Summary: Someone from Heaven has followed Buffy back from the other side.....post Normal Again, then A/U, based on spoilers/rumors for rest of Season 6.....
Disclaimer: I do not own the show Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Angel (The Series). All of the characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, 20th Century Fox, et al.
Feedback: samhain@uniserve.com

Chapter 1

"What did you just say?" Spike whispered, his voice tight and shaky. He backed away from the Slayer, he hadn't seen her in weeks and wanted nothing more than to be right where he was, but the words she'd just spoken had shaken him to the core. He'd returned from his pilgrimage, back from Africa, a different man and he'd come home to a very different world and a very different Buffy. Her first words to him had been 'You're home...', and even the slightest inkling that she considered Sunnydale his home had been monumental. Then she'd told him that Tara was dead and he'd gone weak in the knees. When he'd composed himself she'd continued and told him that Willow had dived back so deep into magic, the darkest magic, that Buffy didn't think she'd ever come back from it. Warren had been responsible for it all, in an attempt to take down Buffy for which the benevolent Wiccan had paid for. Warren was of course dead now too, by virtue of Willow, and his cohorts were in prison. He'd listened pensively, turning the words around in his mind as she told the story. Giles could do nothing after the fact and remained still in England. Xander had gone, she didn't know where and Anya was once again in the service of D'Hoffryn, but was still in Sunnydale - heartbroken and angry.

Then she came to the part that had left him as raw as lacerated nerve endings. For all intents and purposes only Buffy and Dawn remained of the core he once knew. When they'd needed him the most, he was nowhere to be found. The world had gone silent again, finally after all the death and mayhem, the sisters were clinging to each other because they had nothing left. Their house was silent, they barely spoke save to tell the other they were going out, or something as mundane as making out a grocery list. Buffy suffered through each shift at the Doublemeat and had to borrow money against the house just to keep them afloat, went through the motions of Slayer and all the while she came closer and closer to the single epiphany that would change the course of all their lives.

"You need me to say it again?" she asked, a tiny smile was forming in the corners of her mouth. He closed his eyes, a single tear holding to the corner, he nodded his head. She closed the gap between them and caught the tear before it fell down his cheek with her lips. She grazed the back of her hand over one of his sharp cheek bone, then trailed her index finger over his bottom lip and was touched by how it trembled,"Spike....I love you."

"You love me?" He kept questioning her, the reality of it too amazing to him to accept it on face value.

"Open your eyes." He did as she bade and beheld the melee of colors that were her eyes, gray and green speckled with tawny golds. Buffy looked at him as if he were new, not knowing how true her observation was, his eyes weren't cool like they'd always been. Still as blue as a rare jewel, but warmer, like a tropical ocean."I love you."

"I wasn't sure if I should come back. But I couldn't stay away, I'm drawn to you no matter where I am in the world...like a moth to a flame, I don't care if I'm burned, I can't stay away from you....I love you too much. The way I left things between us..."

"That wasn't your fault..."

"Yes it was...I tried..."

"You stopped yourself when you realized I meant no, and you hated yourself....and you didn't really, you just thought...."

"Think all I had to do was remind you how good we felt together and that would be enough? I acted like the sort of man I never thought I would ever be...the kind that were weak and uglier inside than any demon....I was so wrong..."

"And so was I....I want to put it behind us, right now...please?"

"I don't know if I can, Buffy."

"For me?"

"Anything for you, love."

"Then listen and do as I ask? Things were hard, there were all these walls around us, all these impenetrable barriers. We'd made each other bitter and angry, made each other hurt the kind of pain only people who love each other can. I was positive that I wanted you gone from my life, but when I found out that you really had left and I thought for good there was suddenly this hole in my heart that could only be filled by you. I was sick and empty inside and then I finally knew why, because I was worried and scared over you. Where did you go?" Spike shook his head and scratched at his chin, trying to gather the resolve to explain the audacious sojourn he'd embarked on.

"I don't think you'd believe me if I told you...give me a little time, need to think of an approach....need for us to be sitting down, for sure."

"Can you tell me why you left? Dawn told me how you came and said goodbye...she wouldn't.....no, she couldn't bring herself to tell me..."

"Let's leave that between me and my sweet bit. I hope she'll be as happy to see me as you are, I hope she's forgiven me for abandoning her."

"She loves you too, she might be angry somewhere deep inside, but mostly I think she'll just be relieved."

"Tell me something, love, because I don't know the bloody answer.....where do we go from here?"

Chapter 2

"One breath at a time...well, not breath, you and the no breathing thing," Buffy said lightly and Spike reciprocated her small joke with a smile,"One touch....one kiss....just moment to the next...I don't know what's coming, but I can't help but have hope, you know? My friends are all gone, they were my family...all I had left was Dawn and we're not close like we used to be. But now you're back, Dawn's gonna be ecstatic, and the three of us can be a family..."

"God....I want that so much, Buffy....so bloody much I can't even put it into words. It can happen, I promise you it can...I've seen and done things, things that have changed me...I want you to know something about me that maybe you never thought, believed before. I'm a good person, my love is real and my word is my bond...I'm not evil, despite all you've known about me, and you don't need to ever feel ashamed for loving me, alright?" She ran her fingers over his brow, down the bridge of his nose, then across his cheek.

"I can feel it, there is something different...I think I knew it the moment I saw you....you seem....balanced."

"Sounds about right...I feel grounded, right. Mind you, Slayer...I don't think I'd say everything was in it's rightful place until a I stepped across the threshold of your front door and into your arms, now I'm whole."

"Something major happened when you were gone, didn't it?"

"You could say that....I...I still need to wait to tell you."

"I understand. I just want to hold you, feel your arms around me, feel your lips on my skin..." Spike certainly didn't need anymore encouragement, he outright swept her off her feet and carried her into the living room, flopping down on the couch and taking her on his lap. He let go of her only to squirm out of his coat, his arms bare to touch the skin of her upper body that was not covered by the violet tank top she wore. The contact of their skin sent ripples of sheer pleasure through them, which was augment when their lips smashed together. The pressure was fierce and ravenous, then soft and wet when their tongues drew them in deeper. Buffy's hands fisted themselves in his hair and maneuvered until she was straddling him, pressing her breasts firmly against his chest."I missed you so much..."

