Note: it's not your usual spike turns human story, buffy/spike angst story. Oh, and I decided to make Spike accomplished in this story. I'm sick of always hearing about him not having anything or needing to borrow money. Don't worry, the beginning is a little weird, but it'll make sense soon enough. Yes, William Dale is Spike. Yes, Spike has amnesia (special case. you'll see). No Spike is not pure human. I threw in some Highlander undertone. so Spike is . vampire (strength)/human/ immortal. I know. I'm so screwed in the head!!!! Enjoy...

Disclaimers: Buffy characters are not mine

Chapter 1 ~~~

(Set 10 years after the end of season 6)

William sighed as he pinched to bridge of his nose. The idiot was rambling about screwing up some of the programming. no, make that deleted the programming. So now, there was a huge gaping hole in the damn system. This was worse than ten 'severity ones' put together. William sighed and leaned on his huge black desk. He tapped his fingers against his lips a few times and then finally stood up.

He across the room, over to the simpering, pathetic man and began to circle him. Both of William's hands were folded neatly behind himself. His longer hair was slicked back and tied with a black hair tie.

William spoke to the man in a perfectly cultured voice, "Here's what's going to happen Jonathan: You are going to march back to your department, and tell your group to start fixing the problem and recovering the lost files. I want you to be done in 24 hours."

Jonathan helplessly begged. "But sir, it's not possible, it would take two days at least to fix this."

William put a hand on Jonathan's shoulder and cut him off. "I know that you just bought a new house and car. In fact, you just got married last year and your wife just gave birth to your first son this last week or so. It would be a pity to see your property confiscated and you going into deep debt for the rest of your life."

Jonathan swallowed visibly.

William walked up to the window and looked into the deep blue evening. The sight of this fool sickened him, "You have 24 hours. Starting now."

Jonathan yelped and dashed out the door of his office.

~~~ (23 hours and 10 seconds later)

Jonathan let out a half relieved and insane laugh as the project leader finally reconnected and fixed the system. The rest of the employees were huddles around the computer screen and had been crossing their fingers.

William walked into the room, clapping his hands. "Good job."

The employees scurried off of the floor and stood up as they saw the company's CEO come in.

William crossed his arms and sat on one of the desks, "Is the system back up?"

Jonathan nervously nodded. "Yes Mr. William. I mean Mr. Dale."

William stood up and headed towards the door, "Good. Very efficiently done."

When the door finally shut after William had left. Everyone exhaled in relief.

~~~

William walked into 'Grandpa's' study.

Well, the old man wasn't really his grandpa, he was just really fond of William and since he had no children, he adopted William to help him out and take over his company. The old man was very well known on the east coast, with his multi-billion dollar empire he had set up. They had met in Oxford, while he and Leng were studying 'Business'. They had been in the same building listening to their favorite author give a speech. He had snuck out of class to listen and the old man had snuck out while his nurse wasn't watching. Here, fate made their paths cross and ultimately change both of their lives.

Some construction workers outside had messed up and set the building on fire, the students rushing out the auditorium nearly trampled the old man as he tried escape from the chaos. He was suddenly thrown out of his wheel chair and was kicked around. William had heard him cry out in pain as the absentminded. or perhaps selfish students paid no heed to the poor old man. William quickly jumped into sea of people from one of the raised seats. After some rough shoving, biting and kicking, he finally picked up the old man and helped him out of the mosh-pit. Once outside, William dashed to one of the benches and called 911. He followed the old man to hospital and helped fill out the papers. Finally the old man had woke up and wanted to talk him.

(Flashback)

William hesitantly walked over to the old man. "Hello."

The old man laughed. "Why come here, my boy. Don't worry, I won't bite."

William nodded and sat in the seat next to the bed.

The old man stuck out his hand. "Hi. I'm Owen Dale."

William gaped. "Owen Dale! As in the CEO of LuminaCorp?"

Owen proudly grinned, "The very same."

William just stared and said. "Wow."

Owen looked at William in surprise, "You mean you didn't know it was me when you saved me from the crowd?"

Still stunned, William managed to shake his head a little.

Owen laughed. "Look, my boy."

"William."

"Huh?"

"My name is William."

"Oh! William.?"

"I don't know. I don't really have a last name or family."

Owen gave William a sympathetic look. "That was very courageous of you William, what you did for me."

William blinked a few times. "Oh, it's all right. I try to help people whenever I can."

Owen grinned. "Well. I have a proposition for you William." ~~~

From then on William helped take care of Owen and Owen helped him with his business classes. After William had graduated, Owen's graduation present was to adopt William.

~~~ (End flashback)

William cleared his throat as he entered Owen's room. "Are you ready?"

Owen hobbled around on his cane and in his free hand he finished putting in the last of his files. "Why yes son."

William picked up Owen's three suitcases with ease and they exited Owen's penthouse suite. William handed Owen's luggage to a bellboy and went to his penthouse on the floor below to get his own things. He was actually done packing his clothes and necessities, he just needed to wrap his Swords with a few blankets and zip them into his luggage.

Finally Owen and William were standing in the elevator, stiff and flawless. Owen looked like some sort of Godfather mob boss; although he was old you could sense the power he wielded. William was like an emotionless statue, rigid faced and every movement showed precision and perfection. Owen spoke first. "So, is Leng coming with us?"

William shook his head. "She just got hired by VinTech, you know, that biotech company. She didn't think that it would be polite to leave only one month after being hired."

Leng was sort-of like William's sister. She was the first person he saw when he awoke. He couldn't remember anything at all about his past life, who he was, where he was, etc. He had spent about 10 years training with Leng and her Shi-Fu (mentor/teacher. sort of like a sensei that teaches martial arts). Funny thing was, the place that they trained in was cursed. Because each year you trained in those special mountains, only a day passed in the real world. He remembered his surprise when he walked out and realized that he had only been gone for 10 days.

Both of them were powerful, and even though they had the exact same lessons, Leng's skills and power could never come close to half of what William could do. Any person would have thought Leng would be jealous, but she wasn't, she understood her role in this grand scheme. Helping William train and maintain a neutral status was her job.

Shi-Fu was actually quite rich and managed to send both of them overseas to study. Both of them had majored in business, but Leng changed after a year and went into Computer Engineering with a Biology minor.

~~~

William checked his watch. "Our flight to L.A. isn't until 5, what are we going to do now?"

Owen laughed. "Just because we're leaving today, doesn't mean you get to skip out on Church, son. Come one."

William rolled his eyes.

One of the deals with Owen adopting him was that he had to become Christian and they had to go to church every Sunday. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't fun either. Most of the time, William just lost himself in though and would begin to deal with company decisions mentally during the sermon. Owen wasn't really that strict of a Christian either, he just wanted to pass down a tradition that his parents gave him and it was a weekly routine for him. Something safe and secure that would never change.

They entered the old and prestigious Church; the choir was softly singing "Pie Jesu." William savored the soothing and vibrating hymn with a small grin. Owen and William quietly seated themselves in one of the back pews and quietly listened. ~~~

William sighed as he typed away on his computer on the airplane; he was finishing up his presentation. Owen's dream was to expand LuminaCorp to the West Coast, except for the fact that when he had finally secured his multi- billion dollar company, he took old to continue his conquests. However, now that he had an adopted son that was just as ambitious as he was, his dream would finally come true.

Owen chuckled happily as he swirled his wine as sipped a little bit of it.

William glanced over. "Is there something funny Grandpa?"

Even though, legally, William was his son. William just never got used to call him 'Dad'. But 'Grandpa' was still wonderful, it didn't matter, as long as he had an heir; he could die satisfied.

Owen shook his head, just reminiscing. "I remember going to L.A. a long time ago when I was only a lad."

