling two stakes from under his jacket and tossing her one.