"Never leavin' again...my beautiful Slayer...." They were so caught up in their reunion that they both failed to notice the sound of the front door opening and slow, delicate feet coming inside the house. A strangled an unexpected cry broke the lovers apart.

"Spike!!!" Dawn practically shouted. Buffy moved off the vampire just in time for her sister to propel herself against him. The teenager hugged Spike with such fervor and strength that he winced, but he couldn't have cared less and instead hugged her back. When he realized she was crying he began to stroke her hair and call shhhh into her ear."You came back! You came back...."

"'Course I did, doll, couldn't leave m'nibblet forever....love you too much....you n' big sis..."

"I thought I'd never see you again...everything's so horrible, everybody's lost....." Dawn let him go and sat back next to him, then noticed how Buffy's hair was mussed, her lips swollen and her eyes dancing."You told him? Didn't you?"

"Yes, Dawn, I told Spike I loved him.....and we promise he's staying for good."

"Did you find what you were looking for?" Dawn asked, almost timidly.

"I found it....and lots more, so much more I could write a bloomin' novel 'bout it. Listen, bit, Buffy's told me everything that's gone down...but from now on you can be happy about the future...the three of us'll make it alright. Blimey, suddenly I'm having the best bloody day of my entire un-life."

"I think we are too," echoed Buffy,"It's been so dark and miserable for weeks, this is the first bit of happiness in forever."

"Clearly the planet's off its axis if I'm the one bringing you ducks happiness.....thought I was still a big bad, even a little of one, at the least...not I'm sodding bloomin' Santa Claus..." Buffy rolled her eyes and pinched his cheek, to which he gave her a sideways glare of annoyance.

"Okay....how's this....you're an evil bloodsucking fiend?"

"That's right."

"Un-huh....but you're our evil bloodsucking fiend....and we love you."

"Ppppsshh....who am I kidding....I've totally switched sides, I'm as pure as the driven snow."

"Sure thing, sweety.....I can see the halo already." Buffy's voice fell silent and she seemed to move in slow motion, her eyes closed and he came to him again, parting her lips ever so slightly, then they were on his lips again. The kiss was brief, but it's tangibility lingered with the taste of her.

"Spike...is there something different about you?" Dawn asked, looking over Spike just as Buffy had.

"The whole world's different, sweet bit."

Chapter 3

"I think we need to celebrate!" Dawn declared,"When was the last time any of us had any fun of any kind??"

"So long ago I can't remember when," Buffy replied with a sigh, sinking against Spike.

"Well, m'lovelies, doesn't matter to me what we do so long as it's me n' you two."

"The Bronze is still standing....we can sit in a comfy corner, eat nachos covered with jalepenos n' cheese n' drink beer..." Dawn suggested.

"You're not having beer," was Buffy's answer,"What do you say?" Spike looked back and forth between their two bright faces, two beautiful girls that probably hadn't smiled in weeks.

"I'd say I'm a very lucky man indeed."

"You certainly are, don't you forget it."

"I won't, love. I'm not however lucky enough to have anything to wear...this shirt's about two threads from fallin' off m'body...these soddin' pants are...well, sodden...and you don't even want to know about m'socks. I swung by m'crypt n' someone cleaned me out....even the nooks I'd stashed all my fave clothes in....all m'books n' jewelry, cds....cleaned me out, I'm absolutely skint to the bones."

"That someone would be me, actually. I didn't know if you were coming back, I didn't want anybody to take your stuff...and I couldn't.....I couldn't let you go, so I took your things and put them in a box in my closet." The smile he gave her tugged at her heart strings, he was obviously amazed that she'd taken mementos of him, which told him the seed of her love for him had been planted before he'd gone.

"Tell you what ducks, I'll hop in the shower, we'll get spruced up n' then go for a spin on the dance floors of our favorite haunt...this is how it should have always been.....the three of us."

***

The trio waltzed into the Bronze, Spike had a lady on each arm and both were decked out in smashing outfits. They took up a nice spot in the corner, a couch just for them, out of the way of the crowd. Spike left them alone for a moment, to grab them some munchies and drinks. Dawn and Buffy sat close together, holding each other's hands and smiling, watching Spike ease back into his regular demeanor, confidant and sexy as hell. Wherever he had been, whatever he'd accomplished it hadn't changed the fundamentals of why both Summers women loved him. He always had a dual personality, one side was strong, confidant, rebellious while the other was vulnerable, sensitive and tender. When melded as they had he became irresistible, it may have taken Buffy a little longer than her sister to realize it, but she'd come there in the end.

Spike returned to their nook followed by a waitress who had in truth a deep fried onion that had first been unfolded into a flower with drinks for Dawn and Buff on a tray. Spike set down a bottle of beer for himself on the table before flopping down next to Buffy. He tossed and arm around the Slayer's shoulders and pulled her back against him for a fast and fierce kiss. He let her go and retrieved his beer, taking a swig and groaning in satisfaction."Comfy?" Buffy asked coyly. He smirked at her and put his heavy feet on the table, clearly during his time away he'd paid no more attention to his manners than usual.

"In heaven, love," was his reply, sending a wink her way,"Dig in ducks, the food's brilliant!" Dawn was already munching, and soon enough Spike and Buffy had joined her. The evening wore on and from each's point of view it was clear that the three of them had formed an unbreakable bond over the years they'd been together. They'd begun at opposite ends of the moral spectrum, but had since met in the middle and become a family. When Spike had left, the absence of him in their lives had been enough to jar Buffy out of her state of denying she loved the vampire. Now that she'd voiced as much, the actuality of it was effortless. Dawn was keenly aware of this fact in respect to her sister and couldn't help but feel overjoyed at the latest turn their lives had taken.

"Mmm.....be right back..." Buffy spoke as she got to her feet.

"Where you off to, Slayer?" Spike asked, not too warm to her not being at his side all night long.

