Part 1: The Dream

“I can’t believe you did that!”

“Spike, I am so sorry. I didn’t hear you. I thought you were just another vampire.” Buffy said closing the back door to her home as she walked inside. At the look Spike threw in her direction, she continued. “Another, un-souled, evil vampire.”

“That sounds more like a question.” Spike said, wetting a cloth for his split lip.

“I’m so sorry.” Buffy said in a soft voice, taking the cloth from Spikes hand and placing it gently to his bleeding bottom lip.

“Yeah, well, maybe I’ll find it in my heart to forgive you.” Spike said, acting as if he was pouting.

“You’d better,” Buffy said taking the cloth away from his lip that had stopped bleeding now and taking a seductive step closer to him. “Or I’d have to convince you too.”

“Yeah? And how’s that?” Spike asked, sounding a little breathless.

“Like this…” Buffy whispered, then leaned into Spike and kissed him gently, making sure not to hurt his now split lip. It took Spike a few moments to realize that Buffy was kissing him. The kiss started getting more and more passionate when Buffy broke the kiss, grabbed Spike by his hand and pulled him down into the basement with her. Once in the basement, Spike gently laid Buffy down on his bed, and started kissing her again while finding a comfortable position on top of her.

Buffy shot straight up in her bed, woken up by some unknown force. “Oh no,” she thought. “No, no, good dream. Dreams don’t hurt.” She lay back down and tried in vain for half an hour to fall back asleep. After tossing and turning and failing to sleep, she decided to go downstairs for some water, and maybe a little fresh air. Buffy tiptoed over the SIT’s and continued down the stairs.

(^..^)

Spike shoot up in his cot. “God,” he said sounding out of breath, and falling back down on his cot. “Why are you doing this to me?” Spike asked to no one, looking at the ceiling.

Spike tried in vain for forty-five minutes to fall back asleep after waking up from his dream of him and Buffy. After failing miserably, he decided to get up and get a mug of blood.

When Spike arrived up the stairs and in the kitchen, the first thing he noticed was that the kitchen door was let open. He looked at it as if he was willing whatever it was that opened the door to walk through it. Finally, his curiosity got the better of him and he stepped out onto the back porch. He noticed Buffy standing on the first step with her arms hugging her body. He slowly walked up to her, careful not to startle her, but thinking that her slayer hearing had already heard him step outside. He placed a gentle hand on Buffy’s shoulder. Buffy jumped, quickly turned and without thinking, punched Spike in the mouth sending him to the ground.

“Oh, God,” Buffy said bringing her hands to her mouth. “Spike, I’m sorry.”

“Bloody hell.” Spike said getting off the ground and heading back into the house.

“I can’t believe you did that!”

“Spike, I am so sorry. I didn’t hear you. I thought you were just another vampire.” Buffy said closing the back door to her home as she walked inside. At the look Spike threw in her direction, she continued. “Another, un-souled, evil vampire.”

“That sounds more like a question.” Spike said, wetting a cloth for his split lip.

“I’m so sorry.” Buffy said in a soft voice, taking the cloth from Spikes hand and placing it gently to his bleeding bottom lip.

“Yeah, well, maybe I’ll find it in my heart to forgive you.” Spike said, acting as if he was pouting.

“You’d better,” Buffy said taking the cloth away from Spikes mouth and stepping backward away from him cautiously.

“Wait a minute. I dreamed about this.” Spike said, a confused look on his face.

“So did I.”

“As much as I hate to say this, but, I think you should be Giles.” Spike told Buffy.

“I think you may be right.”

Buffy went to the phone and started dialing Giles’s number. “To hell with what time it is,” Buffy thought, “This is just to weird.”

While Buffy called Giles, a thought occurred to Spike, and he proceeded upstairs stepping over a few SIT’s to wake Willow. “Maybe it’s some sort of spell.” Spike thought, “Maybe Red’ll know what it is.” Spike slowly opened the door, took on step inside Willows room and found himself face to face with a stake.

(^^)(^^)(^^)

Part 2:

The Nightmare

Kennedy lunged at Spike. Spike gave a yelp and blocked Kennedy’s move which sent her to the floor and him into Willow’s open door, which in turn sent him tumbling to the floor.

Willow heard a thump and shot up in her bed. The first thing that she noticed was that Kennedy was not in bed with her. The second was that there was a bleach blond vampire lying on the floor moaning. The other SIT’s were still sleeping on her floor. The sounds didn’t seem to phase them at all.

“Spike?” Willow whispered, getting out of her bed and walking over to him.

“Yeah,” he said sitting up.

“Are you okay?”

Spike nodded his head and looked at Kennedy who was now sitting up groggily. Willow walked over to Kennedy and helped her up.

“Are you alright, Kennedy?” Willow asked, pulling Kennedy to her feet.

“Yeah. What happened?” Kennedy asked looking confused.

“It looks like you tried to stake Spike,” Willow said nodding towards the stake at Kennedy’s feet.

“Sorry, Spike.” Kennedy said helping him to his feet.

“Kennedy’s been sleep walking lately. I usually now when she’s gotten out of bed.” Willow said.

“You should talk to Buffy about the sleep walking. Could get a bugger killed,” Spike said.

“So, Spike,” Kennedy said, “What brings you to Willow’s room?”

“I came to get her,” Spike said, pointing to Willow. “Buffy and I, we had an… odd experience, and I thought maybe she could help.”

“What kind of experience?” Willow asked.

(^..^)

“I know, but Giles,” Buffy was on the phone, talking to Giles and trying to explain to him what happened when Spike, Willow and Kennedy came into the kitchen.

“It wasn’t just me that had the dream. Spike did to. It was the same dream.” She paused to listen to Giles speak. “Because… I just know. Giles…” Buffy paused again.

“Okay. Bye,” She said and hung up the phone. “He said that he’d look into it, but he doesn’t think it means anything.”

“So, why are we down here?” Kennedy asked.

Buffy looked at Spike for an explanation. “I thought that maybe it could be so sort of spell. I thought that maybe Willow could help.” Spike explained.

“Oh,” Buffy said. “Did Spike tell you what happened?”

