Fabric of Time

Email: leslieketchum@hotmail.com

Rating: Pg-13 maybe eventually R

Disclaimers: I don't own any of the characters I am just borrowing them for a bit of fun. Joss owns everything in the Buffyverse.

Pairing: Willow/William (Spike)

Summary: Willow travels back in time and finds Jack the Ripper

Spoilers: Takes place sometime after Season 7 - Warning mention of season 7 Spike in fic.

Distribution: If you already have my fiction you can have this one if you want it, anyone else just ask and it's yours.

Feedback: Always welcome

A/N: This is in answer to a challenge by knightie at yourmission website.

Def. Fabric - A complex underlying structure.

The Ripper Challenge:

Willow gets sent back in time to 1888 London and meets William after he's turned, but he can't kill or torture her. (Yes that means during the Ripper murders)

Must haves...
Pairing: Willow/William(Spike)

Rating: PG-13 - NC-17

Someone (other than William) must learn Willow is a witch, which of course puts her life in (more) danger. (William also must discover this) Willow must try to discover who the Ripper is and try to stop him (I'll give you the option of if she does or not.)

The Ripper must be a vampire

In the end Willow must return home to a slightly altered future. Is Spike as 'bad' as he was or is he worse? That I leave up to you (however, no killing the gang-- minor harming of Xander is allowed and if Oz is still around he can be hurt/killed)

Tara is not Willow's girlfriend (at the end at least)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

~Part: 1~

Willow was nervous about going to the new antique store, Timeless Treasures. The store had replaced Giles' magic shop that she had destroyed in her thirst for vengeance last year. Xander's company built it and Anya was going to manage it so she couldn't blow off the opening as much as she would have like to.

The memories were getting less and less painful as time went on. Tara would always hold a special place in her heart but her friendship with Spike had helped her embrace life again. Nursing him through his insanity after she first came back to Sunnydale gave her a purpose. It also brought back memories of when she helped Tara when Glory had sucked her sanity away. Helping him had made her feel useful again and helped her take tiny steps toward her own redemption.

She was just getting ready to get into her car when her cell phone rang. "Hello?"

"Hey, Wills. Where are you? I thought we were going to meet at the store at 11:00. I wasn't supposed to drive by and pick you up was I?"

"Sorry, Buffy. I got caught up in memories and the time slipped by. I'm just pulling out of my driveway now I should be there in a few."

"Okay, see ya in a few."

~~~~~~

Willow was surprised at the number of people that had crowded in the store. Spotting Xander, Buffy and Dawn she made her way through the crowd. "Hi guys, sorry I'm late. Who knew so many people would come to an opening of an antique store. How's Anya doing?"

Xander said, "Ask her yourself" and nodded behind her. Willow turned and saw Anya smiling coming her way.

"Willow! I'm glad you could make it. Now go, look around and buy something."

Willow gave her a welcoming hug. "Looks like the store will do well. Congratulations Anya."

Anya was able to combine her duties as a vengeance demon with her antique store duties. She had told Willow that when she explained to the owner that she might have to take some trips unexpectedly because of family commitment, the owner told her that was fine just try to look for anything that might be able to sell in the shop while she was traveling. So consequently the store had antiques from all over the world.

Willow wandered around the store for a bit but not really seeing anything that caught her eye. She knew she had to buy something if only to keep Anya off her back.

Spotting a little room off to the side, Willow went to investigate. She could feel a little bit of magick coming from the room but she just put it down to residual magick from the magic shop. As she walked into the room she noticed some old books on a shelf and thought maybe she would find something for Giles.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw a dress dummy with a beautiful antique gown on it. It was made of delicate dark blue silk with lace on the cuffs and around the collar. Willow couldn't take her eyes off of it. The craftsmanship was amazing. She couldn't see any wear in the dress at all. Someone had taken very good care of it.

"That's a beautiful dress. I think it would look very pretty on you." A man with a British accent said softly.

Willow turned around to see who had spoken and she saw an older gentlemen standing behind her.

"It is beautiful but not really me."

"Oh I don't know . . . I think in another time you would have been beautiful in it. Maybe going to the opening of a new Gilbert and Sullivan opera in London."

Willow smiled. "Maybe in another time and place but what would I do with it now?"

"Antique clothing can be a very good investment, besides I'm sure a lovely girl such as yourself would be able to find opportunities to wear it if you wanted to."

"It is beautiful." Willow knew with the connection she felt with this dress if she didn't buy it she would be kicking herself. "Okay, you talked me into it."

"Wonderful, let me just take it off the dummy and I'll bring it up to the front for you. Please, continue looking around."

Willow smiled her thanks and went to look at the books hoping to find something for Giles. She never noticed the sly look in the older man's eyes or the person in the shadows watching them.

The red head picked up a 1st edition on a lesser known Charles Dickens book and thought it would make a nice Christmas gift for Giles. Last year he had just started to collect 1st editions and she thought he might like a nice Dickens book to add to his collection. Thanking the Goddess that her computer games had taken off and she no longer had to worry about money.

Picking up the Dickens novel she noticed a small book that looked like a journal or diary. Ooh, now that looked interesting. As she thumbed through it she saw that it was written in 1888, Willow added this for herself to the book for Giles and went to the counter to pay for her purchases.

"Hey Willow, whatcha buyin'?" Dawn asked.

"I found a couple of books and a really nice Victorian dress."

Anya walked up behind the counter with the dress that Willow had seen earlier.  "I brought this back with me when I had a `trip' to London recently. It was at an estate sale in one of the suburbs. When I saw it I thought about you, I'm glad you're the one buying it."

Willow gathered her purchases and went with Dawn to meet Xander and Buffy outside.

The older gentleman walked to the back of the shop after watching Willow leave with Dawn. "Well it looks like your plan is coming together. How could you be so sure that the witch would buy the dress?"

The man turned to his father, "In the journal I found that had the entries about the Ripper murders had a mention of a red haired woman in that dress. The description of the woman tugged at my memory but it wasn't until last year when I saw Ripper with the red head in England that I figured out who the description reminded me of."

"I saw she bought a journal too. It wasn't your journal was it?"

"Give me some credit, father. I kept the journal I don't know what journal she bought but it wasn't mine."

"I hope you know what you're doing, Ethan."

Ethan Rayne just smiled, "As soon as Anya bought the dress at the estate sale and told me that it was for your shop I knew everything was falling into place."

~Part: 2~

After a full day of shopping and lunch with her friends Willow returned home with her purchases. She carefully unwrapped the dress and took it up to her attic/computer room. Anya had told her that she needed to keep the dress out of direct sunlight and in a climate controlled area to prevent damage. She carefully hung it on a padded hanger and put it on an old hat tree that was in the corner of the room. Looking at the dress in the corner and the computer terminal near it she thought that the tableau was a perfect metaphor for her personality.

Sometimes she felt a little like Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde. Being a modern woman that loved all things involving technology and an old fashioned girl that liked old houses, antique furniture and reading journals about real people involved in historical events. It had probably started when she began to hang around Giles and read the old Watcher Diaries.

She had been excited when Xander had told her about an old Victorian home that was for sale. Willow had jumped at the chance to renovate it and bring it back to its former glory. Of course she had a lot of help from Xander in the construction phase and Spike had helped her keep it accurate.  With his punk style and attitude sometimes it was easy to forget that Spike had once been a proper gentleman during the Victorian era.

Even now with his chip and soul Spike didn't harm humans but once he had worked through his insanity the mad, bad and dangerous to know Spike had returned. His feelings for Buffy had changed with the return of snarky Spike. No longer did he pine away for someone that had absolutely no interest in him. Spike had come to terms with the human William and his feelings for Cecily and in doing so he also came to terms with his feelings for Buffy. They had a tenuous relationship at best and for the sake of Dawn and Willow they awkwardly got along. It was a little like divorced parents that got together when their kids invited them to the same function.

The sound of the door closing and the bellow of her name brought Willow down the attic stairs.

"Up here, Spike." Willow's stomach gave a little flutter at the sound of Spike's voice. She wished she would get over her stupid crush that she had developed last year. Wasn't the patient supposed to fall in love with the nurse and not the other way around? They had developed a great friendship over the last year and she didn't want to screw it up. She met Spike coming up the stairs.

"Workin' on your computer, luv?"

"No, just putting something I bought up there."

Willow went to her entertainment center and pulled out a DVD. Spike looked at the cover and began to whine, "Not another Johnnie Depp movie".

"You know it's my turn to pick the movie this week. Besides you'll like From Hell. It's got blood and Jack the Ripper in it."

Spike rolled his eyes, "Fine. But it better have a lot of blood. Did you buy all sorts of antiques?"

"Now why would I have to buy antiques when I have a living antique for a friend?"

"Yeah but you haven't seen Giles in a year." Spike smirked.

"Smart ass." Willow said as she settled down on the couch to watch the movie.

