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Part 5
The following afternoon, Willow's parents dropped her off at home before going to the meeting they had promised to attend almost a month earlier. They told her that if she decided to go anywhere that she was to leave a note letting them know. Willow agreed and then went in. She saw the light flashing on the answering machine, and pushed play. She listened to the message that Buffy left about what Dru had told them in the library about her future plans. She smiled as she heard all of the messages that Oz had left for her, almost two a day. Then she heard Giles's message about the book she had requested showing up. Willow knew the code, and called his apartment. Giles explained that she would need to explain the spell that she used to the new watcher. Willow said that she would stop over, after she left a note for her parents. Giles agreed, and hung up. Willow quickly wrote out a quick note telling her parents that she was going to join her friends at the Bronze, and would be back later on that evening. She grabbed the cordless and dialed Oz's number. While she talked to him, she put her bags in her bedroom. She quickly explained the situation to Oz, and told him that she missed him. He told her that he missed her also, and asked if she could wait till he could pick her up on his way to the Bronze. Willow agreed, and hung up. She grabbed the book that she had used that night of Dru's soul restoration so that she could have something to back up what she was saying. She didn't have to wait long, Oz showed up about 15 minutes later to drive her to Giles's apartment. He dropped her off and waited till he saw her go in.
Giles answered on Willow's first knock. He waved to Oz as he let her in. Willow was carrying the book that she had used the night that she returned Dru's soul. Kris was sitting in the frontroom in a chair. Willow walked in and stopped once she saw her. Willow turned to look at Giles. He motioned for her to take a seat. Willow sat down on the couch, but held the book close unsure of what was going on. Giles sat in the other chair and looked at Willow. "Willow, I want you to meet Kris, the new watcher. I'll let her tell you the rest that she wants you to know. Is that the book you used?" Willow nodded. Giles turned to Kris. "Kris, this is Willow. She is the one that reutrned Dru's soul to her. She can tell you what you need to know about the way it was done. Now I will leave you two alone and allow you to talk." Giles got up and headed to his room so that they could talk. He figured that if he stayed, they would never talk.
Kris looked at Willow after Giles left. "I know you must have questions, so I will try to answer them for you first. I have already talked to Dru. I know that she wants to return to being a slayer. She seems pretty stable with this spell, which is good. I have already reported in with the council. They think that Dru is human, and I plan on keeping it that way as long as I can. If they decide to visit to check on her progress, I'll just have to find a way to explain her being a vampire. I don't care about what she is, all I care about is making sure that she remains stable. One of my great grandmothers, Kathy Howe, passed Dru's story down through the generations. She instilled the belief that Dru could return to being a slayer because she was never trained in everyone of her decendents. I believe it is possible, but the council doesn't. I will try to keep Dru from being hurt as much as I can. I can't guarentee that it will last. I will begin her training this afternoon, with the ideals and quick thinking that she will need to survive. You can trust me, even though I doubt you believe me now. I can only hope that with time you will learn to trust me as you do Mr. Giles." Kris watched Willow for a while. She could tell that the red-head had a fire inside that wouldn't be denied. She could understand her reluctance as well, Willow probably saw Dru as a friend and didn't want to betray her trust.
Willow loosened her grip on the book she was holding a little. Kris had answered most of her questions, but Willow was still leery of this new watcher. "Giles said I would need to explain how Dru got her soul. I can do that, but there are some other things about her that he doesn't even know. Before I did this spell, Dru had already stopped feeding on humans. She wanted the spell done to keep her from going back to it, if her hunger got to be to strong to fight. The spell is strong. It was not only one to restore her soul, but to also bind it to her where it can't be taken easily. She would have to want to give it up, and then find a very strong magic user to aid her." Willow opened the book to the spell that she used and then walked over to where Kris was sitting. "This is it. I'm not sure if you understand it, but I will explain it if I need to. Dru was calm till right near the end. She started saying that some sort of music was to loud and wanted to run out of the circle. Angel didn't let her. He grabed her and held her down till after the spell was complete. By the end of it, Dru was to weak to even walk to her room. She told me afterwards that the music was what made her want to kill. She also told me that she was glad that it was gone. Dru is stronger than the demon that took over her body the day she died, and she is quite sane, now. I just hope that you can see the same things in her that I do." Willow sat back and allowed Kris to read the book. Neither of them noticed that Giles was watching from the hallway and had heard the whole thing. They talked for a while longer discussing some of the finer points of the spell, and what happened before, durring and after it was completed. Giles walked in and sat down on the couch. He waited patiently for them to finish.
