Pleasures From The Past

The lightning forked across the sky silently, casting flashes of light into the dark corners of the house. Buffy was in bed, looking at the window. It was just an electrical storm, no thunder, no rain. It was beautiful.

Ever since she came back, her friendship with Spike changed. She no longer hated him outright, although he was still a pain in her ass. She tolerated him, allowed him to hang out with her, and despite her vehement denials, she actually liked him. Something in both of them changed. Spike looked at her with more than just lust in his eyes. Oh, the lust was still there, but there was something deeper. It was as if he was always on the verge of telling her something important, but didn't know how to begin.

She couldn't sleep, so she rose, put on her patrol clothes and climbed out the window. She laughed as her feet touched the ground. Her mom was gone a year now, and she still came and went through the window.

It wasn't very late, and chances were that some of the gang was still at the Magick Box. She detoured there on her way to the cemetery and found almost the whole gang getting ready to head home.

"Hi guys. Couldn't sleep. Anyone wanna patrol with me?" She watched as they all nodded their heads in succession. She once again noticed the empty space that Giles used to fill. They saw him less and less, and that always made her heart ache. But the council wanted him in London a good deal of the time, and now that Willow was almost through with her Watcher training, they kept him away even more.

They walked and chatted about their lives as the light show overhead continued. Halfway through the patrol, Spike joined them and it actually started to become fun. They laughed and talked, and she physically and verbally sparred with him.

There weren't many vampires out that night. They opted to stay home away from the lightening. Just as they reached the main gate, a bolt of lightening struck the iron fence and traveled along the length until it reached its destination.

Buffy was only vaguely aware of what happened. One moment she was standing with her friends, and the next she was on a dirt road in the early evening in a very unfamiliar city.

She looked around her, hoping to find her friends somewhere in the crowds. She saw no one she knew, and began to panic. She heard the comments on her clothing, and forced herself to calm down and take a good look around her. What she saw started the panic bubbling once again.

She was in a Victorian city, fire-lit lamps in the street, horse-drawn carriages, women clothed from head to toe in stunning gowns that showed off their wealth, and British accents all around. She began to walk, hoping to find some clue as to how she got there in the first place, and how she was going to get back home.

It was cold and raining, and Buffy was severely underdressed for the weather. She hugged herself and breathed into her hands, hoping to find some warmth. It didn't work.

After days of walking, Buffy grew very tired and scared. She knew there was a strong possibility she would never get home, and she didn't know what to do. The worn Slayer sat with her back against a building and her legs pulled up and hugged tight as she sobbed. No one took notice of her, thinking her a street urchin, an untouchable member of the lowest dredges of society.

Buffy cried herself to sleep, hoping the morning would bring new hope and promise. Maybe it was all a dream. She woke with a start when she felt someone touch her. The cold and wetness made her sluggish, which turned out to be a good thing as she realized the person touching her was a young woman. This person was about Buffy's age, had brown hair tied up in a flattering bun, deep blue eyes and a very lavish dress on. She way covering Buffy with a blanked.

"I'm sorry dear, I didn't mean to wake you. You looked so cold, I thought you might make better use of my coach blanket than I."

"Thank you. I'm freezing. And I'm lost. Where am I?"

The woman named two street that Buffy never heard of, so she followed up her question, "What city?"

She laughed lightly and answered the Slayer, "Oh my dear, you're in London of course. Why you look so misplaced. Not a friend in the city?"

Buffy shook her head no and drew the blanked tighter around her. She felt guilty because she knew she was dirty, but she was cold and couldn't help but soil the lovely present wrapped around her skin.

"Come with me. Let's get you something to eat and wear, a hot bath and then you can tell me where you come from. My name is Chelsea."

"I'm Elizabeth. Thank you." Buffy followed Chelsea to her carriage and climbed in behind her new friend. They drove for a few miles and Buffy ate the food Chelsea had with her in silence. She was very hungry and appreciated the kindness of this stranger.

Chelsea took Buffy home and did all the things she promised, providing Buffy with food and clothes and hot baths in return for her companionship. The Slayer cleaned up nicely, and she and Chelsea became good friends quickly.