~~~~~~~~

Ethan went back to the trunk where he kept the journal. He had bought the trunk years ago and recently discovered that the trunk's lining had come loose. Upon inspection he had noticed a journal tucked away in the lid. He was very pleasantly surprised to see that it seemed to have been written by Jack the Ripper. It detailed all his murders, not just the ones that had become infamous.

He reread the section that began with the mention of the woman that Ethan now knew was Willow.

November 10,1888

I felt a strong magickal presence today. I didn't know where it was comingfrom until I happened to walk by a small, beautiful red head in a blueevening gown and felt her power. She holds such power and I feel a darknessin her that I am sure I can manipulate for my purposes. The man that helpsme now doesn't have the magnitude of power that she does. I must find a wayto meet her.

Ethan flipped closer to the front of the journal where Jack wrote about the magickal man that helped him.

August 6, 1888

I met an intriguing young man today. He was witness to my killing that womanin George Yard. When I turned my face towards him he didn't seem to besurprised that I am a vampire. I decided not to kill because I recognized akindred spirit in him and I can use his magickal abilities to manipulateothers.

The journal was strangely silent about what had happened to Willow and Jack the Ripper. When Ethan had seen Willow with Rupert he knew that she was his key to meeting Jack the Ripper and the man that helped him. He had always been fascinated with that time period and especially the Ripper murders. Now he was even more intrigued to have learned that the Ripper was a vampire as well. He always had suspicions about that but never could find evidence. He had searched every lead he could find on time travel spells. He had finally found it not long before he saw Anya buy that dress. That's how he knew the plan would come together. He planned to perform the spell soon and bring himself and Willow back to 1888 London.

~~~~~~ Spike rose off the couch trying not to wake Willow who had fallen asleep while watching the movie.  It hadn't been too bad and it brought back some memories of his time in London during that time. He doubted Willow would have appreciated his fond memories though.

He walked over and turned off the TV. "Willow . . . Red . . . Come on wake up."

Willow kept sleeping. With a roll of his eyes he carried her upstairs. She snuggled against his chest and her scent surrounded Spike. Her scent had always reminded him of his mother's garden after a spring rain. That was one of the reasons he had been so cruel to her when they had first encountered each other. She reminded him of his time as a human. When he had come to terms with his feelings for Buffy and Cecily he had also come to realize that he could care for Willow. She was a combination of light and dark like he was now. He would never act on his growing feelings for Willow. They had become good friends and he didn't want to screw it up.

Despite what some people thought, vampires were a social bunch. They were always in groups and because of his chip he had started to become an outcast. But when he chose the Slayer over his Sire he had become a laughing stock. At least when Angel chose the Slayer over Darla he had the excuse of a soul. Spike didn't have that excuse. The only thing that kept him from being totally ostracized was that he hadn't killed Dru.

After Spike laid Willow down on her bed he walked back out into the hallway. He was curious as to what she had bought at the antique store, she had evaded his question easily enough. As he got to the top of the attic stairs he saw the dress in the corner and he stood still. There was tingling in the back of his mind as he looked at the dress, like a memory that was just out of grasp. He shrugged it off. Probably just reminded me of a dress that Dru wore, he thought.

Spike wandered around a little bit more and saw the journal lying by Willow's computer. He picked it up and thumbed through it. He noticed it had been written in 1888 and that the handwriting was feminine.

He randomly turned to a page and started reading.

August 6, 1888

My husband found a young woman alone and on the streets today. That in andof itself isn't unusual for there are a lot of women that don't have enoughmoney and must sleep on the streets. Doing charity work for the church Iwitness this all the time. What is unusual is this woman was definitelysomeone of quality. My husband was concerned for her welfare and invited herto stay in our home.

She is a little shy but that is how a proper young lady should be. She saysshe has no memory of how she arrived here but I suspect the memory is justtoo painful for her to speak of it. Hopefully, one day she will feelcomfortable enough to confide in me.

Spike closed the journal. He wasn't interested in some woman prattling on about her boring life. He couldn't figure out why Red would have bought it. Sometimes she was hard to figure out.

~Part: 3~

The next morning Willow went to the attic to check her computer and see if she had any messages from work. While she waited for the messages to download, she glanced through the journal that was sitting beside her computer. It seems that the woman that wrote this was the wife of a respected scholar of some sort. He seemed to spend most of his time researching and writing something. Willow thought it was obvious that the woman lived higher on the social scale since there were pretty much two classes of people, maybe three. They were the really poor, the poor and the wealthy. The poor and the really poor women wouldn't have kept a journal. The journal was written during the time of the Ripper murders and there seemed to be an outcry from the public to catch the killer. She wrote that her husband was very concerned with the mob mentality of the people. They would pounce on any one that was remotely a suspect.

While reading the journal Willow couldn't figure out how the woman knew so much. Usually the women of that time weren't allowed to even read the paper let alone know about gruesome murders. Willow figured she was ahead of her time and maybe the grandmother to the suffragette movement.

Looking up from the journal her eyes were drawn to the dress in the corner. She took the dress off the hanger and held it up to herself. As she looked at her reflection in the mirror, she tried to imagine what she would look like in that time period.

She saw out of the corner of her eye that her messages had all been downloaded. She put the dress back on the hanger and got to work, time for play later.

~~~~~

While Willow was working on her computer, Ethan was gathering the magickal supplies he would need for the spell he would perform today. Luckily the supplies were simple enough to come by. It was the correct mixture of those herbs that was the tricky part.

He was walking around a corner with his arms full of bags when he almost ran into the Slayer, literally. He quickly averted his face and mumbled sorry and kept on walking.

Buffy's eyes followed the man that had almost knocked her over. "Rude much!" She turned to Dawn, "Can you believe that guy? He barely slowed down."

Ethan couldn't get over how lucky he had been. That had been way too close for comfort. He knew he was on the right track because the fates were definitely looking out for him, if Buffy had recognized him his plan to use Willow to find Jack the Ripper would have fallen through. He quickly turned another corner to get out of her line of sight. He returned to the house that he and his father were renting and began to set up for the ritual.

~~~~~~~

Willow finally completed programming the first level of the game she was working on. All this time spent in a Victorian house, the things she had bought in the antique store and watching From Hell last night had given her an idea for a computer game for catching Jack the Ripper. But instead of him being some run of the mill maniacal serial killer she gave him a Hellmouth twist and made him a vampire that you had to destroy. She had emailed her boss with the suggestion that morning and he had called her right away and told her he thought it was great. She had been working on it all morning and she was going to take a break.

As she stretched her muscles in her arms and back she heard the doorbell ring.  Opening the door she noticed that the mailman had left her a box. It was the dummy for her dress and she quickly took it upstairs to put it together.

~~~~~~

Ethan had experimented a few times with the different herb amounts for the mixture. The spell that he found hadn't been real clear. It had the amounts that were familiar to the person that wrote it. Instead of ¼ crushed ginger root it had 3 tumblers full of rowan bark. How big was tumbler full? But he had finally gotten it correct or at least he hadn't blown up another of his father's cauldrons.

He carefully placed the candles in a circle and brought in the herbs and bowl. After everything was set up he went in search of that one special ingredient. He grabbed the journal out of the trunk lid and put it in his pocket. He would need to know where Jack would be when he got to London. Searching around in his room he found what he was looking for. Next we went in search of his father.

"Were you able to find me the right clothes?"

"As a matter of fact, this morning the last piece came into the store and I brought it back with me when I came home for lunch." Ethan's father said. He went to the bag beside the couch and pulled out a bowler hat.

