Dark are the Shadows
Ms Hunter Ash
ripperbard7@yahoo.com
frost29@post.com
rating: PG13
pairings: Buffy/Quentin, Giles/Angelique, Willow/Tara, Xander/Anya, Joe/Maggie, Julia/Thomas
# # # # #
COLLINSPORT, MAINE
“They brought Buffy back,” Carolyn said softly. “Wow. That's...”
“Astounding,” Julia suggested as a descriptor.
“Yeah,” Carolyn agreed.
Both women glanced over at Barnabas. Julia had told Amy and Carolyn about Barnabas' interactions with the Powers That Be. If Buffy had returned...
“I hope she can get past whatever trauma all of this has caused,” Barnabas commented. “The world needs an active Slayer, after all.”
“She needs some time,” Carolyn said. “Quentin is putting the family on a plane in the morning.”
“Good,” Barnabas said. //Roxanne, I'm sorry. I keep choosing others over you. Forgive me.//
# # # #
SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA
“All right, let's talk,” Giles said as the Scooby gang sat in camp chairs. “I'm not going to lecture about the levels of magic that required or the danger you put yourselves in. I will yell at you all about the coffin when I'm not so tired. Buffy is...very off balance. She wants to take some time to...settle into being back.”
“What does that mean?” Xander asked.
“She needs out of Sunnydale and to...ease back into being the Slayer,” Giles said. “We're going to Maine for a week.”
“She doesn't want to see us?” Willow asked softly.
“She does but don't crowd her or expect overwhelming gratitude,” Giles said. “When she...looked around she saw absolute chaos and couldn't quite piece it together that she was back on all levels.”
“We'll be...gentle,” Tara promised.
Giles pulled his glasses off and began cleaning them. “Don't be surprised if there's a bit of anger for awhile, we'll get through this. Just realize this was very traumatic and it'll take time.”
The Watcher put his glasses back on. “And don't ask about her experiences...elsewhere.”
“Okay,” Xander agreed as Willow and Tara reached for each other's hands.
# # # #
COLLINSPORT, MAINE
Angelique touched Barnabas' arm and he nodded slightly.
“You're thinking about Roxanne,” Angelique ventured.
“Yes,” he answered after a few moments. “I'm wondering if I condemned her to an eternity with the Leviathan.”
“Barnabas, you couldn't have made any other choice,” Angelique protested. “You can claim you're selfish all you want but I and others know better. How many times did you put yourself in danger for the family? Even when it would have been smarter for you to leave?”
“A few,” he said softly.
“In my opinion, if all of this caught the attention of the Powers then Roxanne isn't being tormented by the Leviathan,” Angelique commented. “I don't know her history, especially her history as a vampire, but I can't see whoever the hell controls all of this would let her be tormented forever after that sacrifice for you.”
“You think she wasn't exactly on the right side of things as a vampire?”
“You told me that before you changed the timeline that she was preying on Maggie and not being careful about it,” Angelique pointed out.
“And she wasn't treating Sebastian right,” Barnabas added. “She admitted that people died at her fangs after she became a vampire.”
“Like all of us,” Angelique said. “We don't know when she focused on leaving them alive. She may have been killing those she fed on up to the point of returning to you. I doubt it but we don't know her history but I still don't think the Powers would totally throw her to the wolves. Barnabas, you were offered a restful end by the Powers, I've no doubt they gave Roxanne the same because of her sacrifice.”
“Probably the best I can hope for,” Barnabas said. “I woke up in a coffin underground once, you know.”
“What? How?”
“You were actually responsible,” Barnabas said with a smile that was almost a smirk.
“All right, how?”
“The dream curse,” Barnabas said.
“Julia told me that you had died and then you were confronting me just at sunrise,” Angelique said. “I assumed she had lied to keep me from ensuring the curse worked.”
“No, I did die,” Barnabas said. “I told Julia and Willie to ensure I didn't rise as a vampire, I even had Willie make a stake in anticipation. I knew how powerful you could be and I saw how everyone was suffering with the dream and the progression. When Vicki saw me dead in her dream with wounds on my throat, I knew what you had in mind for me. I had suspected that was your plan. We both have patterns, after all.”
“Barnabas...”
“I'm not dredging it up to cause problems between us,” Barnabas said. “Honestly. Just...a story on how I can relate a bit to Buffy.”
“Go on,” Angelique said after a moment. “They obviously didn't stake you.”
“No, they couldn't,” Barnabas said. “Julia decided to bury me with the hope that I couldn't get out and I wouldn't be dug up. To cut to the end, you remember that I was connected to Adam. He became very ill and died. Then he was back again but suffocating. Julia realized what happened and she and Eliott Stokes dug me up in time. I suffocated to the point of unconsciousness. Perhaps I can help Buffy along with Quentin helping as well. Jeb Hawks had him buried alive. Maggie and I found him. He was almost unconscious and he was terrified.”
