They'd unpacked. Everything. Very slowly. Nothing was said between them and they were hardly ever in the same room at the same time when they
were putting things away. Spike had been heading for the kitchen to put their first-aid kit back in the cupboard above the fridge but saw Willow
putting the food containers on the sink, he turned and walked to the bathroom downstairs, putting it on top of the mirror cabinet.

Willow had almost run into Spike too, when she was going to put the towels in the wash. She'd seen Spike in the laundry and hurried outside,
hanging them over the porch-rail out the back of the house, making an excuse to herself that she'd let them dry... more, for a while.

Spike junior watched them and did his own little puppy version of an eyebrow raise. He followed Spike into his bedroom and watched as the vampire busied himself with tidying. *Spike*, his master, was *tidying* his room. All of a sudden the god in a dog's body started feeling faint. He staggered back out of the room, going to Willow's and seeing her on the 'net, checking her emails. He scratched at her leg and she picked him up, sitting the dog on her lap. He quickly read the email she was sending to Vampie.

~Hey, Vampie!
    Well, I'm back from the camping trip. It was one big trip of
tension/awkwardness. *sighs* You know how I told you about Spike - my
housemate? Well I kinda... like him. We were at these hot springs
and... we kissed. I mean, really gentle but full-on too. Know what I
mean? Goddess, I'm so confused! What do I do? Sorry to have to ask you
this but I honestly don't know what I should do. I think he thinks it
was a mistake and he won't talk to me.
    Anyway, I'm going to check my other mails. Hey, we have to get the
Cat Club together again some time. Tell me when.
    Bye! Hugs, Willow.~

Junior blinked a few times. <They kissed? Well, that's good but... she thought Spike thought... oh boy. Is this why they're acting like this? Liber you damn asshole! You did this!>  Liber chuckled in the dog's mind. <Oh contraire, pup. I didn't do a thing. That was them. Oh, them and their lack of  self-confidence.>  Spike junior figures it out. <You mean... because Spike thinks he's too evil for her? And Willow thinks she's too innocent for him? God damn!>  <Don't damn yourself, Pup.> Liber laughed again.

<Screw you! I'm not the one with a horse-faced wife. Is that why you proposed? Everyone else said no?> The puppy thought back with a teasing
voice.

Liber growled, closing the connection. Willow scratched Spike Junior's tummy. "Hey, boy. Did Whistler treat you well?"

<I got drunk the first few nights you were gone.> The dog thought with a doggy grin.

"Good boy." She said, patting his tummy before looking back at the computer screen. Cupid smirked.

*^*^*

"You've called 1900-oh-yeah. This is Anyaka's phone sex *hot*-line, how may we please you?" A female voice said over the phone.

Spike blinked a few times then spoke. "Sprite?"

"Spike!" She yelped. "Uhhh, I'll just get Anyaka for you." He heard the phone get put down then get picked up again.

"Spike?" Anya asked over the line.

He took an un-needed breath. "Quite I message service you got there, Pet." He sighed. "I need your advice."

"Come on over."

"I can't. Sprite and Elita are stayin' with you."

"Don't worry. I'll send them out for a while. Just come over. And Spike?"

"Yeah?"

"Bring your credit card and leave a note for Willow. Don't just leave."

He paused. "Why?"

"Just do it or I won't help... and I'll know if you did or didn't." She hung up.

The vampire looked at the phone in his hands when he heard her hang up. He put the phone back on the hook and wrote out a note with a sigh,
leaving it on the fridge before grabbing his keys and jumping in the DeSoto.

*^*^*

Spike junior followed Willow into the kitchen. She went to the fridge and saw the note as she went to open it. "Red. Gone to Anya's. Back later. Spike." She took the note from the fridge and put it on the note holder where they put their read messages. Opening the fridge she pulled out Junior's dinner and put it in his bowl, watching him eat it all. When he looked up once it was gone she sighed. "What do I do?" She asked hopelessly.

"Tell him you love him." She thought she heard someone whisper.

Looking around she tried to find where the voice came from. "Who's there?" She asked.

<She can hear me? Yeah! She can hear me!> The dog rejoiced, jumping about happily. <Willow! Willow!>  Willow shrugged, wiping the kitchen counter down with a cloth. "Must be hearing things." She mumbled.

<Willow!> The dog screamed mentally again then barked a few times.

The red head looked down at the little white fluffball, with a confused look. "What is it boy? Something wrong?"

The dog growled in frustration. <Willow! Gods, just hear me!>  Willow bent down, scratching behind the dog's ear. "Sorry. I guess that tummy rub wasn't enough." She stated with a tiny grin.

The dog played dead. <A little help. That's all I ask.>  "No, it's bad enough you have Sprite and Elita." Liber told him.

<I didn't ask! I sent them a message of what was going on and they helped willingly.> Junior replied. <Go away. I'm on a mission.> The dog began plotting.

*^*^*

"I still don't see what's wrong with the clothes I have." Sprite grumbled as Anya started picking out outfits for her two guests to where out.

"You look like one of that Santa person's little helper." Anya replied, pulling out a knee-length skirt and tank top. "Here. This'll fit." She said, shoving the clothes to the girl. "Oh, and get rid of the pixie hat. It won't go with it."

Sprite looked up from staring at the clothes in her arms with a pout. "What about Elita?"

"Her clothes actually look a little normal." Anya replied as she looked at the dragon girl sitting in a fire-red skirt and top. "She just needs a jacket and shoes." The ex-demon pulled out a pair of strappy shoes to go with her outfit and handed them to her.

Elita smirked at Sprite. "Face it. Tights and shorts went out a loooong time ago." The girl said, putting the shoes on and then the jacket. "How do I look?"

"Good. Now, Spike gave me this so you can be somewhere else buying things. Elita, make sure whatever she buys can be considered fashionable." Anya stated, handing Elita Spike's credit card.

"Are you lot going yet?" Spike called out from the lounge room.

"Yeah!" Elita called back. "Come on, Spri, let's go." She walked out of the room with Anya. Grumbling, Sprite changed her clothes and left towards the lounge room where the others were.

"You look good. Both of you. Now go." Spike urged them out the door.

"Geez, and I thought Xander was impatient." The tinier nymph, Sprite, grumbled as Spike pushed them out the door.

The vampire turned to Anya. "Help me." He said in a pleading voice.

"Sure. Sit." They both sat on the couch and Spike started telling her his problems.
 

~Part 8~ Know What You're Losing

"No." Spike stated once again as he picked up his duster and opened the door.

"Spike, wait." Anya ordered as she jumped up from the couch and ran after him. She grabbed his arm as he stood outside the door. "What are you going to do?" He paused, looking at her seriously before shrugging off her arm and leaving. "Spike!" She called out behind him before the phone rang. She sighed heavily then walked inside.

