“How did I know that? Giles reads the books.” Buffy scrunched up her nose. Nevertheless, the name still sounded familiar, like she already knew him. That wasn’t possible, no way could she already know a vamp – Slayer’s didn’t know vamps. “Giles?”

“Hm?” Giles asked distractedly.

“How did I know that? More importantly, why do I know about his girlfriend, Dru and the fact that she is completely crazy? This is seriously wiggy. I know that he gambles with kittens, and that is just… ew. He’s in the factory. I know that he and Angel have–” “Oh my God, Angel. Angel.”

Noticing her unease Giles intervened, “Right, you clearly know plenty of things about him that you really couldn’t know. The books can not tell where his lair is, and you seem confident in that fact. Really, there is something more here, something deeper.”

“Something more, definitely,” Buffy agreed.

“I think it would be best if you attempted to stay away from this Spike. We don’t know what effect your knowledge of him might have, and we can’t take any chances. We cannot allow him to retrieve the Gem of Amara,” Giles said.

“No gems for Spikey, got it,” Buffy blurted out. “Ok that was weird to say, but it just came out…Spikey?”

“I’m hoping that the term for him is connected to your extensive knowledge of him. In either case, this information might serve useful in killing him, but until we know for sure–”

“I know, stay away from blond, blue-eyed vampires,” Buffy finished.

Giles was about to say something when Willow, Xander, Cordy and Oz entered the library. Their rather animated conversation came to a screeching halt when the noticed the serious look on Giles’ face. The quietly took seats on the couch and waited for the explanation that was sure to follow.

“New vamp, likes people to think of him as the ‘Big Bad’. Wants a gem, but I need to stay away from him, because I know way too much about him, much wigginess,” Buffy quickly explained.

“You slay vampires, right? So why then stay away from a big, bad one?” Cordy offered.

“Because,” Giles began, “We don’t know where this knowledge is coming from, and it might be used to her disadvantage in a fight.”

A look of recognition washed across the Scoobies.

“Willow, I want you to do – whatever it is you do on that thing,” Giles pointed to the computer, “And find out anything you can about Spike and his ties to Buffy. For that matter, look into spells involving memory transfer.”

“Right, well, I should go patrol while you guys look for Spike info. I know Giles, I won’t seek him out, but I can’t just let the other baddies run free,” Buffy said.

Before Giles or anyone could protest, Buffy was out the door. Buffy sighed heavily and shook her head. Giles had seemed worried about her knowledge, but she didn’t understand why. Knowing your enemy was a good thing, know the enemy, Slayer rule number – something. Now that the thoughts or memories of Spike were in her head, she couldn’t seem to push them out, no matter how she tried. Algebra, she would think about Algebra. That topic always managed to kill her Slayer mood, and effectively push out all other thoughts.

Buffy entered the cemetery and found it to be a bit too lively for her taste. There were half a dozen vamps corralling their dinner. Buffy walked over to the group and waited patiently for one of them to register her presence. After a few seconds, she grew impatient. She cleared her throat and grinned when one of the vamps turned around to see who had disrupted their meal.

“Slayer,” the vampire spat.

“Took you long enough. Let them go,” Buffy said as she nodded towards the girls.

“That’s my dinner, I don’t see me just letting it go,” the vampire answered.

“Then I guess I’ll just have to make you,” Buffy answered. She quickly withdrew her stake and ran it through the vampire’s chest. “Anyone else?”

To her delight, another two vampires approached her; trying to use numbers to intimidate her. Buffy kicked the closest vampire in the chest and sent him flying into a nearby tombstone. The second vampire managed to tackle Buffy only to dust seconds later; Mr. Pointy effectively resting upright on Buffy’s chest. Buffy stood up and looked around for the remaining vampires. None. Just as she was about to dash after them, something registered on her radar. Spike.

“Slayer,” Spike drawled.

Buffy turned and faced him, immediate recognition clearly etched on her face, “William.”

“I see you’ve heard of me,” Spike answered, an amused smile crossing his lips to hide his utter shock.

“God, he’s arrogant.” Buffy smirked at the vampire, confused as to why he was so much of a badass.

“Speechless, I have to admit, Slayer, s’not quite the reaction I was expecting,” Spike taunted.

“I don’t know what exactly to say about your little welcoming party. I mean, pathetic, useless and pitiful are the first words that come to mind. Seriously, Spike, next time just hang a sign that says, ‘Slayer, the Big Bad is here!’” Buffy retorted.

“See, here’s the thing. I needed to get you to come to a specific cemetery, this cemetery, so that I could kill you before you become a bloody pain in my side. Sadly, good help is hard to come by,” Spike answered. He tried his best to not look affected by the Slayer’s apparent familiarity with him. Her scent showed no signs of fear, nothing. She was nonplused by his presence.

“Pity,” Buffy answered casually. She idly twirled Mr. Pointy. “You could make this really easy and just leave town, you know.”

“See luv, I’d love to, but on second thought, nah, I won’t be leaving with out what I came here for,” Spike said. Now he was getting irritated. Who did this bint think she was, telling him to skip town like a scolded dog?

“That doesn’t work for me. I can’t let you have it,” Buffy said.

“Didn’t expect you to hand it over to me, pet. That’s why I’m going to drain your blood first,” Spike answered. Tired of their banter, he slipped into game face. “Let’s dance, Slayer.”

“This is bad, very bad.” She wasn’t supposed to be anywhere near Spike, let alone fighting him. He had found her, she hadn’t gone looking for him, and with an invitation like that, what choice did she have? Buffy shrugged her shoulders and punched Spike in the nose.

Spike shook the hit off. Finally he’d get his dance with the Slayer. While Spike was lost to his thoughts, Buffy took advantage of the situation and kicked him in the gut, causing Spike to loose his balance and fall to the ground.

“Bloody hell, Slayer,” Spike said as he stood up.

“You didn’t think killing me would be easy, did you?” Buffy taunted. She punched him in the nose again, causing him to utter a curse under his breath, “Obviously you did.”

“Won’t make that mistake twice,” Spike muttered.

“You won’t live long enough to,” Buffy said. She held her stake tightly and kicked him into a tree. Just as she was about to end his un-life, Spike snapped out of his daze and kicked her legs out from under her, watching in delight as she fell to the ground, her stake landing a few feet away from her.

“You know, luv, you’ll be my third Slayer. I had hoped you’d put up more of a fight, but this will just have to do,” Spike said. He smiled at how her scent changed. It was dripping with fear. “Now this is more like it.” He moved his face to her neck and opened his mouth, just inches away from her throbbing vein.

“I’m going to die, again. Buffy laid there under Spike waiting for the deadly bite. Her body wouldn’t allow her to move. “He can’t kill me.” Pulling herself together, Buffy reached her hand out in search of her stake.

Spike noticed her movement and quickly pinned her offending hand above her head, “Sorry luv, but I can’t let you do that.”

Buffy shot her head up quickly and effectively moved out from under him as he nursed his head. The down side was that Mr. Pointy was closer to Spike than to her. To her dismay, Spike picked it up and threw it halfway across the cemetery. Sensing that she was out of options, and a little unnerved from being so close to death again, she dashed out of the cemetery.

“Here, I’ve found something,” Giles said excitedly.

The Scoobies turned their attention to the Watcher.

“It says here that the Gem makes its possessor invincible –”

“But, we already knew that,” Buffy interrupted, “The whole not being able to kill the big evil, not so good.”

“Yes, but now we know that the gem actually exists,” Giles stated.

“And that helps us how?” Cordy asked.

“I’m not entirely sure. Buffy, we need to get this gem before Spike. It will be more difficult for you to kill him if he has it, and your knowledge of him might not help you,” Giles said. He started to clean his glasses.

“Do we know where to find the gem?” Buffy asked. Her Slayer side kicked into overdrive as the idea of an invincible Spike came into her mind.

“It says that it’s hidden inside a crypt –”

“Oh, goodie, something new for us,” Cordy interrupted.

The group glared at Cordy, who shrugged it off as she sat down next to Xander.

“The details are very vague, you see, the gem itself is sort of a myth, a vampire’s Holy Grail. It isn’t supposed to exist,” Giles finished.

“Well, it does. I’m going to find Spike,” Buffy said.

“What if he already has the gem?” Willow asked with concern.

“Gem or no gem, Spike’s going to be dust,” Buffy stated.

Buffy walked out into the daylight. The sun was high overhead. It was quite a change from the dusty, dank school library. Buffy couldn’t help but worry; if Spike had the gem…Buffy bit her lip. “If Spike has the gem, I’ll kill him.”

“Big words, Slayer,” Spike said as he fiddled with his new gem ring.

“Spike,” Buffy said casually with out turning to face him.

Spike was leaning against the wall. Buffy turned to face him. A broad smile crept upon his lips.

“Out in the sun, with the lack of nasty dustiness. Life seems a bit brighter, don’t you think, pet?” Spike arched a brow.

“You’re a pig,” Buffy said.

“Guilty. See, now I can kill you,” Spike paused and looked at the Slayer. “Does it ever bother you?” Spike asked.

“What?”

“Losing? Being defeated. The Slayer being slain,” Spike questioned.

“I should be the one to ask you that, Spike. Seems to me that you’ve lost a lot more than I have. Here you are out in the sun, but only because of some gem. You don’t have a pulse, a reflection, a soul. You’re just a shell, an empty shell. And I’m going to make you fit inside a zip-lock baggie,” Buffy said calmly.

Spike’s nostrils flared. “I’m not the only one who has lost their life, pet.”

“Yeah, but you see, I’m better at it. When I came back, I came back better. Same Buffy, just smarter. When William died, he came back Spike; not exactly a high point,” Buffy said.

Buffy scribbled a note to her mother and left it on the kitchen table. Grabbing her bags, she hurried out the door. If her mother came home before she was gone, Buffy would never make it to L.A. She knew that Giles and the rest of the gang objected to her rash action, but something in her drove her on; she had to find out the truth. If Spike and Angel had the past that was foreshadowed by their encounters in the past, then Buffy knew there was a bigger issue buried somewhere. Buffy relaxed slightly as she sat down on the bus, in a few hours she’d be closer to knowing.

When the bus stopped in L.A., it was late in the night. Angel would be out doing whatever it was brooding vampires did away from Sunnydale. For not being a Hellmouth, L.A. sure held some of Sunnydale’s less appealing qualities. Not wanting to stay in one place for too long, Buffy picked up her bag and began the walk to where Angel was staying. She’d just wait there for him to return for the day. As she walked down the alley, her mind jumped to the bleach-blond vampire. A million thoughts ran through her head as she continued to walk. No matter what she tried, nothing could clear his image from her mind’s eye.

“Stupid vampires,” Buffy muttered.

She smiled when she noticed how close she was to her destination. Pausing for a moment, she looked at her surroundings. The dark, dirty streets were filled with dozens of people who knew nothing about the evils that were constantly surrounding them. At least in Sunnydale people knew about the dangers, however, that didn’t make them any wiser. She constantly had to save young people who went wandering into the cemeteries or into the woods late at night. Buffy shook her head. Once she was inside, Buffy released a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. The place was dark and empty as she had expected and this made her feel oddly calm. She placed her bag on the floor and walked around absently. Exhausted from her trip, Buffy sat down on the couch to rest her eyes.

Angel walked briskly towards home. It was getting close to sunrise and all he wanted to do was collapse on his bed to sleep the day away. The night had been long and challenging, he hadn’t even caught the demon he was chasing. His mind hadn’t really been in the chase anyway. He was thinking about Buffy. He couldn’t shake her from his mind. The look of hurt in her eyes when he left Sunnydale had cut straight through to his heart. No matter how many times he told himself that it was for the best, he couldn’t shake the feeling of betrayal and guilt.

As he walked inside his place, he was overwhelmed with her scent. He shook his head to clear his senses, convinced that thinking about her had driven him to imagine her scent. He took a step forward, nearly tripping on a bag that lay on the floor. Angel stepped over the bag and peered into the main room. There lying asleep on his couch was Buffy. Suddenly, he couldn’t move, or speak. All words and actions were lost as he looked on the petite blonde. She looked so peaceful while she slept and he remembered many nights back in Sunnydale where he would relish in just watching her sleep on her bed, contented by the fact that she was safe.

“Angel,” Buffy said through sleep filled eyes.

“Hey, Buffy,” Angel answered once he found his voice.

“Sorry to just show up like this, but I need your help,” Buffy said as she sat up on the couch.

“Are you alright?” Angel asked with concern.

Buffy chewed on her lip, unsure of how to answer him, “I guess, I am and then not.”

“What’s going on?” Angel asked.

“Spike came to Sunnydale looking for the Gem of Amara, which he found and used and tried to kill me, but now I have the Gem and I don’t know exactly what to do with it. To add to the wiggieness, I know all this stuff about Spike, and that’s why I’m here. I need to know what you know about Spike,” Buffy hurried out.

Angel blinked a few times as he digested what Buffy had just told him. First was the shock that the fabled Gem actually existed, then came the horrifying reality that Spike, who had killed two Slayers, had nearly killed the woman he loved.

“Angel?” Buffy asked.

“Sorry, just trying to let it all sink in. Spike is in Sunnydale?” Angel asked.

“Yeah, and he has his psycho girl with him, Drusilla. They’re held up in the factory,” Buffy explained.

“What exactly do you know about Spike, and how?” Angel asked.

“I know way too much for my liking. I don’t know how I know it either. Giles was telling me that there were rumors about a vampire coming to Sunnydale to get the Gem, and I just knew that it was Spike. Then when we met up the first time, I knew all sorts of things about him. I knew about Dru and about the other Slayers…it felt like I knew him. It’s really starting to wig me out,” Buffy said.

Angel suppressed rage as he listened to Buffy talk about Spike. He was doing something to her; he had no doubt forced some witch to perform a spell on Buffy. That was his way of dealing with things, the little bastard. “Not that I don’t want you her, because I do, but if you already know all of this about Spike, why come to me?”

“Because you know him. Dru sired him and you sired Dru. There is a history there, and I need to know more about him. I have to know the truth,” Buffy said. She sighed and looked pleadingly into Angel’s eyes. She knew he didn’t want to talk about Spike, part of her didn’t want to either, but she had to know the truth.

Angel pinched the bridge of his nose. The long night was beginning to catch up to him, and he really didn’t want to delve into the sorted past of Angelus and William the Bloody. He looked at Buffy and saw how tired she was, but there was grim determination in her eyes; there was no way out of this conversation.

“Spike was what Dru wanted. She saw him and took pity; wanted to save him from the world. He was called William, William the Bloody. One day, he decided that he no longer wanted to live like dear old William, and he changed his name to Spike,” Angel began.

“Why William the Bloody?” Buffy asked.

Angel chuckled, “Because he was a ‘bloody awful’ poet.”

Buffy nodded and worked overtime to keep her face emotionless. She knew that was the reason for the nickname, and she also knew that was why Spike reacted the way he did when she addressed him by his given name. His eyes had flashed, full of fury and hatred. His normally clear, blue eyes turned into a storm by just that one word. She noticed it for the first time, the power she had over him. There was no denying it now. Spike could have killed her at least once before, but he hadn’t. She had kept him from going through with the deadly bite because of what she knew.

Angel watched Buffy’s face. Her brow was knit in concentration and from what he could tell, she was having a bit of a struggle with herself. Her mind was running on overdrive; her heart had accelerated greatly. Spike would pay for whatever he’d done to Buffy.

“Buffy?” Angel said, yanking Buffy from her thoughts.

“Hm?” she looked up at Angel with large eyes.

“Why don’t we finish this tonight? You look exhausted, and I know I am,” Angel answered.

“Do you know where Buffy is?” Joyce asked almost frantically.

“Mrs. Summers, there was nothing I could do –”

“Don’t give me excuses, Mr. Giles. Tell me where my daughter is,” Joyce demanded.

“Los Angeles,” Giles stated.

Joyce was silent for a few moments, trying to accept what this man was telling her. Her baby girl was in L.A., alone from what she could tell. “Do I dare ask?”

Giles sighed audibly into the phone unsure of how to handle the situation. He had assumed that his Slayer would be more responsible than this. “She went to see Angel. She wanted to get some information from him about Spike.”

“You’re telling me that my daughter is alone in L.A. with a vampire?” Joyce asked.

“Yes. There was nothing I could do to stop her. You must understand that I would not just let Buffy run off to Los Angeles on a whim,” Giles said.

“You are the adult she looks to Mr. Giles. I understand that Buffy is a very special girl, but she is still my girl. I would have thought you would be responsible enough to call me,” Joyce said.

“That was a horrible oversight on my part. I had hoped that Buffy would discuss it with you before she went,” Giles said.

“Do you have any idea when she’ll be home or how to contact her?” Joyce asked.

“I don’t know when she’ll be back, but I do think that I still have Angel’s number. If you’ll give me a moment, I’ll go and get it,” Giles offered.

“Thank you,” Joyce said. She paced the area in front of the island while she waited for Giles to get back on the line. She and Buffy were going to have a long talk when she came back from her little trip. Things like this were inexcusable; she was still a child – her child.

“Mrs. Summers? I have that number,” Giles said.

Spike paced impatiently. No sign of the Slayer for over twenty four hours. That was not normal. He’d been around for a few years, learned some patterns. Slayers were such awful creatures of habit that it was almost sad. It served well for him, but it did make things boring. This Slayer, while different from the other two, had maintained the monotony…until now. Who was he fooling? This Slayer was completely different from the other two. She moved differently, fought differently, everything she did was different. He shouldn’t be surprised that she’d take a random hiatus, but that wouldn’t keep him from being upset about it.

