Buffy The Vampire Slayer Fan Fiction ❯ Her New Family ❯ The "Initiative" Take The Initiative ( Chapter 18 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

While Willow is getting some answers from Riley, the Initiative attacks the Mansion of Crawford Street.

Non Anime: Buffy The Vampire Slayer Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Supernatural / Romance / Occult / Hentai / Action | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 11.06.2007 | Pages: 7 | Words: 8.9K | Visits: 354 | Status: Completed

Disclaimer: I do not own. It's all Joss-baby's.

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“So let me get this straight.” Angel announced, looking at Willow, Oz and Spike. After the werewolf and the redhead had returned, Cordelia, Spike and Angel had cornered them and demanded to know who they'd saved (Spike and Angel) and smiled happily when they found out that this Tara witch hadn't been brought back to the family (Cordelia).

They'd congregated in the living room, having their first `family gathering'. Oz and Spike shared the loveseat, Angel sat in a chair, and Willow and Cordelia used the sofa. The redhead had then decided to tell both Cordelia (who was lying on the sofa with her head on Willow's lap, purring as Willow caressed her hair) and Angel exactly what had happened during their four year disappearance.

To say the two dark haired vampires were shocked was an understatement.

“So you're saying,” Angel leaned forwards in his chair. “That you are the Dark Flame? The--,” He cleared his throat. “Queen of Europe?”

“Of course not, that's just ridiculous.” Willow clarified. “I'm the Queen of France.”

“For now.” Spike stated, silently reminding her of the Swedish vampires who'd come to see her during the summer.

“Spike, I'm going to only say this one more time.” Willow told him, running her fingers through Cordelia's soft curls. “I have enough problems with France. I will not take on another nation, no matter how good their blood tastes.”

“But Red---.” Spike nearly whined.

Oz snickered, leaning back, arms folded over his chest, enjoying this as if it were a normal thing for Spike to whine and Red to give him a raised eyebrow with a `Discussion Over' look. “Come on Spike, you hardly get along with the ambassadors and governors as it is. How would you deal with hundreds more taking up mum's time?”

Spike paused in mid-rant, and turned to look at Oz as if he'd just given him an epiphany. “You're bloody right.”

“Of course he's right, he's my son and general.” Willow smiled proudly at Oz, who blushed at the praise, smiling widely.

Cordelia frowned and mouthed the words `I'm her only true blood childe' to Oz, who made up his nose at her and mouthed `son and general, top that little brat' with a playful smirk on his face. She pouted deeply, sticking her tongue out at him…a tongue he made as if to bite. She giggled at the werewolf and he smirked at her.

Spike raised an eyebrow. Since when had the pup and bint gotten friendly? Shaking his head at this new development, he looked up at Willow. “Red, have you come up with some answer to the Vicus problem?”

Angel looked at his mate in interest. He was used to creating chaos throughout Europe, not organizing and ruling it. It amazed him that his mate was the Queen of France, and the fact that hundreds of demons followed her was mind-blowing. Also, he'd realized that Spike had changed as well. He, along with Oz, planned the strategies for Willow's Army (he still couldn't put his head around that).

“I'm calling a televised meeting.” She announced uneasily, a smile curling on her lips at Cordelia's whimper of protest when she stopped caressing her hair. “While Oz and I were coming back I called Vicus and told him to get everyone in the meeting room and make sure everyone was there because I won't do this twice.”

“Speaking of which,” Oz rose from the sofa. “I better go hook up the stuff so you can just call whenever you want.”

“Thanks Oz!” She called after him as he left the room. Softly massaging Cordelia's scalp with the tips of her fingers, eliciting purrs slightly choked by the pleasure of the sensation, Willow kept her eyes on her mates. “You can sit with Spike and I throughout the meeting if you want.” She offered Angel.

“Actually, luv,” Spike announced as he stood and stretched, a yawn escaping his lips as he turned to her with a sleepy smile on his handsome face. “I'm a creature of the night—and it's morning. So I'm going to plead off on this meeting.”

She pouted yet it turned into a smile when he stalked towards her and bent down, capturing her lips with his own. “Okay, sleep well then sleepy pants.” Willow called after him, smiling at his laughter as he headed up the stairs. She turned to Angel, smile on her face. “How about it? Or are you going sleep too?”

“No, I want to see this.” Angel shook his head rapidly. “But I don't want them to see me. I just want to watch.”

Her smile was brilliant.

“Can I stay up too mummy?” Cordelia asked with a yawn, turning so that she was looking up in Willow's face.

“I think you should go to bed baby.” Willow told her. “You need your rest.”

“But mummy—” She yawned deeper. “I'm not” another yawn “sleepy.”