Buffy made up a story about how she had fallen ill and woke up in the streets of London alone and moneyless, with shady memories of her home and family. Chelsea offered her a job as her companion in return for a salary and place to stay. Buffy agreed, hoping she could raise enough money to hire someone to help her get home.

She helped her new friend dress daily, and tended to her needs as best as possible. Chelsea discovered what a treasure she found in Buffy after her second week of employ. The courier brought Chelsea a letter from her brother away at school, and she couldn't wait to have it read to her, but the butler was out on an errand. Buffy realized Chelsea was illiterate and offered to read the letter for her in the butler's place. Chelsea was overjoyed.

"Oh Elizabeth dear! You're such a wonder! Please, read it to me."

"My Dear Sister,

It is with great joy that I write this letter. After six years of medical schooling, it is now time for me to begin my apprenticeship. I have decided to return to you Chelsea, and build my practice in London. Please expect me on 14 July.

God bless,

William Michael"

"I didn't know you had a brother."

"Yes, but it's been three years since he last came. We must throw a party!"

Chelsea began the preparations for the festivities with Buffy's help. The days came and went, and soon it was July 14th. Buffy stood next to her friend, waiting for the Master of the house to arrive.

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Come on luv! Wake up! You're scaring us all! Please pet, Nibblet's so frightened! We're all so frightened." Spike knelt next to her bed, pleading with the comatosed Slayer. It had been two weeks since she fell, and so far nothing could be done to wake her. The doctors said there was nothing physically wrong with her. All they could do was wait and hope.

Spike remembered it was believed that if you spoke to people in comas, they heard you and it helped them to pull out of it quicker. He spent every moment talking to her. They all did, praying and hoping that she'd wake up soon. Nothing worked.

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The house was full of music and food and friends, all waiting for the young Master to arrive. When he finally did, he walked slowly from the entrance to the place where his young sister sat. Buffy's breath caught as she looked upon him for the first time.

"Spike?" He looked at her, kissed her hand in greeting and introduced himself.

"I'm William. Whom may I ask are you?"

"This is my friend, Elizabeth. She is staying here with us." Chelsea watched the sparks fly between the two of them, and filled with pride as she saw her plan set in motion. She knew Elizabeth would be perfect for her brother, and had offered her employment with the intention of playing matchmaker for him. It seemed to be working.

He still had her hand in his, and he bent to kiss it one more time. "At your service Elizabeth. I hope to know you better."

Buffy could barely speak. He was enchanting. Throughout the course of the night, William danced with her several times, each time succeeding in sweeping her off her feet. She had trouble remembering that this was Spike holding her, albeit an alive, pre-Vampire Spike, but Spike none-the-less.

At the end of the night, William escorted first Chelsea and then Buffy to their rooms. He paused outside Buffy's room and kissed her hand one last time. "Sweet dreams, sweet Lizbeth."

She closed the door behind her and spun in circles, her heart pounding. She didn't know if it was the champagne, the music, the fact that Spike was here with her, or Spike himself that made her feel all giddy. She tried attributing it to the champagne, but knew she was lying. It was Spike, or William to be exact. She was completely caught up in him.

"Now you've done it. You're falling for him. You can't fall for him, oh but you ARE falling for him!" Buffy was completely sunk and she knew it. She was in love after spending a few brief hours with him, but many of the mannerisms were still there, reminding her of the friends she was missing.

He gave her that cocky grin several times, and she saw him pinch the top of his nose towards the end of the night. Everything he did caused her to sink deeper and deeper into him, and by the time her head hit the pillow, she was thanking God for at least giving her some happiness. She couldn't help but think that even if she never got back home, there was a chance for happiness here.

******************************************************

Willow had tried several times to get into Buffy's head, the way she had when Glory kidnapped Dawn. All she found was darkness and the occasional flash of memory. The memories she saw were strange. Willow was seeing pieces of Buffy's life with Chelsea and William, and she didn't understand them at all.

Everyone decided they would link hands with Willow when she next tried to get inside Buffy, hoping their combined love and concern would empower the Witch. They would try tomorrow night.