Ethan smiled, "Perfect."  He took the hat from his father and went to get dressed in the other clothes he had found. Wouldn't do to arrive in London in Jeans and T-shirt.

Ethan emerged from his bedroom looking like a fine Victorian gentleman. Complete with hat and walking stick. "So how do I look?"

"Like you belong in another time and place. Are you sure the spell will work?"

"Well, I tried a little experiment with a watch. I sent it and then retrieved it. There is no way of telling if it went to another time but it did go somewhere. Besides for a chance to meet Jack the Ripper in person I would gladly be a guinea pig."

"Well, that's fine for you but what about the witch?"

"What about her? Are you becoming soft? When was the last time you cared about a pawn in a plan?"

"I don't, but she's powerful. I could feel the power just radiating off of her. I just wouldn't want to see what would happen to you if you pissed her off."

"You worry too much."

"And you don't worry enough."

Ethan just rolled his eyes at his father and went back to the room where he had set up everything for the ritual. He pulled out the scrap of material from the hem of the dress that he had cut earlier and placed it in the bowl with the herbs. He turned to his father, "Well, hopefully if this works correctly you'll see me again in a few minutes. If I can accurately pick when to return I'll pick a few minutes from now."

~~~~~~~~~

Willow finally put the dress dummy together and it was sitting in the corner. Her curiosity was getting the better of her and she decided to try on the dress.

Luckily she was thin enough that the dress fit her without a corset. Not that she would ever wear one but it was nice to know she could wear this dress and not just look at it.  There must have been about a hundred buttons on it and she buttoned up as much as she could. No wonder people had maids dress them, she thought.

As she looked at her reflection she felt something stir in the air. Willow closed her eyes and concentrated on the energy that she was feeling. Someone was using some powerful magick. She felt the energy coming toward her and before she could prepare for the attack she was assaulted by an energy wave.

She prayed to her goddess for protection and tried to break loose. She was able to give herself a little bit of freedom and she felt herself falling. Bracing herself for the fall she tucked and rolled when she hit grass. Thank goodness she hadn't landed on a hard surface.

Willow stood and looked around. The first thing she noticed was the horse and carriages and the type of dress people were wearing. Oh my god, I've somehow been sent back in time, she thought.

~Part: 4~

Willow tried not to panic as she looked at her surroundings. She had no idea why she was sent back in time but she was going to find out. Whoever had done this for whatever purpose was going to be very sorry they had involved her.

She felt a hand lightly on her elbow, "Are you alright, miss?" A British voice said.

Willow turned around to see who had spoken and looked into the face of Giles but not quite Giles. He was dressed in typical late 19th century clothing. Willow just blinked at him, she couldn't seem to form words.

"Are you alright, miss?" He repeated. The poor girl had been almost hit by his carriage when he saw her roll on the grass.

Willow shook herself out of her daze and smiled, "Yes thank you." She saw his carriage nearby and figured he must have thought he hit her with it. "I'm sorry I must have been woolgathering." Thank God she liked to read old journals. She could just picture his face if she had said, "No big, I didn't see ya."

"My driver's fault entirely. He didn't see you until it was too late. We haven't been properly introduced, I'm Sir Albert Giles."

Willow's smile just got brighter. What were the odds of this happening? The goddess had surely been looking out for her. She knew women didn't' shake hands in this era so she tried a small curtsey and hoped she wouldn't make a fool of herself. "It is a pleasure to meet you Sir Giles. I'm Willow Rosen..." Willow remembered just in the knick of time that anti-Semitism was very much a problem in Victorian England and she would have enough problems being a single woman without money in the middle of nowhere.

Willow went to put a strand of hair behind her ears that had fallen in her face and winced. She must have hit her head harder than she thought.

Albert noticed her wince. "Are you sure you're alright? May I take you to where you were going? It is the least I can do."

Oh great, Willow thought. Now what? She silently prayed that this Albert Giles was like her Rupert Giles. "Thank you, I'm fine. Just a little tired." She began to rub her temples and tried to look confused.  In as innocent a voice as she could, "I can't seem to remember where I was going." She bit her lip hoping that would bring tears to her eyes and silently apologized to women everywhere for the obvious attempt to appeal to the male of the era to protect.

Albert looked at the small red head in front of him and knew his wife would skin him alive if he let her wander the streets alone. She was obviously in pain and didn't have a place to go. He had always been a caretaker. His brothers used to tease him every time he would bring a wounded animal home. She would just be another in a long line of wounded animals.

He smiled at her, "My wife and I would gladly offer our home to you for as long as you need it."

Willow started to feel guilty but she really didn't have any place to go or any money. She was grateful that this Giles was as kind-hearted as her Giles and that she had been curious enough to try on the gown when the magick wave hit her. She didn't really want to think what it would have been like for her if she had come to 19th century England in her boxers and tank top that she had been wearing earlier. She would have probably ended up in the East End with the poorest of the poor.

Albert helped her into his coach and told his driver to continue home. "Your accent is American? Were you here visiting relatives?"

All that went through Willow's mind was 'Oh what a tangled web we weave when at first we practice to deceive'. So she decided to stick to the truth as closely as possible, besides she really sucked at lying.

"I really don't know how I got here. The last thing I remember is being in my home in California."

Albert saw the truth in her eyes and felt sorry for her. "Maybe in time your memory will return. My wife and I will do all that we can to help you."

"I know this must sound odd to you but could you tell me what the date is?"

He thought how stupid he was, of course she wouldn't know how much time had passed since she was in her home "August 6".

Well that's nice, Willow thought. How am I going to ask him what year? While trying to figure out a way to ask him without him hauling her to Bedlam she glanced down and saw a newspaper on his side of the coach. Looking down through her lashes she tried to read it upside down. August 6, 1888. Great it was awhile before Jack the Ripper struck. Maybe she was supposed to stop him, but wouldn't that alter time drastically? Her head was going to hurt if she kept thinking about all the dos and don'ts associated with time travel.

The coach stopped and the footman came out to open the coach doors. Albert got out and helped Willow down from the coach. She looked up and saw a beautiful town home. This must be where they stay when they come in from their country house.

The butler had the door open and he escorted her inside. Willow just stared at all the beautiful Victorian furnishings. What she would have given to have some of this back in her house instead of the replicas that she had.

"Ian, this is Miss Rosen. She will be staying with us for a while."

Willow just gave a small nod of her head to acknowledge the introduction and a smile.

Ian returned the nod, "Lady Giles is in the sunroom, Sir."

Albert placed his hand on Willow's elbow and guided her to the sunroom. On entering the sunroom Willow saw a lady dressed in a beautiful gown sitting at what looked like a writing desk.

The woman looked up when they entered the room. She smiled when she saw her husband and was curious as to who the pretty red head was.

"Good afternoon, darling. You're home early."

He leaned down and gave his wife a quick kiss on the cheek. "Sir Nigel sent me home to do some research."

"Miss Rosen, may I present my wife Lady Hannah Giles."

Willow gave a shy smile and a curtsey. "It's a pleasure to meet you Lady Giles."

Hannah gave a small curtsey in return. "Welcome to our home, Miss Rosen." She turned curious eyes on her husband.

"My coach almost ran over Miss Rosen this afternoon. When I found out she had no memory of how she came to London I offered her our home."

Willow was watching Hannah and biting her lip hoping that she was just as kind-hearted as Giles.

With concerned eyes she turned back to Willow, "Oh you poor thing. Of course you may stay here."

Out of the corner of her eye Willow caught what looked like a journal. When she was able to get a better look at it she let out a gasp. Everything began to click in her mind and she saw the entry in her mind's eye. . .

'August 6, 1888

My husband found a young woman alone and on the streets today. That in andof itself isn't unusual for there are a lot of women that don't have enoughmoney and must sleep on the streets. Doing charity work for the church Iwitness this all the time. What is unusual is this woman was definitelysomeone of quality. My husband was concerned for her welfare and invited herto stay in our home.'

Oh my god, I'm the young woman found on the streets today.

~~~~~~~

Ethan couldn't believe his bad luck. He landed farther away from Willow than he thought he would and by the time he saw her she was talking to a gentleman. He was too far away to see what he looked like or what they were saying. To his horror she got into the coach and drove off with him. Now how was he going to get to Jack the Ripper through Willow?