“Yeah,” Willow said. “It doesn’t sound like any kind of spell that I’m aware of, but it wont hurt to look it up. Maybe tomorrow though?”

“Good idea,” Kennedy yawned. “I’m going back to bed. Good night.”

“Good night, Kennedy,” Buffy said as the eldest SIT headed up the stairs.

“I’ll get Dawn to help me do the research thing tomorrow. It could have just been a coincidence, right? That happens sometimes. But, we should all get some more sleep tonight. Good night you two,” Willow said heading upstairs.

“Good night,” Buffy and Spike said in unison.

Buffy sighed and said to herself, “It never turns out to be a coincidence with me though.”

“What ever this is, we’ll figure it out and take care of it like we always do,” Spike said. “But, until then, Red’s right, you should get some more sleep tonight.”

“I believe her exact words were, “We should all get some more sleep tonight.” That includes you,” Buffy corrected Spike, walking over to the refrigerator and pulling out a bottle of water.

“Then I’ll try to get some sleep as well. Good night, Buffy,” Spike said, then headed towards the basement.

“Good night, Spike,”

“Sweet dreams, Slayer.”

Buffy caught the mischievous gleam in Spike’s eyes before he disappeared down the basement stairs, and wondered what it meant.

(^..^)

Spike walked into the kitchen from the back door rubbing his eyes. The sun had set just an hour before and a couple of the newest SIT’s wanted a fighting lesson. Kennedy had been tired all day, and was now asleep on the couch, Buffy was busy with dawn and Willow with the research, so the girls had asked Spike and he had agreed on giving a small lesson in the backyard. One of the girls, Molly, got a little to into the fight and threw a handful of sand into Spike’s eyes and attacked him when he howled in pain. She finally let him up after Christa, the newest SIT yelled at her. Spike practically ran into the kitchen, but tripped on one of the steps on the porch. Christa helped him up and he quickly made his way into the kitchen and over to the sink.

“Spike, I am so sorry,” Molly said following him into the kitchen.

“It’s alright,” Spike said washing out his eyes, “Blinding your enemies with sand. It’s a nice touch.” He dried his eyes with the closest kitchen towel.

“What happened?” Spike heard Buffy’s voice ask as he dried his face.

“I threw sand in Spike’s eyes. I think I got a little to into the training,” Molly said, looking at Buffy apologetically.

Buffy smiles at her sweetly, “Why don’t you and Christa go into the living room?”

After Molly and Christa left the kitchen, Buffy turned to Spike and said, “What do you think your doing?”

“I was helping,” Spike said standing in front of Buffy between her and the hallway.

“Someone could have really gotten hurt. YOU could have really gotten hurt.” Buffy said with her hands on her hips, not the least bit happy.

“Buffy, I was just trying to help. Kennedy was asleep and you were busy with the research, so I took them out into the backyard for a little lesson.”

“Spike…” Buffy started, but stopped when she heard Spike take in a sharp intake of breath. “Spike?”

Spike looked down at his chest that was now in immense pain, and saw the very end of a stake pointing out of his chest.

“Buffy?” Spike said, sounding panicked before he turned to dust.

Spike shot up in bed. “Bloody hell,” he said to himself, “Now they’re haunting my dreams.” Spike slowly got up off the cot and stretched.

“Spike!” he heard Buffy scream, and from the sound of it she was in trouble. It sounded as if she were in her room.

Spike took off up the stairs as fast as his feet could take him, and ran straight into Buffy’s room.

“Buffy,” Spike said, out of breath, “Are you okay? What happened?” he said, and walked over to her bed and took her hand.

(^..^)

“Buffy?” Spike said, sounding panicked before he turned to dust.

Buffy looked up and saw Kennedy holding the stake that was just in Spike’s chest.

“Spike!” Buffy shot up in her bed and yelled before she realized she had done it.

Not a minute later Spike burst into her room.

“Buffy,” Spike said, out of breath, “Are you okay? What happened?” he said, and walked over to her bed and took her hand.

“Spike,” Buffy said pulling him into a hug and started to cry.

“Hey,” Spike said gently, pulling Buffy gently out of the hug and wiped the tears from her cheek. “No need to shed a tear for me, love.”

“It happened again, didn’t it?” She said, hugging his chest.

“Buffy?” Dawn stood in Buffy’s doorway looks groggy. “Is everything okay?”

“Every things fine, nibblet,” Spike answered for Buffy. “Why don’t you go back to bed.”

Dawn nodded her head, closed Buffy’s bedroom door and went back to bed.

Spike turned back to Buffy, but found that she had fallen back asleep, nuzzled agent his chest. He tried to distatch himself from Buffy and lye her back on her bed.

“Don’t,” she said nuzzling closer to him. “I’ll feel better if you stay with me.”

“Alright,” Spike said, quietly, and climbed under the covers with her in order to lye down and get comfortable with her lying her head on his chest.

“After that dream, I don’t blame you, love,” Spike thought, petting her hair before drifting off to sleep himself.

(^^)(^^)(^^)

Part 3: Our Dream Come True

Willow woke up in her bed alone. She looked all over the house for Kennedy, and found her in the basement. Kennedy was kneeled in front of Spike’s cot with a stake imbedded in the cot’s mattress. Willow had run over to Kennedy and shook her and yelled her name in hopes of waking her up. Kennedy’s eyes looked as though they were glazed over, as if she were in some sort of daze or under some sort of spell. When Willow’s shaking didn’t work, she slapped Kennedy. Kennedy blinked, shook her head and woke up. Willow looked over at Spike’s cot and saw some dust. She turned towards Kennedy and urgently asked her, “What did you do?” Kennedy couldn’t remember anything but, then again, she kept waking up in all areas of the house and didn’t remember where she was. Willow asked her what she had done again. “I… I don’t know,” Kennedy had barely whispered before Willow ran up the stairs to Buffy’s room.

“Buffy!” Willow yelled as she burst into Buffy’s room with tears running down her cheeks.

Buffy shot up in her bed. She saw Willow standing in her doorway with tears running down her cheeks and looking panicked. She felt Spike stir behind her and wake up.