*^*^*

Spike parked the car back near the house and was walking through the park, past all of the playground equipment until he found a thick patch of trees. With a tiny sigh he walked inside and sat down, leaning back against one of the trees. "What the hell is wrong with me?" <You're whipped.> "Am not." <Are too. You're living with a mortal. A mortal that is friends with the slayer. You knew what you were getting yourself into and you kept going with it.> "Willow's my friend." <And you bollocked that up when you kissed her. This was all damned to hell back when you were staying with her at her parents' place.> "We. Are. Just. Friends. It's not damned to hell and we can make this work." <Thinking positive never works and you know it. The slayer and all her pals always find a way to royally screw whatever you plan out. You let your defences down and *wham* everything is a bloody mess!> Spike paused, his thoughts slowing down to a stop as he stood. "I have to leave." He muttered to himself as he headed slowly towards his and Willow's house, leaving the car where it was.

*^*^*

Willow paced around the house. It was 2am and Spike wasn't home. He didn't stay at Anya's. She'd already called and the ex-demon had confirmed that Spike wasn't there. She'd called Xander's and he wasn't there either, promising that if the vampire did show up he'd call straight away. She checked over at Giles'. Since the former watcher was still in hospital Spike would be allowed to stay there without the old man having to know. She checked the Summer's house but it looked like it hadn't been lived in since before the camping trip. She even checked back at her parent's house but found that her parent's were back, gathering a few things they wanted and needed before heading out again. She finally took a taxi back to hers and Spike's house, spending the next 6 hours pacing in most of the rooms in the house, waiting for Spike to get home. She yawned, her eye-lids feeling heavier than ever as she walked into the lounge room and sat on the couch, resting her head on the cushions and telling herself it would only be for 5-minutes. 3 hours later she awoke, rushing out in to the front foyer only to find a note pinned to the door.

*^*^*

Spike crept inside after seeing Willow walk into the lounge room. He walked over, hearing her steady heartbeat and her breathing slow and soft in her sleeping state. The vampire walked over to the stairs and climbed them quickly, walking straight to his room. As the blond reached under his bed for his duffel bag he heard a soft bark and turned to see Spike Junior in the doorway, giving him a curious look. He turned back, pulling the bag out fully and dumping it on his bed. The next 15 minutes was spent packing that one bag with a few clothes and other things. The last items he put in were a photo of Willow and Spike Junior playing together and the boxers Willow gave him. He closed the bag and headed out with Junior trailing behind him. After dumping his bag near the door he walked over to the lounge room, watching as Willow slept peacefully on the cushions. <For the best, Mate.> He told himself before walking in and crouching down in front of her. "As you wish, Luv." He whispered to her, stroking some hair behind her ear and giving her a light kiss on the foreheard before walking to the kitchen and grabbing a pen and paper. He scribbled out a note, ~Petit chat, I can't stay. I don't know when or if I'll be back or where I'm going. I'm sorry. Love you always, Knight.~ He got some sticky tape and stuck in on the back of the door, glancing behind him one last time before leaving, Spike Junior barking behind him.
 

~Part 8~ Never Stray Too Far

Spike junior paced in the kitchen after listening to Willow cry to Anya over the phone for 2 hours. The ex-demon had just come over, bringing her two mystical friends with her and calling Xander to come over also. Now everyone was sitting in the lounge room, listening to Willow crying. The tiny white dog heard a scratch outside and ran to look through the window that was conveniently low enough for him to see through. He jumped down gloomily, seeing the branches of the pot plants scratching against the window. He decided to just run upstairs and get some sleep. 2 hours later everyone had left and Willow was sitting at the kitchen counter with a glass of Spike's bourbon in her hands. After she'd sculled it she got up, grabbing her coat and walking outside. Looking around she started to walk, not knowing where, just going. Spike junior walked down just in time to see the door close. That's when Whistler came through the door. "Hey little puppy." He greeted.

<Shuddup.> The dog growled.

"She's in trouble." Whistler said plainly, yet cryptically. The dog's mouth dropped.

*^*^*

Willow walked through the woods, spying a fallen log she walked over and sat on, just moping to herself. A piercing pain hit her in the back and she fell forward, falling unconscious even before she hit the ground. A few men dressed in camouflage crept up from behind and started to drag her limp body away.

*^*^*

1 hour had passed since Willow's kidnapping and now everyone was in Giles empty apartment. "She's gone." Whistler stated as he patted Spike
Junior.

<Hands off the fur.> The dog looked up with a fierce glare at the demon. Both Sprite and Elita snickered to themselves.

"What?" Xander asked.

"Whistler, don't pat him. He only lets Willow and Spike do that." Anya stated, picking up the vibes from the dog as Whistler patted him.

"I know." The demon replied.

"That's why he's doing it." Elita said.

"Back to business!" Sprite grumbled.

"Right, who saw Willow last?" Anya asked.

Junior started jumping up and down. <I did! She saw the note Spike left and went for a walk.>  Whistler looked down and sighed. Sprite turned to a confused Xander. "Junior did." She said with a smile. "He says she saw the note Spike left and then went for a walk."

Xander nodded. "Okay, what'd the note say?"

Whistler shook his head. "He was leaving. That's all we know."

"So why isn't Willow back yet?" Asked the ex-demon.

"She ran away?"

"Where did that panther come from?" Whistler said cryptically.

Anya and Xander both paled. "The Initiative." The boy commented.

Elita stiffened. "I heard about them."

"Me too. God, they suck, huh?" Sprite said casually. "So, let's go get 'em." As she stood she indicated for the others to follow. "Where's the weapons?"

*^*^*

Willow was laying down again in a familiar place. Bright lights shone in her eyes and distant voices rang in her ears. Something covered the light for a moment then cleared it again, letting the light fall onto her once more. There was an annoying beeping near her ear and a light clacking of metal on metal as people moved about around her. Her numb arms refused to feel the needle penetrate the skin at the crook of her elbow. "There there. Nothing's gonna hurt you now." A soft voice whispered in her ear. Her eyes slowly opened more than the cracks they were open at now and she took in the scene around her, finding one familiar face in the crowd. Her eyes shut again.

*^*^*

They were in, knowing this would've been a lot easier with Giles and Spike but having to settle with Whistler, Sprite and Elita. Although Whistler kept on telling them he couldn't physically interfere they threw back protests that he could tell them if there were people sneaking up on them. He'd finally shut up and just told them when people were approaching, much to the protests of the Powers That Be that told them he should not do anything all together, see if they could do it without extra help. Sprite stopped suddenly. "I can't go any further."

"What? Why?" Xander asked as he turned to look at her, as well as everyone else.

"I just... can't."

"Why not?"

"I'm kinda paralysed." She replied rather calmly considering what had happened.

<Liber.> Whistler thought. <This has nothing to do with you. We are trying to save a young girl, you are supposed to help in that area.>  Sprite stepped forward. "Whoever that was, thank ya kindly." She said to the air before starting to move forward again. They came to the air vent the others had gone through before and started crawling through.

*^*^*

Willow's eyes opened again and she looked in to those eyes again. "Why... you?" She croaked out.

