Buffy and Spike had come down from the bedroom to see all of the furniture in Giles's living room had been pushed to the sides to clear a space in the center of the floor.

Stretching her magic muscles before she had to do some serious work, Willow focused on lighting the candles with her will. Since she and Tara had been working together, her magic's strength and repertoire had expanded. She just hoped that she would be strong enough for what she would have to do.

She glanced up from the candles to see that the Slayer and vampire were holding hands. Spike seemed subdued and resigned to the spell. He was leaning rather heavily on Buffy for support too, like she had to lend him her strength.

Willow honestly couldn't blame him on that one. She did kinda blame him for almost killing Buffy. Well, actually, she really blamed him, but this was different. He was going to be the center of a spell that she had no idea of what the effects would be. There were a million things that could possibly go wrong, a thousands awful fates that could happen, and he still came.

Maybe he and Buffy really were in love. Nothing else on earth could have compelled him to come.

"Are you ready?" Willow asked them.

Buffy answered for Spike, "Now or never."

"Never," Spike whispered under his non-breath, but said, "Let's get it over with, before I come to my senses."

"All right then. Let's get started. Usually this spell would use a magic gourd, but we won't be using that today-"

They sat Indian style in a circle around Spike. Willow set a bowl and a small knife in front of her. The lights were off, and five candles were lit between each person, one for everyone joining the web.

It was her job to recite most of the spell, so Willow took a deep calming breath. Hoping everyone was ready, she started.

Apertus portam. (Open the gate.)

She heard Spike hiss as she felt something uncoil in the air.

Concentrating, Willow tried to sense the power she was calling on.

On her left, Giles made a small cut in his palm with the knife and let a single drop land in the bowl, saying, "Sumus unus."

Unus in factum. (One in deed.)

Buffy took the knife from her Watcher. Carefully she used the tip to open her hand too. One drop fell into the bowl with her words, "Sumus unus."

Unus in cor. (One in heart.)

Xander placed the bowl in front of him. With slow reluctant movements, he cut his palm. A third drop joined the other two. "Sumus unus."

The air thickened, and Willow felt the power growing into a shape she couldn't understand. She carried on the spell.

Unus in anima. (One in spirit.)

Anya calmly slit her hand, her blood joining with the others in the bowl. "Sumus unus."

Laetitiam meus esse ad tu. (My joy is yours.)

Willow could practically hear the magic expanding in all directions. It was her turn. She reached her hands out and took the knife and bowl. She made a slash in her hand and let it flow into the bowl as she dropped the knife in too. She said the line, "Sumus unus."

She looked at Spike, who was lit with an otherworldly glow as darkness and light warred around him. He held out his hands, and the bowl floated to him.

There was a brief sensation of being pulled forward too, though Willow knew she wasn't moving. She struggled to continue,

Dolorum meus esse ad tu. (My pain is yours.)

Spike's face tightened, and he plunged the blade through his wrist, his blood pouring into the bowl. Willow choked out the next part,

Sanguim meus esse ad tu. (My blood is yours.)

The instant the blood mixed, Willow felt part of herself reach out toward Spike.

Potentiam meus esse ad tu. (My power is yours.)

Now Willow could see them, the katras. Streaming toward Spike in a wave of radiant colors from every direction, their katras extended a tentative 'hand' toward Spike, circling around him while his multi-colored layers brightened. She heard Giles gasp and knew he was seeing it too.

Gathering the remains of her will, she managed to say her last line,

The power in the air hummed, unbelievably heavy with growing light. Buffy's purple cord had already wove itself into the ever-changing melody of Spike's swirling katra. Her own green and yellow one was twisting toward Spike, still disconnected, but so close. Xander's brilliant blue danced about, equally held back, as did Giles's green and Anya's shining yellow.

For a moment Willow was afraid they wouldn't be able to join, but guided by an impulse she couldn't understand, Willow gripped Giles's hand. Seeing her action, Anya grabbed Willow's and Xander's hands too.