Ethan contemplated the ramifications of going to his family home and staying there. When he thought up this plan he didn't think about where to stay for a long period. He had plenty of money to stay in a boarding house for a month but he didn't know how long he would be here.

He wandered around for a while trying to find lodging. It seems it is difficult without a letter of reference. Who knew? What he wouldn't give for a nice 4 star hotel about now. Just as the sun went down he finally found a place to stay for the night.

After eating dinner at a local pub, Ethan decided to walk around George Yard and get his bearings so to speak. His walking stick had a pointed end that was covered with an end cap. He knew never to go anywhere in the dark without a pointed stick. Rounding a corner he thought he heard a scream but it was cut off so quickly he wasn't sure. He came upon an alley and looked down it. He saw a man leaning over the body of a woman.

The man's head came up and yellow eyes stared at him from the dark. He realized he had just seen a vampire. He looked around to see if anyone else was nearby. The vampire stood and looked at Ethan with a calculating smile. That's when it clicked in Ethan's mind . . .

'August 6, 1888

I met an intriguing young man today. He was witness to my killing that womanin George Yard. When I turned my face towards him he didn't seem to besurprised that I am a vampire. I decided not to kill because I recognized akindred spirit in him and I can use his magickal abilities to manipulateothers.'

He was the magickal man that helped Jack the Ripper.

~Part: 5~

Willow had come to learn that the life of a female in late Victorian England was incredibly boring. Even though Hannah Giles was a woman ahead of her time, she read the newspaper and helped her husband with his research, she still led a boring life. No way would Willow take for granted all the opportunities that the women's suffragette movement opened for her when she got back.

If she was talked to like she was an idiot by one more 'gentleman' at a party she was gonna scream.  She had been here almost a month and she had attended party after party. She was still no closer to figuring out why she was here. No one had come to terrorize her and no one was using strong magick. She felt wisps of magick but nothing like she felt when she had been forced here.

Tonight she was attending another boring party. This one was for a daughter of some Earl that was giving a piano recital. The girl was playing her heart out but it really wasn't the best. Willow felt sorry for her, but not sorry enough to suffer through another encore performance. She quietly excused herself and went outside to the garden.

Tomorrow night was August 30. Polly Nichols was going to be murdered by Jack the Ripper at around 3am which technically meant she died on the 31st. Should she go to the East End and try to interfere or let the murders happen on their own. Willow didn't know how much she should try to change the timeline. What if she was able to save Polly but Jack picked another victim? That would wipe out their descendants in one swipe.

Maybe she would go to the East End just to check things out. Maybe not stop the murders but maybe stop more from happening. There had been a day when a double murder happened. What if all of them were supposed to be a double murder and she had stopped the others from happening? God, time travel was way too confusing.

Willow had been thinking about just doing a spell and returning to her own time but she needed to find out why she had been sent here. She knew the magickal wave had been directed at her and not just a coincidence that she got trapped. The sound of polite clapping brought her out of her thoughts.

She went back into the concert room and joined in the applause. Albert saw her return and winked at her. He and Hannah made their way to her side. "Enough time has passed that we can make our polite goodbyes if you're ready."

GOD YES! Willow smiled with relief. "I am a little tired."

Hannah leaned in to whisper, "Not to mention bored."

Willow whispered back, "That, too."

Albert led them over to the Earl and his wife. "Please accept our apologies but we must return home. My wife and Miss Rosen are going to be handing out baskets for the church in the morning and I'm afraid we must call it an early night."

When they returned to the town house Willow retired early saying she really was tired. The Giles sent her curious glances and Willow was beginning to really feel guilty. She had been taking advantage of their generosity and she was starting to feel bad about it.

She couldn't get to sleep so she decided to sneak down to the library and get a book to read. Hopefully that would help her fall asleep. Grabbing her robe, she descended the stairs trying not to wake the others. Looking around the library nothing was peaking her interest. The wall sconce to the left of the last bookshelf had blown out. She debated about lighting it with magick but was afraid that one of the many servants might see her and that was the last thing she needed was for someone here to discover that she was a witch. So she went in search of matches.

Willow finally found some in Albert's desk. Reaching up to light the sconce she found that she was too short. Lifting the sconce from the bottom to bring it down to her level she heard what sounded like a door opening. She turned around to see who had entered the library when she noticed that one of the bookcases had moved to reveal another room. Oh how very gothic novel, Willow thought.

She concentrated and didn't feel any magick so she slowly entered the back room. The bookcase closed behind her and sealed her in the dark. With a flick of her wrist Willow lit the candles. She knew no one would see her here so she didn't feel bad about using her magick. The room was lined with books and there was a desk in the middle. Looking around the room at the books, Willow realized this is where HER Giles had come by his knowledge of all things mystical. There were ancient tomes that Willow recognized from Giles' collection. She suddenly smiled feeling right at home. She made a decision to tell Albert about how she came to be here. She wouldn't tell him about Sunnydale, Hellmouth or witchcraft. She didn't want to screw up in any way HER Giles coming to Sunnydale.

Feeling better about her decision to include Albert she went back upstairs and to bed. She would talk to Albert in the morning. She would leave it up to him whether he told Hannah or not since Willow had no idea if she knew about her husband's mystical side.

Willow rose early the next morning, she wanted to talk to Albert before she and Hannah left to do charity work. She saw Hannah outside in the garden but there was no sign of Albert. Hoping that he hadn't already left she caught sight of Beatrice.

"Excuse me Beatrice, I'm looking for Sir Albert have you seen him this morning?"

"Morning, miss. Sir Albert just came downstairs. He was going towards the library."

Willow smiled, "Thank you". She headed towards the library and tried to figure out how to start the conversation.

She knocked on the door and waited for an answer. "Come in".

She smiled when she saw Albert sitting at his desk writing. "I hope I'm not interrupting but may I speak with you for a moment?"

"Please, come in and have a seat. What can I do for you, Willow?"

Willow didn't take the seat, she was too nervous. Biting her lip and taking a deep breath, it was now or never.

"I haven't been quite truthful with you or Hannah in regard to my coming to England." She looked up to see his expression.

He wore a kind smile and nodded his head. "I knew that from the beginning. I'm glad you trust us enough now to tell us what is bothering you. We would like to honestly try to help you."

She relaxed a bit after that. "I wasn't going to burden you with my problems but last night I made a decision to tell you as much as I could."

"What made you decide last night that you could talk to me?"

OK, here comes the tricky part, Willow thought. "I couldn't sleep last night so I came down here to find a book to relax me." Looking right in his eyes she continued, "I accidentally moved the sconce."

She waited for the dawning knowledge and his reaction. "I see."

Great he was wearing a poker face. Well suck it up and go on. "I'm not from your time."

Well that got a reaction! "What do you mean you're from another time?"

"When I left my house in California the year was 2004."

"How is that possible?"

"Okay, you have books on vampires, demons and other mystical things and you have a problem with my being from another time?"

"Actually, those are my books." Willow turned to see Hannah behind her. Just goes to show that even she could be prejudiced. She never considered that the owner of the mystical books would be a female from this era. She just knew that her mouth was hanging open.

~Part: 6~

Willow closed her mouth. "I'm sorry. I just assumed they belonged to Albert."

Hannah just smiled, "Most people do. Albert's research is academic and mine is mystical. He does help me at times but I'm more of a believer than he is. He keeps me grounded with his skepticism."

Willow thought of Mulder and Scully except they were reversed.

Hannah moved further into the room and gave Albert a quick kiss. She whispered, "Thanks for trying to keep my secret, love." She indicated for Willow to join her on the couch.

"How did you come to our time period?" Hannah asked.

Okay, stick to as close to the truth as possible without revealing her witchcraft. "I think someone sent me into the past but I don't know who or why. I think it might have to do with a series of murders that will take place very soon. In my time they become infamous."

"But if you interfere won't you be changing the timeline for yourself and your reality?"

"That's the fine line I have to walk. I don't know if I changed the timeline originally and what occurs is supposed to occur or I am supposed to change the timeline now and other things occur."