"You stole my Spikey, My sweet." Drusilla replied.

The red head's eyes began fluttering again. The last words she heard were, "Miss Drusilla, we're ready to perform her surgery now. She won't
remember a thing afterwards." Then her eyes had closed again.
 

~Part 9~ Cryptic And Confronting

The last of the group dropped down through the end of the air vent and started following the others through the tunnels. Xander was at the lead
with Anya by his side. They all came to a new-looking door that Xander and Giles both tried to barge down, ending up needing Elita to melt it away with her fire powers. They ran along the halls, passing cells as they went. Hearing a crash up ahead they proceeded with caution. Looking around a corner they found something they never thought they'd see. A soldier was being held up off the ground by his neck, slammed against a wall... by Spike. He turned to see them, his vampiric face at the fore as he slowly strangled the soldier until he was unconscious, flicking his wrist and listening to the bones snap. "S-S-S-S-Spike?" Sprite stammered.

He growled. "Where's Willow?"

*^*^*

Willow was dreaming in her unconsciousness. The images flittering through her head didn't make sense, like the talking that accompanied it. Buffy moved before her before disappearing to the side, the words she said still not making any real sense. "Have faith. I have faith in me. It will let you see..."

Xander came towards her after Buffy left. "People need people. Our needs are different." He moved to the opposite side Buffy disappeared to.

Giles was next. "Wisdom comes not only in your education."

Angel followed with Faith beside him. "Common. Together. Find."

Anya and Joyce came up behind them as the two supernatural beings moved off to the side where Xander had gone. "A friend in need, not only you." They looked down then back up again. "Physical or emotional."

They moved to either side, showing Spike standing behind them. "Je ne suis pas de retour, je ne suis pas parti, je ne suis nulle part, personne." (Means: I'm not back, I'm not gone, I'm no where, no one.)

"Spike." Her dream self muttered. When she tried to walk towards them all of her friends moved away, Buffy stayed.

"A friend in need." The slayer said before the image began going fuzzy and faces started blurring.

*^*^*

In the real world the doctor removed the visor from Willow's eyes and handed it to his assistant. "Now we have to wait to see if the operation
worked."

Drusilla smiled to Miss Edith from the corner of the room. "All will be right soon, Miss Edith. My Spikey will be back for his princess." She sighed, giving the doctors an evil smile.

*^*^*

"We-we don't know. We're going to find her. Why're you here?" Xander replied, still gaping at the return of the blond even after the short time he had been missing.

"She's in bloody trouble, Mate." He growled back, turning to go down the hall, towards a door at the end of the hall.

"This is a big place, Spike. She could be anywhere." Anya stated plainly.

As the vampire kicked down the door a group of doctors and their assistants looked up from where they were watching a now sitting Willow. Spike's game face melted as he saw her but growled at the group of strange people around her. "Hello, My Spike." A voice sang from the corner. Spike turned to see Drusilla holding her favourite doll and smiling at him.

He growled once more then turned back to where Willow was sitting, looking confused at the situation. "Willow."

She sat, looking scaredly at the man that had just barged in. "Who are you?" She asked in a small voice.

His face dropped before he turned to Drusilla. "What the hell'd you do, Dru?!"

Drusilla pouted and began whimpering as she approached the other vampire. The doctors began moving away from the angered blond in the doorway, hoping they'd escape with their lives. "You were supposed to come to princess." The dark haired woman said sadly. She turned to Willow, who was still on the table. "You know what the do my sweet." The vampiress said in a superior voice before turning to look at Spike again.

"He's-he's a bad person?" Willow asked, turning to look at Drusilla questioningly.

"Yes. He's a *very* bad boy." Dru replied, not taking her eyes off Spike.

The red head on the operating table jumped down, still looking confused before she let her claws come out. "My mother says I should hurt all bad
people." She approached Spike.

Anya grasped on to Xander's arm as they watched Willow get ready to attack Spike.
 

~Part 10~ Cat Fight

Major Bryce sat in his office, writing down a rough draft of his letter requesting a promotion on a pad of paper. The tiny red light on the corner of his desk started flashing, meaning an extreme emergency. He looked up, grabbing the remote near his desk-caddy and turning his security television on, flicking through the channels until he found the area experiencing the problem. The man's face scrunched up in anger as he watched a group of unauthorized people in one of the labs with one of his test subjects. He gave a low growl of frustration as he stood from his desk, picking up his gun before leaving the office, needing nothing less than blood to stop his anger.

*^*^*

"Pet, don't listen to 'er." Spike said calmly, looking Willow in the eye.

"Mother says I should..."

"She's not your bloody mother!" Spike yelled, interrupting her.

Willow's eyes flashed angrily at his outburst. "She is!" She yelled back, lashing out at the vampire and getting him across the cheek with her sharp claws.

Drusilla smiled proudly. Her plan had worked and now everything would be fine. She'd have her Spike back and the 'Scooby Gang' would crumble at
their losses. Miss Edith was singing.

*^*^*

<Do it.> <You know him. You just can't remember him.> <What'd they do to me?> <Is she my mother?> <Who are all these people?> <Where am I?> Willow couldn't stop thinking. Something forbade her from stopping. Deep down she felt she knew him. Was he an enemy from earlier in her life and she just couldn't remember him? After all, mother said she'd been asleep for a long time and she wouldn't remember some things. Was he the enemy? Something was wrong about the whole situation, or maybe that was just nerves and confusion. She hardened her features as she lashed out again, this time for Spike's chest. Her claws imbedded themselves in his chest and a flash of what she thought could've been a memory blinked through her mind, too fast for her to see it but slow enough to know it had been. The man before her groaned in pain, looking up at her with wide
eyes. He looked down at the claws in his chest then back up at Willow. "P-Pet?" His eyes went a little rounder as he looked behind her to find
Drusilla with a wicked smile, holding a knife in her hands as she approached her 'daughter'. "Behind you."

Another image flashed through her head, her claws retracting as the vampire fell backwards. She turned to see Drusilla with a knife behind her. "Mother?" She asked with more confusion.

"Mommy's here, Pet." The insane vampire cooed, grabbing one of Willow's arm and spinning her so her back was against her and the knife pressed
against Willow's neck. "Mommy's here." She smiled again, about to slice the skin when a shot was fired and hit her in the arm. She screeched in
pain, dropping the blade as she grabbed her arm. Her vampire face fell on as she looked up to see the Major holding his gun at her. "Bad, bad man." She growled.

"We had a deal." He hissed.

"You were going to kill me." She shot back.

"Not before I took Army-Cat 11 away from here." He replied, shooting her again, this time in the chest, knowing it would only wound and anger her.

Willow moved away, watching as some man shot at the woman that said she was her mother that also tried to kill her. She turned back, looking at
the bleeding man on the floor that was being treated to by a group that looked like his friends. She grabbed her head as her confusion increased. She began hyperventilating as she tried to figure out what was what and who was who. The girl collapsed to the floor.