“I can't imagine what she went through,” Angelique said softly.
“It's...I've had nightmares for decades over that,” Barnabas admitted. “Who all is coming here?”
“Quentin, Joyce, Dawn, Buffy and Rupert,” Angelique said. “Buffy is upset that the others didn't... dig her up and hasn't dealt with the chaos that was happening when she climbed out of her grave.”
“We'll do whatever we can to help the girl,” Barnabas said. “Waking from the dead and realizing you haven't escaped this world is...difficult at times.”
“Yes,” Angelique said softly.
# # # #
SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA
Buffy's hand reached for Quentin's as they stopped at the top of the stairs.
“It'll be all right,” he said softly. “Giles talked with them.”
“Everyone is excited and happy I'm back,” Buffy said with a sigh. “Especially Mom and Dawnie. I can't let them know...”
“That you're not happy to be back?” Quentin ventured.
“I will be,” Buffy said after a moment. “It means I get more time with them, Giles and you. That'll be enough.”
“Come on,” Quentin urged.
Buffy squeezed his hand, took a deep breath and walked down the stairs with him and walked into the dining room. “Hey, guys.”
“Buffy!” Willow said anxiously. “Uh, we, uh, we're glad you're back.”
“Thanks,” Buffy said softly.
Anya got up from her chair next to Xander and walked over to the Slayer and Buffy was surprised to see tears welling up in the former demon's eyes.
“Buffy, I am so very, very sorry about the coffin,” Anya said. “We should have done that first. I'm sorry, we have no excuses.”
Buffy blinked and then hugged Anya tightly. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“We're all sorry, Buff,” Xander said as he stood up.
Buffy looked at her best male friend and realized he hadn't shaved in days and it didn't look like he had slept much either.
“Thanks.”
“We're going to head out near sunrise,” Angel told his ex. “Giles says a Slayer trainee and two Watchers will get here in the morning. We'd rather be gone. Oh, we're taking Spike with us. As annoying as he is... well, he can't hunt humans and he can't fight back.”
“Thanks,” Buffy said. “I appreciate that. Dawn's been telling me about New England, it'll be a change for a week or two.”
“And Carolyn is insisting we all be there for Christmas to meet the entire family,” Giles commented.
“That'll be fun,” Tara said. “Wild storms and fireplaces.”
“And a white Christmas,” Cordelia added. “She's invited our bunch as well. She said the vamps can stay at the Old House with Barnabas, Angelique and Julia.”
“Good idea,' Giles said. “They aren't sure which of the family members they'll tell at this point.”
“This will be... awesome,” Xander said. “I've only seen snow once when a church group took the poor kids in town to the mountains to slide down a small hill on trash can lids.”
“All right, gang, we're going to go
pack and head out to the airport,” Joyce said. “We will be in
close contact with everyone. Just...give Buffy some time to settle
back in. Dawn, grab your backpack.”
“Quentin, will you be
coming back with Buffy and everyone?” Tara asked.
Quentin nodded. “I'll be traveling up and down between here, San Francisco and Los Angeles on family business but I'll be here most of the time.”
# # # #
COLLINSPORT, MAINE
Angelique glanced over as Julia joined the vampire witch on the patio of Collinwood.
“What's on your mind, Julia?”
“I'm worried.”
“You usually are, I've noticed,” Angelique commented. “No offense intended. About what specifically?”
“Barnabas, of course,” Julia said with a sigh. “He's growing more and more quiet ever since we found out about Buffy and he's shut down any...psychic connection we have. I mean we don't communicate mentally at this point but I can usually tell what his mood is and where he is. I can't now.”
“He's worried that his choosing Buffy over Roxanne condemned her to eternal torment,” Angelique said. “I was hoping to talk him away from that viewpoint. I don't know if I did.”
“In 1840 he told her brother how to destroy her and in a parallel universe he wasn't able to reach her through a fire,” Julia commented. “If we hadn't changed this time line and found she was still a danger to Maggie I have no doubt what his choice would have been. That's hard to live with.”
“What can he do, though?” Angelique asked. “He can't go off and brood on his own. We just keep working on getting him to work on healing and moving on, perhaps?”
“Easier said than done but we don't have a choice,” Julia agreed.
# # #
SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA
The Scooby Gang remaining behind waved as the Giles-Summers family and Quentin pulled away from the mansion.
After they were out of sight everyone lost their smiles. Tara wrapped an arm around Willow's shoulders.
“It's almost sunrise, come to bed, baby.”
“Okay,” Willow said softly. “Do you think she'll forgive us eventually?”
“Yeah,” Xander said. “When pigs fly but it's also Sunnydale so that could happen tonight.”