“What is it, Willow? What happened?”

“Spike,” Willow sobbed, “I think… I think Kennedy may have staked her in her sleep.”

Buffy motioned for Willow to go to the bed, and she slowly walked towards the bed. As she did so, Buffy said, “Willow, Spike is right here.”

As Willow arrived and stood by Buffy’s bed, Spike slowly sat up.

Spike mistook the shocked look on her face as her wonder what the hell he was doing in Buffy’s bed and tried to explain. “Buffy had a nightmare, and we fell asleep.”

“Spike,” Willow whispered.

Willow practically flew over Buffy to hug Spike.

“You’re okay, you’re okay, you’re okay, you’re okay,” Willow said over and over.

Spike put his hand on Willow’s back and looked at Buffy confused.

Buffy shrugged her shoulder and touched Willow’s back.

“Willow,” Buffy said, “What happened?”

(^..^)

After Willow explained to Spike and Buffy what had happened in the basement, they went down stairs. Willow found Kennedy still in the basement trying to figure out what it was she had done. They went into the kitchen to find Spike and Buffy getting coffee and warming up some pig’s blood.

Kennedy slowly sat down on a stool in front of the island staring at Spike. She couldn’t believe that he was standing there.

“So,” Spike said looking at Kennedy, “I hear you tried to kill me again.”

Buffy kicked Spike in the foot and gave him a look. He gave her his best apologetic look. “Kennedy,” Buffy said walking over to her. “Why didn’t you tell us that you were sleepwalking?”

“I didn’t think it was a big deal. Just, you know, walking in my sleep.”

“ Do you remember what you were dreaming about?”

“No,” Kennedy looked down at the counter top. “Not lately anyway.”

Buffy looked at Willow. “Alright, Kennedy, maybe you should get a little more rest. Willow, Dawn and I will try to figure out why this is happening, okay?”

Kennedy nodded and left to go back up stairs.

“What do you think it is?” Willow asked.

“ I don’t know. Could be a bad dream, or a spell or anything. We better research just to be safe. Why don’t you go and get the books out so we can start soon.” Willow nodded at Buffy and left to go into the dinning room.

“Spike, why did you have to say that to Kennedy?” Buffy wasn’t mad at him, but she wasn’t pleased either.

“Sorry, Buffy,” Spike looked down at his feet, ashamed. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

“Well, don’t apologize to me, you should apologize to Kennedy. Willow said that she seemed upset when she finally woke up.”

“I will, when she gets up again.” There was a moment of silence as Buffy sipped her coffee.

“I don’t understand something,” Spike said.

“What?” Buffy said putting her cup down.

“Why does everyone all of the sudden care about me?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean you, taking me out of the basement, and after I’ve killed again you still don’t stake me. Willow with her hugging me last night after finding out that I’m not just a pile of dust, and Kennedy being upset that she may have staked me in her sleep.”

“Well, Kennedy like you. She thinks your cool. And she’s only known the souled you, not the unsouled ‘I’m gonna kill you and pick my teeth with you bones’ you. She thinks you’re a good guy.” Buffy stopped, then quickly added, “Which you are.” Spike rolled his eyes at the last part.

“And Willow?”

“Willow… I don’t know about Willow. Maybe she feels connected to you.”

“Connected?”

“Yeah, you know, she’s killed, you’ve killed. You two have… killing relations.” It sounded more like a question.

“I don’t think that’s it,” Spike said, leaning up against the sink with his arms folded across his chest.

“You right. I don’t know why Willow acted that way.”

“And you?”

“And me?”

“Why do you care about me?”

“I care because it’s my job to care.”

“You’re job is to care about vampires? I thought your job was to slay vampires, not kill them.”

“It is. But, I’ve changed the rules. I now care about anything with a soul.” Buffy smiled at him.

Spike chuckled and took a sip of his blood.

“Well, not everyone cares about you. I think Xander still hates you.”

“Good, let’s keep it that way.”

(^..^)

Spike walked into the kitchen from the back door rubbing his eyes. The sun had set just an hour before and a couple of the newest SIT’s wanted a fighting lesson. Kennedy had been tired all day, and was now asleep on the couch, Buffy was busy with dawn and Willow with the research, so the girls had asked Spike and he had agreed on giving a small lesson in the backyard. One of the girls, Molly, got a little to into the fight and threw a handful of sand into Spike’s eyes and attacked him when he howled in pain. She finally let him up after Christa, the newest SIT yelled at her. Spike practically ran into the kitchen, but tripped on one of the steps on the porch. Christa helped him up and he quickly made his way into the kitchen and over to the sink.

“Spike, I am so sorry,” Molly said following him into the kitchen.

“It’s alright,” Spike said washing out his eyes, “Blinding your enemies with sand. It’s a nice touch.” He dried his eyes with the closest kitchen towel.

“What happened?” Spike heard Buffy’s voice ask as he dried his face.

“I threw sand in Spike’s eyes. I think I got a little to into the training,” Molly said, looking at Buffy apologetically.

Buffy smiles at her sweetly, “Why don’t you and Christa go into the living room?”

After Molly and Christa left the kitchen, Buffy turned to Spike and said, “What do you think your doing?”

“I was helping,” Spike said standing in front of Buffy between her and the hallway.

“Someone could have really gotten hurt. YOU could have really gotten hurt.” Buffy said with her hands on her hips, not the least bit happy.

“Buffy, I was just trying to help. Kennedy was asleep and you were busy with the research, so I took them out into the backyard for a little lesson.”

Buffy quickly grabbed Spike by his arms and pulled him away just in the nick of time. As she pulled Spike away, Kennedy stabbed the air where Spike’s chest, and more importantly, his heart had been.

Spike looked at Buffy amazed, but the confession shone on his face.

“Buffy,” he said, breathless, “How did you know?”

“Our dream came true.” Buffy said, looking Spike in the eyes.

Spike had completely forgotten about the dream as the day went on. It happened just like the dream had.

Willow and Dawn came running in the kitchen. “Buffy, what happened?” Dawn asked.

“Kennedy, she’s sleepwalking again.” Buffy said.

Willow tried to wake Kennedy up, but it wasn’t working.