Once they were done, the time to go see Dru had come. Giles offered to take both of them to Angel's mansion to see her. Kris agreed that Willow should join them. Willow thought it over, and decided that she would. They all got into Giles's car and headed to the mansion.
Dru had woke up about half an hour before Angel. She made a quick entry in her diary about what had happened the night before, and then went and got something to eat. Once she finished eating, she went to the library. She turned on the music that Angel had gotten for their workout. She turned it down so that she wouldn't wake him, and started. She closed her eyes trying to remember every movement that Angel had helped her to learn. She tried to mimic the movements the way that she had saw him do many times. She still had problems with some of them, but she kept practicing.
Angel had woke up, and heard the music. He headed to the library and saw Dru trying to do the tai chi workout he taught her. He noticed that her eyes were closed, and smiled. She was picturing the workout in her mind, and trying to put it into action. Angel noticed the shakiness in some of the movements that she had been having trouble with. He walked quietly over to her. She hadn't heard him, and jumped slightly when he placed his hands on hers to help guide her. Angel moved quickly as she spun around and dropped to a fighting stance that she had saw Buffy use. Dru saw who it was and relaxed. She smiled. "Angel, you shouldn't sneak up on a person like that. You scared me."
"It's ok, Dru. I didn't mean to startle you. You would think that I had learned my lesson by now. I was just going to help you with some of the things I saw you having trouble with. It's good to see that your reflexes are just as good as they used to be. Want to workout together? Patrol isn't for another hour or so. Buffy will meet us in the cemetery." Dru nods. "Well, let's get started then." He stands near Dru and begins the workout from the beginning. Dru follows him and tries to get each movement as close to being right as she can. Half an hour after they start, there is a knock on the door. Angel leaves to go answer it. He sees that it is Kris, Giles, and Willow. He invites them in, and explains that Dru is in the library working out. Willow is curious about the workout and heads right for the library, anxious to see how Dru is holding up under the recent stress that had been added to her life recently. She stops just outside the glass doors, and watches. Angel guides Kris and Giles to the library as well. He sees Willow and guides her in along with the watchers. She takes a seat in the corner of the room with the watchers and continues to watch. Dru notices that she has an audience and stops. She walks over to the small group that has shown up.
"Hey, Willow. How was your vacation? Did you get to have some fun? I see you've already met Kris. She's going to train me, with a little extra help from Angel and Buffy." Dru smiles at Willow. Willow returns it warmly. "That's great Dru. I've heard about what's been going on while I was gone, well, parts of it anyway. I see that the spell is holding. That was my major concern. I was afraid that Spike wouldn't like the fact that is was done, and try to take it from you." At the mention of Spike, Dru's smile fades a little. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean. Don't worry, Dru. I have done some checking in on this spell with a friend of mine. She says that you would have to want to lose your soul before that could happen. If you want to keep it, then no amount of magic will take it from you. It could hurt you and make you weak if they try though. That's the only drawback to this spell. Sorry. At least now you know, right? I think it will be great to have another slayer in town. Buffy sure could use a helping hand every so often. Angel does what he can, but even then they can still get out numbered." Willow tries to reassure Dru about her decision to become a slayer. Dru nods. "Yea, I kind of saw that a short time ago. I wasn't sure of what to do to help them, but I guess forcing some to come after me helped. Thanks Willow, for everything." Dru looks towards Kris. "But right now, I think it's lesson time for me. Sorry Willow, I would love to spend some more time chatting, but duty calls." Willow nods. "Maybe later, after patrol. I'll be at the Bronze. Bye." Willow gets up to leave. Giles volunteers to see her safely there, and leaves with her after telling Kris that he will come back for her later.