Xander moved beside his long-time friend and looked over her, checking for what was wrong. "Hyperventilated." He called back over his shoulder.
"Let's get out of here." He added, scooping Willow up in his arms and carrying her out the door. Whistler ran down after the boy, not being able to interfere as the girls managed to get Spike out of the room and follow Xander and Willow. They were running out of time.

*^*^*

They were all back at Spike and Willow's house, Anya and Whistler doing 'blood duty' for Spike, practically cleaning out the remaining blood bags in the fridge and giving them all to Spike before he lost too much. He was now beginning to heal, no more blood being lost but still healing very slowly.

Willow was covered with a blanket on the couch in the lounge room with Sprite looking over her, waiting for her to wake up as she continued to
brush her fringe back behind her ear in a soothing way.

Elita and Xander both filled in Spike junior and Riley, even though Xander felt weird talking to a dog.

Two sets of eyes opened at once in two different rooms. "Where is she?" Spike asked softly.

Anya moved away from the bath-tub on the first floor where Spike had been placed and walked out the door. "He's awake!" She called out. Xander, Riley, Elita and Junior all ran in and saw him lying in the tub, looking paler than usual but awake none-the-less.

"Is she okay?" He asked again, resting his head on the tiles as his eyes closed tiredly. He sighed softly then opened them again, looking up at the others.

"She passed out." Xander stated.

Sprite raced in. "Kitty's awake." She ran back to the lounge room.

"And now she's awake." He added as he turned to the vampire in the one place he hated the most, the tub.
 

~Part 11~ Waiting For A Sign

Many protests had finally kept Spike laying in the tub. The vampire had wanted to see Willow, even after being given all the reasons why he should stay put. Now he was pouting in the tub as Anya handed him another blood-filled mug. "I don't need anymore. I'm fine." Spike stated with a sigh, pushing the mug away from his face. "Where's Willow?" He asked ever so subtly. He frowned again when they refused to answer, giving him their resolve looks. "I'll find out, you know. I know every damn crook an' cranny in this place." He paused. It wasn't working. Time for a change of subject. "Why am I in the tub? *Again*?"

Anya smiled at the vampire *finally* changing subjects. "If you lose blood here we can clean it up easily and also we weren't about to carry you up the stairs."

"Elevator."

"Then we'd have to keep on dragging you. Nope, down here was the best option."

Whistler sighed, looking at his watch. "I'd better go." He stated, moving out the door. "I'll be back when you need me."

"I'll say good-bye to everyone for you. Thanks." Anya called back to him just as he slipped out of view. A slip of paper glided softly to the floor just inside the door. Anya picked it up and read it aloud. "Don't mention it." She turned it over and read another message. "Before I go, you're getting a few visitors." She looked confused and turned to Spike, who was looking curiously at her from what she'd just read. "Like who?" She mused.

"No idea." The blond in the tub said. "Can I see Willow now?" Anya growled at him, making him smirk at her annoyance.

*^*^*

Willow looked at the dog in front of her. It seemed to be studying her, although she couldn't understand why. "What?" She asked it, startling the others in the room. The dog gave a little yelp happily. "My dog?" She asked. It started jumping around in glee. She smiled at it until it calmed down, sitting again. It barked a few times, as if talking.

"Junior." Sprite hissed. "She's lost her memory do you really think this is a good time to match-make?!"

The dog turned to her and gave her a little nod before turning back to it's master. <Come on, Willow. Remember... remember when you first got me? You begged Spike for me and promised to be his slave for a week? Which reminds me... you still owe him.>  "I owe someone something don't I?" Willow asked the dog, tilting her head to the side. She hadn't really heard him, just had a feeling that's what he was saying.

Sprite and Elita's mouths both dropped. "You heard him?" Elita asked.

Willow turned to give her a funny look. "No. Why? Is that what he said?"

The two mythical beings gave each other questioning looks. "Yeah." Sprite finally answered.

"Oh. Who?"

"You know that guy you clawed? Your 'mom' told you he was bad?" Xander asked.

The red head's hands flew to her cheeks. "Oh no. I stabbed a good-guy." Confusion riddled her features. "Then... my mother?"

"Evil. Also not your mother." The boy continued. He sat down on the couch beside her. "You were kidnapped." Riley paused him. "What?"

"Tell her something then let her try and remember it."

Willow was already trying to remember. She could make out a few figures, some trees, a room or two... nothing that triggered her to remember her
kidnapping. "I can't remember." She sighed heavily.

<Don't give up.> Spike junior urged.

"I won't give up, Puppy." She said with a smile down at the dog.

"His name is Spike Junior." Anya said as she helped Spike into the room. Everyone gave her a look. "He wouldn't stop asking to see her!" The ex- demon protested. "I'm not going insane just so he can eventually see her anyway.

Willow stood and looked apologetically at the vampire. "I'm so so so *so* sorry, Mister."

"Call me Spike." He said.

"I named my dog after you?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

He smiled, sitting down in Xander's spot after he'd vacated it. "You begged me to get you that bloody mutt." He said, looking down at the fur-ball on the floor. It jumped up, into Willow's lap. "Don't tease me, Dog." Spike growled.

They heard the doorbell ring and Riley went to get it. After a few moments he came back in, looking slightly shocked. He stepped aside to reveal Faith and Angel in the lounge room doorway. "Peaches." Spike said, standing as he clutched his chest where the wounds were still healing.

Angel looked at his childe disapprovingly then snapped out of it. "What happened?" He asked the group of people.

Faith instinctively went to kneel in front of Willow. "You got amnesia? Damn." She touched the side of Willow's face.

"Who are you?" The girl asked in a small voice.

"I'm Faith."

Memories of her last dream before her amnesia came to her. "I know you." She said softly as she looked at Faith. "We had something in common?"

"We were kidnapped together once. You got kidnapped another time if what Cordy says is true."

Angel stepped forward. <Why didn't she tell me she was living with Spike?> He thought to himself. <I know I knew before but she should've just told me.> He looked at Spike. "Somehow I *know* you had something to do with this."

Spike growled. "Guys!" Elita hissed. "Behave. For Willow's sake."

Angel looked down then sniffed the air. "Where are you?" He asked softly. "Who?"

Sprite was shaking in fright behind the bookcase, clutching her legs close to her chest. <Not again. Not again.> She mentally chanted.

Spike caught is sire's attention. "Leave her be, Angelus."

The dark-haired vampire was too curious though and walked around, seeing Sprite curled up in a protective ball in the tiny space between the wall
and bookcase. "Sprite."

Another ring of the doorbell caught everyone's attention.

*^*^*

Angel walked out of the room and answered the door to find a group of girls standing there. "Who are you?" He asked.

"We're here to see Witchy." Katty stated with a smile.

"Witchy? Willow?"

"Yeah. She home big guy?"

The vampire frowned. "My name's Angel." He corrected.

Everyone's mouths dropped. "Oh, sorry, you're not gonna kill us are ya?"

