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Becca (cowritten by Allison)
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Date Posted: 18:14:25 01/13/02 Sun
In reply to:
Becca (cowritten by Allison)
's message, "TCO Episode1:Everything Changes Chaper 1" on 18:10:52 01/13/02 Sun
Chapter 2
"This town certainly has a different feel," Spike's voice echoed as he walked down the tunnels of the catacombs. "But fortunately they have planned ahead and built a fine system of underground tunnels so I don't have to walk in the daylight. Ever since Angelus destroyed that ring . . ." Spike paused and shook his head. "But, I prevail, he's going to take up fighting evil in sunny California, I'll have a picnic here in Port Charles."
"Are you just going to babble for hours, or are you going to tell me why we are here? It is so icky underground," Hannah Scott moaned in her monotone way.
"Listen babe, this is where the Hellmouth is now, we are going to have a bloody good time. Now would you rather still be skulking around playing the FBI agent? Or do you want to have a little undead fun?" Spike asked, pulling Hannah by the waist, a sly grin on his face.
"Sonny is not going to be happy about this," Hannah complained, sitting down on a metal bench inside a secret room that Spike found in the catacombs.
"Speaking of sunny," Spike continued, rolling his eyes at his companion. "I find it incredibly ironic how the Hellmouth, home of vampires, was located in a place called Sunnydale."
"I don't get it," Hannah said, wandering around the steel lined room. "It's just a name."
"Sun, you know, it kills vampires," Spike explained, getting rather frustrated. "Great I picked the only woman who can make Dru seem exciting . . . but I have a feeling Port Charles is going to be a fun town."
"Oh yeah . . .Port Charles-lot's of fun," Hannah retorted. "Just wait, you'll see . . . everyone here is crazy."
"But crazy can be good, crazy is fun," Spike grinned.
~*~
Alexis and Liz made their way through the Port Charles Airport, looking for the gate where Buffy and her friends would be arriving. Liz was nervously babbling, still absorbing everything that had happened to her in the past 24 hours.
"I hate lying to Lucky," she muttered, glancing at her watch. "I was supposed to meet him for lunch today."
"What did you tell him?" Alexis asked, studying the monitor that listed the flight arrivals. "There, Gate 32F. It should be here in about fifteen minutes."
"Well, when he asked why you wanted to see me yesterday, I told him that you wanted me to do a painting for Jax, for your anniversary, so today I said you wanted to show me what I would be doing," she answered.
"Very good. I just hope he doesn't know that our anniversary passed by already, although it wasn't that long ago, so I suppose you could always say it's a belated gift. What did you tell him you were painting?"
Liz smiled. "I didn't. I told him you hadn't told me yet. He'll probably ask later, though, so what should I tell him?"
Alexis thought for a moment as they sat down in front of the gate. "Normally, I'd say the ocean, since it's his favorite place, but I think the better answer would be me. That way, when we have to train, you can tell him you're meeting with me to work on the portrait. It'll at least cover us for a while, right?"
"Yeah, that'll work." She sighed and checked her watch again, then looked out the window, watching the planes pass by. "So, what do you know about Buffy? Is she cool?"
"I've never met her, but from what I've heard she's very good at what she does. Well, outliving two slayers kind of proves that, I suppose. Anyway, I would say she's a good person. According to Mr. Giles, her friends are all very loyal to her, and that's not an easy task, especially for a slayer! Also, Mr. Giles has obviously become very attached to her."
"How so? I mean, he's her Watcher, right? Isn't he supposed to be attached?" Liz asked.
"Actually, he isn't a Watcher anymore. The Council fired him last year because they believed he had become too emotionally invested in Buffy, that he could no longer remain objective about his job. Even though he has no obligation to her, he still helps her and looks out for her."
"That's kind of sweet," Liz said, feeling a little better. "I guess she can't be all bad, then, if so many people care that much about her."
"And don't forget, she's also a very powerful Slayer. I think you'll be able to learn a lot from her," Alexis added.
"What about her friends? I assume they all know who she is, right?"
"That's the way I understood it. Giles said that they help her a lot."