“Willow,” Buffy said, “We’re going to have to tie her to the bed tonight.”

Willow sighed, not happy, but knew that Buffy was right. “Alright. I’ll make sure she tied good and tight. But maybe you should keep Spike with you tonight, you know, just in case Kennedy gets loose.”

“I think that’s a good idea. But I think he’ll be okay tonight.” Buffy said.

Willow took Kennedy up stairs.

“I think I should go to bed,” Dawn said.

“Okay, good night Dawn.” Buffy said.

“Night Dawn.” Spike said. Dawn nodded and went up stairs to her room.

After a moment of silence, Spike said to Buffy, “You saved me.”

“I know,” she said looking at him, “I told you, I’m not ready for you to not be here yet.”

(^^)(^^)(^^)

Part 4: Love Me in my Sleep

God it was hot in here.

Buffy pushed the cover away, feeling uncomfortable. She was too warm, and feeling a sense of restlessness. She needed to get up and get some water. Fresh water. No, she needed a nice refreshing bath. Mm, not possible, it was the middle of the night. And she was sure there were at least two or three potentials sleeping there now.

In fact, what she really was longing to were soft, cool and caressing hands…just like the ones that were climbing slowly on her legs.

Startled, she raised her head. Strangely, it was totally dark in the room, when usually it was slightly illuminated by the lamppost on the street. And even more strangely, she could have sworn she had put on her pyjamas before going to bed. But now she was naked, lying helpless under the sweet ministrations of those hands. Not that she would complain about it. There was something familiar about them. And the feelings they awoke…definitely of the good.

With a sigh, she put her head back on the pillow while the hands were progressing towards her thighs, resting there for a torturing moment, but not going where she wished they would go. She moaned slightly. The hands went further up, wandering on her belly, and reaching her breast, stroking them softly. A sigh of pleasure escaped from her lips.

And she had thought she was hot before. Now she was burning. When a cool body came to lay on top of hers, the sensation almost drove her crazy. And when experts fingers slowly started to caress her most sensitive parts, she would have awaken the whole house if not for the ravaging mouth that covers hers and muffled her cries. She still couldn’t see the man, but she knew. She would recognise the touch of his hand amongst thousands other men.

“Spike…” she whispered, feeling like floating, forgetting about everything that wasn’t him and her. She pulled her to him, giving back kiss for kiss, caress for caress while he made love to her. How could she have stayed that long without touching him? His scent, the contours of his lean muscular body… it felt like being back in Heaven, only ten times better.

“I love you,” a voice murmured, but she couldn’t tell if it was his or hers. She didn’t care. The world could end tomorrow, but she couldn't care less. She was with him and it was all that mattered.

She woke up with a gasp.

She was alone in her bed. It had all been another dream.

(^..^)

Spike didn’t know what to do. He hoped that Buffy wouldn’t catch him. He was in her room. He had a good reason though. He had a craving that he just couldn’t get ride of. And the only thing that could make that craving go away was in Buffy’s room.

He had to read that book again. “The Stand” by Steven King was his favorite book, and it was Buffy that had it. He thought he knew where she had put it, but it wasn’t on the bookshelf. He looked around the room and spotted it on her bedside table. He quietly walked over to the side of her bed and watched her for a moment. She looked to peaceful laying there sleeping. He was about to reach for the book on her nightstand when he heard her whisper, but it sounded more like a moan.

“Spike,” was the only word that came from her lips.

Spike froze, scared that she had caught him in the act of stealing her favorite book. He took a glance at her and was relieved when he saw that she was still asleep. Her whispering his name intrigued him, but he didn’t feel like loosing his head tonight. He grabbed the book and walked quietly to the door.

As Spike reached the door, he heard Buffy whisper again, “I love you.” She said.

(^..^)

The Next Morning: Summers Home Kitchen

Spike sat on a stool on the island in the kitchen sipping at his blood when he heard Buffy enter the room.

“Spike,” Buffy said. “Have you seen my book?”

“Which one?”

“‘The Stand’. I could have sworn that I put it on my night stand last night.”

“Oh, yeah, I took it.” Spike got up off the stool and headed towards the basement.

“Last night?” Buffy was now worried. She knew that she sometimes talk in her sleep, and he had been in her room. She hoped that last night she didn’t say anything. “You where in my room last night?”

“Yeah,” Spike turned towards Buffy. “I was bored and I couldn’t sleep. I didn’t think you would mind.”

“Mind? Why wouldn’t I mind? You can borrow my favorite book anytime.”

“Your favorite book?”

“Yeah. There’s just something about it that I love. Maybe it’s the whole end-of-the-world thing.”

Spike smiled at Buffy. She could be so amazing and surprising sometimes. “All go get it for you.”

“Thank you,” Buffy said returning his smile.

Before Spike could turn around he felt a sharp pain in his chest.

“Spike!” He heard Buffy scream his name.

Spike fell to his knees. He looked down at his chest and saw the source of his pain. A stake was sticking out of his chest.

(^^)(^^)(^^)

(^^)(^^)(^^)

Part 5- Research and Worry

"Oh My God!" He heard Willow behind him. He figured that she must have come running when Buffy yelled his name.

Buffy kneeled down in front of him. The stake missed his heart. He was going to be okay. The only thing was, he didn’t feel good. In fact, if he remembered correctly, he felt very ill, like he had the flu, or worse.

Buffy looked up and saw Kennedy holding a crossbow. It was Kennedy in flesh, but Buffy saw her eyes before she passed out. Kennedy’s eyes were white.

"Willow, I thought you said you were going to tie her up?" Buffy was in a panic now.

"I know. I did. I just untied her a minute ago. She was awake. She acted like she was awake. He eyes were open and everything." Willow said, sounding just as panicked.

Buffy carefully pulled the stake out of Spike’s back. As she did so, Spike yelled in pain. She carefully laid him down on the floor.

"Buffy," Spike whispered, sounding very weak. "Buffy, I don’t feel right."

Buffy could barely hear Spike, but she understood what he had said. She touched his forehead, and for some reason, Spike felt hot. Spike had a fever. Her first reaction was to jump up and call Giles. This was serious. She needed to get him help right now.