“She dances around you. Laughing. Naughty, dirty Slayer. Upsetting my William so,” Dru singsonged.

Spike looked over at Dru. For a crazy as the bird was, she was right. The Slayer was laughing at him right now. A good poke at the git who couldn’t kill her. That’s the crux of it, he couldn’t kill her. She was right…he couldn’t because he was curious. She had a hold on him, she held knowledge, and that knowledge was power. He wouldn’t kill her until he knew exactly what she knew, and why.

“The stars paint a picture, while the moon serenades me. You will bag this Slayer, and then we can be happy once more. Ms. Edith will have cakes,” Dru continued.

“Sure luv, whatever you say.” The sun was down, and he couldn’t bear to stay cooped up inside.

“Let’s have us a night out,” Spike said. He took Dru’s hand and led her into the night.

The pair walked the nearly deserted streets of Sunnydale in silence. Both were predators on a mission for food. The life-giving, red sustenance that ran through the veins of unsuspecting citizens. Blood. They could both smell it, its scent lingering from the day’s bustle of people, the more potent scent of the blood rushing through the bodies of the people foolish enough to venture out after dark, just waiting to be tasted. It was perfect, just before them stood a pair, lovers from the looks of things. Dru, having not been able to hunt for a few days, vamped immediately and dashed toward the strangers. Captivated by her thirst, Spike watched from a distance for a moment while his lover feasted.

“Look what I’ve brought for you, my William,” Dru said. She handed him the limp body of the woman, “I’ve caught you a sweet little morsel.”

“That you have, pet,” Spike said as he sunk his fangs into the woman’s exposed neck. The liquid was blissful, probably more so because his beautiful, Dark Princess had taken such pleasure in bringing it to him.

Suddenly, Dru stiffened, her eyes wide. “She walks alone tonight. The stars see her dance in the moonlight. The end is near, the end of something meant to last for years. The air smells the difference, it’s always going to be different now, Ms. Edith. The past, the future, the veil between them is torn this night.”

Spike stared, gape jawed at Drusilla. Angelus had wanted Drusilla because of her seer abilities, and it had been a trait that Spike had learned to appreciate. This was one of those occasions. He knew that Dru spoke of the Slayer, at least part of what she had said concerned the Slayer, and the rest was a bunch of mystic nonsense to him.

“Buffy, we need to have a talk,” Joyce said.

“Have you been up this whole time waiting for me?” Buffy asked.

“Yes, now sit down. I’ll make us some hot chocolate,” Joyce instructed.

Buffy sat down at the table, “You should have gone to bed, it’s like way early, or late I guess.”

“Last time I checked, I was the adult. It’s you who should have been in bed hours ago. I understand that you have to do the Slaying, but it really is becoming a burden,” Joyce said.

“It’s my calling, mom. It’s not like I can call in sick. I’ve already tried that one, Giles didn’t like it very much,” Buffy said.

Joyce joined her daughter at the table. She handed a steaming mug to Buffy. “I don’t like you going off on you own, and especially not to L.A. That is a very dangerous place, Buffy. The note was a very immature way to handle things.”

“Because living on a Hellmouth is so much safer,” Buffy replied, “Look, mom. I know this is hard for you. I’d love to tell you that it’s just a phase, that I’ll grow out of it, but I can’t. The only time I’m out of the calling is to die, and I don’t plan on doing that anytime soon. I’ve been forced to grow up a lot faster than I would have liked, but seeing what I’ve seen kinda forces adulthood on you.”

“An adult would not have just left a note, Buffy,” Joyce scolded.

Buffy rolled her eyes, “You’re right, mom. An adult wouldn’t have had to tell anyone where they were going. Besides, you’re an adult and you leave me notes all the time when you’ve left.”

“That is different, Buffy. I leave for my job, to provide food, clothes, shelter…for you,” Joyce challenged.

“Exactly. I went to L.A. because of my job. It might not put food on the table or pay the bills, but it saves the world so that there is a table for you to put the food on. I don’t expect you to understand what I do, or why I do it, because, honestly, I don’t always understand why I do what I do. I’d love to be just another teenager, not knowing about what actually goes bump in the night. I don’t have that luxury. I bear the weight of the world, and no one can help me,” Buffy said.

“I’ll admit that your job, your ‘calling’ is important, but it doesn’t change my feelings. You may be the Chosen One, the Slayer, but you are first and foremost my daughter, no calling will ever change that,” Joyce said.

Buffy regarded her mother for a moment. She had such presence. There was no room for argument, nothing Buffy could say would change her mother’s mind. Summers women were known for being stubborn, her mother was no exception. The determination in her mother’s eyes brought out a renewed respect for her mother. “I’m sorry. I should have handled the whole thing differently. Next time I need to leave, I’ll talk to you first. You know, you can’t exactly keep me from leaving, right?”

“I know that, Buffy. I can’t help but want to. I’m supposed to keep you safe, to fight the monsters in your closet, not the other way around. I can’t stop being your mother,” Joyce said.

“I understand, and I don’t want you to stop being my mother. I like having a mother,” Buffy said.

“You should really get some sleep now. You have school in a few hours,” Joyce said.

“I love you, mom,” Buffy said. She hugged her mother tightly before walking up the stairs to her bedroom.

Buffy stretched her legs before climbing into her welcoming bed, thoughts consumed by the ring she still had in her pocket.

She was sitting on the edge of Giles’ bathtub, staring down a Spike, who was chained to the tub.

“So…you saw their faces but you can’t describe them?” Buffy asked.

“They were human, two eyes…kinda in the middle,” Spike retorted.

“Uh huh, and the lab?”

“Underground,” Spike sighed, “I came out through an air vent. I don’t know exactly where. I’m done. Put the telly on.”

Buffy heard Giles walk in, probably carrying the pig’s blood for Spike.

“It’s about time. Hope you got it warm enough,” Spike said to the Watcher.

Giles handed the mug to Buffy. She wrinkled her nose at it before placing the straw within Spike’s reach. Spike greedily sucked on the straw. She gagged slightly before turning her head away.

“I don’t know why you’re so dainty all of the sudden. You’ve done this for Angel – you must have,” Spike said. Spike hurriedly returned his lips to the straw, just in time for Buffy to snatch away the mug.

“Hey! Give it!” the vampire said, the straw dangling from his mouth.

“Ok, that’s it. The invalid amnesiac routine is over. The kitchen is closed until you can tell me something useful about the commandos.”

Beyond pissed at this point, Spike was tired of playing nice captive, “I’m trying to remember, it was very traumatic.”

Irritated Buffy replied, “How long are you going to pull this crap?”

“How long am I going to live once I tell you?” Spike shot back.

Tiring of their endless banter, Giles interceded, “Look, look, Spike – we have no intention of killing a harmless, um…creature…but we have to know what’s been done to you. We can’t let you go until we’re sure that you’re impotent – ”

“Hey!” the indignant vampire shouted.

“Sorry, poor choice of words. Until we’re sure you’re, you’re…”

“Flaccid?” Buffy offered.

“You are one step away, missy,” Spike gritted out.

“Giles, help! He’s going to scold me,” Buffy retorted.

Spike, in an effort to maintain his dignity, growled and reached out to grab the offending Slayer; his attempts were thwarted by the chains, making his movements…comical.

“You know what? I don’t think you want us to let you go. Maybe we made it a little too comfy in here for ya,” Buffy said as she squatted next to the tub, her face close to Spike’s.

“Comfy?” Spike asked, “I'm chained in a bathtub drinkin' pig's blood from a novelty mug. Doesn't rank huge in the Zagut's Guide.”

“You want something nicer?” Buffy teased, she bent her head to the side, exposing her neck to the deprived vampire, “A look at my…poor neck? All bare and tender and exposed…all that blood just…pumping away…”

At this point, Buffy had Spike so worked up that he was licking his lips in anticipation. Giles, fed up with their charade, muttered, “Oh please.” and left the pair alone.

“Giles, make her stop,” Spike whined after the man.

The images in Buffy’s mind blur and fast forward, the comforting scene of Giles’ bathroom fades to a field, at night. Buffy sees herself standing next to Spike who is clawing at the ground, yelling at it. Something about a commando lab, and fix me…those are the only intelligible things Buffy hears. The images blur once again, and Buffy feels her stomach lurch as she fast forwards through time…

“One more word out of you and I swear…” Buffy threatened.

“Swear, what? You’re not gonna do anything to me. You don’t got the stones,” Spike threatened.

“Oh I got the stones. I got a whole bunch of…” Buffy felt herself falter under his intense gaze, “stones.”

“Yeah? You’re all talk,” Spike spat back.

Buffy shot up from her bed, there it was again the damn stones. She knew she was having a Slayer dream. Spike, chained in Giles’ bathtub…commandos…secret lab…major wiggin’ for Buffy. Plus, the dream was all future like, she was older, and if she didn’t know any better she would swear that she was flirting with Spike. What was worse…he was flirting back. That was not the normal tendency of Vampire/Slayer relationships. “How do you explain Angel?” Angel had a soul; he was an exception…wasn’t he? Sure he’d gone all bumpy after her birthday, and forgotten all about loving her, but still, when he had a soul he was all lovey.

Shaking away her thoughts, Buffy tasked herself with getting ready for school. She couldn’t have had more than four hours of sleep, and her fitful dream wasn’t exactly conducive to sleep. Principal Snyder was on her case again, so she couldn’t afford to sleep in, or not go at all. Plus, she really wanted to tell the gang, and Giles, about her dream. It meant something, she just couldn’t exactly figure out what that meaning was.

“Buffy!” Joyce called, “Hurry up, it’s time to leave.”

Two hours later, Buffy was listening to her teacher talk about some important person from history. She didn’t really pay attention in this class because Willow would let her borrow the notes. Her mind was not idle; it was full of vampire thoughts. “Spike lips, lips of Spike…” She smiled as the thought bounced around in her head. Kissing Angel had always been tender and loving, kissing Spike would be something different entirely.

“Buffy!” Willow said as she shook her friend.

“Huh? Wha’d I miss?” Buffy asked.

“Apparently the whole lesson. Let’s go. We’re meeting in the library,” Willow said.

“Ok,” Buffy said as she shoved her things into her backpack.

“I’ve found some interesting things about Spike in my books,” Giles said as the girls entered the room.

“Yeah, Mr. Research has been imparting to us for a while now,” Xander said.

“Is there a reason I’m here?” Cordy asked curtly.

“An excuse to not be in Algebra,” Xander replied.

Cordy’s mouth formed a silent ‘o’ and she went back to mindlessly wandering the bookshelves.

“The Watcher’s Journals depict William the Bloody as a killer as bad, if not worse, than Spike,” Giles said.

“William the Bloody? A killer? No way,” Buffy said.

“How can you be sure?” Giles asked. He knew the information Buffy had was correct on some things, but she really did need to keep an open mind.

“Angel told me it was because he was an awful poet, we’ve done this part, Giles,” Buffy said.

“I know we have, it just doesn’t add up. Why would the Journals say something so different from what actually happened?” Giles pondered.

“He didn’t want to be known as William anymore. That’s part of why he was so willing to let Dru eat him…he wanted to be different. After he became William the Vampire, that wasn’t enough…so he created Spike. Something about someone would rather have a railroad spike ran through their head than hear another one of William’s poems,” Buffy explained.

“It does make sense,” Oz said, “I wouldn’t be afraid of a poem reciting vampire.”

“Me either,” Willow said, “Well, maybe a little.”

“I’m telling you guys that’s what he did. But I really don’t want to talk about Spike anymore. I had a Slayer dream last night, and it has me seriously wigged,” Buffy said.

Giles perked up at the mention of another dream. It was a good sign, or bad depending on your prospective, when his Slayer wanted to discuss business. “What was it about, Buffy?”

“Commandos, a secret lab, Spike, impotent…no flaccid,” Buffy said.

The group stared at her like she was absolutely insane. None of what she had just said made a bit of sense to them.

“Perhaps you should try again, and this time, do tell us the details,” Giles said.

Buffy related the dream to the group trying to remember as much about it as possible. There were so many things about it that made sense to her in an obscure way…like a memory she was never meant to have…like it was all just a dream, the reality of it nothing more than a dream.

“It certainly sounds like a prophetic dream. I’ll have to conduct some research,” Giles said once she had finished.

“You guys think I’m nuts. I don’t blame you, if I didn’t know me I’d think I was nuts too,” Buffy said energetically.

“So that would be an ok feeling?” Xander asked.

“Yeah, definitely ok,” Buffy told him, “Oh! I ran into Spike last night when I got back from L.A…”

“Why didn’t you tell me this?” Giles inquired.

“You wanted to know about L.A. It kind of…slipped my mind,” Buffy said.

“Right, what happened?” Giles asked.

“He offered to make a truce. I no slay, he no bite,” Buffy said.

“Why would he do such a thing? It’s absolutely unheard of, vampires making truces with Slayers, it’s absurd,” Giles exclaimed.

“It’s not like Spike is your textbook vampire though. Maybe he’s serious about this truce,” Willow said.

“You didn’t accept this offer, did you?” Giles asked, a hint of worry touching his features.

“No, never got a chance to. Do you think I should? I mean it’s not like I’m going to stop watching him…and if he breaks his end…”

“Dustville for Spike,” Xander finished.

Buffy smiled, “Exactly.”

“I suppose this will be easier with his cooperation, if you feel you can control him. You must ensure that he won’t attack us,” Giles said.

“You honestly think I’d let him eat you guys? Never going to happen,” Buffy said, “I’ll make the deal with him tonight.”

Encounters with the Slayer always left Spike unnerved, but tonight had been different. Tonight, he hadn’t wanted to kill her, at least mostly. When she’d inadvertently mentioned Cicily, he’d wanted to drain her quick. It was bad enough that the Slayer knew that he was a poet as a human, she didn’t need to know that he had been rejected by his muse, driven into the night, met Drusilla, and become a new creature. In some ways, he was still William. Angelus had seen that years ago. That image, the poet, had to be shut away, far away. Spike was a formidable opponent, a creature of the night to be feared. William was a ponce. He no longer had edge, no bite. The Slayer and her soddin’ memories or whatever they were had seen to that.

Spike pulled the ring from deep in his duster’s pocket. It wasn’t exactly attractive, not the sort of thing he could see her liking, but she had snatched it away from him like it was more precious than silver. He shrugged as he slipped it onto his finger and immediately the world around him began to spin. Spike quickly shut his eyes and willed the world to return to normal, when he reopened his eyes…nothing was normal.

The room was unfamiliar to his eyes, but part of him recognized the white walls, the couch, the bookshelves, the records. He was tied to a chair, a brassed off Slayer glaring down at him. A zillion different thoughts raced through his head from “What in the hell did I do now” to “She’s hot when she’s brassed”. It hit him hard, desire coursed through his body, his erection immediate. Suddenly the only thing he wanted was Buffy. Heat flooded through his arms as he felt her small hands untying the ropes that bound him to the chair. When he dared to look at her, he saw love shining back at him from the depths of her sparkling green eyes. If her eyes weren’t enough of a signal, the smell of her arousal was thick and strong.

Before he realized it, he was on his knee, her hand held gently in his. “Slayer, Buffy, marry me?”

Spike held the unneeded breath as he waited for her answer. He was aware of Giles’ presence in the room, but chose to ignore it.

“It’s just so sudden. I don’t know what to say,” Buffy said warmly.

“Just say yes, and make me the happiest man on earth,” Spike begged.

“Oh Spike,” Buffy gushed, “Of course it’s yes.”

Spike fought down the urge to recite poetry as Buffy flung herself into his arms. His body hummed from the contact of her little form, now molded against his. He nuzzled her neck, his demon excited by the scent of her blood. In an attempt to appease, he nipped gently at her neck with his blunt teeth. He was rewarded with a quiet moan from her lips. Pride washed over him as he realized that he was the one responsible for her contentment, not that commando, Riley.

“Giles!” Buffy exclaimed, “You’ll never believe what’s happened!”

He squeezed his girl tightly to him. All his now, no one would ever have her…he wouldn’t let them. For the first time, Spike didn’t care about the commando chip or about Dru running off with that bloody chaos demon. He was content to have Buffy in his arms. Angel was a ponce, he’d let this blonde beauty go. “All for the better, I s’pose. Means I get her.” Spike frowned slightly as Buffy pulled away from him slightly.

“Kiss me?” her eyes large, pleading.

“How can I say no to that face?” Spike asked as he captured her lips with his own.

At first the kiss was tentative, as if it was the first; a gentle caress of the contours of their lips. Slowly, the kiss became more aggressive. He ran his tongue along Buffy’s lower lip and smiled inwardly as she pulled him closer to her. She parted his lips, granting him access to the warmth her mouth held. Devouring. It was the only word that could be used to describe the actions between the two blondes. Both of them fought for dominance, neither wanting to submit. A growl from somewhere low caused them to break their kiss.

“Someone sounds hungry,” Buffy whispered.

“It’s your fault, luv. Reminded me ‘bout blood,” Spike said. To emphasize his point, he ran his tongue along her neck, sucking at her jugular.

“Well, since it’s all my fault, I’ll get you some blood,” Buffy said.

Spike looked at her incredulously.

“I'm the one who made you all grr. Stay there,” Buffy ordered.

He chuckled at her and went to the armchair. He watched the sultry sway of her hips as she sauntered into the kitchen. “I’m the luckiest bastard in the world.”

Buffy smiled broadly as she carried the mug of blood to the living room, “Here you go…98.6.”

Unable to resist, Spike captured her lips in a searing kiss. The sight of her brining him blood, and being so sweet about it was euphoric. It was nice to be on the receiving end of her gentle side, not the harsh, Slayer-whipping side he was normally on.