William quietly put away his laptop and respectfully listened his Grandfather's story.

~~~

William walked around charming the guests who were at the museum that night to see the Dale family showcase. Owen as a great collector of Monet paintings. It was rare for anyone to see the entire collection together like tonight. All of L.A.'s richest and finest were at the gallery. William spent most of his time talking to a very wealthy contractor that could help set up LuminaCorp.

Cordelia and Wesley tried to make themselves inconspicuous as they glanced at some of the paintings. No, there weren't any demons and monsters. Cordelia just wanted to mingle with the rich and famous. Luckily she knew the guard at the back of the museum very well and he let her in. They had entered later, after dinner was over and actually, most of the guests were slowly leaving.

Cordelia was sort of unhappy, she never even managed to hook cute guy. oh wait... She looked over to the tall young man with dark brown/black hair tied up in a ponytail. He was casually strolling around after he had escorted a old rich couple to their car. Cordelia did a double take.

'He looks familiar' she thought.

William walked up to her. "Oh, hello Miss. I'm sorry, I don't recall seeing you tonight."

Cordelia shook her head; she knew she was blushing dark red. William mouthed 'I'm sorry' again and kissed the back of her hand.

"My name is William Dale." William pointed over to Owen. "And that's my grandfather, Owen Dale, over there."

"I'm Cordelia and this is my friend Wesley."

William shook hands will Wesley. While Cordelia was completely enamored with William, Wesley couldn't shake off the feeling of familiarity. Finally Wesley decided that he had to at least try to ask. "Um, does the name Spike ring a bell?"

William gave the watcher a strange look. "Spike?"

William laughed. "Is that even a name?"

Wesley shook his head. "Sorry, just a silly notion. You look like an old friend."

William laughed again, "Don't worry, no harm done."

William later introduced Owen to Cordelia and Wesley. Owen decided to retire early that night and William, Cordelia and Wesley went out for a drink. Before they did, William stopped by the hotel he was staying at to change and to arm himself with one of his swords.

Just in case, you never knew what might lurk in the night.

Cont.

Chapter 2

Note: Okay, I have never seen Angel at all. All I know is that Wesley, Cordelia and some other people are with Angel. I also don't know whether Drusilla or Darla is dead. and I still don't Connor's stuation. so I'm going to leave him out. heh. anyways this is an alternate universe right?

~~~

William, Cordelia and Wesley walked back to Cordy's apartment after hanging around a few clubs. They were laughing and very garrulous, or perhaps it was just William, who just had a shot of espresso. Finally, both Cordy and Wesley left and William wandered into a nearby bar.

William ordered a cup of the most expensive beer, and then he silently sipped the brew. Not before long a very tall and pale, nearly pure white, man in black clothing and black hair sat by William. William annoyedly groaned, "What are you doing here?"

The powder white man showed his jagged teeth and laughed. "Well, someone is happy to see me."

William grunted and ignored the man, the very annoying, this guy had been stalking him for the last 6 months or so, stopping him a few times for scattered conversations.

William didn't know who he was, but subconsciously he knew, he knew very well. And for some reason, his subconscious finally provided him with the answer. He rolled the thought around in his head verifying it.

The pale man was grinning madly and staring at William with intensity with his pupil-less eyes.

William finally downed the rest of his drink and decided to face the man. "What do you want Lucifer?"

Lucifer rubbed his hands together happily, "I knew you were a smart boy. I didn't even need to send you through some traumatic event to reveal to you who I am."

William kept his stare on Lucifer steady, "Don't change the topic."

Lucifer smirked, this time more menacingly. "Ah, always to the point."

Lucifer paused and contemplated for a few seconds. "Well, there's something I'd like you to do for me."

" Tell me first and then I'll decide."

" Well, there's this guy. Angel. I just want you to piss him off."

"And how am I supposed to do that?"

"Well one, hurt his pride and two, get his woman."

"Be more specific."

"I want you to attack, no raze Wolfram and Hart, a law firm run by demons. I want you to do what Angel has never been able to do, destroy them."

"And."

"Oh, and the woman, apparently a long time ago Angel fell in love with this woman, Buffy, who also happens to be a vampire slayer. Oh, did I mention that Angel is a vampire?"

William shook his head, but he was completely unfazed by the question.

"Yeah, anyways, I just want you to do some. bonding with her, I don't know. Go out with her, screw her, whatever. Just make Angel jealous."

"And why are you so intent on making Angel mad? And why can't you do it yourself?"

Lucifer flashed him an insane smile, " That's my little secret."

William studied him for a few moments and then nonchalantly shrugged. "And what do I get out of doing this favor for you?"

"I might stop bothering you."

William shook his head. "No deal."

"Fine, I won't bother you for an entire year."

William contemplated it for a second. "I'll only accept if Owen does not get involved and if only you visit me. I don't want to talk to some idiot minion of yours."

Lucifer suddenly looked a little sad. "Ah, I'm sorry about that thing with your convention."

William gave a deep sigh, remembering the demon that ran amuck in the LuminaCorp convention. Luckily he was able to quickly cover everything up and kill the minion.

"Why do you hire such stupid servants anyways?"

Lucifer then looked really somber. "Well, God got all the intelligent minions and I got the dumb ones and as they breed, they just get dumber and dumber. More than 3/4ths of them don't even deliver messages that I want them to.."

Lucifer stood straight up and glanced at William. "So?"

William nodded. "Sure, as long as you get off my back. It'll be an easy job."

Lucifer patted William on the back, "Thanks buddy! Have fun massacring those demons!"

"Aren't they hired by you?"

Lucifer shrugged. "Yeah, I've got more than enough. I can't keep track of them all!"

William's eyebrow twitched and gave Lucifer a strange look

Then Lucifer whistled a little tune and exited the bar. ~~~

The next day LuminaCorp bought the bank that Wolfram and Hart owed money to and forced Wolfram and Hart to file for Chapter 11.

~~~~

A week after that night William met Lucifer, he found himself in the back of a bar. It turned out that the bartender also sold firearms and explosives

"That enough explosives for you?"

William nodded, satisfied. Then he hurried back to his hotel and printed out a few copies of a spell that would warp demons and evil humans, within a certain radius, into the depths of hell.

"It never hurts to be extra anal when it comes to fragging massive amounts of beings."

Then William strapped on a very long sword, which was slightly longer than his upper body, to his back and he hid 5 more swords here and there. He loaded himself with more guns and explosives than Keanu Reeves did in the Matrix (hehe. sorry about that). His dark maroon coat hid all of his weapons very easily.

William grinned and disappears from this room. ~~~

William rolled his eyes as he watched the entire building implode, "That was too easy."

William laughed darkly. On a subconscious level he had thoroughly enjoyed mauling through all those lawyers and demons. It should be sick that he enjoyed it so much, but then, it was somewhat satisfying. Perhaps it had something to do with his past.

William looked in distasted at his two swords covered in blood. actually; he was completely covered in blood, save his face. As he was about the walk out, Angel and his team ran around the corner.

Everyone froze.

~~~ Angel's mind reeled, "Spike?!"

Cordy wrinkled her nose, " I guess that outfit is completely ruined."

Gunn gaped. "Woah. cool. they're dead."

Wesley rubbed his brow. "Oh dear, how could he have taken them out?"

William sheepishly looked at the ground. 'Oops, should have teleported away sooner.'

Finally William broke the silence. "Show's over, they're dead. Sucked into hell."

Before anyone could ask any questions, William disappeared without a trace.

~~~ Angel ran his hand through his hair. "Well, that certainly cut down on my work."

Cordy rolled her eyes, "Understatement of the century dear."

Quietly she lay down next to Angel and they contemplated. 'What now?'

~~~ Wesley and Gunn sat in the kitchen talking.

Wesley was still a little shaken. "He's too powerful. I mean, even if he did get help."

Gunn nodded. " I sure hope this guy is on our side, 'cause if he isn't."

Gunn drew an imaginary line across his throat, with sound affects.

Wesley shuddered. "Yes, he probably killed hundreds today with ease, by how well he was soaked in blood. *Sigh *"

Gunn shrugged, "Well, he did destroy. no, make that 'completely annihilated'

Wolfram and Hart, he can't be all evil.... Maybe we can talk him into joining the team?"

"No!" Angel growled as he walked into the kitchen to get some blood.

Wesley groaned, frustrated, and began to rub the sides of his head.

~~~

After that awkward moment with Angel and his team, William immediately teleported back to his shower and washed off all the blood. Then he dried the clothes and set them on fire.

No, he should never leave any evidence of his doings.

After the shower, William dressed and strolled down to the café for some coffee. He wasn't a heartless bastard, but killing evil beings was nothing to mope over.

'Or perhaps you've suppressed your emotions so well that, he can't even feel a thing when you hack up a person into pieces.' His heart supplied.

"It's because I can't remember who I was in the past, so maybe that skewered my moral judgments." William muttered to himself.

'But you wanted to forget the past.. you chose to forget.'

Cont.

Chapter 3

Note: Okay, it's been quite confusing on why the years that I'm using are all contradicting each other. Here is the rundown: 10 years have passed in the real world, 4-5 years have passed in Sunnydale (due to a time anomaly, which shall be explained in due time.), William trained in that special little place in the mountains for 10 years when only 10 days have passed.. So. for William- a total of 20 years have passed for him (but it doesn't really matter since he's immortal.). I can hear your brain tying up into knots as you read this. If anything else confuses you, just ask. and I'll try to answer them. well that is unless I intentionally left it a mystery

~~~ Lucifer giggled like a child as he saw that William had effortlessly finished the first task he was given. "I should make him one of my minions. Too bad he's too much a loner and too unpredictable. Well, perhaps I can hire him on occasion, a freelancer. After I win the 'final battle'."