“Right.” Gently pushing Cordelia off of her, Willow kissed the dark haired beauty on her perky little nose and gave her a swat on her behind to send her off. “Go sleep.”

“Yes mummy.” She yawned again. “Night Angel.”

“Night Cordy.” He nodded in her direction.

Going towards the stairs, deciding to leave Miss Edith downstairs all alone because she'd sided with Dru earlier, Cordelia climbed the steps and went down the hallway to the room.

Willow giggled as Angel crooked his finger at her. Getting up she sat between his parted thighs, leaning against his strong chest. A satisfied sigh escaped her lips as his arms went around her, keeping her against him, and he rubbed his cheek against hers affectionately.

“A guy can get used to this.” He whispered, purring in the back of his throat huskily.

She giggled, turning her face to peck his cheek cheekily. “What is it with vampires and purring when they're around me?”

Angel growled jealously, about to demand if any other vampire (other than Cor and Spike) made it a habit of purring around her.

“Mum?” Oz called from the next room, thankfully interrupting the dark vampire. “It's ready.”

“Thanks.” She smiled at Oz as he appeared through the doorway and headed up the stairs. “Going to sleep too?”

“Yeah, I'm beat. Night mum, Angel.” Hurrying up the stairs, Oz headed to his room to sleep.

Angel watched the younger man until he disappeared. “So how did the boy whom you wanted to give you that `Hollywood kiss' end up being your `son' and calling you `mum'? I mean, I remember introducing you to Dru and Spike—and I understand you leaving with them and their calling you `mum', but what about Oz? How did he get mixed up with all of this?”

“I'll have to tell you that later.” She smirked, getting up and stretching. “'Cause I'm tired too but I can't go to sleep as everyone else. I have a teleconference to conduct.”

It was two hours later that Willow finalized the teleconference. She'd spent two full hours arguing with Malcolm, (who continued to insist he take care of the Slayer for her) and assuring everyone that she was fine and wasn't about to return to France until she'd done what she'd come here to do.

They'd taken the news of Angel's and Cordelia's joining the family with an uproar. Angel (who'd stayed hidden in a corner the whole conference and hadn't been noticed) had growled softly when they'd argued as to why she'd want to reunite with a souled demon who'd tarnished his own reputation and turned traitor—who'd become the Slayer's `lap dog'.

Cordelia's issue had proved an uproar because everyone either wanted to know how Willow could have sired someone—or congratulate her for her magnificence. It only seemed to cement in their eyes the fact that Willow was the right one to rule them—and that she should come back to France right away before something happened to her.

Willow was slightly insulted that they worried so much that the Slayer would end up killing her. If she was their `all-powerful' leader, then why would they even think that the Slayer had a chance?

Finally, when the conference was over, Willow stretched and sighed. She turned to look at Angel, who was fuming in his hidden corner.

“Hey.”

“Lapdog, huh?” He asked her with a raised eyebrow.

“Well, actually, that is probably one of the least insulting names those in Europe have for you.” She winced at the expression he gave her, yet narrowed her eyes in annoyance. “Oh come on, what did you really expect? You turn against your own kind, join forces with the Slayer, and on top of it you publicly declare that you two are each other's `true love'. How did you think the demon community would react to it?”

He sighed, head lowering. “I see your point.”

“Good.” She brightened immediately, grinning at his open yawn. “Go on upstairs and sleep. I'll be there in a minute or so.”

“You sure you don't want me to wait on you?” He asked, standing and stretching much like Spike had a couple of hours earlier.

“Yeah, go on.” Pushing him towards the door, she smiled at his kiss on her cheek and watched him as he sleepily strolled towards the stairs. Turning to her work, she sighed, jaw tensing.

Waiting until she heard Angel entering his room, Willow looked around and tip-toed outside of the mansion. She wanted to sleep, her body demanded it, but she had something she needed to do before she could rest.

Riley Finn didn't know how she knew where he lived, but one minute he'd been readying to go to college (after drinking three cups of coffee to keep awake), and the next the door to his room in the frat house flew open, revealing Willow Rosenberg.

“You don't mind that I just drop in uninvited, do you?” Willow asked, coming inside of his room and throwing herself on his bed. “Cause if you did, then you'd have to just deal with it because I'm not going anywhere until we've had our little talk.”

“Make yourself at home.” He tried for sarcastic, but the smirk on his face sorta ruined the effect.

“Already did.” She quipped.

His smirk turned into a full-blown smile. “So, you mind telling me how you got involved with vampires and how you—uh—dusted all those below? According to Tara you held up your end of the deal fairly easily. She said you were like—above human.” He paused, sipping his cup of coffee as if it were the elixir of life. “Are you a Slayer?”