"Where you cannot follow.....or at least where you should not follow unless you want trouble..." His face crinkled at a lack of understanding and Buffy tutted her tongue to the roof of her mouth in mild exasperation,"The ladies room, Spike, geez..." The sudden look of relief on Spike face was enough the send Dawn into a fit of giggles after Buffy had walked out of ear shot.

"And what pray tell are you laughing about, pet?"

"You! Silly...Spike, I'm just so....so....."

"Me too, sweet bit - happiness....scary as hell isn't it?"

"Terrifying."

Chapter 4

"Shouldn't big sis be back by now?" Spike asked, noticing that Buffy had been gone longer than expected. Dawn seemed unfazed by his heightened state and casually shrugged her shoulders.

"She's the Slayer, she's fine, I don't think she had a nasty run in with the hand dryer."

"Do me a favor, bit, just go n' check for her?"

"Paranoid much?"

"Just go...."

"Okay...be right back." As Dawn headed towards the ladies room, Spike started to cast his eyes to every dark spot in the Bronze, even to the balcony above, no sign of Buffy anywhere. Dawn came sauntering back over to him shaking her head,"Maybe she saw a vamp and followed him outside..."

"Wait here."

"Spike?"

"Stay put, I'm gonna take a look outside."

"But...."

"Dawn, mind me when I tell you things like this, it's important." The teenager huffed and sat back on the couch, taking Spike's beer with her to let exorcise a little of her aggression at being left out of the action. Spike stepped out into the night air and inhaled deeply, hoping his senses would catch a whiff of her perfume or any other tell tale scents of the Slayer. Secondly, he perked his ears and caught what sounded like the slightest kitten like mew. He followed around the building until he came to the mouth of an alleyway. He approached as quietly as possible, his footsteps lighter than the wind. He stopped short when he found Buffy and the obscene sight in front of him. Buffy was against the wall, standing reasonably straight, but she had a cold blank stare on her face. Someone or something was pressed up against her, it's hand fondling her breast and it's mouth at her throat. It wasn't a vampire, it seemed to be simply a man.

Spike could do nothing to suppress the rage that was welling up inside him and it burst forth with his demon. He snarled and sprinted down the alley after them, witnessing as the thing moved away from Buffy and into the shadows. When Spike came upon her the man was gone and Buffy was as catatonic as when he'd first seen her. Ignoring the urge to go in hunt of what had forced itself on his love, Spike turned his attentions solely to Buffy. She reminded him briefly of a mannequin, lifelike but empty inside."Buffy? Come on, love....Slayer?" he asked, shaking her, smacking her face lightly."Buffy, please, don't scare me like this!"

"Spike?" Dawn called coming down the alley. She saw her sister and began to panic as well,"God, what's wrong with her? Buffy!? Buffy!?" All of a sudden Buffy's eyes closed and she turned her body against the wall and promptly bent over and threw up. Spike held her up and held her hair back while she wretched and clung to her stomach in great pain. Eventually she calmed and came out of her fog to find Spike supporting her and Dawn wiping her face with tissue.

"Buffy, sweetheart?" Spike asked as she caught his eyes, blue that had moments before been enraged with demonic yellow.

"Why are we outside?" Buffy whispered.

"You went to the bathroom and didn't come back," Dawn explained,"Spike came outside to look for you...he told me to stay inside....but I couldn't just sit and wait..."

"Spike? What happened?"

"You don't remember?" Buffy saw the grave look on his face and she shook her head, suddenly feeling very vulnerable. She clutched her stomach and leaned forward,"What's wrong?"

"My stomach.....hurts...."

"We'll go home now...come, love." She tried to take a step forward, but the ache in her guts became stabbing and she cried out. Seconds later she was in Spike's arms, being carried. She didn't absorb much of what was happening to her as they walked home from the Bronze. She was aware of little else than that she was not on her own feet and that her face was against the familiar surface of Spike's body. They were inside the house in no time and ascending the stairs,"We'll get you tucked in bed..."

"I want a bath.....I feel...I feel so dirty...." she whispered.

"Dawn," Spike spoke as she came up after them,"Go on ahead and run Buffy a bath."

"Shouldn't you just put her to bed?"

"No....she said she wanted one....don't make it too hot....go on." Buffy was able to stand of her own accord when Spike put her on the tile floor of the bathroom. She let him and Dawn undress her, feeling almost like herself again, even nude she felt protected, she was with the two people she loved most and they were taking care of her. Spike made sure she didn't slip as she sunk into the warm water, then tossed off his coat and knelt before her, reaching for the soap and lathering it up before spreading it over her back."You want us to go?" She shook her head.

"You want me to wash your hair?" Dawn asked, hopeful.

"Okay..." Buffy replied in a meek voice. Buffy closed her eyes and went into herself, letting them care for her and trying to find a quiet place inside her mind to take shelter in. She didn't know what had come over her, or how she got into the alley, but whatever it was it had made her feel used. Dawn's fingers worked the shampoo into her hair while Spike's large hands moved slippery all over her slim body. Their touch was nothing short of miraculous at making her feel safe and clean again. She felt water being poured over her, rinsing the soap from her hair and body.

"You can go on to bed, bit, I can take it from here," Spike's voice came through, making Buffy open her eyes and come back to them.

"I'm good now," Buffy spoke, giving her sister a reassuring smile. Dawn gave Buffy a peck on the cheek, then one for Spike before heading to her own room. Buffy got to her feet as the bath water disappeared down the drain. Spike handed her a towel for her hair, while he dried her body with another.

"You're positive about that?" he asked,"You're feeling okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Your stomach still hurt?" As he spoke the words, his hand rubbed the formerly affected area.

"The pain's gone." He nodded then wrapped the towel around her. She stepped out of the bath and the two of them headed across the hall to her room. Spike left her side and went to her dresser to search her drawers for a nightgown.

"What would you like? Something flannel from ankles to chin? Or something pretty...."

"Nothing..." He turned around to see the last of her naked body getting under the covers. He closed the drawer and sighed, her face sunk against her pillow and she rolled on to her side in a tight fetal ball. He kicked off his boots and slumped into the chair at her desk, shutting his eyes tight and rubbing them hard until a kaleidoscope of colors exploded behind the lids."Spike?" He opened his eyes again and for a moment couldn't perceive her in the darkness, not until the colors had faded.

