~Part One~

 "I still can't believe..." Xander whispered, his face red and splotchy from
crying. His eyes stared, unseeing, at the ground underneath the small backyard
swing he sat on with his childhood friend. The events of the day seemed almost
unreal to him, like they were happening to someone else, someone separate from
him. That wasn’t the case though, and no matter how much he tried to distance
himself from the entire thing – it was still there, needing to be dealt with.

 "I know. They were both here yesterday..." Willow sniffled, tears threatening
to spill from her eyes at any moment. Her head was throbbing, a product of the
hours of crying she had done since she had heard the news, early that morning.
Of all the ways she thought they might lose one of their members, she never
once dreamed it would be something so mundane. It had come out of nowhere, this
tragedy that had rocked her fragile world.

 The news of the plane flight had slowly trickled in over the television early
that morning. The plane carrying over a hundred and twenty passengers and crew
had crashed on its way to London, killing everyone aboard - including one
Slayer and her Watcher. Hot tears poured down Willow's cheeks. She couldn't
believe that in the end it had been a plane crash - not a vampire, or a demon,
or even a psycho military experiment gone wrong - that had killed Buffy. Her
body shook with the force of her grief and she felt Xander's arm encircle her,
pulling her close against his body. They had both lost not only their best
friend, but also the man they both considered to be a surrogate father.

 Willow didn't know what to do, didn’t know how to cope with the sense of loss
she was feeling. She hadn't lost a friend, or even a relative, since Jesse
died, and even that was something she hadn't dealt with too well. She had
pushed it to the back of her mind, forcing herself to forget about it for
months before finally breaking down into a sobbing mess one night at home. She
couldn't seem to do that with Buffy and Giles, though. Their deaths wracked her
body with a sorrow she couldn't seem to get rid of. Every time she closed her
eyes she could picture the terror they must have felt as the plane crashed
towards the hard, cold waters of the ocean. She could hear Xander whispering to
her, trying to calm her down as she screamed, her grief too great.

 “Wills…it will be okay…I promise.” Xander whispered. Tears streamed down his
own face, falling into the soft red hair of his last true friend. He could
already see that she wasn’t handling it well and he worried that he would lose
her to herself before everything was said and done. He couldn’t let that
happen. He couldn’t lose her, too. She was the only thing he had left. He held
her tight, holding her shaking body as the screams and sobs coursed through her
system, holding back his own grief to try to help her overcome hers.

 After what seemed like forever, she grew quiet except for the steady sound of
her breathing. Smiling with gentle sadness, Xander brushed a strand of
tear-soaked hair away from her face. Cradling his sleeping friend against his
chest, the dark haired youth lifted her easily into his arms, carrying her into
her parents’ house. They were out of town on business for the next few months
and he debated on calling them as he laid her on the couch, pulling the
hand-knitted afghan over her. {They wouldn’t come home, anyway,} Xander sighed,
deciding it best not to even bother them. There were others he needed to try to
contact, though, people Buffy’s mom wouldn’t know how to reach, if she even
knew they were her daughter’s friends.

 Xander sighed, walking quietly up to Willow’s room and shutting her door. He
opened her desk drawer, pulling out the small address book she kept there. His
fingers flipped through it quietly, finding Oz’s number first. He glanced at
the clock, noting that it would be well past midnight where the musician was
currently living. He’d call him first thing in the morning.  He turned a few
more pages and picked up the phone, dialing the last number Willow had written
down for Spike. He wasn’t surprised to find it disconnected. The blonde hadn’t
stayed in one place for very long since leaving Sunnydale. {Maybe Angel will
know how to reach him,} Xander thought, turning to the page in the address book
he had saved for last – Angel Investigations.

 Biting back tears, he dialed the number for the private investigations firm
Buffy’s ex-boyfriend had started after moving to LA. Sitting on the edge of
Willow’s bed, he waited for someone to answer the phone, knowing that the
offices of the vampire detective were still open. How was he going to tell
Angel that the girl he had loved more than his very life was dead? The phone
clicked as someone picked up and he took a deep breath, trying to calm the
shakiness he was feeling inside.

 “Angel Investigations, we help the hopeless.”

 “Cordy…its Xander…I need…” He stopped, a ragged sob escaping his lips. Tears
rolled down his face, dripping in wet splotches onto his legs. He couldn’t seem
to form the words he needed to say.