“There’s so much to decide. Ceremony, guests, reception…”

Spike half grinned at the girl. He fiddled with the pen that he held in his hand, ready to take down any notes that his girl offered him. “Well, first thing I’d say we’re not having a church wedding.”

He inwardly cringed at the pained look on her face. He knew it was every girl’s fantasy to have a big wedding, the pretty dress, the nice church, but being a vampire it didn’t bode well with him to tie the knot in a soddin’ church. His pain eased when he noticed her face change into thoughtfulness.

“How ‘bout a daytime ceremony, in the park.”

“Chit’s lucky she’s cute.” Spike snorted, sometimes she really was daft. “Fabulous, enjoy your honeymoon with the big pile of dust.

She flinched at his use of sarcasm, but quickly recovered, not willing to loose the battle so easily, “Under the trees, indirect sunlight only.”

“Warm breeze tosses the leaves aside and again you’re registering as Mr. and Mrs. Big Pile of Dust,” Spike replied sarcastically. He wanted her to see how ridiculous the whole idea was.

A hurt frown touched Buffy face as she pouted at him, “Stop it! This is our wedding and you’re treating it like a big joke.”

He loved it when she pouted, it was so unbelievably sexy, “Look at that lip…gonna get it…gonna get it…”

Lips met lips in a playful caress. Both were teasing the other, not wanting to take the kiss any further than necessary. It was torture, asd it only added to the fire that was burning inside of him. He didn’t want to be the one to deepen it; he wanted the dominance…wanted her to beg for release.

She giggled against his lips, “Oh…stop…”

“Yes, please stop,” Giles said.

Spike watched in amusement as Buffy held out her hand to Giles, “Giles? Did you see my ring?”

Spike smiled menacingly at the group. For as much as he hated the wanker, Angelus had taught him a thing or two. Part of it had actually been fun, hell the whole thing had been fun. The waiting was not fun. She had to show up some time. From what he had observed, she always returned to the crew after…

“Hey guys,” Buffy said brightly as she walked into the library.

“’Lo, luv,” Spike said.

He watched in amusement as her step faltered, and basked in the gasp that escaped her lips.

“What in the hell is going on, Spike?” she asked through gritted teeth.

“Revenge,” Spike said simply. He dropped his fag to the ground and stubbed it out with his boot.

Buffy took in the scene before her. Locked in the book cage was a very sedated, very wolfy Oz. Chained to the cage was a petrified Willow. Laid out, spread eagle, on the table was Giles. His shirt was ripped, blood stains could be seen on his flesh. Tied to the stair banister like a witch to a stake was Cordelia. Xander was no where to be seen. Buffy allowed her gaze to return to the blonde vampire who was leaning nonchalantly against the counter.

“Where is he?”

Spike only smirked at her.

“He’s in the office, Buffy,” Willow’s unsteady voice called.

“Red’s found her voice again,” Spike said as he took a meaningful step towards Willow, “Let’s see what I can do about that.”

Forgetting about Xander momentarily, Buffy placed her self between Willow and the offending demon.

“Ready to dance, Slayer?” Spike asked. He took on a defensive stance, gold flickering in his eyes.

Buffy rolled her eyes, “Why?”

Her question caught him off guard. He had wanted a fight, a chance to vent his anger, his…pain. “Vampire, luv. Fighting Slayer’s what I do.”

Buffy gave him a pointed look. She knew he was avoiding answering her question. She would stake him, there was no doubt in her mind of that, but she needed to know what had caused him to do such a thing to her friends and not just come after her.

“It’s your turn to loose something, pet,” Spike said softly. The malice lacing his voice would have cut through steel and he took silent pleasure in the fear he felt flicker around the Slayer, brief as the emotion was.

Looking at him closely, she noticed hurt buried deep within his eyes. Something serious had happened tonight and he obviously blamed her for it.

Before she could form a response, Spike had her by the throat. His grip wasn’t deadly…yet. He wanted more than just her blood, he wanted her to suffer as greatly as he had, and would not stop until she had. Buffy tried to release his grip on her, but the instant her hands connected with his forearm, the world began to dissolve away.

Buffy dashed out of the frat house, his signature strong. She ducked around some bushes and fell back slightly as a hard fist connected with her face. She quickly recovered and faced Spike.

“What’s the matter, Spike? Dru dump you again?” Buffy asked sweetly.

Before he is given the chance to respond, Spike blocks to of her well placed punches before a third hits him true. “Maybe I left her.”

Before their dance came to the full rhythm, Harmony’s voice pierced the night sky. “She left him for a fungus demon. That’s all he talks about most days.”

Buffy wore an amused smile as she watched Spike retreat to Harmony and grab her roughly by the arm, “Harm! We are going,” he ground out, “It isn’t time yet.”

Before either of them had a chance to take in what had just happened, they were inside a crypt. Spike’s crypt.

“Spike?” Buffy called as she walked through the door.

Nothing.

“Spike?” she tried again. Slight worry touched her features as she wandered around the empty crypt. She spied a trap door and opened it up to reveal a hole that led to a lower level of the crypt. A sheet hung from the ceiling. Buffy pulled the sheet aside and gasped. Quickly, she drops the sheet and dashes up the ladder as quickly as her legs will carry her.

“See anything interesting?” Spike asked when he saw her blonde head emerge.

“Spike. I, uh…,” Buffy faltered as she continued to climb up the ladder, “what…” she backed up as Spike advanced on her, “what happened?”

“Me.”

Buffy turned toward the unfamiliar voice. She briefly caught Drusilla’s face before she was zapped by a taser.

“There she is,” Spike’s voice pulled Buffy from her semi-conscious state.

Realizing she was restrained, Buffy pulled on her bindings.

Ignoring her efforts, Spike continues, “Beginning to think you’d sleep the night away.”

“Dru…Drusilla?” Buffy questioned, remembering the taser.

Spike grinned at her before stepping aside to reveal a very upset Drusilla tied to a pillar.

“Not nice to change the game in mid play, Spike. You’ve taken my chair and the music hasn’t stopped,” Dru whined.

“Sorry, pet. My house, my rules,” Spike said.

Unsure, Drusilla replies, “I think I shall be cross with you when I’m free again.”

“What’s going on?” Buffy asked.

“Simple. I’m gonna prove something,” Spike said as he moved closer to the Slayer, “I love you.”

As his words seeped into her brain, Buffy flinched.

“Oh my god,” Buffy whispered in disgust.

“No, look at me!” Spike demanded as he grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him, “I…love you.” Before he could continue, Buffy jerked her chin out of his hand. “You’re all I bloody think about. Dream about. You’re in my gut…my throat…I’m drowning in you Summers, I’m drowning in you.”

Breaking the heated silence, Dru began to laugh.

“I can do without the laugh track, Dru,” Spike said with irritation lacing his words.

“But it’s so funny,” Dru protested, “I knew…before you did. I knew you loved the Slayer. The pixies in my head whispered it to me.”

Again the images blur, but this time it is more of a fast forward.

Spike grabbed a stake off the table and marched over to Dru.

“I’m going to kill Drusilla for you,” Spike said.

Dru began to laugh again.

“That doesn’t prove anything,” Buffy began, “Except that you’re a sick miserable vampire that I should have dusted a long time ago. And hey, already there.”

More fast forwarding.

“If you don’t admit…that there’s something there…some tiny feeling for me…then I’ll untie Dru, let her kill you instead,” Spike said.

Dru began to nod excitedly, “Yes, please. I like that game much more.”

“Just…give me something,” Spike began, “a crumb…a barest smidgen…tell me…maybe, someday, there’s a chance.”

Releasing his grip on the Slayer, Spike pusheed the girl away. They stared at each other for long moments, neither wanting to accept what just happened. They had shared a vision. No longer were they just dreams, or hallucinations. They had both felt what was going on, as if they were actually there.

“What in the bloody hell is that about?” Spike raged.

Buffy opened her mouth, then closed it quickly realizing that she was just as lost as him.

“Uh, guys?” Willow asked.

The two blonds turned to the redhead.

“Let them go, Spike. We can’t figure this out alone. We’ll need their help. Besides, you want to let out some rage, fine by me. But give it to me, not them. They didn’t do a thing to you. I’m the one you hate,” Buffy said evenly.

“What are you doing to me Slayer?” Spike asked softly.

Buffy felt his gaze blaze through her body. He was just as spooked as she was. “I don’t know.”

Shaking his head, Spike walked over to Willow and released her from the chains. She offered him a hesitant smile as she rubbed her sore wrists.

Buffy had rushed over to where her Watcher lay. She carefully released him from the bindings and helped him to sit up. “Wil, can you grab the kit?”

Willow hurried into the office to retrieve the medical kit. “Uh, Spike?”

Spike cocked an eyebrow before he walked over to the threshold of the office, “Red?”

“Can you um…” she pointed to Xander.

Spike nodded as the witch passed him.

Once everyone was freed, save the warewolf, they all took a seat around the table in the library. No one met the eyes of anyone else in the room.

“I-I’m going to make some tea,” Giles blustered.

His temporary solution for the situation caused the air to lighten a bit around the group.

“Now we research, right?” Xander asked.

“Research what?” Buffy asked, “This isn’t a demon. I don’t know how to fight this. I mean, until tonight, they were like slayer dreams. Tonight was just…wiggy.”

“It’s a spell,” Giles said matter-of-factly as he reentered the room.

Glad to see he was back to Watcher-mode, Buffy asked, “How do you know?”

“Angel called. He heard some interesting things in L.A.,” Giles said.

“Oh, well if Peaches thinks it’s a spell, then well it must be true,” Spike said sarcastically.

Buffy glared at him, “What kind of spell, Giles?”

Giles sighed and removed his glasses from his face. He began to rub them furiously.

“Great, he doesn’t know,” Cordy exclaimed, “I’ve been tied to a banister because Buffy pissed off Spike all for nothing. This isn’t fair.”

“Right, because you’re the only victim here,” Xander retorted. He was too tired, and beaten to give into his girl’s whining.

“I suggest you all go home and get some rest. It’s about two hours from dawn, and most of you have school in the morning. We’ll begin our search tomorrow,” Giles said.

“He’s right, guys. Go home, sleep,” Buffy said.

“What about the evil undead?” Xander asked.

“I’ll take care of him, Xan,” Buffy reassured her friend.

The group nodded their agreement before groggily retreating from the library.

“Are you ok, Giles?” Buffy asked with concern.

“I’ll be fine. You take care of Spike and I’ll see you later,” Giles said as he retreated into his office.

Buffy began to walk out of the library and noticed that Spike wasn’t following, “Coming?”

Spike shrugged off of the wall and followed Buffy out of the school into the pre-dawn of Sunnydale. They walked together in silence.

Buffy was the first to break the uncomfortable silence, “You told me you wouldn’t kill them.”

“I didn’t.”

“But you would have,” Buffy said.

“Probably.”

“We made a truce, Spike. Demon or not that has to mean something.”

“I lost it tonight, ok?”

“It’s not ok, Spike. They didn’t do anything to you. You should have come after me.”

“I did.”

Buffy looked at him then. There was an emotion in his eyes that she couldn’t read. “The way you think I came after you.”

“Dru’s all I’ve ever had. When she left, you were the first person I blamed. Killing you wouldn’t be enough. You can thank the poof for that, taught me well he did, although he’ll never believe it. I wanted to destroy you the way I was.”

Unable to find any words, Buffy merely nodded. It was a bit much to take in at once. Soulless things didn’t love, they didn’t care…hence the lack of soul, but the emotion that Spike was showing, even if he would never admit it, had to come from somewhere. Maybe things weren’t always black and white.

“I’ll come to the school at dusk,” Spike said as they reached his crypt.

“If you hurt them again, I’ll dust you,” Buffy said.

Spike looked up at her and nodded, fully aware that she had every right to end his undead life right then.

With one last glance at Spike, Buffy began the walk home. The Bronze wasn’t really on her way home, but she wanted to do a quick sweep of the town. Slaying something would be of the good for her.

“Hey!” Buffy heard a female voice shout.

Buffy took off in a run toward the back of the club. There she saw the girl who shouted. She was being attacked by a vampire. “Finally, something.”

“Stop struggling, this won’t hurt,” the male vampire said.

Buffy, about to join the party, backed off when she saw the girl push the demon away. Before the guy could react, the girl elbowed him in the face. The girl jumped onto a crate as the vampire regained his balance. Just as the vampire was about to lunge, the girl performed a roundhouse kick to his face, sending him spiraling to the ground. Buffy watched as the girl approached her.

“It’s ok, I’ve got it. You’re Buffy, right?” the girl asked.

Before she could answer, the vampire grabed the girl’s shoulders. Fascinated, and slightly shocked, Buffy watched as the girl head butted the vampire, grabbed onto his arm and looked at Buffy.

“I’m Faith,” she said as she threw the offending demon into the chain link fence.

Buffy gaped at the girl, Faith. After a few more minutes of struggling, Faith turned back to Buffy.

“Can I borrow that?” Faith asked as she took Buffy’s stake.

Again, all Buffy could do was watch as Faith dusted the vampire.

“Thanks, B. Couldn’t have done it without you,” Faith said as she handed the stake back to Buffy.

“Faith!” Buffy called as the girl walked away.

“Yeah?” Faith called.

“Wait. You’re the new Slayer,” Buffy said.

“Yeah,” Faith said.

“Not that I mind the help, but why were you called here?” Buffy asked.

Lost

Joyce had given up on her attempts to separate the two blondes. They were attached. The only time they were apart was when the other was in the bathroom! She found it quite ridiculous at times, but whenever she’d try to pry Buffy away, a low growl would come from Spike. Even at night the two were together, he would hold her protectively in his arms and she would fall into a calm sleep. Part of her was happy for her daughter. It seemed that when Spike and the girls were around she could let go of her burdens and focus on just being Buffy.

“Giles? What is it?” Joyce heard Buffy ask from the living room.

Joyce walked out of the kitchen to see a very disheveled Giles.

“The Council is ready. They are waiting for you and Faith at the library. I’ve been given instructions: you are to go alone,” Giles said softly.

“Not bloody likely,” Spike ranted. His eyes flashed gold.

“I agree. I don’t want her going to face those men on her own, Mr. Giles,” Joyce said.

“Everyone is going. I don’t really care what the Council says about it,” Buffy said definitively.

“Right then, let’s go face the wankers,” Spike said. He moved closer to Buffy and pulled her into his arms. He hadn’t told he about his dream, and he noticed that she didn’t ask. This thing the Council had planned was bad, Spike could tell, but he didn’t know what he could do about it.

When the group reached the school, Buffy instructed everyone to wait outside the library. She and Faith would go inside first. Spike would know if anything went wrong.

“Ah, Miss Summers. Faith. Glad to see you could make it,” Travers greeted.

“Wouldn’t miss this party for the world,” Buffy replied.

“It is looking to be in your favor. You followed the instructions we gave to Mr. Giles by coming here alone. I must say I’m terribly impressed,” Travers continued.

“Shall we?” Buffy asked sweetly. She wanted this to be over, quickly.

“Of course,” Travers said. He motioned for one of the other Council members to come forward.

“I need you to stand facing each other, please,” the Council member asked, “Now, join hands.”

“Is this some sort of freaky kinky love thing?” Faith asked as she took Buffy’s hands.

“I assure you it is necessary. The ritual requires physical contact,” Travers said with a knowing smile.

“Ritual?” Buffy asked. Her feeling of unease multiplied. Rituals were never of the good.

Travers simply nodded at the girl and watched with a wicked smile as the magic began to work. Soon the library was filled with a brilliant white light. The chanters increased the pace of the words they spoke and soon there was a pop, and then the two Slayers were gone.

“This should work out just splendidly,” Travers said.

“What are we doing to tell the Watcher?” someone asked.

Travers smiled, “I don’t think we’ll need to tell him anything.”


Jump Buffy didn’t understand. Jump There was a tower, bright light emanating from it. Jump Creatures were pouring out of the light. Jump She felt herself running and before he brain could catch up with her body, she jumped from the tower.

Pain unlike anything she’d ever felt before coursed through her body. It burned, it froze, it consumed. She felt her life being stripped from her and drawn into the portal’s energy. She was so confused. Nothing made any sense. Her brain couldn’t form a complete thought, the pain was too great. Then, suddenly, the pain began to subside. A calm washed over her. ‘Relax, pet. I’ve got you. You’ll be safe.’ At his words, Buffy felt the marks on her neck tingle and her body relax. She was floating, hovering above existence. Then, just as suddenly as it had started, it ended.

Slowly, consciousness came back to her. Her eyes wouldn’t open, her mouth wouldn’t work, and she couldn’t move. Her ears worked. She heard sobs, humans sobbing. Then, she heard a sound that made her heart break. Spike was crying, gut wrenching sobs. She tried to look at him, tried to move over to him and comfort her mate. She tried to send comforting thoughts to him through the bond, but still the sobs continued.

“Spike?” she whispered.

She forced herself to her feet and moved as quickly as she could to the crouching figure. His face was a bloodied mess and the emptiness in his eyes haunted her. She had to make him better. She threw herself into his arms. She was vaguely aware of the other’s. She heard their voices, but didn’t hear what they were saying. At this moment, they didn’t matter. Spike, her mate, was the only thing that mattered.

“It’s a dream. It has to be a dream,” Spike whispered in awe.

Buffy looked up at him with tears in her eyes, “It’s not a dream. I’m here. It will be ok.”

Spike closed his eyes and held onto the girl tightly. He was being given a second chance. He didn’t know why, and he really didn’t care, all that mattered was her. He would never let her down again.

Buffy looked up and saw the concerned faces of her friends and even some strangers. “Wonder if we just saved the world again.”