"Yes, love?"

"Why are you sitting there?" Misunderstanding the intent of her words he rose from the chair and turned towards the door.

"I'll take the couch then....or go back to my crypt..."

"No...don't be ridiculous, come to bed." This time it was his heart that exploded with the kaleidoscope, only this time the colors were emotions."I don't want to sleep alone." He obeyed and stripped off his shirt and pants, not caring where they fell on her floor. He slinked into the warmth of the bed and against her back. Her body was exceptionally warm, from the bath and perhaps from a touch of fever if she was getting sick as her symptoms may have indicated. To Buffy his cool, soft skin was tempering and exotic. With all his parts, the flat and the not so flat pressed to her, he eased an arm between her neck and the pillow he had her head on and another around her waist to hug her close. He lay his head behind her's, the scent of the bath lingering in her damp hair. He kissed her tenderly, pressing his lips to her skin for a long time.

"Just sleep tonight?"

"Just sleep, Spike."

"Gotcha..."

"More ways than one. I'm so happy you're home....don't ever go away again, okay?"

"I'll never leave your side, my sweet."

Chapter 5

Buffy awoke the next morning feeling exceptionally refreshed, like she'd walked out of Hell and into the light of the sun. Sometime during the night she and Spike had disentangled themselves from each other and he now lay on his stomach with his face in the pillow and an arm dangling off the side of the bed. He looked as content as a fat cat in the sunshine and as much as she wanted to rain kisses all over his back, she couldn't bring himself to disturb the sleeping vampire. She gently rose from the bed and strolled over to the window to pull the curtains back just enough to bathe her in the morning sun's rays, but made sure they didn't touch Spike.

She glanced over at the clock by her beside, it was almost 10am. She pulled the curtains back and rummaged around in her closet for a robe before leaving the bedroom. Buffy checked on Dawn but found her room empty, she proceeded to the bathroom for her morning routine and found the note from her sister telling her she'd gone to school and would be back directly after. Dawn had folded up Spike's coat, discarded the night before and put it on the counter for him. Taking it with her, Buffy returned to the bedroom and found Spike sitting upright, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Noticing her, he smiled,"Sleep alright, love?"

"Like a baby...you?"

"Mmmm....not so well, kept waking up..."

"Why?" He motioned for her to come over and she complied, seating herself next to him, close enough that he could taste her scent.

"Last night....when I found you...you weren't alone." Buffy gave him a wounded look,"You sure you don't remember?"

"No....I don't, not a thing...I was with you and Dawn one minute, and then the next I was feeling sick....out in an alley. Who was with me?"

"A man I think, it was hard to tell, you were in the shadows. I chased him away."

"What....what.....Spike, was he doing something to me?" Spike cast his eyes downwards, afraid to look at the fright and disgust that had instantly appeared in her eyes the same time the thought had,"Spike! Tell me now!"

"He...well....I'm not entirely sure. His hands had your breasts..." Buffy made a sound, similar to the one she had moment before she'd gotten sick in the alley,"His mouth was all over your neck...but as soon as I was there he ran off..." Buffy pulled her robe around herself tighter and fought back feelings of having having unwelcome hands and lips on her body."Buffy, love, it's alright.....he's not here now, you're perfectly safe."

"But what would have happened if you hadn't come after me? How far would he have gone.....Spike, I don't even remember it...but I feel it now, imprints on my skin....I feel violated."

"It's over...it could've been much worse, that's true, but you're with me now. He's obviously worked some bloody powerful mojo on you to make you forget yourself, but I'd wager whoever the bastard is he won't be coming for you again, I think I got the message across - fangs n' bumpy forehead n' what not."

"I'm beginning to think that you came back just in time to save me once again..."

"I came back because I love you and couldn't bear being away any longer." Buffy unclutched her hands from her robe and moved it off her shoulders, exposing her naked breasts to him.

"Touch me," she bade. Spike needed nothing more than the very thought from her and his palms were against her nipples, fingers splayed out over the supple flesh. He kneaded them gently while watching his reflection in her eyes, the only place he ever saw his own image. Buffy moved from beside him, pushing the covers away from him until she straddled him and got even closer. When she felt him grow hard underneath her, Buffy didn't hesitate to take him inside her. She gasped and arched against him, then relaxed and sunk to him completely. He hands left her breasts and move to her hips to counter her grinding motions with thrusts from below and the forcing down of her with his hands. Buffy wrapped her arms around his neck and closed his face in between her breasts. His mouth was surprisingly hot, but his tongue was still tepid as ever, Spike virtually ravaged her with his mouth, just as she consumed him further down.

They made love, started slowly, but then the minutes passed into hours and by the time each had come more times than could be counted they were too exhausted to even speak. The slipped apart and collapsed beside each other in her bed. For a long stretch of time they neither touched nor spoke, but as sleep overcame them, Buffy formed herself against him, her head on his chest, dropping butterfly kisses on him,"Welcome home, Spike," she whispered.

"Home, love...I'm finally home."

***

Their nap didn't last long when both were awakened an hour later with Dawn announcing from the bottom of the stairs she was home . They groaned and Spike was roused further by the Slayer poking him in his ribs,"Hey....steady on....I'm moving....just gimme mmm...another hour....." he complained, refusing to move.

"Get up...." Buffy ordered as she dressed. Out of the corner of one eye he saw her put on the same lilac peasant blouse she'd worn the day she'd broken up with him, he thought he never wanted to see it again, but now that he looked at her after all this time had passed he came to suddenly love it.

"If you want me to get up love, all you've got to do is...."

"Oh stop it....behave."

"Never!" Buffy pulled on a well worn pair of jeans and zipped them up before making her way into the closet. From the large cardboard box of his things she found him a black t-shirt and a pair of jeans. She brought them to him and insisted he put them on, not until he was dressed would she dare touch him, knowing full well if she did her resolve would fly out the window.

"Dawn's home and she's expecting us to spend time with her." She said the words whilst trailing her fingers down his face and neck.

"Right, right...mustn't ignore our girl in lieu of many more hours of fantastic shagging..."

"You make very difficult to choose you know.....but, Dawn wins."