Faith walked out. "Hey guys. He's tamed. Come on in." She turned and lead them all towards the lounge room. "Cat club's here, Red." Faith
announced.

Vampie stopped beside the couch. "They finished the job." She said softly, turning to the others in the group. "They did the brainwashing."

"No. Just zapped her memories." Xander said with a sigh. "She can't remember any one of us or any of her life."

Gwyneth sat down on the arm of one of the chairs. "Poor Witchy." She said with a frown, reaching out to hold the confused girl's hand.

"Witchy? Red? I thought I was Willow." The red head stated.

"Nicknames." Faith cleared for her. "You have a few."

"I do?"

"Well, yeah, after Sprite's thought a few more up." Anya replied. "Where is she anyway?" Everyone turned to see her still quivering in her spot
behind the bookcase. "Angel, you broke her!"

"No I didn't." He said with a pout.

Willow looked around at all of her, what she thought were, friends. "I-I feel tired." She said in a soft voice.

Spike held out his hand for her. "I'll take you to your room." The vampire stated, waiting for her to take the offered hand. "You can trust me." He said in a whisper.

The witch bit her lip but took the hand that had been offered to her as she was lead out of the room up upstairs to a large room, beautiful wallpaper, a computer, a bed, everything... that she couldn't remember. "I still don't know anything." She sighed until the wallpaper triggered her memory.

~Memory~

"Oh goddess." She muttered, covering her mouth with a surprised smile.

"Like it, Red?" A British sounding man asked from the doorway. He stepped inside. "I found it when you were looking for 'junior's chew toys. Had some guys come in a do it while you were checking your email."

The female turned, throwing herself at him and wrapping her arms around his neck. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." She repeated over and over.

~Reality~

"That was strange." She muttered. "I think I remembered something but... it's all... weird." She said, looking up at the blond beside her.

"What was it about?"

She pointed to the walls. "The wallpaper... I think."

He smiled. "Do you remember what happened?" He asked as he motioned her towards the bed.

"Well... you were there. I could hear you voice but... no faces."

"I got that wallpaper done for you." He said in a tiny voice as he sat on the edge of the bed, smiling at her. "Remember anything else?"

"I think I remember the dog. Oh, and 'Le Château de la nuit rouge'."

The vampire grinned. "We named the house that. The Mansion of the..."

"Red night." Willow interrupted. She frowned. "That's all I know."

Spike touched her hand. "Get some rest. You can remember more tomorrow." He started walking out. "Night, Luv." He turned out her light and closed
the door a little before walking downstairs.

Willow laid in her bed, trying to figure out the memories that were trying so hard to be remembered. <"The only way you're going to learn not to trample me is by practice."> She saw a picture of the faceless man and woman dancing to some slow music. That one scene repeated through her dreams.

*^*^*

Cordelia had finally joined the group downstairs. She'd taken an hour to unpack her things into the wardrobe at the hotel and now here she was,
sitting in the rocking chair on the porch after being filled in on the situation from the group inside. Angel walked out. "Hey." She greeted.

"Hey." He replied.

"So, think we can get her remembering stuff?" She asked.

The vampire sat down on the bench beside her, the girl slowly rocking back and forth in her chair. "I think we can try. The Powers That Be wouldn't let something like this happen to her unless we could fix it or it was supposed to happen."

"Well... they might. They took Doyle didn't they?" She asked, a prickling feeling on her eyes, telling her tears were on their way. The girl looked down. "I've lost so many friends but... but Willow lost her whole life. She has to trust people now, people she can't even remember!"

"It's okay, Cordelia. Willow might not remember anything but she is strong. She'll find a way. She always does."

His secretary smiled at him. "Okay." Her face crumbled, her body folding over as pain shot around through her head. A few grunts escaped her and
within a few seconds it was gone and she sat back, holding her head. "Aspirin." She groaned. "Get everyone out here." Added the young woman.
Angel leapt from his chair, racing inside to do as asked. Within a matter of minutes everyone was outside, standing around the girl, waiting to be filled in on her vision. "Someone remember psycho, crazy vampire lady? Who shot the cow?! She's pissed!"

>From just inside the door leading to the porch, Spike's eyes narrowed. His 'princess' hadn't been staked and she wasn't about to give up. This
time the Scoobies might go down, and stay that way.
 

~Part 12~ Battle Plans

"Buffy."

"Are you sure it was her? I mean can you trust these visions."

"Well duh! Unless the PTB do prank calls! Besides, annoying people I *always* remember. That's why you're always gonna be in my memory." The
ex-cheerleader grumbled as she glared at her old boyfriend.

"Cordy... *Buffy*?"

"Xander!"

"What? Cord, you weren't here when she went psycho slayer."

"Buffy went psycho?" Faith asked, turning to the brunette boy.

"Yeah. She found out Spike and Willow were living together and she blew the roof! She hit Willow, tried killing Spike, not that that isn't usual or anything, and she was just... cruel!"

"Oh, the bitch!" Elita said in shock. She covered her mouth. "I mean... well... this is me being quiet now." She stepped back, her head lowered as Xander smirked at her little outburst. "Okay... go on."

Cordelia gave the girl a strange look. "And who is she?" She asked, waving her arm at Elita.

"Oh, Cordelia, this is Elita. Elita this is Cordelia. We picked her up near the end of our camping trip. Friend of Sprite's." Riley stated.

Angel's flinched. "I have to talk to her." He muttered before walking inside. He passed Spike on the way.

"Leave her be, Angel." Spike said in a low voice.

The older vampire turned to his childe. "I need to set things right."

"Do it without confronting her then. She doesn't trust you."

A moment passed in silence before Angel grabbed Spike's arm. "And she trusts you so you're helping me. Where is she?" Spike went to protest before the dark haired vampire gave him a look. "Where. is. she?"

Spike gave him a reluctant look then pointed towards the door of the lounge room, leading out to the front parts of the house. "This way." He
grumbled, leading the way. "But if you do anything I swear I'll stake you."

"I won't."

*^*^*

Sprite was sitting in a dark room, her legs crossed as she looked into the darkness. She lit another match, watching the flame burning on the end of it. It died out and she dropped it onto the pile in front of her. She'd already gone through at least 15 boxes of Willow's matches and all this was so she could avoid that one man of her past she'd feared. Angelus. She lit another match as a memory entered her mind.

~Memory~

"Sprite, my girl. What'll it take t' break ya?" Angelus asked the chained up nymph as she lay battered on the ground, in front of the Irishman's feet.

"You won't." She groaned, rolling on to her back.

He knelt closer to her, she flinched away when he grabbed her shoulder. "Did y' ever stop t' think how I got these chains, my darlin'? Ever think what else I could get?"

Drusilla walked into the room. "Daddy." She greeted with an evil smile. "Is my dolly ready yet?"

"She won't be yer dolly, Dru." He corrected, standing up straight.

"Your gonna make 'er like me, Daddy?" She asked with wide, curious eyes.