"So, if they all know, then why do I have to keep this from my friends? Especially Lucky?" she asked, feeling cheated.
"I'm sure you'll be able to tell him in time, but for now, it's supposed to be a secret. It's not safe for other people to know about this, they could get hurt, or worse. It's for his own protection that you're keeping this a secret. Buffy's friends knowing about her is not the norm. Slayers are usually loners, they work by themselves, with help from their Watcher, but no one else. That's just the way it's been for centuries, the way it's always worked."
Liz sighed, shifting in her seat as the loudspeaker crackled to life, announcing the arrival of their flight. "Sounds pretty sad to me. No friends, no fun, just killing demons and vampires every night, risking your life to keep mankind safe, without them ever knowing that you're doing it?"
Alexis nodded glumly. "That's pretty much it. Trust me, it's more rewarding than it sounds."
~*~
As the plane began it's descent into the Port Charles Airport, Buffy began to feel nervous about the move they were making. She sighed and turned to Giles, relying on him as always to relieve her fears.
"So, who's meeting us here again?"
"Miss Davis said both she and Elizabeth would meet us at the gate, then show us around the city so we can all get our bearings," he responded.
"I wonder what she's like," she mused, tapping her fingers thoughtfully on her leg. "I just hope she's sort of normal, you know, likes to hang out, do girly things, stuff like that."
"Yeah, all work and no play makes the Slayer not much fun," Xander offered. "What about the new Watcher? Let me guess, she's a stuffy Brit, too?"
Undaunted by the remark, Giles shook his head. "No, she sounded pretty American to me, although she must have come from Europe at some point. All Watchers are descended from European families."
"Well, I just hope this one's good," Buffy said, getting out of her seat as the plane began to unload. "Between that power-hungry one of Faith's, and Wesley, who, don't get me wrong, nice guy, very proper and gentlemanly, but he just..."
"...didn't have the cojones for the job?" Xander finished, smirking.
Giles sighed and shook his head. "As always, you are a virtuoso of eloquence," he noted dryly as they made their way off the plane and into the airport.
Xander smiled proudly. "No idea what you just said, so I'll just revel in my ignorance and assume it was a compliment."
"Yes, you do that," Giles muttered, gazing around the crowded gate for Alexis and Liz. The rest of the group crowded around him, studying their surroundings.
"Hey, Oz, check it out," Xander said excitedly, slapping him on the back. "Totally hot babe at 2 o'clock!"
Willow stepped in front of him. "Oh no you don't, there will be no checking out anyone here!" she scolded. Oz smiled and put his arm around her.
"Don't worry, Will, you're the only hot babe I care about."
"Awe, isn't he sweet?" she asked, grinning at the rest of them.
"Actually, as much as I hate to say it, I think Xander's on to something," Giles muttered, stepping forward as he spotted the girl he had been referring to. Alexis and Liz spotted them and began to walk over. "Yes, somehow he managed to find them in this mess. Come on, let's go."
Buffy chuckled and shook her head. "He can spot a slayer in a crowd, yet he still can't find Waldo."
"See, you're not the only one with special powers," Xander cracked. "I guess I've just got a sense for spotting slayers."
"Yeah, it's called hormones," Cordelia said sarcastically.
"Hello, you must be Mr. Giles," Alexis said as she and Liz reached them. She extended her hand, which Giles shook firmly.
"Yes, it's good to meet you Miss Davis. And you must be Elizabeth," he said, looking over at Liz. She smiled politely and nodded.
"It's Liz. Nice to meet you." Everyone stood there uncomfortably, politely smiling at one another, until Buffy cleared her throat and nudged Giles.
"Oh, sorry, I suppose we should introduce ourselves, shouldn't we? Buffy?" He turned to her, signaling for her to start.
She smiled and sort of waved at them. "Buffy Summers, but you probably knew that, with Giles calling me Buffy and all." Liz smiled, pretty sure she was going to like her already. They continued down the line, introducing themselves.
"Cordelia Chase."
"Xander Harris."
"Willow Rosenberg."
"Oz."
"Oz?" Liz asked. "That's it, no last name?"
"He likes to be an enigma," Willow explained, smiling as she threaded her arm around his waist.