"I understand your dilemma. Is it possible that you were supposed to meet someone here and that's why you got sent back?"

"Actually, I have thought of that." Willow paused not sure if she should tell them about her Giles or not.  Oh well, in for a penny in for a pound. "There is someone that means a great deal to me in my time that I think might become a relative of yours. I really don't think it was a coincidence that I met your husband that day and he kindly took me in."

Albert finally joined in the conversation, "So you think it was fate that brought you into my path? That because this person in your time means a great deal to you, you were thrust into the path of that person's ancestor. Meant to be sort of thing?"

"I think so, the odds alone of that happening have to be extraordinary. I think there is another hand in this." I just hope it is the goddess and not just the one that cast the spell, Willow thought to herself.

~~~~~~~

Ethan couldn't believe his luck. Malcolm had taken him under his wing. Ethan smirked, no wonder he later went by Jack the Ripper. Malcolm the Ripper doesn't quite have the same ring to it.

He and Malcolm were making quite the team. Ethan wasn't involved in the killings, he did have his standards but he did use his magick to subdue the victims. To be able to watch Malcolm's mind work was worth all this trouble. He had a manipulative personality that was poetry to watch. Ethan idly remembered HIS Ripper telling him once about a vampire named Angelus. How he loved to play mind games. Hmmm. I wonder where he is now. Malcolm and Angelus probably would make a very good team...or not. Maybe the egos would get in the way.

Tonight they were going to make their way to Buck's Row in Whitechapel. He had no idea what Polly Nichols looked like but he would let Malcolm pick out his victim. Fate would decide who it was. Ethan wasn't sure if he had already messed up his own timeline already or not. But he figured what the hell, you only got this opportunity once and he was going to play it to the end and not second guess himself.

~~~~

Willow and Hannah had spent the day in Whitechapel. Willow couldn't get over the amount of people that were jam packed into such a small area. Hannah had informed her that sometimes people, especially women, had to sleep in the streets because there was no room for them. Hannah also told her that the reason a lot the women of this time prostituted themselves was to get money so they could find a place to sleep.

"Aren't there shelters to help the poor in London?" Willow asked.

"Well there are workhouses and places like that but they aren't that much better than the streets."

No wonder Jack the Ripper had an easy time finding his victims even after there had been an outcry and people were aware. After walking around Whitechapel all day Willow had made up her mind that she was going back by herself and see what fate or the goddess had in store for her.

When they returned to the church to tell the vicar that they had finished, Willow looked through a box of clothing for the poor. She found some clothes that she thought would work and maybe she could blend in as a street urchin. While Hannah was distracting the vicar by speaking with him Willow quietly hid the clothes in a carpetbag that they had brought. Willow approached Hannah and the vicar and smiled, "Thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity to help."

"You are most welcome, Miss Rosen. We can always use another helping hand."

~~~~~~~

Willow waited until the entire house was asleep. She knew that Hannah and Albert were very concerned for her welfare but she finally convinced them that she could take care of herself and they reluctantly agreed to let her go to Whitechapel alone.

She dressed herself in the borrowed clothes that were too big for her and they made her look a lot younger than she was. Looking at her reflection in the mirror she laughed. She looked like she was about 16 and starving. The clothes just hung on her. Well I won't make an impression on anyone that is for sure, she thought. She checked for easy movement. If she had to fight hand to hand she would need easy movement.

Willow put a stake that she had made up her sleeve for easy access. She hadn't met up with any vampires so far but that didn't mean they weren't here. Whitechapel would be the perfect place to hunt. The poor disappeared and no one cared. As Spike said Happy Meals on legs and Whitechapel would be a veritable smorgasbord.

That was the first time she allowed herself to think of Spike since this whole thing began. She wondered where he had been in 1888 and what he would have been like. She knew that Dru had turned him in 1880 so he would still be a baby vamp. She grinned to herself thinking of his reaction to her baby vamp remark. He hadn't killed his first slayer until 1900 so he wouldn't be that powerful yet.

She quietly left the town house and made her way to Whitechapel. It was teeming with people and Willow got a little discouraged. There was no way she would be able to find Polly Nichols here and she wasn't going to just sit where she knew the murder would take place. That would be a little suspicious. So instead she concentrated on magick hoping that whoever cast the spell would be here as well and use magick. Hopefully she could catch him that way, kind of like a magick divining rod.

It was getting close to 3:30 in the morning when Willow felt a small magick pull in the direction of Bucks Row. Gotcha, she thought and went in that direction. As she turned the corner she spotted a man with curly brown hair ahead of her. She was pretty sure the descriptions of Jack the Ripper was that he was dark and in one instance Jewish looking. Which made no sense. What was Jewish looking? In her case it was red hair and green eyes and in the case of one of her friends it was blond hair and blue eyes. Go figure. She watched the man closely anyway just in case. She didn't feel magick from him but she did feel uneasy in his presence. When he walked under a street lamp he stopped and turned in her direction. She let out a gasp. She would recognize those cheekbones and eyes anywhere. SPIKE!

She began to panic. Oh my god . . . am I supposed to meet him now or later. Shit, I definitely don't want to screw up my timeline with Spike! There was no help for it he was coming her way.

She was no longer shy, scared Willow that had first met Spike in high school. She was badass Wicca Willow that almost sent the world to hell and helped him come out of his insanity so he better watch out. Maybe if she kept telling herself that she would begin to believe it too.

"Well, well. What have we here? Seems a little girl has lost her way." He said as he got closer to Willow.

She just rolled her eyes and thought next thing you know he'll be saying 'Look into my eyes '.

He made like he was sniffing the air, "Mmmm, just smell that delicious aroma of fear."

He had mistaken her fear of screwing up their timeline for the fear of a vampire. Ok, screw this. Time to show Spike what fear is.

Willow pretended to be afraid and ran into a dark alley knowing the thrill of the hunt would have Spike following. Plus she didn't want to do her magick under the street lamp where anyone could see.

"Come out, come out where ever you are. I know you're in here little girl."

Willow smirked, she'd show him little girl. She kicked her foot out to make noise so he could find her. He grabbed her arm and she screamed. Better to fool you my dear, she thought.

"Well, you'll make a nice tasty morsel."

"Wwhat do you mean tasty morsel?"

"You see, I'm a vampire and you're my meal", he said like he was talking to someone not quite bright.

"Who are you?" Willow wanted to know if he had gotten the nickname Spike yet. She didn't think so but she wasn't sure.

"I'm known as William the Bloody" he leered at her.

Willow tried not to laugh. She lowered her eyes like she was scared so he wouldn't see the twinkle. Once she got herself under control, she let some of her power slip forward so he could feel it.

"Well, William . . .Release."

With that William was no longer holding Willow. "Freeze" William stood frozen to the spot not being able to move.

"What the bloody hell is this?"

Willow just smirked.

~Part: 7~

William couldn't believe that this little slip of a girl in front of him had tricked him. HIM, William the bloody, had been tricked by what looked like a teenager. He was beginning to think that the petite little pixie had claws. She was silently contemplating him and it was starting to make him nervous. Not to mention the fact that he couldn't move. His grandsire Angelus had been training him over the years having taken over from Dru who wasn't quite up to it. In all the lessons that he received he didn't think don't piss off a witch was one of them. He'd have to improvise and hope his family never heard of this.

He had been cocky and told them he was perfectly fine hunting on his own. Whitechapel was easy pickings and what trouble could he get into?

Willow was silently watching Spike. What am I supposed to do now? Should I let him go and try to avoid him the rest of the time I'm here and hope he forgets about me or has the damage already been done and just go with it? Willow opted for the second option. She figured the timeline had already been screwed up if not by her then by the one that cast the spell. This may be her only time with Spike and she would take advantage of it.

"So you thought I would make a tasty morsel?" Willow finally asked.

That surprised him. His mind rapidly thinking of something to say to get him out of this. Flattery, all women liked flattery. They were stupid enough to fall for a glib tongue. Angelus was proof of that. He used flattery to lure his victims every time. He decided to give it a try.

"I heard you behind me and when I turned I saw the lamp shining off of your beautiful red hair. The moon was reflecting off of your porcelain white skin and I couldn't resist."

Willow rolled her eyes. "You were so taken with my beauty that you decided to kill me? Oh yeah, I'm flattered."

William tried another tactic. "You wouldn't have stayed dead for long."

Oh that was really the wrong thing to say. That just reminded her of that time in her dorm room. He was playing me even then, she thought. It had worked then but it wasn't going to work now. She was older and wiser. She narrowed her eyes at him and let more power escape.

William literally swallowed hard. He had no idea what he had said that pissed her off even more. He thought he was complimenting her on the fact that he would have turned her. Yeah he just said the first thing that came to mind but now that he thought about it she would make a wonderful childe. Maybe he would talk to Dru and Angelus about that. He could sense a darkness in her and it was thrilling.

"Now, Red. Don't do anything drastic here. That was a compliment. It's not like I turn everyone I meet. As a matter of fact, you're the first one I thought about turning. I see a darkness in you that is exciting. That darkness and your power would make an unstoppable combination."

Willow knew in William's eyes that was a compliment so she let it slide. The fact that he sensed her darkness even now when she had been trying so hard to overcome it was a little discouraging. She guessed it would be a part of her like the demon and soul resided in her Spike forever.

William was becoming fascinated with his witch. Yeah, he thought of her as his witch now. He decided he could work on her and maybe recruit Angelus who was good at this sort of thing. The witch had a stronger mind and personality than Dru did when Angelus had turned her. He didn't think Angelus would break his witch and he would be there to make sure he didn't. As much as he cared for Dru, one crazy in the family was enough.

Willow saw a plan forming in his eyes but she had no idea what it was. Maybe I can manipulate him into helping me with the Ripper thing, she thought. "Release". She turned her back to him and went out the alley. She knew he would follow but she wanted to show him that she didn't fear him. Not many people would turn their back on a vampire.

"Hey, Red. Wait up." He couldn't let his witch get away from him. When he got along side her he asked, "What's your name? I can't keep calling you Red."

She stopped and looked at him. Looking into his eyes she could see the spark of the Spike he would become. "Willow, my name is Willow."

"A pretty name for a pretty girl."

Willow snorted. "Yeah, right."

"No really. Though you hide yourself under those baggy clothes I can tell what you're really like. Where are we going?"

Willow raised an eyebrow, "I'm going up to Bucks Row where I felt magick earlier."

William kept walking alongside her like she hadn't just said I instead of we. "You hunting another witch?"

"I'm hunting a human actually."

"Well I can help you there. I'm good at hunting humans."

Willow smiled, "I just bet you are. Why would you want to help me?"

He didn't think 'cause I want to find a way to convince you to let me turn you would be the right answer. He decided to stick close to the truth anyway, "You fascinate me and I think I could learn from you."

Hmm. A chance to form baby Spike. That would be interesting. She could definitely help him become snarky Spike. She liked that version of him the best. True he had been scary in high school but it was better than stalker/crazy Spike of the later years. Actually the latest version of snarky/souled Spike was the best. I'll have to think about that one.

"Okay, can you smell any blood in the area? I don't feel the slight pull of magick anymore."

William stopped and smelled the air. "There is a slight trace of blood over there." He pointed to the next street over.

About that time there was a shout, "Run at once for Dr. Llewellyn".

Crap the murder and discovery had already taken place. Willow sprinted towards the sound with William close at her heels. They came upon the scene just as a police constable was leaving Essex Warf. Willow saw a woman lying by a gateway with her hand clutching the gate. Willow heard running feet and with William went to stand in the shadows and watch.

The doctor looked at the woman and then said, "Move her to the mortuary. She is dead, and I will make a further examination of her."

When they loaded her up in the ambulance that arrived, Willow went to look around the scene before the Inspectors came. She noticed only a pool of blood that must have been from her neck wound. She turned to William, "Do you see any blood besides this?" She knew all the victims had been disemboweled and she didn't see the amount of blood that should be there.

"Nope, not even further down. That's all of it."

Very curious, Willow thought. Why wasn't there much blood? Only around the slashing of the neck. Too bad there weren't any computers yet, so she could hack into the coroner's office to see what they found. The police didn't even have modern forensic science to help them now.

"Well, not much I can do here."

"Is this the human that you were hunting?"

"No, but I think the human that I'm hunting did this."

William didn't understand the human that did that. Vampires see humans as food. Sure it's fun to torture the food before killing them but that is just to add to the taste. Fear makes the food taste so much better. But from the look on the woman's face there had been no fear at the time of death. Why bother killing her at all? She obviously had no money and it hadn't looked like a crime of passion. His witch seemed to be concerned that there wasn't the amount of blood that she was expecting. Why was that?

"Why did you ask about more blood, luv?"

Willow was brought out of her thoughts by William's question. "I saw this happening before it did. What I saw was that she had been disemboweled as well. Where is the blood from that?" She looked up at the lightening sky, "Shouldn't you be getting back to wherever you're staying? It's almost dawn."

William looked at the sky, he would have to leave soon but he couldn't lose his witch. "I have a little time, witch. I would like to see you again."

Willow smiled, hook line and sinker. Not that she would tell him where she was staying. She wouldn't have anything happen to the Giles. "I'm staying with friends in the West End but I'll be back in the Whitechapel area again. I'll see you here."

William thought the West End. Not that many red haired women around, he would make inquiries around the area to see where she was staying. He wouldn't wait for her to find him. He never was long on patience.

