Half of the day was already gone as the group trekked through the tunnels up towards the top of the mountain. The first six hours were surprisingly made in silence as they all walked in pairs and made the line through the caves towards the top. Sprite and Anya at the front, Willow and Spike next and Xander and Riley last. Already they'd barely missed having a run-in with a group of killer butterflies, giant frogs- to which Willow had seen and passed out- having to be carried away to safety by Spike, deadly thorn bushes that wanted to latch onto them to kill them, two-headed monkeys that spat venom and lastly a troll. Still, no one talked. That gave all the more reason for everyone to jump when Xander sneezed. "Bless you." The girls all chimed at once.

"I'm... blessed." Xander replied unsurely.

"I'm tired. Can we stop for a while?" Willow asked with a sigh. Spike sat, leaning back against the rock wall and indicating for her to follow. He let her lay down, resting her head in his lap.

"Yeah, fair go. They're only mortal." Spike piped up.

"Are you kidding me? I just kept walking because no one spoke up. God, I've been wanting a break for ever!" Sprite said, collapsing onto the ground. "Man, if I'd known..." She drifted off, looking into a cave not far off.

Anya crawled over to her, too tired to walk, and looked to where she saw the girl looking. "A dragon. What about it?"

"It's Fille Dragon." She replied with a smile.

Willow looked up at Spike with a pout. "Dragon girl. French if you 'aven't noticed. They're peaceful. Bad temper at times but peaceful enough, Ducks. Shape-shiftin' girls. Kinda like you but in a natural non-government secret labratory kind of way. Nothin' to worry about." He stroked her hair until her eyes closed then gave Sprite a questioning look. <Right?> He mentally asked.

Sprite noticed his look and nodded. "I'm just going to go say 'hi'. Come on, Anyaka. Time to introduce you to Elita." She said, standing up and
pulling at Anya's hand.

"Is everything in my life going to become French or is this just a phase?" Willow asked with a smile.

"Don't know. Depends on if you've changed your mind on me teachin' you French, Luv." Spike replied, looking down at her.

"Woah, wait, Deadboy junior knows French? Since when?" Xander asked with shock.

"Since I lived in France for a few years, Whelp." Spike replied.

"I thought you two had a truce." Willow said with a yawn as she started to drift off.

Spike stroked her hair. "Yeah, Pet, we do." She was asleep. "It's called Willow."

Riley and Xander both smiled, looking at each other. "Oh yeah. He's got it bad." Xander stated aloud.

The vampire looked up, tilting his head to the side. "You. You like Willow. It's obvious." Riley said.

"'Ey, can we keep this down? She's just sleeping not in a bloody coma." The blond vampire replied as he tried to get the red head sleeping on his lap into a more comfortable position. "Besides, she's mortal... I'm a vampire. Vampires kill mortals and..."

"And you're 'best friends' with one?" Xander spoke with a smirk.

"Bugger off the both of you." Spike ordered as he pointed a warning finger at them. "Keep your noses out of other people's business."

"Then I guess we shouldn't tell him about how we know he was trying to get Willow jealous by using Anya, huh?" Riley thought aloud with a shrug.

Spike looked up. "Xander..." He said in a warning growl.

"I didn't say! Neither did Anya! We were, uh, busy." The boy started going a little pink over the cheeks.

"Why do you think I teamed up with Willow?"

"You teamed up?" The other blond asked.

"Yeah. If you were allowed to do it so are we. She doesn't know you like her. In fact, I think she thinks you don't want anything more than friendship because she's human."

"Bollocks."

Xander crouched down near Spike and Willow, looking down at the sleeping girl. "You know she's innocent when it comes to things like this. Half of the things you do or say she'll just be thinking it's friendship. Make the first move."

"Ahem!" Anya said from nearby, giving Xander a look. "Sex. Now." She said, indicating him to 'come over' with her finger. "Riley, she wants you to go meet her friend now."

The brunette boy shrugged, walking away with her around a corner. Riley went into the cave. "But everyone's just around the corner." Xander
whined in a whisper.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Anya hissed. "We're not supposed to directly interfere! Not even Cupid or Sprite are directly interfering!"

"Wait. Cupid?" Xander asked in confusion.

"You know their little dog? Spike Junior? Well, it's a long story..."

*^*^*

Willow started to stir, Spike still stroking her hair. She looked up and saw him smile down at her. "Oh god, I'm sorry." She said, going to sit up.

Spike gently pushed her head back onto his lap. "Rest, Pet. It's been a long day."

"Do you know how long until we reach the top?" She asked, stifling a yawn.

"I'll ask Sprite when she gets back with Farm boy." He looked up, seeing Sprite and Riley there with another girl. "Oh... hi." He greeted, not knowing what else to say. "Riley. How long've you been there?"

"Long enough to know I have fuzzy little nicknames." The college student replied, crossing his arms over his chest.

Willow snickered as she sat up. "Who's this?" She asked, pointing at the new girl.