“B-Buffy?” Giles’ grief stricken voice asked.

She just stared at him. She didn’t know what to say. Things around her felt different. Suddenly, things began to make themselves known. She could no longer feel Willow or Cordellia, and Faith wasn’t here. Her mother, she couldn’t feel a connection with her mother, but there was another, blood, her blood. She could feel it.

Abruptly, she jumped out of Spike’s embrace and began to pace. Things weren’t right. This wasn’t where she was supposed to be…it was wrong. A wave of terror swept though her, but it wasn’t hers…it was Faith’s. She stumbled and would have fallen if Giles hadn’t steadied her.

“Where’s Faith? We need to find Faith. She’s in trouble,” Buffy said in a panicked voice.

No one made a move. They were all just standing there, staring at her like she’d grown a second head. Why didn’t Willow notice? Why wasn’t Spike helping her? She looked back at him.

“Spike?” her voice was small, “What’s going on?”

Spike opened his mouth to reply, but closed it. What was he going to tell her? ‘Sorry I almost let you die.’ There were no words, but if she kept looking at him with those large hazel eyes of hers, he might just dust. He moved towards her slowly, and to his, and everyone else’s surprise, she didn’t move away.

“Buffy?” Dawn’s questioning voice called.

Buffy looked at the girl who called her name. She didn’t recognize her, but she felt familiar, like blood…like mom. She approached the girl and hesitantly reached her hand out to stroke the girl’s hair. “I should know you. You’re blood, my blood.”

“Great, she’s forgotten me, again,” Dawn mumbled.

“I didn’t mean to,” Buffy said in a small voice.

“Slayer, why don’t we get you home? That sound nice?” Spike asked.

She merely nodded up at him.

Spike swore his heart stopped when she took his hand and held it tight. He looked down at her, but she was examining a spot on the ground. She wouldn’t meet the gaze of anyone.

Xander opened his mouth to protest, loudly and possibly with strong language, but Anya’s hand over his mouth kept him quiet. He just couldn’t understand why Buffy turned to the Evil Undead Jr. for help.

The others were having the same issues as Xander, but they were still too shell shocked to process their objections. Mutely, the followed the blonde pair back to Revello Drive.

“I’ll make us all some tea,” Giles said once they’d settled themselves in the living room.

Buffy settled herself as close to Spike as she could. She fought the impulse to curl herself in his lap. He seemed to be distancing himself from her, and he couldn’t stop staring at her with that same ‘Who Are You’ expression.

“Someone going to tell me what’s going on?” Buffy asked once Giles re-entered the room.

“We all thought you died when you jumped from Glory’s Tower,” Anya said matter-of-factly.

“Huh?” Buffy asked, “And who are you?”

“You don’t remember Glory?” Giles asked. He began to polish his glasses, he feared this would become an even longer evening.

“No, no Glory. The Council showing up at the school and telling me and Faith that they were going to ‘test’ us is the last bad thing I remember,” Buffy said. She eyed the group, looking for recognition to register in their eyes, but she saw nothing.

“The school?” Giles asked.

“Yes, where you live. In the room with all the books,” Buffy supplied. “What’s wrong with everyone?”

“Buffy, you blew up the high school two years ago,” Dawn said.

“Yeah, in L.A., but this is Sunnydale. That high school is still there, but I really would love to blow it up,” Buffy said. Another wave of panic went through her, immediately followed by pain; pain so severe she doubled over from the force of it.

“Slayer?” Spike asked with concern.

“Faith. We’re running out of time. We need to get to her,” Buffy said through the pain.

“Did you hit your head?” Xander asked, “Last I checked, we didn’t want to help Faith.”

Buffy stood up and before anyone could react, she had Xander by the throat. “I don’t care if ‘we’ want to help her. ‘I’ want to help her and I will.” Buffy let him drop to the ground, “With or without your help.” She felt another presence on the edge of her awareness, one that was very close to Faith. Angel. “Is Angel still in L.A.?”

Giles nodded. He knew there was no way to change Buffy’s mind. Perhaps when she saw Faith things would go back to normal, well normal for the Hellmouth.

“Then that’s where I’m going. If you want to help me you’re welcome, if you don’t then go home,” with that, Buffy left the house.

Immediately, Spike was on his feet and to the door.

“Just where do you think you’re going, Spike?” Xander asked.

“I’m going with her. Can’t you lot see how confused she is? There’s somethin’s wrong with her, and I’m not letting her out of my sight,” Spike said as he left the house.

“I’m glad you decided to come with me,” Buffy said without turning to look at him.

“’S that right, pet?” Spike asked. The second he’d walked out that door, he decided to just go with whatever it was the Slayer was doing. She seemed to want him around, and he’d take any crumb he could get.

Buffy smiled up at him, “Yeah, I kinda need someone who can drive.”

If it wasn’t for the smile on her face, Spike would have been beyond upset. Recently, she’d just been using him, but the smile on her face told him that she was joking, trying to make the situation more bearable.

“So, we’re going to see Peaches?” Spike said.

“No, I don’t want to see him. Ever again,” Buffy bit out.

This was a new or different Buffy. She’d never been so adamant about not wanting to see her ex-lover. “Then why L.A.?”

“That’s where she is. I can feel her. And I can feel Angel. They are close to each other,” Buffy said as if it made perfect sense.

The ride to L.A. was done in relative silence. Neither person really knew what to say. Buffy was torn. He was Spike, but he didn’t seem to want her anymore. He’d shut off their connection. That was probably what hurt the most. She couldn’t remember what’s she’d done to upset him, to make him not want her anymore…

Spike stole a glace at Buffy and he saw silent tears fall down her cheeks. She looked so alone, so young. He didn’t know what to do to help her. She had seemed so comfortable with him.

“Spike?” Buffy asked softly.

“Yeah, pet?” Spike replied.

“Do you still…love me?” Buffy whispered the last two words.

Spike nearly swerved into the other lane. “’Course I do, luv. I love you so much it burns.”

Buffy looked up at him, tears still swimming in her green depths. “Don’t leave me. I need you with me. I can trust you. You’ll keep me safe.”

“I haven’t always,” Spike said softly.

“Yes you have. You told me you would. I believe you,” Buffy told him.

Spike noticed how she didn’t use the past tense. Since she didn’t remember Glory, she probably didn’t remember his promise to keep Bit safe, hell she didn’t even remember the Bit.

“Where you expecting to find Faith?” Spike asked.

“I-I don’t know. I can feel her stronger now. Does Angel know where she is?” Buffy asked.

“I think he does, pet,” Spike said.

Buffy huffed. She so didn’t want to go ask Angel for help. She didn’t want anything to do with him, but she had to do something to help Faith. “Take me there. I’ll make him tell me where she is.”

Spike nodded. They seemed to have formed a bond. He didn’t want to bollox it up by opening his mouth.

When they reached the hotel, Buffy took his hand and held it tightly. “Don’t leave me.”

“Never, pet. I’m here for as long as you still want me,” Spike said.

“I’ll always want you, Spike,” Buffy answered.

Hand-in-hand the pair walked into the building.

“Buffy?” Angel asked, “What are you doing here? Is everything ok?”

“Where’s Faith,” Buffy asked coolly.

“Why do you need Faith?” Angel asked skeptically, then he noticed, “And why in the hell are you holding hands with Spike?”

“That’s none of your business. Are you going to help me, or not?” Buffy asked. She was tired, confused and she just wanted to find Faith.

“She’s still in jail. Buffy, are you alright?” Angel asked.

Buffy’s mouth widened in horror. No wonder she was so scared. “Poor thing.” Buffy looked up at Spike, “We have to get her out of there. She’s so scared. She didn’t do anything. I don’t care what you think you know…trust me, you don’t know anything.”

Spike raised a scared eyebrow, “Sure thing, Slayer. Let’s go save her.”

Buffy nodded and walked back outside.

“You know what’s going on with her, Spike?” Angel asked with concern.

“No. I’d better get out to her before she takes my car,” Spike said as he left.

“You know how you’re plannin’ to get her out, pet?” Spike asked once they were on the road again.

Buffy scrunched up her nose, “Force. Punch someone until they tell me what I need to know.”

“Right then,” Spike said. He didn’t know what else to say. Normally the Slayer was all human friendly, but he wasn’t going to object to seein’ her in action.

Once they reached the jail, Spike watched in awe as Buffy went into Slayer mode. She knocked away the officers that stood between her and the front desk. She didn’t kill any of them, he could still hear their heartbeats, but still…wow.

“Where’s Faith?” Buffy demanded.

The young officer at the front desk went to press the emergency button when the small blonde’s hand caught theirs in mid movement.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Just tell me where Faith is and we’ll get along just fine,” Buffy said.

The officer nodded and motioned for Buffy to follow. Before she did, she looked back a Spike to make sure he would in fact follow her. Normally, she wouldn’t have bothered, but this placed seemed to have changed him. He seemed to not even care about Faith, and that was just too weird. Even before the claim and the sister claim he’d been all Protective Guy. “At least he’s stopped staring.”

“Buffy?” Faith’s anguished voice called.

“Faith!” Buffy yelled.

Spike watched as Buffy pulled the jail door clean off. Then, Buffy ran to the other girl and they embraced. Both had tears running down their face. Everything here was so different, and yet the same. The reality of the situation seemed to come to light as the girls clutched each other like a life line.

“Ladies,” Spike interrupted, “Think it might be best if we do the reunion once we’re back to the car and on our way back to Sunnyhell.”

“Buffy, I can’t feel them. You’re the only one I can feel. What’s happening?” Faith asked as she allowed herself to be pulled to her feet.

Buffy looked up at Spike, but didn’t see any recognition and her heart broke a little more. “I don’t know. I’m so going to kill Travers and any other council member I can get my hands on. This isn’t fair. This isn’t a test. I think they wanted us to die.”

Faith’s eyes became large a saucers. They were sent here to die. “Guess we should’ve been nicer to Wes.”

Buffy smiled, “Don’t think it would have helped. Travers doesn’t exactly like me.”

Faith nodded, “What’s up, Blondie? You aren’t all hot with B.”

Spike raised an inquisitive eyebrow. “I’m hot with Buffy? As in physical? The little kiss in my crypt after Glory…Faith wouldn’t know about that. Since when are the two of them all chummy?” He looked a Buffy who was a brilliant shade of red.

“We need to get out of here before more cops show up,” Buffy said.

Faith agreed. She’d had enough of the big house to last her a life time. Plus, once they were back to Sunnydale, maybe someone would tell her what was going on. She kept being told that she was a murderer, but she’d never killed anyone who wasn’t dead to begin with, and she was supposed to do that!

The trip back to Sunnydale was just a quiet as the one to L.A. Buffy and Faith sat curled up together in the back of the DeSoto. They were so far beyond wigged by the situation. Nothing made sense. No one knew anything, and everyone, including Spike thought they were both nuts.

Back in the house on Revello Drive, the Scoobies waited anxiously for the blondes to come back. All were a bit concerned about Faith’s return to Sunnydale, but no one broached the subject. When the door opened, everyone turned to look at the tear stained faces of the two Slayers.

“Buffy? What’s wrong?” Willow asked with concern.

Buffy and Faith walked into the house followed closely by Spike who, if possible, looked paler than usual. Buffy looked around the room and was still bother by the fact that she could feel “Dawn” who she didn’t remember, but not her mom who she could most certainly remember.

“Where’s mom?” Buffy asked.

There ya go. Let me know what you think!

Entropy and Order

“It might be possible to pull them back to our reality,” Giles told the anxious group.

“How?” Spike asked.

“Using the claim you have on Buffy. By itself it isn’t strong enough, but since she performed the sister claim, it may be possible,” Giles explained.

“What about the Buffy and Spike from where ever ours were sent?” Willow asked.

Giles pinched the bridge of his nose. That was something he had been giving a great amount of consideration himself.

“I don’t bloody well care,” Spike said, “I want my Buffy and Faith back.”

“We all do, Spike,” Giles said softly, “However, dimensional travel is a very dangerous power to meddle with in the first place. We do not want to upset the balance.”

Spike nodded and grabbed Travers once again, “So, tell me, mate. How do we make this dimensional thing work?”

“We must first establish that you can reach either girl through the claim, Spike,” Giles interrupted.

“Right then,” Spike said as he dropped Travers.

Willow and Cordellia walked over to Spike and took hands, forming a small circle.

“Either one of you bints starts chanting, the whole thing’s off,” Spike mock threatened.

Both girls saw his comment for what it was an attempt to ease off some of the tension…it worked.

Spike closed his eyes and focused all of his energy on connecting to Buffy through the bond. With the enhanced bond through the two girls it was easier, but still more difficult than he would have wished. On the very edge of his awareness he felt her presence. It was weak, meaning that she was very far away and in no danger.

‘Buffy, luv?’

He held his unneeded breath as he waited for her to respond. He’d never claimed anyone, and had never heard of a vampire using the bond across dimensions.

‘Spike?’

‘I’m here, pet. We’re going to bring you and Faith back. We have the Council wankers here and they’re going to help us do it. We’re going to use the bond to pull you from that dimension into ours.’

‘So, this is another dimension? Creepy. There’s a you here, and well a everyone else here. I have a sister here, too!’

‘Dawn.’

‘How’d you know?’

‘Had a dream night before the Council showed up.’

‘Oh. So, I really miss you. This place is just too weird. How’s this going to work?’

‘Not exactly sure yet, kitten. I do know that you and Faith need to be touching, like you were when you were sent to wherever in the bloody hell you are.’

‘Ok. Can you give me a bit of warning before you whisk us back home? I want to be able to say bye to Dawn and this Spike.’

‘Sure, pet.’

‘Do claims nomally work this well?’

‘Not that I’ve ever heard, but this isn’t exactly a normal claim, luv. Three super powerful beings, a witch and a human.’

‘Point taken.’

‘Gonna get back to beating the wankers for info. I love you, Buffy.’

‘Love you, Spike. Bring us home.’

‘Promise.’

“That was intense,” Willow commented.

“You were able to communicate with her?” Giles asked.

“Yeah, she’s fine, Watcher,” Spike answered.

“Thank God,” Giles replied.

“Now,” Spike said as he turned to Travers, “Tell me what I need to know before I start removing limbs.”

Travers nodded his head. He wasn’t keen on the idea of loosing any limbs. Plus, there was no guarantee the spell reversal would work properly. He always liked to look for the bright side in all situations.

“’M not a very patient vamp, mate,” Spike gritted out.

“Yes, I’ve noticed,” Travers said dryly, “I’ll need fresh supplies and someone to perform the spell.”

“Give Red your list,” Spike ordered, “She can do the mojo.”

Willow looked wide-eyed at the vampire. She wasn’t anywhere near powerful enough to perform this spell. She’d barely been able to work the soul restoration spell for Angel.

“It will need to be someone with more magical experience, Spike,” Giles said as if reading Willow’s mind.

“You help ‘er then,” Spike said.

Giles nodded his head. He knew they couldn’t trust any of the Council members to perform the spell properly. He would have to make sure to properly train Willow in the Arts. She was powerful, there was no doubt to that, and because of that she needed to be closely watched.

“Willow, you and Cordellia go to the Magic Box and gather the supplies. Quentin will tell me how to prepare for the ritual,” Giles ordered.

“I really don’t like you,” Cordy told Travers while Willow snatched the paper away from him.

Travers grinned at the girls. Truth be told, he didn’t really care if he was liked. That wasn’t important to him. The only thing that mattered to him was duty. Duty at all costs, even if that cost was the Slayer. That was the nice thing about them; there was always another one to be called.

“Am I the only one who thought Buffy seemed pretty happy where she was?” Cordy asked Willow as the walked to the shop.

“At least she wasn’t in danger, well, more so than normal,” Willow said.

“Maybe she wants to stay there,” Cordy said absently.

“Right. You heard the same longing in her voice that I did. She misses Spike, her Spike. I think she was just relieved to be somewhere vaguely familiar,” Willow said.

“Probably. It’s weird though. Buffy’s gone, but now, it doesn’t seem like she’s so far away. We’re still connected,” Cordy said thoughtfully.

“Takes some getting used to,” Willow added.

“Yeah, but it’s so cool. It’s like, having another family. Knowing that they’ll be able to help you,” Willow said.

Cordy nodded her head. It was nice to feel like part of the family. Things at home had started to get bad, in a major sense. Her dad was spending more time at the office and her mom was out almost every night. She wasn’t a complete child, she knew her parents weren’t exactly living in marital bliss, but that didn’t make it hurt any less. Seeing the relationship Buffy had with Spike and Willow with Oz gave her hope. Hope that she wasn’t doomed to live the life of her parents. She would strive to make things work with Xander. She was beginning to have serious feelings about the boy. Ones she wasn’t ready to admit yet.

“The list is pretty long. Must be a complicated ritual,” Willow said with interest.

“Doesn’t that make it more dangerous?”

“I think so.”

The girls split up the list to make their trip shorter. Neither was exactly happy to be so far away from Spike. It was bad enough to have Buffy and Faith gone.

“This is very powerful magics,” the shopkeeper told Willow.

“I know. It’s a very serious ritual,” Willow answered cryptically.

The shopkeeper could feel the young girl’s untapped power and nodded her head.

“Thanks,” Willow said cheerfully as she took the bags.

“Took bloody long enough!” Spike exclaimed when the girls entered the library.

Willow and Cordy looked at each other with smiles before bursting into laughter.

“What is so funny, Red? Cheerleader?” Spike asked.

“You,” they answered in unison.

Spike shook his head and mumbled something about ‘bloody women’.

“I think we’re ready to prepare for the ritual. Were you able to get everything?” Giles asked the girls.