"Of course she does....family first n' all that." They came downstairs and found her in the kitchen making a snack.

"Hey guys.....I can guess what you've been doing all day," said Dawn before a mouthful of chips and salsa. She had to clamp a hand over her mouth to keep the food in when she burst out laughing at the sight of Spike.

"What?" He looked himself over and then frowned when Buffy startled giggling,"What?!"

"Major vampire bedhead....your hair's all over the place, sweety," Buffy informed him, trying to straighten his wayward curls. Spike made a sound reminiscent of a whine, feeling rather embarrassed. However, when he was with them, he didn't care.

"Buffy.....what is that?" Dawn suddenly asked, closing in on her sister.

"What's what?"

"On your neck there..." Buffy's hand suddenly flew to the spot where the man had been kissing her the night before. Under the pads of her fingers she felt a raised area, like the remains of a scar.

"Lemme see, love," Spike asked pulling her fingers away to reveal what seemed to be a symbol, like two 'X's, one reversed and the two superimposed to form the mark. Buffy reacted with panic to the look on Spike's face and rushed into the hallway to examine it herself in the mirror.

"Ohmigod...omigod...."

"Sweetheart....it's....noth..."

"It's not nothing! Don't try and pretend it isn't! That weirdo last night did something to me!"

Chapter 6

"C'mere..." he spoke with a cajoling tone, pulling her shaken body to him. He bent his head to kiss the mark, proving to her that was insignificant depite the obvious fact that it wasn't. He first kissed behind her ear, then moved lower over the raised area, he pressed hard against the spot and suddenly cried out and lurched away from her.

"Spike?!"

"It...it....burnt me, bloody hell.....burnt m'lips....." Sure enough his lips were marked by red welts and it soon became hard to even speak as the blisters burst and blood flowed him them. Dawn rushed back into the kitchen to grab him a tea towel, and returned to Buffy crying and Spike trying to make her let him hold her again. Dawn passed the towel to Spike and hugged her sister.

"Guys, what's going on? Spike who's she talking about?!" Dawn demanded.

"Last night...there was someone with Buffy....he took off...but he was....he must have put the mark on her....magic or something..."

"Spike....I'm so sorry....I didn't know..." Buffy spoke, trying not to cry. Spike grabbed her hand and held fast to it.

"Buffy....how many times have we come up against weird, whacked out demons n' even hell gods? We always win, we always go in fightin' n' we always win, don't worry pet, we'll figure this out, promise. After the sun's down we'll head to the Magic Box, Anya'll have a book on the whole thing, you'll see."

"Yeah, Spike's right, Buffy...so you got a hex on you or whatever....hey, you can get a tattoo to cover it, that'll be cool!" Dawn suggested.

"Yeah, Bit's spot on...big red gothic letter's that say 'SPIKE's'!!" Buffy sniffled as she let her sister and boyfriend lighten her mood.

"You're right....this is....this is just like all the other times....not big deal..I'm not getting a tattoo....but I'm definitely Spike's."

***

Over the many years as the Slayer, Buffy had spent an inordinate amount of time away from home during the night, she used to love the night, loved staring at the stars. But this night however she felt timid and exposed. She'd covered her body, wearing a turtleneck even though the air was rather warm, she didn't particularily feel like showing any skin even though she knew Spike liked it that way, for fear that the mysterious person from the night before could be watching her. Spike had driven them in his car, which he first had to venture out and retrieve from his friend Clem, who'd been using it during his absence. The car felt like a military tank with it's blacked out windows and heavy 50s model exterior, she felt protected inside it's belly, encased in metal as if nothing could penetrate it. She did her best not to worry or bother the mark on her neck, but often found herself scratching or rubbing it. She'd begun to do it subconsciously, at which time Spike would nonchalantly ease or hand away from it and lace their fingers together for a time.

Dawn had called ahead to ask Anya to remain in the store a little while after closing so she could let them in. Dawn had explained briefly to the newly demonized friend what had occurred, but Anya could offer no explanation off the top of her head. Spike still held Buffy's hand as they walked into the shop. The door was unlocked, but the sign said closed and Anya was seated at a table reviewing what presumably were stock summaries and things of the like."I'm surprised you came back," she spoke, looking directly at Spike, then at their joined hands,"I didn't think you would."

"I'm sorry, love.....for what happened...but I'm not like him....I had to leave for something...important, but I was always going to come back, I love Buffy, and Dawn..." Anya put up her hand to silence him.

"I have business to attend to...lock up when you're done...."

"Wait....look at her neck first, please." Anya made a face, but came over to them nonetheless. Buffy pulled down her shirt and Anya studied the mark for a moment.

"Never seen it before...."

"Are you certain, you didn't look very long...." Buffy spoke.

"I've never seen it before....looking at it for an hour isn't going to change that..." Anya walked past them and slammed the door behind her.

"I wonder if she'll ever get over her anger...."

"Don't count on it, pet, the demon's pretty strong in that one....not much of the old Anya's left...don't expect her to be around much longer. Before she's gone maybe you should suggest she sign the store over to you, she won't care much about money once she's back on her game....vengeance that is."

"That's so sad..." Dawn remarked,"I mean, she's always been kinda weird, but she was funny...it's not fair."

"Life rarely is, nibblet, but it's never as bad as all that...we can make choices that'll steer us to one fate or another, you just have to weigh the consequences...Anya didn't bloody stop and think."

"But you did, didn't you?" Buffy asked,"Wherever it was that you went...it was big on the steering of fate?"

"Very big, love....but I made the right choice. Right then...let's hit the books...think there's a Jung book on signs n' symbols up there somewhere...every demon's usually got a sign too, so check out the demon volumes. We should order pizza."

Chapter 7

Buffy rolled her neck around on her shoulders, trying to alleviate the tension in her muscles, cracking the bones that would give. She was becoming drowsy a decidedly cranky, essentially fed up at looking over thousands of pages and finding absolutely nothing helpful. She groaned and lay her head on her arms upon the table, closing her eyes. Meanwhile Spike and Dawn stood above on the upper portion of the store, putting back the last of the books on the shelves."I think she's fallen asleep," Dawn whispered to him.