"Kitty Cat, this is Elita. Elita, meet Kitty Cat and her boy to- uh, best friend William." Sprite said with a smile.

"William as in William the Bloody?" Elita asked, stepping forward.

"William the Bloody gorgeous." Sprite coughed out, looking around innocently before grinning at Willow.

"I've heard a lot about you William." Elita grinned. "Sprite tends to have a big mouth. Don't you, Sprite?"

The nymph's elbow dug into Elita's side. "Hush." She growled.

"I will show you to the top of the mountain. I'll call for temporary shadow so William can go also, then I'm afraid we must leave. The trolls are doing their annual mountain scouting. Anyone caught here will die." She said, walking further away towards where Anya and Xander had gone, she stopped short of the corner. "I'll wait."

"Why?" Willow asked.

"I'm sure you can smell it from there." Elita said, turning to smile. "Another person you have yet to introduce me to." She said a little louder.

A few moments later Anya and Xander came around, their clothes and hair messed up. Willow giggled. Spike indicated for Xander's zipper which he
did up quickly. "Sarcasm Man, this is Elita. Fille Dragon."

"Hey, I'm Xander. Sarcasm Man at your service." He said, holding out his hand for a hand shake.

Anya elbowed him. "I thought you were there for *my* service *only*!"

"Oh, Anya, honey, I didn't mean it like *that*."

Elita and Sprite started walking up the tunnel with the others following, Anya and Xander were fighting at the end.

There was a rock blocking the end of the tunnel, both nymphs raised their hands and it disappeared, letting sunlight pour in but not far enough to reach Spike. Elita walked out and a few moments later came back in. "Well? Why isn't it dark?" Anya asked.

"He has a half an hour of sunlight. When that time is up his shield will be gone. It goes with the sun-setting." Elita cleared as she motioned for him to go with her.

Unsurely Spike put a foot into the light then stretched out his arm into the rays. Nothing happened. He smiled widely, still cautious of the gift but grateful all the same. He stepped fully into the light, turning back to see Willow with happy tears in her eyes. He held out a hand to her and pulled her outside onto the top clearing of the cliff with him. 20 feet squared was the entire top of the mountain, the corner where the door was all rock. Two sides of the 'walls' were rock, while the other two could let you see everything in sight. "Spike." Willow called with a smile. "You're in the sun."

"I know that, Pet." He replied, pulling her over near the edge. "Half an hour to get a tan." He sighed.

"Get a tanning bed." Willow groaned. "This is for fun." She added.

Spike let go of her hand and put his arm around her shoulder, resting his cheek on the top of her head as she wrapped her arms around his waist. "Glad you could share this with me, petit chat."

"So am I." She replied, the few remaining tears soaked into his shirt. "But... I need a special name for you." She looked up at him.

"What? Spike isn't special enough?"

"Everyone calls you 'Spike'. I want a special name. Nothing French because I won't remember it." She thought for a few moments then smiled
widely. "Maybe I should call you Sunshine." Her smile turned to a grin.

"Or not." He said. "Had a dog called Sunshine once. Year or two ago in fact." He hinted.

She understood what he was trying to say. <Dru got him the dog. Well, at least he doesn't want a name that reminds him of her.> "Knight." She
grinned.

"Great. I'm dark and starry." He said sarcastically.

"No, knight. As in shining armour, riding a horse, saving damsels in distress. Except, in your case it would be wearing a leather duster, driving a DeSoto and living with a witch." They both laughed. "You're my knight in a shiny duster." The girl giggled.

"Am I really your knight?"

"Yup. If I were Guineviere you'd be Lancelot."

"Uh, that can't get any sweeter." Sprite said from 2 metres away as she talked to Anya and Elita.

Both other girls sighed. "I wish I had a man like that." Elita confessed.

"I wish Xander was like that." Anya added.

"Don't tell Xander you said that." Sprite said, looking at the girl beside her.

Anya smiled. "I won't. He doesn't like it when I compare him to Spike."

Elita giggled. "Wait a minute. Watch this." The dragon-girl held out her hand, letting little sparks go from the palm as the sun began setting. She blew across her hands, letting the sparks fly towards the two. Before the tiny sparks had reached them, Spike looked down at the girl in his arms and gave her a small kiss on the lips before turning to look back at the sunset. "Hey, I was supposed to do that." The girl pouted, the sparks she made moving past the two and quickly making their way to the sky.

As the sun was halfway down on the horizon the sparks took their places around the sun, looking like tiny stars. "It's beautiful." Willow whispered softly as she looked out to the horizon.

"I can think of things more beautiful than that... but you're right. It is." Spike replied.

"Knight?"

"Yeah, petit chat?" He asked, looking down at her.

"Why'd you kiss me?"

"Sharing a special moment, Luv." He replied, looking back out as the sun went down. <Not a lie. Not the whole truth.> He smiled widely. "Ol' Spikey isn't sunproof anymore." He sighed.

Willow yawned. "How are we supposed to get down in one night before the trolls get here?" She asked as Spike led her back to the tiny group over
in one corner.