“Uh, yeah,” Willow answered.

Giles took the bags from the Willow and scattered the contents onto the large table.

Spike walked over to Travers, “This is your last chance, mate. If this doesn’t work, or if you’re not bein’ straight with me, I’ll drain you drier than the Sahara!”

“I’ve already told you, this should work. It is exactly what I would do if I wanted to bring them back,” Travers answered coldly.

“IF?” Spike roared.

“Yes, if. I don’t particularly want them back. Miss Summers has been a pain in my side since the beginning, and the other one is following in her shoes,” Travers said disgustedly.

“I bloody well hope she is,” Spike retorted.

“This really isn’t helping,” Giles said.

“So?” Xander smirked.

“I agree with the Whelp,” Spike said smugly. However, he relented and turned to glaring at the man instead.

“What can I do?” Cordy asked.

* * * * * * * * *

Spike’s mind was still reeling as the group walked back into the Magic Box. Normally his sexual quips were answered by ‘You’re a pig, Spike.’ Not this time, no this time Buffy had to go and make him even harder. It was so hard for him to remember that this was not his Buffy. This Buffy belonged to a him somewhere else. Sometimes the bloody Powers were just right bastards.

“How was patrol, Dawnie?” Willow asked.

“I missed,” Dawn pouted.

“That’s ok, You’ll get ‘em next time,” Xander encouraged.

“I don’t think me and next time will ever meet,” Dawn said.

“Course you will. Come with me,” Buffy said to Dawn, who eagerly followed.

They walked into the training room and Buffy handed her sister a rubber stake.

“Rubber?” Dawn asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Don’t want you to accidentally make him go ‘poof’,” Buffy said.

“Him?” Dawn asked.

“Spike?” Buffy called, “Come help.”

At first he wanted to say something about not being her lap dog, like the Poofter, but he refrained.

“Yeah?” he asked in what he hoped was an uninterested tone.

“Don’t give me that. I’m going to have you be the dummy,” Buffy said cheerfully.

“Come again,” Spike said.

“Dawn is going to use you as a practice vamp,” Buffy said.

“That’s how you’re going to dust me, then?” Spike asked with wide eyes.

Dawn held up her stake, “Rubber.”

Spike opened and closed his mouth several times. This was new. Buffy really did just want to teach the Bit. “Alright.”

Both girls let out identical squeals of delight.

“Bloody women,” Spike mumbled with a smirk.

“Don’t tell me the Big Bad is afraid of a little rubber stake,” Buffy taunted good-naturedly.

“I’m not afraid of anything, Summers,” Spike said.

“Prove it,” Dawn challenged.

Spike raised an eyebrow at the young girl. She was spunky. A lot like her big sis, a lot like this version of her big sis. His Buffy wasn’t this laid back. Knowing the limitations of the chip, Spike faced an attack at Dawn. She avoided it, barely.

“Lesson the first,” Spike began, “Watch the eyes. The eyes tell you everything you’ll ever need to know about your opponent.”

Dawn nodded mutely. She wondered what her eyes told her opponents. Could they see the fear that danced in them? Could they see the worry? The pain? The loneliness? She shook away her thoughts and assumed the fighting stance Buffy had taught her earlier.

She watched his eyes as he moved around her smoothly. She watched as they flickered over to Buffy. That was her chance, she took it.

Spike was completely caught off guard. Dawn knocked him to the ground easily and had the stake positioned directly over his heart.

“Never take you eye off the target, Spike,” Buffy teased.

She suddenly became very still. Dawn and Spike looked at her with concern.

“Buffy?” Dawn asked quietly.

“Faith!” Buffy yelled.

The brunette Slayer was in the training room even as Buffy yelled for her.

“You felt it too?” Faith asked.

“Yeah, like I did after I’d jumped off the tower,” Buffy answered.

By this time, the rest of the group had assembled in the training room. All eyes looked expectantly as the two Slayers.

“They’ve found a way to take us back,” Buffy informed them.

“That quickly?” Giles asked.

“Spike scared Travers into dishin’ the info,” Faith said with a smile.

“Can it be trusted?” Giles asked.

“Spike wouldn’t try it if he wasn’t sure,” Buffy said honestly.

“Hello?” Xander interrupted, “Evil Undead? Or is your Spike a souled vampire?”

“No, Xan. He’s soulless, and chipless, but he’s not going to endanger either one of us,” Buffy said calmly.

“H-how are they going to do it?” Willow asked.

“Reverse the spell,” Buffy answered.

“More mojo, bloody perfect,” Spike said.

“Not exactly my idea of a good time either, but this needs to be done,” Buffy said softly.

“How soon will they be ready?” Giles asked.

“As soon as we are,” Buffy replied.

Silence descended upon the room. Buffy was having mixed feelings about leaving. She would, but not without major missage. She would miss Dawn the most. Having a sister, even for a short while had awakened something inside her. She felt bad for leaving her, especially since in this reality her mom had died. That was something Buffy really hadn’t wrapped her mind around, and wouldn’t.

“We’ll need to be alone when it happens. We can’t take the chance of someone or something getting sucked in with us,” Buffy said.

“Will the Buffy and Faith from here be returned when you depart?” Giles asked.

“They should be,” Buffy answered.

The group, save Spike and Dawn, said quick good-byes and retreated into the shop.

“Dawnie,” Buffy said as she embraced her sister, “Keep practicing. You’re getting really good. I’ll miss you, and remember you…you’re blood, how could I forget you?”

Dawn hugged her ‘sister’ back fiercely. She would miss this Buffy terribly. It was so unfair. “I love you, Buffy.”

“I love you, too,” Buffy answered honestly.

Dawn backed away and allowed Spike his turn to say farewell.

“Must be majorly wiggy for you,” Buffy said.

“Something like that, pet,” Spike replied.

Without thinking, Buffy embraced the vampire warmly, “She’ll come around.”

“How can you know?” Spike murmured into her hair.

“Because, she’s me,” Buffy answered.

The blondes pulled away and looked deeply into each others eyes before Spike led Dawn out of the training room.

“Ready?” Buffy asked.

“Let’s do this,” Faith answered as she grasped Buffy’s hands.

As soon as their hands met, they felt the claim enhance. A moment later, they felt the magic begin to swirl around them. The images began to swirl and both girls closed their eyes tightly to fight the nausea threatening to consume them. They felt the world begin to slip away. Floating. Then, just as slowly, the world came back.

“Wow,” Faith whispered once her feet touched solid ground.

Buffy was about to ask if they were back when strong arms encircled her from behind. She melted against him, her unasked question answered. This was heaven. Spike’s arms, nothing compared. S

“Don’t do that ever again, luv,” Spike whispered into her ear, “Scared me so much.”

Buffy turned in his arms to face him, “Didn’t exactly plan to become disappear girl in the first place.”

At first, the meeting of lips was hesitant. Both were making sure it was real. Even though it had only been a couple of days, it had seemed like an eternity. They each retraced the contours of their mate’s lips, savoring the taste and texture once again. Once they were both satisfied that it was real, the kiss tuned desperate and hungry. Buffy moaned against his mouth and Spike took the opportunity to plunge his tongue into her waiting mouth. He was still amazed at the heat that surrounded him, consumed him. Buffy used her tongue to trace along the roof of his mouth, then down to where his canines descended from, earning a growl from the vampire.

Joyce cleared her throat loudly.

Immediately the blondes broke away, but Spike still held her close. Joyce would just have to deal. There was no way he was letting this girl out of his sight let alone his arms for a good long time.

Buffy blushed under the strong gaze of her mother, but did nothing to wrestle her way out of her lover’s arms. For the first time in days she felt completely and utterly safe.

A noise from the upstairs stacks caught everyone’s attention.

“Oops,” a voice mumbled.

Spike raised an eyebrow.

Buffy gasped.

Blood.

Without warning, Buffy dashed up the stairs. She looked at the pile of books that had fallen to the floor. Underneath them, she could make out the outline of a body. Her Slayer radar wasn’t going off, so it must be human. She knew it was human. In fact she knew who it was, but she wasn’t going to admit it.

The pile of books began to move and the body came into view.

Both gasped.

“Buffy?”

Momentarily distracted, Buffy looked to Spike.

“Dawn?”

“Nibblet?”


Gasp Dawn? Gasp Ha, there ya go, folks. Review, please!

Question Me

“What are you doing here, Dawn?” Buffy asked coldly, “I told you to stay at the house.”

Dawn looked up at her sister with a guilty face, “I never get to do anything.”

By this time, the rest of the gang had made their way upstairs.

“Dawn!” Joyce exclaimed, “How did you get here?”

Dawn looked at the ground in front of her, “I walked. It’s not dark outside, and it’s not like it’s a far walk.”

Joyce shook her head, “We’ll talk about this when we get home. Don’t expect to go to the mall anytime soon.”

“Great. Buffy and Faith come back, I want to see them, and I get in trouble for it,” Dawn muttered.

“You would have seen us eventually, midget,” Faith said.

“Excuse me for missing you,” Dawn spat.

Buffy’s eyes began to water, “You really missed me that much, Dawnie?”

“Of course, Buffy. You’re my sister. You and Faith were gone, no one knew what to do to help you. I was scared that I’d never see you again,” Dawn said with tears in her eyes.

The sister’s embraced warmly. Dawn squeezed as tightly as she could in hopes that her sister would stay forever. She needed to know, needed to see, that her sister was back and alive. Sure Buffy got on her nerves and drove her absolutely nuts, but that was normal sister stuff. Being without Buffy was something she couldn’t imagine.

“Sorry,” Dawn whispered against Buffy’s shoulder.

“It’s ok, Dawnie. I think you’ll still be grounded, but I’ll bring the inmate midnight cookies,” Buffy whispered back.

Dawn smiled and pulled back from Buffy. She ran to Spike and knocked him to the ground with her speed and weight.

“What’s this, Bit?” Spike grunted.

Dawn squeezed the vampire tighter, “Thank you, Spike.”

He smiled to himself and hugged the younger Summers girl back. These women were going to be the end of him, but what a way to go. Dawn crawled off the vampire and held out a hand to him. He grasped it lightly and allowed her the illusion of pulling him to his feet.

Willow and Cordellia watched the interaction with awe. It never ceased to amaze them. A vampire, soulless at that, loved those girls more than anything on this planet. They both remembered Angel and the things he did when Angelus made an appearance. Forgiveness is something that vampire would never receive from them. Especially now that they had seen what kindness and love a soulless vampire was capable of showing.

“Spike’s not the only one who helped get you back, you know,” Cordy said irritably.

“I know,” Buffy answered. She walked over to Cordy and Willow and embraced them both. “Thank you.”

Willow blushed.

Cordy looked appeased.

“Would someone mind telling me what exactly is going on here?” Travers asked, breaking the moment.

Both Slayer’s eyes flashed as the turned to look at the head of the Council.

“The longer we keep with the welcome home party, the longer you live,” Faith said with a smile.

“I’d think you’d want it to last for a good long time,” Buffy added.

Travers gulped and took a step back. “You can’t kill me, girls. I’m a human.”

“Debatable,” Buffy interjected.

“No matter how much you might despise me, you cannot kill me. It’s not in you to kill humans,” Travers said.

“But it’s in you to kill them?” Buffy snapped.

All eyes turned to her.

“What are you getting at, Buffy?” Giles asked with concern.

Buffy looked at her Watcher, “When he sent Faith and I off into the Twilight Zone, Faith ended up in prison. I ended up on a big tower with a big swirling energy portal in front of it. I had to jump off this portal to save the world. I should have died in that energy, it needed my blood.”

“Why didn’t you?” Travers asked.

“The claim,” Buffy answered.

Understanding washed across the faces of Spike, Willow and Cordy. They remembered all to well the pain that had shot through Buffy. Spike immediately went into game face. This was too much for his demon to handle. This man had purposely endangered the life of his mate and her sister.

“I’m gonna make you beg for death,” Spike said.

He crossed the room with superhuman speed and held the man by his throat. He squeezed just enough to make a point, then released.

“Did you know that would happen, Quentin?” Giles asked in his best Ripper voice.

“No,” Travers spat, “I thought the girls would die. Therefore, bringing forth another Slayer that was more capable of handling her calling.”

Spike punched the man in the gut, causing him to fold over.

Buffy stared wide-eyed at the man. She was secretly hoping that the spell had just gone a bit askew. That the Council didn’t really want her and Faith dead. She thought she was a good Slayer. She did what she was told, she killed the demons. She didn’t ask for this responsibility. Then, when she is able to get some help, the Council damns her for it. Well, damn them.

“You tried to kill my sister!” Dawn yelled, “How dare you.”

To the amazement of everyone in the room, Dawn stomped on Travers’ foot as he was standing to his feet and then kneed him in the groin.

“Alright, Bit!” Spike cheered.

Dawn smiled to herself and walked away from the now very injured man.

“Can I eat him, pet?” Spike practically begged.

“He won’t taste very good, Spike,” Buffy reasoned.

“I’t’d be worth it,” Spike said.

“As satisfying as that would be, Spike,” Giles said, “For the time being, we need to keep him alive.”

“A’right, Rupes,” Spike groused, “Spoil my fun.”

“You called Buffy ‘sister’,” Travers began, “Buffy Summers is an only child.”

The girls in the room looked at the man as if he sported a second head.

“I hate to say this, Buffy, but Quentin has a point,” Giles said, “You are an only child.”

Joyce glared at the older man, “I beg your pardon, Mr. Giles, but I believe I would know whether or not I’d had a second child.”

Giles removed his glasses and began to polish them furiously.

“I don’t remember Mini-Buffy either,” Xander said meekly.

“Dido,” Oz stated.

“Dear Lord,” Giles sighed, “It appears I have research to do.”

“On what?” Buffy asked, “She’s my sister, and you guys have lost your memory.”

“This is the Hellmouth, Buff, it can’t be that simple,” Xander pointed out.

“But, you three and Travers are the only ones who don’t remember Dawn,” Buffy countered.

“The only ones not connected by the claim,” Giles said.

Acute silence followed his revelation.

“Buffy, what do you remember about Dawn from where you were?” Giles asked.

“She was this Key thingy that the hell bitch needed to open her portal. Monks sent her to me to keep her safe,” Buffy explained.

“What exactly was this key?” Giles asked.

“Energy. A big ball of energy that the Monks turned into a girl, my sister. They gave everyone there fake memories,” Buffy answered.

Giles pinched the bridge of his nose. Things could never be simple on the Hellmouth, nor could they come at once. They had just safely returned the Slayers, now they had this to deal with. Not to mention something still needed to be done about Travers. Spike’s eating idea was sounding better every moment.

“You mean, I wasn’t real?” Dawn asked.

“I guess not, but you were real to all of them. You were real to me,” Buffy said reassuringly.

That answer seemed to pacify Dawn.

“What are we going to do, Giles?” Buffy asked.

“How did they know all of that about Dawn?” Giles asked.

Buffy’s brows furrowed in concentration. They had told her something. “Willow gave me this spell to perform. It would show me what things had been made into and illusion, what was magic. Dawn’s room, belongings…even Dawn…they were like little dots.”

“Perhaps we can repeat the spell. I can find one that should produce those results. If nothing shows, then we’ll just have to try something else,” Giles said as he moved to retrieve a book.

“And if it does work?” Dawn asked.

“Then you’ll still be my sister,” Buffy answered.

“And my daughter,” Joyce said warmly.

Dawn smiled weakly. This was just great. She was just beginning to feel like a part of Buffy’s life and now part of that life didn’t remember her. At least the girls and Spike still remembered her. That would be far beyond bad if Spike didn’t remember her. It was bad enough that Xander, the man she so wanted to marry, didn’t remember her.

“Sun’s down, pet,” Spike said.

“We should patrol,” Buffy said to Faith who nodded.

“What about Tweedy?” Xander motioned to Travers.

“Lock him in the cage. We’ll deal with him later,” Buffy answered.

“I will not be caged like some…animal,” Travers yelled in outrage.

“Fine,” Faith said, “Kill ‘em.”

Travers stood up to his full height and tried to look un-intimidated by Faith’s flippant command.

“I think we’ll wait on that,” Buffy said, “Cage him for now. Give him a chance to…think.”

Spike picked the man up and threw him non to gently into the book cage.

“What if the other wankers come looking for ‘im?” Spike asked.

“They won’t,” Giles said, “They’ve all gone back to England.”

“Smart blokes,” Spike commented.

“Mom?” Buffy asked, “Can I take Dawnie?”

Dawn looked hopefully at her mother.

“I don’t know, Buffy. She’s supposed to be grounded,” Joyce said.

“Can’t that start tomorrow? I’ll bring her home early. We’ll go to Restfield, then I’ll bring her home and cover the rest,” Buffy bargained.

Joyce bowed her head in defeat, “Alright, Buffy.”

Dawn squealed and squeezed her mother tightly, “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Joyce nodded, “Keep my girls safe, Spike.”

“With my life, mum,” Spike answered sincerely.

“I can’t believe mom let you talk her into this so easily,” Dawn said once they’d left the library.

“I think mom is still riding the ‘She’s home safe’ wave,” Buffy said with a smile.

“’Sides, had to make sure you didn’t forget all that stuff we showed ya,” Faith said. “And make sure you’re real.”

Buffy linked her fingers with Spike’s and walked as closely to him as she could. The Spike where she had been was better than no Spike, but he wasn’t her Spike. She really did hope the Buffy there would learn to see what a great ally and friend Spike could be, no to mention the hot body and amazing sex. “Bad Buffy. No sexy Spike thoughts with Dawn around.”