"Probably a good thing, poor girl's half out of mind with fright, sleep'll do her good."

"I think she'd rather be in her own bed....with you."

"Hey now, none of that....I still think of you as a lil' girl, you're supposed to think of me as very old and the thought of me having sex with your sister is supposed to disgust you."

"Oh please, I grew out of that stage when Riley was around....except the thought of them having sex did disgust me. But you and Buffy....it makes me happy, you're nothing like the others, they never measured up to her...she needs someone to take a risk on, someone who'll challenge her and love her with blind passion and devotion....that's you."

"You're reading those godawful romance novels of your mum's aren't you?" She swatted his arm and made him drop a book. He gave her a pointed look and bent down to get it when suddenly Dawn gasped."Bit? What is it?"

"Look....down, under us....." her voice was a coarse whisper and she was visibly afraid. Spike looked through the grate under his feet and saw nothing at first then detected movement."Who is it?"

"Stay back..." Spike fluidly jumped and perched himself upon the railing, biding his time until the figure emerged from the shadows. Slowly, as if floating, a tall olive skinned man with tousled black hair came into view. Spike changed to his demon visage and launched himself from the balcony. The other man turned slightly and held out his hand, for a split second suspending Spike in the air then propelling backwards to where he'd come from. He slammed into the bookshelves and fell hard to floor. Dawn screamed, but to no avail as both Buffy and Spike remained unconscious. The man continued to make his way towards the sleeping Buffy, oblivious to Dawn's cry.

Ignoring any possible danger to herself, Dawn ran down the steps to intercept the man before he reached her sister. He'd stretched out a hand was about to lay it upon the Slayer when Dawn snatched it away and forced him to turn and face her."Don't you dare!" she warned before he looked at his face. Upon seeing it she wanted to cry, she'd never seen anything like it in all her life. When he saw the small defender before him, he saw her true self just as she saw his. She was bright and glowing, emitting colorful blue-green waves of light and she was also too powerful for him to face at this time.

He spun around on his heels and bolted for the shadows. Dawn closed the hand that had touched the man into a fist, trying to rub out any trace of his essence from upon her skin. Once she was certain that the intruder was gone Dawn turned back to her sister, sleeping soundly and unaware of how close the danger had been."Buffy?" Dawn called, giving her sister a nudge. Buffy came around slowly and yawned.

"Mmmm....guess I fell asleep, time to go home?"

"No...Buffy....he was..."

"BUFFY!!!" Spike's voice came bellowing from the balcony above. Having regained consciousness and snapped back into action without realizing the crisis had already been averted. He sailed down from on high and rushed down only to find two calm and collected girls and no stranger."Where's he gone??!"

"Who Spike?" Buffy asked, oblivious.

"He was here...I tried to get to you.....he did something to me...he had power....Dawn what happened?"

"I made him leave..." Dawn replied,"He tried to touch her and I stopped him....I think he was afraid of me."

"Of you? Nibblet...I'm sure you'd be pretty good in a scrap but this guy threw me across the bloody room with a flick of his wrist!" Spike was about to continue when he suddenly felt the fingers of the Slayer close around his wrist,"Love, you alright?"

"Your forehead.....you're bleeding..." She took a few tissues from her purse and wadded them against the burst skin on his head, trying to stop the flow,"I'm sorry." He took her hand away, hardly concerned with himself at a time like this.

"Don't say that....it's not your fault."

"Spike's right, how can you being stalked by some freak ass albino be your fault?"

"Wait a minute.....albino?" Spike choked out,"Hardly.....bloody pillock was as black as pitch....dark skin, black hair...black suit...."

"Are you nuts?!" Dawn shot back,"He was whiter than you Spike! And his skin was all glowy....his eyes were majorly trippy, all white, like no color at all..."

"Oh bloody hell, did he work some mojo on you too.....kid, he was as demonic as they come!"

"He was not....I think you're the one with brain damage here, maybe your chip's finally fried your brain!"

"Would you two shut up!!!!" Buffy suddenly exploded,"Stop fighting.....pl...please...." Spike and Dawn fell silent, more angry with the situation than each other.

"We're sorry, love....we didn't mean to," Spike said softly,"We're just...just...."

"You're scared, it's okay to say it.....we all are....but right now I just want to go home to bed."

Chapter 8

"This is ridiculous...." Buffy sighed, trying to get comfortable in the large bed in what had first been her mother's, then Willow and Tara's,"I really don't think we need to go this far....I mean, really....come on...."

"Shhhhhh," Dawn and Spike admonished in unison. The Slayer found herself as the middle of to a vampire and magic key sandwich, Spike to her right and Dawn to her left, each with an arm around some part of her body. It was Dawn's a idea. As much as Buffy pretended to protest, she very much appreciated their devotion and truth be known it was kind of sweet. Nonetheless, she felt like she was in a cocoon the way the covers had been pulled up to their chins and their heads were all on the same pillow.

"Sigmund Freud would have a field day with you two..."

"Buffy go to sleep, I have school tomorrow..." Dawn informed.

"Yeah....n' if I have to sleep like this I at least want silence....jeans are bloody uncomfortable to sleep in..." Spike grumbled.

"You're keeping them on...as it is this'll probably warp my influenceable teenage mind..."

"Don't think influenceable's a word, nibblet."

"Whatever...as it is I'm having to use a healthy willing suspension of belief....keep your hands off my sister's squishy spots...."

"Pish....I have no intention of......of squishy spot touching....and frankly, m'platelet, I want to keep m'pants on....can't have anyone staring in disbelief at my healthy willy suspension..."

"I can't sleep....Spike tell me a story...."

"For two people who wanted quiet...." Buffy interjected.

"Shhhhhh!!!" Spike and Dawn did again.

"Right then.....story....here's one for you....Spike on Safari...."

"Huh?" Buffy questioned. Spike snuggled in closer to the Slayer and kissed her cheek.

"I went to Africa."

"AFRICA?!!"

"Quiet, love....get comfy n' listen, it's a good one. Before I left things were pretty bloody awful, for all of us...but specifically between you and me...so much anger n' hurting. We were so deep with each other, but we were drowning. I knew you couldn't get past the fact that I was a soulless bloodsucker n' the fear that my love for you was just an obsession and not real at all....."