Spike must have felt her wanting to jump up because he grabbed her wrist.

"Buffy," Spike whispered, "Don’t leave me. Buffy, don’t ever leave me." Darkness over took Spike then and he passed out.

"Spike!" Buffy yelled. "Willow, call Giles now!"

As Willow ran for the phone Xander, Anya and Dawn all came running into the hall looking at the scene in front of them. Kennedy lying unconscience on the floor by the front door, Spike bleeding from the chest lying on the floor in front of the kitchen, and Buffy over Spike touching his forehead.

"What happened?" Xander asked.

(^..^)

After explaining to Xander, Anya and Dawn what had happened, Buffy asked Xander to help her get Spike upstairs. Buffy told Dawn to get the first aid kits and take them upstairs. When Willow returned after talking to Giles, she told Buffy that he was on his way back. Willow and Anya took Kennedy up to Willow’s bed, and Xander and Buffy took Spike up to Buffy’s bed.

"Should we tie him up?" Xander asked.

"No," Buffy said, not taking her eyes off of Spike, "He can’t do anything."

"Buffy," Dawn ran into her room. "Here’s the first aid kit."

Buffy turned and took the first aid kit from Dawn. "Thank you, Dawn. Take the other one to Willow’s room. Kennedy may need something."

"Okay," was Dawn’s only reply before leaving Xander, Buffy and Spike in Buffy’s room.

With Xander’s help, Buffy took Spike’s shirt off to clean and bandage his wound. Buffy put her hand on Spike’s right shoulder and paused, remembering the dream from the night before. She remembered how good it made her feel, even though it shouldn’t have. She remembered the touch of his skin that made her blood run hot, when it shouldn’t have. She remembered the feeling of love… "Love?" She thought. But her thoughts were interrupted.

"Buffy? Are you alright?" It was Xander. He was looking at her like she just said something incredibly stupid.

"Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine." Buffy said and continued to dress Spike’s wounds.

"What do you think made her snap?" Xander asked Buffy, covering Spike’s half-naked body with the blankets on Buffy’s bed.

"I don’t think it was her." Buffy said, sitting on the bed looking at Spike.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, I think something took over Kennedy’s body, and that thing it trying to kill Spike."

Xander picked up what was left of the first aid kit on the bed, and placed it on the nightstand. "What makes you think that something had taken over Kennedy’s body?"

"I saw her eyes." Buffy looked up at Xander. "Those were not Kennedy’s eyes. Her eyes were white."

Just then, Buffy and Xander heard a familiar voice come from down stairs. "Buffy?"

Buffy and Xander went down stairs. It was Giles. He was back.

"Giles, your back." Buffy said, "I didn’t think you would get here so soon."

"Yes, well, I was on my way here when Willow called me. I got in this morning. How are they?"

"Spike’s okay, I think. He’s got two nice holes in his torso, but other then that, still living. And I’m not sure about Kennedy…"

"Kennedy’s out cold and locked to my bed. No cuts or anything." Willow said walking down the stairs with Dawn right behind her. "How was your flight? Any new potentials?"

"My flight was pleasant. No new potentials. Not yet. There was one, but I got there too late. Her and her watcher were already dead."

There was a moment of silence between the five friends.

"I guess we should get to work." Dawn said, "I’ll get the books."

(^..^)

Dawn, Willow, Buffy, Giles and Xander all sat around the dinning room table researching. They had been researching all day and half the evening. Willow was spending most of her time on the computer seeing if there was anything on the internet about the "stake" that Kennedy shot Spike with. The stake actually looked more like an arrow then anything else. Around three o’clock in the afternoon someone called and ordered a pizza. It was now eight o’clock. Everyone was tired, but still willing to help.

Buffy sighed and closed her book. "I’m going up to check on Spike." She said and walked up the stairs.

"She seems to be taking this a bit hard," Giles said, braking the silence that Buffy left them all in.

"There’s a reason for that," Xander said more to himself then the rest of the group in a singsong voice.

"What do you mean?" Giles asked Xander.

"Oh no." Willow said looking at her computer.

"What do you mean, what do I mean? Have you seen the way they look at each other lately? I, of all people hate to say this, but I think Buffy’s falling for him." Xander said ignoring Willow.

"Buffy? Falling for Spike? I would think not." Giles scoffed.

"I said, oh no." Willow said a little louder this time.

"What is it, Willow?" Dawn asked looking up from her book.

"The arrow thingy that Kennedy shot at Spike, it’s not just any arrow… and this is not good."

(^..^)

Buffy made her way to her room where Spike was. As quietly as she could, she opened the door, walked in, closed the door and sat on the bed beside him. She didn’t want to wake him up from his sleep. Buffy was deeply worried though. Spike had been asleep all day. For a Vampire, that wasn’t that unusual. But for Spike, it was. Spike spent at least part of the day awake with them since he had moved into Buffy’s basement. Even Kennedy had woken up a few times during the day, only to fall back asleep between a half-hour to an hour after waking up, but Spike had not woken up at all.

Buffy placed her hand on Spike’s cheek, and he stirred a bit. Spike slowly opened his eyes.

"Buffy?" he rasped.

"Yeah, Spike, I’m right here." She whispered to sooth him.

"Buffy," Spike said a little louder, "I don’t feel right."

Suddenly, Buffy heard feet running down the hall and Willow burst through the door.

"Buffy!" Willow yelled, then stopped when she saw the scene infront of her then calmed herself down. "Buffy, I need to talk to you. Privately."

"Okay," Buffy told Willow giving her a very confused look, then turned back to Spike. "I’ll be right back, okay?" Spike just nodded his head.

When Willow and Buffy were out in the hallway and Buffy had closed her bedroom door, Willow started, "Buffy, we have a problem."

"What problem?" Buffy asked crossing her arms over her chest.

"The arrow that Kennedy shot Spike with, it’s just not an ordinary arrow. It’s called the "vamtressa con-dum arrow". It’s kind of like a curse, or a spell, I’m not sure which."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, normally, if it’s a spell, there’s a counter spell. There’s not counter spell for this. I can’t help him with magic." Willow said looking helpless.

