* * * * * *

Willow lay on her bed knowing it was too big for just her. Her body was paralyzed from emotional exhaustion, her mind humming with millions of thoughts. She groaned, Willow hated it when her brain was noisy. That was when Tara would cradle her throbbing head in her lap and stroke the copper strands until the blissful silence of sleep would offer release. Willow sighed, that was Patsy's job now. She winced as a new song began.

Have you ever been lonely?
Have you ever been blue?
Have you ever loved someone just as I love you?

She was a bit skeptical of how therapeutic Xander's suggestion would be. It was kind of making her feel worse. She hated feeling like this. Her green eyes slowly looked over the room.

Can't you see that I'm sorry for each mistake I made?
Can't you see I've changed, dear?
Can't you see that I've paid?

The room looked so bare without Tara's things. Half of the room was empty, half of Willow was empty. The redhead rolled her eyes at her thoughts, *I've been listening to this stuff too long.*

* * * * * *

"Is she ever going to turn that bleedin' noise off?" Spike grumbled. He took a drag of his millionth cigarette of the evening as he paced below her window. So many times he had stopped himself from going up there to hold her 'til she stopped crying. He'd kiss her and tell her how perfect she was, how she didn't deserve to feel this way, then he'd shag her brains out. Nothing a real good shag wouldn't cure. Well, mostly nothing.

* * * * * *

"I am never going to fall asleep with that crappy music going on and on!" Buffy moaned as she rolled over for the millionth time, kicking her covers off of her tan legs. She was seriously considering going over to Xander's and beating him up until she was sleepy.

She wanted to go comfort her best friend, but she thought that it would be better if she just waited until tomorrow. By then she'd have thought of something a friend should say. Right now all she could hear in her head was "Oh be a little forgivin'...Take me back in your heart..." as she drifted towards unconsciousness.

* * * * * *

How can I go on livin', now that we're apart?
If you knew what I been through,
You would know why I ask you:
Have you ever been lonely?
Have you ever been blue?

Willow just stared at the ceiling. Time was passing but she couldn't tell how much. She couldn’t stand feeling this way. Sleep was the only solution, but it seemed impossible. How could she sleep knowing that the woman she loved was somewhere else? How could she sleep without Tara's arms wrapped around her? Without the sound of Tara's breathing? How could she...Willow was asleep before the song had ended.

* * * * * *

Spike could barely keep himself awake as the sappy melodies droned on. He reclined against a tree and slid to a sitting position. He wondered if she had fallen asleep yet and strained to hear her rhythmic breathing. Failing to do so, Spike cursed himself for not killing the damn singer fifty years ago. The cigarette that was dangling from his lip fell to the ground, he was silent with sleep.

* * * * * *

"What the hell is going on?" Buffy didn’t know what the hell was going on. She had stepped out of her bedroom and all of a sudden she was in the cemetery. She looked down, realizing she was still in her pajamas.  "This so can't be right. I would never wear these while patrolling." She lightly tugged at the sheep covered cotton pant and tank set. But her attention was pulled away from herself at the sound of twanging country music. "When will it stop?" Buffy groaned.

"It never stops." Buffy spun quickly at the sound of Giles' voice. He stretched out his hand, she took it tentatively. "Best to just dance with it Buffy. It will make sense if you're dancing." He pulled her close and she rested her head against his chest, tears streaming down her face, wetting the tweed that scratched her cheek. They danced slowly, he held her like a father would his daughter at a wedding reception. But this was not a celebration.

"Giles please don't leave me again..." She half sobbed, half whispered into the leather as he ran his fingers through her golden hair.  Leather?

"Bored now." Came a familiar voice. Buffy snapped her head up and found her gaze meeting an icy green stare.

"Willow..." Buffy stepped back looking her friend up and down with a cringe. "I thought we agreed you'd stay out of Ava Taurel's closet?" Her best friend was decked out in a tight black leather corset and red miniskirt.

"Wanna play?" Willow asked mischievously. There was blood on her lips.

"Depends on the game Will." Buffy replied hesitantly.

"I don't think she was talking to you, pet." Spike stepped from behind Buffy and walked slowly to the witch. He wrapped his arms around Willow's waist, resting his chin on her shoulder, his blue eyes glared at the slayer. The bleached blond turned his neck to whisper in his lover's ear "What do you fancy Sweet?" She craned her neck towards him and he sucked the red droplets from her lips.