"Well, I guess we should get going, then. I'm sure you're tired from your flight, and want to get settled in your rooms," Alexis said, leading them out of the airport. "Buffy and Willow will be rooming together in Liz's dorm, and Oz, they told me they found someone who needed a new roommate, so I suppose they'll be putting you with him."
"What about us?" Xander asked, motioning to Cordelia.
"I arranged apartments for you and Cordelia over Kelly's. It's a diner that a friend of Liz's owns, she actually worked there until just recently. The rooms are clean, and the rent is reasonable."
"Thank you, that was very thoughtful," Giles said, pleased by her resourcefulness. "Oh, there's one other thing. Um, we need somewhere that's private and secure so we can build a cage. Do you have any ideas?"
"A cage?" she asked, turning to look at them in confusion. "What for?"
"Oh, um, well," Giles stammered, glancing over at Oz, not sure if he'd want his secret revealed yet.
"Oz," Xander offered. "He gets kind of irritable and hairy three nights a month, so we like to keep him where he can't hurt anyone."
Alexis and Liz just stared at him, totally lost. Oz rolled his eyes and sighed. "I'm a werewolf."
"But don't hold it against him," Willow added defensively.
"Yeah," Cordelia said with a laugh. "He's a nice doggie. Well, usually, at least, when he's human. Although he never really says much. It's kind of unnerving sometimes."
Alexis and Liz looked at one another, wondering what they were getting themselves into.
~*~
"Wow," Buffy groaned as she pushed the door open. "The rooms here are a lot smaller."
"What?" Liz asked, pushing her way into the room. "Are you kidding, this is one of the bigger rooms here at PCU."
"I don't care, I'm just excited to be in a new town, I can't wait to see what Port Charles has to offer," Willow said excitedly.
"Well there's Kelly's, which is where I usually go when I'm not on campus and then there's . . ." Liz paused, realizing that there really wasn't much to do in town. "The only other place worth mentioning is Luke's Club. It's actually owned by the same person that owns Kelly's."
"And that would be?" Buffy asked, pulling her suitcases into the room.
"Luke Spencer, he's probably the coolest guy you'll meet in this town. Though his son isn't too bad," Liz explained with a wistful smile.
"Now this is getting good," Willow teased, feeling totally at ease in the new situation, Buffy on the other hand was fighting a sudden case of shyness around her new slaying partner. "So, who's Luke Spencer's son?"
"I'm Luke Spencer's son," Lucky said with a grin, standing in the doorway.
"Lucky, what are you doing here?" Liz asked nervously. She looked from Buffy and Willow to Lucky, unsure of what to do.
"Turns out Tom doesn't seem to ever be returning, so I'm going down to the lobby to meet my new roommate," Lucky explained to Liz, turning to Buffy and Willow with a smile. "And who are these two beautiful women?"
"Oh, this is Buffy and Willow," she said quickly, uncertain of how to refer to them.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Lucky said, shaking Willow's hand. "Both of you."
"Uh huh," Buffy muttered, getting lost in Lucky's sparkling blue eyes.
"I've got to go meet my new roommate, I'll be seeing you girls around I'm sure," Lucky smiled, stepping closer to Liz. "I'll see you later? Maybe meet at Kelly's in an hour or two, take your new friends."
"Sure," Liz smiled as she watched Lucky leave.
"Sparkage?" Willow asked Buffy with a devious grin.
"I don't know, but there was certainly wow potential," Buffy giggled. "That was Lucky? Is that his real name?"
"It's kind of a nickname," Liz noted, flopping down on one of the beds. "So, I gather Willow and Oz are a couple . . ."
"Is it that obvious?" Willow asked happily.
"What about you Buffy, anyone special back in Sunnydale?" Liz prodded, not noticing how Buffy was tensing up.
"Not really . . .I think I left a bag in the hall," she noted, leaving the room quickly.
"Did I say something wrong?" Liz questioned Willow, afraid she offended the person she was going to need to depend on for a while.