 “Xander?!?” Cordelia asked, her voice worried. She had never heard her
ex-boyfriend sound so broken up. “What’s wrong, Xan?”

 The boy took a deep breath before answering, his voice still shaking with
tears. “I need to talk to Angel, Cor.”
 

~Part Two~

 She walked through the headstones unwaveringly, as if she could do it with her
eyes closed. Perhaps she could - she had taken the path often enough. Every day
she came, winding her way amongst the stones, glancing at the names as she
passed. Every day she came to place a rose on the grave of the only true female
friend she had ever had. Sometimes white for the innocence the blonde had
retained no matter what had happened to her. Sometimes it was a red rose for
the passion she had shown for her work, for her loves, for life itself. More
often than not it was a yellow rose, for the friendship they had shared.

 Even a month after the blonde's death the red head still couldn't move past
her grief. She was drowning in it, she knew. But there was nothing she could do
to make it stop, nothing to take away the overwhelming sadness that crushed
her. She missed the late night research sessions that had occurred each week,
in Giles's small living room. Most of all she missed talking to Buffy about
anything and everything going on in her life. She missed helping her friend
with her often numerous and comical problems and receiving a kind ear for her
own troubles.

 Those talks were the one thing Willow was still able to keep up, if even in a
small way. Laying an old quilt next to the green grass of her friend's grave,
the red head stretched out, staring up at the stars, and began to pour her
heart out the same way she had done almost every night since Buffy's death.

 "School started today. I'm only taking two classes this semester. I just
couldn't handle anymore than that. Hope you're not disappointed in me." Her
voice trembled, sounding loud in the darkness.  "Xander's taking them with me.
Can you believe it? Xander finally went back to school. You would be so proud
of him - he gets so serious about taking notes its funny. "

 "We finally met the new Slayer last night, coming home from ice cream.  Her
name is Cynthia. Her Watcher's name is Harold. She was fighting a vampire and
we stopped to watch and introduce ourselves." Willow sighed, tears trickling
from the corners of her eyes.  "They were so mean, Buffy. She told us that she
had heard of us...that we had made you less of a Slayer simply by being your
friends. The Watcher agreed and said *he* would be ten times the Watcher Giles
had been."

 "As if anyone could be a better watcher than Giles!" She was sobbing now,
small hysterical laughs escaping from her mouth. "Giles was the best. Ever. He
cared for you...he cared for all of us! I refuse to believe that you were less
of a Slayer for having all of us by your side... but it’s still hard to hear
the words come out of her snotty little mouth. I wanted to hurt her so badly,
Buffy."  Thoughts of cursing the girl to a horrible death flashed through her
mind and she quickly forced them down. Better to think of something else
entirely.

 "Angel and Delia finally got together - I know you'll be happy to hear that.
I'm just sorry that it wasn't your devious matchmaking schemes that did them
in."  She closed her eyes tight, remembering all the times Buffy had tried,
unsuccessfully, to get the dark haired vampire and his pretty receptionist to
start dating. "They invited Xander and I to come visit them during the winter
holidays. We might. It would be good for Xander to get away from his parents
for a while..."

 "I wish you were here to beat some sense into those worthless excuses for
human beings. They take any chance they can get to beat him or make him feel
bad. His dad gave him a concussion from pushing him halfway down the basement
steps last week. I'd kill them myself if I didn't think that would hurt him
even more than he's already hurting." Tears continued to pour over her
porcelain fine skin, down cheekbones that stood out a little more prominently
than before the crash.  She had lost most of her appetite and hadn't been
eating too well, as evidenced by the more than ten pounds she had lost. It
wasn't healthy, but she couldn't bring herself to care.

 Turning onto her stomach, the grieving girl laid her head over her folded
arms. Tears streamed from her eyes, falling in hot splotches onto the well-worn
quilt. Buffy was gone. Forever. Permanently.  It was as if a part of her very
soul had been ripped away. Losing herself in thoughts of the past and dreams of
what might, -should-, have been, Willow abandoned herself to her tears.

* * * * *

 He had barely been back in town for thirty minutes, and had hoped to be able
to get something to eat before doing anything else. But, per the usual in his
long life, that wasn't to be the case.

 The sound of a girl crying had drawn him in from the street. Out of habit, he
had made his way towards the sound, hoping against hope to see some sort of
crime in action. Maybe a demon or fledgeling out for a night of fun. Something
he could beat up on, something he could hurt. Again, luck was not on his side.