# # #
COLLINSPORT, MAINE
“Barnabas, I think the eyes are improving,” Julia said. “Do you think so?”
“I can see grey instead of a world of black,” the vampire replied.
Julia gently rebandaged his eyes. “Barnabas, you have to try and snap back, please.”
“I'm not sure I can this time, Julia,” he said after a moment. “How many have I lost over the years?”
“Do you want a list?” Julia asked softly.
“No, you know them as well as I do,” Barnabas said with a sad smile. “Josette, Vicki, Angelique, Kitty, Roxanne three times and Maggie in a way.”
“And me?”
“Yes,” he whispered. “That in addition to being responsible for the deaths of my mother and sister. I don't have the energy any more.”
“You have family and friends that adore you, Barnabas,” Julia protested. “And they know what we are and accept us, that's very rare.”
“I know,” Barnabas said softly. “Just give me some time. I'll try.”
“All right,” Julia responded. “Buffy and family should be here before sunset.”
“Good, Elizabeth will be very glad to see Giles again.”
# # #
SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA
“Hi, you must be the team the Council sent,” Xander said as he opened the door to find a middle aged man and woman dressed conservatively and a young woman around 16 or 17.
“Yes,” the man said. “I'm Terrence Wallace, this is Sandra Reyes and Raquel Devlin. We thought we'd touch base with your group and learn where the hot spots are.”
“Cool,” Xander said and stepped aside.
“May we come in?” the woman asked.
“Rule number 1,” Xander said. “Never invite someone in even in the daytime. Rule number 2, remove any 'welcome' mats from in front of your doors. Vamps need an invite to come in, so do some demons and demons can be out during the day.”
“Yes, of course,” the woman said as she blushed.
The three entered the mansion and looked around.
“Where are you staying?” Xander asked as he closed the door.
“We were wondering.....” Terrence Wallace said.
“I can recommend some reasonably priced rentals,” Xander suggested. “That'll be better than a hotel. Vampires don't need an invite to hotel rooms and if someone follows you guys after a patrol it could mean trouble.”
“This is a large place,” Sandra Reyes commented.
“And taken,” Xander said. “Now, let me get a map of the town and show you the hot spots.”
# # #
COLLINSPORT, MAINE
“Glad to see you all,” Amy said as The Giles-Summers family and Carolyn entered Collinwood. “Julia and Thomas will come up after sunset. I'm Amy Jennings, Buffy.”
“And Barnabas?” Giles asked.
“They didn't say,” Amy responded. “He's been...”
“Withdrawing more and more,” Carolyn answered. “Maybe having all of you here will help. I know he's very fond of everyone but Dawn especially.”
“He's cool,” Dawn said.
“It's almost sunset, I'm going up to see Angelique,” Giles said and squeezed Buffy's shoulder. “We'll be back down in a bit. Don't let the size of the place intimidate you.”
“Okay,” Buffy said softly.
# # #
Angelique smiled just before she opened her eyes. “Hello, Rupert,” she said as she sat up.
“Hullo, luv,” Giles said softly. “I missed you.”
“The feeling is mutual,” Angelique said softly. “Come here.”
# # # #
SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA
“Do you think they'll want to do a lot of interacting?” Willow asked as Xander told everyone about the new Watchers and potential Slayer after sunset that day. “We need to keep Tara at arm's distance or they might figure out that she....you know.”
“That I'm a vampire,” Tara said. “It's okay, it's what I am now.”
“You're a lot more than a vampire,” Xander said firmly. “They more than hinted they wanted to stay here. I didn't bite and said we were full up and particular about our privacy.”
“What if they're suspicious of all of us?” Anya asked. “Will they watch us?”
Willow frowned. “We can't follow Buffy to Maine, what do we do?”
Everyone looked at each other for a moment.
“L.A.,” Xander suggested. “Angel will take you both in. Anya and I can watch the place here and keep the shop running.”
“That's.... I'll call Angel,” Willow said after Tara nodded.
# # #
COLLINSPORT, MAINE
“Well, that's interesting,” Giles said as he closed his phone. “Tara and Willow are going to stay in LA with Angel while we're gone. The Watchers and potential Slayer wanted to stay in the mansion of all things.”
“What? Why?” Dawn asked.
“I haven't a clue,” Giles admitted. “The girls are worried they'll figure out Tara is a vampire so they're leaving town like Spike did.”
“Probably a good idea,” Buffy said softly.
“Let's hope for an uneventful visit on both sides of the country,” Carolyn said. “I thought we could have a quiet evening. Amy is having dinner with Thomas and Elizabeth and Barnabas is probably brooding by the fire.”
“I wish I had an answer on how to help him,” Joyce commented.