"That's why I was *soooo* happy to see an old buddy." Sprite looked hopefully at her friend. "Pleeeeeeeeeeease, Ellie?"

The girl rolled her eyes. "You want to ride on me?"

"Well, you're going our way." The nymph pointed out. "And there's enough room for us, our stuff *with* room to spare."

"Are you saying I'm *big*?!" The dragon-girl shrieked.

"As a dragon, yeah. Please?"

"Stand back." Elita grumbled as she moved a bit further away. She started to transform and within seconds was a large red dragon, her wings spread out high above her. She came back down onto all fours, letting one wing come down close to them. Everyone returned with their bags. "Let Sprite get them." She muttered. Sprite huffed. "It was your idea!" Elita replied. Xander started climbing up one of her wings. "Welcome to 'Fille Dragon Airlines'. Please take a seat and watch your step. My back is sensitive you know."

Xander rolled his eyes as he and everyone else took a seat. "How do we hang on?" He asked.

Tiny horns shot out from her back. "On there."

Riley looked down in front of him and saw the horn. "Can we watch where we put them, Luv?" Spike called out from the back.

"Sorry." She replied. Everyone grabbed onto the horns tightly as she started to take off. Two more horns shot out from either side of the back of the person, locking them in place.

"Where's our stuff?" Xander asked.

"It's... coming." Sprite replied as she twisted to look behind them, seeing a small cloud with a string attached to Elita's tail, that held the bags on top. She smiled, turning around again. "To the hot springs, Elita!" She called out.

"Yes, master." Elita grumbled as she started to fly down the side of the mountain, on towards the hot springs.

"Faster, Ellie!"

The dragon started to falter in it's flying. "Ah! Liber, not while I'm airborne!" She growled, regaining her ability to fly. She set down in a clearing not far from the hot springs. "I can't go in there like this. I can fly out but going in is a no-no." She said, waiting for everyone to hop off before changing back.

Willow walked up to her. "Why are you called fille dragon?"

"The gods. Blame them. I prefer Elita though and Sprite knows it!" Elita replied. "Sprite, camp here tonight. I'll go see if it's safe for tomorrow."

"But we need shelter for Spike." Willow piped up.

"Don't worry about Spike. I'll take care of him." Elita said with a roll of her eyes before walking through the trees.

*^*^*

That night, everyone spent sleeping next to the dragon form of Elita, the morning sun unable to hit them in her shade.
 

~Friday, Day 12~ A Bigger Mistake

"Elita..." Willow started saying in the dragon's shade. "What did you mean last night when you were flying? Something about Liber."

"Oh, well, the gods can choose who to talk to without others hearing. He wanted to talk to me about something but I can't concentrate on a
conversation and flying at once. It takes co-ordination to fly." The dragon replied.

"What did he want to say?"

"I don't know. He hasn't gotten back to me yet." She replied. "Now let's go. I'm baking out here. Get Spike under a sleeping bag and make him run. I'll try and cover him as long as I can."

"It's only a few feet away."

"I know."

Willow woke Spike up and got everything ready. The vampire held an opened up sleeping bag around him as he ran into the shade of the trees. The rest of the group followed while Sprite let the little cloud holding their things separate into a few little clouds, one for each bag, and follow the owner of the bag through the forest. Elita returned to her human form and all started walking towards the hot springs. "This is really nice." Anya said as she took in the magical look of the hot springs. There was a large pool of glimmering water with smoothed out rocks surrounding it. A tiny waterfall on the far left and right of the pools kept the water moving while steam lifted off the surface of the water. "Finally, a warm bath." Willow groaned. "Come on, Anya." She took out her swimmers as did the other girl and they went to change into them, coming back with them on. The red head dipped her hand under the surface of the water, whimpering at the warmth as she stood on the rocks and slowly got in, sighing with relief once she had.

Sprite walked over, sitting on the edge as she took of her little shoes and dumped them behind her. "Is it nice?" She asked.

"Wonderful." Willow sighed again, her eyes closed as she relaxed.

Spike contemplated hopping in but decided to wait until certain parts of his anatomy calmed down from seeing his little kitten in the water. "Coming in, guys?" Riley asked as he stepped in the water with the girls.

"No." Both Spike and Xander replied simultaneously. They looked at each other, knowing that their problems were the same (just for different girls) before sitting on a fallen log together, just watching the others.

Elita sat down in between them. "You big babies." She muttered.

"What?" Xander asked.

"Well, duh! I know the problem, Sprite knows the problem, Riley knows the problem, because I *know* he's got it too." She grinned. "They're busy splashing each other. Now is your chance to just jump in. They won't have time to notice." She patted them both on the legs, all this time she was still watching the water, before getting up and stripping down to her own under-clothes and stepping in with the others. "Come on, Sprite. Your turn." She poked at the nymph still sitting on the rocks.