"I know it's real Spike..."

"Quiet now, sweetheart....I also knew that that the sort of man you needed had to be one you could depend on to be good, to be the sort you could trust. To me that meant that as long as I was collared and leashed by the chip you'd always have doubts about me....so...I found out that there was this bloke deep in the heart of the continent....he was a shaman, with a bit of demon thrown into the mix.....he promised he could take the chip out..." He paused for a moment, waiting for them to react. But the only response he received was for Buffy to place a hand over the one he had laid on her stomach."Getting there was no easy task, lemme tell you...too much bloody sunlight for my liking...had to be careful like you wouldn't believe...had to hold up in some places for days waiting for m'next ride, finding blood was even tougher - almost felt like giving up sometimes I got so hungry, but I'd think of the two of you and that'd be all I needed.

When I got there, dusty nothing of a village, he told me that it would be no problem....his magic could take care of it, no troubles. If, and this is one major bloody if, I had to pass a test..."

"What kind of test?"

"I had to fight the first Slayer." Buffy shot up straight in bed, Dawn turned over, already fast asleep. Spike sat up with Buffy and kissed her shoulder, then wrapped his arms around her and drew her back down to the bed, pulling her close against him."Obviously I did alright, I'm here aren't I?"

"That was dangerous...it was stupid and dangerous..."

"But it was necessary...had to do it or he wouldn't take out the chip..."

"Forget the damn chip..."

"Buffy, love, lemme finish....it wasn't like they called her up n' we went at it...it was more like they sent me to her. I don't rightly understand all this magic rot n' such, but he but me in a state....a trance n' there I was on the other side of the fire facin' her. I wasn't quite all myself, mostly just the vampire, the fangs n' the face all lumpy...she had her stake and the fire was in her eyes. I've seen it in your eyes a few times. So she n' I we went at it....raw n' violent, but it was different, effortless for both of us....just like a dance."

"You won though?"

"I did....had m'fangs at her throat, I could have had her...but I let her go....I let her go because I realized something...part of her lives in you and I could never do anything to hurt you, so I couldn't do anything to her...she had other ideas though..."

"You're okay, right?"

"I'm fine....she was going to stake me, and I would have let her, but the shaman pulled me back then....told me I was m'self again...he even let me beat up a few villagers just to prove it.....then I came back....and I realized a few more things, about us...about vampires and Slayers, I think that was the point of the trial, for me to learn. I could never be whole unless I had the love of the Slayer and she couldn't until she had the love of a vampire, until they both stopped fighting against it and accepted it. It's like a scale, we balance each side out...yin yang....two halves of the same whole...understand?"

"It means that our love.....is perfect."

"Well, I wouldn't go that far, pet, but it's pretty damn special."

Chapter 9

On rare occasions Spike would wake up and find himself in what he deemed to be idealic circumstances. When he opened his eyes he found himself within striking distance with his tongue of the perfect, rosy tip of Buffy's nipple. He looked beyond her sleeping body to see that the bed contained only the two of them and that somehow the slip nightgown that she had worn had slipped off her shoulders and down her body. He listened for any sign of Dawn and detected the distinct sound of pots and pans clanging in the kitchen. Reveling in his happy situation Spike curled his tongue around said nipple then moved his mouth closer to give it a gentle suckle. Seconds later Buffy giggled and tugged at his hair."Mornin' love," he said, then proceeded with his kisses until he'd reached her mouth.

"What's with the tongue so early in the mornin'? Not that I mind...but Dawn...."

"The bit's downstairs makin' her breakfast....once she's off to school what say you n' I have another 5 hour marathon?"

"Better make it 6...I'm feeling a little needy and vulnerable after last night.....there' no cure except many many hours of getting Spiked."

"Mmmmm...I'll give you your medicine, baby....nice cool injection...."

"Oh god....you're absolutely terrible at the sex metaphors...."

"That was a perfectly decent metaphor, Slayer, and your's was no better....but in all honesty do you really want metaphors when you can have the real thing?" Buffy was about to reply when a shudder of pleasure over came her as Spike's hand ran up the inside of her thigh. He tugged down on her panties, and brushed a finger against her. She bit her lip and whimpered when he gently eased the single digit inside her. His mouth returned to her breasts to work in synch with the stroking of his finger on her inner walls. Before long he added a second finger, and began to stretch her somewhat. His ministrations were helped along as her body responded and moistened itself, prompting him to place in a third one. He searched inside for a particular bundle of nerves while casually thumbing her clit.

"Mmmm.....good morning......"

"A very good morning, sweet Slayer...."

"Oh god...."

"Do you suppose God ever wonders why people call out his name during sex? I mean really, it's not like he's in the bloody room or anything...not like he's the one.....doing this..."

"Spike!.....spike....spike..."

"That's my girl....tell me you love me....."

"I love you....I....I....." Her words transformed into sharp gasps and tiny cries as she came, her muscles sucking upon his fingers and he continued his manipulations. When the ecstasy had passed he withdrew his fingers and brought them to his mouth to taste.

"Breakfast of champions....."

"You really were a bloody awful poet weren't you?"

"So I'm sweet fuck all at metaphors....I'm a damn fine man...."

"You are....you are.....and you're so good to me...now let me be good to you...." She was about to disappear under the covers when a shrill of a scream cut through the air with the quickness of an arrow. Spike was the first to react, springing from the bed and flying from the bedroom down the stairs. He found Dawn rushing back inside, and she collided with him just as Buffy caught up.

"Outside....outside....." the girl cried, seeking to hide herself from the horror she'd just come upon. Spike pushed Dawn behind him and proceeded with Buffy towards the sunlit morning . He took the first step out on to the shaded porch and as a reflex his foot jolted up when he stepped on something unfamiliar. He looked down to see what it was he'd stepped on, then backed himself over the threshold and inside the house, holding an arm out to stop Buffy from going anything further.