 The girl was laying face down on a blanket next to a headstone of pink marble.
She looked familiar, though he could scarcely tell why at the angle she was
lying. {Doesn't she know it isn't safe out here at night?} Moving quietly, the
blonde stepped next to her, looking down at the headstone. Crystal blue eyes
widened, surprise passing over his normal stoic features.  ~*~Buffy Summers
1981-2000 -- May her light shine brightest amongst the angels~*~ His gaze flew
to the red head, recognition overtaking him.

 "Pet…"

 Willow's head jerked up, tears clinging to her splotchy skin. She looked into
the eyes of one of two vampires she trusted, her heart breaking anew. She had
never expected to see him again when she hadn't been able to reach him at the
number he had given her.  Sobbing, she sat up, holding her arms out to him,
needing to feel his cold embrace.

 Spike kneeled, holding the shaking girl in his arms. Shock and confusion sped
through him. He needed to know what had happened to one of the smartest and
strongest Slayers he had ever come up against. He had left town as one of her
allies – and the loss of any ally was something to mourn. What had happened to
her? He was aching to know, but now wasn't the time to ask the witch, he could
tell.

So he held her. As the moon shone down on them both, he held her, listening to
her cry, next to the grave of someone he had never been able to call friend but
had always respected.
 

~Part Three~

 Spike watched the little witch walk with more than a small amount of sadness
filling his long dead heart. The spark of life that had once been so prominent
in her was gone, no doubt extinguished with the life of the girl she had called
her best friend.  Her clothes hung a little too large on her frame, an
indication of the weight she had lost. Red hair hung limply to her shoulders,
the shine and bounce he had once thought of as reminding him of fire no longer
there.

 Willow unlocked the door to her house, her heart only a small amount lighter
than it had been in a month. Spike was back. He was here - with her - right
now. Any moment now she expected to wake up and find that she was just
dreaming, that he wasn't there.  He followed her into the house and she turned
on one of the living room lights, the dim glow filling the house of her
childhood.

 "You can stay here for at least two weeks, " Willow whispered softly. "My
parents won't be home until then." She stopped herself, caught by the look in
his eyes. A flush spread across her cheeks. "I'm sorry. I was assuming you are
even staying in town. You are, aren't you?" Her voice was trembling, the tears
that had only recently dried threatening to spill anew across her pale cheeks.

 The blonde nodded slowly. He hadn't thought it was possible for his dead heart
to break, but looking into the grief stricken eyes of the girl in front of him
he felt just that happen. She had been one of his only true friends in his
whole miserable existence and here she was, little more than a walking corpse
herself - the life in her having died with Buffy. "I'll start looking at
apartments and houses tomorrow night, pet. I don't want to be an
inconvenience."

 "You won't be," She hurried to assure him. "Like I said. Mom and dad won't be
home for a couple weeks. They've been gone since school ended for the summer,
anyway. I doubt they'll even stay long when they do return."

 {Her parents didn't come home when the Slayer died? What kind of unfeeling
twits are they?} His thoughts were dangerous. He had known that Willow's
parents were rarely around for their daughter but he thought for sure they
would have come home to help her deal with the loss of her best friend.  "Thank
you, pet.  You should get some sleep, though. You look exhausted."

 The red head felt a sense of relief that he wasn't going to ask her to explain
what happened to Buffy and Giles tonight. She really was tired and maybe
tonight, for the first time since the crash, she'd be able to sleep without the
nightmares overtaking her.  "I should call Xan first. Let him know you're
back." She smiled, a small amount of her former playfulness coming out to
shine. "Believe it or not he'll be happy to see you.  We've both missed you -
you're the only other member of the Scooby Gang left besides Angel and Delia
and we don't get to see them that often."

 Spike tried to suppress the smile that threatened to spring to his lips, and
failed. Smiling, he nodded at her. "Call Chubs. Then you are going to bed, luv.
You need a good night's sleep." He watched her walk to the phone and dial out,
her own sad smile never leaving her pale pink lips.

 "Xan...you'll never guess...Xan? What's wrong?  Xander?  Alexander Harris -
What. Is. Wrong?" She was practically screaming now, tears pouring down her
face. The blonde haired vampire heard her emit something that sounded amazingly
close to a growl and he came to stand behind her, rubbing his hands over her
shoulders in what he hoped was a soothing motion. "He did what?!?!  Do you want
me to curse him, Xan?  I swear to the goddess I will kill the bastard if it
makes you feel better...No?  Fine. Get some things and come stay here for a
while...No, they're still out of town til the end of the month. K. I'll see you
soon. Love you."