"Willow, what’s going to happen to Spike."

"Well, the curse is going to make him very sick."

"Like what happened to Angel?"

"No. See, like Angel there is a was to brake it, but it’s not with drinking the blood of a slayer and he’s going to get much, much worse then Angel ever got."

"What is it that Spike needs?"

"Spike needs a true kiss from his first true love. If he doesn’t get that…" Willow’s voice faded.

"If he doesn’t get that, what? Willow, what’s going to happen to him?" Buffy was on the verge of panic now.

"If he doesn’t get the kiss," Willow paused, looked at the floor gathering the strength to tell Buffy. "If he doesn’t get it in the next two days Buffy, Spike’s going to die."

Buffy felt her heart stop. She couldn’t let Spike die. She needs him.

"Die?" Buffy asked, the emotion rising in her voice. "Spike can’t die, I won’t let him."

"Buffy, I…" Willow tried, but Buffy cut her off and went back into the room.

"What the matter, pet?" Spike asked sounding weaker then he did when he first woke up.

Buffy just smiled at him and walked over to the bed and took his hand. "You’re going to be okay." Was all that she could say.

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

Chapter 6- The End is Nearing

"How'd she take it?" Xander asked Willow when she came back into the dinning room.

"Not very well." Willow sat down in front of the computer again. "There has to be some sort of spell or something that can help him."

"There isn't." Giles said taking off his glasses and setting them on the table and pinching the bridge of his nose.

Everyone in the room looked at Giles with the same "What do you mean?" expression. He finally looked up and said, "When I was in training to be a watcher when I was young, we learned about certain things. This was one of them. We had to learn about it, because if the slayer were shot with it, it would run through her body and kill her in a matter of hours. It's very deadly, and there is no curse, no spell, no nothing."

"Did you learn anything else about it?" Willow asked.

"No. That was the lesson. The lesson didn't go any deeper then that."

"Buffy's not going to believe that. She going to do everything she can to keep him alive." Willow paused a moment to think. "Well, part of the living dead anyway."

"If a vampire has a soul, does that mean they're still dead?" Dawn asked.

"Yes. Spike is still dead." Xander answered Dawn.

"She'll probably search the world over for Drusilla." Xander said looking at Willow.

A thought occurred to Willow, "What if Drusilla wasn't Spike's first love though? What if there was someone before him?"

"Like who?" Xander sounded socked and amused that Willow would suggest something like that.

"Like someone when he was still human?" Giles piped in.

"Yes, exactly." Willow said, "What if he had a first true love when he was still human."

"Then there wouldn't be any way to save him. She would have died over a hundred years ago." Dawn stated.

"We need to find something. For Buffy." Willow said turning to Giles.

(^..^)

"Something's wrong." Spike said watching Buffy move across her bedroom pretending to be busy.

"Something's wrong? What do you mean?"

"I mean, that since you've come back in here you've been acting different."

"Acting different? How?" Buffy picked up a stuffed bear on the floor by the window and turned to look at Spike.

"Like keeping your self busy by walking back and forth through out the room. Hugging a bear from your long forgotten childhood." Spike turned from his back to his side to face Buffy.

"Keeping myself busy?" Buffy walked over to the side of the bed.

"Are you going to keep answering me with questions like that?"

"Answer you with questions? What do you mean?" Spike knew she was just teasing him now.

"Buffy, what the matter?" Buffy heard the seriousness in Spike's voice and sat on the bed beside him with a sigh. A sad smile came across her face.

"You're sick Spike."

"Wait a minute. I didn't say anything…" Spike's voice faded when he heard the woman beside him laughing quietly.

"No, Spike," Buffy ran her fingers through his hair, "You're sick. Really sick. The arrow that Kennedy shot you with, it's cursed."

"She shot me with a cursed arrow? What is it called." Buffy bit her bottom lip. She didn't want to tell him the name because she knew that some how he would know what it was.

"Don't worry about it right now. Here," Buffy placed the bear beside Spike on the bed. "He always made me feel better when I was sick. Of course I was 6 at the time… but, maybe he has some magical healing powers that I don't know about."

Spike grinned amused at Buffy and hugged the bear to his chest. "Thanks."

"Sleep now. I'll be back later to check on you." Buffy ran her fingers through Spike's hair as he closed his eyes. She made sure that he was asleep before she got up to leave the room.

(^..^)

"Giles?" Buffy said as she walked into the dinning room. "Is there any chance at all that he could get better?"

Giles looked up at Buffy with sad expression. "No, Buffy. I don't think that there is a chance. But we'll keep looking."

"Thank you." Buffy said before turning to head down into the basement.

"Buffy, where are you going?" Xander asked.

"I going to look to see if Spike has anything that might be of help to us."

Buffy didn't know why she wanted to look through Spike's stuff, but something in the back of her mind told her that he had something that would help save him. She had to find something that could in some way help.

Buffy spent two hours looking through Spike's stuff. She had no idea that he had so much stuff. Everything he had fix into three boxes, so she didn't think that it would take that long. It turned out that Spike had allot of stuff. He had over 80 CD's, 4 of the same black shirt, 8 of the same black jeans, and a bunch of other little nick knacks. Buffy felt the need to go through everything. She had to open every CD case and look inside just in case there was something in there. It had been two hours and Buffy had gone through everything of Spike. She gave a frustrated sigh and got up to leave. Before Buffy reached the stairs something caught her eye. Spike's jean jacket was lying on the floor half under the cot. Buffy pulled out the jacket and looked through the pockets. In the inside breast pocket Buffy found a locket. She opened it and found an older woman, and a younger woman that looked to be about 19 or 20 inside. The picture was obviously old. It was a black and white photo, but it was turning yellow with age. Buffy put the locket in her pocket, placed Spike's jacket on the cot and went back upstairs.

(^..^)

When Buffy arrived back in the dinning room every one were sitting at the table reading a book, except for Willow whom was using the computer as usual.

"Hey Buff, we were thinking about ordering a pizza. What do you think?" Xander asked.

"That sounds fine to me." Buffy walked over to stand beside Giles and said, "Look what I found inside of Spike's jacket."