Lucifer felt ultimately elated. Knowing that making Angel mad would lead Angel to doing mistakes; Mistakes that would make Angel unworthy of being the essential tiebreaker in the final battle. Lucifer sighed happily at the thought and reviewed his plans.

'The Powers that Be' would find Angel unworthy of being the vessel for Michael. The world has always been even in light and darkness. Now, as the 'final battle' neared, both sides were completely even, needing Michael, the most powerful angel, to break the tie.

Angel was a goody two shoes, if Michael possessed him, Lucifer knew he would lose without a doubt. But if Angel wasn't chosen due to unworthiness, Michael may not even take part in the decision, thus allowing both heaven and hell to fight it out. Which was exactly what he wanted to happen. At least this way Lucifer had more of a chance.

~~~

(Meanwhile, in the Summer's home)

Dawn sadly sat in front of the television as Passions came on. She sighed, '4 years. 4 years since he's left. Why did he leave?'

Sure, Dawn understood that Xander and Anya had gotten married after the worked out their problems and then they had a baby; But, they didn't want to raise their child in Sunnydale (* see note at bottom), seeking how dangerous it was. Tara was dead and Giles was now in England and showed no signs of returning. So now, it was just she, Buffy and Willow. Well, not really Willow. She was 'out of it' most of the time because of Tara's death, so even though she was here physically, she wasn't really here 'mentally'. They were all alone.

Everyone had left her.

Out of everyone that had left, she was the angriest at Spike. But then it was also Buffy's fault. She later learned that Spike came back from running away for 3 months only for a few seconds, Buffy opened her big stupid mouth and he was gone, probably for forever. No goodbyes, no notice, no nothing. Eventually Buffy had told Dawn about her and Spike's dysfunctional relationship and how he tried to rape and then betrayed her. Even though the things that Spike did were horrible, she just forgave him. Buffy was trying to convince her that he was gone for good, but under her mask of anger, she missed him deeply. Secretly at night, Buffy would sleep with Spike's duster.

It was sad, really. because Dawn realized that Spike had accidentally done all those things to Buffy because she kept toying with his emotions. 'He probably just snapped.'

Buffy muttered unhappily as she came down the stairs and walked towards the fridge and then ruled against it. She had been fired from the Doublemeat Palace recently, she could barely pay the mortgage, much less food and she had to feed all three of them. If she didn't need a snack, she wouldn't have one.

Dawn had tried to get a job this past month, but the strain of the work caused her grades in school to plunge. It was horrible, she was a sophomore now (* I have no idea how old Dawn is.) and she needed good grades to graduate from college. She had to immediately drop the job, and the cost of the lessons that she had taken for the job was cut from her salary. So in the end, she had nothing.

Buffy plopped herself next to Dawn, "How is it so far?"

"Sorry I wasn't paying attention."

Buffy gave Dawn a look and then went back to watching Passions. Dawn sighed deeply again, in truth: their lives had taken a turn for the worst. They were at the rock bottom now.

'From here on, things will start to get better right?'

Seconds after that thought, a mirage appeared in front of Buffy and Dawn. It was a woman, she word a dark blue cloak with her hood on.

Buffy and Dawn gaped. The woman held out her hand .

"I must speak quickly, I'm not suppose to be here or telling you this. The 'chosen one' will be coming soon, I don't know when. He is in humanoid form, Michael has chosen early. He's merged with someone else's body, the old was unworthy. Michael must be directed toward the good side. It is essential for when the apocalypse shall come. Show him why humanity must be kept alive. But it will be very difficult, because he doesn't believe in emotions. Don't tell anyone this information and if you do tell someone that is trustworthy, you must tell him or her directly. Never use any means of communication, or the information will be leaked. I must go!"

The image disappeared, leaving Dawn and Buffy stunned ~~~

The woman in the deep red dress sat seductively on the couch. Both her and her father were grinning madly. Apparently Kress Industries had bought a 'very important' biotech company that William had been investing in. William glared at Vanessa with malice. During the time she had slept with him, she had gone through his things and learned about that which he was keen on buying. The patents from that innovative biotech company could give Kress Industries the boost to buy out LuminaCorp.

Both companies had been long rivals. Vanessa had gone to William months ago, saying how she was "so in love" with him. During that time he had acted like a lovesick puppy, spent most of his time with her and got whatever gifts she wanted. She had followed him and his father to L.A. during their business here, saying that she couldn't stand being so far from him. He was touched.

And in the end, his infatuation had got him screw up. or at least Vanessa and her father believed so. The old, disgusting and oily man got up, in his horrendous English accent ( I know, I know, the irony of it all..) that no one could understand, he spoke to William, "Well Mr. Dale, looks like we should be going."

William silently nodded, not looking up.

Vanessa giddily walked over to him. "Awww, honey, for what it's worth, it was fun while it lasted."

William remained silent and unmoving.

Vanessa shrugged and left the room.

~~~

Angel paced the room, worried.

"How do we find him?! That had to have been Spike."

Wesley shook his head, "No that wasn't Spike, he said so."

Angel froze. "Wait a minute. I'm here freaking out. And you suddenly tell me that you had met him earlier."

Cordy guiltily looked away

"Cordy!" Angel growled.

"Okay, okay Angel. Just calm down.Look, I snuck into that Monet showcase with Wesley since I wanted to see the paintings and mingle with the rich and famous. We happen to bump into William Dale, who uncannily looks exactly like Spike, except without the bleached head and English accent. We went out to show him a few clubs and got a few drinks and then we left. That's all."

Angel still frowned, unconvinced that Cordy was telling him everything.

Cordy rolled her eyes. "Fine! Don't believe me!"

Angel turned to Wesley, "Well? You were there."

Wesley crossed his arms. "Yes I was and Cordy already told you what happened. Geez Angel, I would hope that you had a little more faith in us."

After a final glare, Wesley walked out right behind Cordy.

Angrily, Angel stormed into his rooms. From the outside, you could hear objects crashing and breaking within.

~~~

Lucifer appeared unexpectedly into William's study. Quietly he looked at the collection of books that William had on the shelf. He wrinkled his nose. 'Eewww, this guy is has nothing interesting to read. Let's see: Machiavelli, Plato, Art of War, The writings of John Adams.'

Lucifer shuddered.

William was quietly sitting in his chair, reading next to the fireplace. He didn't even glance up, but he knew who was in the room.

"Why are you here? I thought that you would at least leave me alone while I was working."

"Well, just checking in, pat on the back. Good job."

William rolled his eyes. Lucifer swiftly walked over and plucked the book that William was reading, out of his hands.

William crossed his arms and looked annoyed. "Do you mind?"

"Nietzsche! I didn't think you were that dark. Don't you have anything interesting in here?"

William pointed to another shelf on the other side of the room. "I have Walt Whitman."

Lucifer rolled his eyes. "Sure. don't you have like. comics?! Or bad romance stories?"

William grabbed his book back, "I have Classics in the other room. You are free to go read 'Catcher in the Rye' if you like."

Lucifer plopped onto the couch and put his feet on the table. "Nah."

William glanced over, "Leave, I'm not in the mood to deal with you."

Lucifer's eyes narrowed and he stood up once more. "What did you say?"

"I said 'leave', are you deaf?"

"As if you could make me."

William narrowed his eyes, for a second they flashed purple. Before Lucifer knew it, he was flung into the wall next to the fireplace.

Lucifer hissed as he gathered himself and stormed over to William. Lucifer shot a hand out and began to choke William. William looked at Lucifer, unfazed by his threat. Then Lucifer suddenly released his hand and began to laugh.

"I like you! You've got guts you know that?!"

William smirked.

"Well, really, enough walking around the matter at hand. Well, I was kind of wondering if you would like to do another job for me?"

"Depends on the job."

"Ah, of course. I want you to go down to L.A. penitentiary and kill some girl named Faith."

"Can you tell me why?"

"She's a slayer."

William chuckled. "But isn't jail exactly where you want the slayer to be?"

"Well yeah, but I'm kind of bored and I'm kind of curious who the next slayer might me."

"The truth please?"

"Okay. too many demons in hell, kind of overpopulating. I wanted to clean up a little."

William shook his head. "You are so weird."

"Well?"

"Sure, one less person, why do I care?"

"Then it's settled" Lucifer grinned.

"But my price."

"UH huh."

"Why you want to piss off this.Angel?"

Lucifer was stunned for a second. "Ah. Well, I'll tell you after you do the job."

"Fine."

In a flash Lucifer disappeared once more, leaving William alone in his study.