Kris stands up. "Ok, Dru. I know that you know a bit of tai chi, and some basics of slaying. I should find out what your reflexes are like." Angel smiles. "They are quite fast. I spooked her earlier. She was working out alone, and I snuck up behind her. It's a bad habit of mine that I definitely need to break. If she would have had a stake, I would have been dusted." Kris looks from Angel to Dru. "No stake? Well, I can understand that you are at home, and it is daytime. Ok, I'll let that pass for now. On patrol, it is wise to carry at least two if not more. This way if you lose one, you always have a backup plan. Since you have taken to jeans and a t-shirt, I would guess that you were thinking the same way." Dru nods. "Before you were changed, are you sure you didn't get any training? You seem to have a decent knowledge of slayer tactics already. I find that quite an oddity. Most slayers take years to learn that type of thinking." Kris watches Dru for any signs of anger at being questioned this way. There aren't any, just a smile that appears to be hiding some answers to unasked questions. "Nope, not formally anyway. I did get to read the Vampyre book though. It told me a lot. I just remembered what I read, and have started putting it into use that's all. Plus working with Buffy and Angel has taught me some things too. Are you upset by this?" Kris shakes her head. "No, Dru, I'm not upset. It actually makes it a bit easier to train you. Let's start on basic blocks to punches and kicks then. I'll show you and Angel what I mean, and then you two can work on them together. That way you won't have to pull your punches like you would with me." Kris pairs of with Angel. She shows him the types of punches and kicks she wants him to start helping Dru with. She explains that the way he puts them together in a routine doesn't matter, as long as it varies and uses them more than once. Angel nods. She then shows Dru how to block each one. She has Angel throw the punch, which he pulls to keep from hurting the watcher. Kris blocks it. This continues till all types of punches and kicks that she wants Dru to learn to block has been shown. Kris then backs up and puts Dru into the same spot she was standing. Dru takes a fighting stance, and starts sparing with Angel. Angel takes it slow at first, allowing time for Kris to correct any problems that Dru may be having. Once she has corrected all of the problems, Angel steps up the speed a notch at a time. Dru blocks each one, gaining confidence the whole time. Kris stops them after about half an hour. She knows that it is time for patrol, and allows them to get ready.
Giles had returned to pick Kris up durring the last few minutes of the sparring match between Angel and Dru. He was surprised by how quickly Dru had learned just the basics. He waited patiently for Kris to dismiss class, so to speak. Once Angel and Dru left the library to get ready, he approached Kris. "Well, how is your slayer doing? Think she'll make it?" Kris looked up. "Yea, I think she will, providing I can keep the council at bay. They won't make it easy on her if they found out that she is still a vampire. She is very smart and picks up on things quickly. I was surprised at the ease in which she learned basic blocks. Angel has agreed to work with her on them daily. I guess that she has the best type of help I could ask for, a slayer and a souled vampire for friends. That in itself has made her a special case. I will be stayng on here in Sunnydale. I will find a place of my own soon. I have signed up as the new school nurse at Sunnydale High School. I start when the new semester starts. I understand that you are the librarian there?" Giles nods. "Good, then I'll be seeing you around. I understand that the nurses office is very close to there. I shall be checking in from time to time. I understand that there are interesting books that are never checked out." Kris smiles. "I may just have to be the first to do so. Well, my work here is done. Dru will be checking in after patrol. She should be keeping a diary, I'll mention it to her when she calls. Shall we return to the apartment? I'll cook us some supper once we get there." She had been writing a small note telling Angel and Dru that Giles was taking her with him. She found some tape and hung it on the inside of the door as they left.
Angel found the note Kris left about 15 minutes later. He had called Buffy right after the sparring session with Dru to explain why they would be running a little bit late. Buffy understood, and said that she would still meet them in the cememtery. He agreed and hung up. He met Dru on her way out of her room. She was wearing the same outfit that he had first saw her in the night Spike snuck up behind while she was watching Buffy and Angel. Angel explained that Kris was with Giles and that Buffy knew they were running a bit late. Dru smiled, and said she was ready to go have some fun hunting the right way this time. They left the mansion and headed towards the cemetery.
Buffy was sitting on a headstone waiting on Angel and Dru. She knew they were on their way thanks to the call from Angel. A dry twig cracked behind her, and she stood up turning towards the sound. "Hello cutie, out here all alone?" Buffy knew that voice, it was one that she hated. "What do you want Spike? I thought I told you to get out of Sunnydale a while back. Everytime you come here, there is always trouble." Buffy looked at him sternly. She really didn't want Dru to see the fact that he was here. She was afraid that it would bother the new slayer, and maybe cause problems that she didn't have the time to deal with right now. Spike studied Buffy for a while before he answered her again. "I will, just as soon as I get Dru back. She belongs with me you know." He lied. He didn't want a brassed off slayer on his hands right now. "She's been hanging around with you and her sire of all people. Just return her to me, and I'll leave no questions asked. She has some crazy idea of becoming just like you. How stupid of an idea is that? A vampire becoming a slayer? The council would kill her just as soon as they got wind of it. They don't like us vampires much, you know." Spike paused and brought his hands up to his jacket. He rested them on the leather for a few minutes, then laughed. "Of course you do, you're a slayer. They send your kind after us demons on a daily basis. I guess that you are just going to have to dust not only Dru but also your boyfriend eventually. Oh well, I guess your life will continue to go on, if you live long enough, that is. No slayer ever lives very long. They all die way to quickly, and the council doesn't really care, they just call another to replace the one that was lost. I don't like to brag...." He laughs again. "Who am I kidding, I love to brag! I've killed a couple of slayers in my time. Not very strong, at least not like you. You are a special one. You have family and friends to help you. That definitely isn't in the handbook. You may just be the one to make it. Then again? Maybe not." He runs towards Buffy full force. She sidesteps him, and he hits the ground hard. As he skids to a stop, he notices a pair of tennis shoes right in front of him. He looks up, and into the eyes of Dru.