Sprite did the same with her clothes, jumping in with the others and splashing everyone. Xander and Spike both looked at each other before quickly running behind a bush and coming back with their swimming-trunks on and jumping in with two large splashes. When they came up they saw everyone dripping wet. "Well, you couldn't have *all* the fun." Xander stated as everyone started splashing again. Warm water going everywhere.

*^*^*

The people in the group were all leaning back against the rocks, letting the water lightly ripple around their shoulders. Xander came up from under the water, 5 metres from the farthest edge. "Hey, there's a big hole down there in the wall! I think it's a cave of something."

Sprite grinned. "Who's for an adventure!"

"It wouldn't be an adventure to you though, Sprite. You know this place." Anya stated.

"Well, I tend to stay *above* water in these places. I never knew about it." Sprite replied, swimming over to where Xander was with Riley and Anya.

Elita looked cautious. "I wouldn't if I were you." She muttered.

"Oh stop being such a cry-dragon."

Elita glared at the imp, snorting steam in her anger. "And I thought that only happened on cartoons!" Xander said with a smile. The dragon girl swam over to them, one metre from the wall. "Hey, guys, you coming?"

Willow looked at Spike, his eyes closed and his head resting back against the rocks. <He looks so peaceful.> "Maybe later." She called out. "We'll go in a half hour of so. I just wanna enjoy this."

"Okay, we'll be back in a half an hour to get you." Sprite winked at her as everyone took deep breaths and went under the water.

Elita stayed, smiling as she lightly ran her hand over the surface of the water, a slight red glow shone on the water as it made it's way to the two people at the other end. Something tugged on her foot. "I'm coming. I'm coming." She grumbled, ducking underneath the water also.

Willow watched as the red glow came towards her. <She wouldn't hurt us, would she?> She thought as a twinge of fright hit her. The glow surrounded them and the water started to heat up slightly. Willow sighed. <Just heating the water some more.> She thought, resting her head against the rocks as her eyes closed again. 50 minutes past as the two friends enjoyed the comfortable silence around them. Spike turned his head to look at the girl beside him. <She looks so bloody beautiful like this.> He thought, moving away from the rocks to stand in front of her. His lips twitched into a small smile as he looked at her, so relaxed. She opened her eyes, a little shocked to see him there before her. "It's getting a little hot." She said, thinking about getting out.

The vampire moved forward a little more. "Stay?" He asked in an almost pleading voice.

"But I'm getting too hot." She answered in a small, reluctant voice.

The blond thought for a moment. "I can fix that." He replied, letting their bodies touch slightly before moving so they were pressed together some more, his cold body pressed against hers. She bit her lip, looking up at him.

She let out a shaky breath as their eyes locked. His head dipped in slightly then a little more when she reached up. The vampire's lips brushed lightly over hers, sending shivers through her body as one of her hands held lightly onto the back of his neck, pulling him a little closer for better access. He ran his tongue over her bottom lip, thrusting it into her mouth when she opened it for him. There was a gentle battle in her mouth as their tongues played together. Spike put his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him and moving forward more to push her up against the rock wall. "Spike." She whispered against his mouth.

"What, petit chat?" He asked between light kisses on her mouth.

"They've been gone a long time." She replied, pulling back with a worried expression.

Spike looked at his watch. "1 hour, Luv."

"They said they were gonna be a half hour."

"Let's go find them." He sighed, pulling her away from the wall over to the other side as Willow took a breath they both went down and through the cave entrance.

*^*^*

Spike looked up after about 8 metres of swimming to see that there were no more rocks about them. He tapped her arm, pointing up. She swam up
quickly to get air and gasped when she saw the dark cave they were in. Spike came up beside her, taking in the beauty of the cave, lit up from the flaming torches that were shoved into cracks on the walls. They both swam over to the edge, jumping out of the water and grabbing one of the torches, heading to the rock hall where more of the flaming sticks were. They walked for 10 minutes, neither knowing what to say, how to explain
what had happened at the hot springs. The vampire glanced down at her, she was thinking, *that* he could tell. Had he gone to far when he offered himself to cool her down. He should've just let her go. <I'm going to lose a friend if I keep this up. I'm a master vampire, I'm over 200 years old and I'm acting like a bumbling teenager. All hormonal and crap.> They finally reached the end of the tunnel to find another cave with a smaller pool of water. They walked around the edge of it to get to the next tunnel, the torches still jammed into the walls as they went. Walking through the next tunnel Willow looked up at Spike then at the torch in his hand then back to watch where she was walking. She looked at the torches along the walls. "Watch out, Pet." He said when she stumbled. The vampire caught her, steadying her as she regained her balance. He gave her a small smile, moving away from her as he continued walking.

Willow looked up with a frown. <He doesn't even want to touch me anymore. Oh goddess, what have I done? I'm making this out to be more than it is! That's probably what Elita was doing! That hot water was cursed or something! Why do I even bother? No one wants to be with me. Buffy was right. Spike only hangs around so he can go home and have a laugh. Hey, wait! He lives with *me*! Okay, so he lives with me so he can go to his room and laugh.> She pouted, walking faster so she could overtake him. They went through another tunnel, around another pool of water in the next cave, through *another* tunnel and through another cave.