"No, you just hit the Angel nerve," Willow explained as she began to unpack her things. "You see, Buffy was involved with this guy . . .well, he was a vampire who had a soul, anyway he decided he needed to leave her in order to protect her. So he left to fight evil in LA."
"The slayer was dating a vampire?" Liz asked skeptically, the fact that vampires actually existed still troubling her.
"Yeah, but shh . . .she's still a bit tense about it all," Willow whispered as Buffy returned to the room.
"Don't stop talking about Angel on my behalf," Buffy said sarcastically. "Listen, it was something that happened but I'm now over. Don't worry about it, I don't want our relationship strained because you think you offended me. As long as you don't turn evil or steal Mr. Pointy we'll be cool," Buffy reassured Liz with a warm smile.
"Mr. Pointy?"
~*~
"Hello, anyone home?" Oz asked, pushing the door to his new room open.
"There you are," Lucky shouted, running down the hall toward Oz. "I'm Lucky Spencer and you must be Oz."
"Since birth," he said flatly as they walked into the room.
"I'm fairly neat, I hope you don't mind I like to mess around on the guitar so . . ." Lucky shrugged his shoulders as he pointed to his acoustic guitar in the corner by his bed.
"Won't be a problem," Oz grinned, holding up his guitar case.
"You don't say much do you?" Lucky asked with a laugh, helping Oz carry his bags into the room.
"It's my way."
"I see . . ." Lucky sighed and nodded toward his guitar. "So, were you in a band? My cousin, Sly, he had a band. I haven't seen him in a while though, I don't know if he still has it."
Oz laughed at his new roommate's nervousness. "Yeah for a while, oh and you don't have to worry about small talk with me, I'm not too big on it myself."
"Good, my dad says that small talk is just a form of lying," Lucky said with a laugh.
"Sounds like a cool guy."
"He is," Lucky scratched his head and walked over to the window. "In a little bit I'm meeting my best friend and some girls in town at my family's diner. Want to come along?"
"Sure, sounds cool . . .do you mind if I bring my girlfriend?" Oz asked while putting his clothes in the closet.
"Sure, what's her name?"
"That would be Willow, my Willow," he said lightly, a smile on his face.
"Willow? That's funny, that's one of the girl's we're meeting at Kelly's. Along with Elizabeth and . . .what's her name?" Lucky asked snapping his fingers. "Pretty, blonde hair, green eyes . . ."
"That would be the Buffster," Oz noted.
"Buffy, that's it . . .odd name though," Lucky sighed.
"You're one to talk-Lucky," Oz teased.
"And Oz is an average, normal name," Lucky laughed, slipping into an easy, comfortable rapport with his new roommate.
~*~
"And these are your rooms," Bobbie showed them, pointing to two doors that sat across from each other. "Normally I wouldn't do this, but this is a favor for a friend of my brother's. But there are a few rules. No parties and no overnight guests of the opposite sex."
"Shouldn't be a problem for Xander," Cordelia quipped.
"Ah, but the same goes for you Cordy, but wait you don't have a sex life either," Xander retorted, smiling acerbically.
"Also, as boarders you are treated to one free meal a day and if I or the manager Tammy likes you, even more," Bobbie continued, ignoring the duo's banter.
"Does it count if I really like you?" Xander asked hopefully, the thought of free food always inviting.
"Don't push your luck Xander," Bobbie smiled and headed down to the diner.
"Oh yeah, free meals for me, yep," Xander nodded.
"And what makes you think that? Her disgusted smile, or the fact she told you not to push your luck?"
"I'm going to love living next door to you! Yippee," Xander jumped in place as Cordelia stared at him, her arms folded across her chest. "See you later . . .neighbor," Xander smiled and headed into his room.
"Whatever," Cordelia rolled her eyes and entered her room, stopping short as she saw the size of it. "I can't believe how . . ."
"Huge these rooms are!" Xander cut her off. "This is much better than room I had over the summer when I was . . . that's not important."
"Get off me," she ordered as he was leaning over her looking in the room.
"I'm hungry . . .isn't it rather delightful we live above a diner now?" Xander asked happily, bounding down the stairs.