"No, Dru. She'll be me weapon. No Drahicus, Acathla or Je-som Box will match 'er destruction."

"She'll take us to hell?"

He grinned menacingly as he pulled her to him. "No, precious. She'll bring hell to us."

William the Bloody watched from the next room, seeing the sprite on the floor coughing up more blood as more of her energy left her. Sprite used
what was left of that energy to look up slightly and see him watching her. His sire and Drusilla left as he walked out with a bowl of water and a cloth, tending to the wounds. Angelus and Drusilla would be away for at least two days on this hunting trip and he'd do what he could to keep the Sprite alive. No one wanted hell on earth, least of all him.

~Reality~

The match burnt down, scorching the tips of Sprite's fingers. She hissed in pain and dropped the burnt out stick of wood before sucking her sore
thumb. The door opened, light pouring in. A silhouetted figure stood in the doorway. "Sprite." Spike stated.

"Will." She whispered back, looking down at the box of matches and pulling another out.

"I thought you'd be in here. Willow comes in 'ere and does all 'er spells when she's avoiding me." He smiled.

"Why's she avoid you?"

"I have a bad habit of tickling her when she doesn't want to be tickled."

The match died out and she dropped it too. "What brings you here?"

Another figure stepped up behind Spike. "We need to talk about some things." Spike sighed, flipping the light on as he walked inside and pulled up a seat.

Sprite backed away into the corner as she saw Angelus. "Since when does he ever talk? He's always *do*! Like he didn't talk about torturing me he *did* that!" She glared at Spike.

Angelus hung his head as he walked in and pulled a seat up. "Sprite... I know it'd be an understatement to say I've done some bad things... but
what I can say is that I'm sorry and I'll make it up to you any way I can."

"Sorry, huh?" She asked bitterly. "Since when does sorry replace the glamour spell I've had on me for the past 200 odd years, hmmm?" She stood, glaring at Angel as she waved her hands over her body, revealing long scars that looked like they were left by deep cuts from a knife scattered all down her arms, legs and around her throat/chest area. "Sorry won't take any of this away!" She growled.

Spike stood, walking over and gripping her shoulders. "Sprite, he's Angel. He didn't do any of this. You know it was his demon. You're yelling at the face, not the demon."

The nymph's face scrunched up as she tried not to cry. "He hurt me, Will. He hurt me." She sobbed, clinging to the blond as she cried. "And I can't even get my revenge anymore."

Spike looked up at his sire, motioning for the vampire to leave. Angel sighed as he stood and left the room again. "I *am* sorry for what I've, my demon... has done to you." He stated as he walked away and down the hall.

*^*^*

There was another knock at the front door. Faith ran in and to the door. She flung it open. "G-babes!" She yelled happily. "What's with the chair?" She asked the man in a wheelchair.

"Well..." He started saying.

Xander ran in. "Buffy happened." He finished, walking out to wheel the man inside. "So, they let you out? Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm quite alright." The man replied with a sigh. "One of the men from the hospital was kind enough to give me a lift. He has a special car that accommodates for people in wheelchairs." He stated.

"Yeah, hospitals would usually have those." Xander said with a roll of his eyes.

"Giles!" Cordy exclaimed. "What happened?"

"Buffy." Both Faith and Xander replied.

"So this is the work of psycho slayer? She hit Giles?! I thought he was off-limits."

"He was. Then Buffy crashed their car. How's Joyce?" Riley asked, stepping over towards them.

Giles sighed, rubbing his eyes. "Still critical. The doctors said that she has a chance of recovering. Fully even. But I've heard whisperings from passing nurses about her. How they don't think she'll make it." He looked up with tired eyes. "How have things been here?"

"Well, Buffy's been taken to the police. We met up with two nymphy people on the camping trip. Their names are Sprite and Elita. Willow was caught by the Initiative again and brainwashed. Dru's back. Ah, what else?" Xander turned to the group behind him.

Faith shrugged. "I haven't been here."

"This Dru chick... she kinda tall with brown hair?" Lara asked.

"Yeah. Vampire too." Faith replied.

"I know her!" Vampie said, clicking her fingers. "Yeah, she walked past our cells a few times, always talkin' about her little red flower or something. That or some doll called Miss Ellie or Miss Ellen or something."

"Miss Edith." Angel said as he came down the stairs.

"Yeah. That's it! Miss Edith!"

Cordelia walked over to Giles. "Had another vision. Drusilla and Buffy..."

"Let's just say that's not a good match before we go any further." Xander interrupted. "Go on." He turned back to his ex.

"So, as I was saying. Saw Drusilla with little nymph girl that's gone into hiding. Saw Buffy and I saw some military guy. Also saw some Giles- wannabes." She shrugged. "I saw Willow in some room. Instruments and stuff. This ghosty thing was there. Can we say freaky much?"

"Freaky much." Said Anya.

"Right then, well, let's see what we can do about this then. First, figure this vision out and what we can do about it. Second, we should try and find out more about this second section of the Initiative. Hopefully shut it down." Giles stated, looking up at everyone. "We should go in teams, one rest now then other research."
 

~Part 13~ Something Good, Something Bad

Willow tossed and turned in her bed. Nothing seemed real but yet everything felt familiar. She sat upright in her bed, panting as she wiped the sweat from her brow. Her knees were pulled to her chest as she held onto them. <I can't call out to them. I barely know them. It was just a nightmare.> Then why were her claws out for protection? She looked around the darkened room with fear in her eyes. Something was lurking out there. "S-Spike!" She called out.

Within a few seconds he was in the room, gathering her in his arms. "What is it, Princess?" He titled her head up.

"I had a n-nightmare." She said softly. "Sorry, but... I was scared." The girl added in a mere whisper.

He nodded, pulling her head back to his chest as he stroked her hair. "Want to talk about it?"

"No. I'm fine now." Replied Willow.

Spike stood, helping her lay back down as he pulled the covers up. He gave her a kiss on the forehead and walked to the door. "Sleep well, petit chat." He closed the door.

Willow's eyes flew back open. "Knight." She whispered softly. "Knight?" She asked herself. Memories flew around her head and she sat up again.
"Knight." She said again as she got to the door. As she opened it and walked out into the hallway, she saw Spike walking towards the stairs. With a deep breath and a smile on her face she said it again, "Knight." Spike froze, his mouth dropping slightly as he turned around. When he saw her smile his own twitched it's way into place and in seconds they were in each other's embraces, thanking the gods for not punishing them any longer. Willow pulled back then frowned, slapping the vampire on the arm like she'd done so many times. "You left!"

The blond lowered his head slightly, biting his bottom lip. "Yeah." He said. "But I came back!" Spike added, hoping to get out of being yelled at by his friend.

"Well... okay. Just don't leave again." She grumbled.

He grabbed her arm, pulling her towards the elevator. "Come on. Want to tell everyone the news. You know the Cat-Clubs here? Yeah, you would.
You'd remember that."