Their katras blazed and surge forward into Spike. Pain evident on his face, Spike lifted the bowl to his lips,

Coniungerebant per sanguis. (Bound by blood.)

And he drank.

The world exploded before her eyes in a myriad of iridescent twirling colors as she felt the links snap into place.

In the space of a dazzling millisecond, she was Spike. She was Xander. She was Anya. She was Giles. She was all, and she was none. It was everything, nothing, something. A little, a lot. The world swam, and reality skewed, changing its shape into a new form, destroying the old and rebuilding anew.

Spike practically shoved the next words from his mouth,

Lifted from four throats in perfect unison, without a conflicting thought, they said, "Sumus unus." (We are one.)

Willow trembled and spit out the words to shut down the spell.

A gust of wind swept by them, snuffing out all the candles in the room in a single moment. The room went dark.

It didn't matter that she couldn't see her friends. Even in total darkness, she knew where they were. Giles on her left and Anya on her right.

There was no noise save their breathing, but she felt their presence. On the bare edges of her consciousness, they were there. She could instantly judge their mood and mind. Even more, for the first time in her life, she realized that she could never be completely alone again. Through the web, she now understood, more intimately than she had thought possible, the complexities and nuances of her friends.

They were a web, bound together through magic and Spike's psychic powers. Retaining their thoughts and personalities, yet united in a common goal and purpose, everything had changed. Willow could already feel her senses expanding as she encompassed those of her friends. Her hearing was sharper, her sense of smell more clear, her very awareness was enhanced by the others.

Groupthink, she remembered from Psychology. Not the mob mentality, but groupthink. Together they built off each other, reaching their highest possible potential by simply and unconsciously sharing emotions and ideas.

No wonder the Powers had seen this as the best possibility. A more perfect team could not have been fathomed, created, imagined. The sheer size of the task before them was daunting, and only in this bond did they even have a remote chance of winning. All the knowledge, strength, and power would be needed, rising and falling like a tide through the center, Spike.

A light came on, and the vampire in question rubbed his temples. Buffy walked away from the wall where she had turned the light on and put her arms around him. Spike asked, "Are we done?"

Xander raised his hand, "Does anyone else feel like everyone else?"

"Does knowing for no logical reason that Anya really hates my decor count?" Giles asked wearily.

"It's ugly," Anya stated.

Buffy tentatively touched Spike's skin directly. "You okay?"

A gold wave shot through the web, and some of the hard lines around Spike's eyes faded as an echo of his contentment touched everyone. "It wasn't that bad. I'm not saying I would like to do this every day, but I'm not about to pull a Dru or Angelus and jump off the deep end right this second." He spun his head like he was listening. "I don't feel much different, except all you are louder." He looked at Buffy, his eyes almost on fire, "Especially you." Tearing his gaze from hers and turning to Willow, he asked, "How is it for you? Is that it?"

"No. In addition to sensing all web members, all of us should be able to 'see' the katras really easily," Willow answered. "All it takes is these two words, Apertus portam ."

And with a rush of energy in her head, Willow saw the katras come back into her 'sight.' The web was clearly visible, stretching from Spike to connect them all together. In turn Willow's katra was able to overlap with Anya's, Giles's, Xander's, and . . .

Buffy's didn't touch anyone else. Hers touched exactly one person, Spike. Her purple cord didn't come near the others, but her connection to Spike was twice as thick as it had been before. " Claudo portam ." She closed the spell in annoyance.

Now Willow understood why Buffy had not said much or acted much during the spell. "Umm, Buffy? Do you feel me, in your head? Even a little?" Willow hoped.

Buffy seemed to try to 'hear' Willow, "Nope. All I hear is Spike."

"Can you say those Latin words? Please try them."

"Sure. Apertus portam ."

"Tell me you see katras. Blue, green, yellow, purple."

"Another no. Am I supposed to?"

"Yes. The spell is supposed to let any of us see them when we need to. Something is wrong here."