He sniffed the air once again to make sure he wasn’t just imagining it, again. Nope, it was real. Slayer was aroused. All they were doing was holdin’ hands. He’d missed her so much. The second she was back he was hard with anticipation. Again, Joyce would just have to understand. He had plans for his mate after they were done patrolling.

“Spike!” Faith yelled, “Enough with the sex thoughts!”

Buffy blushed a deep crimson.

Dawn suppressed a giggle.

Spike smiled.

“You’re a pig, Spike,” Buffy teased.

“I’ll take Midget home and finish up the slayin’. You two need to take care of the horny part of patrolling,” Faith said with a smile.

“Faith, Spike can wait until we’re done,” Buffy said.

“Bloody well can not, Slayer,” Spike growled as he pulled Buffy flush against his chest.

“It’s ok, Buffy,” Dawn said with her own smile, “Go.”

Buffy felt the extent of Spike’s need and caved, “Ok. Tell mom not to wait up.”

“I think she already knows that,” Dawn said with a giggle.

Once the two girls were out of sight, Spike threw Buffy against a nearby tree. He watched intently as her chest heaved. Her eyes were glazed over with lust. He raised an eyebrow at her when he saw her beckon him with her index finger.

Her breath caught in her throat as she watched him swagger over to her. He was so damn sexy. It had been far to long since she was able to touch him intimately. She moaned in relief once his cool lips played along her. It was a feather light caress, but it held the promise of more to come. More, she needed more.

A groan passed his lips as he felt her warm tongue poke out and run across his lower lip. He knew she wanted to deepen the kiss and so did he, but he wanted to tease her for as long as he could handle. He applied more pressure to her lips, but kept his firmly closed.

“We’ve got all night, pet,” Spike chuckled against her mouth.

Buffy pouted up at him.

Greedily, Spike pulled that lip into his mouth. Buffy pulled him closer to her and wrapped her legs around him. Spike moved his hands to her ass to hold her up and once again feel her firm butt.

She decided two could play and she ground her mound into his very obvious hard on causing the vampire to stutter curse words. She smiled against his neck as she gently kissed around his jugular. Feeling his arms grip her tighter, she knew she was getting to him in just the way she wanted.

“Not her, luv,” Spike managed, “Gotta take you somewhere. Ravage you good and proper.”

Buffy nodded and climbed off her vampire lover.

Spike grabbed her hand and led her to his crypt. While she was gone, he’d had Clem furnish the place a bit more…little comforts for Buffy and her mates. He’d even gone as far as to stock the fridge with some human food and diet soda for Buffy. He really was Slayer whipped, and damn proud of it.

No sooner had the door to the crypt been shut then Buffy practically ripped Spike’s shirt off. Slightly amazing herself that Spike’s duster managed to stay in place, creating a yummy display. She took a moment to admire his alabaster skin and then launched a merciless attack on his chest. She kissed, nipped and sucked every bare batch of skin she could get her mouth on to.

Spike threw his head back in ecstasy. He’d never tire of her hot little mouth on his skin. She was an inferno, burning him up everywhere she touched. Hell, sometimes just when she looked at him he thought he’d explode. Not wanting to be the only one void of clothing, Spike quickly worked the buttons on her shirt and gently pushed it off her shoulders. It was in stark contrast to the violence she had shown his shirt and he knew it was turning her on even more.

Making quick work of his belt and pants, Buffy placed a chase kiss on the tip of his cock. His hips thrust into her of their own violation. She stepped just out of reach, a coy smile on her face.

“Want me?” she asked.

Spike growled, his eyes flashing amber for the briefest of moments.

“I think that’s a yes,” Buffy said in her best coquette voice. She held her hand up to still his movements, “I’m running this party.”

Spike watched as Buffy ran her hands over her bra clad breasts and deftly undid the snap. Shaking her torso, the bra fell to the floor. She cupped her breasts and massaged them gently. She let out a moan as she pinched the nipples. Slowly, she moved her hands down her stomach. She hovered over the snap to her jeans for just a moment. When she heard Spike’s guttural groan, she undid the snap and shimmied out of her pants. Hooking her fingers through the sides of her panties, she slid them down her muscular legs.

He stared at her naked body hungrily. She was going to get it later. This little strip tease was driving him absolutely out of his mind. He was so hard it was painful, but he held himself back; determined to let the girl have her fun. He wasn’t exactly objecting.

The look in his eyes told Buffy everything she needed to know. She didn’t know how much longer he could hold out, but she knew it wouldn’t be long. She pulled her finger into her mouth and sucked on it before pulling it out with a popping noise. Then, she slipped that same finger into her wet hole. A moan escaped her lips before she could suppress it. Slowly, she began to pump her finger in and out. With her other hand, she massaged her breasts, occasionally tweaking the nipples. As the pressure began to build in her lower regions, she knew she had to hurry if she wanted to bring herself off for Spike. She moved her hand down from her breast to flick across her clit. Increasing her pace and inserting a second finger nearly drove her to the edge.

“Holy FUCK! She’s going to get herself off…and I get to watch! Bloody hell.” His unneeded breath came in quick bursts. This was one of the most erotic things he had ever seen…and he’d seen a lot in his century of existence.

Buffy closed her eyes as she felt her climax approach. She knew this was really, really gross and something she should be ashamed of, but she couldn’t bring herself to feel that. This was probably the most liberating thing she’d ever done. Spike was enjoying it, she was enjoying it…and that was enough. She screamed as she came. Her orgasm intense for not being Spike induced.

Her eyes fluttered open. She saw the glossed over eyes, the very hard erection, the precum glistening in the moonlight and she was suddenly very horny…again.

He saw the mechivious look that briefly crossed the Slayer’s lusty look. He groaned in anticipation. There wasn’t much more teasing he could take. As it was the only thing on his mind was pounding into her until she screamed his name…a lot.

A small, pink tongue slipped out of her beautiful mouth and licked her upper lip, then lower. She raised the two fingers, covered in her spendings, to her mouth and sucked them in ever so slowly.

Hearing the moan that passed her lips as she tasted herself, Spike’s cock twitched. She’d topped herself. This, this Golden Goddess was sucking on her fingers. There was no look of discust on her face, only bliss.

“God, pet. Don’t know what you do to me,” Spike managed.

She gripped his shaft and slowly began to pump him, “I know exactly what I do to you.”

Higher

“I don’t like the idea of subcontracting, Mr. Trick,” Mayor Richard Wilkins III said.

“He’s good, for a human. He’ll get the job done,” Trick answered.

“Might I ask what has you so confident?” The Mayor asked.

“Seems the man has…personal interest in the project,” Mr. Trick said with a smile.

The Mayor nodded. He hoped things would go as well as the vampire in front of him promised. He wasn’t exactly impressed with the creature. His previous endeavors hadn’t exactly been up to par. ‘Slayer Fest ‘99’ was a complete and utter disaster. The Slayers hadn’t even been in Sunnydale! That one he could overlook, if he tried. The other one was for his previous employer, Kakistos. Either the Slayer’s were smarter than any he’d ever seen or heard of, or Mr. Trick was an extremely bad villain.

“This ritual is very important to me. As a low demon, I’m not sure if you understand the importance of rituals, offerings and other such things, but the demon I’m to pay tribute to…well, he likes his sacrifices,” The Mayor said.

“Yes, even we lowly vampires can understand the meaning of tribute,” Mr. Trick said in a scornful voice.

“I hope you do,” The Mayor began, “Because, if something goes wrong…I fear our business contract will need to be terminated.”

Even though the threat was said with a smile, Trick gulped and felt the full weight of the promise. He’d worked for his share of scary employers, but this guy definitely took that top spot. Maybe it was because The Mayor seemed a bit…crazy. No matter the reason, Trick would not fail this man.

“Yes, I…uh, see where that would be necessary, yes,” Mr. Trick said, “I’m really not going to do anything to upset what we have here.”

The Mayor smiled, “Good.”

“Well, if that’s all and well here, I’ll be off to make the arrangements,” Mr. Trick said.

“Yes, you do that,” The Mayor said absently.

Trick shook his head and left the office. Not many things scared him anymore…vampire and all, but this tribute…wicked powerful stuff. The Mayor wasn’t messin’ around, whatever he was doing.

Back in his office, The Mayor studied his hands intently. There were so many things running through his mind. A number of things still needed to be accomplished before the grand day. He’d worked his whole life for this, and now that it was close…two little girls stood in his way. Oh, once the change was complete they would be nothing but flies, but until then, he was still very vulnerable. They had all the power they needed to stop him.

Rousing himself from his depressing thoughts, The Mayor stood up from his desk. He walked over to his cabinet and opened it. Vials filled with things professors wouldn’t allow in a science lab, various crystals and charms, a skull, and black arts books filled the shelves; not exactly what you’d expect, but this was Sunnydale.

“Where did I put that scotch?” The Mayor asked himself.

* * * * * * * *

Giles pinched the bridge of his nose, something he’d been doing rather frequently as of late. The more he read the more he wished he hadn’t. Nothing about Glory or Glorificus was good. She was a goddess of a hell dimension. At one time, she had ruled with two other gods until she became too powerful. She was then kicked out of that dimension and forced into our world to be contained in a human body. The Key she was after would open up a portal, giving her access to her home. Not exactly terrifying in itself, however, the portal opened more than just the portal to her world.

“We need to find out if Dawn is the key in this dimension as well,” Giles said.

“Great,” Xander said, “How?”

“I do believe it is time to perform the spell,” Giles said.

“Buffy’s not going to let you do that,” Oz stated.

Giles looked up at the man, “I know. We’ll just have to find a way around that.”

Xander stood up and began to pace the library. This was not good. Planning without Buffy about Buffy’s sister…only badness lay ahead.

“There isn’t a way around it, G-man,” Xander said softly, “The claim. Buffy will know.”

The older man knew the boy spoke the truth, but never the less, he needed an outlet. Xander was convient.

“What then do you propose we do, Xander?” Giles ranted, “We need to be on top of this! We can’t just wait around for this Glory to show up and when she comes after Dawn, if indeed does come after her, say ‘oh, she was the key’!”

“Don’t you think I realize that?” Xander yelled back, “I may not have any memories of the small Buffy, but I don’t want anything to happen to her. We need to find a way to do this with Buffy’s approval. Think about it logically, Giles. Even if Buffy forgave you…what about Joyce, Willow, Cordy…Spike?”

Giles hung his head. That was something he had given little thought to. He knew he was being rash and that was never a good thing to do, but this was just too much all at once. And a goddess? Could his Slayers defeat such a foe? He had every confidence in Buffy’s abilities, she’d send Angel to Hell, defeated hordes of demons and still lived. With the Master, Buffy had died, brief as it was…would she be able to come back from the dead a second time?

“What to you propose?” Giles asked.

“A new approach,” Oz said, “Earlier you attacked with the whole non existing part. That would set me on the opposed side, too.”

Giles looked at the young man expectantly. Oz always seemed to keep a level head, something desperately needed in this particular group.

“Tell them about Dawn’s safety. Not as the Key, but as Dawn. Pull the emotional strings,” Oz finished.

Xander looked at the warewolf with renewed respect. There would never be anyone good enough for his Willow, but he was pretty sure Oz was a close to it as anyone.

“That might just work,” Giles said

“Shouldn’t they be back from patrol by now?” Xander asked.

“I think they’re making with the togetherness,” Oz said.

Giles cleared his through and walked into his office. He’d never grow accustomed to hearing about Buffy and Spike in a sexual manner.

* * * * * *

“Finally,” Spike gasped, “Some attention.”

Buffy smiled knowingly against his shaft. She had been cruel to him earlier with her teasing, but she couldn’t help herself. Besides, she planned on making it up to him All. Night. Long. Buffy lightly scraped her teeth along the underside of his shaft, earning a groan from the vampire. Opening the back of her throat allowed her to take more of him in and she gently began to work her throat muscles on him.

“Gah, bloody hell…that’s it, Slayer…harder baby, suck me harder,” Spike babbled.

Who was she to deny her lover? Slowly, she began to work him over. Alternating between hard, long sucks and gentle, short ones. She moved her hand to his balls to increase his pleasure. Gently, she massaged them between her hands.

Spike felt his impending orgasm. His balls were tightening and the pressure in his shaft was almost painful, but of course in a good way!

“Buffy, luv, stop…baby, I’m gonna…” Spike’s babbling was cut short.

Buffy knew he was close and forced him over the edge. Greedily, she licked up all of his spendings. She looked up at him. “God, he’s beautiful.” Leaning against the stone wall, eyes shut, unnaturally long eyelashes fluttering slightly, his lips parted. Perfect.

Spike pulled Buffy close to him and led her over to the bed. It was covered in red silk sheets and had big fluffy pillows lining the top. After pulling back the covers, Spike gently laid Buffy down. He took a moment to observe her, admire her. Her golden hair fanned out around her head, her cheeks flushed, her lips pink and swollen from kissing, her taunt muscles, her golden skin…everything about her called to him. Both the man and the demon.

“Spike?” Buffy called softly, “Make love to me.”

A true smile crossed Spike’s lips. They had only been intimate the one time for the claim, and he’d been a bit worried that she’d found it too violent and would never want him in her bed again. But, here she was asking him to make love to her, and how he would. He would show her just what love could be like, what it was supposed to be like…everything she deserved.

Buffy stirred in the bed. She could see the morning rays of light trickling down the steps. There was a soreness in her lower regions that brought a smile to her face. The memories of Spike being inside her, loving her, biting her…everything he did, god how she loved him. She made to get out of bed, but a pair of unnaturally strong arms stilled her movements.

“I’ve got to go to school, Spike. Snyder will totally be on my case if I don’t show up,” Buffy said even as she snuggled back into his embrace.

“I’ll eat ‘im,” Spike said into her hair.

“As much as I’d love to see that, no. I’ve got to go. Mom worked hard to get me back into school after my little adventure,” Buffy said.

This caught Spike’s attention, “Your little what, kitten?”

Buffy looked away, “I sort of, um, ran to L.A. after I sent Angel to hell. Mom told me not to come home if I left that night, and I knew she didn’t mean it, but I used it as my excuse to go far away from the pain. Away from the people who meant well but were happy he was gone. I was also expelled from school. Snyder thought I’d killed Kendra.”

His mind was reeling. There was so much depth to this young girl. A woman, aged through many years and hard times, trapped in the youthful body of a high school girl.

“Who was Kendra?” Spike asked as he rubbed soothing circles on Buffy’s back.

“She was the Slayer before Faith. Real good at her job, took it with much seriousness. Saved my back once or twice,” Buffy said with a sad look in her eye.

“Yeah?”

Buffy nodded, “Yeah.”

“You best be gettin’ off to school then. Go and see your mates,” Spike said.

Buffy kissed him lovingly, “I’ll come by once it’s dark.”

“There’s food in the fridge, don’t leave without somethin’,” Spike said.

Buffy was going to reply with something smart, but noticed that Spike had curled up with the pillow she had been using and was well on his way to vampire sleep.

“What’s with the chocolatey goodness?” Buffy asked as she approached Willow.

Willow opened her mouth to answer, but once she caught sight of Snider behind the table, she quickly shut her mouth.

“Principal Snyder, thank you,” Xander said as he took and offered box, “You weren’t visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past, by any chance?”

“It’s band candy,” Snyder said shortly.

“Let’s hear it for the band, huh? Very generous,” Buffy said with a smile.

“You will sell it to raise money for the marching band. They need new uniforms,” Snyder said.

“Yeah. Those tall, fuzzy hats aren’t cheap, huh?” Xander asked.

“But they go with everything,” Oz stated.

Willow beamed up at her boyfriend and snuggled closer.

“Check it,” Faith said as she snatched a box, “Chocolate.”

“It’s for the band,” Willow said, “New fuzzy hats needed.”

“Huh, and thought they just took those dusters they sell on TV and attached them to a bucket,” Faith said.

“It would be cheaper,” Oz said.

“I’m sure we love the idea of going Willy Lowman, but we’re not in the band,” Buffy said.

“And if I’d handed you a trombone, that would’ve been a problem, Summers,” Snyder said as he handed her a box, “It’s candy. Sell it.”

“All those in favor of buckets?” Cordy asked.

“What’s wrong, Cor? No school spirit?” Xander teased.

“I’m a cheerleader, of course I have school spirit…just not for the marching band,” Cordy answered.

“Who’s going to buy all of these?” Buffy whined.

“Try your mom, and…and Giles!” Willow said, “OH, I bet Spike would buy some from you!”

“Vampire, hello?” Buffy said, “Liquid diet.”

“Well, I plan on forcing my dad to buy them. He can give them out a work or something,” Cordy said.

Later that day, Buffy sat at her kitchen table trying to convince her mom to buy some of the damn chocolate bars.

“But you’re not in the band,” Joyce argued.

“And yet,” Buffy answered.

“Buffy, what would I do with forty chocolate bars?” Joyce asked.

“I’ll eat some,” Dawn offered.

“No,” both elder Summers’ women said.

Dawn grumbled something and left the kitchen.

“You could hand them out at the gallery,” Buffy said hopefully, “’Buy something pre-Columbian, get a free candy.’”

Joyce looked at the need in her daughter’s eyes. There was nothing more important to her than the happiness of her two girls, and if that meant buying chocolate, then…

“Twenty,” Joyce said.

“You’re a good mom,” Buffy said as she set down the box.

“I’m the best,” Joyce answered.

Dawn picked that moment to re-enter the kitchen, “No, I’m sure the best mom let’s her daughter eat recently purchased chocolate.”

Buffy looked at the clock, “Gotta go. Giles wants me in the library.”

“Will you be late?” Joyce asked.

“Probably,” Buffy answered, “Faith and will patrol later. Then, I’ve got to go see Spike.”

