Forever, Always, and Then Some

Chapter 91

 

Sunnydale

Harmony: I thought you were going to kill her. Not run away like that.

Riley: I didn’t run away. I just didn’t need her to be alerted till I am ready to make my move. I need to make my plans. If I am going to do this, it has to be right. No chance for it to go wrong.

Harmony: So what do you plan on doing?

Riley: Get her to come to me.

Harmony: You are going to call her? Just call her and invite her here?

Riley: No, I am going to get bait and she will not be able to resist coming.

Harmony: Oh, well good luck. I already tried that. Barely got away.

Riley: What you do?

Harmony: I grabbed the kid sister and chained her up in my lair. But she came in and killed everyone and rescued the girl. It took her all of two minutes.

Riley: So you went to your lair and became a sitting duck. Well a moving target is harder to hit.

Harmony: Huh?

Riley: We grab the bait and we take to the roads. She follows and eventually we let her run into our trap.

Harmony: The roads? Please not Iowa again.

Riley: No, I am thinking big city. Lots of crowds and lots of night life. Perfect for us. Not so good for her.

Harmony: So who is the bait? The kid sister?

Riley: No, she is too protected. And I hate the way that kid screams.

Harmony: She does do that. So who.

Riley: Well not hubby or Willow the witch.

Harmony: Xander?

Riley: No I can’t imagine traveling with that guy.

Harmony: Then who?

Riley: Anya. She is alone alot and has no powers any more.

Harmony: And how do you propose we do this?

Riley: Monday evening, we slip through the tunnels and grab her and head out as soon as the sunsets.

Harmony: This is Sunday morning. What do we do till then?

Riley: If you stop whining, I will show you.

He forces her down on their makeshift bed.

Harmony: This will kill an hour, but what then.

Riley: Do you want to screw or whine?

Harmony: I am not whining. I just don’t want to end up a pile of dust. And she might find us before you can start your plan.

Riley: Not if we stay put. She will never find us. Only those with top clearance know about this little hideaway.

Harmony: You better be right.

 

Sunday afternoon

Summer’s house.

There is knock at the door. Buffy answers it.

Buffy: Hello Graham.

Graham: I got your message. Is it about Riley?

Buffy: Actually it is. Come one in.

She leads him into the living room.

Buffy: I guess you know my husband, Angel.

Graham: We’ve met. So what do you know about Riley? Is he dead?

Buffy: I guess you could say that. He is more like undead.

Graham: Undead. Riley’s been turned.

Buffy: Yes. And he has been on a major killing spree. But I think you already suspected it.

Graham: No.

Buffy: Well I just thought since he cut a swath through his hometown, you would have suspected.

Graham: He did what? When?

Buffy: You commando dudes sure don’t keep up on the goings on.

Graham takes out his cell and dials.

Graham: Graham here. I need you to check on Riley’s family ASAP. I just got word they may no longer be alive. Call me.

He hangs up.

Buffy: Not to good with the trust issues.

Graham: Not with you I’m not. Not after you married that creature.

Buffy: Have you ever really experienced my punching skills?

Angel: Buffy, it ain’t worth it. Just tell him what you know so he can get out of our home.

Buffy: Fine. Riley is running with a female named Harmony. She was real ditz as a human and even more idiotic now. They were responsible for about 12 deaths in one week before they headed across the country making an expanded stop in Huxley before moving on to NY city. They then worked their way back here. They were seen last night at the Bronze. But the person that saw them didn’t know. So they got away.

Graham: So where are they now?

Buffy: You tell me. Where would he hide out?

Graham: Not sure.

Buffy: I know you guys had some secret locations. Why don‘t you get some people and start looking? Be useful.

Graham: We will do just that. But what are you going to do?

Buffy: Me personally? I am not doing anything.

Graham: What? You have a problem slaying the vampire boyfriends?

Buffy: No, I just can’t get into a fight in my condition.

Graham: Condition? What condition?

Buffy: My pregnant condition.

Graham: What? Oh this is sick.

His cell phone rings.