"Ew. Major trauma." Buffy wrinkled her nose at the sight of her mortal enemy and closest friend in such an intimate embrace.  Their gazes were brought back to the petite blonde in front of them. "Willow I should have talked with you sooner. But this is so not the right way to deal with... " Buffy's tone was apologetic as she searched for words. "everything." Skanky Willow looked amused

"Everything? What would you know about everything?" Willow removed herself from Spike's affectionate hold on her and moved to the slayer. She lightly trailed a black painted nail over Buffy's cheek and got so close that their lips were brushing. "You don't know anything about what's happened." She kissed Buffy gently, with a quick flicker of tongue before pulling back and whispering. "But you'll see."

Willow extended her arm behind her, beckoning to Spike. He took her small hand in his and she led him around to the other side of Buffy, who was still dazed from the kiss and utterly confused. Spike rested his hands on his enemy's hips. Willow kissed Buffy again as Spike's game face surfaced and descended for the kill.

* * * * * *
"Willow!" Buffy screamed as she shot up in bed. Breathing furiously, she frantically took in the familiar surroundings of her room. She closed her hazel eyes tight. It was so real, too real. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up in horror as the pictures from the dream floated in her head. She glanced at her clock and saw that it was only 4 a.m. She shivered and buried herself beneath the covers to get warm.

* * * * * *

It was hot, her blood was. Slayer blood deliciously burning down his throat. He swallowed trying to savor the taste, but his mouth was dry this time.

Last night I dreamed of you, sweetheart ~
Once more, you loved me,
You said we'd never part....

 He opened his eyes. It had been a dream. He was panged with a feeling which he was all too accustomed to as of late, the sensation of being torn out of a dream. He looked up, it was nearly sunrise. He jumped up, pulled out a smoke and headed off to his crypt.

* * * * * *
All of a sudden Willow was alone in the cemetery. The others had disappeared. But who had she been with? She felt a hand clasp on her shoulder and she spun to see an angelic face.

"What are you doing Willow?" Tara's voice was frightened and her face wore a panicked expression.

It's dawn again, oh how sad am I!
My dream has ended,
And tears fill my eyes.

Willow's eyelids fluttered open. She didn't remember falling asleep, the only memory her dreaming self kept was the image of Tara. Glancing out the window she saw the sky was still dark but would be paling soon.

If I could only, only stay asleep....

The redhead sighed in defeat and forced herself to get up and turn off the stereo which she must have left on repeat all night.  The lurching nausea returned to her gut as she thought of Tara. This is was too much. She thought she would die after Oz  left her, but now it was like the pain had massacred her insides and she was rotting internally. Creating a shiftless lump that sent shooting pangs through her chest. Too much.

"I could poof it away." Willow thought. "Last time I hadn't known what I was doing." She had been an amateur then. But now she was powerful. She went to her shelf of witchcraft books and ran her finger over the binds until she found the volume she needed.

* * * * * *

"I'm a bleedin' poof! All nancy-boy and forgettin' what I'm s'posed to be. I take what I want. I want the redhead. So I should take her. Tie her down and make her love me." He was pacing again. Mumbling to himself. "That way the slayer could bash my head in and give me more of a migraine after trying to kidnap her bestest mate." He groaned. He could never hurt Willow, not unless she asked first.

Red had always been good to him and he could sense a passion lying dormant in her that rivaled the fire of her beautiful hair. And right when he realized how he felt, she was already knee deep in love with a girl! But that was over now. This was the perfect time to slip in, make his move. He would go to her and tell her and...yeah, he could do it. He psyched himself up and made his way to the crypt door and opened it. Screaming as the sunlight hit his dead flesh he slammed it shut again. Smoke was rising off of his sizzling body.

"Bloody perfect!"  He yelled as he turned towards his the tunnels. He could wait 'til sunset.

* * * * * *

"Will?" Buffy knocked on the door to the room that once belonged to her mother. "You awake? I made eggs. I hope you like scrambled because I tried for sunnyside up but..." She paused as she opened the door and peeked inside. Willow wasn't there and the usually tidy room had been left in disarray.

A sinking feeling spread throughout Buffy's small body. She knew what her friend was capable of when grieving. And the dream was still fresh in mind. Buffy feared that the dream meant more than just watching too much late night television.

She yelled to Dawn to get dressed. Buffy would go to the Magic Box and talk to Xander. They had to do something before Willow got hurt or Buffy ended up engaged.  Or dead

* * * * * *

Xander and Anya both looked up from their magazines as the familiar tinkling sound danced throughout the Magic Box.  Buffy entered the store, followed by Dawn.