<Great! Now I've got the witch angry.> Spike thought angrily to himself. <What a bloody pillock I am. She didn't even want me to kiss her, why the hell am I doing such a stupid thing like that?! I'm a prick, that's what I am. Takin' advantage of a teenage girl! Okay, so kissing isn't taking advantage but I'm still a bleedin' prick!> They both stopped when they heard talking up ahead. Upon entering the next cave as the tunnel finished, they saw the rest of their group there.

"Hi, Guys." Willow said as she saw them.

"Willow?" Everyone turned to see them standing there. "Oh, god, sorry. Anyaka twisted her ankle so we were letting her rest." Sprite cleared for the red head at the entry way of the tunnel.

"For a half an hour?" Willow asked.

"No. For about 10 minutes but then Xander and Riley wanted a water fight so that took another ten minutes and then the last ten minutes we were
trying to decide on whether to go back and get you or to explore some more." Elita added.

Spike nodded. "I'm goin' back." He said, turning to go.

Willow frowned as she watched him disappearing through the tunnel. She turned back and looked at everyone sadly. "We kissed." She said plainly.

"And you're not jumping up and down? Why? You should be squealing! I want to see you squealing happily!" Anya said, as she was helped to stand up.

"It's Elita's fault." She whispered with tears in her eyes. "That red water! It did something to us and now he regrets it!"

"My fault? Kitty, that was just to warm the water a bit. It had nothing wrong with it." Elita stated as she started walking towards her.

"No. It was cursed! He'll never forgive me." Willow started to walk back through the tunnels with Riley following her.

The rest of them followed behind. "This is a mistake." Elita said, biting her lip. They got to the end of one tunnel as the caves started rumbling. They ran past the pool of water and straight through the next tunnel. "*Big* mistake." The rumbling increased as they came to the last tunnel, rocks started falling from the roof, splashing into the water. "Bigger mistake. Guys, stop! We're going the wrong way!" She yelled out.

No one heard as they kept running. They ran and ran until they got to the last cave, diving in as the rocks blocked off the above water tunnel
they'd just come through. They got down under the water to find Spike trying to hit the rocks out of his way that had blocked the tunnel leading back to the hot springs. He turned, giving them a hopeless look. Everyone resurfaced. "What do we do?" Willow asked.

"Follow me." Elita said, diving under again and swimming to the opposite side of the pool, the others continuing to follow. She held her hand up
to a rock, letting it glow red as a wall of rock opened and everyone swam through, falling to the ground straight away. Elita smiled, stepping through onto the dry ground. She turned back, looking at where the water stay like a wall. "Another thing you see only in cartoons, Sarcy?"

"Yeah." Xander replied, watching as Elita hit the wall of water, only a few drops splashing back at them.

"Trick of the natural world." She replied, walking further into the tunnel. "I've got to warn you. I just knew it was here, I've never been through here before." She waited for them to stand before walking again. 20 minutes later they reached another doorway of rock. Touching it with her fiery hand it opened to show another wall of water to which everyone went through until they came to the surface.

"The rock pools." Willow said happily as she climbed up onto the dry land.

Spike jumped out also, helping Anya then Riley out. Riley helped Sprite while Xander did the same for Elita. "Way cool." Sprite said as she started walking for the exit. She stopped, moving away and bowing for Willow. "M'dear?" She said in a posh accent, making way for the other red head.

Willow smiled, walking through and hitting the stone. Everyone followed and finally everyone was outside. "What about our stuff?" Riley asked.

Sprite shrugged, turning to look at Elita, batting her eye-lashes. The dragon girl crossed her arms over her chest. "Gimme one good reason."

The nymph stepped forward to whisper in her ear. "I can stay and keep an eye on Kitty and William and try and get them to work things out

"Okay." Elita changed back into a dragon and flew off towards the hot springs to retrieve everyone's bags.

Willow and Spike stayed separate that night.
 

~Saturday, Day 13~ Familiar places

They all had one last swim in the river under the waterfall before starting a conversation, mostly whining, on why they had to climb the steep hill beside the falling water to get back to the camp. Sprite ended up volunteering Elita to fly them all back up, with much grumbling from the dragon. "Okay, but next time I want everyone to pay an airfare! This is getting ridiculous. I'm getting more work than the New York taxi service." Sprite made another cloud for their bags and attached it to the dragon's tail as everyone climbed aboard. The massive fire-breather took flight, going up the 5 storeys of waterfall and dropping them off near the shore before the trees hanging over the river started to part and let sun in. Elita returned to her human form and followed the group back towards their camp that they had set out. Willow stayed at the back of the group with Xander and Elita, Riley and Anya walked in the middle and Spike and Sprite stayed at the front.

"William, tell me every thing that happened." Sprite ordered.

"I don't want to talk about it." He grumbled.

"Tough babugi." She said, giving him a demanding look. "Tell me or you can live a very lonely life for all of eternity."