She smiled at him as he started to babble on, hitting the button to go downstairs. The doors closed as the elevator began shaking. "Spike?" She
clutched onto his arm.

"Trapped." A voice wailed.

"Shit." Spike cursed, looking at the face that had formed on the door.

"Trapped." It hissed as the elevator started going up towards the forbidden 2nd floor.

*^*^*

"Why doesn't Willow get to help? I mean, sure she's memory-less but she'd still be research girl, right?" Cordelia whined. It was her groups turn to research.

"Do be quiet, Cordelia." Giles sighed, flipping the page of his book he'd gotten Angel to get for him, like all the other books everyone was reading. It was always known to the Scoobies how Angel could get a hold of practically any book they'd wanted and with the help of Riley, getting Maggie Walsh's old and hidden files was quite an easy task. The one thing they needed, though, was Willow to de-crypt the disks the professor had had.

"But-"

"Cordy." Angel interrupted, giving the girl a 'I pay your salary' look.

The girl imitated locking her lips as she looked back down at the pages in front of her. "This is useless you know?" Everyone glared at her. "What? Fine, I'll shut up." She rolled her eyes as everyone went silent again. They heard the elevator rumbling. "What was that?"

"Oh, it does that sometimes." Xander replied, turning back to his book and turning to the next page. "Don't worry about it."

*^*^*

Both witch and vampire were sitting on the floor in the elevator, holding each other as it came to a stop at the top floor. "Spike?" She whispered softly.

"It's okay, Luv. I got ya." He whispered back, holding her a little tighter to reassure both of them that the other was still there.

"Trapped." The voice rumbled as the elevator started shaking more, creaking and groaning as the cables holding the machine began weakening.
Spike pulled Willow out of the elevator just as it started plummeting down towards the ground floor. The two of them laid there on the floor, as a loud thunderous crash echoed up through the shaft. The doors between the stairs and the room slammed shut as the elevator doors did the same. Five different faces formed on the walls around them, all whispering the same thing. "Trapped." The face of a little girl came down on the wall closest to them. "Help me, Mommy!" It screamed. The drapes on the windows closed, leaving the room in darkness.
 

~Part 14~ A Haunting Past

"Mommy, can I pick daisies now?" The five year old girl asked as she ran up the stairs into her room where her mother was cleaning off the bed and fixing the sheets.

"Later, Hope. You need to get ready for breakfast." Her mother replied with a smile, putting one of her child's dolls back on top of the pillows of the bed.

"But mommy I want to go now." The tiny girl pouted.

The girl's mother knelt down in front of her and took her hands in hers. "Later. Now go wash up." She gave her a kiss on the nose then stood,
walking out of the room with her layers of skirts flowing behind her.

"Yes, mommy." The girl sighed, walking out after her.

*^*^*

"What was that?" Katty asked as she stood, looking towards the elevator where dust was gushing out from the cracks between the closed doors.

Angel looked up to the top of the staircase just as they slammed shut. "Faith. Let's go." The two of them ran up the stairs and began barging
against the doors.

"It's no use, Brood-man. It's solid." Faith groaned, rubbing her sore arm.

"We'll find a way." He said, giving her a determined look.

*^*^*

"Faith, William, Hope, breakfast is ready." Their father called out as he came in the door, being greeted by the sweet smell of their meal. He approached the table and sat at the head, in front of a plate of soup. Hank looked up and smiled at his wife. "Good-morning, Princess." He greeted.

She gave him a kiss on the forehead, her long red locks falling down to his face. "And you, my love." She started walking away towards the stove. "Could you bring in some more firewood after breakfast? We're running a little low." She said, turning to him.

The blond at the table put his fork down. "As you wish, Kitten." He sighed. "Where are the children?" Asked the man, looking at the empty seats.

Laura looked down at the stove, a secretive smile on her face. "I don't know. Maybe you should look for them." She said.

Hank sighed heavily. "I will take that as a hint." He said as he stood and started walking towards the stairs. Outside a group of men watched through a window.

*^*^*

The doors suddenly opened, making Angel and Faith fall through. They stood and walked in a little further then saw Spike and Willow on the floor, staring intently at the wall in front of their faces. The doors slammed shut again, making Faith jump. They ran over to the two of them and then at the wall they were looking at. Soon they too were pulled into the memories of the ghosts that were being showed on the wall.

*^*^*

"Shhh. Shh he's coming!" The eldest daughter whispered to her brother and sister as they hid in her room.

The door opened and Hank walked inside. "Children?" He called out.

"Daddy!" Hope called out, running to her father with open arms.

William and Faith both jumped out as well, sheets of paper in their hands. "We did it, father!"

Faith twirled, babbling to her father about the dress she was wearing that she'd helped her mother make. William ranted on about the music he'd created while the littlest one, Hope, was desperately trying to drag her father out into the main room, housing all their instruments. William sat at the piano while Faith took the flute from a nearby chair. Hope sat beside her brother just as her mother walked in, a large smile on her face. "Happy birthday, My Knight." She whispered through a kiss on her husband's lips.

Her children started playing their instruments while her youngest daughter joined her in singing. "A little dove came flying, flying, over the sea. A little dove, a little dove, found a little tree. This little tree would whisper, whisper, such beautiful things. This little dove, little dove, and tree."

As the song continued no one noticed the smell drifting into the room. The stench of the dirty men began attaching itself to everyone room the
group walked through. When they reached the top floor the song had finished and their swords were drawn.

*^*^*

"What's going on? Where'd they go?" Vampie asked, banging against the door. "They were here a minute ago!"

Two voices from behind them startled them all. "Where's Willow?" One asked, while the other said, "Where's my Spike?"

Xander fainted. "Buffy." Riley said.

"Dru." Sprite added in shock.

"Just great. We got Dru and psycho-Buffy and Angel's trapped." Cordy snorted, crossing her arms.

"Angel?" The two new entrants asked. "Where?"

*^*^*

"What is the meaning of this?" Hank asked, stepping in front of his family for protection.

The group of men didn't respond. One of them was eyeing Laura hungrily, stepping forward from the others as a tiny line of drool made it's way
from the corner of his mouth.

The woman moved a little further behind her husband. "Hank." She whispered scaredly.

"It's okay, Kitten." He whispered back reassuringly. "What do you want?" He asked the group.

"Your deaths." One replied as the bandits moved further forward.

*^*^*

Buffy touched the door handle, trying to rip it from the wood but nothing worked. She moved aside for Drusilla to try but it still wouldn't budge. The two of them exchanged looks of determination as they readied themselves to barge the door. Everyone stepped back to the edge of the railing as the two of them ran forward. The doors opened, quickly closing behind them.

*^*^*

In Hope's room the tiny girl had been tied up and placed in a large wooden box with the top open. "Help me, mommy!" She called out in panic.

In the next room Hope's mother began sobbing as one of the men alternated between beating and raping her while her husband watched on helplessly, wailing from watching his wife's suffering. A blond woman stepped into the room just as the man finished his torture on Laura. "Leave." She said harshly, running a hand over her dirtied blond hair. "Laura... my friend." She said coldly. "Remember me?"