"Will, are you trying to freak me out? 'Cause now you're giving me the wiggins." Buffy sounded very unsure now.

"It's not wrong, like bad wrong. It's wrong, like the Powers up there have a secret agenda to keep you touching just Spike. The rest of us touch Spike and each other. You . . .don't."

"So Buffy's not a third party toucher," Xander tried to soothe Willow's feelings. "She's still part of the web, right? We're still gonna be able to work with this. Right?"

Giles answered his questions, "We can't be certain of the intricacies of the spell yet. There are a few matters we need to worry about. First, there is the issue of whether we can add people easily to the web. Second, we need to plan some strategy on how we will protect the world, and thirdly, Willow needs to do more research so we may find an explanation to Buffy's difficulty."

A tickling in her head caused Willow to look at Spike. She caught a hint of some dread running in his mind, "Do we have to go through that whole spell thing again?"

"No. We did the main set up. Now all we need is reciting a little Latin and having a web member mix their blood with the new members. No more drinking blood or chanting, though you can do that if you would like."

"So who are we getting to join first?" Anya spoke out. "I don't see 'hey, you wanna help save the world by sharing blood' getting us lots of volunteers."

"That's easy," Buffy smiled. "We'll get my mom. I'm sure she'll be so relieved to hear that I'm okay." She stopped when she saw the guilty looks on everyone's faces. "You did tell her where I've been, right?"

No one had the guts to reply.

Spike chuckled and kissed her hair, "I'm sure she has no idea, love. Tell the Slayer's mum you sedated her daughter for a few days and then let her vampire boyfriend almost kill her? I'd keep my mouth shut too."

The next several hours were a great learning experience for everyone.

First, the bond could be easily passed on. Xander had done the honors with Joyce. It had been almost too easy. He'd 'opened the gate,' cut their fingers, mixed their blood in the sink, and 'closed the gate.' Joyce had become the newest member of the web without any problems. She had gone home shortly after though to lie down because learning about Spike and Buffy had taken a little bit out of her.

Much to their dismay, Buffy and Spike were not going to get a chance to 'reacquaint' themselves in a bed anytime soon because the small matter of saving the world was taking some time. Spike was a bit miffed by this since he was eagerly looking forward to his promised reward for doing the spell.

"We need to figure out who we are fighting, where, and what we are going to do about it." Giles unrolled a map of Sunnydale on his table. "Now, Buffy, you said the Powers were going to have you lead the humans, and Spike was going to lead the demons."

"Yep. If Spike died, I helped the humans. If I died, Spike helped the demons." Buffy replied from the couch where she was sitting on Spike's lap.

"Then they had some go-to guys ready," Xander looked over the maps as well. "Anybody gonna name some baddies that fit the bill?"

"I'd guess for the humans it would be Professor Walsh or Riley," Buffy replied after a minute of thought.

"Ummm . . ." Willow stopped reading the text she'd found on katras. "We must have forgot to tell you. All classes have been canceled for the next week because thirty students and Professor Walsh are dead."

"Professor Walsh is dead? Did-"

Buffy's unfinished question was answered by Spike. "No. I had nothing to do with the good professor's demise. Someone else started killing off people in the lab before we broke out." He paused and stiffened against Buffy. "I know who the demon first runner up is."

"Who? Is it someone I know?" That was Anya from her place on the hated carpet.

"You might have know pieces of it. There was this thing in the lab. It called itself Adam. It was part demon, part human, part machine, sewn all together. Though it was supposed to be helping the commandos, I think it killed them. It wasn't there when we got out, and someone on the inside destroyed the main computer."

His voice dropped to a pitch that chilled all occupants in the room to the bone, "There was a darkness inside it. Bloody awful, hungrier in that lab than even I was."

Kissing his neck to calm him, Buffy said airily, "Sounds like he's slightly Blighty. That's one down." She glanced at Willow, "Classes are cancelled? What was the police's explanation?"

"Gas leak. Someone lit a match, and the Lowell house went off like a bomb. No bodies left. The police said it was open and close, clear-cut."

