Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters. I am just borrowing them for this story.

Feedback: I would love to know what you think. It helps me write faster because it inspires my writing muses.

Distributions: Want, Take, Have, just let me know!!!

Rating: PG-13 for now, may change later on!!

Genre: Romance/Mystery

Summary: Buffy Summers is stuck staying at her Aunt Jenny's house for the summer. There she runs into a pile of mysterious happenings, and a tale that will shock her.

Title: A Strange House

Author: TK

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Part 11

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Buffy threw her coat on the coat rack as soon as she got home, and went up to her room. When she got there she was surprised to find Ryan and Ryoko standing in her room talking.

"What are you two doing in here?" questioned Buffy curiously.

"We're putting your clothes in your room, Miss," answered Ryan indicating the two freshly cleaned clothes baskets. "How was your day?"

"It was very nice," countered Buffy. "Ryoko, has my Aunt called?" changed Buffy walking over to her bed.

"No not yet, Miss Buffy, but I will let you know as soon as she does. Now if you'll excuse me I have a bit of mopping that needs to be done," she excused herself followed by Ryan.

Once Buffy's door was such, Buffy opened her top locked dresser draw and pulled out her Uncle's journal.

'Let's see what else you found out, Uncle William,' thought Buffy opening to were she last finished. 'Maybe I can combined what Angelus and I found to what you found.'

"Working hard," came a teasing tone.

"Hey, Spike," returned Buffy looking up from the book," and Maddy," she added spotting the little girl next to her brother. "How are you two today?" she asked.

"Curious as to why your maid was snooping through you stuff," replied Spike catching Buffy off guard.

"What?" questioned Buffy shutting the book. "Ryoko was going through my things?" she couldn't believe that Ryoko would do something like that, and why she would want to.

"Yeah, she was," confirmed Madeline hopping onto Buffy's bed. "More particularly your books."

"My books?" directed Buffy surprised once more. "Why on earth would she want to look at them. As far as I know I only brought reading books," she pondered as Spike sat on the other side of her.

"Ryan came in and she made up some excuse about the clothes," supplied Madeline as she went on. "I think, she was looking for something," she put her two cents in.

"But what?" wondered Buffy.

The three sat there for fifteen minutes in silence pondering that same question. Opening her Uncle's journal Buffy turned to the last page that had writing on it. What she saw shocked!

"Ah, Guys," she spoke up gaining Spike and Madeline's attention. "Do you know how long Ryoko has worked for my Aunt and Uncle?" as she stared down at the page.

"For a while," recalled Spike. "In fact, didn't she live here as a child with her mother who at the time was the maid?" Spike questioned his little sister.

Madeline thought a moment," Yeah, I think you're right," she related sitting back against the wall. "Why do you want to know?"

"Because my Uncle has notes here about her," explained Buffy pointing at the notes. "He was suspious of her, and wondered why it was she would always head out by the stables at so late at night," countered Buffy making eye contact with Spike. "Spike, when you two were alive, what was were the stable's were?"

Spike thought a minute, but couldn't completely remember," I don't remember. I want to say the west wing of the estate actually."

'That could be it,' thought Buffy reaching for her phone.

"Who are you calling?" voiced Spike noticing the gleamed of hope that struck Buffy's eye.

"Angelus," returned Buffy. "His Uncle is a police officer, I want him to see about getting a hold of the house's old lay out."

"Why?" asked Madeline sharing a confused look with her big brother.

"The house was rebuilt after your death, right?" clarified Buffy as the phone in her hand rang.

"Right," confirmed Spike, thinking he might be getting what she was thinking. "You think there is something out by the stables," he implied.

"I think, it's worth a shot," claimed Buffy. "Hi, Angelus," she greeted cheerfully.

"Hey, Buffy, I got those files you wanted," Angelus said holding the files in his hands.

"Thanks lots, make sure you have Ryoko's file in particular," said Buffy scooting against her bed. Cradling the phone with her shoulders she motioned for Spike to hand her the pen and notebook on her night stand.

"Why, Ryoko?" responded Angelus heading out his front door.

"She was in my room earlier, and I have it on good authority that she was going through my books. I have a feeling she was looking the journal my Uncle wrote it," she concluded writing on the notebook paper.

