********
Spike walked through his empty house feeling as empty as it looked. Just six months ago it was full of life. She was full of life. He fell into his chair with a bottle of scotch. She’d probably be ashamed of him right now. Just six months ago she would’ve yelled at him to take his feet off of the coffee table. Just six months ago he would’ve laughed and pulled her into his lap and kissed her and made her forget about the table. A lot had happened in six months.

He finished another shot of the scotch and looked at the closet in the hall. In there he had stuffed all of her stuff. Buffy had wanted some of it but the rest just lay around for a long time. Finally he had gotten fed up but he couldn’t bring himself to get rid of it. He looked at the picture laying face down on the television. He knew every inch of it by heart. Her smiling face, her green eyes sparkling, her arms wrapped around him as they danced, her hair resting against her cheek.

“Bloody hell.” He muttered. He kicked the coffee table to the side and pulled open the closet door. The first thing he saw was a box filled with trinkets and anything else that had reminded him of her. It was sitting under an old teddy bear. He pulled it out and dropped it on the couch. He sat down and began to sift through it slowly letting himself brood. A small book lay on top. It had ‘Willow’s’ written on the top of it in blue ink. He picked it up and leafed through it. He had read every entry a million times. He through it aside and looked at the next thing. It was a black jewelry box he had bought her on her birthday the year before. It was filled with various jewels he had also gotten. He smiled as he remembered her face.

***** Willow opened the box and looked at the emerald. It was on a silver chain and it was in the shape of a crescent moon. She jumped into Spike’s arms.

“I love it.” She whispered. Spike kissed her softly.

“I knew you would.” He said. She handed it to him and he put it on her.

“You spoil me you know.” She said turning to let him see. He pulled her back into his arms.

“You bet I do.” He said kissing her again.
*****

He angrily threw the box aside. This wasn’t doing him any good but he didn’t care. He was drunk and he could do as he damn well pleased. He pulled out a walkie-talkie and grimaced as he remembered buying it with her. She had dragged him into the new Wal-Mart in Sunnydale and as soon as she had seen them her face lit up. She begged him to buy it because she had always played with them when she was little. He had agreed and that night they had chased each other around the house playing hide and go seek with them.

He sat back on the couch. The emptiness inside of him, his life, and his house welled up. His face fell into his hands.

“Why?” He yelled to the emptiness. “Why did you take her?” No answer came back. He looked down at the black radio. He remembered once Willow had told him that if he whispered a little incantation he could contact the future. He wondered if it would work.

“Omnius.” He said softly. Nothing happened. He growled and began to throw it when he heard a crackle of static. He looked down at it.

“What the hell?” He asked looking at it. He pressed the button. “Hello? Anyone there?” He asked. There was a crackle of static on the other end.

“Yeah buddy someone’s here.” A faint voice came back. He sighed.

“Oh. I didn’t know these things could pick other radios up.” He said.

“Neither did I.” The voice replied. He could barely make it out but it was there.

“So who am I talking to?” He asked. There was a long pause.

“Uh…Will. Just call me Will.” The voice said. Spike sighed. Reminders of her were everywhere.

“Nice to meet you Will.” Spike said.

“You got a name?” Will asked.

“No. I’m not anybody anymore.” Spike replied.

“Sounds like an interesting problem there mate.” Will said. Spike was hit with the realization that this guy was English.

“Yeah it is.” Spike said. There was more static and suddenly he heard a woman’s voice.

“Come to bed and stop playing with that thing.” She said faintly.

“I can’t baby. Apparently other people like this contraptions to.” Will replied.

“You know if I’d thought that the damn thing would take you out of my bed I wouldn’t have made you buy it.” The girl said.

“I’ll be there soon pet.” Will replied. Spike listened in a stunned silence. He knew that voice. “Sorry my girl is kind of antsy all alone at night.” Will said.

“Hey mate what is you girl’s name?” Spike asked eagerly.

“Willow.” The reply came. Spike nearly dropped the radio.

“Did you say Willow?” Spike asked.

“Yeah that’s right.” Will replied.

“Bloody hell.” Spike said.

“Hey what’s your name again?” Will asked.

“Spike.” He replied.

“What the…but that’s my name.” Will said. “What the hell is going on?” He asked.

“Look I don’t know what it is but let me ask you something. What is the date?” Spike asked. Will rattled off a date. Spike took a deep breath. The date was six months ago.

“Is this some kind of hellmouth thing?” Will asked.

“I think so mate.” Spike replied. Spike could imagine himself shaking his head at the thought. Then he came to a realization.

“Look you have to listen to me. Something is going to happen to Willow.” Spike said.

“What are you talking about?” Will asked.

“Just trust me. Tomorrow night when she says she wants to go out, don’t let her. It’s really important.” Spike said. There was a static reply.

“What?” Will asked.

“Just listen to me!” Spike yelled. His only reply was static.
*****

Spike looked down at the little walkie-talkie in disbelief. What the hell kind of toy what this? He wondered.

“Spike!” Willow called from upstairs.