"There must have been a self-destruct somewhere because I'm sure mutilated corpses in the basement certainly pointed to 'gas leak,'" Spike commented dryly.

"But Riley lived," Willow said.

"Since he threatened my Slayer, you'll have to excuse me for not jumping for joy about that one," Spike wrapped his arm around Buffy.

"I'm not exactly all 'yay' on that one, either," Buffy agreed, snuggling up to him. "He's probably the new big-shot human then."

"Which puts us past 'who.' Now we get to find the solutions on what we're going to do about Riley and Adam," Spike said.

"That one I have," Xander spoke out. "This is going to be a standard operation. We have to set up our own command structure, get a base camp, recruit agents for our side, and then deal with the threat."

"And I thought you just went for snacks," Spike commented.

Xander shrugged, "I was key guy when we planned something like this last year. This is a little bigger, but it's still in my pseudo-soldier area." He regarded Spike, "And I also go for snacks."

"All right, 'key guy.' What do we need to do first?" Buffy asked as Giles began to take notes.

"Establish ourselves somewhere to begin our work from."

"Easy one there," Spike answered. "The Crawford Street mansion. Lots of space for all the demons and humans."

"And where are we going to get the technology to take on the Initiative?" Xander pressed.

"My house," Spike said grudgingly.

"We're finally going to see the sacred shrine? Where did you get a hold of that type of technology?" Xander asked suspiciously.

Spike smiled, "I bit a guy who knew a guy who knew a guy who had a friend whose ex-brother-in-law's best friend's son had this connection." Buffy just sighed, having heard this story told more than once or twice.

"There is also an issue of space, namely that we may need more," Giles pulled them in a safer direction. "When we grow in numbers, it may be past capacity. And some of our residents may need . . . ummm . . . special accommodations."

"Churches," Buffy burst out. "I mean, there are 43 in Sunnydale."

"And 12 cemeteries," Giles reminded her.

"I'd stay out of those. Too close to the sewers. Big hangouts for bad voodoo," Spike told them.

"Back to my idea," Buffy dragged them back. "Not too many priests and pastors want to see the world end. We can bond them all to the web if they'll go for it." She grinned at Spike, "Besides, it will give us an unlimited supply of holy water." He play bit her in response.

"That settles the space problem," Xander attempted to ignore them by moving to a new subject. "Next is the whole magic problem. First this katra web thing needs to get dealt with. Who knows how long this research will take."

"I found it!" Willow shrieked on cue.

"Not very long apparently," Giles sighed.

"Whatcha got, Willow?" Buffy climbed off Spike's lap toward Willow.

"The history of katra webs. The first recorded one like ours was in Britain."

"See, British is better," Spike traced his fingers up Buffy's leg.

"At what?" Buffy licked her lips.

"Knock, knock. Important stuff here," Willow waved her hands to get their attention. "The web was used by King Arthur to keep connected with his Knights of the Round. They were totally loyal to him and each other by the blood bond. The web actually kept them from even hurting each other. Their legendary goodness and ability to see into the hearts of people came partially because they drew power from the web."

"Then who was the center, Arthur?" Anya asked, looking up from her book since they were discussing a time period that she had lived through.

"Merlin. Arthur was out of the loop like Buffy is. He relied on Merlin to tell him about the knights."

"If memory serves, didn't Merlin disappear mid-way through the legend, and then everything fell apart," Giles remembered.

"Well, when Arthur lost Merlin, he lost touch with his knights. That's part of the reason Lancelot and all that happened. Arthur couldn't feel what was going on to stop it. Either way, after Arthur died, the knights and kings kept the tradition alive by swearing their fealty. They skipped the blood bond part which was most important."

"And where exactly did Merlin go?" Buffy questioned.

Willow hesitated, "Merlin didn't die until the last person on the web did, but problems started long before that. As more people were added to the web, it got harder of him to move . . . he spent so much time caring for the others. He weakened physically, but the strain took him down when several knights were tortured to death."