"Hey Buffster." Xander greeted her cheerily. "It's pretty early, I figured you'd still be in..."

"Willow."  Buffy stated firmly. Anya raised a brow.

"Well I was going say bed." Xander said slowly. "But who am I to judge." He smiled.

"No." Buffy rolled her eyes. "I'm here because of Willow. She was gone when I went to wake her up this morning. And there was a bunch of magicky stuff out. I think she might have gone to do a spell."

"Oh man." Xander breathed out concerned. "Cuz we all know how great that turns out."

"When girls are sad they buy things to fill the painful, meaningless void they feel inside themselves." Anya tried to comfort them. "She's probably out shopping right now. Maybe she had just finished rifling through her wicca stock to see what she needed."

"Wouldn't that bring her here?" Dawn asked.

Anya frowned. "Good point."

"It's not just that. I had this dream last night that was way weird." Buffy started hesitantly and then shot an accusing look to Xander. "That was not in any way helped by the Patsy Cline music that was blaring through the house ALL night."

"Yeah." Dawn laughed. "I dreamt that I got this great dog that had a Texan accent. But all it wanted was to be walked. And it really liked me but hated Buffy, who periodically turned into a bluebird, anyway it would chew all her shoes until she walked it and..." She stopped as everyone gave her puzzled looks. "Nevermind." She mumbled.

"You would scare Freud." Buffy stated before turning back to her friends at the table. Dawn took a seat next to Xander and folded her arms. "Anyway, this dream was extra wiggy. Willow was...bad. Leather-fun bad."

"You mean like her vampire half that crossed dimensions?" Anya asked.

"Yeah." Buffy confirmed with a worried expression. "And she was with Spike."

Xander's eyes went wide. "We have to find her now." He seethed through clenched teeth.

* * * * * *

Spike smirked as he retreated from the basement doorway of the Magic Box. His previous anger and frustration dissipated until all that was left was giddy excitement.

"So the slayer saw a bit forward did she?" Spike mused to himself as he lit a cigarette. He moved through the tunnels deep in thought. He would just have to find Red first. He wanted to make sure things went his way, he didn't want to end up marrying Slutty again.

* * * * * *

Willow seated herself in the corner of the mausoleum and placed the candles on either side of her.  Sprinkling some granules into a bowl, she read from the book that lay open before her.

"Beatus incruentatus infinitus." The chalice emitted a pinkish smoke. "Blessed. Boundless. Bloodless." She sprinkled more sand into the bowl. The vapor was reddening. "Jugis poena. Jugis morsus. Omitto opera." The cloud of sweet smelling smoke began to envelope Willow and she found herself having trouble breathing as she finished reading aloud the passage. "Excucio infinitas infinitio. Relinquo!" She shouted the last word as all the breath seemed to leave her and she fell back. The smoke entered her body through her ears, mouth and nose. Choking her, causing her to spasm wildly.  She struggled against it in blind panic as the life seemed to drain from her every inch.

Willow's eyes went black, and a white light passed through them, before they returned to a luminous viridity. Then the suffocating sensation ended. It was like someone had been sitting on her chest and quickly got up. She pushed her hands on the cold floor of the tomb forcing herself to her feet. She felt a bit disoriented, but strangely better. She realized the painful guilt in her stomach had gone.

Then dreamy images flashed in front of her. Kissing Buffy. Kissing Spike. Leather. She smiled. A whisper escaping her throat.

"Buffy..." Her voice was a hiss. She had to find Buffy and do what any other self-respecting soulless creature would do. Kill her.

* * * * * *

Spike meandered through the tunnels. He had been searching for a while and had yet to catch a scent of her. But he had been moving towards a suspiciously thin fragrance for a bit now. He figured Red had started her spell if she wasn't already finished. He wasn't feeling the urge to rent a tux or buy an engagement ring so he wasn't too worried for himself. But she had a tendency to screw these magicks up from time to time and he was a bit concerned for her well-being at the moment.

He stopped in his tracks and squinted. There was something moving much further ahead in the darkness.  Not sensing a soul on it he figured it was a vamp. He smiled, a good spot of violence was just what he needed right now. He picked up his pace towards the creature, tensing his muscles in preparation for the fight.