 "What's wrong, pet?"

 She sniffled, wrapping her arms around him as if she could get comfort from
his closeness. "Xander's dad hit him...again. Last week it was a concussion.
This week it’s a black eye."  Tears flowed freely over her face.

 The feelings of protectiveness for the small human group he had befriended
came rushing to the surface.  The boy couldn't be allowed to go back to a house
where he was abused.  He wouldn't -let- it happen. The beginnings of a plan
started to form in the back of his mind, something to make their lives at least
a touch easier. But first, he needed to eat. "Will you be okay if I step out
for a few minutes, pet? I need to go by Willie's."

 Willow nodded against his chest, pulling away to look deep into his eyes. "You
-are- coming back right?"  Ever since the crash she had been reluctant to let
those few friends she had out of her sight, fearing that they would disappear
the same way Buffy and Giles had.

 "Of course, luv. I just need a bite to eat." He grinned down at her.  "Unless,
of course, you want to donate." Leaning down, he nipped lightly at the soft
flesh of her neck, delighting in the faint scent of fear that almost
immediately rose off of her frail body.

 "I don’t think I'd be a very healthy meal for you these days, Spike."  She had
the courage to smile at him when he pulled away.  "I'll be ok. Just go and come
back soon?"

 He nodded, kissing her forehead softly. "Let the whelp know about me before I
get back, k? I know you say he'll be happy to see me but I'd hate for the
wanker to come at me with a bloody stake the second I come in the door."

 And then, with another of his trademark smirks, he was gone.
 

** ** **

 “Do we have to go see the house tonight?” Willow whined. Her head was pounding
and she wanted nothing more than to just crawl back in bed and get some more
sleep. The past few days with Xander and Spike had been draining both
emotionally and physically – the two of them keeping her awake at most hours of
the day, wanting to talk or play games. Not that she minded. No – the company
was something she welcomed with open arms. She just needed a little rest was
all.

 “Please?” Spike asked, his blue eyes wide and begging. “Xander’s going…”  He
held the statement out to her, like a piece of candy waiting to be taken and
watched as her eyes lit up. There was definitely a little spark going on
between the two humans, though he doubted they realized it yet.

 “Well…I guess if Xan is going I can, too. But can we make it quick? My head is
killing me.” She gave him a small smile. It wouldn’t hurt to go take a quick
look at the house and then come home and go to bed. It would be worth it to
make Spike happy. He had been so nice to both her and Xander ever since showing
up a few days prior. They had found out that the vampire was actually a pretty
good cook when he wanted to be – something that won him a place in Xander’s
heart with the first mouth-watering morsel.

 “Sure pet. And when we get home I will make you some soup and put you to bed,
k?” He returned her smile, his blue eyes sparkling with happiness. He couldn’t
wait to show them the house he had found. It was perfect and he had bought it
the second the real estate agent had showed it to him. He only hoped they would
like it as much as he did.

** ** **

 Xander wandered around the lavish three-bedroom house, running his fingers
over the cold walls as he went. He hadn’t realized Spike had such great taste
in both houses and furniture. The entire house had been decorated
(professionally, he assumed) in black, silver and a deep red that the youth
could only call ‘blood’.  He settled into one of the leather recliners,
enjoying the way the plush fabric seemed to mold to fit his body.

 “You like?” Spike asked, leaning against a doorframe.

 “Hell yeah!” Xander grinned, finding the switch on the chair to turn on the
massaging action. “Oh god. I might have to come visit you everyday just to use
your chair.” He closed his eyes, moaning softly as the chair worked its magic
on his aching muscles.

 “Actually,” the blonde said, stepping away from the door and coming to sit on
the couch. “I wanted to talk to you about something. And Willow too.” He
turned, calling, “Red! Come here a sec!” He heard a door shut somewhere in the
house and wondered if she had found the library yet.

 “Spike…the house is amazing. Did you know you have a library with an occult
section?!?” The red head shivered with delight, hoping the vampire would let
her use some of the books.

 “Course I did. I chose all the bloody books one by one last night.” He grinned
at her, motioning for her to take a place next to him. “Now. I wanted to ask
the two of you something. You’re free to say no of course, and I would
understand completely if you did…”

 “What is it, Junior?”