Giles took the locket from Buffy and opened it up. "This is very old." Giles said.

"I know," Buffy replied. "Who are they?"

Giles passed the locket to Willow, who passed it to Xander, who passed it to Dawn, so they could have a look at the locket. "Maybe the older woman is his mother." Willow suggested.

"Maybe." Buffy then noticed that Anya was gone, and asked, "Where's Anya?"

"She had to go home. Said something about leaving the oven on to long." Xander replied.

"Oh." Buffy turned to Willow and asked, "Well, if the older woman is his mother, then who if the young girl. I've never seen her before."

Giles took the locket back from Dawn and studied it for a moment before replying. "Perhaps Spike had a sister. She looks an awful lot like him."

"Or maybe a daughter?" Dawn piped in.

"No, he was never married. Back then, that was VERY bad." Xander said to Dawn who just made an 'oh' face at him but didn't say anything.

"I'll go up and ask him. Maybe this locket can unlock some questions that are Spike." Buffy said taking the locket from Giles, and added an, "I'll be back in a few." Before heading up the stairs.

"I'm ordering pizza now." Xander said standing up and heading towards the phone.

(^..^)

Buffy quietly opened her bed room door and entered. Spike was still asleep on her bed. As she approached, she noticed that Spike had hugged the bear close to his body and the sight made her grin. She had never seen him look so innocent before, and she loved the sight.

Buffy hated to wake him, but she had too. She slightly shook him and whispered, "Spike, wake up. I need your help."

Spike slowly opened his eyes and turned onto his back. "Hi." He whispered to Buffy.

"Hey," Buffy whispered back sitting on the edge of the bed beside him. "I have a question for you."

"What is it?" he asked rubbing his tired eyes.

"This." Buffy stated and held up the opened locket. "Spike, who are they?"

Spike took the locket from Buffy and smiled. "Well," he started, "This woman right her," he pointed to the older woman in the locket. "This was my mum. She was a fantastic woman. You would have liked her. You're mum reminded me allot of mine. Maybe that's why I liked her so much." Spike now had a big smile on his face. The memories he had of her where great. Buffy could tell that when Spike was human, he had to of been a 'mama's boy'.

"And who's the young girl?" Buffy asked looking at the pictures in the locket.

A sad smile and sadder memories replaced Spike's happy smile and happy memories. "The younger girl was my sister, Emmy." Spike stopped there. He felt like he couldn't go on with becoming a blubbering baby.

"I didn't know you had a sister. How come you never told me." Buffy's voice was soft and soothing.

"I didn't even tell Dru. The memories of her were too painful. Even as an evil vampire, I couldn't do it. The pain was to much." Spike felt tears stinging his eyes, but fought to keep them at bay.

"What happened to her?" Buffy ventured.

"Well," Spike began with a sad smile on his face. "It was a great day for her. She had a boyfriend. He was a great boy. Treated her right. Never did a bad thing to her or said a bad word about her. She was to marry him the next week. It was her birthday that day. She turned 18. But she never made it to her wedding." Spike paused a moment to get a hold of the emotions that were threatening to take over. "It was knight, and I was supposed to meet her on the corner of the main street. I got held up at the market and was running late. I was a block from her when I hear it." Spike couldn't hold it in any more. The tears started to fall. "I heard her scream. I will never forget it. It was one of those horrible screams full of blood. I ran towards her. I saw her just a little bit in front of me and she was running my direction. I was almost to her when the guy ran up behind her and stabbed her three times. I think I screamed 'no', but I'm not sure if I did or not. I ran to her side. I saw the guy run, but I couldn't leave her."

Spike grabbed Buffy's hand, "I couldn't leave her, Buffy." Spike took a moment a sobbed, then said, "I remember. She looked up at me and she told me that she was sorry. She didn't have anything to be sorry for. But she said that she was sorry that she would be there for me. I didn't understand what she meant by that. I still don't. I told her that she wasn't going to die. I wouldn't let her. She just looked up at me, smiles and told me that she loved me. Then she said," Spike paused, took a small breath and said, "Then she said to me, "Don't worry Big Brother William. I'll be back to help you." And then she died. In my arms. She died. My sister, the first woman I ever truly loved, died. After that, I didn't know what to do. My Emmy died, and I became lost. She was only 18. I was about to turn 21 that year." Spike couldn't continue any more. His sobs took a hold of his body. Buffy took Spike in her arms and helped him until his sobs subsided and he fell back asleep.

She laid him down on the bed and left the room. As she closed the door, she thought to herself. "Spike had a sister. And she was his first love…" As quickly as she could, Buffy ran down the stairs.

(^^) (^^)(^^)

Chapter 7- Getting her back

As Buffy entered the room Willow looked up at her. "Buffy?" She said, "Are you okay? What happened?"

Buffy slowly sat down on the nearest chair. "The young girl in the locket, her name Emmy. She was Spike’s little sister." Her voice was low and even, and she sounded like she was in shock. "Spike told me that she was his first love."

"His first love?" Xander asked. "That’s kind of… ew?" he asked.

"Not really." Buffy said. "Xander, you don’t have a little sister, so you wouldn’t understand. When you have a little sister, you love her like you’ve never loved anyone before or after. She is the only thing that you care about all the time and you do everything you can to protect her." Buffy looked at Dawn who now had tears forming behind her eyes.

"What happened to his sister?" Willow asked.

Buffy smiled a sad smile, "Well, she was 18. It was her eighteenth birthday. .

She had a great boyfriend, and she was supposed to get married the very next week. Life was going great for her. She was supposed to meet Spike, that night. He was late. By the time Spike got to where she was, he was to late. Some guy had stabbed her. She died in his arms."

"What year did this occur?" Giles asked.

"I don’t know. He didn’t say, and I didn’t ask. All I know is that he was supposed to turn 21 that year. Why?"

"Something about this. About a sister of a vampire." Giles thought for a moment, then asked. "May I use you’re phone, Buffy?"

"Of course. Go right ahead."

Giles left to make a phone call to the counsel.