~~~~~

Ethan stood in the shadows watching Willow. Malcolm had left after the murder and he had stayed to watch the police. He couldn't believe it when Willow had come running up with the brown haired man. His luck was definitely changing. He had overheard the last part of the conversation and now he knew that she was staying in the West End. He would have to keep an eye on her.

The words from the police/doctor at the crime scene are a direct quote fromthe inquest documents that can be found at www.casebook.org.

~Part: 8~

Willow waited until William left and for the sun to be up before she left the area. She didn't want to take any chances of him following her. She knew he wouldn't just let it rest that she hadn't told him where she was staying. Patience had never been his strong suite since Willow knew him and she doubted he ever was patient.

She made her way back to the Giles residence. She would ask Hannah if she could use her books for research. Willow was beginning to think maybe Jack the Ripper hadn't been human. The lack of blood at the crime scene was suspicious and since William couldn't smell blood nearby that pretty much ruled out being murdered somewhere else and then being transferred to Bucks Row.

Willow snuck back in the house and blessed the rich for always partying late and sleeping in. She wouldn't raise any eyebrows among the staff if she slept until the afternoon. She easily avoided the servants that were up and working and made her way up the stairs. She crawled into bed and got some sleep.

Hannah looked up from her writing desk when she heard Willow enter the sunroom. "Were you successful last night?"

"No, I'm afraid not. The first murder happened as it was meant to be. There was something strange at the crime scene and if it is alright with you I would like to look through your books to see if I can find something that would explain it."

"You think the murder may have a mystical side to it?"

"I'm not sure but there definitely was a lack of blood. There should have been way more blood there."

Hannah brought Willow the paper. "There is a small article about a body found on Bucks Row. Is this your murder victim?"

Willow glanced at the article. "That's her."

"Albert says there will most likely be an inquest tomorrow. He has some connections and may be able to find out something for you."

"Thanks, Hannah. That would be very helpful." Willow wasn't going to mention that she knew all there was to know already. These were pretty famous cases but of course there could be something that didn't make the history books. "Do you know of any demon that disembowels his victims?"

Hannah turned a sickly shade of green. Willow kept forgetting that even though she may research things mystical she still was a lady of her times. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have just blurted that out."

"No, that is quite alright. I just wasn't expecting that. The paper just mentioned her throat being cut. I don't know of any demons off hand but let's see what we can find out." Hannah rose and motioned Willow to follow her into the library.

~~~

Ethan came up empty when he had tried to find if there had been a recent arrival of a red haired American. If anyone knew anything no one was talking, at least not to him. He had given up after about the seventh person he asked. Obviously he wasn't meant to find Willow. But if their paths crossed again he would be prepared.

He debated about telling Malcolm that a witch knew about his recent killings but he knew he could handle Willow. No need to bother Ripper unless he needed to. Sometimes there was a madness in his eyes that Ethan had a healthy respect for. No need to have that madness directed at him. Even spending almost a month with Ripper he still couldn't figure him out. He had no idea why he picked the victims that he picked or what he was doing with their viscera. Last night was the first time he had taken it, the other times he hadn't touched it. Ethan had asked why he slit their throats after he killed them. His response had been that he didn't want anyone to know that a vampire was killing them. He slit their throats to cover up his bite marks.

Ethan quietly entered an abandoned building on the wharf that Malcolm was using as his lair. Ethan looked around and saw a jar on a shelf that hadn't been there earlier. Getting a closer look he almost gagged. Floating in the jar was what looked like a piece of intestine. Now he knew what Malcolm was doing with the viscera. It seems the vampire liked his trophies.