"Bloody hell..." he whispered, genuinely disturbed himself. Buffy saw it too and felt a strong wave of nausea over come her. She ran back inside for a sink, Dawn going with her. That left Spike to stand and bear witness to what could only be described as only the work of something's wrath. From their front door, across the porch, the driveway and the entire front yard, but ending at the edge of the property were hundreds if not thousands of dead swallows. A sea of tiny bird corpses littered their home, it was a sign if ever he'd seen one, that whoever was responsible was in possession of a malice even Spike himself could not have imagined. He slammed the door shut and bolted it tight before searching out Buffy.

He found her hunched over the kitchen sink trying to compose herself, Dawn pouring them each glasses of water,"I'll take care of it once the sun's down, I think there's a shovel in the garage...." he offered, but truly at a loss for words to explain any of it.

"This is personal.....when we were fighting Glory she was coming after us because Dawn was the key, but it was never personal, Glory just wanted the world destroyed....whoever's doing this, they're only after me, just me.....why??" Buffy pleaded.

"I...I don't know, love, wish to god I did, but it's not gonna go on like this forever, eventually something's gonna break.....always does..."

"I don't think so this time......this time being the Slayer's no good, being a vampire's no good....."

"What about me?" Dawn suddenly asked,"He was afraid of me last night, I swear he was....maybe because I'm the Key? I mean we don't really know really know anything about what else I can do.....what being the Key means, I open dimensions, but what about the rest of the time? Spike you saw him and he was all dark....but to me he was like light, pure light.....maybe he could see me in my non human form? Maybe that's why he ran away. I touched him too, and there's no marks on me....maybe this time I can help."

Chapter 10

"I think the bit's right, Slayer. But who knows more about the Key than what we already do? There're no monks.....no more Knights of Byzantium...."

"We've got a few clues," Dawn continued,"There's the symbol....the light/dark thing, and....the birds...we've still got Willow's computer and the net's still hooked up....there's no way I'm going to school...."

"They're sparrows...." Buffy whispered,"I always liked sparrows....they sang....um....I'll call the school, tell them you're sick...I...."

"Why don't you take it easy, pet, lay down on the couch...we'll just be in the other room..."

"Sure....I'm going to take shower first..." She went to leave but paused briefly to put a kiss to Spike's cheek, then continued on solemnly.

"Come on Dawn...we've got work to do."

***

Buffy woke with a start, jolted from a nightmare she couldn't remember, only to find herself in a place different than where she'd originally fallen asleep. She was on top of the covers in her own bed, still dressed in the clothes she'd put on after she'd had her shower. The curtains were drawn, but it was still light out, for a moment she was afraid and uncertain, but then something next to her moved and moaned in its sleep. She whipped her head around and saw Spike out cold, crinkling his face and snarling like a dog chasing a cat in its dreams."Fighting Slayers, I suppose," she whispered rhetorically. She huddled in close and watched in amusement as his face told the gist of dream. He made little biting snaps with his teeth, and groaned out Slayer more than once which was followed shortly after by an mmmmm Buffy. She tried very hard not to laugh at him but he genuinely was behaving in a most adorable way.

Watching him dream was a much needed temporary reprieve from the present situation they found themselves in. Fighting another unknown evil was normal for them, but this time was different, this time it was only the three of them, definitely an insufficient amount of Scoobies for fighting the forces of darkness. Spike continued his little theater of dream sounds and faces and Buffy couldn't help but lean in a kiss him. Even from the other side of his dreams he responded to her touch. Their kiss was deep and succulent, melding the flavors and sensations of each other's mouths. As he awoke, Spike wrapped his arms around her and rolled her on top of him,"We should always wake up like this," Buffy mused as she parted from his mouth,"I love waking up like this..."

"Me too, love."

"So tell me, how did we end up here?."

"Daytime's usually sleep time for us vamps...so, carried you up n' put us to bed. I did contemplate waking you for a snog...but you were peaceful and seems how things really aren't all that peaceful, I let you be..."

"Right now is better than any dream."

"Can't tell you how much it means to hear that."

"I can imagine....because it makes me feel so good to be able to say them, I love you Spike, with everything I have. I wish I could have seen it sooner, but I guess it's true what they say, you have to hit rock bottom before you can start climbing up and I think that happened for both of us. When you left I don't think you'd ever been so low within yourself, and when everything happened, and everyone left and it was just me and Dawn....alone and hurting, I just woke up...to you. I realized I wanted your love, needed it.....and I also realized I wanted to be the same for you - but you were gone and I didn't think you'd come back, I thought I'd driven you away for good. But then out of the blue you knocked on the front door and there you were and in two seconds I went from misery to bliss. So, I thank you, for everything you've ever done for us and for still being here."

"There isn't a question of thanks, my sweetness, if I'm not with you, I'm nowhere. If I'm not your's, I'm nothing. The Slayer and the vampire go hand in hand....." She kissed him again, then lay head next to his and hugged at his shoulders.

"Did you find out anything useful, with Dawn?"

"Not really, sorry, love. Bit's still at it, refuses to give up. The only mythical thing we found out about sparrows is that apparently they were the only bird present at the Crucifixion; in medieval England they were a symbol of strength and perseverance among the peasants....nothing useful, I'm afraid. Soon as the sun's down I'll get to tending to the yard, then if you think you n' the bit will be alright, I'll see if there's any words out on the streets about this buggar..."

"The sparrows...I'd almost forgotten about that....even the thought of it makes me sick to my stomach...I don't think you should have to do it, but I don't think I could face it."

"You shouldn't have to, and if you'll indulge me in a lil' caveman moment...it's not the sort of thing a woman should have to deal with, I'll take care of it so you won't have to, plain n' simple."

"I love my caveman Spike...you can even throw me over your shoulders, toss me on a bed and have your savage way with me sometime."

"Ohhhh.....you can count on it..."

"Until then....promise me it's gonna be alright....promise it's not gonna take me away from you and Dawn....promise me I'm not going to die again...." Some how she'd gone from playful exuberance and sobbing over him, her tears falling in his eyes, a her hands gripping fiercely to his shirt. Her fear tightened his heart, it may not beat, but he could still feel the pain of it breaking. He held her face in his hands and kissed away her tears.

"I promise...."

CONTINUED...