Graham: Graham here………I see………Well send me a squad to Sunnydale. Seems Riley met up with the wrong creature. He is now a vampire and we need to find and destroy him………..Because he knows to much, that’s why…………I will meet you there in four hours.

He hangs up.

Buffy: Not good news?

Graham: I have to go. I guess I should thank you for the information.

Buffy: Your welcome. Just let me know if you get him.

Graham: I will.

He walks out the door. Buffy closes it.

Angel: Okay, that wasn’t to bad.

Buffy: No considering he anted to stake you the whole time he was here.

Angel: No he didn’t. He just sees things as black and white.

Buffy: So we are in the grey area?

Angel: Pretty much.

Buffy leads him over and they sit on the sofa.

Buffy: Well it looks like you made it through last night with you soul in tact.

Angel: Yes, I did.

Buffy: So does that mean we can do that again?

Angel: Is sex all you think about?

Buffy: When you are around, yes.

Angel: My horny little wife.

Dawn: EW!

Buffy: What?

Dawn: I so did not need to hear that.

Buffy: Then don’t eavesdrop on a private conversation.

Dawn: I was just coming in to tell you Conner is awake.

Buffy: You left him in his crib?

Dawn: No, Willow got him. She insisted.

Buffy: I better see if she needs help.

Angel: Let me.

He walks up and into his room.

Willow: I got it.

Angel: I see that, but you don’t have to you know.

Willow: I want to. I need to do something. Anything. Besides I can’t be sad when I am around Conner.

Conner: Dada.

Angel: I know.

Willow: You are loving the fact he knows your name.

Angel: I so am.

Willow: Well I guess it went okay last night.

Angel: Yes thank you. Soul still intact.

Willow: Glad. And did you have fun?

Angel: Not answering that.

Willow: I take that as a yes.

Angel: Well Buffy cooked, so why don’t I carry him down and we can have dinner.

Willow: Buffy cooked?

Angel: Yes. Aren’t you jealous of my special diet?

Willow: If you think you are getting out of eating her cooking, you don’t know your wife at all.

Angel: You think?

Willow: Yes, I think.

Angel: Oh well. Everything pretty much is cardboard to me anyway.

Willow: Oh but certain flavors are unmistakable.

Angel: You are not ruining my day with your jokes.

Willow: Hey, I was trying to keep you from getting too happy.

Angel: Thanks for the effort. But give me my son and lets go.

They walk downstairs.

Buffy: Well look who we have here. Have a good nap.

Willow: Conner or me?

Buffy: Both actually.

Willow: I slept fine. Well until I heard you were down here cooking.

Buffy: What?

Willow: Just kidding. What did you make?

Buffy: Spaghetti. Hard to screw that up.

Dawn: As long as you don’t over salt the noodles.

Buffy: That was not me, that was you.

Dawn: Yes, but it did ruin them. It was gross.

Angel: Well I was in there. She didn’t do anything wrong.

Dawn: Like she ever could in your eyes.

Buffy: I know. I have him so convinced I am perfect.

Angel: What? Your not? (m) Last night you were.

Buffy: (m) Not too bad yourself.

Dawn: Oh lord they have that look on their faces again.

Willow: I missed it. What look?

Dawn: The wait till I get you alone look.

Willow: Oh that one.

Buffy: Lets eat.

Angel: Where do you want Conner?

Buffy: High chair.

Angel: Since when does he have a high chair.

Buffy: Since his mother bought one.

Angel: Where is it?

Buffy: This way.

 

 

The next morning.

Graham: Okay men. The guy is familiar with the terrain and with almost all out locations around here. We need to inspect each one carefully. Being that it is daylight. He can’t escape easily. If running to form for a vampire, he will more than likely being sleeping. The commander wants him captured if possible but if it looks like he may escape, then kill him.

Soldier: And the female?

Graham: No capture order. Just kill her. If no more questions lets head out.

 

A few hours later.

Soldier 1: It looks like he was here.

Graham: Well I suspected he would chose one of our hideouts. I just thought he would be here.

Soldier 1: They might have gotten caught somewhere. We can check back tomorrow.