He shrugged, unimpressed. "I don't care."

"Would you care if I got one of the Gods to make your hair gelled like Angelus' for all of eternity?" She raised an eyebrow at him, an evil smirk on her face.

"In the hot springs..." He started saying. "We were just relaxing. Didn't even notice you lot weren't back when you should've been. I looked over, saw how beautiful she was... you know the drill. I stood in front of her and all of a sudden she opens her eyes and sees me. She tells me she's getting a little too hot, must've been when Elita warmed the water, anyway, I tell her to stay. She says she too hot so... well, my body is cold." Sprite nodded. "I kissed her. We were kissing for a while and then she noticed you lot were still gone. I told her it was an hour and so we went looking for you. When we were going through the tunnels she started storming off ahead of me."

"She's not mad at you if that's what you're saying."

"Don't tell me that. I know something's wrong and I caused it." He looked up at her, at his feet then finally back to look at her with a serious face. "I'll be leaving a little while after we get back."

"What?! No, no no no." She chanted a few times. She slapped him up the back of the head. "Doofus! You're... you're just confused. Yeah, confused. It's the only thing guys know how to do best." She smiled then frowned when she saw he was still looking serious. "You're a bastard, Will. She's going through the exact same thing as you and you can't even see it. An' you know what?" She paused. "Now you're going to have another girl storming off ahead of you." She growled, walking a little faster away from him.

Anya and Riley walked up beside him. "Where's she going?" Anya asked.

"She's storming away." Spike sighed. "Like everyone."

"What'd you do?" Riley inquired.

Spike looked at him with a glare before storming off towards the camp. Anya frowned at the TA beside her then slapped him on the arm, walking off in the direction Spike had gone. Xander walked up to Riley. "What happened?"

"I think I made Anya mad." He replied.

Xander gave him a harsh look before walking off to where his girlfriend had gone. He turned to see the last two girls beside him. "Don't be mad at me." He begged.

"I'm not." Willow whispered, still sad.

"Hey, Soldier boy, now you can help Kitty." Elita said with a small smile. Riley groaned, taking the comment as a sarcastic joke, and walked off to the camp. "What'd I say?"

"He thinks you were being sarcastic." Willow cleared for her.

Elita frowned, looking down at Willow. "Are you going to storm off too?" She asked.

"No. Are you?"

"No."

They paused. "Good." They both said, as they entered the camp together to start moving their equipment back around the other side of the caves.
Willow and Anya working on Willow and Spike's tent while Spike and Xander worked on Anya and Xander's tent.

*^*^*

Thwack! "You are the biggest loser in the history of losers."

Bam! "Shut the hell up, woman."

Smack! "Don't tell me to shut up! And I thought Venus was a ditz!"

Thump! "You say one more word an' I'm going use this bloody stick on *you*!"

Sprite turned to Spike with a glare, waving her stick at him after beating the dust and dirt off the sleeping bags. "Watch it, *boy*. Or I'll put this stick in a place you'll *like* it to be."

Spike looked at her, his eyes narrowing further. "Why the hell can't you get off my bloody case? It's none of your goddamn business!" He threw his stick down in a huff and went back to the camp.

The nymph did her best growl and whacked at the sleeping bags hanging on the string attached to two trees. She continued to beat out her
frustrations until Anya came up to her and took her back when the everyone was ready to go.

*^*^*

Spike was made at Sprite, Spike thought Willow was mad at him. Sprite was mad at Spike, Sprite knew Willow wasn't mad at Spike. Anya was mad
at Riley. Xander was mad at Riley for getting Anya mad. Riley was mad at Elita because he thought she was being mean. Both Willow and Spike were
mad at Elita because they thought she'd cursed the water in the hot springs. Sprite was now mad at Elita because she thought she was teaming
up with Liber to stop Willow and Spike getting together. Buffy was awake and mad at Willow for living with Spike, she was also mad at Spike for,
well, unliving. Everyone was mad at whatever gods they believed in for royally screwing up their camping trip. Everyone was mad from how the trip turned out.

The only thing they agreed on is taking one last swim in the river, an idea made by Elita, and so everyone got ready to swim and finally jumped in. All except Elita. She sat on the shore, watching everyone quietly wading in the water, not talking to each other and not looking at each other. She frowned, laying on her stomach and reaching down to touch the water, letting a flame float on it's surface. She brought some water up in front of her lips. "Let everything be alright again. Let pride not get the better of them. Let whatever gods will listen to me, cleanse these folk in this tiny sea." She blew across the water in her hand, a flame shooting out from it, letting everyone look up as the flames touched them. Everyone panicked and ducked under the water after the flame had touched them. When they came up they found the flame hadn't burnt them and upon looking over at the shore they found Elita gone.

Sprite ran out of the water and turned back to the others. "I'm going to go look for her. You guys pack, I'll be back by tomorrow." She disappeared as she started going.

The group walked out of the water, finding Buffy still tied up at the camp, still struggling to get free, and still mumbling about how her life was so horrible. "I'm hungry!" She called out with an angry frown. "Feed me!"