"Why though?" asked Angelus once he got into his car. "Do you think she's the one who connects your Uncle's death and Spike and Madeline's bone thing?"

"Yeah, I really do," stated Buffy. "I'll explained why when you get here, but before you arrive could you see if you can get your hands on the original lay out of Old Creek at the town hall or if your Uncle could get it?"

"Sure, be there soon," promised Angelus. "I love you,"

"I love you," whispered Buffy so that Spike didn't hear. She didn't want to hurt her friend any, but from the expression on his face he had heard her loud and clear.

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Part 12

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An hour later Angelus arrived and was sent up to Buffy's room.

"Buffy," called Angelus knocking on her door startling her and Spike out of their read of her Uncle's journal and the folders she had brought back from the library.

"Come in," got up Buffy and opened her door.

"Hey," he smiled placing a kiss on Buffy's warm lips, to which she responded to happily, but broke it off when she remembered their audience.

"Thank you for helping," she thanked letting go and lead him over to her bed to sit down. "Were you able to get a hold of the map?"

"It took them thirty minutes to find, and it's faded quite a bit, but," Angelus expressed reaching into the folder he had. "Here it is along with the files you wanted on Ryoko."

"Okay," said Buffy opening the map. "Here's where the stables are now," she spoke as Spike and Madeline, who Angelus couldn't see, and Angelus listened. "There was originally a well there," she pointed at the west end of the map. "Spike, that could be were you bones are," she stated earning a weird look from Angelus.

"Who are you talking too?" he wondered looking around the room.

"Me dimwit," commented Spike with a laugh.

"Spike," Buffy scolded the bleach blond. "Be nice. The ghosts," started Buffy staring at Angelus. "They're right behind you."

Angelus turned around quickly, but saw nothing," I don't see anything," he put forth.

"Besides my Uncle, I'm the only one who has been able to see them," explained Buffy honestly. "You do believe though, right?" she questioned as a slight fear that he might not crept in.

"Like I said before," Angelus started taking Buffy's hand into his. "I love you, and I believe you. Just because I can't see something doesn't mean, someone else can't," he reasoned being supported. "Now why did you want to know about the stables?"

Buffy expression soften as Angelus kissed her hand," Well according my my Uncle's journal, he had observed Ryoko going out there quite a lot and always at night. Spike says that she has been working for my Aunt and Uncle since she was a child and her mother was a maid. So I looked at the family tree that my Uncle had laid out and laid it next to the one we found at the library, and long and behold they match up.

Angelina fled the country, and ended up marrying an old sailor. They had a daughter and she married a rich Japanese man named Ryu Takamia. Looking at the family tree it looked like their family lived in Kyoto for three generations before Sharon Takamia, Ryu and Angelina's great great grandson, moved back to the states and ended up at Old Creek once more. By then Old Creek had prospered and had been rebuilt. Anyway, it looks like he stayed here and married a young woman named Cassy Ryan, who at the time worked for the new owners of Old Creek so he joined their staff as well. They went on to have four children, and thought the generations their family stated in the US, more particle Old Creek or it's surrounding areas ," explained Buffy stopping to take a much needed breath.

"So how does this all connect to Ryoko?" expressed Angelus as the pieces started to fall into place.

Buffy took the files Angelus had brought with him, and searched through until she found what she was looking for. Opening Ryoko's file she was not surprised to find her parents names and her grandparents names," It seems Ryoko's family has been working for the Old Creek owners for quite some time," she shared showing Angleus and Spike who were hovering over her shoulders the page.

"Her grandmother's name is Angelina," noted Spike pointing to the name Angelina Cart. "She married a local fishermen," he pointed out reading over the info.

"Her grandmother's maiden name is Takamia," delivered Buffy reading the police scribble on the page. "She's it," she concluded with confidence.

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Part 13

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"How do we get the proof we need on Ryoko?" wondered Angelus leaning back against Buffy's bed.

"I don't know," confessed Buffy laying her head upon Angelus's shoulder forgetting about the other two present.

Spike smiled sadly as he watched Angelus wrap his arm around an eye drooping Buffy. Though he had told himself that he and Buffy could never be, it still hurt to tsee the truth before him. Without saying a word he vanished followed by a tired Madeline.