~~~~~~~

Willow sighed as she closed yet another book that was of no help unless it was to rule out something. Hannah looked over at her friend and sympathized. "I'm sorry, Willow. These books don't seem to be of much help."

She smiled at Hannah, "It was a long shot anyway. There may be another reason why there wasn't much blood at the site. I would have thought vampire draining the victim but why would a vampire slit the throat and disembowel. No reason to. Maybe it is a sick human after all."

Hannah mumbled, "Or a sick vampire."

Willow just looked at her and couldn't believe she hadn't thought of that herself. She even knew that mad vampires existed, Dru for example. Not that she thought Dru was the Ripper but that just proved that there were such things as insane vampires. Wasn't there a saying about there is a fine line between madness and genius?

"You're brilliant, Hannah. I think it just might be an insane vampire."

~~~~~~

"Alright, boy. Where is this beautiful red head witch that will make a most charming childe?" Angelus asked William. He thought William had made it up for the purpose of looking good in his eyes. That was something that Angelus planned to cure him of. He was always seeking approval. Sometimes that can be a good thing but it could also be bloody annoying if he kept it up constantly. He was starting to be like Dru, always seeking her daddy's approval.

"I don't know that do I? I already told you that she just told me the West End. I planned on asking around, maybe torturing a few maids until I found her." Stupid git, William thought.

"My childe seeks his red pixie. Fear not, my William you will find what you seek. The stars have sent her as a gift to you, now and later." Dru sing songed.

Angelus just rolled his eyes. What was Dru babbling about now? There were times when he regretted driving her insane before turning her. He never regretted turning her just the insanity part. "Well, if she's so important to you, William and if she is as powerful as you say let's take a trip to the West End. I've always had a fondness for rich food."

~~~~

Willow wanted to take a walk to clear her mind. She slipped a stake up the sleeve of her blue evening gown. The Giles had gone to yet another party but she had declined to go. She knew Ripper wouldn't strike again until the 8th so she didn't need to go to Whitechapel. There were plenty of constables and street lamps kept the neighborhood well lit. Besides she could take care of herself and muggings in this area of London were very rare.

William and Angel were watching the people arriving at a house party. So many to choose from, where to begin they thought. William just happened to look up across the street and see a beautiful red head in a blue evening gown. That can't be my Red, he thought. His Red was a teenager or maybe 18. But there was something about the way she moved. He waited until she walked under a street lamp to see if he could see her features more clearly.

Willow paused under the light. There was something familiar about the two men getting ready to enter the house party. CRAP! It was William and Angel. Oh, this was bad, this was very bad. She hadn't expected William to tell Angel about her. Now not only will she screw up her timeline with Spike she probably screwed up Buffy's timeline with Angel.

William saw her pause under the street lamp and he was able to get a good look at her features. It was his Red. He let a slow smile cross his face. Well, well she was older than he thought. That was even better. Maybe he would try seduction to get her to let him turn her.

Angel saw the smile cross his grandchilde's face and turned to see who he was looking at. He saw her and stared. She was beautiful. He closed his eyes and just felt her power. William was right she would make a nice addition to their family. "Well, let's go meet your witch, William."

~Part: 9~

Willow watched with trepidation as Angel and William walked towards her, well actually they were stalking closer.  Willow's mind was racing trying to figure out how to get out of this mess she somehow found herself in. Why would William have told Angel about her? She thought she had embarrassed him enough that he wouldn't have told anyone. Oh god, had he been telling her the truth about turning her? Crap, she thought he was just saying that. She could sweet talk her way around Angel but Angelus scared the crap out of her, even with her powers.

William and Angel smiled as they smelled her fear, it was intoxicating. This is the second time he had put fear in the powerful witch, William thought. He could become even more powerful than Angelus if he kept this up.

Angelus could tell the red head was frightened but she didn't back away or lower her eyes. She bravely stood and waited for them to come closer. He was impressed with both the witch and his grandchilde for seeing her potential.

Willow prayed to her goddess to protect her and give her wisdom. While she watched them come closer she suddenly felt calm knowing what she could do if she chose. Fate had decreed certain things to occur, Spike and Angel would get souls. In HER timeline Angel would get his through a gypsy curse and Spike through trial and tribulation. She was filled with the knowledge that no matter what she did or didn't do they were fated to get souls, even in all the multiple timelines. She had the power to give them their souls now, to blend the line between demon and soul. It wouldn't be a curse with a stipulation. It would be the melding of soul and demon. Light and dark would forever reside in them. One side would not be dominant over the other. She could use that if she had to.

"Good evening, Willow" William said as he drew closer.

Willow just nodded a greeting and didn't take her eyes off Angelus.

Angelus smiled. She was fascinated already, he thought. She can't take her eyes off me, she will be so easy to take away from William and turn. She would make a magnificent childe, much better legacy than Drusilla.

William watched Willow and Angelus with narrowed eyes. His demon was not happy with the way Angelus was looking at his Willow. Didn't his grandsire know that she was his?  She would be his childe to mold and train as Angelus had him. He had visions of Dru and his red witch with him throughout eternity.

"William, aren't you going to introduce me to this lovely lady?" Angelus asked.

"Angelus, this is Willow. The woman I met last night."

Angelus took Willow's hand and brought it up to his lips to kiss. "Pleasure to meet you."

Said the spider to the fly, Willow thought. Oh man and I thought his ego was big back in Sunnydale. He really thinks that works? She smiled at Angelus she now had a plan.

Willow turned to William, "I wasn't expecting to see you so soon. Were you so taken with my company last night that you had to seek me out?"

"I told you I wanted to see you again. I told Angelus about you and he was anxious to meet you as well."

She turned to Angelus and bit her lip like she was considering something. "You wouldn't . . . no you probably don't know. Never mind."

"What is it little one?"

"Well, I have this problem. I thought I was hunting a human last night but I think now he might not be. You wouldn't happen to know of a very dangerous vampire in the area would you? Sort of a Master of the City or something?"

Willow watched as Angelus' ego dealt with the fact she didn't think it could possibly be him and smiled inwardly.

"Why do you think it might be a vampire, luv?" William asked.

"Well, the lack of blood last night. She had been disemboweled and there wasn't much blood. I figured only a vampire of great power would not leave any trace and could disappear without anyone hearing or seeing anything."

"Why do you think it was vampire? It could be a demon." Angelus said not wanting to think there could be a stronger vampire out there.

"I ruled out a demon but seeing you two, I thought that maybe two strong and smart vampires could surely help me find the vampire I'm looking for."

"Why do you hunt this vampire anyway?" Angelus asked.

"I'm not sure you could handle my answer."

"Aw come on, Red. We know evil and it's not like we don't know you're a witch. Need his insides to do a complicated spell?" William said.

Willow smiled, "No. Someone attacked me with magick and I want to know who and why I was brought here?"

William felt his demon getting restless. Someone had attacked his witch totally forgetting that he had planned to kill her just last night.

"Brought here?" Angelus asked.

Oh well, now or never. "I'm not from this time. Someone did a spell that brought me from my time to yours."

Angelus snorted, "And I thought Dru was crazy."

Willow and William both said, "HEY!"

"Fine Mr. Won't Believe Until You See It." She lifted the sleeve of her dress up just enough for them to see the digital wristwatch she had been wearing when she had been sucked into the time portal.

Angelus just blinked at the strange object she was wearing on her wrist. What type of bracelet was that? "What is that?"

"It is a watch. What you would call a timepiece. It tells the time. See here" she pressed the light button, "this lights up the numbers so you can see. It says 11:30pm."