“Yeah right there baby.” He called back. He put the radio on the coffee table and headed upstairs. Willow lay with her eyes closed snuggled up next to an old teddy bear. He pulled off his clothes and pulled on an old pair of sweats. Willow opened her eyes and smiled sleepily.

“Who were you talking to?” She asked. Spike kissed her forehead.

“Just another demon.” He said. Willow smiled and snuggled up next to him laying her head on his chest.

“Sounds interesting.” She said. Spike nodded.

“Yeah it was.” He said. He listened to her breathe for a few minutes and soon she fell asleep. He lay awake all night with his thoughts on the radio downstairs.
*****

The next morning when Willow left for school he picked it up.

“Hello? Is anyone there?” He asked. A static reply came back.

“Huh?” Said a voice. It sounded like the person had a hang over. He knew that voice.

“Is that you mate?” Spike asked.

“Yeah it’s me.” Came a reply sounding just like him.

“Wow.” Spike said.

“Yeah wow.” The other Spike replied.

“So what were you saying about Willow and tonight?” Spike asked.

“Settle in. It’s a long story.” He replied.
****

“Spike I’m going out!” Willow called. Spike looked up from the television.

“What for?” He asked.

“We need some real food.” She grumbled. He walked into the kitchen and wrapped his arms around waist.

“Nah it looks fine.” He said not even glancing at the empty refrigerator. Willow smiled.

“It looks fine for you. There’s enough blood for a month. But there is no real food!” She said.

“Well you can live off of me.” He suggested smirking. Willow slapped him playfully.

“I’ll take you up on that when I get back.” Willow said.

“Do you want me to come pet?” He asked. Willow shrugged.

“It’ll only take me ten minutes. I’m going to walk up to the grocery store up the road.” She replied.

“All right then love.” He said. She kissed him softly.

“Don’t move. I’ll be right back.” She said smiling. She walked out the door and he never saw her alive again.
*****

“What happened?” Spike asked.

“She was murdered, six months ago tonight. Well I guess that is tonight for you. Some stupid bloke though he’d get a kick out of my girl.” There was a pause from the vampire of the future. “Just don’t let her go. Please.” The voice was filled with sadness and pain. He had never sounded like that in his life.

“I won’t.” He replied. A static reply came back and he knew the voice was gone. Spike settled back into the couch and imagined what life would be like without Willow. He couldn’t. The thought hurt.
*****

The day passed slowly as he agonized with the thought of Willow being out alone. Willow arrived at the house at three o’clock and she was greeted by a very happy vampire.

“You’re back!” He said hugging her tightly. Willow pulled out of his arms and looked at him.

“Of course I’m back what are you talking about?” She asked. Spike thought about her statement. He couldn’t even remember what he was talking about.

“Nothing I’m just happy to see you.” He said. Willow shrugged.

“Happy to see you too.” She replied smiling. He sat back on the couch as she told him about her day and his foot kicked the radio off the table. Willow leaned over and picked it up.

“What’s this doing out?” She asked. Spike looked at the radio and had feeling it had been out for a reason.

“I don’t know.” He said trying to hold onto a fleeting memory.

“Weren’t you talking to someone on this last night?” She asked.

“Yeah.” He said.

“Who was it?” She asked cuddling next to him. Spike looked at the block box trying to hold onto the memory.

“I can’t-I can’t remember.” He said. Willow shrugged.

“Must’ve been some conversation.” She giggled. Spike shrugged.

“I guess.” He replied. But he held no memory of it.

“You know if you say omnius to a radio you can talk to the future. Or is it hear the future?” Willow wondered aloud. Spike smiled and kissed her hair.

“You find out and get back to me love.” He replied. Willow shrugged and pulled him into a kiss.

At six o’clock a rerun of the Rocky Horror Picture Show came on. Spike sat in his recliner laughing at the cross dressing doctor.

“Spike I’m going out!” Willow called. Spike looked up from the television.

“What for?” He asked.

“We need some real food.” She grumbled. He walked into the kitchen and wrapped his arms around waist.

“Nah it looks fine.” He said not even glancing at the empty refrigerator. Willow smiled.

“It looks fine for you. There’s enough blood for a month. But there is no real food!” She said.

“Well you can live off of me.” He suggested smirking. Willow slapped him playfully.

“I’ll take you up on that when I get back.” Willow said.

“Do you want me to come pet?” He asked. Willow shrugged.

“It’ll only take me ten minutes. I’m going to walk up to the grocery store up the road.” She replied.

“All right then love.” He said. She kissed him softly.

“Don’t move. I’ll be right back.” She said smiling. Suddenly a feeling of dread hit him. He had a feeling he had been through this before.

“Willow no!” He yelled. Willow looked back at him startled.

“What?” She asked in confusion. He stopped.

“I mean I’ll come with you anyway pet. I don’t like the though of you being out there all alone.” He said taking her hand. Willow shook her head.

“Sometimes I think you are crazy.” She said smiling.

“It’s all apart of my charm.” He replied walking out into the dark with her.

“It’s why I love you.” She said. Spike pulled her close. And kissed her.

“And that’s why you’re mine forever.” He said. Willow nodded.

“Yep forever.” She replied. Together they headed out into the night changing the future as they would never know it.
 

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