 “I was wondering if the two of you would come stay here with me?” The
vampire’s normally cocky attitude was gone as he met each of their eyes in
turn. They were the only real family he had ever had and he wanted to treat
them as such. Take care of them and protect them from all the evils in the
world. From parents that were never around to parents that abused them – he
wanted to take them away from it all.

 “You want us to move in with you?” Willow asked, shocked. This was far from
anything she could have guessed would happen tonight. She had assumed that they
would come, look at the house, Spike would decide to buy it, and he would leave
them alone – again. This was utterly unexpected – but a very nice surprise.

 “Only if you want to, pet.” Spike was completely serious as he stared into the
emerald green depths of her eyes. “Like I said. I will understand if the two of
you say no. Its not everyday you decide to shack up with a bloody demon.”

 “Well, I don’t know about Wills, but I’d like to accept the invitation,”
Xander said quietly, his eyes locked on the floor. He could feel the tears
welling up in the corners and didn’t want the vampire to see him cry. It had
been assumed that when Willow’s parents came back from their trip he would once
again be sentenced to life in his parents’ basement. But here he was, being
offered a way to never have to return to that.

 “And you, Red?”

 Willow chewed on her bottom lip nervously. Her heart wanted this more than
anything but it was a big change. She had only been able to start dealing with
the reality of Buffy’s death in the past few days and that was only due to
Spike and Xander being around her constantly. Would she really be okay if they
left her? Could she really leave her parents’ home and live on her own? {On
your own with your best friend and a Master vampire. ‘Sides its not like Ira
and Sheila are ever home anyway,} she thought, a small smile gracing her lips.

 She looked up, meeting the crystal blue eyes of the vampire she had once
feared without wavering. “So when can we move in?”
 

~Part Four~

 “Want to go for a walk, pets?” Spike asked, disturbing the two humans from
their studying. They both looked up at him, identical expressions of
concentration on their faces and he had to chuckle. In the two days since they
had moved into the new house he could already see changes for the better in
them, as if taking them from everything that had hurt them had helped them to
heal.

 Willow looked from her book to Spike, then back to the book. “Um. Tell you
what. Make us something to eat while we finish reading this chapter and then we
can go for a short walk.” She laughed at the smile that spread across the
vampire’s face. “A –short- walk, Spike, we do have school in the morning, you
know.”

 “I know, ducks,” Spike smiled. “Soup and sandwiches good for you?” He cringed
inwardly at the domesticated way he was acting. This wasn’t the way a demon was
supposed to be acting, he knew, but there was something about the two humans in
the room with him that made him want and –need- to take care of them. He cared
about them, more than was good for him, more than a –friend- should.

“With Twinkies?” Xander asked the blonde, his eyes sparkling with amusement. He
knew the vampire disliked his junk food habit, saying that those ‘bloody treats
would be the death of him’, but he just couldn’t resist the little cream filled
cakes.

Spike frowned, hiding the smile that the boy’s entreaty had caused. The whelp
knew he didn’t like him eating all that junk food, but he did it anyway.
“Twinkies mean we go for a longer walk, Chubs.”

Xander shrugged. “I don’t care how long we walk if I can get a Twinkie with my
soup and sandwich.”

“Fine, fine, fine.” Spike grumbled. “Bloody brat.”  He left the room, waiting
until they couldn’t see his face to smile.

“You like irritating him, don’t you, Xan?” Willow asked, moving closer to her
best friend. They were lying on their stomachs on the floor, legs spread out
behind them, feet kicking in the air. She grabbed his highlighter and made a
quick notation in her schoolbook.

The boy grinned. “Irritate him? Me?” His eyes shined with playfulness. “Never.
Well, maybe a little. But he enjoys it just as much as I do.” Xander grinned at
his best friend, brushing a strand of hair out of her eyes with the tips of his
fingers.

The red head felt her very breath catch in her throat at the soft touch of the
young man’s fingers on her skin. She closed her eyes for a moment, willing her
emotions under control. The old feelings she had for her childhood companion
had slowly begun to resurface over the days since Buffy’s death. He had been
the only one she could turn to and she had tried to attribute the emotions to
needing comfort. But it went so far beyond that.

“Wills…” Xander’s voice was breathy as he looked at the angelic face of his
best friend. Darkened green eyes opened and he was sure he was in heaven. He
couldn’t bring himself to say the words his heart felt. That he was in love
with her, that he wanted to be with her. So he did the next best thing.