“Have fun. Be safe,” Joyce said.

Buffy smiled as she left her house. Things were going alright for her.

“Hey, B,” Faith greeted.

“Giles call you in, too?” Buffy asked.

“Yeah, said something about training,” Faith said.

“Figures. Did you sell your candy bars yet?” Buffy asked.

“Nah, figured I’d let all you do the work,” Faith said, “’Sides, not exactly with the school spirit.”

“Giles,” Buffy said as the pair entered the library, “You have to buy some candy bars.”

Giles looked up from his book. There was no way he would broach the subject now. He needed to wait until everyone could be assembled…power in numbers perhaps.

“Snyder is on this ‘band needs new fuzzy hats’ campaign,” Buffy said as she slid herself onto the table.

“Ah, yes, very well,” Giles said, “I’ll buy twenty.”

Buffy beamed up at him, “You’re the best, Giles.”

“B, you’re good at this,” Faith said, “Maybe you can sell mine, too.”

Buffy looked at Faith, “I still haven’t hit up Spike yet.”

“No bloody way, Slayer,” Spike fumed.

“But, Spike, I need to sell these things,” Buffy explained.

She’d been trying to convince the vampire to buy the chocolate for the past twenty minutes. It was much harder than she thought it would be. ‘I thought you loved me.’

‘Not fair, luv. I do love you. What in the bleedin’ hell am I going to do with 40 chocolate bars?’

Buffy sauntered up to him, ‘I can think of a few things.’ She rubbed her self against him suggestively before attacking his mouth with a passionate kiss.

Spike growled and pulled her flush against him, eagerly deepening the kiss. He felt her warm little hands crawl up under his shirt and gently tease the corded muscles of his back. He moved his lips down to her neck and nuzzled his mark, making her arch into him.

Suddenly, Buffy jumped out of his embrace with a determined look on her face.

“Come on, luv,” Spike whined, “Can’t leave a guy like this.”

“Buy the chocolate,” Buffy demanded.

“Yeah, Blondie, buy the chocolate,” Fiath said, “If I have to be reminded, again, of how long it’s been since I’ve gotten some…”

Spike smirked at the blush that graced Buffy’s face. You’d think after all she’d seen and done that the virgin blush would be lost to her, but it wasn’t and Spike thanked whatever god would listen to him for it.

“I’ll buy the chocolate,” Spike said defeated. ‘But you’ll be makin’ it up to me later, missy.’

‘Duh! Why do you think I wanted you to have the chocolate? Yummy, Spike tasting chocolate.’

“Right then,” Spike said out loud, “Let’s go.”

Buffy and Faith exchanged knowing looks. They both knew why the vampire wanted to hurry up the evenings activities.

After a quick sweep of the cemetery, Buffy decided that it was a slow night. There hadn’t even been a little fledge to dust. Much disappointment. The trio began to walk towards the main part of the city, what they saw forced them to stop dead in their tracks.

Joyce looked up at the feathered wrap. It was lovely. “That’s cool…very Juice Newton.”

Giles was busy checking his hair in the reflection, but pretended to be interested. “You fancy it?”

Joyce gave him an incredulous look, “Yeah, but the store’s closed.”

Buffy and Faith both let out a gasp when they saw that Giles had picked up a trash can and tossed it though the window of the store. This couldn’t be happening. Giles didn’t vandalize or steal. But, there he was taking the ugly feather thing and a hat.

“Woo-hoo!” Giles exclaimed.

“Oh Ripper! Wow, that was sooo brave,” Joyce gushed.

“Uh, when’d your mum go off the deep end, luv?” Spike asked a stunned Buffy.

Buffy stared gape-jawed at the spectacle before her. This was too much. This wasn’t happening. That was her mom, and Giles! The two most responsible people we know.

“I don’t think it’s just them,” Buffy said.

“What’s the plan, B?” Faith asked. This was wierding her out, way more than she cared to think about.

“Let’s find the others, see if there parents have done the time warp,” Buffy suggested.

Caution?

The night’s activities had been long and very wig worthy. Buffy had managed to beat some of the truth from Ethan. The effects of the chocolate would wear off, however, he didn’t know exactly how the candy would effect the vampire. She shook her head. She really wanted her Spike back.

“Are you sure your mother won’t mind my intrusion?” Spike asked.

“Yes,” Buffy said exasperated, “She’s cool.”

Spike eyed the girl warily. He really only understood about half of what she said.

“Where is your mom?” Xander asked.

“With Giles. They are staying there tonight while she gave the house to me,” Buffy said simply.

Realization struck. ‘Oh my God! It’s not possible. My mother and my Watcher are so not making with the smoochies.’

Spike felt her distress and moved closer to her. He didn’t want to offend her by touching her, but he secretly hoped she’d embrace him.

“I’m sure you’re mother will be quite alright,” Spike reassured, “She seems like a very sensible woman.”

“So, where is everyone going to sleep? I’m exhausted,” Cordy said.

“Uh,” Buffy thought out loud, “Spike, er, William and I will take my room, Cordy and Willow and Faith, you can stay in Dawn’s room, and Oz and Xander, you take Faith’s room.”

“I don’t get my own bed, B?” Faith asked.

“Not tonight. Unless, you want to be in there with two very taken guys,” Buffy said with a smirk.

Buffy repressed a grin as she saw the brunette visibly blanch.

“Where is Dawn?” Willow asked.

“At a friend’s house,” Buffy answered. She was so far beyond glad that Dawn hadn’t witnessed the insanenss that was tonight.

“Pardon me,” Spike said, “But did you say that you and I would
share a bed?”

The color of Buffy’s cheeks went from baby pink to deep crimson in a matter of seconds. “Uh, uh huh.”

Spike raised an eyebrow at the girl. ‘She wants me in her bed? This is very improper.’

‘Relax, William. You must not remember, something to do with the chocolate no doubt…we are engaged. It’s alright for you to stay in my bed.’

The voices in his head were really starting to bother him. He was not insane…it just wasn’t possible. He hoped that if he continued to
ignore them, they’d go away.

“I must insist that I sleep on the sofa. I will be quite comfortable for the night,” Spike said.

Exasperated, Buffy let out a long sigh. “Fine. I’ll set up the couch and close all the curtains.”

For an unexplainable reason, Spike felt very happy to know the curtains would be shut.

After saying rounds of good-nights, the group settled into their assigned bedrooms. It didn’t take very long for the house to go silent. All the occupants lost to the loveliness of overdue sleep.

“Now, that’s everything, huh? No weapons…no friends…no hope,” Angelus said.

Buffy closed her eyes. His words washed over her. There was some truth to them, and that bothered her. She had friends, she had hope, not much but some, and most of all she had weapons.

“Take all that away…and what’s left?” Angelus taunted.

It was coming, she could feel it. The death blow. It seemed rather poetic, in a rather gothic sense, that she be killed by her lover. Short, brutal…such was her life. But then, something inside her clicked. She heard the blade and suddenly, she wanted more. More than she was “destined” to have. She caught the blade of the sword between her hands and opened her eyes.

“Me,” Buffy said defiantly.

Shoving the blade away from her, Buffy jumped to her feet. This was how she would go down: fighting. She would not be broken. The pair exchanged blows. Finally, she forced the vampire to his knees in front of Acathla.

“You can’t do it,” Angelus said, “You can’t send your beloved to Hell.”

An evil smile crossed the Slayer’s lips, “You’re right.”

Angelus smiled.

Buffy pressed the tip of the sword to Angelus’ chest, “Lucky for me, I don’t have to. You sent my lover to Hell, for that, I’ll send you.”

His eyes widened in pain as the sword was thrust through his sternum. Buffy watched as the vampire who wore the face of her Angel was sucked into Acathla.

Buffy shot up from her bed, sweat dripping down her face. Down the hall, Cordellia, Willow and Faith also awoke in the same awe struck state. Across town, Dawn woke, startling her friend.
A moment later, Buffy was in her sister’s room. One look at the other’s faces told her they had experienced the same dream. No one really knew what to say, so a powerful silence filled the room.

“What in the bloody hell was that about?” Spike asked as he stormed into the room.

“Spike?” Buffy asked.

“Yeah, pet,” Spike whispered as he embraced her, “It’s me.”

A rush of energy hit the room. All of its occupants felt the power. They all watched in shocked silence as Willow disappeared from before their eyes.

Once the Wicca was gone, Buffy, Faith and Cordy collapsed onto the floor.

“Bloody hell,” Spike exclaimed.

Knowing that the effects of the chocolate had worn off, Spike dialed the Watcher’s house and told him what had happened. Once that was taken care of, he attempted to wake his girls. Nothing. He knew they were all alive, even the Witch, but they didn’t so much as stir when he attempted to rouse them.

Spike paced the floor impatiently. He didn’t know what to do, and he hoped the Watcher would. A blur of young woman practically tackled him to the ground.

“Bit?” Spike croaked.

“I felt something, then I kinda passed out,” Dawn mumbled.

Spike stared hard at the girl. He couldn’t explain what was happening. He’d felt the rush of power, but being a vampire and all, he stayed conscious.

“What’s going on, Spike?” Dawn asked.

“I’m not sure, Bit. When the Watcher gets here, we’ll find out,” Spike answered.

Dawn nodded and cuddled into Spike’s arms. Something felt very wrong.

“Spike!” Giles called, “Spike, what’s going on?”

Dawn looked up at Spike, “He’s supposed to know.”

The vampire smirked at the girl, “Right you are, Bit.”

The group settled in the living room and listened as Spike tried to explain what happened. Joyce was near hysterics. Knowing that one of the girls was missing and that the other three were passed out didn’t exactly calm her nerves.

“Why didn’t we stay passed out?” Dawn asked, “I mean, we’re connected to the girls and they’re out for the count, why aren’t we?”

Giles looked at Spike expectantly.

“You’re connected through blood. S’not the same for you,” Spike said.

“We need to find out where Willow is,” Giles said, “If this is indeed some sort of magical interference, we can’t assume she is safe.”

A faint sound reached the vampire’s ears and before anyone could ask, he was dashing up the stairs. When he reached the room he’d left the girls in he noticed the two Slayers coming back from slumber land. Relief was not a strong enough word for what he felt in that moment.

“Buffy, Faith, you alright?” Spike asked.

The girls blinked up at him for a few seconds. Buffy put her hand on her temple and rubbed it gently.

“Let’s get you downstairs. Rupes and your mum will want to know you’re alright,” Spike said as he moved to help the girls.

“Thank God,” Giles and Joyce exclaimed as the girls made their way down the stairs.

After a few moments of warm embraces the group was back to business. Spike had once again relived the terrifying moments upstairs and Giles had explained that he had no explanation.

“Uh, guys?” Buffy said in a small voice, “I think I might know where
to start.”

Without any explanation, Buffy stood up from the couch and put on her jacket. She grabbed the keys to Spike’s DeSoto and tossed them to the shocked vampire. She walked outside without a thought to whether or not they’d follow.

A few minutes later, the black car pulled into the parking lot of Sunnydale General.

“Bloody hell, luv,” Spike said, “The dream?”

The Slayer looked up at him and nodded.

“What dream, Buffy?” Giles asked with interest.

“Slayer dream, I think,” Buffy said with a slight frown, “It was last year, fighting Angelus right before the stone thing sucked him into Hell.”

“Oh, Buffy,” Giles said with a compassionate sigh.

“It’s ok, Giles. I’ve dealt,” Buffy said, “It was different this time. He didn’t have his soul when I sent him to Hell.”

“Willow’s spell didn’t work,” Faith stated.

“So, why would Willow be in the hospital?” Joyce asked.

“That’s where she was when she performed the spell,” Buffy explained.

“Uh, pet…what spell?” Spike asked.

Buffy looked up at him with tears in her eyes, “The one to give Angel his soul.”

No words came to him. For probably the first time in his existence, he didn’t want to say something smart about the poof.

The group walked into the hospital and were directed to Willow’s room. There, sitting next to the bed, was Oz. He looked horrible. He looked as if he hadn’t slept in days, but that couldn’t be right. Willow was at Buffy’s house only hours ago.

“Oz?” Buffy asked softly.

“Oh, Buffy,” Oz said as he straightened up, “There hasn’t been any change.”

“How long has she been like this?” Giles inquired.

Oz looked up at the man as if he’d grown a second head, “Since
the night Buffy fought Angelus.”

“Bloody hell,” Spike mumbled.

“You all look surprised,” Oz said, “Something’s wrong.”

Buffy proceeded to tell the young man what she knew.

Considering the circumstances, he took it pretty well.

“Does this mean Angel is soulless still?” Oz asked.

“I would assume so, yes,” Giles said. He removed his glasses and polished them furiously.

Buffy wanted to find a large hole, jump in and stay. She so didn’t want to deal with Angelus again. It was bad enough the first time around, but this time…there was so much more at risk.

“It’ll be ok, luv,” Spike whispered as he pulled Buffy into his arms.
Not trusting her voice, Buffy nodded against his chest.

“Wait,” Faith said, “B, didn’t you sent Soul-Boy to Hell?”

Buffy looked up from Spike’s chest, a new found hope threatening to come to the surface.

“How do we know he came back?” Faith asked.

“The First,” Buffy said barely above a whisper.

“Buffy,” Giles began, “Are you quite sure?”

At her nod, the Watcher hung his head. Things were definitely going from bad to worse quickly.

“Oz,” Buffy said, “We’ll be back when we know more. Stay with Willow.”

Faith handed the warewolf a stake and a cross, “Use ‘em if you have to.”

Oz nodded.

A very solemn group left the hospital. No one really wanted to talk about what was about to happen. The only reassuring thought Buffy had was that she wouldn’t be alone this time. This time she had help. She had Faith and Spike.

“We should hurry,” Buffy said, “We left Dawnie alone with Cordellia.”

The group agreed and they quickened their pace to the DeSoto. Once everyone was crammed in, Spike gunned the engine and sped off towards Revello Drive. All passengers were glad to be unable to see outside of the car. The way Spike was driving made them wonder if he still realized they were mortal and could die in a car accident. Once the car was safely parked, they all scrambled out as quickly as their legs would carry them.

* * * * * * * * * * *

“Daddy!” Dru cried happily, “Pixies told me you’d come back for me.”

Angelus smiled manically, “Always, Dru. Always.”

In truth, he didn’t know what had made his soul leave him. Not that he really cared, but it did make him curious. The first time, it had been because of Buffy and her ridiculous love for him. To this day, it made him ill to think that he had felt things for her. Felt love, compassion, tenderness. Things any self-respecting vampire never felt.

“Where’s dear William,” Angelus asked.

Dru looked away from Angelus, he would be cross at her once she told him.

“Dru,” Angelus said in a warning tone.

“He’s gone off to the light. Poor William is lost to the light,” Dru babbled, “She dances all around him, Sunshine does.”

Angelus reached out with his senses. He didn’t know what on earth Dru was going on about. Sunshine and light. It was nonsense to him. However, Spike wasn’t here. There was no way he could trust Spike out on his own, away from his family. There was no telling what the boy would do.

She knew the moment he felt it. She could see it in his eyes. The way his face immediately when to fangs and amber eyes.

“When?” Angelus roared.

Dru whimpered and moved herself into the corner.

The actions of his Childe did nothing but fuel his temper. He wanted answers, he didn’t have time to coddle Dru into answering him. He stomped over to her and backhanded her.

“When?” he repeated.

Dru whipped the blood from her cheek and looked up at her Sire, “We went to Sunnydale. I told him not to go, the pixies warned me, but he wouldn’t listen. He met her, wanted to dance with her. Always dancing with her, never dancing with his Dark Princess. No cakes for Spike.”

“Well, we’ll just have to pay old Spike a visit,” Angelus said, “Teach him to leach himself onto the Slayer.”

“Not only the Slayer,” Dru said softly.

Angelus turned his gaze back to the girl cowering in the corner.

“Can’t you feel it?” Dru sing-songed, “All the lovely power?”

He did feel it. There was energy radiating from the bond he shared with Spike. Energy from several sources. The same from Buffy. Buffy’s was stronger, her blood held more power. He had to get to Sunnydale. He’d set Spike right and have himself a nice little army. His chance to destroy the world had been fumbled by the Slayer, this time, she’d help.

“Maybe Spike did something right this time, Dru,” Angelus said.

Knowing the sun would be rising soon, Angelus pulled Dru into the bedroom. He had a feeling Spike would no longer care if he bedded Dru and that really bothered him. It was always one of his favorite mind games to play on the young lad. Now, now Spike had Buffy. His Buffy. Oh, he didn’t want to bed the bitch, he wanted to kill her. Unfortunately, that would not be as easy as he’d like.

The air in Sunnydale felt different tonight. The cemeteries were quiet, not a vamp or demon to be seen and yet, there was so much energy in the air you could almost see it. Buffy held onto Spike’s hand tightly. Nights like these always made her feel on edge. She’d insisted that Faith stay home and make sure everyone there would be alright. Also, she’d managed to hurt Xander and Dawn’s feelings by not allowing them to come on patrol.

Spike could feel them coming. Every minute brought them closer to him, to her. It would only be a matter of time before she noticed it, too. It should be a relief to him that things were happening quickly, less time to sit and think about what could happen. It wasn’t. Angelus wasn’t one to rush into anything. He took his time. Everything he did was a work of art, done painfully and slowly. Spike had always been the rash one, the one to rush in flashing a bit of fang and thinking out a plan later.

“They’re here,” Buffy said as she froze.

There was no emotion in her voice, no increase in heart rate, no telltale signs that she was absolutely petrified.

Spike nodded.

“We need to find them before they come looking for us. I can’t afford to let the bastard get anywhere near Dawnie or anyone else,” Buffy said, “I can’t allow anyone to die this time.”