Graham: I know. I just want him off the streets.

Soldier 2: Well I think they will be back to get their clothes. His girl has some pretty expensive taste.

Graham: Why you say that?

Soldier 2: The clothes. All designer labels……what? My sister is a fashion editor….I know this stuff.

Graham: Fine. I want the men to post guard in this area and keep at least two men on duty at all times.

Soldier 1: Yes sir.

 

 

In the sewer tunnels.

Harmony: I can’t believe we are sleeping in these stinking tunnels.

Riley: There is no access from the hideout to the tunnels. We want to get her as soon as she locks up.

Harmony: You plan sucks.

Riley: Well you have a better one?

Harmony: No. But I just want to be in a nice warm bed.

Riley: It is one day. Tomorrow, you will be sleeping in on of the best hotels in the country. With all the bellhops and maids you can eat.

Harmony: You better be telling me the truth.

Riley: I would never lie to you baby.

Harmony: You better not. I made you.

Riley: Yes you did, and have thanked you properly.

Harmony: Not here. I am not doing it here in the stinking sewer.

Riley: Okay but can you wait that long?

Harmony looks at him and licks her lips.

 

 

Later that evening.

Riley and Harmony slip through the tunnels and into the basement of the Magic Box. Riley slips out of the door and into the shop. Anya looks up.

Anya: Riley? My lord Riley. What are you doing here? Uh how did you get in? I locked the door already.

Riley: Tunnels.

Anya: Yuck. Why would you want to do that?

Riley: Just looking around. You here alone?

Anya: Yes. Xander is going over Buffy’s house. Some important meeting or something.

Riley: What about?

Anya: Don’t know. But I will hear about it later. Actually I am surprised, seeing Angel is in town. Usually when he is here they don’t want company. Oh but I guess you don’t want to hear that.

Riley: No that’s okay. She has moved on and so have I.

Anya: Glad to hear it. Don’t want you to be all mad and stuff.

Riley: Me mad? Never. Hey can I show you something I saw in the basement?

Anya: What? Something bad?

Riley: No. Just follow me.

Anya: It better not be a bunny.

Riley: (laughs) No bunny.

The walks through the door..

Anya: Where?

She turns to look at Riley. He is game face. She screams and tries to run down the stairs.

Riley: No bunny.

She heads for the tunnel but Harmony blocks the way.

Riley: Meet my new girlfriend.

Anya: What do you want?

Riley: Don’t worry ,we are not here to kill you. Well not yet at least.

Anya: Then why?

Riley: We need bait and you are it. So lets go.

Anya: I am not going with you.

Riley: You don’t get a choice now lets move it.

He grabs her arm and drags her into the tunnels. Harmony follows behind.

 

 

At the Summers house.


Xander: I can’t believe this. It has to be a mistake.

Buffy: I wish it were.

Xander: So what do you plan on doing?

Buffy: Well Faith and Spike have been patrolling and Graham and his guys are also looking. Someone will find them and then it will be over.

Xander: How are you dealing?

Buffy: Okay. But I really don’t need this stress.

Xander: Can I help?

Buffy: Just keep your eyes open. And be careful. He knows you and that may make him a threat.

Xander: I get that. Not that unlike the time Angel lost his soul.

Buffy: That is what scares me most. Will he start targeting the people I care about. He was angry and hurt before he was turned because of me. Will that spawn a revenge?

Xander: It has been weeks and nothing, so I doubt he is after you personally.

Buffy: Maybe, but it is a concern.

Xander: Well we will all be more careful. Now I thought you mentioned dinner.

Buffy: I did, but you have to pick it up. Sorry.

Xander: Oh now I see. I am gofer guy.

Buffy: Well to early for Angel. Willow is still hurt. Dawn don’t drive. And I am not suppose to carry stuff.

Xander: Like it is that heavy.

Buffy: Agreed, but talk to the vamp in the living room.

Xander: I’ll go.

Buffy: Good here is the money. Just tell them Summers.

Xander: Can I know where?

Buffy: Zing’s Garden.

Xander: Good place.

He exits.

© 2005 Tara