Title: A Very Special Christmas part 4/?
Author: Michelle
Date: April 2004
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Buffy/Giles
Summary: It’s Christmas Eve in Sunnydale. What could possibly go wrong?
Disclaimer: These are not my characters. They belong to Joss, Twentieth Century Fox, UPN, WB & Mutant Enemy. This is purely for fun.
Spoilers: This story takes place in season four, but I did use some elements from season five.
Author’s notes: See part 1
Thanks to my betas Kathy and Jules. I couldn’t have done this without you.
*****
Dawn glanced at her sleeping sister. “Do you think she’s okay?”
“I’m sure she’s fine, Dawn,” Kathryn answered. “Edward or Rupert would have told us if she wasn’t.”
“Unless they didn’t want to scare us.” Dawn started to pace around the room. “He did say that ‘she needs someone with her.’ What if something happens?”
Joyce left Buffy’s side and stepped in front of Dawn to stop her pacing. “Dawn, Honey, she’s alright. She just needs to rest. He wants us here to calm her if she has nightmares.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. Now come sit.”
Reluctantly, Dawn sat on the floor beside the couch.
“Why don’t we talk about something else?” Kathryn suggested. “I know Buffy is the Slayer and Faith, too, but what about you?” she asked Dawn. “You were out patrolling. Are you a Potential?”
“What me? No, at least I don’t think so. I’m sure Giles would have told me if I was. I’m just a Scooby, like Xander or Willow.”
“Scooby?” Kathryn asked.
“That’s what they call themselves,” Joyce told her.
“The Scooby gang,” Dawn said. “Ya know. Like on tv. We solve mysteries, only the demony kind. I don’t remember who thought up the name. It was probably Xander. Anyway, Giles thought I should learn to protect myself, so I’ve been training with him. Tonight was my first time to go on patrol.”
Not wanting to think about Dawn patrolling, Joyce changed the subject. “So, Kathryn, where do you live?” Joyce asked.
“I live here in Sunnydale, but my job requires me to travel. I spend time in L.A., San Francisco, and even London.”
“What is it you do?”
“I’m a blacksmith. For the most part, I make things to sell at festivals and fairs.”
“Like swords and stuff I’ve seen at the renaissance festival?” Dawn asked.
“Yes. I make weapons and armor. Most of it I make ahead of time to sell at events, but I also do custom work. That’s how I met Edward.”
“Really? Dawn asked. “How’d you meet? I want to hear all about it.”
“A few years ago, he saw some of my work on my website and asked me to make some weapons and armor for him, offering to pay for my trip to London,” Kathryn said. “I was curious, so I went to see him. After talking with him, I knew why he wanted to meet in person. He told me all about Watchers, Slayers, vampires, and magick. He also told me that he needed special weapons made, and he couldn’t go to his normal sources. He was tracking a man who meant to cause harm to the Watcher and Slayer. He didn’t tell me any more than that, fearing that if I knew too much, it would put me in danger. I took his specifications for the weapons, and traveled back to California. He’d told me that he would contact me again when he needed the weapons. A few months later he contacted me. He was in L.A., and arranged to meet me. We met only long enough for me to give him the weapons.”
“But you’re together now,” Dawn interrupted. “When did you see him again?”
“Not until this past summer. He contacted me to make something else for him. He needed shackles for his prisoner. He took me to London with him. We worked together to make sure his prisoner could not get free. As I made the shackles, he cast spells on them. When I asked why, he told me it was to protect the world from an evil man, and only a few people would have the key to undo the spell and release him.”
“You’re talking about Nicholas, the guy that kidnapped Buffy, right?” Dawn asked. Kathryn nodded. “So how did you end up here?”
“After Nicholas was no longer a danger, Edward and I were able to relax. He showed me around the city and took me out to dinner. We talked for hours. He talked to me about his family, about being a Watcher, and anything else I asked. I stayed with him in London until recently. Buffy called Edward to ask if he was going to come to Sunnydale for Christmas. Edward was busy, but I convinced him to call in a few favors and come see his family. I know that until this summer he and Rupert hadn’t spoken to each other in years. Then they only saw each other for a couple days. I thought this would be good for them.”
“I guess this didn’t work out as planned.” Dawn quipped. “It still could, though. Things have a strange way of working out when you least expect it. That’s the fun of living on the Hellmouth.”
*****
“Angel and Cordelia are on their way to see what they can learn about Wolfram & Hart and to retrieve the amulet from them,” Rupert told his father.
“Did he give you any information about it?” Edward asked.
“It’s more powerful than the Gem of Amara. Legends say that a vampire in possession of it doesn’t need an invitation to enter a home.”
“What amulet?” Wesley asked.
“Willow discovered that Wolfram & Hart is offering the Amulet of Corvinus to the vampire that delivers my child to them.”
“Is there a way to counter the effects of the amulet?”
“None that I know, but the vampire could be killed by decapitation,” Rupert answered.
“But that’s not our concern at the moment,” Edward interrupted. “This is just a distraction. It will help if Angel is able to secure the amulet, but we need to concern ourselves with the real threat. Something else will be sent to carry out Wolfram & Hart’s mission.”
“So we’ll need to put up a barrier to keep it out and prepare for a possible attack,” Wesley said as he stood. “I’ll check on Anya and Tara. They may need to alter their spells.”
“I’ll gather the weapons.” He looked into Rupert’s eyes. “You need to talk to Joyce and Dawn. If Buffy does go into labor soon, we’ll need their help. Kathryn’s, as well.”
Rupert took a deep breath before walking to the living room. “Joyce, I’m sorry to interrupt, but we need to talk.”