~~~

Cont..

Chapter 4

Note: Did a little researching on Angel. I guess I'll include the usual team, but no Connor. it's a little difficult to throw him in there. Yah.. anyways. R&R please

~~~

William sighed as he drained another glass of scotch. 'Wonderful, I'm working for Lucifer and my girlfriend just betrayed me'

"Life doesn't get any better than this." He muttered sarcastically.

Suddenly, the phone on his mahogany desk rang.

'Show time.'

~~~

Vanessa sobbed pathetically and William curtly glared at her.

It was two days since he had last seen them, 'God they're stupid. Took them long enough to figure out.'

Vanessa's father looked like he was going to have a mental breakdown, in his stupid accent he asked in a broken voice, "How'd you do it?"

William feigned innocence, "Do what?"

"That biotech company is worthless."

William laughed softly, "Oh, so it is."

Vanessa's father glared at her. "You! You said you did all the research! You said that that company would make us billions! Do you know how much I invested?!"

Vanessa pathetically sobbed back, "But I did daddy! William's files!"

William played with the pen that was on the glass table, "Oh, you mean that little piece of false information I planted in my 'secret files'?"

Vanessa gaped.

William continued " And since you spent so much money buying that biotech company. You are now open to a hostile take over."

Vanessa's father got up and gave Vanessa a murderous glare and he stormed out of the meeting room.

Vanessa wiped away her tears and angrily approached William. "What is it to you?! It was just business. You didn't have to."

William stopped her his mocking eyes "tsk tsk tsk. You call sleeping with me business? I hate to think what that makes you."

Vanessa screamed in outrage as she slapped William across the face.

William turned his face back and looked at her with deadly eyes, "Your methods of dealing with such predicaments is so primitive. Perhaps you should reconsider trying make a name for your self in the business world."

"Bastard!" Vanessa spat at him.

William walked away from her. "Why don't you leave? Haven't you done enough for daddy?"

Vanessa screamed in outrage again, then she grabbed her coat and left the room.

William laughed in triumph as he looked at the skyline from the large windows in the meeting room. ' One day this will be all mine.'

~~~

"Buffy?" Angel asked once he heard her pick up on the other side of the line.

"Angel?" Buffy asked in a surprised voice.

"Yeah, um. there's something going on here. We sort of have a problem. A major problem."

"What is it?"

"You know Wolfram and Hart, those guys we're fighting?"

"Yeah."

"They're gone. And we have reason to believe that Spike or a 'Spike look alike' killed the entire law firm and blew up their building"

"You're kidding right?"

"Wasn't Spike with you guys before?"

"No. he's been gone for almost 5 years."

"Really?.shit."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Can your round up the others? And you and the Scooby's come down to L.A.?"

"Sure."

"Alright thanks."

"Okay, bye."

"Good bye." ~~~

William had researched for a while after Lucifer visited him. He looked through the hospital files one more time and confirmed that the four-year- old little girl was the perfect candidate. Earlier, he had gone to talk to the gatekeepers for spirits to confirm that the girl had already moved on.

Now, he just needed to put his black cloak on and visit that girl. He really hated killing people unnecessarily, unless they were psychotic rapists, murderer, etc. He had done some research on Faith, sure she was pretty bitchy and tried to kill the original slayer. but that didn't mean he really had to kill her. There were always loopholes.

~~~

"Hey Buffster! Dawnie!" Xander crowed happily as he hugged the Summer's women.

Tommy, Xander's four-year-old son, giggled happily as Buffy and Dawn cooed him.

Anya smiled, "So Buffy, any reason why we're here? A new Big Bad that you need help with?"

Dawn quietly frowned at hearing Spike's old nickname.

Buffy nodded. "Yeah, except, this time, it's in L.A."

Xander held out his hand. "Wait a minute! L.A. as in city of Angels.or city that Angel presides in?"

"Yes, the very same. In fact, he called saying that he needed help."

"Oh. so um did you also call.."

"Giles, yeah, he's on his way. We'll see him tomorrow afternoon, he just got on his flight not too long ago."

"So, do we know who?"

"Maybe, Angel said something about. Spike?"

Dawn paled, "What? Why didn't you tell me?!" "Well, it's Spike, Dawnie. I know how much you loved him."

Dawn mutely looked away and ran up to her room

Willow, who was silently sitting the whole time, spoke up. "I thought he was good now, with the chip."

Xander was rambling and pacing while Anya agreed to Willow's comment.

Anya asked. "Do you know what happened? What could have set him off?"

"I don't know, 5 years later he shows up and he blows up Wolfram and Hart, literally."

Xander ceased his raving, "Wait a minute, isn't Wolfram and Hart. bad guys?"

Buffy nodded.

Willow then looked at Xander. "H-he has a point. If Wolfram and Hart is evil, then wouldn't Spike still be good if he got rid of them?"

Buffy shrugged, "I don't know, maybe.Angel just sounded really worried."

Everyone nodded and no more questions were asked for now.

~~~

That night, William silently appeared in the cell that Faith was kept in. She suddenly woke up and sat up in surprise. Before she could attack him, he froze her body, except for her eyes.

William quietly approached her. "I'm going to make a deal with you, so listen carefully if you value your life."

Faith blinked a few times, since it was the only thing she could do.

William continued, "I'm going to give you the opportunity to start over again, with a family and be a pretty normal kid growing up. But you will retain your current memories. I found a little four-year-old girl, whose spirit has already moved on, but she's still in a coma. I could put your spirit into her body, you would more or less freed of your past, your duty and have a new family. Or you could stay in your current body, where I am planning to kill you immediately. So you'll either be dead or a little girl. And you can use her life to redeem your actions. What you say slayer?"

William released here body from its frozen state. Luckily for him, she didn't scream or fight him, she just smiled and crossed her arms. "So what are you waiting for? Introduce me to my new life."

William smirked and pulled Faith's spirit out of her body. Causing her empty shell to fall bonelessly into a dead heap. Then they both disappeared from the jail cell and reappeared in the hospital.

The little girl lay limp, surrounded by blipping machines that indicated that the body was still alive. William motioned to the little girl and Faith's laid down and overlapped the little girl's body and began to slowly disappear.

Faith's spirit gasped as the memories of the young girl flooded to her: picking daisies for her mother, being pushed on the swings by her father, playing in the sand with the other preschoolers and finally a dark figure pushing her out the window. and then blank

William whispered to the girl, "Your new name is Lily, now open your eyes."

Faith, in Lily's opened her unused eyes with much difficulty.

Once Faith opened her eyes, she just stared at William. "This is too weird, I know more than a 4 year old, I'm going to be a freak." Lily, or Faith, mumbled in her tiny 4 year old voice

"We'll see, if you really have trouble with adjusting, I can make you forget who you originally were. But just test it for a bit, I'm going to leave now."

Before Faith could answer, she heard the sound of rushed footsteps.

William spoke quickly, "Just act innocent, confused, like a normal 4 year old. No street tough girl."

William disappeared from the room right before the doctors barged in and gasped at the miracle.

~~~

Angel looked disturbed, as he rubbed his eyes and put down the phone.

Gunn walked in and sensed Angel's brooding. "What's wrong."

"Faith is dead."

"How?!"

Angel shrugged, "Police and doctors don't know, they say that she wasn't injured, no bruises, no disease. she just died."

"Oh. well, she was. sort of a bad guy. why are you so worried, we can get a newer and better slayer now."

Angel sighed, "I have a feeling that this is no coincidence. It might be the same guy who destroyed Wolfram and Hart."

"What?!"

"I know it doesn't make sense! But I have this feeling!"

Gunn chewed on his lower lip, "I'll go do some research, but still, it's pretty farfetched."

Cont.

Chapter 5

Note: sort of short chapter. enjoy.

Lucifer glared at William as he walked into the parking lot .

"She's alive!"

"Technically yes. I finished the job didn't I?"

"Yes. but."

"Don't worry, a new slayer will still be called. It's the body that's the weapon, not the person's spirit."

"I see that you did some research."

"Yes, a lot. Very interesting stuff. and I used to think that there were only Immortal watchers. But no, there are also vampire slayer watchers. You'd think they'd be a little more original with the name."

Lucifer huffed, "Alright alright. Yes you got the job done."

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"My reward."

". I didn't specify whether I would tell you after which job." Lucifer grinned, baiting William

William pulled out a sword that was lying hidden in the trunk of his car. "Wrong answer. I always get what I want."