"Oh, the joys of living above a greasy spoon," she muttered, following him down. She froze as she came down the stairs, her eyes falling on the man standing at the counter. He was tall and well built, with sandy blonde hair and an intense gaze. Cordelia quickly slid across the diner, next to the man. "Hi, I'm Cordelia Chase."
"What?" he asked, clearly annoyed that his conversation was being interrupted.
"Don't mind her, Cordelia has a knack for bothering people, trust me, I know," he smiled. "I'm Xander, and you are?"
"Jason," he said coldly.
"You're one of them," Xander quipped.
"One of who-is he a . . ." Cordelia asked nervously.
"It's daylight, what do you think?" he shot, turning back to Jason. "No, he's the silent, brooding type. I guess every town has one. We had Angel, they have this guy."
"Actually, we have quite a few like that," a female voice said from behind. Xander and Cordelia turned around and came face to face with Emily and Nikolas. "Hey Jason."
"Hi Emily, I've got to run," Jason said quickly, rising to his feet to leave.
"It was a pleasure to meet you," Cordelia called after him, her attempt futile. She turned her attention to Nikolas.
"I'm guessing you are Emily from what brooding man called you, I'm Xander and this is Cordelia, we're newbies," Xander explained.
"It's nice to meet you, this is my friend Nikolas Cassadine," Emily noted with a grin.
"Cassadine, did you say Cassadine? As in one of the most powerful, richest families in the world?" Cordelia blurted out, quickly extending her hand and batting her eyes.
"It's my curse," Nikolas joked. "I guess you'd be pretty impressed then to know that Em here is a Quartermaine."
"Nikolas," Emily nudged him the side as Cordelia's jaw dropped.
"That is wonderful."
"Big names impress Cordy, she's easy that way," Xander grinned, the three others staring at him in shock from his statement. "Not in that way . . . I should know . . . All I meant was Cordelia appreciates rich, meaningless, and usually arrogant relationships. Not that I think you are arrogant or meaningless, I just meant . . .sorry, I have a tendency to yammer from time to time."
"That's obvious," Emily said with a smile. "If you'll excuse us, we are going to get some lunch."
"See what you did," Cordelia complained, hitting him on the arm.
"What did I do? Did I embarrass the queen? Damn, I hate when that happens . . .no wait, I rather enjoy it," Xander replied sardonically.
~*~
"I was doing a lot of thinking on the flight and I believe that, well, somehow there has to be a reason why the Hellmouth is now in Port Charles," Giles noted as he and Alexis sat together having coffee in the PC Grille.
"So you don't buy into the philosophy that after Willow cast the spell the Hellmouth just got tired of Sunnydale and decided 'Oh Port Charles seems nice, I'll go there'?" Alexis asked with a laugh.
"No, not really," Giles retorted, missing the fact she was joking. "There has to be something, some force that moved the Hellmouth, unlocked by the spell. I still have a few more books to check, but I believe this is a first."
"I would guess so," Alexis sighed. "Not to sound completely unprepared, but what books are you talking about? All I have are a few dusty, old relics that the council gave me years ago-am I supposed to have more?"
Giles cleaned his glasses on the napkin and laughed. "No, I've just accumulated the books on my own, sort of a hobby."
"Sounds exciting, but I know all about odd hobbies. My husband for instance, he has many odd hobbies, one of which is flying food in from all over the world. It's fortunate that we are fairly wealthy because otherwise hat wouldn't really be his hobby, or it would be very hard for him to pull off."
As Alexis finished Giles stared at her in awe, unsure of what to make of the watcher. She had an American flare to her that would make her popular with Buffy, yet there was an elegance and sophistication to Alexis that Giles was instantly attracted to. But that was foolish, she was a watcher and married. Besides, he wasn't in Port Charles to look for a romantic partner; his job was to find out why the Hellmouth suddenly moved to Port Charles and to help with the new slayer.
"Mr. Giles are you alright?" Alexis asked, noticing the far off look in his eyes.
"Rupert," he said suddenly, coming back to reality.
"What?"
"Call me Rupert, please, everyone always calls me Giles I sometimes forget I have a first name," he laughed, getting Alexis to smile.