Anya snorted, walking straight past her. "You've already eaten enough."

"Are you saying I'm fat? You tie me up so I can't do *anything* by myself and now you won't even feed me?! How low are you people?!"

"Oh, they haven't even started diggin' yet, Buffy." Xander stated.

Spike packed up the rest of his things as he started taking them to the DeSoto. "Where are you going?" Anya asked.

"I'm sleepin' in the car tonight." He called back, not even turning to face her as he walked off.

Riley shrugged at everyone but picked up some of his own things and went to start packing the jeep. With a sigh the others started helping,
leaving Buffy to pout by herself. 2 hours later the cars were packed and everyone was planning on sleeping in the caves, leaving only their
sleeping bags and pillows to pack in the morning.
 

~Sunday, Day 14~ Songs For The Aching Heart

In the Summer's jeep Riley flicked on the radio, turning to see Willow, Buffy and Sprite in the back. "Everyone ready?" He asked.

"No." Buffy grumbled from her spot in the middle.

Willow and Sprite both rolled their eyes. "Home, Ri, and don't spare the horse power." Sprite said, putting her seatbelt on.

"Don't forget Buffy's." He said before turning back. Both of the red heads in the back shared a wicked grin. "I mean it." The male added.

The witch shrugged, looking out her window. With another roll of her eyes Sprite buckled Buffy's seatbelt and then looked out her own window.
The dj came on the radio, announcing the next song 'I Distrust'.

~I never had the chance,
I never had the time
I never had the words
I never wanted this

I had a nagging feeling
In the back of my mind
But what I want to say is
I'm sorry~

Willow frowned, sighing as the slow music played throughout the car. She sighed, her mind playing pictures of Spike through her head.

~It was never meant to happen
It was never s'posed to be
We were going great then one day
We can't even speak

And what I want for us
The way things were before
All I want to say is
I'm sorry~

A few tears rolled down Willow's cheeks, the witch brushing them away with the back of her hand as the kiss she'd shared with Spike entered
her mind and then how she thought he thought of it as a mistake.

~I know what I want now
I'm sure about my life
I know you might not like it
But risks are what love's about

And what I want for us
The way things were before
All I want to say is
I'm sorry

What I want is you
What I need is love
What I want to say is
I'm sorry

And what I want for us
The way things were before
All I want to say is
I'm sorry~

Willow sobbed, covering her mouth with a hand. Buffy snorted beside her. Willow turned, her red puffy eyes burning into her old friend as the slayer smirked at her. The witch went to slap her friend but an elbow came from Buffy's other side, hitting the slayer in the face. "Shut it or you're out for the trip." Sprite growled from beside her, reaching over Buffy to give Willow a handkerchief and a sympathetic look. The hacker gave her a small smile before turning to look out the window again.

~I can't say it enough
I'm sorry
I need you to know
I'm sorry

I've made a few mistakes
I took what wasn't mine
You stole my heart
But we're running out of time

I'm sorry
I love you
I'm sorry
I need you
I'm sorry
That you don't want me

I'm sorry~

Riley looked into the rear-view mirror to watch Willow controlling her sobs behind the hankie Sprite had given her. He frowned, looking down at the radio and switching channels.

*^*^*

Spike growled, his white knuckle grip almost bending the steering wheel. 'I'm Sorry' didn't explain how he felt. Elita looked over at him with a raised eyebrow. He'd been growling all through the song. With a sigh she subtly moved closer to the door, away from the vampire beside her. Who knows if he'd lash out. Xander and Anya were too busy making out in the backseat to notice. She saw his grip tighten again and quickly changed channels, keeping a cautious eye on him.

~Mistakes are often made
I've made just one too much
I party hard and live my life
And never lose my touch

I keep an open mind
I'm happy all the same
Difficulties here and there
No one to pass the blame~

A look of deep thought crossed Spike's face. The dragon girl beside him backed a little further into the door, tightening her seatbelt a bit. The driver of the car wasn't allowed to go into a dream land. It just wasn't right! She checked the door, trying to open the handle to get out but he'd let her know earlier it could only be unlocked from the outside. Her hand went up to the window as she gave the passing trees a helpless look through the blackness on it.

~I know I've made a few
A mistake just here and there
I think I know what the problem is
It's that I really care

I am such a terrible liar
I said I hadn't made any
But what is true, and that I know
I made one mistake too many~

Spike's grip tightened again. "Uh, Spike. We're heading for that group of trees. Turn!" Elita yelled. The blond vampire quickly yanked on the steering wheel, pulling them away from the trees they were heading towards.

He looked over at Elita. "Sorry, Pet. Got sidetracked."

She nodded, gripping at the seat like there was no tomorrow. "S'okay." She looked out the window again. "And they say flying is dangerous." The
girl snorted.