As its silhouette neared him he pulled a stake out of his duster. Rushing at it with an animalistic growl he slugged it. The vamp looked up confused that its own kind had attacked it. Spike smirked and waited for it to get up. It did but before the anonymous vamp could land a blow, Spike thrust the stake into its chest and watched as its shocked expression turned to dust. He sighed in disappointment.

Feeling a hand on his shoulder, he turned on instinct and pinned his attacker against the tunnel wall.  His jaw dropped as he realized who he was about to stake. A devious giggle erupted from the girl's throat.

"Wanna play?"

 * * * * * *
Buffy sunk onto the sofa with a sigh. She had spent all afternoon looking for Willow, but her friend was nowhere to be found. They had split up to search for her, Xander checking all the places they hung out when they were kids, Buffy had hit UC Sunnydale campus because she was the only one vaguely familiar with it, Anya insisted on investigating every shoe store in town because she once bought a pair of pumps that completely negated a fight she and Xander had had.  Dawn had volunteered to accompany Anya, so Buffy was left to feel hopeless in her living room by herself.

When she heard the door open she jumped up but it was only Xander with a desperate expression on his face. They shared a knowing look. Buffy pressed her eyes closed for a minute. Blood. Spike. Kissing. Leather. Her eyes shot back open in realization.

"Wait here for Anya and Dawn." Buffy said to Xander. He nodded.

"What'll you do?" He asked as she grabbed her knee length leather jacket.

"I have to find Spike."

* * * * * *

"You sure you're all right Red?" Spike asked again. His blue gaze refused to leave the girl. She looked the same, except her eyes were different. Brighter, uninhibited. She nodded.

"You keep asking that." She pouted. "Don't I look all right to you?"  This time she pushed him up against the wall seductively. He smiled as the slayer's earlier prediction became almost certain.

"Always." He grinned. Her eyes raked over his chiseled features. She returned the grin, releasing her hold,  and backed off.

"Of course these clothes have to go." She cringed at her sunshine yellow shirt with a happy monkey on it and bubblegum pink pants.

"Oh I can help you with that, love." He volunteered eagerly. She laughed.

"Shopping." She said. "I need to slip into something less comfortable. We have lots to do. But first, the clothes." Her diction was slow and calculated

"Anything, pet." Spike said. "But I'm a bit low on currency."

"Why would we pay?" Her tone was almost innocent.

"You reckon we should steal a bit?" Spike raised a brow intrigued at the thought of causing a bit of mischief. "Think you're sly enough or would you fancy on leaving it to me?"

"Okay." She agreed. "You steal the clothes while I distract them."

"How's that?" He queried, tilting his head to the side.

"Twisting their necks until they snap?" She offered.  Spike looked at her in amazement. This was going to be neat.

* * * * * *

Buffy practically ran. This was the seventh cemetery and so far there was no sign of Willow or Spike. As each hour passed, she began to lose hope. Willow. Spike. Blood. Death.

"But you'll see..." The chilling prophecy that dream Willow had whispered was echoing in her head.  She was moving faster and faster, her legs competing against her racing mind.

She slowed as a strange fragrance hit her. It was sweet and light, but like nothing else she could put a name too. She looked around to see where it could be coming from. There was a mausoleum not too far ahead. She bolted to it.

Once inside she knew that she was too late. In the corner of the tomb were some candles that had burnt themselves out, a bowl, a bag of sand and an open book. Buffy snatched the book up and glanced over the page it was open to: "Revocation of Emotions" the spell was titled.

"Oh God." Buffy cursed herself for not talking to Willow sooner.

The Willow in the dream had been twisted. Seemingly devoid of every compassionate feeling. Everything that her friend had been. She closed the book and prayed that the reversal spell was bound within its pages as she ran back to her house.

* * * * * *

"Much better." Willow cooed as she ran her hands up and down her leather clad body. Spike followed their path over her lithe frame, clenching his jaw as he began to feel aroused. "Now we can really play."

"So, pet." Spike whispered as he pulled her close to him. "What games do you have in mind?"

"Oh lots." She murmured into his lips before biting them in a passionate kiss. He growled, returning the favor with his cold tongue, delving in and out of her hot mouth.
"First." She said between breaths. "We could kill Buffy."

"The slayer?" Spike pulled away and looked at her in disbelief. "Is that a joke love?"

She pouted. "You don't like my game? I hate to play alone..."

"No." He said. "Quite the opposite. But you know I can't touch her. She's human, like you."

"Oh you can hurt me. But that comes later." Willow grinned evilly. "We're gonna fix you up like a shiny new toy."