"Touché"

William laughed a little as he examined his sword. "One more chance."

"Are you threatening me mortal?"

William didn't answer, in a flash he disappeared and reappeared above Lucifer, sword poised a ready to slash him in half. Lucifer rolled his eyes as he materialized his own sword and struck upward.

As William was falling, he angled his foot, so that he could kick away from Lucifer's sword. Then he gracefully back-flipped and landed with barely a click from his shoes. Lucifer stalked over to him. "Not bad. but lets make this more interesting, no weapons."

William tilted his head a little and raised a scarred eyebrow. Lucifer threw his sword into the air and it disappeared without a trace. William then finally tossed his sword over to this car. William came back quietly and asked, "Fist fighting are we?"

"No, just anything other than using weapons."

William shoved his hands into his suit, "I see."

Lucifer leaped forward as slashed at William with his very sharp and long claws. William only calmly leaped back, inches away from the claws.

"Come on!" Lucifer shouted, "Fight back."

William took his hands out of his pockets and shrugged.

Lucifer mentally laughed 'this is too easy, he doesn't even know how to fight without weapons, and yet he takes my challenge. Arrogant and suicidal.'

Lucifer shook his head, "Alright, I'll take pity on you. You can even land the first 2 blows on me and I won't even fight back."

William hesitantly walked towards Lucifer until they were only a foot apart. Lucifer haughtily held his hands out. "Come on weakling. You think you're rich and rule the word. Twirling that stupid sword of yours like a pansy. I bet you can't even bruise me."

William's face remained blank and neutral.

"Well?! What are you waiting for?" Lucifer laughed.

William hands darted out in a flash and pressed a pressure point on Lucifer's neck.

"Is that the bes." Lucifer's eyes widened. "I can't move."

William smiled. "That's only my first hit."

"That's freaking cheating. Unfreeze me you worm!"

William just held his palm out flat, parallel to Lucifer's chest, only an inch away.

"This is my second hit." William stated in monotone

Before Lucifer could say anything, a blast impacted him so hard that he was knocked unconscious. Every fiber of him screamed in pain as the darkness came.

William looked down at Lucifer's body for a few seconds and then with a sharp click of his heel, he turned around and left.

~~~

Fred happily walked into the apartment, but her expression soon changed when she saw the solemn group, "Ummm. guys, are you okay?"

Gunn walked over and hugged her, "Sort of, well, not really. Angel's worse, it seems that there's a really powerful bad guy in town."

Fred quietly glanced at Angel's pacing figure.

"I hope so.. Anyways, how was your trip?"

"Oh, Lorne is just fine. He actually is going to visit. He'll be here in a few days, you know, just to check up.on us."

"Angel.um already called Buffy and her friends, they'll be here as soon as her ex-watcher meets up with her."

Fred nodded quietly, "This is really serious isn't it? Who is this guy?"

"Not too sure, but Angel suspects that it might be 'family'."

Fred clutched onto Gunn's arm a little harder as a sinking feeling came over her.

~~~

Cordy worried her lower lip as she thought about the situation. "I still don't think that it's him."

Wesley shrugged. "Well, I don't know. I'm thinking that your judgment might be impaired by how kind he was."

"NO!. look, I just have this feeling."

"Well. there could be another way to confirm it."

Cordy looked at Wesley with much interest. "How?"

"We could go out to lunch with him and we could bring the team along, Buffy and her friends. And then we could assess the situation."

"Isn't that a little overwhelming? I mean between Angel Investigations and the Scoobies, we have about a dozen people."

Wesley shrugged, "It was just an idea." ~~~

William silently studied the top managers that were talking to him.well, more like trying to weasel out of doing their damn job.

"Well sir, I mean, if the stock for that company goes down." the manager pitifully assumed.

William slammed his hand down on the table. "I don't want to hear 'the worst case scenario when I know there isn't going to be one. We've spent the last 10 months building things to this stage. If there is a problem, tell me the solution, don't whine and simper about how it could become worse! Your jobs are to fix the problems!"

Another, older manager spoke up, "It just doesn't seem very viable now sir, your father would have."

"My father's archaic ways no longer work in today's business world. Or did you not learn that lesson the last time you failed to acquire MGE Inc. And who are you to assume that this takeover will fail. You have only been on this project for the last few weeks! Whereas, I've followed this damn thing through the beginning, we are going to buy out Kai Corp.! Don't you ever question my authority again old man!"

The old manager shrank away from William's wrath and mumbled several useless apologies.

"This meeting is adjourned." William venomously spat out as he exited the meeting room.

On the way out William's secretary handed him the phone. "A Miss Cordelia Chase is on the phone."

William took a deep breath, dispelling the anger that was boiling in him after screaming at his yellow-bellied managers, and picked up the phone.

"Hi Ms. Chase, it's nice to speak to you again.. Uh huh. lunch with you and some of your friends?. when? . next Wednesday?"

William's secretary immediately checked William's schedule and gave an approving nod.

"Yes I'm free next Wednesday..uh huh. alright, see you then."

Without asking, William's secretary quickly typed , "Lnch mting" into William's schedule.

William smiled at her. "Thanks Sharon, even when the world is falling apart and no one even remembers what their real job is, I can always count on you. What would I do without you?"

Sharon lowered her glasses and seriously looked him in the eye, "You'd starve. Your dinner is in your office. And I do suggest having more than one meal a day and more than 4 hours of sleep."

William laughed as he walked down the hall, "Eating and sleeping are way too over-rated."

~~~

Lucifer gave a pained moan as he slowly came to, the sky was already dark.

"Shit", he muttered. Slowly he sat up and remembered the events that had occurred not too long ago. 'well maybe quiet a while ago.' Lucifer thought as he realized that he was out of it for the last 6 or 7 hours.

After stifling some of the pain, he slowly stood up. "Great, I haven't been trashed like that since."

Lucifer's eyes widened, "No it can't be. can it?"

He took a few steps forward, "Yes, maybe that's it. That explains how he could beat the crap out of me, and all that disappearing stuff. Damn. but why would they possess him?"

Lucifer shook his head as he disappeared from the parking lot. 'Why the hell would a demon god possess William for? Damn, now I have to go figure out which one possessed him.' ~~~~

Outside of the airport in San Diego a 16 year old girl swiftly rode her newly bought bicycle northward.

A medium sized black cat poked his head out of the basket and spoke, "Can we rest yet? I mean we can't get to San Francisco in 5 days, no matter how hard you push. And I don't want to get killed on the highway. I know you're tired."

"Shut up Koko," The raven haired girl muttered. He hair was cropped very short and it sort of bounced like a puff ball as the wind passed by her hair. She was wearing a dark blue blouse blouse that was tied with a brown leather cord at the waist. Along the edges of her blouse, there golden colored star, moon and sun patterns. She wore black jeans pants and carried a worn, dark red messenger bag that was clearly overstuffed.

"But Aoide, I'm hungry," the cat raised his voice to a higher pitch.

Aoide* shoved the straw basket close, which smacked her cat in the head.

"If you don't let me eat, I'm gong to chew a hole in your basket! And then I'm going to eat your hand!" The cat screamed from within.

Aoide spotted a diner and parked her bike. Then she got off and listened to her cat in the basket. The furious shaking from within indicated that indeed Koko was chewing on the basket. Annoyed, Aoide locked the lid of basket and unlatched it from her bike, then she threw it into the air and spun it a couple of times.

Finally, she unlocked the basket and dumped out her dizzy cat.

"If I ever catch you chewing on this basket again; I'll play baseball with it, with you locked inside. Got it?!"

The cat wobbly nodded and mutely followed her into the diner

~~~ Cont..

Chapter 6

Note: Uhh. changed the summary on the front a little, technically doesn't go back to Sunnydale first. yada yada. so. yeah. ch.6

Tuesday Evening

Giles wiped his again for the seventh time, "So let me get this straight, all of us are going to meet Spike for lunch tomorrow at this French restaurant"

Buffy paled, " I don't think I have enough money for something 'that' expensive."

Cordy shook her head, "First of all, his name is William, he just looks like Spike. And second of all, we'll pay for yours, Dawn's and Willow's lunch. Don't worry about it."

Xander's brow furrowed, "Now, why such a fancy place? I mean, the Evil Dead would probably have a better time at a bar or maybe in some back alley."

Wesley gave a sheepish look, "Well, actually, like Cordy said, we don't think that he's Spike and that's not the impression we got when we went to the Monet Gallery."