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Awaking three hours later Buffy found herself tucked into her bed, and along. With a big yawn she turned over on her side to find the alarm clock read eight'o'clock. Rubbi8ng her eyes, she sat up brushing her against a piece of paper. She smiled when she saw Angelus hand writing.

Feeling all warm inside Buffy got up. Dinner was two hours ago, but maybe she could find something in the kitchen. Slipping on her shoes Buffy stoop up.

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Reaching the bottom of the steps Buffy froze on the spot upon seeing Ryoko opening the front door, while looking around suspiciously. Hiding behind the stair's pole, Buffy wait until Ryoko went out the door before following her.

The night air blew Buffy's golden hair behind her as she crept around the house enough to watch Ryoko, but stayed out of sight.

Green eyes watched the black headed woman heading towards the barn.

'What is she doing?' Buffy questioned herself. Adjusting her eyes to the fading light she continue to spy on Ryoko as she moved inside the barn.

As quietly as she could, she made her wayto the barn. Once she reached the open door, she observed Ryoko's actions. Ryoko walked in the the while horses stall, Spirit, if Buffy remembered right. Seeing Ryoko advert her eyes downward Buffy took it as her chance to enter the barn without being seen. Keeping her eyes on Ryoko Buffy crawled to the empty stall next to Spirit's. Clearfully she listened as Ryoko's voice floated through the barn.

"Mother, what should I do? Young Miss Buffy is looking into the old lengend," voiced Ryoko into her cell phone.

Buffy interests went on high at the mention of the lengend. Ten to one she was referring to Spike and Madeline's death.

"Deal with her as you did her Uncle," an old scratchy voice floated to Buffy's ear.

'My Uncle?" thought Buffy closing her eyes at the revallation. 'Ryoko rellly did kill.'

"Mothere, I can't do it," shierked Ryoko sitting down. "It's bad enough I had to push him down the stairs, but hurting his niece?" pleaded the maid of her mother. "I just can't hurt Miss Buffy."

"Ryoko, you know if the bones are found our family name will be disgraced," stated Ryoko's mother. "Those two children bones must be kept hidden."

"Our family's honor is already disgraced," pointed out Ryoko running her hands through her loose messed up hair. "For over 350 years our family has kept Angeline's secret. No matter the cost," raised Ryoko, making Buffy's eyes widen at the confession.

'I don't believe it,' gasped Buffy covering her mouth.

"Ryoko, you will respect your mothers' wishes if this young woman gets in the way, deal with her," snapped Ryoko's mother causing chills to go down Buffy's back.

A loud click was echoed through the barn followe by a sigh.

"Angeline, you have cursed you family all those many years ago," commented Ryoko.

Buffy went to scoot away fromt eh light Ryoko had turned on, but in the process she kicked an old iron can making a loud noise.

"Who's there?" called out Ryoko as Buffy6 finished crawling into the shadow.

Trying to keep her breath quiet Buffy waited until Ryoko walked out of the barn before getting up. Carefully she shut the stall and made her way to the barn door. Opening it she stepped out into the cool nigh air.

'I can't believe what I heard,' thought Buffy shocked heading towards the house. 'Ryoko killed my Uncle, she knows about Spike and Maddy's grave.'

"How could she?" Buffy asked herself reaching the the fense half way between the house and barn.

"To protect my family," replied Ryoko voice stopping Buffy cold in her tracks. Turning around Buffy found Ryoko holding a gun pointing it at her," Miss Buffy, you should have minded your own business."

"Ryoko, you don't have to do this," reasoned Buffy keeping one eye on the gun and the other on Ryoko.

"I'm afraid I do," returned an unhappy Ryoko. "I am trully sorry Miss Buffy."

"No," yelled Buffy as a shout ran out.

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Part 14

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Slowly Buffy opened her eyes to find Ryoko on the ground, and Angelus staring down at her hard with the gun now in his hand.

"Angelus," exclaimed Buffy happy to see the handsome man she loved.

Angels moved his deadly glare from Ryoko to Buffy, and he instantly soften,"Are you all right?" he asked concerned holding out his hand for her to take.

Taking Angelus's hand within hers Buffy shared a smile with him before turning her attetion to Ryoko," Why, Ryoko, why did you kill my Uncle. Why did your family hide the secreat for so long?"