Spike turned back and looked at his strong girl. There were so many battling emotions visible in her eyes. He didn’t know directly, but he knew through stories what had happened last year and what Angelus had done to Miss Calendar.

Following her senses, Buffy took off at a brutal pace toward the highway. She didn’t need to look back to know that Spike was following her. There was no way he’d let her face this alone, they both knew that.

Once they’d reached a small diner on the outskirts of town, Buffy finally slowed. She looked at Spike for confirmation and walked boldly into the diner.

Luckily, they’d arrived just in time. Dru was toward the back, about ready to have her dinner, Angelus standing close by, a meal of his own clutched in his hands.

“Hello, lover,” Buffy mocked.

An evil smile crossed his lips as he turned to face the girl. He’d felt her approach, but hadn’t realized she’d stepped into the diner.

“Hey, Buff. Was wondering when you’d come meet the rest of the family,” Angelus said as he let his meal drop to the ground.

Buffy shrugged her shoulders, “Must have missed that invite, Angelus.”

“I see you lost the illusions of my souled counterpart,” Angelus said.

“That’s all it was, an illusion. Not even worth my time,” Buffy said.

Dru waltzed up to Spike and Buffy. She reached her hand out and gently caressed Buffy’s cheek. “I’ll not be alone. You won’t take my Daddy away from me, Sunshine.”

Buffy raised an eyebrow at the obviously crazy vampiress.

“No, Dru. She won’t,” Angelus said, “We can all be one big, happy family.”

“Minus the family and happy,” Buffy said.

“Dru don’t want to be a family. Said as much when she left me,” Spike said, “So, toddle off.”

The smile vanished from Angelus’ face. He leaned in close to Spike and whispered, “I don’t think so, Willie.”


Greed

“Willow’s in the hospital?” Xander asked.

Cordellia nodded. She knew this was hard for her boyfriend, not that she’d ever tell, but it was hard for her, too. The bond she shared with the girl was definitely playing with her mind. She wanted to pass out into the nice black oblivion…where there was no pain. Faith had explained why she couldn’t allow herself to do that, but still it was tempting.

“Faith is here to keep us safe from Angel?” Xander asked.

Again the cheerleader nodded. She wondered how many times she’d need to explain things before he really caught on to what was happening.

“Spike and Buffy went to find Angel and Dru and what exactly?” Xander asked.

“Stop things before they start,” Faith said as she entered the room.

Xander nodded at the girl. “Why aren’t we going on this little hunt? I want Angel dust…I’ve always wanted Angel dust.”

“It’s not safe,” Dawn said, “Buffy wants everyone to stay safe this time.”

The things he wanted to say refused to come out. He knew she felt badly about Jenny Calendar, and he knew she was trying to redeem herself this time around. However, he didn’t think she could stake him. He wanted to have faith in his friend, believe that she could be stronger this time, but he couldn’t. Buffy would always have a soft spot when it came to the dark haired vampire.

“At least Spike is with her,” Dawn said, “He’ll dust Angel.”

A smile spread across Xander’s face. That was true. Spike had never liked Angel with or without the soul. Maybe things would turn out ok this time.

“What are we going to do about Willow?” Cordy asked.

No one had an answer. They all wanted to do something useful.

Waiting for something to come and get them wasn’t exactly something they were good at doing. They were people of action.

“Oz is with her, and for now…there’s nothing we can do,” Xander said resignedly.

“I’m way tired of feeling useless. I’m a Slayer. I kick demon ass, here I am coolin’ in my heels waitin’ for something to come and get me,” Faith groused.

“Kids?” Joyce called from downstairs, “Come down and have some hot chocolate.”

The group exchanged smiles. Joyce was trying her best to keep everyone calm. She was just as worried, if not more worried, about her daughter and her mate. Nevertheless, she was a mother first. And in the short amount of time Joyce had know about her daughter’s true nature, her friends had all become a part of the family.

“This is quite disturbing,” Giles said, “I can’t think of anything that could cause Angel to loose his soul. It has to be caused by a moment of true happiness.”

“Broody doesn’t exactly have happiness to spare,” Faith said.

“Exactly,” Giles said, “It could, perhaps, be some other sort of magic. It would have to be very powerful, and very old.”

“What does Angel’s soul and Willow being in the hospital have to do with each other?” Xander asked.

Giles removed his glasses and began to polish them, “I’m not sure, Xander.”

“I think,” Faith began, “Whoever is working the magic knew Willow could return his soul. Take her out of the game … instant advantage.”

“We need to do something to help Buffy. I can’t let her go through this alone…again,” Dawn said.

“I agree,” Joyce said softly. She didn’t want her daughter forced to run again. If she stayed by her side this time, perhaps her daughter wouldn’t shut her out. She was beginning to like being so connected to Buffy…she didn’t want to loose that.

“I know!” Cordy exclaimed, she was happy to finally have something to contribute to the group, “If we can figure out a way to bring Willow out of her coma, maybe we can find the demon thing that is causing all of this.”

“That might work,” Giles said.

“Of course it will work,” Cordy said, “I’m allowed to come up with solutions too ya know.”

“We know, baby,” Xander said.

“Whatever we do,” Faith said, “We gotta do it fast. Willow’s not doing so hot.”

Cordy nodded her head. She was using Xander for support.

With a goal in mind, the group set out to work. Giles retrieved all the books he thought would be necessary from the library and handed each person a nice little stack. Xander went out at once for donuts and coffee. No one was expected to spend hours reading duty old books without some sort of sugary substance floating around.

“There’s nothing in here,” Cordy said hours later, “I mean sure there’s stuff, but not useful stuff.”

“Maybe it’s not a demon,” Xander said.

“What else could it be?” Faith asked.

“Demons aren’t the only nasties in Sunnydale. Maybe it’s some sort of spell or trace thing,” Xander said, “Remember Amy?”

“Of course,” Giles said, “Why didn’t I think of it before. It is entirely possible that both Angel’s lack of soul and Willow’s recent hospitalization are both the outcome of the same spell.”

“Who would wish for such an awful thing?” Joyce asked with wide eyes. It was one thing to realize that your worst nightmares, and everything you knew lived in the closet but chose to blissfully ignore was coming to life; it was another to think that someone would wish for such things.

“The dis-invite is still in place, isn’t it?” Giles asked Joyce.

“Wha?” Joyce said looking up at the man, “Yes, yes of course.”

“In that case, no one invite anyone in,” Faith said, “I’m going to patrol.”

“I don’t think that is wise,” Giles said.

“I can’t stay cooped up, Giles,” Faith said, “I’ll be back.”

Giles nodded his head. There really wasn’t anything he could say to stop the girl. She was very much like Buffy in that sense. Once one of the girl’s got an idea in their heads, nothing, short of Spike, could stop them.

“Will she be alright?” Joyce asked.

“I’m sure she will. Faith just has a lot of energy to use up. It’s night and the Slayer in her is demanding that she go fight something. It’s in her make-up.”

“Can’t she just like turn it off for a couple of nights. Ya know, until the scariness has gone on vacation,” Xander asked.

Giles just shook his head at the boy. Honestly, sometimes he wondered about him.

* * * * * * * * *

“I sent you to hell once,” Buffy said, “I’ll do it again.”

“Ah, Buff. I didn’t come here to fight,” Angelus said in mock sincerity.

Spike rolled his eyes. Peaches would never change.

“You spoiled my party,” Dru said, “My nice pretty packages…all for nothing.”

Buffy ignored Dru, “Angelus, this is your one chance. Take Dru and leave town. Stay away from me and mine.”

The brunette vampire pretended to ponder her offer. Everyone knew he wouldn’t take it, but he had to admire her for offering. She’d grown up in the past year.

“I don’t think so,” he answered, “I’m going to throw a party for Dru. You and all your little friends have to be there.”

“Why?” Buffy asked.

“I’m going to end the world. I want you to have a front row seat,” Angelus said.

Buffy rolled her eyes, “Again? Is that like all you ever think about?”

‘Luv, don’t push him. He’s got somethin’ planned. Somethin’ big.’

‘I know. He just…grr, ya know?’

‘Yeah, I know.’

“SPIKE!” Angelus roared using his Sire voice, “Come with me, boy.”

Buffy watched mutely as her Mate walked over to Angelus. There was blankness in his eyes that she didn’t like. She could barely feel him anymore. It was as if their connection had been severed, but not completely broken. All at once, the world seemed to close in on her. She felt alone for the first time.

“Now, Buff, don’t look like that. You are welcome to join him. I wouldn’t keep you from your Mate,” Angelus said.

Buffy’s eyes flashed and she lunged at her former love. She had no thought for her personal safety, only that of her Mate.

Angelus was laughing as she tackled him to the ground. This was what he liked best about the girl. She always had such a fire when she fought, when she wanted to fight. It was like that the last time they’d met. Such righteousness burning in her eyes, such a love for the kill.

Catching his jaw with her fist, Buffy sent Angelus flying backwards. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Spike watching her. She couldn’t tell what was going through his head, and that really bothered her.

“Willie, you really need to get your girl under control. Can’t have her attacking me, now can we,” Angelus said.

“No, Sire,” Spike answered, “We can’t.”

Before she could react, Spike was upon her. She struggled effortlessly in his vice like grip. When she dared to meet his eyes, she saw amber. There was no tenderness, no love, no Spike. A shiver of fear raced through her body. She could feel herself trembling and could do nothing to stop it.

“Shh, luv,” Spike purred, “Stop fighting him. I’d hate to have to hurt you.”

Buffy looked up into his eyes, “Really? I doubt it.”

Spike smirked. She’d always been a spitfire.

Without taking time to think about it, Buffy kicked Spike off of her. Jumping to her feet, she flew across the room and punched him in the nose.

“Bloody hell, Slayer,” Spike said as he reached a hand up to his tender nose.

‘Spike?’

‘Pet?’

‘Angelus was doing something to you. He used you to keep me from attacking him.’

‘Bloody hell. He’s using Sire voice. It always works, too.’

‘Even against your Mate?’

‘If the Sire is strong, which well, Peaches is, then yeah.’

‘We have to fight it. You can’t turn on me, Spike.’

“Sunshine tells him secrets. Nasty secrets,” Dru said, “No tea for her.”

“Now, now,” Angelus said as he moved closer to Spike, “We’ll not have you keeping secrets. It’s not very nice.”

Buffy moved closer to Angelus, effectively positioning herself
between Spike and his Sire. She pulled a stake from God only knows where and placed it against Angelus’ chest. Just before she could slam it home, Dru launched herself at Buffy causing the stake to roll away.

“Buffy!” Spike yelled.

It was too late. Dru already had her claws elongated and had
slashed Buffy’s chest.

Nothing else in the room mattered. His Mate was injured…badly. Spike threw himself at his ex-love. He pinned her to the ground and let out a ferocious growl.

Dru whimpered from under him, “Don’t hurt Mommy. She only did what the pixies told her. It was so shiny, so pretty. Had to have it, it held such promise. Dark secrets, tea for everyone.”

“I told you those bloody pixies would get you killed someday, Dru,” Spike said indifferently.

“Killing me won’t safe the little witch,” Dru said smugly.

“Neither will keeping you alive,” Spike said

Angelus’ eyes widened in horror as he watched Spike plunge Buffy’s abandoned stake through the heart of his favorite Childe. He went to finish off his insolent Childe, but Buffy stopped him.

“Stay out of this, Slayer,” Spike said.

Buffy opened her mouth to protest.

‘Luv, let me finish this. It’s my fault. Dru came back to Sunnyhell for me. Please, I don’t want him to hurt you.’

‘You stupid vampire. I don’t want him to hurt you either. And what makes you think it’s YOU they came here for?’

‘Either way, please, let me do this.’

Unable to deny her lover his request, Buffy nodded her head. She moved over to where Dru’s ashes lay. Something shiny had caught her eye. Normally, when a vamp dusted, everything dusted. This, whatever it was, remained. She’d take it back to Giles and see if he could make anything of it.

“I’m going to take great pleasure in killing you both slowly,” Angelus said.

Spike didn’t respond. He needed to keep his focus on the fight. There was no time for witty banter, he’d safe that for sparing with his girl. He looked over and made sure that she was still abiding by his wishes. Once he was satisfied, he moved toward Angelus.

“You’ve been the bane of my existence for far too long,” Angelus continued.

Spike landed a right hook to his Sire’s face.

Buffy watched through dazed eyes as the only two men she’d ever loved fought across the room. Every time Spike was hit, she could feel it in her gut. She wanted nothing more than to pick up a stray piece of wood and throw it into Angelus’ back and scatter his worthless ashes to the wind. Her promise to Spike kept her from acting.

An evil laugh filled the empty diner. Then silence.

Buffy was afraid to look up. Afraid to see what would be there. A hand touched her shoulder as she immediately sent the body attached to it across the room.

“Easy, luv,” Spike said as he stood to his feet.

Relief was apparent on her face as she threw herself into her Mate’s embrace.

“Shh, it’s ok now luv. They won’t bother us anymore,” Spike whispered into her hair.

Buffy pulled back sharply and hit him on the shoulder.

“Ow!” Spike whined.

“Don’t ever do that to me again! Tell me not to help you fight, then when it gets bad, shut me out! That’s not fair and I don’t like it. I was scared, Spike…so scared,” Buffy’s voice began to tremble, “Scared that I’d loose you. I can’t loose you.”

Spike pulled the girl closer to him. “Let’s get you home, pet.”

Buffy nodded against his chest and allowed him to carry her back to her house.

“Is she alright?” Giles asked as he saw Spike enter the house carrying Buffy.

“Yeah, just a bit tired,” Spike answered, “I’m puttin’ her to bed.”

“No,” Buffy protested.

“Pet, you need to get some kip,” Spike said.

She squirmed out of his arms. “I need to show Giles something.”

Giles looked expectantly at the young girl.

Buffy pulled the necklace Dru had been wearing from her pocket and handed it to Giles. “Dru was wearing this. It didn’t dust when she did.”

“How interesting,” Giles said as he took the item from Buffy, “I’ll have to research it.”

“Better put a rush order on that, Rupes,” Spike said, “Think it might be what’s affecting Red.”

Buffy looked at him questioningly.

“Somethin’ Dru told me,” Spike said, “’Killing me won’t save the Witch.’”

“Dear Lord,” Giles exclaimed.

“It’s pretty. When we’ve found out what it does, can I have it?” Cordy asked.

“Sure. Then maybe the evil shiny thing will suck you into Hell. Sounds great,” Xander replied.

Cordellia glared at the boy, “We don’t know it sends anyone to Hell. God, over-react much?”

“As interesting as this is to watch, shouldn’t we be more focused on…oh say, Willow?” Faith asked.

Both people looked properly abashed and mumbled a barely audible apology.

Faith nodded triumphantly and turned to Giles, “To the books?”

“I suppose so,” Giles said, “Buffy, is it safe to wander to the library.”

Buffy looked up at him, “Safe as a Hellmouth.”

After what seemed like hours of research, most of the libraries occupants had fallen asleep. Cordy and Xander were curled up on the stairs. Buffy and Spike sprawled out in the office. Joyce had taken Dawn home. Only Faith and Giles remained awake.

“You really should get some sleep, Faith,” Giles said, “This has been trying on all of us.”

Faith looked at Buffy and Spike. She really couldn’t imagine what it was truly like for them. She’d felt a bit of it through the claim, but the majority of it was foreign to her. She’d never felt a love toward anyone. At least not one that was strong enough to want to keep them alive above all else.

“I’m five by five, Giles,” Faith said, “I want to get Willow out of that hospital. Buffy needs the rest more than I do.”

Giles nodded at the girl and turned back to his book.

“Here it is!” Giles exclaimed, “I’ve found it!”

“Found what?” Buffy asked groggily.

“It’s the, the, uh, symbol of, of Anyanka,” Giles stated.

“What’s an Anyanka? And how do I kill it?” Buffy asked.

“Um, Anyanka is a, sort of a Patron Saint of Women Scorned,” Giles answered.

“What’s she do?” Spike asked.

Giles removed his glasses, “She grants wishes.”

“Bloody hell,” Spike mumbled, “Dru must’ve wished for sometin’.”

“What?” Buffy asked.

“I don’t know,” Spike answered.

“Giles, can we summon this thing?” Buffy asked.

Giles re-opened a book and began to read, “’In order to defeat Anyanka, one must destroy her powercenter. This should reverse all the wishes she’s granted, rendering her mortal and useless again’ You see? With out her powercenter, she’d j-just be a-a-an ordinary woman again.”

“Great, what’s her powercenter?” Buffy asked.

“It uh, doesn’t say,” Giles answered.

“Why don’t I just put a stake through her heart,” Faith offered.

“She’s not a vampire,” Giles answered.

“Hm,” Faith said, “Be surprised how many things that’ll kill.”

“I don’t want to kill her,” Giles said, “Well, not until we know what she did.”

“Let’s start with the chanting then,” Xander said in a chipper voice.

“Right,” Giles scurried around the library and gathered the necessary ingredients. “Oh…Anyanka…I-I beseech thee…Um…In the name of all women scorned…come before me.”

Everyone looked around the library for this Anyanka. She’s nowhere to be found. Maybe the spell didn’t work. Maybe you can’t just call for her and expect her to come.

“Do you have any idea what I do to a man who uses that spell to summon me?” Anyanka asked from the upstairs stacks.

The group watched as the demon sauntered her way down the steps.

“Do you have any idea what I do to demons?” Buffy asked.

Anyanka paused, sensing a powerful force.

“Especially ones who do things to my friends?” Buffy moved so that she was face to face with the demon.

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