Angel just shrugged, "Look, we need to figure out if he's Spike, if he's on our side and a bunch of other things. I guess confronting him is the best idea. Why don't you guys just stop worrying and get settled in the hotel. We'll worry about this tomorrow?"

~~~ "Hey Grandpa" William called out as he entered his Grandfather's apartment.

"Son! I'm here in the kitchen."

William swiftly walked to the kitchen and found his grandfather sitting on the bar stool, reading a TIME magazine and eating some eggs.

William smiled, "Interesting article?"

"Yes very. It's about you."

"Oh. that article. Lets see what Stephanie Fieldman had to say about me." William said as he reached for the magazine.

Owen smacked his hand. "Hey, you can read it after I'm done."

William mock pouted and Owen glanced at him.

"You won't like what you read anyways, she's being quite a vicious bitch in this article."

"That's probably because I only gave her a five minute interview."

Owen shrugged. "Maybe. Here, she's saying how you're such a ruthless businessman and she's even calling your techniques 'Machiavellian'."

"And you're saying that they aren't."

Owen gave an annoyed sigh. "I know that we must use such tactics to stay above the rest, but this is bad P.R., we need the public to see us in a good light."

William nodded. "I know, I'll take care of Ms. Fieldman. Don't worry Gramps, she'll be out of our hair soon."

Owen raised an eyebrow. "Don't kill her."

William gave a hearty laugh as he began to leave Owen's penthouse. "Kill her?! When tormenting her is so much better?"

"Oh and one more thing!" Owen called out.

William's head popped back in, "Yes?"

"I heard that there's been some dangerous activity going on in L.A., a whole law firm was murdered. I'd feel safer if you took Marci with you to your lunch meeting with these strangers."

William gave a mock annoyed sigh. "Alright Gramps, you're the boss."

~~~

As William sat in his limo with three other bodyguards, he sipped his scotch slowly while looking out at the L.A. scene. Mercy rowed down the window that was separating them, "We'll be there in about 10 minutes sir."

William nodded, then he glanced at the TIME magazine that was sitting next to him. Swiftly he whipped out his cell phone.

"Hey Sharon,"

"Yes?"

"I want you to look up all the Information you can find on Sharon Fieldman. Everything, from her bank account number to what size shoes she wears, got that?"

"Everything eh? Alright. I'm really going to be pushing for that bonus you know."

"Why are you even pushing for it hun? You're already getting it."

Sharon smiled on the other line, "Thank you William."

"You're welcome." William happily replied back. He really had no qualms in giving raises, as long as his employees did their job and pulled their weight more often, they'd get their raise. But then, of course, it was human nature to be lazy.

'Maybe Sharon is not human.' William mused.

Marci turned around as the limo stopped, "Sir, we're there."

William nodded as he exited the limo, magazine in hand, Marci and another bodyguard walked ahead and two other bodyguards followed closely behind. Marci walked over to the Valet and gave him the keys to the limo.

They silently walked into the restaurant. William looked at the French styled décor, "Nice place," he said to himself.

The person at the reception desk asked, "Um how many?"

"Four for them, but I'm also meeting someone. Is she there in your book, under Ms. Chase?"

"Oh yes. She came with a fairly large group, they're upstairs"

William nodded and followed one of the waiters who led them up to be seated. ~~~

Dawn fidgeted in her seat, they were all seated at an extremely large round table upstairs. She sat right across from where Spi- William would be seated. Seated to her right was Xander, Tommy, Anya, Gunn, Fred, and Cordy and to her left Buffy, Willow, Giles, Wesley and Angel. There were two vacant seats, it turned out that Lorne was really tired from his trip, so he stayed at the hotel.

Dawn could tell that everyone else was just as nervous as she was, Buffy especially. She was more than uncomfortable that Angel was paying for their dinner at such a fancy place. A few times, Giles tried to strike up a conversation, but no one really participated; lost in their own thoughts. They finally decided to remain quiet.

Tommy was the only one that was making any sound, he was a little confused at the inactivity and looked back and forth between his parents. Finally, for the first time since they came on this trip, Willow spoke up, "Is that him?"

Cordy stood up and walked over to the stairs for a better look, the group then crowded around the window that looked downstairs, they could see him walk out of limo and into the sunlight in his gray Armani suit and dark blue shirt.

On the side, Giles commented, "Well at least that throws out the notion that he might be a vampire."

Dawn looked at the bodyguards, "What are they for?"

Cordy looked a little baffled too, " I don't know."

Then she gave a sheepish shrug and returned to look at William entering the restaurant. William talked to the person at the desk for a few seconds and one of the waiters began to bring him up.

Wesley motioned to their table, "We better get back to our seats, it would look strange if he found us crowding around and staring at him."

Everyone agreed and they swiftly returned to their table.

A few seconds later, they saw a female and male bodyguard at the top of the stairs and William only a step behind. Cordy stood up and walked over to William to shake his hand. "Hi, William I'm glad you could make it."

William smiled, "Hello Ms. Chase, I'm glad to meet you again."

Then William looked over at the table, "Wow, we seem to have a huge party."

Cordy blushed, "Sorry, I should have warned you."

William shook his head, "Don't worry about it, the more the merrier hm?"

William slightly tilted his head while looking at bodyguard in front. The bodyguard nodded his head and the three men took a seat at the three tables that were closest to the large circular table that Cordy's friends sat at. William and Marci walked over to the group.

Cordy nervously rubbed her hands together, "You guys, this is William Dale."

William gave a polite smile and gestured toward Marci, "This is Marci Loraine, my personal bodyguard."

Cordy nodded, "Um this is the Harris family: Xander, Tommy and Anya. That's Charles Gunn, Winifred Burkle. The two sisters are Dawn and Buffy Summers, next to them is Willow Rosenberg, Rupert Giles, Angel and you've already met Wesley."

William politely shook hands with everyone and politely said his "Hello's" and finally to Wesley a "Good to see you again." On the side, Marci just slightly nod to each person William shook hands with. Once seated, William placed his magazine under his chair. Eventually everyone seated themselves and the waiter came by to take everyone's order on drinks.

Cordy spoke up, "So, how is your stay in L.A. so far?"

William smiled, "Wonderful, I've gotten a lot more done than I expected." In the back of his mind he laughed as he recalled his hostile take over last week.

Cordy nodded as she sipped her water daintily.

Cordy smiled again and returned to their small talk.

"So, do you work?" Cordy inquired.

William laughed, "Yes, of course I work. Actually I'm the current owner of LuminaCorp."

The group was silent, not recognizing the name.

"Ah, I guess we're only known on the east coast and no one reads Business Weekly."

Cordy sipped her water again, "Sorry."

"Oh don't be, It just shows that LuminaCorp should try to reach out more to West Coast. It was my Grandfather's dream, but now he feels that he's too old to go through with it, so he just sort of resigned and handed the business over to me."

Cordy's eyes widened, "Wow."

The others nodded, but mentally, they all just brushed it off as a minor fortune from some dot com company.

William raised an eyebrow, "Enough about me, what about you. What's your job."

"We'll, I'm apart of the Angel Investigations team."

William looked over at Angel and then back at Cordy. "Are all of you in Angel Investigations?"

Cordy shook her head, "Oh no no, It's just me Angel, Wesley, Gunn, Fred and Lorne. sort of."

"Lorne?" William asked, remembering that he hadn't heard that name in the group.

"Oh, he's not here today, he was feeling a little. green this morning."

Gunn quickly squeezed his lip together to keep himself from laughing at Cordy's attempt to walk around the truth. Angel slightly snorted.

William noticed the tiny reactions but decided to pretend he had not seen it. "Oh, I'm sorry he couldn't make it."

Meanwhile, Xander and Anya were quietly talking to Tommy and Willow was quietly talking to Giles.

Dawn just kept drinking water, trying to not cry. He looked like Spike, except for the dark brown hair and no accent, she was hoping from the bottom of her heart that he would somehow recognize her. But as he was shaking her hand, his eyes showed no recognition at all. His handshake was stiff and formal, like he really had never met her before. She had expected him from the bottom of her heart that he would say. "Hi my Little Bit." But no. just "Hello Miss." As he was talking to Cordy, she sort of realize that maybe this wasn't Spike at all, he sounded like had had an entirely different life from any them.

Buffy was also quiet and a little mopey, she was pretending to read her menu with much interest, but her brain didn't process any of the words. She could occasionally glance up at Cordy and William avidly talking and at Angel who was quietly brooding and studying William. She hated this, she knew that once he smoothly said 'Hello Ms. Summers' to her as he shook her hand, he didn't recognize her at all. He couldn't be Spike. Spike called her anything else but Ms. Summers. And not to mention, he did the same thing with Dawn. She could see the devastation that Dawn was feeling at the moment. And she also knew that Dawn was silently cursing her for sending him away all those years ago.