"My family use to own the Old Creek many centuries ago, but my great, great, great, great, great grandfather lost everything to Poet family and my family was forced into working them or being out on the street," explained Ryoko not bothering to get up. She knew she had been caught, and wasn't going to run. She was tired of carrying the truth. "When the Mr. And Mrs. Poet died My fifth great grandmother thought that she would finally get back what was coming to her. She had been a loyal servant since her mother worked there. When she found out that the two young children where now in her care, but she was not to get a penny except to help them, that's when she lost it, and burned the house down trapping William and Madeline Poet in the house."

"What a monster," stated Buffy disgusted at the story. "How could she kill two innocent people like that let alone a yound teen and little girl."

"She snapped," suggested Angelus tighting his hold on Buffy's hoping to give her his support.

"Yes," confirmed Ryoko. "She snapped even more when she found the secret pasage way that the two young ones used to get out of Maddy's room and she found their cold lifeless bodies."

"Where are Spike and Maddy's bodie?" demanded Buffy wanting to know that minute.

"Under you," said Ryoko looking up into Buffy's surprised face.

"Under me?" inquired Buffy not sure what she meant. Looking down at her feet then back at Ryoko she asked," are they buried in the barn?"

"That's what your Uncle thought and what Angelina had wanted people to think if anyone ever found out, but no, their right under you," she answered pointing towards the fence only inshes away from Buffy. "Right were the red roses are growing," she concluded.

Looking behind her Buffy walked over to the flowers. She had always though it was weird when she was little that the flowers kept growing there, but she never really thought about it for long," Spike and Maddy's bones are her?" she questioned again.

"They are," returned Ryoko standing up slowly catching Angelus watching her.

"I am sorry, Miss Buffy," apologized Ryoko. "It's just my family's honor is very important."

"Well it's time that honor paid for what it did," said Buffy firmly standing up. The look in her eyes caused Ryoko to step," Angelus, call the police."

"They should be here soon," informed Angelus as light and sirens blared in the background.

"What?" directed Buffy. "How did they know?"

"When I couldn't get a hold of you, I called Willow and told her if I bipped her call the police. I beeped her the minute I got the gun away from Ryoko," he relieved holding up his beeper.

"Oh," claimed Buffy stepping into Angelus arms as police came rushing back in the yard.

After two hours of explaining what happen, and Ryoko confessing, which really surprised Buffy and Angleus to no end. The police left with Ryoko in handcuffs.

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Part 15/Epolog

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"So does that mean we are able to rest now?" questioned Madeline the next moring as she and Spike sat on Buffy's bed listening to all that had taken place last night.

" I don't know," admitted Buffy from her place on Angelus's lap. He had ended up staying with her last night, sleeping in a guest room. Buffy snuggled back against Angelus seeing Spike's sad smile she smiled back and him with friendlyness. "My Aunt promises to give your bones a proper burial next to all your other family members," promised Buffy reaching out her hand to Spike.

The platinum blonde smile and took her hand into his,"Thank you," he said soflty bring his lips down to brush against her hand.

"Your welcome," returned Buffy smiling at the gesture. "I'm going to miss the two of you," she confessed when he pulled back.

"They're not gone yet are they?" inquired Angelus, still not being able to see Spike and Maddy, but he knew they were there, and now knew they could rest in peace.

"Of course we are you, Big Poof," declared Spike causing Buffy to laugh.

"Yes," Buffy told Angelus shaking her head at Spike."

"What's so funny?" wondered Angelus smiling down at the tiny goddess in his arms.

"Nothing," hid Buffy giving him a sweet slow kiss on the lips.

The kiss became so involved the neither noticed Spike and Maddy waving good-bye before leaving for the last time.

Buffy spent the rest of the summer helping her Aunt out on her job and spending all the time she could with Angleus and her friends. Yes, this was defentily not the summer Buffy Summers had expected by she was glad it wasn't. Because she had made new friends, solved a mystery, and had a wonderful love now. What ever happen next she was ready!!

THE END

Huge Thanks too:

Sailor Earth

Kendra3

Lauren

Thanks guys for all the feedback on the last part. Huge thanks to everyone who sent me feedback on this story and all those who read it. I hope you have enjoyed it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!