Willow forgot to breathe from the moment Xander’s lips touched hers. This kiss
was so much sweeter than anything they had shared in the past. Again her eyes
closed and she abandoned herself to the feel of his lips on hers, her mouth
slowly opening to his tongue. She pulled away slowly, almost reluctantly, her
eyes opening to gaze into his. “Xan I…”

“I love you, Wills,” Xander whispered. “I always have. I always will. You are
the closest thing to a soulmate a moron like me deserves.” There was a sadness
in his eyes that she wanted to erase, push away and fill with happiness.

“I love you too, Xander Harris.” The red head smiled. She leaned in, capturing
his lips for another kiss, their school work momentarily forgotten. His tongue
slipped easily between her lips and she moaned, granting him further access to
the warm wetness of her mouth. There was nothing outside of them at that
moment. Nothing but the feel of his lips on hers, their bodies merging and
becoming one as much as their clothes allowed.

** ** **

Spike whistled happily, walking back from the kitchen with a tray laden with
food. He inhaled deeply, smelling the rich tang of the roast beef sandwiches
and the salty odor of the chicken soup. It was a meal he would have enjoyed,
had he still been alive. Hidden under a napkin was Xander’s Twinkie, the
wrapper barely showing underneath the white cloth.

The blonde smiled, thinking of the two waiting for him in the library. They
didn’t know it yet, but he had fallen for both of them. He didn’t know how the
boy would take another man coming on to him, so he waited patiently, trying his
best to find a way to ease into a relationship that could include the three of
them. He could be patient with this. There was no reason to rush.

“Luvs, dinner is…” The words died on his lips, his eyes locked to the
passionate kiss being exchanged between the two mortals on the floor. He forced
a smile he didn’t feel as the red head broke away, a dazed look in her eyes.

“Hey, Spike.” She smiled up at the vampire, oblivious to the ache their embrace
had caused her dear friend.

“Done studying?”

“Yeah. That’s enough for one night.” Willow nodded. Her eyes traveled over the
blonde’s pale face, taking in the firm set of his jaw. {He’s upset about
something.} “What’s wrong?”

{Other than the fact I just had my bloody dreams shattered?} Spike thought,
trying to force himself to seem more lively for the red head. “Nothing, sweets.
Eat up so we can go for our walk. I’m going to go warm up some blood.” He
stalked out of the room without waiting for them to say anything.

Running black-painted nails along the wall, the vampire barely noticed his face
had shifted until he heard the soft sound of his own growling. He felt as
though his heart, dead for almost two centuries, was being broken. Why would
the two of them ever want him in their lives in that way when they had each
other? He knew that the two had shared feelings for each other in the past –
that they had been friends forever. {I was stupid to think I could have
anything but bloody friendship.} Spike thought.

Pulling open the refrigerator, the blonde grabbed a bag of blood, cutting a
small hole in it and pouring it into his favorite mug. He placed the cup inside
the microwave, setting the timer, and leaned back against the counter.

This wasn’t worth ruining the friendship he had with them over, he decided.
Nothing was worth losing the first true family he had had in decades. Without
them his life would be even emptier than it already was, and that was something
he didn’t want at all.

Pink tinged drops fell onto his hand and he wiped at his face, trying to rub
away the sadness he was feeling along with the tears. It didn’t work. He would
just have to put aside his feelings and make the best of what they gave him.

After all, friendship was worth something, too. Wasn’t it?
 

~Part Five~

Willow could tell that something was wrong with Spike. The vampire had been
distant and almost cold to the two of them since leaving the house for their
walk. She sighed, squeezing Xander’s hand. He responded immediately, squeezing
back, and the look he gave her told her he knew something was wrong too. The
vampire had dodged any attempt they made to find out what, though.

The blonde stopped suddenly, tilting his head to the side as though he heard
something. His crystal blue eyes pierced the darkness, searching for any sign
of what he thought he had heard. Willow caught his eye and raised her eyebrows
in question.

Motioning for the red head to be quiet, the vampire moved forward a step. He
was sure he had heard a noise. He was almost positive he had heard something
creeping through the night towards them. Nothing could be allowed to hurt his
family. They may have unknowingly broken his heart, but he would still protect
them with his last bit of unlife.

“Step away from them.”