"Ms. Summers, Ms. Summers?" William asked her.

Buffy and Dawn snapped out of their thoughts. "Yes?" They both asked.

William tilted his head towards the waiter, "Are you ready to order yet?"

Buffy looked back down at her menu, she furrowed her brow as she flipped back an forth, everything on the menu cost between 30 to 100 dollars. 'God, it was just food!'

Buffy shrugged, "I'm not sure what to order. Why don't you come back to me later."

William shrugged, but his eyes studied her. "Alright."

After everyone, including Dawn ordered, Buffy hesitated again.

William leaned forward a little, "Ms. Summers, don't worry I'm paying for all of this. Just order anything you want."

Buffy ordered a salad and lamb and quietly gave her menu to the waiter.

Once the waiter walked away Cordy lightly smacked William on the arm. "We invited you to lunch. Why are you paying?!"

William rolled his eyes, "Please let me pay, I'd feel insulted if you paid."

"But that's about three hundred dollars right there, I can't."

"No, I'm paying." William's voice was dead serious this time.

The rest of the table was silent from tension.

William laughed, "I mean, what's money for, if you can't spend it?"

"But you alone can't possibly pay that much for one meal." Anya insisted.

"Why not?"

"Well, we were going to split the check amongst us."

William shook his head. "Like I said, I'd feel insulted. Really..."

Finally the group acquiesced and William seemed satisfied. Dinner eventually came, but William seemed to only talk to Cordy. Finally Dawn sort of felt lonely, having no one to talk and spoke up.

"So, do you have a family?"

William looked up and he turned to Dawn. "Yeah I do. well sort of."

"Sort of?"

"Well I didn't have a real family before, until I was adopted by Owen Dale. Before I lived with Leng and Shi-Fu."

Angel looked a little disturbed, "That sounds Asian."

"They are, I used to live in Canton before I studied abroad in Cambridge."

"But you're not Asian."

"No, I'm not, I'm still a little unclear about my past though. As far as I know, I just woke up in southern China with Leng standing over me and all she knew was that my name was William."

Angel's eyes widened as the pieces began to fit together. "Well, how long ago was this?"

"About 10 years ago."

Angel began to smirk. But Buffy's eyes darkened, and she softly spoke, "Spike left only 5 years ago, it can't be him."

Cordy turned to Buffy, "Really? Are you sure?"

"Yeah, he left right before Willow went magic crazy."

Cordy shook her head, "No that was ten years ago. You called me right after it happened."

Buffy scoffed, "Why are you messing with my head?"

"I'm not messing with your head. That was ten years ago."

"No, it's not. It's 2006." The Harris family and Willow insisted.

Angel's team, Giles and William shook their heads, "No, it's 2011"

Buffy's pouted at Giles, "How can you take their side, you're one of us!"

Giles knitted his brow, "This isn't about sides Buffy, this is about what's really happened. 10 years really have passed by. You know I wouldn't lie to you."

Anya shook her head, "No way, I'm sure."

Soon the group was arguing over what year it really was. In the arguing they never noticed William silently studying them and his eyes flashing violet for a few seconds.

'So,' William thought as he looked at everyone's aura's ' The ones from Sunnydale seem to have been in a time anomaly, how interesting.'

William glanced across again. 'Xander and Anya has fainter traces of the strange red aura, Tommy has even less. Dawn and Buffy have quite more, but Willow has the most. Actually, it looks like it's coming from her.'

William silently filed that information away to be researched later when he had some spare time. After that William wave a waiter over and asked him to go across the street to buy that day's newspaper. The waiter happily accepted the $10 bill and went to retrieve the newspaper. The group was so involved in their argument that they barely noticed when the waiter returned with the newspaper.

William quietly stood up, causing the group to become silent. He walked over to Buffy and pulled out a pen from his shirt pocket, circled the date on the newspaper, and handed it to her. Buffy's hands began to shake as she saw that it really was 2011.

William finally spoke, "I'm sorry Ms. Summers that this is a shock to you."

Buffy began to breathe heavily as the panic set in. "G-go away."

William remained there, "Do you want me to get you some help or something to deal with this?"

Buffy's mind raced, this couldn't be happening, she had just missed out about five years of whatever the hell was happening in the world just because she live in Sunnyhell. William was being an asshole under that polite exterior. She could hear the pity in his voice. She didn't need pity, especially from him. Not this evil, stupid.. Jerk. God, she didn't even know what to call him anymore.

Then she felt a hand on her shoulder, even though his hand was warm, the gesture seemed cold. She violently shrugged off his hand and pushed him away.

William glared down at her. "Are you alright?"

"Leave me alone!" Buffy spat at him.

William didn't even recoil like Spike usually did when she shouted at him. He just looked at her with cool, indifferent eyes, which probably pissed her off even more.

She screamed at him even more, "You don't know anything! What do you think you are, my psychiatrist?! Leave me alone. I don't need your help, I don't need your money and I damn don't need your pity! Don't touch me your idiot!"

She could hear Angel trying to hush her and her sister whispering, "Calm down Buffy." But, William was still unfazed. He raised an a eyebrow and shrugged, then he returned to his seat. The room was thick with tension, Buffy sank inter her chair and silently brooded, William just looked at he wine and would sip it a little and everyone else just kept looking back and forth not knowing what to do.

Luckily, William's cell phone rang.

Cont.

Chapter 7

William pulled the cell phone out of his shirt pocket and snapped it open with ease.

"William speaking." He sharply spoke into the phone before the person on the other line could comment.

"Uh. Mr. Dale," the voice started with trepidation

William immediately identified the old man's voice, "Jonehson, didn't I already inform you not to call me today until after lunch?"

"Sorry sir, but."

"But what?" William venomously cut him off.

"You just. you can't do this. It's unmoral, you can't buy out Kai Corp."

William eyes narrowed at Jonehson's insolent behavior, "You don't have the authority to call off this project, much less to lay the moral burden on me."

"You can't just buy the company and then destroy it! Damn it man, you're going to put 20,000 in Kyoto out of a job!"

William walked stood up and walked away from the table where everyone was staring at him. When he was sure he was out of hearing range from the group, he hissed into the phone. "Do I sound like I give a shit if 20,000 people loose their job. Maybe you should be more concerned about your job than theirs."

William left the end unsaid, knowing that Jonehson knew his meaning.

Jonehson sputtered at the other end, William could tell he was furious. " How dare you speak like that to your elders, I have been helping your fathe- "

"I'm not my father." William cut him off.

"No, you are a monster." Jonehson hissed.

William looked at the phone with a bored expression and turned it off without finish the conversation.

Then dialed another number.

"Andrew." William spoke to the project leader.

"Yes sir?"

"Continue with the take over of Kai Corp, I'm in charge of the project, not that old man. Don't underestimate how expendable you are."

"Yes sir," Andrew squeaked on the other line.

"Good, now tell Jonehson to clean out his desk, he's fired."

After those last words William abruptly shut off his phone and returned to the table.

William sheepishly shrugged, "Sorry about that, I told them not to call me in the middle of lunch."

Everyone else nodded with a few 'it's okay's, everyone except Angel. Angel had heard the entire conversation with his enhanced hearing and now he was growling softly while glaring at William.

William continued with his polite conversation as their meals were brought to them. Finally, unable to stand William's false exterior. Angel banged his hand on the table.

"I can't stand it anymore!" Angel shouted.

Instantly Marci and the 3 bodyguards had their guns pointed directly at Angel. William called them off and returned to his meal.

"What are you talking about Angel?" William asked innocently

Angel abruptly stood up and William held out his hand, to keep Marci from pulling out her gun.

Angel glared at William, "You're a monster, how could you do that?!"

Giles looked up at Angel, "Do what?"

"He's firing 20,000 people for no reason."

Buffy's face dropped, horrified and in disgust. "What?"

Cordy, "I'm sure there's a good reason."

"Of course there's reason," William retorted, "It's business."

Gunn frowned, "That's just sick man."

Tommy started to cry at the out outbursts, so Xander tended to him instead of throw out one of his usual spiteful comments. Anya looked worriedly at her child. "Can you guys please calm down? You're scaring Tommy."

Dawn was holding her sister's arm and telling her to "cool it" and Wesley was trying to do the same with Giles and Angel.

"You bloody pillock, 'just business'? Do you understand ."

William didn't look up, "This happen all the time, in every company. You just don't see it on the news very often because it's bad PR. Believe me, this is a run of the mill buy out, nothing special about it."

"You're throwing away lives like their nothing. All those families." Angel started.