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Although only weeks had passed for the Scoobies, months flew by for Buffy. She read every pertinent book she could, hoping to find a spell that would take her home, something, anything that would bring her hope. In the beginning, it was a quest for her. But as those months passed, Buffy devoted less and less time to research, and more and more time to William. She had begun calling him by his middle name, Michael, several weeks ago. She found it helped her to ward off depression a little easier, as calling him William made her think of home to much.

They were now sharing a bed at night. They would go to their rooms, and within an hour or two, he would sneak to her and slip under her covers to make love with her until the sun rose. Chelsea knew of their nighttime activities, and pressed her brother to take Elizabeth as his bride.

On the anniversary of the night they met one year earlier, they spent the day making love and sleeping in each other's arms. That evening when they rose, he had prepared a private banquet for them in celebration. She wore a gown of sheer elegance, and he dressed formally for the night. They danced to the string quartette he hired, and he proposed to her. She accepted without hesitation, and Chelsea began the wedding preparations the next day.

They were married that November, and the reception was held outdoors under the autumn sun. It was a beautiful celebration, and Buffy was a vision of perfection in her wedding gown. Their matching wedding bands glittered in the light.

Although they went to the bridal bed already knowing the pleasures of each other's bodies, Buffy felt like a virgin, fresh and untouched. She stood at their window looking at the moon and let go. She released any hopes she had of returning to her own time, and turned to face her husband. When she met him in bed that night, she gave herself to him completely for the first time. He had her body and her love already, and now he had her future as well.

"I love you Lizbeth."

"I love you too Michael."

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Buffy began to wake, but she felt like something heavy was sitting on her chest. And the light was so bright it pierced her closed eyelids. She heard voices around her, familiar voices.

"I think it's working!"

"Keep going, she's waking up!"

"Buffy, luv, can you hear us?"

It was the last voice that she recognized the easiest. She opened her eyes and squinted against the artificial light coming from the lamp. Her friends were standing around her, at least she thought they were her friends. She was having trouble remembering.

That's when she saw him standing there, watching her. His hair was blond and she wondered what that was all about.

"Michael?"

Spike gasped as recognition flooded through him, and he answered tentatively, "Lizbeth?" A tear began to fall from his eye as she drifted back to sleep, muttering his name. She slipped back into the coma and was gone again.

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She woke immediately and found herself safe in the arms of her husband. The sobbing in her began deep down inside, and when it started to surface he woke to comfort her. He held her, rocking her all night and cooing works of love and adoration to her. She recovered after a few days, and knew that wasn't the last time they'd try to recover her. There was no way for her to know when it would happen again, and now there was the possibility she wouldn't return to Michael again.

In lieu of this new development, Buffy made every single moment with him as precious as possible. Their time together was limited, and she wanted him to remember how much she loved him once she was gone.

She remembered the look of recognition in Spike's eyes, and there was hope that they'd be together again, but she felt washed over with guilt at the knowledge that he would die to be reborn a demon.

************************************************

They were married two years ago this fall, and she had not yet been called to return to her own time. The fall harvest was bountiful this year, and their table was laden with wonderful autumn foods. She reflected on the years she had been with him. They spent most of their time making love, and Buffy had never been happier. Moments apart were torment for them both, and they were ready to start a family. Tonight, their lovemaking would hopefully result in the birth of their first child.

As Buffy led him to their bed, she felt a tugging in her stomach. The tugging turned to a pressure, and she knew tonight would be their last together. They made love passionately, Buffy pouring all her emotions into the act. As they began to drift off to sleep, Buffy asked him to listen to her without question or interruption. He agreed.

She told him how deeply she loved him and how much he meant to her. She asked that he try not to forget her, and if there was ever a moment of doubt when it came to her love for him, to know that her heart always belonged to him. She asked that he be kind to those around her, specifically asking that he not harm a woman by the name of Willow, even if he had the perfect opportunity. Michael had no understanding of what she was referring to, but she promised him that someday he'd understand.

They made love again, and Buffy buried her head in his shoulder to hide her tears from him. She wanted his last memory of her to be of their coupling, not her anguish.