"So what are you saying exactly?" Buffy had to know, holding Spike's hand tightly.

"Once we reach a certain size, Spike might not be able to go anywhere safely. The thoughts and feelings of others may eventually overcome him at anytime when we start to run into real trouble. I don't know how long it will take for us to reach that size," Willow finished regretfully.

"I feel special. I'm a limited time offer," Spike was a tad bitter.

"How's the strain now?" Willow asked.

"Almost none. I feel it every time when you 'open the gate,' add a new person, and other stuff like that, but that's not even stress for me."

"Then we're fine for now," Buffy decided.

"Fine until we get too big," Spike growled softly.

"I see our katra questions have been answered," Xander corralled them onto less depressive ground. "We need some magic protection, for the Hellmouth and then us."

"No way. I'd need a coven to bind the Hellmouth," Willow informed them flatly.

"Isn't that the group you meet with anyway?" Xander pointed out.

"Other than Tara . . . the other girls are more like 'let's have a bake sale' wiccans," Willow frowned.

"Once you bring them all into the bond, I'm sure they will straighten out," Giles guaranteed. "Saving the world tends to mature one rather quickly."

"And you'll have me to help you," Anya added. "I'm still a witch. We'll be able to bottle up the Hellmouth and protect us."

"Are we forgetting one minor detail? College?" Buffy suddenly mentioned. "We have exams in two weeks, and then Willow's new coven is gonna go back to their homes."

"Yes, and while we're at it, let's do the dishes and then check the mail." Spike said sarcastically.

"Spike!" She was shocked by his change of tune.

"The world is ending. Worry about school! Check your mail!" Spike yelled at her.

"What?"

"I meant it. Check your mail," Spike blinked a few times. "I did it again, didn't I? Not a bloody clue where that came from."

"I'm thinking the Powers That Be might want me to check my email? Willow?"

Willow had already booted up her laptop and connected, getting up. Buffy took her chair, flipped to her email, and began to sort through lots of messages.

As Willow settled near Anya on the floor, Xander said, "We also have the problem of Spike and his prison break."

"What's the problem? None of the demons know where I am, they left a separate way. None of the little soldiers that saw me last are in any condition to talk, ever," Spike defended himself.

"You just helped a bunch of demons who now plan on killing off humanity escape from jail. I'm sure the new members of our web, who may be totally new to the truth about Lifestyles on the Hellmouth, will be truly comforted to know that their survival depends on you as the center of the web."

"Maybe we could hide him while they got used to the idea of vampires, werewolves, and crazed commandos," Willow suggested lamely.

"Oh, no!" Buffy exclaimed from the table with the laptop.

"What is it?" Giles worried.

"A . . . friend of mine is in big vampire trouble. Remember Hemery High and my first Watcher? This friend was there and now in Las Vegas where we went different ways. However, the vamps didn't go on their different ways. Big trouble." She stood up, "I've gotta leave for Vegas."

"Like Hell you are!" Spike shot to his feet. "You're not going anywhere! If anyone's leaving Sunnyhell, it's me!"

His protective attitude bugged her, "This is my problem, Spike."

He stomped his way to her and kicked over her chair. "Your problems are my problems!" he yelled at her furiously. "You were all keen on school five minutes ago, and now you're gonna give it all up for some high school groupie?"

"This 'groupie' saved my life!" She put her hands on her hips, facing him.

"Then save the lives of everyone here. Let me go to Vegas." His statement would have been a bit more persuasive if he hadn't been sliding between his demon and human faces.

"You can't go. You're too important." Buffy tried to stay calm as Spike settled on human features.

"I want to go. You heard them. This may be my last chance to leave Sunnyhell before the web gets too big." He took a step forward so they were standing toe to toe. "I'm not much at organizing, and I'm not gonna hide in some basement while the Scoobies get the rest of the web over their demonphobia. It'll put me out of the picture long enough for them to set up shop. Besides, did I tell you that you don't have a choice?"