"You're goin'  to take out the chip?" An excited look conquered his features.

"Nope. Can't do that." She smiled. "But we can make a few upgrades." She giggled bringing her mouth to his. A trickle of blood ran from their kiss.

* * * * * *
"So can you do it?" Buffy asked nervously as she paced back and forth.

"I...I don't know." Anya glanced up for a moment as she scanned the pages of the book. "I don't even know if the spell to reverse it is in here. And even if it is, I'm not sure I have the power to inv..."

"Be sure." Buffy interrupted firmly. Anya furrowed her brow in hurt and kept flicking through the pages.

"Buffy" Xander cut in. "Anya's trying."

"I know." Her tone softened and she looked away. "I'm sorry. But you didn't see Willow like I did. She was worse than vampire Willow. She was like..." Buffy's eyes widened and she whispered. "Angelus."

"You mean Angel without a soul?" Dawn asked frightened. Buffy nodded.

"So when Willow tried to revoke one or two unfun feelings..." Xander began.

"It took out the whole kit-and-caboodle." Buffy finished. She paused. "Wait. That's okay."

"Okay?" Xander jumped up angrily. "I'm pretty sure that's as far from okay as one can get while still existing."

"But we know this." Buffy assured him. "When Angel lost his soul, we restored it. That means we can fix it. Make it right."

"We didn't restore it Buffy." Xander's voice was low. "Willow did."

* * * * * *

"You're amazin' Red." Spike whispered as he lay with his head in her lap. Her eyes were closed and her fingers lay on his temples. She slapped him and he grinned.

"Sh..." She regained focus. "I just have to make some finishing touches. The initial spell should have redirected the path of the signal."  His head went all warm and felt like it was filled with singing. There was a sudden flash of light and an orgasmic wave of pleasure sailed through his dead body. He shook and opened his eyes wide. She was grinning down at him. "Do you like it?"

He sat up and turned to her. "It's bloody perfect...."

"Play now?" She smiled coyly.

* * * * * *

There was a knock and Buffy jumped up to get it. She opened the door and saw Tara standing there with a bag and some books. Her face was flushed and her eyes were red like she'd been crying instead of sleeping lately.

"Come on in Tara." Buffy said quietly.

"Thank you." Tara murmured. They entered the living room.  Dawn was nestled on the couch between Xander and Anya, each wore a somber look on their face. Dawn jumped up and threw her arms around the blonde witch. Tara squeezed her eyes shut but a tear escaped and slid into Dawn's hair.

"We have no time." Buffy swallowed. "They could be here any minute." Tara nodded as Dawn released her. She kneeled in front of the fireplace and began setting up the ingredients. Incense, candles, an orb of Thesulah.  Buffy periodically peered out the window and chewed on her lip nervously.

* * * * * *

Spike's arm was draped over the redhead's shoulder. They moved slowly down the streets, looking the people up and down, he gestured to a beautiful young woman making her way across the street. Willow nodded and they changed directions, following her a few feet back. They let go of one another and each grabbed one of her arms, the woman looked at them awe-struck, as they hauled her into the nearest alley.

Willow studied the woman. "Sarah?" The woman nodded. Willow brushed some strands from the woman's face. "How are you Sarah?" Willow's fingertips lingered in her hair.

"D..do I know you?" She was clearly frightened. Spike smiled as his witch got the woman warmed up. This would be a test, to see if the spell worked.

"You don't remember me?" Willow pouted. "How can you not remember me?" Her hand trailed up the girl's blouse massaging her breast. Then pinching the nipple firmly. She gasped in pain.

"I think you have me confused with someone else." The girl, Sarah, was shaking with fear. Willow backed off.

"Whatever." She turned to Spike. "Ready baby?" He nodded hungrily and his game face surfaced. Sarah screamed in horror.  He took an unnecessary breath, intended for dramatic purposes, before he grabbed her by the shoulders and sank his fangs into her neck. The vamp braced himself for the pain. But it didn't come.

Instead came the pleasure Red had promised him. Ecstasy that multiplied and multiplied the more he drank. Waves of erotic sensations flowed through him with the blood. He bucked his hips as he drank, until he could feel her heart slow. He was so close to orgasm. He pulled up and dropped the dead woman to the ground.

Willow came up behind him, feeling the want that poured from his every inch. She reached her hand around to the front of his jeans and applied pressure. He growled and turned to her. Spike lifted her onto him and kissed her for everything she did for him, all she would do for him. His evil little witch.