“I doubt breaking a baseball bat while destroying things would help,” Angelique said as she joined the group in the parlor. “I'm at a loss on how to help him.”
“Well, I'm going to start dinner,” Carolyn said.
“I'll help,” Joyce offered.
# # #
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
Cordelia looked up and smiled as the office door opened. “Hi, guys, glad to see you. Angel is out meeting a possible client. Everyone else is around here somewhere. We've got a room all set up for you, complete with very thick black out curtains.”
“Thanks,” Willow said. “We're just... a little wigged with strange Watchers around.”
“I can understand that,” Cordelia said. “Wes wants to compare notes and get caught up on the details on the Leviathan stuff.”
“We can do that,” Tara said. “It was really scary.”
# # #
COLLINSPORT, MAINE
Buffy trotted along the path to the Old House the purple atmosphere of pre-dawn hours. She smiled as Thomas stepped out of the front door, setting a bucket of ashes away from the house in a metal container.
“Hello, can't sleep?” he asked.
“Nope,” Buffy said. “My mind won't shut down.”
“And you normally keep late hours anyway,” Thomas noted. “Want some coffee or herb tea?”
“Yeah, thanks,” Buffy replied. “Barnabas and Julia bedded down for the night.... day?”
“Yeah, Julia just went downstairs,” Thomas said and hobbled into the house. He stopped next to a small table that was obviously for keys and gloves. He picked up something and showed Buffy.
“Barnabas' ring? He never goes anywhere without that, right?”
“Yeah,” Thomas said. “His cloak and cane are here. His hands are a lot better, he's been wearing this.”
“Check on him,” Buffy suggested.
Thomas went to a bookcase in the small living room and pulled at it, revealing that it was a door to a hidden room.
“Neat,” Buffy said softly. She followed Thomas over and her eyes widened at the sight of an empty coffin. “Downstairs maybe?”
“Go down, quickly,” Thomas said as he limped to a metal door and opened it.
Buffy found a large coffin and opened it to find it occupied only by Julia.
The vampire opened her eyes.
“Sorry, we're trying to find Barnabas,” Buffy said quickly. “He's not in his coffin and he left his ring, cane and coat.”
“No,” Julia whispered and climbed out of the coffin. “Damn you, Barnabas. Where....? He couldn't make it to the crypt where there's a hidden room and he wouldn't leave his ring if he did.”
The vampire closed her eyes and Buffy bit her lip.
After a moment Julia opened her eyes and shook her head. “He's shut down. I can't tell where he is.”
“Julia! Buffy!”
Both vampire and Slayer dashed up the stairs at Thomas' shout.
“Josette.... Josette was here, she was crying,” he said quickly. “She said the widows were calling.”
“Widow's Hill,” Julia said and started for the door only to have Thomas grab her.
“It's almost daylight, you wouldn't make it there and back even as a wolf,” he said firmly.
“And you can't run with that cast! Buffy, Widow's Hill!”
“I don't know where that is!”
“Call the main house, you can meet someone on the path and they can show you which path to take,” Julia suggested. “Thomas, call the house. Buffy, go!”
Angelique and Giles were starting up the stairs when Carolyn dropped the phone at the bottom of the stairs. “Giles! Barnabas is out to face the sun on Widow's Hill! Buffy will meet you on the path!”
“No!” Angelique yelled as Giles jumped down to the floor and headed out the door. She followed and passed the Watcher.
“No, the sun! You can't!” he yelled at a disappearing wolf. “Damnit! Buffy! Follow the wolf!” he shouted. “Please let her hear me!”
The Watcher increased his speed as he crossed the large lawn.
Carolyn and Dawn jumped into Carolyn's car behind him with Quentin heading for the Old House.
# # #
Buffy saw a wolf dashing by where three paths met just in the woods and turned to follow. She could hear Giles further behind and sped up. She could see rays of sun hitting the tops of the trees.
Buffy broke from the trees and she could see the wolf heading for a figure standing on the edge of a cliff further up the hill. The Slayer could see a path leading along the top of the cliff and a couple more heading into the woods at different points.
“Barnabas!” Buffy yelled as the sun rose higher on the horizon.
She saw the vampire raise his arms and wince as twilight became morning.
“No!”
Buffy was stunned when the wolf jumped at Barnabas and they disappeared over the edge of the cliff.
“Angelique!”
The Slayer turned and grabbed Giles.
“No! Angelique!”
“Calm down! Don't make me deck you!” Buffy warned. “Come on.”
Giles stopped struggling and followed his Slayer to the edge of the cliff. They carefully looked over and frowned. Buffy got down on her stomach to extend her body further out and sighed with relief as Giles grabbed her legs.
“Nothing! I don't see either of them!”
“Where? The sun isn't hitting the water yet!” Giles said anxiously.
# # #
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