They closed their eyes to sleep, their limbs still tangled. Moments later, Buffy opened her eyes and looked into the faces of her friends and family.

"Buffy! Please, don't drift back! Stay here!" Dawn panicked, praying aloud that there wouldn't be a repeat of the last time they tried to revive her.

"I'm here Dawn. I'm home again."

They surrounded the Slayer, each hugging and kissing her in welcome. Buffy cried, a combination of joy for the reunion, and sorrow for the loss. "Where's Michael?"

They looked at her in confusion. "Who's Michael?" Willow asked.

Buffy remembered, and clarified. "Sorry, where's Spike? Why isn't he here?"

Everyone in the room grew very quiet. They explained that when they tried to revive her the first time, which was the previous night, she had called him Michael and upset him greatly. That very moment, Spike packed his belongings and left, refusing to tell them where he was going. He promised to return in twelve weeks though, and told them that Buffy would explain everything.

Dawn said, "He asked us to tell you that he knew you'd need time to digest this. He'd been waiting over a century, so a few more weeks wouldn't hurt too much. He'll come back and accept whatever decision you make. Buffy, what was he talking about?"

The Slayer sunk into her pillows and cried harder than she had in years. They comforted her as best they could, and Buffy began the tale of her missing years. It took several weeks to convince them all that she lived with Spike when he was alive, lived as his wife, but eventually they accepted her story and waited to see what she would decide to do when Spike returned.

Twelve weeks later, and finally the night came, and everyone waited at Buffy's house for the Vampire to walk through the door. They talked and ate, watched TV, and jumped when "Hi Cutie," was heard coming from the front of the house.

Buffy looked at him, her heart pounding in her chest.

"I know, it was a long time ago, and I'm not the same person I was, actually, I'm no longer a person at all, so I want you to know that I'll accept whatever you decide. Just please remember that no matter what, I love you and my heart belongs to you."

Buffy smiled and answered, "Michael, I've missed you so much!" His hands went to cover his mouth as the emotions swept over him. He rushed to her, swept her into his arms and kissed her while crying into her mouth. For a long time, they held each other crying, neither able to say anything other than the occasional, "I love you Michael," or "I love you Lizbeth," or "I've missed you terribly!"

After they composed themselves, they rejoined their friends, celebrating their reunion. Spike held her, crying uncontrollably at times, laughing just as hard at others. Buffy couldn't begin to imagine what it must have been like for him to realize she was his long-lost wife. The torment must have been overwhelming!

He explained that he had trouble remembering his life before being turned, and it took a long time for him to finally accept that she was his Lizbeth. He had his epiphany the night he tried to have the Initiative doctor remove the chip from his head, and held his emotions in check ever since. He knew if he tried to tell Buffy about them, she wouldn't believe him and would probably stake him for fear he was going mad. Instead, he was content just being near her.

"So you were my wife, then my mortal enemy, and now you're." He cocked his head and looked at her, waiting for her to finish his sentence.

"Didn't we pledge our lives to each other at the marriage alter?" He shook his head yes. "Well then, now I'm your wife again."

That was everyone's cue to leave the lovers alone, and they rose to file out of the house.

"Guys, wait a moment. There's something else I need to tell you." She looked at Spike. "I was going to tell you alone, but I never realized how much you all mean to me until I lost you and found you again. So I'm going to tell you all right now. You're family, and I want you all to be here for this. I have some wonderful news."

Buffy took Spike's hand and placed it on her stomach. Everyone stilled themselves, waiting for Buffy to speak. In the silence, Spike's ears picked up the slightest variance in Buffy's body. There was a sound, like a fluttering, coming from her. It took him only a few moments to realize what that sound meant.

"Oh Lizbeth! You're, oh God, you're pregnant!" He beamed and pulled her tight to him.

"That last night we spent together, the night we decided to start a family and I disappeared, we did start a family. Michael, this is our baby. I'm three months along."

After the rounds of congratulations ended and Buffy and Spike were left alone in their room, they made love. They knew without reservation that they were home. Truly home.

The End