William stood up and threw down his napkin. "I've had quite enough. It seems I've overstayed my welcome. "

Then he turned to a worried Cordy. "Don't worry about it Ms. Chase, I'll still cover the expenses. I'll call you, I hope we can meet again under. less hostile circumstances."

After that, William started for the stares with his bodyguards in tow and swiftly left the restaurant.

Once the group saw William leave in the limo, Cordy lashed out at Angel. "What the hell was that?!"

"He's going to."

"I know what he's going to do! And if you have heard of business strategies, he was right. This is very common!" Cordy shouted at him.

Angel glared at her, " You're taking his side because you like him."

"What?!"

"We all saw you flirting outrageously with him!"

"Why do you care?"

"Because I like you." Angel trailed off as he turned to Buffy and gasped, realizing he had accidentally let out his secret.

Buffy quietly stood up with her gaze cast down and she ran out of the restaurant in tears. Dawn and the rest of the Scoobies quickly ran after her, leaving only Angel's team.

Cordelia folded her arms, "Did you satisfy your green-eyed monster now?"

Angel growled as he left the restaurant. Gunn and Fred quickly followed him.

Cordy sighed as she put her elbows on the table and leaned her head into her palms. Wesley stood up and comforted her, "Look, I don't think William's a bad person and I don't think you ruined everything. He said he's meet you again later. You are right though, everyone could tell that Angel was jealous."

Cordy sighed and Wesley helped her up.

Cordy sighed, "Why does my life have to be such a mess?"

Wesley shook his head, not knowing the answer.

As Cordy stood up she stumbled over William's magazine. "Oh he dropped this." Cordy muttered, "I'll give it back to him the next time I see him."

~~~

William got back to his office and helped follow through with the rest of the buy out. Then he immediately fired Jonehson after he called a group of representatives to go to Kyoto to implement his new policies.

It was frustrating day, not that he wanted to admit that Cordy's hostile friend got to him. But for once in his entire life, he felt lonely. He always had Leng and her family and Owen. But it wasn't really that. They were family. But Cory, she was a friend. He never really had friends, not even in college, he was the odd ball out. The guy with no memory of his past, no real memory and the bookworm; not to mention most of the people hated him because he always forced the grading curve up with his near perfect scores. After he had gotten rich, suddenly there were all these people who wanted to be his 'friends' to leech off of him. He liked being around Cordy, she didn't even know who he was, she was just. nice to him with no reason or motive. Wesley was courteous too, but not as nice. as well. But their friends seemed a little edgy.

Slowly, William's mental rambling slowed as he fell asleep at his desk.

~~~

There was the soft sound of hard breathing, but he didn't need to breathe.

Suddenly there was a flash in the lush green trees, he readied his bow and arrows. The creature leaped out of the shadows and charged at him in fury, it's sickening purple worms squirmed around it's enormous body.

'Quickly, I have to run faster. Faster. It's gaining.'

Three arrows are shot. Two bounce off of the creature's body, but one strikes right in the eye

'Now, I'm too close, but I can see its eyes. Better opportunity now than ever. '

One more arrow flies and blinds the other eye. The creature stops and falls where it stands. Some of the violet worm-like substance lands on my left wrist. It stings like acid.

Soon the outer-layer of worms fall off the monsters body, leaving a unrecognizable humanoid. Its flesh has been eaten away. The humanoid screams in agony and rants in an unknown language. Then the rest of the body rots away in seconds, including the bones, leaving a sickening stench in the air.

Death is thick in the air. Suddenly the pain in my arm increases ten folds, the violet worms are still on my wrist, eating away. I scream in agony and fall on my side. Leng rushes over with a large jar of cold water. The violet worms are washed off, but these brown stains are still there. I can feel it still there, the pain and the darkness. It's eating away inside. Can't breathe. Can't see. Can't scream.

~~~ William suddenly woke up from his nightmare. He was covered in a light sheen of sweat.

'Shit, he's remembering' he thought. Quickly, he dialed Leng's number.

"Hello?"

"Leng, It's me." William said, slightly panicked.

"What's wrong." She asked, although she had an inkling of what might be wrong.

"He's remembering, I need you to make that potion again."

Leng sighed, "I don't know, is he not ready yet? I mean constantly dosing you every half a year can't be very healthy."

"Look, it's either that or he'll go insane again. And no, he's not ready, he's more unstable now than ever, I don't know why though."

Leng nodded, "Alright, but I can't leave until next week. Right now I'm constantly on call. Look, just try to cool down. Make sure he's okay. Maybe you can make him sleep for a bit."

William sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair. "I'll see you soon."

"Alright. Goodbye."

"Bye."

~~~~ 'I need to keep my mind off of things.' William thought as he swiftly trotted down to the garage. He fingered the keys to his new black Ferrari as he approached the car.

He quickly got in and sped out of the building. 'Perhaps a drive down south of L.A. will do me some good.'

~~~

Aoide silently cried as she limped along the freeway. She had one hand out, hoping that someone would stop and help her. In her other hand, she cradled her semiconscious cat. He had fainted earlier because of dehydration and then a speeding truck had forced her off the road. He bike was ruined and he left leg was bleeding profusely. But that was the last thing on her mind.

'I can't let Koko die, he's my best friend. I need to get him to a vet.' Aoide let out another sob.

She had left her bike a few miles back. She wasn't too far from L.A., but she wasn't close either. Her right arm wavered a little, sore from holding it up for the last two hours.

Suddenly a sleek back car pulled over behind her and a man with dark blond hair got out.

~~~

The first thing that William had noticed was that the girl was bleeding very badly, the second was that she was holding a small black bundle. Quickly, William pulled over and rushed to the girl.

"Come one lets get you the hospital." William led her towards his car and made her sit down in the passenger seat. He quickly popped the trunk oven and pulled out a blanket and then he ran back and tied the blanket around her leg to staunch the bleeding.

The girl whimpered and William looked up at her. "Don't worry, you'll be okay soon."

She shook her head. "I'll be okay, can we go to the vet first?"

William suddenly realized that the black bundle was actually a cat.

He nodded as he quickly ran around to the driver's seat and they sped off to the closest vet.

~~~

By the time the vet came back from the examination room, Aoide had already healed totally.

'Just like a slayer.' William thought. At first when he picked up the girl he hadn't realized that the girl was one. But after a while in the waiting room, he could sense it. She was surprisingly calm and quiet for a slayer. Most slayers were more outgoing since they were more hyperactive. 'Must be all that adrenaline constantly rushing through their veins.'

Later when he had taken her to the restroom to clean her wound, he found that it was fading rather quickly, like I should have taken a week later instead of hours later. Aoide had looked away sheepishly and she had whispered, "I'm special. Please, don't tell."

He had agreed, but he also knew that he had to find a way to hold onto her. There had to be a reason why Lucifer wanted her and he was the only person who could keep her out of Lucifer's hands. And perhaps, get some answers.

The doctor was talking to Aoide and from the smile on her face, he knew that the girl's cat was alright. Her green eyes shined like emeralds. She was. pretty, exotic and well. very gypsy looking. But he felt nothing, he knew she was beautiful, but he really didn't react to her at all.

He watched Aoide follow the doctor and walk out with the still unconscious cat. Later, at the desk, without any question or comment, he paid for the expenses of the care.

Now, they were silently walking to his car.

Aoide spoke up, "Thank you. I'll find a way to pay you back, as soon as I find a job."

'There!' William thought, 'I can make her stay that way.'

"I don't want you to pay me back," William started, "I would like you to stay with me for a little, help me out with a few things. I'm a very busy man, money doesn't much to me, but I would like someone to help me with some errands here and there."

Aoide gaped.

"I know, earlier you told me you wanted to go to San Francisco. But here, I'm offering you a job. If you really want to, you can pay me back using the money you earn from working for me."

"You mean it?" Aoide whispered.

"Yes I do. I also know you're special. With my resources, I can protect you. If you think about it: if someone else were to find out about your abilities, what's to stop them from turning you over to the government and dissecting you."

Aoide shuddered. "What's stopping you from doing the same?"

William smiled and cryptically answered, "Because I'm special too."

~~~~

Lilah fumed silently in her apartment for the millionth time, only her and about ten other associates hadn't been killed in the massacre. Everything was gone, Lindsay was dead too. She had survived because she had gone out during that time for a few drinks. But when she returned, blood was all over the ground and the entire Wolfram and Hart building was destroyed, even the 'white room'. Then she saw Angel and his team come from that direction and then walk away in a hurry.

Damn him! Angel and all he cared about would pay.

~~~ Cont.

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