He unzipped himself and reached under her skirt. He pounded her back into the brick wall of the alley as he thrust into her. She screamed in pleasure, her green eyes on his blue gaze.  He came, biting her neck and lapping the blood. He felt her shudder in release against him, and they remained there for a moment in silence.  Then Willow cried out in pain. His head snapped up and he looked at her.

"Whassat love?" His eyes blazed with fret.

"That...bitch." She hissed between breaths.

* * * * * *

Tara was chanting and Anya was waving the incense around. Xander was reading out of one of the books Tara had brought. They had only just begun. Buffy was pacing by the window. Dawn was curled up on the couch, half asleep watching the ritual. Through drooping eyes.

Buffy's heart skipped a beat as she saw movement outside.  Two figures making their way towards the house.

"Dawn go upstairs." She ordered. Her sister sat up quickly and looked like she was about to protest. "Now!"  Obediently, the teen ran up the stairs and slammed her door shut.

"They're coming." Buffy warned her three friends. They went pale with fear and Tara kept chanting. Buffy heard Spike kick in the door and she ran to fend them off. "It's Willow I'm worried about, Spike can't..." She didn't get to finish her sentence because Spike had punched her in the face. She staggered back in shock and looked up at him.

"Hello cutie." He smirked at her, sucking in his cheeks as he usually did when overly pleased.

"But..the..chip." She muttered disbelieving.

"New and improved." He said, kicking her in the stomach and groaning at the reaction it caused in his body.

"Kind of like me." Willow smiled as she stepped out from behind her lover. Her outfit was identical to the one in the dream. Tall boots that stopped mid creamy thigh, short red miniskirt and a black corset.

The orb began to glow and Willow raced over to it. Parting her arms and muttering something that threw Anya and Xander out of her way. She snatched the orb, and hurled it into the fireplace, shattering it, releasing its contents.

"No!" Tara screamed as she watched through teary eyes the soul dissolve from this dimension. Buffy who had been watching the spectacle while trying to fend off Spike turned back to her opponent and roundhouse kicked him, sending him flying into the railing.  Willow lunged at Tara and grabbed her by the collar of her shirt. Tara's face contorted in fear, her voice choked. "Willow...w-what are you doing?"

The memory of the dream, of who she had been then, momentarily jolted the redhead. She let go of Tara's shirt and moved her grip to the girl's cheeks. She paused and kissed Tara who was sobbing in hysterics. Willow murmured into her lips. "Getting over you..."
She tightened her grip and pulled away. And in one quick motion, she snapped the girl's neck. Her former lover crumpled with unblinking shock.

Buffy picked Willow up by her neck. Her eyes full of tears.

"I brought you back into this world Buffy. It's kind of poetic this way isn't it?" Willow smiled, if Buffy didn't look too hard, she could pretend...but no.

Buffy nodded. "That I take you out of it." Willow laughed.

"No silly." Spike pulled Buffy back and Willow fell to the ground. "That I do."  He held her arms back, Buffy looked around. Xander and Anya were unconscious and Tara's lifeless body was laying in a similar fashion somewhere in the middle.

She gestured and an athame rose from Tara's bag and landed in her hand. Buffy closed her eyes.

"I'm sorry Will." And with that, Willow slit her throat. Buffy's body jerked as it resisted the slow death it was offered.  Spike turned the slayer so she was facing him and sucked on the fatal wound. Killing a slayer gave him such an orgasm that he fell to the floor as he sucked her dry. Willow kneeled beside Buffy and stroked her blonde hair as Spike killed her. The bleached vamp was moaning and gasping as her vision blurred and heart slowed. The last thing she saw was Willow's smiling face.

"Don't worry Buffy." She said soothingly. "I'll bring Angel the bad news. Again. Right after we play a few games with Xander and Anya."

"Don't forget the little bit." Spike chuckled between laps. Willow made a face like she was looking at a puppy or baby.

"Oh yeah." She sighed. "Little Dawnie." Her green gaze danced to the stairs. "That'll be fun..."

Buffy's eyes went wide and then—blackness.

* * * * * *

Spike carried Willow to the car. She smiled up at him through an exhausted haze.

"When we get to L.A." She whispered. "Can we go dancing? I need some music."

"Anything, pet." He bent down and kissed her sweetly. In turn, she licked the blood from his chin. "As long as it's not that bleedin' Cline woman." He mumbled.

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