The woman looked up through blurred and haunted eyes. "Cari?"

"Good. You remember. Do you remember John and Elizabeth?" She indicated to the door as Laura's oldest and dearest friends were dragged in. She
turned to watch the red headed woman's reaction. Two bloodied brunettes were dumped on the ground, near death.

"Why?" Laura asked through tears.

"Now you'll remember *me*. I made you, Laura." She hissed then turned to the door once more. "Jessa!" She bellowed. Another brunette stepped in.
Her porcelain face looking sad and pouty as her superior summoned her.

*^*^*

Spike tightened his grip on Willow as she watched the mirror of herself, only older, get raped and beaten while Spike's double watched. The look- alikes of Faith and Angel were dragged in, looking dead or close to it. Buffy and Drusilla were the cause.

*^*^*

"Trapped!" Hope shrieked from the now closed off box in the centre of her room. She could hear her brother and sister's faint cries from nearby somewhere. "Mommy, help me!" She screamed as the box started losing air. The men were laughing cruelly around her as they started to close off the box with mud, waiting for it to harden and leave the girl to suffocate inside. "Mommy!"

*^*^*

Buffy fell to her knees in front of the wall. Watching herself, only different, cause this family so much pain, just because her friend had moved on with her life. Her whole body slumped as everything went numb.

Drusilla sat down beside the group in front of the wall and watched herself through the memories of the family she'd assisted in hurting.

*^*^*

William and Faith were dead by now. William had been hung on a beautiful tree outside what was now Willow's bedroom, while Faith had been beaten to death. Hope had suffocated and now Hank and Laura had been released to search for their children only to find them dead. Cari and Jessa had left with their gang, laughing as they rode off. Hank had found Faith while he and his wife had seen their son hanging from a tree by his
neck. After taking their son down from the tree and taking their daughter up to her room where she would lay on her bed, looking beaten but now at peace, they searched for their last child. As they ran into her room they saw the mud covered box in the middle of the room. Laura fell to her knees sobbing as they saw the writing written into the dried mud. "Death for the devil's children." It read. Hank took the knife that had been used to write the words and gave his wife a look of sheer despair. Laura took the knife from him with shaky hands. "I'll love you forever. Life and death." She whispered to him. He wiped some tears from her face as she leant back against the box in her husbands arms.

She thrust the knife into her heart, giving him one last look as he took the knife out from her chest. "And I you, Kitten." He replied as her eyes closed. Sobs shook his entire body as his wife took one last breath before his death. "Even in death." He cried, letting the blade slip into his body before his soul left his body to find his wife's.

*^*^*

"Oh my god." Willow cried, turning her face to bury it in Spike's shoulder. Bloody tears ran from his eyes as he put his face to her neck. "Spike? Oh my god." She wept.

Faith's eyes glistened before she turned to look at Willow and Spike. Angel touched her hand and he gave her a pained look. "I'm so sorry." Buffy whispered.

Willow looked up from Spike's chest to see her old friend giving her a sad and apologetic look. "Oh Buffy." She whispered, closing her eyes against the tears.

"Will." She whispered.

"William." Drusilla said softly, looking towards her old love.

He looked up, bloody red tear tracks down his cheeks. "Pet."

She stood. "I've been a bad girl." She said in a hushed voice before she turned towards the room that had once been Hope's.

Willow stood, following her as she pulled Spike along behind her. When the group had entered the room they found Drusilla scratching away at the box shape. Paint and wood that had covered the muddied box were now on the floor. The mud was being chipped away as Buffy joined in. The lid
of the crate was opened as a light escaped. The ghost of the little girl formed, appearing to take a large breath as she lightly landed on her feet in front of the box. She looked up at Willow through the red hair covering her face. Willow moved forward as if on instinct to brush the locks away. "Mommy." The tiny ghost said.

The witch choked back another sob. "Hope." She whispered softly. "Oh Hope."

More figures escaped from the box. Laura, William, Faith and Hank all started on their ways to heaven. Hope watched them for a moment before
looking at Willow once more. "You saved me." She said, giving the teenager a kiss on the nose like her mother had done to her when she was alive. "I love you, Mommy." She stated then started upwards towards heaven where her family was waiting for her.

Spike crouched beside Willow and held her. "Come on, Pet. It's okay now. They're free." He said softly into her ear.

"I had a past life." She murmured in disbelief.

"We all did." He answered.

Xander and the others rushed in to find everyone standing around and empty box in the room. "O-kay. What's goin' on?" He asked unsurely. "We
finally get that door open and everyone's been crying? What gives?"
 

~Part 15~ Time To Heal

Willow was staring at the wall as she sat curled up on her bed. There was a knock at the door and she turned to see it open, showing Spike's head being poked through. "Can I come in?"

She nodded, turning her attention to the balcony. The curtains were open, showing the old tree that her past son had died on. She sniffled, rubbing her nose. "My son died out there."

"No, Pet, it wasn't your son."

"Our son then." She said with a small sigh.

"No, that was our past lives, Luv. You haven't even had children yet." He stated, sitting down in front of her and handing her the hot chocolate he'd made for her.

She took a small sip from the mug. "But he was still mine." The girl looked up at him. "Spike, we were married." She looked down at her cup. That was the only thing she'd liked about her past life, being married to and having kids with Spike.

He moved to sit beside her, leaning against the headboard. "Yeah. We were, weren't we." The corner of his mouth lifted into a half smile.

"I-I told you... well, Laura told Hank she'd love him in life and death." She risked a glance at him, actually glad that he was looking out to the balcony as well. She looked back down when he turned to look at her.

"Hank said the same, Luv." He replied in a soft voice.

"Do you... do you think that love can pass through different lives?"

<It must. I love you, don't I? Bloody oath I do.> "Yeah."

They were silent for a few moments. "Spike?"

"Yeah, Luv?"

"I feel bad."

"About what?"

"I... I was raped. I feel so dirty."

He turned to her, his eyes wide as he brought her into a hug. "Luv, that wasn't you. That was something that happened a long time ago."

"But-but I was *almost* raped in this life too, Spike! What if history repeats itself?" She looked near tears as they pulled back, looking into each others eyes.

The vampire wiped some tears away with the back of his hand. "Then at least I'll know I'll be spending my unlife with you." He said quietly.

Willow's heart melted. She managed a small smile. "You don't mean that." The girl stated.

"Yes, I do." He countered. "Come here, Pet." The blond said, pulling her closer to him. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me and I'm
not about to let you go." The blond said into her red hair. "Not for anything, and if history does repeat itself and some group of bandits want to tear us apart, I'll tear them limb from limb before they can touch a hair on your pretty little head. Alright?" He looked down at her.

The hacker gave him a wide, thankful smile before snuggling against his chest. "Thank you, Spike. Can you stay with me tonight?"

"As you wish, petit chat."
 

read the sequal 'What Will Be'

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