The trio turned as one, the humans’ eyes opening in shock. Willow smiled at the
brunette standing in front of them, trying to be civil to the one person in all
of Sunnydale that she disliked with a passion. “Cynthia, what can we do for
you?”

“I said, step away from them,” the Slayer’s eyes never left Spike. “You two
idiots are walking around town with a fucking vampire.” She snorted. “And to
think the council told us you at least had –half- a brain between you.”

Xander drew in a deep breath, trying to calm himself before he did something
stupid – like attack a girl who could kick his ass blindfolded and with both
arms tied behind her back.  “We know exactly who and what we are walking around
town with.” His eyes grew cold and he stepped closer to his housemates, putting
his arm around not only Willow’s shoulder but Spike’s as well. “Now if you
could let us get back to our walk…?”

Cynthia rolled her eyes, taking a step towards the trio. Who did these kids
think they were? Walking around town with a vampire next to them? They had been
the former Slayer’s friends for crying out loud, didn’t they know how dangerous
that was? And what was going on with the vampire? He was just standing there,
looking amused, as if he didn’t even consider her a threat. As if he thought
her words were silly.  “Afraid I can’t do that. I’m the Slayer, I’m going to
slay.” She glared at first one human then the other. “Now get the hell out of
my way.”

Willow laughed, a short clear sound that rang out through the almost empty
streets of Sunnydale. “Sorry, Slayer,” she hissed, her eyes flashing as she
thought of the words to one of the more dangerous offensive spells she knew.
“Not going to happen.” Her hand clenched unconsciously into a fist, readying to
protect her friend if it was needed.

“Why? Why are you protecting one of the creatures your –dead friend- fought
against? That –you- fought against?”

Stepping forward slightly, but not leaving the embrace of his friends, Xander
glared at the brunette girl standing a mere ten feet away.  “Didn’t your damn
Watcher’s council tell you anything about the situation in Sunnydale? Or did
you just not pay attention? This is *Spike*. The same Spike who fought
alongside Buffy and the rest of us to stop numerous baddies your twisted little
mind can’t even comprehend yet. He has a goddamn chip in his head and can’t
hurt humans.”  The boy’s eyes were blackened with rage. How dare this little
upstart come into their town and try to make trouble with their last remaining
friend? “In other words. There’s no reason for you to slay him.”

Cynthia’s smile was as cold as her heart. There was no way she could get to the
vampire with the humans surrounding him and she wasn’t about to kill a human,
even if it was protecting one of her mortal enemies. She filed away the part
about the chip in the blonde’s head for future reference, intending to get
another shot at him. “He is a vampire and I *will* slay him. Make no mistake
about that. I’m not your soft little Buffy friend who thought that she could
make love or make nice to any member of the undead she wanted. The council told
me all about the ‘situation in Sunnydale’ as you put it. Only thing is, I don’t
care. They all deserve to die and I am the instrument of their death.”

Watching as the Slayer ran off, Willow felt her heart chill. Cynthia certainly
seemed to have a problem with vampires – even ones that had helped save the
world. “We’re just going to have to try not to run into her anymore. I refuse
to be scared of her. She’s not even half the Slayer Buffy was.”

Spike heard the girl’s voice crack and saw Xander put his arm around her out of
the corner of his eye. He sighed, trying to push his feelings of hurt aside. He
wasn’t sure he would ever be over the heartache seeing the two of them together
was causing. “C’mon, lets go home, I don’t really feel like walking anymore
tonight, pets.”

Xander glanced at Willow as the bleached blonde vampire walked away, a question
clear in his eyes. She shook her head, clueless as to what could possibly be
upsetting her friend so much and took his hand, following after the rapidly
retreating figure of their friend. The vampire had been fine up until the point
he made them dinner. Had waiting on them pushed his buttons? She doubted it. He
had offered, after all. But still, everything had been fine up until the point
he came back with their food. Holding onto Xander’s hand, the red head thought
about that moment with a small smile on her face.

The kiss she had shared with Xander had been so much more than she had ever
thought possible. It had been happiness and light all rolled up into one little
meeting of their lips. It had felt so right, like coming home. And then Spike
had walked in and interrupted, and his bad mood had started.

“Oh no…”

“What?” Xander asked, stopping in mid tracks to stare at his beautiful new
girlfriend. They were in front of their house by that point and he noted
vaguely that Spike didn’t wait for them. Something was seriously eating at him
and the brunette wanted more than anything to find out what.

“I think I know what’s wrong with Spike.”

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