Angel waited to speak until Anya and Xander had returned. He paced nervously,
not sure what to say exactly. "Cordelia had a vision."
 

"No" Buffy said, shaking her head. "No...I will not go through that again."
 

Riley put his arm around her shoulders, drawing her head against him.
"Shh...What was the vision Cordelia?"
 

Before Cordelia could speak, the door opened and Spike came inside. He had a
bag that he handed to Giles. "Didn't forget this year."
 

"Spike" Giles greeted him, smiling. He looked in the bag and removed a book.
"My god. I've been wanting this for months. How on earth did you know?"
 

Spike shrugged, "A little birdie told me. Got the brat something too" he said
to Anya and Xander. "Give it to you later."
 

"Spike" Angel said softly, his dark eyes on his childe.
 

"Peaches. Felt you in town" Spike said simply, knowing that he had been wrong
to assume Angel's visit meant nothing. He took a seat, noticing the others
looking scared.
 

"Delia had a vision" Angel said, trying to read Spike. He wished he could
read minds. It would probably be the only way he would ever understand his
blonde childe.
 

"I figured" Spike said. Seeing the others look at him, he shrugged, "What
else would bring you both back to town?"
 

"The vision. What is it?" Xander asked.
 

"I don't know. It was Dru and Spike." Cordelia glanced at the blonde,
noticing him tense up.
 

"What?" Buffy demanded. "Dru? What was happening?"
 

"I don't know. The damn things don't come with instruction manuels, you
know?" Cordelia said. "It looked like Dru was about to kill Spike."
 

"Do you know something?" Angel asked his childe, having also noticed the way
Spike had straightened at hearing Dru's name.
 

"No" Spike said simply, hoping that Willow wasn't listening.
 

In the guest room, Willow smiled as she looked at the children. Anne looked
right at her, a smile on the girl's face.
 

"Pwincess" Anne said, holding out her hand.
 

William straightened at seeing the pretty lady. "Princess....is the evil
witch after you?"
 

Willow smiled, recognizing the plot for one of the many stories William made
up about her. She had starred in dozens of creative ideas the boy had. She
shook her head, wondering why it was they could see her so well while others
couldn't. She knew that with time their ability to see the things hidden
around them would fade. It always did as a child grew older.
 

"It's grandpa's birthday" Andrew said, wondering if the princess had gotten
his grandpa a present. "I got him a tie. Did you get him anything?"
 

"Shut up, Drew" William said, glaring at the boy. He would just make the
princess unhappy if she hadn't bought grandpa a present. "Grandpa doesn't
need anymore presents. He has too much anyway."
 

Willow laughed at the boy's words. In so many ways, he was Xander. Seeing him
at that age reminded her of when she had met her Xander. They had been six
and he had been as lively and creative as William was. Of course, Xander had
never thought of her as pretty. She made a gesture to let the children know
they should be sleeping. She saw William immediately lay down and smiled.
Such a good boy.
 

"Night princess...don't let the nasty old witch get you." William said. "If
she tries, I'll save you."
 

"You're not her prince" Anne said, yelping as William hit her. "That hurt."
 

"Cry baby" William said, closing his eyes.
 

Willow faded from the room, needing to see Spike. She arrived in time to hear
Cordelia's words. A bolt of fear ran through her. Dru was killing Spike in
Delia's vision. She listened, not wanting to react.
 

"I don't know!" Spike said again. "I haven't heard from the daft bitch since
I left Brazil about eight years ago."
 

"Why would she come here and try to kill Spike?" Riley asked.
 

"Drusilla has never been very sane" Angel said.
 

Buffy snorted, "That's an understatement. The bitch is nuts. Damn it, Angel.
Why can't you stay away? Everytime you come here, someone dies."
 

"Buffy!" Giles said, seeing the hurt look enter the vampire's eyes.
 

"It's ok Giles" Angel said. "She's right. It was my fault that Willow
died...now I have to bring the news that Spike might."
 

"If the damn bitch comes after me, I'll fight her" Spike said, feeling
Willow's presence. Damn it. Why did she have to arrive now? "She'll die
before I do."
 

"No one is going to die" Angel said. "Not this time."
 

Buffy couldn't look at her former love or his new lover as memories came back
to her. She remembered the last time they had sat in Giles' living room
discussing a vision. That night Willow had died. She had lost her best friend
and her entire world had been changed. She leaned against Riley, just needing
to feel protected.
 

"Peaches, if the visions says I die, I die. BUT, Dru will be coming with me"
Spike said, determination in his blue eyes. "The bitch will be dust."
 

"She'll have to go through us first" Buffy said, looking at the vampire.
Strangely, his connection to Willow had strengthened his place in her heart.
When Willow had gone, she had seen how it affected Spike. She had to let go
of her silly hatred and accept him. Now, he was a good friend, though he'd
never admit it.
 

"Yeah...Buffy's right. You're one of us, now" Xander said, visions of Willow
in his mind. "We aren't losing another one."
 

"Fuck...stay out of it" Spike said, hating that they actually cared. This is
what he had to do. He had to face Dru, for Willow. They didn't. "This is my
battle."
 

"No. It's our battle" Riley said, "So get over it. We all face her if she
comes."
 

"Would it be too corny if I added, all for one and one for all?" Anya said
with a smile. She broke the tension causing the others to laugh.
 

"No." Spike said simply. "I will not allow it. This is my fight!"
 

"This is my town" Buffy said, glaring. "So deal. We all face the loony bitch.
If we die, well....at least it's better than living with the idea that we
didn't even try. Mom can watch the kids....I'm sure she wouldn't mind. We
will do this Spike. I am not letting someone else I love die."
 

"William can watch over the kids" Anya said, her eyes determined. After
Willow had died, she often felt as if she should have done something. She was
not going to go through that again. She didn't like guilt.
 

"He'll take care of them" Xander said, everyone knowing he could have added
'if we all die'.
 

"We need to find out where Dru is and why she is coming after Spike" Angel
said, not sure if they were making the right decision, but knowing it would
be useless to try to talk them out of it. All he could do is protect them as
best he could.
 

"Fuck it. I said NO" Spike said, anger in his eyes and voice. This is why he
didn't like humans. They never listened. He was the one that had to face Dru.
He didn't want of them getting hurt or killed. Hell, they had families to
worry about. All he had was Willow, who he was going to lose anyway. Not a
lot to live for, in his eyes.
 

"I'll get in touch with Faith. She's suppose to be back from Miami and
training with the new slayer this week anyway" Buffy said, ignoring Spike's
vehement refusal for assistance.
 

"We can do this." Xander said. "Spike, deal with it. You face Dru with all of
us."
 

"Noooooooooo" a soft voice said from the space between Spike and the table.

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