Dru had over heard the last part of Spike's conversation with Buffy, and was growing angrier at him with every word. Dru decided that she had made the right choice, and was going to prove it to him, ready or not. Angel left Dru's side and went over to Buffy. He knew that this was something that Dru had to do alone, and wasn't going to allow Buffy to interfere unless it was necessary. Buffy watched, not sure of what would happen, but knew that it was time for Dru to start dealing with this. As Spike stood up, he brushed himself off. He went over to Dru, and smiled. "Well, baby, I see you haven't changed the look yet. Are you ready to give up this stupid idea and return to where you belong, by my side?" He watched Dru's eyes for any indication as to what she was thinking. "We don't have to stay here, we can go elsewhere if you want. I really don't mind. I don't even mind the fact that you were to be trained as a slayer way back when you were still human. All I care about is being with you now. I want to keep you safe. Come on back with you little Spike." He reached out to hug her, hoping that she would allow her guard to drop for a few minutes. Once he was close enough to hug her, she backed away. He tried again thinking that she was just playing hard to get. This time, Dru punched him, knocking him to the ground hard. He sat there stunned and looked at her.
Dru looked down at Spike. He had made her angry enough to hit him this time. "Spike, I told this once before. I am not going back with you. Things have changed. I'm not the same anymore. You are just going to have to accept that. You should just leave Sunnydale and forget about me. Get on with your life, I am. You may want to be with me, but I don't want to be with you. I have a future that I look forward to seeing now for the first time in my life. I don't know how to explain it otherwise. That hit was just a warning. If you try to hug me, or get close to me like that again, I will show you just how much of a slayer I am. Now get, while I'm still feeling generous to let you live for now, even though it is unslayer like." She steps over Spike's legs, and walks over to Buffy and Angel. She could see that they weren't to happy with her choice to let Spike live. Dru knew that she would have to explain her reasons to them, and would do just that once Spike left. Spike got up, after Dru walked away from him. "You haven't heard the last of me, that's for sure. I will get you back Dru, that's a promise. you honestly think that they trust you now? You let me live after all." He ran off laughng the whole way.
Dru closed her eyes at his laughter. Angel started to say something about letting Spike go, but Buffy silenced him with a stern look. Buffy knew what Dru was feeling. She could see traces of tears in her eyes before she closed them. Dru had just turned her back on someone she once loved and now would be forced to kill eventually. This wasn't the easiest thing to do, but Dru walked away from the last part of her past when she was evil. That was the one thing that Buffy never thought she would be strong enough to do. Dru told Buffy that she just couldn't do it. Right now she just wasn't ready to kill him. Buffy nodded and said that she understood. Angel agreed, remembering the time that Buffy told Angelus the same thing. They patrolled for about an hour after the confrontation with Spike. Angel and Buffy went to the Bronze after patrol, and Dru headed back to the mansion. She asked them to apologize to Willow for her, and to explain the reason for her not going. They promised that they would.
Dru went to the mansion and laid down on her bed and cried. She was upset by what had just occurred, but didn't want to upset Buffy and Angel further by her feelings. She just wanted time alone to deal. Dru fell asleep after a few hours of crying and trying to deal with everything. She had called Kris just after she got in the door to check in. She felt that it was better to get that done before she got lost in her emotions.
Buffy and Angel explained everything to Willow and Oz. They promised to stop
in and check on her the following day. The gang enjoyed an evening of music
and laughter. They tried to forget all about where they were and what had
happened. At the end of the night, Oz drove Willow home. Angel walked Buffy
to her house, and then went to the mansion. He checked on Dru before going
to bed himself.