"Do you think this vampire is responsible for bringing you here?" Angelus asked.

"No, I don't think so. I don't know of a magickal vampire in my time and the attack was directed at me. I think a human from my time sent me back. I just don't know who or why."

"Do you think they came back with you? Sort of two for the price of one."

"It's possible but I haven't seen anyone I recognized except you two." OH SHIT, Willow thought. I can't believe I just said that.

Angelus pounced on it, "You know us from your time?"

Crap, crap, crap, crap. Feed his ego! "Most of my friends have heard of both Angelus and William. You are quite famous where I come from."

Wiggling his eyebrows William asked, "Are we family?"

Looking at both William and Angelus she answered truthfully, "I consider the two of you my family in my time."

Yes William thought, I knew I would turn her.

Yes Angelus thought, I knew I would turn her.

Neither William nor Angelus liked the idea of someone using magick to attack their witch. As soon as they took care of this vampire Willow was hunting and the human that had attacked her they each thought they would turn her.

Angelus thought about turning her now and they could all hunt the vampire but he wanted her to be turned of her own free will. Dru was an example of what could happen if turned against their will and one Dru was enough in any family.

"We'll help you hunt this vampire and human but we want something in return." Angelus said.

Willow eyed him suspiciously, "What?"

"You say, we're your family in your time. Well if we help you, when it's over you become part of our family."

Willow pretended to think about it, "Okay, deal."

Angelus smirked thinking he had her right where he wanted her.

Willow smirked and thought, I never said I'd be part of your family in this time and when I get back to my time I'm sure I'll still feel that you're part of my family.

~Part: 10~

As Willow lay in bed she breathed a sigh of relief that she had gotten through her meeting with Angel and Spike without bloodshed. She wondered how long it would take Angelus to realize that when she said they were family she hadn't meant literally. She had seen the gleam in their eyes when she said they were family and knew what they were thinking. They were probably plotting now on how to turn her before they caught the vampire. Maybe if she used the excuse of waiting for her magick to get more powerful and that time is relative she could put them off.

Willow thought about Dru and the fact that she was a wild card. She may be insane but she knew things. Angel had told her once that it was Dru that told him Jenny was close to figuring out the curse. She just hoped that Dru wouldn't figure out that she had no intention of becoming a vampire now or later or that the ace up her sleeve was she that could be all soul giving.

She wasn't sure about Dru and William's relationship either. She knew he cared for her but he had only been a vampire 8 years so maybe it hadn't developed into the obsession that she knew. He seemed to flirt with her and want to spend eternity with her so that would be a plus.

Willow didn't think she was here to stop Jack the Ripper from killing the victims that had become infamous otherwise she would have been able to stop the first one instead of running into William. She knew that she was sent here deliberately but just maybe the outcome has changed. Maybe her goddess had changed this adventure in Willow's favor. She just wished she knew who sent her.

Willow's eyes popped open. Duh, Scrye. Willow scrambled out of bed and quietly crept up to the attic so she wouldn't be disturbed nor would she disturb others.

She cast a protective circle and lit the candles in the surrounding area. She brought out a bowl that she had found earlier in the attic. She filled it with water, raised her arms and said a simple chant. The water began to ripple and Willow was able to see images in the bowl. She saw herself trying on the dress in her attic at home. The next scene was a man dressed as a gentleman of the late 19th century but there was an older gentleman near him dressed in modern clothes. He looked familiar but she couldn't place where she had seen him. She saw the younger man take out a scrap of cloth and begin to cast the spell. When he looked up she was finally able to see his face. ETHAN. Why would Ethan Rayne involve her in his time travel spell? She waved her hand over the water again and it returned to clear. She gave a prayer of thanks to her goddess for answering the questions that she had.

Willow quietly made her way back down towards her room. She would think about the implications of what she had seen later when she had a clear mind.

~~~~

She had been able to avoid William and Angel for the last few days but she knew that Annie Chapman's body would be found tomorrow morning. There was no help for it she would be spending the early morning hours in Whitechapel and she just knew with her luck she would run into them. She just hoped it was William that she met.

Albert had attended the inquest into Polly Nichols death but unfortunately hadn't been able to find out anything helpful. It wouldn't be until more were killed that they were able to connect the murders anyway. Willow had tried to do a location spell to try to find Ethan but she had come up empty. Who knew there were so many witches in London? The crystal had just circled and landed over a lot of neighborhoods on the map of London that Albert had in his study. She had given up but would be prepared if their paths crossed.

She wasn't going to bother with a disguise anymore but she would wear clothes that would let her blend into the East End. Willow knew that she couldn't keep borrowing clothes from the poor box at church, sooner or later someone would notice. Hannah had overheard one of the upstairs maids discussing where they bought their clothes so Hannah and Willow went to the dressmakers a couple of days ago and ordered clothes for their "maids" as a gift. Hopefully that wouldn't raise eyebrows and maybe more of the WestEnders would become more generous with their staff. Willow planned to give all her clothes, when she returned, to Beatrice who had become her personal maid and a friend. They were about the same size and she knew that Beatrice would appreciate them. Beatrice had been saving money to send back to her parents to help with her younger brothers and sisters so she wasn't able to afford new clothes.

Willow changed into one of the dresses that Hannah had picked up yesterday. She looked at herself in the mirror and thought, well it was better than the first outfit anyway. She would be glad to be able to wear Jeans or shorts or even short skirts again. All the layers of clothes that women wore were suffocating. She wondered how bad it would be if she introduced the mini skirt about 70 years before it was supposed to be introduced.

She made her way to the Whitechapel area and saw the pub Ten Bells. As good a place as any to hang out. She knew that the next victims after Annie were the double murders. Elizabeth Stride spent some of her time here maybe she would be able to see her.

Willow sat down at a table in the back so she would have a good view of the pub. A barmaid took her drink order and Willow watched the people drinking and laughing. She jumped when she heard a voice in her ear say, "Buy you a drink pretty lady?"

Darn vampires always sneaking up on you. Willow turned her head and looked straight into piercing blue eyes. She seemed to be drowning in them. Her brain was sending her mouth words to say but her mouth wasn't cooperating. William just smiled and sat down next to Willow.

The barmaid returned with Willow's drink and took Williams' order. "How did you find me William?"

"Luck actually. I came here for a little early morning snack when I saw you in the doorway."

Willow absorbed this information. It seems with no trying on either of their parts they were being brought together. It must be fate and one of those meant to bes in all the multi timelines. That thought filled her with a warmth that she was meant to at least be friends with William . . . maybe more.

"Where's Angelus?"

William narrowed his eyes, "Why?"

Willow smiled and laid her hand on his arm, "Just wondering if I had you all to myself or if I had to share."

William smiled his relief, "Just me, luv. Angelus' had to leave for a little while with Darla." He placed his hand over Willow's and held it there before she could remove it.

She had totally forgotten about Darla. She wasn't sure if she would be able to meet Darla and not want to stake her. That would be a win-win situation, though. Darla wouldn't be able to harm Jesse and she would be dead before Wolfram and Hart ever existed or heard of her. True that meant no Connor but oh well. Or maybe Angel could have Conner with Dru. That would solve her William problem, too. Yep that was a win-win situation.

"You alright?" William was concerned with Willow being so quiet.

She smiled brightly, "Yep, just thinking."

"'Bout what?"

Killing Darla. "Fate."

"You think we were fated to meet? Dru said something the other night about me finding my red pixie. That you were a gift from the stars now and later."

"Do you feel that way? That I'm a gift?" She couldn't resist asking.

William just looked into her eyes for a moment and then began to lean forward giving her time to pull away. Willow watched as William leaned closer and thought YES I finally get to kiss Spike. That was the last thought she had as William's lips met hers.

She didn't know what she was expecting but this soft, gentle kiss wasn't it. It made butterflies leap in her stomach and her toes curl. Her hand slowly moved up his arm to caress his hair at the nape of his neck. Too bad she had to breathe soon. She reluctantly pulled away to catch her breath.

William looked into her eyes that had turned a darker shade of green and thought I may have started out to seduce her so I could turn her more easily but that changed with the kiss. Oh he still planned on turning her but the seduction was going to be a separate part now.

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