(^..^)

A half-hour later Giles returned to the dinning room table with a piece of paper in hand. The Scoobies all had a piece of pizza and where talking about the recent revelation.

"There’s a book," he said as he entered the room. "The counsel is sending it here tonight. It should be here in the morning."

"A book?" Buffy asked. "What kind of book?"

"How are they about to do that? I mean, get things here so fast." Willow asked.

Giles looked at Buffy and said, "It’s called the "Book of Light". It will help us with out situation." Giles sat down in his seat and took a piece of pizza from the pizza box that was now sitting in the middle of the dinning table, and replied to Willow’s question. "They have they’re ways. They have contacts in many different areas."

"How can this book help?" Buffy asked.

"What?" Was Giles’s reply.

"How can this book help Spike? What kind of book is it."

"I’m not sure Buffy. I talked to the counsel, and they told me that they would send me this book. They told that they’re in a prophecy. They wouldn’t tell me anything more then that."

(^..^)

The Next morning, Buffy awoke in her chair by her bed that Spike was sleeping in. It was nearly 1 o’clock in the morning when she had gone up to her bedroom to check on Spike. Before sitting down in the chair, Buffy made sure that the curtains where tightly closed.

Willow had gone up to her room to check on Kennedy a half-hour before Buffy had gone up stairs. Xander had fallen asleep on the floor by the couch, Dawn fell asleep on the couch, and Giles fell asleep in the armchair. When Willow didn’t come back down from her room, Buffy went to check on her. She found Willow asleep beside Kennedy on her bed.

Buffy hadn’t realized that she had fallen asleep until this moment when she woke up. Spike was still asleep. Buffy gingerly touched his check. He was warm, and that frightened Buffy. Spike was a Vampire, and vampires were not supposed to be warm, they were supposed to be room temperature.

The sound of her doorbell stirred her from her thought. "The book," Buffy remembered and quickly left the room and went down stairs.

When Buffy had arrived downstairs she found Giles by the door with a package.

"Good Morning, Buffy. You’re up… well, late." He said.

"Late?" Buffy asked.

"Yes. It’s nearly 10 o’clock, Buffy."

"Oh. Is that the book?" Buffy asked gesturing towards the package.

"I believe so. It’s from the counsel."

Buffy and Giles proceeded into the living room where Buffy found Xander, Dawn, Willow and Anya. "Hi Anya," Buffy said, "I didn’t expect you to be here."

"Yeah, well," Anya stopped and looked at Xander, "I thought it would be best if I came to help."

"How Kennedy," Buffy asked, looking at Willow.

"She’s okay. She wasn’t feeling good, so she went to go lay down. We have her handcuffed to the bed, so she can’t do any damage. Just in case," Willow replied.

"Oh, she okay though?"

"Yeah."

Buffy nodded and then turned to Giles. "We should get that book out." Buffy hesitated, "Spike has a temperature."

"Spike has a temperature?" Xander asked, surprised. "Is that possible?"

"Yes," Giles said, placing the package on the coffee table. "That’s how it kills. Their body temperature rises to the point that it set’s them on fire, and kills them."

Giles opened the package as quickly as he could. From the packaged box, Giles pulled out a pure white book.

"Wow," Buffy said, "How do they keep it so clean?"

Giles opened the book, sat down on the chair her had slept in the night before and began to read as the others sat and waited for directions.

(^..^)

Giles must have spent and hour reading the book before Xander and Anya had gone into the kitchen, and argued about whom was the one that ate the last banana that morning. Dawn had picked up a book and started to read it. Willow picked up her computer and was typing something, While Buffy sat back and waited for Giles to say something.

"Here it is," Giles said standing up.

Xander and Anya came back into the living room, Dawn put down her book and Willow looked up from her Computer. Buffy stood up.

"What is it? What does it say?" Buffy said urgently.

"It’s a prophecy," Giles said.

"We know that already. What does the prophecy say."

Giles looked at Buffy, then looked back at the book and began to read:

"In the hour of the brother’s finale moment,

The sister shall arise.

The light shall bring her to the earth,

And light shall she bring.

A light kiss, for a love once pure,

She bring back the love she once new."

Giles stopped reading and looked at the group. Then added, "There’s a spell here as well."

"A spell?" Willow asked, "What kind of spell?"

Giles read a little bit more. "It looks like a summoning spell. We’ll need supplies."

"I’ll get them," Willow volunteered. "What do we need?"

(^..^)

It was nearly 7:30 at night when Giles and Willow had everything they needed for the spell. Xander had moved the coffee table out of the way so that Giles and Willow could have some extra room to do the spell. Kennedy had gotten up a little after Willow had left for supplies, and was now waiting for the spell to begin.

"Okay," Willow said holding the book. "I think we have everything. The candles, the chicken feet, the lost hair from a virgin," Willow looked at Dawn who blushed, "the herbs and the purified circle." Willow finished counting off everything they needed. Something was missing though.

"We need one more thing," Willow stated looking at Giles. "The person closest to him."

"I would guess that would be Buffy." Giles said.

Buffy looked from Willow to Giles, and asked, "What do I need to do?"

"We need you to stand in the center of the circle," Willow said.

"Now Buffy, I don’t know what’s going to happen, so be prepared for anything," Giles said, as Buffy walked into the circle.

"Okay," Buffy said.

"Are we ready?" Willow asked. Giles nodded his head, Xander, Anya, Kennedy and Dawn all stood within a foot of the circle, and Buffy stood in the circle facing Willow preparing herself.

"Okay, here it goes," Willow drew in a deep breath, then read from the book:

"From the powers above

and the powers that be

Let her come to me.

From the heavens above

to the earth below.

Let her presence be known.

From this earth,

We call to thee,

Let her love rain free."

As Willow finished the passage a white light illuminated the circle that Buffy was standing in. The light grew to just outside the circle. Then, without warning, Buffy was thrown out of the circle into Giles, knocking him down.

The light slowly reseated. When the light was completely gone from the room, in the circle stood a girl. She was beautiful. She was about 5 feet 3 inches tall, thin with long, wavy, brown hair.

"Dear God," Giles was the first to talk. The others where to shocked to say anything.

(^^)(^^)(^^)