~One mistake too much
The limit is now plus one
I made mistakes, all so bad
I wish that I'd made none

I kept a straight head
My eyes were on the job
Next thing I know mistakes were made
And I thought there was no prob

I made mistakes I know that
I swore there wasn't any
But now I say, I've changed my mind
I've made just one too many

This time I'll do it right
Nothing to fear
Not one mistake
I'm making plans tonight

I made mistakes I know that
I swore there wasn't any
But now I say, I've changed my mind
I've made just one too many

One mistake too many~

Spike went deeply back into thought again. "Want me to drive?" Elita asked with a hopeful yet scared smile.

*^*^*

Xander and Anya were having a break from their kissing. After the near death they'd have when Spike almost ran into those trees they were going
to be ready for anything. "Want me to drive?" He heard Elita ask and sighed as the car slowly pulled over and the two in the front swapped
positions.

"Do you know how to drive?" Xander asked.

Elita put her foot on the accelerator and started driving again. "Wheel, pedals, road. What's there to know?" She asked with a grin. Both Anya and Xander paled, since Spike couldn't. The girl behind the wheel smiled. "Of course I know." She said with a roll of her eyes, changing radio stations. Maybe she'd avoid a fist in the dash board if the music was a bit more soothing.

~I have one heart
It's been broken

I had one love
And it was stolen

I had a dream
Of my future
And then it all turned around
And I was nearly drowned

In your love~

Xander leant his head against the window. All the plans of getting two of his friends together had failed so far and from what he heard from his girlfriend Sprite had tried so many of hers that were sure to go well. Even leaving them alone in the *hot springs* of all romantic places... didn't work.

~My life never seems
The way it should

My life's... not what it was

We can be here for each other
And though love's not what it's about
I can't live without

You're love~

Xander rolled his eyes. Everything was explained *perfectly* and in a song no less! He closed his eyes, banging his head lightly against the
windscreen. The brunette was going to buy this cd and show everyone how uncanny it was.

~We should never change what we have
I want what is best for our futures
I have one heart
And so do I, yeah
But what we have is special

It's love

Secret but shared
Like a dream
It's what I want from life
And we both want it it seems~

<Cupid. Cupid. Cupid.> Xander chanted in his head. <He's playing these songs on purpose. Kinda like a clue. Yeah. A clue. I'm *so* buying this cd.>

~We have two hearts,
And we share this one love
This secret stays shared
For us

We have... two hearts and one love~

"Xander." Anya prompted.

The boy snapped out of his thoughts, turning to his girlfriend. "Huh?"

"I said kiss me." She demanded, pulling his face closer to her.

*^*^*

"Isn't there a channel that *doesn't* explain life?" Sprite asked with a hopeful tone. Riley smirked. She'd obviously thought of the song like him.

"It stays." He hinted, hoping she'd get the picture that Willow might notice. The girl nodded, looking at the now unconscious Buffy. The slayer had snorted one time too many and now she couldn't because of her broken nose. Another song came on- 'Complicated Fairytale'.

~Starlight, star bright,
First star I see tonight
I wish I may, I wish I might
Have this wish I wish tonight

I want a life
Where I am free
I want your love
All for me

I want you
Just for myself
I'd take your love
For all my wealth

When we would kiss
You wouldn't bail
Behold,
My complicated fairytale~

Sprite and Riley both snickered, getting a funny glance each from Willow before she turned back to stare out the window. They smiled at each other in the rear-view mirror, sharing a knowing glance. The witch still hadn't figured what they were laughing about.

~I have a dragon as a pet
I have a castle in the sky
I have my life all neat and set
In my life I'd never cry

I want a fairy as a friend
I want my life to never end
I want my heart to be not so frail
Not a complicated fairytale~

Willow frowned, she'd been listening from the start but the words hadn't sunk in until a little while ago. Now, she was listening closer. Sprite watched her thinking about the song, subtly winking and giving Riley a thumbs up in the mirror.

~I have reality
And my dreams
There's no place on earth
Where I can scream

There's so many rules
That I must abide
Without my dreams
I should just die

To get away and be myself
With you, we'd never stray too far
And I'd have my fairytale life
With no more wishing on that star

My complicated fairytale
Is simple when you're there
Because you're my stars and moon
And in this world I don't have a care~

Riley looked up at Sprite, watching her watch Willow think. He smiled, turning the volume up a bit as another song came on.

*^*^*

Anya poked Spike who was sitting in front of her. "Change channels." She ordered, then went back to kissing Xander.

The vampire rolled his eyes, looking up to see Elita grinning as she watched the road. "Sod off." He grumbled, changing stations.

"So that's why Sprite said you were whipped." Elita said, glancing over.

Spike's mouth dropped before he quickly changed the channels back. "Bloody woman." He muttered angrily.

Anya pouted as she kissed Xander. "Hey!"

"Kiss Xander and shut up." Growled the blond, turning to the people in the back wit his game face before looking at the blackened windscreen again. He heard Elita laughing and turned to glare at her. "Shut. Up." He said with a sharp tone. One hour until real life. Some couldn't wait, some could... altogether, nothing turned out as they'd planned.
 

continues with 'Masks'

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