She looked at him in silence before bursting in laughter. “What would make you think that I'm a Slayer?”

“Your fighting skills—your knowledge of demons—your---oddness.”

Willow raised an eyebrow, smile still in place. “And you consider being a part of a secret organization that fights demons as normality?”

He paused. “You have a point there.”

“Elementary my dear Finn.” Sitting up she lost her smile, her face grave. “And that brings me to my visit. I want to know that you're not going to snitch to your superiors about my family—and ask why you haven't done it yet.”

“What makes you think I haven't?” He asked slowly.

“I'd have a surveillance team around where I am if you had—but the only beating heart is that of my puppy.”

“Puppy.” Riley scoffed. “Remember that Tara told me what happened in there. That guy is a werewolf—and you treat him as if he's a Chihuahua.”

“Chihuahua's have some of the sharpest teeth known.” Willow lazily offered the information, finger his pillow. “They can cut through veins easily. And they're known to be vicious and fiercely loyal.”

“You know what I mean.” Yet he was beginning to smirk again.

“Why haven't you told the Initiative about us?” Willow pressed again.

“Well, let's say I'm not exactly happy with them at the moment.” That was all Riley was going to offer the redhead, and she seemed content with that so he continued. “I want to know what you're doing here in Sunnydale. From what I've been able to see, Buffy doesn't know anything about the true you.”

“And you're going to run and tell her as soon as this meeting is over.”

“No.” He'd surprised her, he could see that clearly on her face. “She's been keeping secrets from me, so I don't see why I should tell her everything that I know.”

Willow slowly stood, eyeing him suspiciously. “Yes, but keeping the fact that she's a Slayer a secret because she's afraid of how you'll take it is COMEPLETELY different than you knowing and keeping the fact that a hybrid, three vampires and a werewolf aren't exactly planning on being her best friends.”

“I knew you were glaring at Buffy when she wasn't looking!”

Willow, obviously confused by this turn of events, just looked at him. “Are you serious about not telling her?” She narrowed her eyes. “Why? And don't tell me that it's because she hasn't told you she's a Slayer. If you're with the Initiative then you were probably assigned to her because she's the Slayer—you both share common goals and stuff like that. So that is not the point.”

Riley winced. He'd forgotten how intelligent Willow was. “Okay, so maybe my reason for not telling the Initiative and Buffy about you are deeper than that—but that doesn't mean--.”

“She did something to you—didn't she?” Willow asked, collapsing back on his bed with a plop. “And I might be going out on a limb, but I think the Initiative did something to you as well. Maybe they did something to you together or on their own, but both did something to get on your bad side, didn't they, Riley?”

Turning his back on her, Riley looked out of his window—and it was a good thing too—because he saw Nate McGuire heading towards the Frat building. “Shit.” He cursed, twirling towards her rapidly. “You have to get out of here.”

“What? Why?” Getting up she went to the window but Nate had already disappeared into the building.

“He's coming—I forgot that he'd called me this morning for an impromptu meeting.” Riley ushered her to the door rapidly and opened it—closing it rapidly when he noticed Nate beginning to turn the corner towards his dorm. “SHIT!”

“Hands off the merchandise bub.” Willow gave a little yelp when Riley pushed her into his overcrowded closet and slammed the door in her face, twirling as his room door was flung open. “Nate.”

The brunette raised an eyebrow at Riley's nervous expression. “Is everything alright, soldier Finn?”

“Yes sir.” Realizing that Nate called him that when they discussed things of business, Riley winced. “What did you want to tell me?”

Pulling off his glasses, he cleaned them slowly. “I have word that a demoness of sorts is in the area. I had a man of mine follow her this morning, and he says he witnessed her in the presence of what he was sure was a werewolf. He'd taken pictures but says that he was assaulted, and when he awoke he couldn't find his camera or anything.”

Riley tensed. “And why are you telling me this?”

“Why would I tell you?” Nate's smile was pure innocence. “You were stationed in that area in the last shift—weren't you? I was sure you might have seen someone in the area—might have heard something.”

“No, I didn't.” Riley answered clearly, a muscle in his clenched jaw jumping. “But I'll ask the others who were working there if they saw anything.”

“Good job, soldier Finn. I always knew I could count on you.” Nate smirked and his gaze momentarily rested on—the closet?—before returning to Riley. “I'll see you later then.” And with that he left just as swiftly as he'd entered, the sound of his footsteps reverberated through the halls until he could be heard no more.

Relaxing with a sigh, Riley opened the closet door to a frowning Willow.