Buffy bristled, and Xander sighed, "Here it comes."

"Did I tell you how much I love you?" Buffy grabbed him and gave him a long kiss. Spike bent her back dramatically in a scene cut out of any movie, or that past winter during Willow's spell.

Ignoring the oblivious couple, Anya said, "That takes care of the Spike problem."

A thought occurred to Willow, "If Spike went out by a different route, and then the Lowell house exploded, is it possible the demons think he's dead?"

"If they do, then his absence will serve to keep up the illusion that he perished," Giles agreed. "We will have to see who or what turns up." He looked pointedly at the couple still absorbed in each other.

"What kind of timetable do you think we have?" Xander brought up an important point.

"Excuse the expression, but only time and research will tell. We need to do a thorough study of the Watchers' Chronicles and other books," Giles admitted.

"A few months," Willow estimated. "Both sides need to lick their wounds and gather up strength. But, still, time to be research girl."

Buffy and Spike finally pulled apart. Her chest was heaving like she'd run a marathon. "I love you. Did I mention you are rescuing my first boyfriend?"

He was busy staring into her eyes, "I love you too, pet." There was a pause, "Did you say 'boyfriend?'"

"His name is Pike," Buffy threw the parting shot and fled back to the computer. She began to write down the necessary information on a pad of paper for Spike.

Spike leaned over her and licked her ear as he took the paper from her. While he was down there, he whispered something very quietly to her.

She made a face and protested, "That's a no."

"Be fair, love." Spike retorted, "You owe me that much."

"Fine, you . . . rotten bastar-"

He clamped his hand over her mouth. "That's not the way to say good-bye to your lover who won't be back for a long time." He spoke to the rest of the gang, "I'm leaving tonight as soon as I can."

Xander nodded, "The commandos shouldn't be patrolling the borders yet. We'll send word through the web when we are ready for you to come back."

Spike concentrated on Xander, "Do a good job. I expect you to keep her safe."

Swallowing hard, Xander asked, "Anything else?"

"Yeah. Invest in some cages and a meat locker or two. Don't ask. I'm just the messenger." He removed his hand from Buffy's mouth because she bit him. "Hey, that's not playing fair."

"Wanna see fair?" She was suddenly all over him, kissing him furiously.

When Xander rolled his eyes, Willow hissed under her breath, "Let it go. He won't be around until we need him to come back. It could be a long time."

The couple moved slowly toward the door. Buffy advancing little by little as Spike retreated with small steps. His back eventually hit the door, and they separated for a second.

"Hurry back," she choked out, refusing to cry at this second parting.

He brushed her lips with his, telling her in the touch how much he would miss her. The contact deepened, the two trying to brand their feelings into each other. They had to savor every single second of the time they had together. It was anyone's guess when things would be ready enough for him to return. A day, a week, a month.

They had been apart already in so many ways; it was just another painful good-bye in a long series. The mutual assurance that everything would be okay, this time, was as cold of comfort as it had been the last time Spike left.

Buffy pried her fingers off his duster. "Go, before we lose our nerve."

"I never lose my nerve," Spike puffed.

"Then go before I come to my senses and stake you," she warned him.

"Gone," And he was, with one parting devilish smile, out the door and into the darkness.

She stood at the window, holding his ring and watching him go.

Xander cleared his throat, "The humans and the demons are going to be gunning for us, so we need to keep our identities in the utmost secrecy. So we're moving onto the next item on my agenda: codenames. This time we're getting really cool ones. Do I look like 'Death Claw' to you?"

Still staring out the window, Buffy smiled. Spike had long since vanished into the night, but it didn't matter. Joining the katra web hadn't changed things for her like it had for the others, except in one area. She could still feel Spike. Even without touching him through the distance, she could hear him. He hadn't left her alone. He couldn't leave her alone, and that was a definite good.

A quiet shadow slipped by the home of Rupert Giles and grinned hard. The Slayer and her friends. If they only knew what was in store. The shadow laughed, the night soaking up the sound until it was less than an echo.