"Ok Rupert, we've got to figure out exactly why the Hellmouth chose Port Charles, where do we start?"
~*~
"What are you doing tonight?" Lucky whispered to Liz as they walked to Kelly's. Oz, Willow, and Buffy were a few paces ahead and Lucky wanted to continue their conversation from the other day. Unfortunately Liz had been busy with something with Alexis, a painting or something, he couldn't remember, that the two barely had any time alone. Now, as if to make matters worse, their duo had turned into a posse and Lucky was beginning to wonder if he'd ever get time alone with Liz again.
"I have plans, with Buffy . . .and Alexis," Liz said, hoping he wouldn't press any further.
"With Buffy and Alexis? Don't take this the wrong way Elizabeth, but you are keeping odd company these last few days. And how exactly can you have plans with both Buffy and Alexis, how is Buffy going to help you with that painting?"
"Um, well . . ." Liz bit her lip nervously, quickening her pace. "You see, she has a great . . ."
"Is this it?" Buffy asked as they approached Kelly's.
"A diner with a sign that says Kelly's, I'd venture a bet that it would be the place," Oz said dryly.
"Hey, Cordelia and Xander are down already, good . . .well Xander," Willow noted as they entered the diner.
"Cordelia and Xander? More friends? Did they bring all of Sunnydale with them?" Lucky asked a bit perplexed. "Do they go to PCU too?"
"Beats me," Liz sighed, her eyes falling on Nikolas and Emily who were sitting in the back eating lunch. "There's Nikolas and Emily, they should join."
"Yeah, we'll just pull some tables together to accommodate all eighty five of us," Lucky grunted
"What is bothering you little brother?" Nikolas quipped as he approached Lucky.
"Life in general," Lucky lamented with a frown as he stared at Liz, his feelings conflicted-he didn't know if he was hopelessly in love with her or just mad that she now seemed to have other friends.
Liz quickly took care of introductions as Lucky and Nikolas pulled a couple of tables together. "Isn't this cozy?" Xander grinned, staring at the table of nine. "The pilgrims and the Indians."
"I'm guessing we are the pilgrims, coming to the new land and all, huh Xander?" Buffy asked with a smile.
"So, how the new sl . . ." Xander began asking Liz when Buffy elbowed him in the side. "What? Oh!"
"The new what?" Lucky asked, turning to Liz.
"The new slave driver," Xander said quickly.
"Huh?" Nikolas blurted out.
"Yeah, Buffy said she was going to get a tutor when she came to PCU and that is what Xander meant, right?" Willow covered quickly.
"I'm not really a slave driver," Liz said nervously.
"No offense, but Elizabeth you aren't even that good in school-why would you be tutoring someone?" Lucky questioned, obviously not letting this pass.
"She can't be worse than me," Buffy interjected with a laugh, glaring at Xander for almost letting Liz's secret slip.
"Art!" Liz nearly shouted. "I'm tutoring her in art, I'm good in art."
"Oh," Lucky said his Spencer genes telling him something was up. That this group of newcomers from Sunnydale and Liz were connected in some way; he just had no idea how. "Let's order."
"Oh Buffy, I meant to ask, do you plan on telling Angel about, well, that you are here?" Cordelia asked, causing Buffy to tense up.
"If he needs to know he'll be told," she said simply, still needing to avoid the topic of Angel.
"Do we really need him here? Some dark, brooding jackass?" Xander said, his voice brimming with annoyance.
"Don't forget handsome," Cordelia interjected.
"I don't see what you girls see in him anyway? All he ever did was put us in danger-need I remind you of what he wanted to do a couple years ago?"
"Xander, not now," Willow ordered, her warning having more than one meaning.
"Oh, sorry, but Angel is the last thing that Liz needs to be dealing with, especially now," Xander huffed.
"And who's Angel? Someone else from Sunnydale?" Lucky asked.
"In a sense yeah, but you wouldn't like him-trust me," Xander noted, getting a dirty look from Buffy and Willow.
"I'll take you word for it," Lucky noted, turning his attention back to Liz.
"Well, now that that is over, do you guys want to order?" Emily asked, sensing the tension that had formed with the group.
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