“Who was that?” She asked, eyes narrowed, forehead wrinkled in concentration.

“Nate McGuire. Along with Professor Walsh he heads the Initiative.”

“Nate McGuire…” She whispered, hands to her head, swaying slightly. “Are you sure his name was Nate McGuire?”

“Hey!” Riley caught her as she swayed more violently, holding her upright. “Are you okay? What's wrong?”

“Are you sure his name is Nate McGuire?” Willow hissed, paling visibly. It couldn't be. It couldn't!

“Yeah.” Riley nodded.

“Californian?” Her frown grew as Riley nodded once more. “I have to go.”

“Wait a bit.” Riley advised her once he was sure she could stand on her own, going to the window and discreetly looking out. Nate McGuire was standing outside, talking on his cellular. “At least until he's left.”

She went back to his bed and collapsed on it, shaking visibly.

Riley was worried. He'd seen this girl face vampires in a ten to one ratio and smirk…and one mention of Nate McGuire and she looked terrified. “You know him.”

She looked up at him with wide eyes before suddenly clutching at her chest, eyes closed in pain, gasping for breath.

“Willow?” Riley asked, hurrying towards her.

“Something's not right…” She whispered, before sinking into darkness.

“Yeah, it's me.” Nate said to soldier Graham as he held the cellular to his ear. “Do you have the coordinates of the hot spot?”

“Yes sir.” Graham's voice assured. “We know where the hostiles are living. It's in a Mansion on Crawford Street.”

“I want your team to infiltrate it now.”

There was a pause. “But what about--?”

“She's not there.” He smirked, looking up at the window in time to see Riley moving away from it. “She's safe at the frat house.”

“What are our orders then sir?”

Nate smirked. “Primarily you are to capture the hostiles in case we need some bargaining tools, but if they put up a resistance you have the order to shoot to kill. We only need one of her brood alive to bargain with.”

Graham chuckled. “Yes sir.” And he cut off the call.

Nate looked back up at the window to Riley's room. “Nice to see you again, Willow.”

Cordelia had been having a nice, restful sleep when an explosion sounded from downstairs. The brunette jolted up in her bed with a scream and looked up with fearful eyes as her bedroom door flew open. But instead of the assailants, Oz appeared.

“What's--?”

Grabbing her arm, Oz jerked her out of bed, the gravity in his expression warning her not to make a sound. She could hear Spike and Angel fighting below, and she was terrified and Oz eased them out of her room towards the back stairs—which was abandoned.

Following him down the stairs, Cordelia kept her whimpers at bay as she heard Spike cry out from somewhere in the front room. Tears of fear welled in her eyes as Oz opened a secret door and pushed her in, coming in as well and locking it behind them as this secret exit led to the sewers.

“What about mummy?” She whispered in fear, hearing Angel cry out for Spike.

“She's not in the house—I can't smell her.” Oz reassured her. “She must have gone out before they attacked.”

“Who are they?” Cordelia asked as they headed down the dark tunnel.

“My guess is that they're this group mum and I heard about this morning, the Initiative.” Oz growled as he continued to drag her through the tunnel. “They must have found out about us and come to--.”

“To kill us?” Her unbeating heart hurt as she realized that Angel and Spike could be no more.

“Most likely.” Oz sighed, looking back in the direction form whence they'd come. “And if I hadn't smelt them as they neared the house, and warned Angel and Spike—they'd have assassinated us in our beds.”

“Why?”

“Because we're demons, Cor.” He growled. “And they hunt us like people hunt deer and other wildlife.”

“Like the Slayer.” Cordelia hissed, frowning when Oz stopped once they'd made it to the sewers. “What is it?”

“I need you to stay here.” When he realized that she was about to argue, he hurried on. “I need to find mum and make sure she's fine—and it's day. You can't come with me. I need you to stay here until I come back for you.” He let go of her hand and placed his on her shoulders. “Don't leave here Cor. I risked my neck to come back for you, Angel and Spike protected you, Angel told me about this place so I could get you to safety. Don't make it all be in vain by leaving here and getting caught—or dusted.”

Tears of blood welled in her eyes. “Are they dusted?”

“I don't know.” Oz whispered, closing his eyes. “But my priority doesn't lie with them. I need to find mum, but I can't concentrate on sniffing her out if I'm worrying if you're going to behave.”

“I'll behave.” She whispered, lowering her head in defeat. There was silence as he left her to go find another exit. “Why did you save me? All of you could have disappeared before those people came and left me to them. Why didn't you?”

He paused, and looked back at her. “We're a family.” The werewolf answered before disappearing in the shadows.

Sinking to the ground, Cordelia hid her face in her hands and cried.

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