Chapter 1

“Okay, group meeting in the living room in ten minutes. I have a plan,” said Buffy as she left the kitchen where Willow, Faith, Xander, Anya, Spike and the potentials were gathered.

“Hope it’s a plan and not a speech,” whispered Kennedy. Willow gave her a semi-warning look, which made the younger girl grin in apology.

Ten minutes later, all the gang gathered in the living room, sitting around in chairs or on the floor. Buffy entered and assumed the position as leader in front of the fireplace. Everyone got silent, waiting for her to begin. “First of all, let me say that all of you are doing a great job, training and helping out.” She glanced at Spike and he returned it with a slight nod. “Giles sent me an e-mail that told me the First could be defeated.” She let that sink in then continued, “There is a spell that opens a portal into another dimension. This dimension is very similar to ours, but they have defeated an evil force very much like ours.”

Xander raised his hand like he was in school. Buffy acknowledged him and he asked, “What kind of spell is it and how does it work, exactly?”

“I’m not sure of all the details but Giles will e-mail me all of that tonight. He’s still in England at the council and he’s in major research mode.”

“Since when ‘isn’t’ the G-man not in research mode?” asked Xander.

“Good point. But he told me the council library has a very extensive collection on portals and doorways, so I imagine it’s taking a while to get all the information we need.”

“Ah Buffy,” asked Spike, “If you do get this information, what do you plan to do with it?”

Buffy shrugged, “I’m not sure. I guess go there and get some answers.”

Spike stood away from the wall he had been leaning on and said in a low, warning voice, “YOU’RE not going, that’s for sure!”

Bristling at his tone, Buffy raised her eyebrows and replied, “Oh, and who’s going to stop me? I’ll do what I have to do to defeat the First. End of decision!” Her resolve face clearly left little room for argument.

Furious, Spike turned and left the room. Nobody said a word, but several cautious looks were exchanged between the potentials. They had all witnessed heated exchanges between the souled vampire and the slayer and did not want to be anywhere near the next episode. Buffy watched him leave, knowing the discussion wasn’t over as far so Spike was concerned. “Alright, let’s continue…” She was interrupted as the front door opened and Andrew came in slurping a coke. He stopped suddenly when he saw the gathered group.

“Hey guys, what’s going on?” No one answered him, but he noted the irritated look on Buffy’s face. “Was there a meeting called or something, because nobody told me and I sure would have been here for it and stuff, ‘cause every meeting has to have all the important people present, like on Star Trek, when Captain Piccard calls a meeting, all the main people are there, like Deanna and Doctor Crusher, not just Ryker, cause that wouldn’t be right.”

Buffy rolled her eyes at him and said, “No Andrew, this wasn’t a planned meeting.”

“And even if it was, what makes you think you would have been invited,” smirked Dawn.

“I would too! Wouldn’t I, Buffy?” asked Andrew.

“Would not!” said Dawn.

“Okay! Enough you two,” said Buffy, trying to stop another bickering match between the two. She swore if she didn’t know better she would have thought they were brother and sister, the way they fought. “That about ends it for now. I’ll let all of you know what’s next, when I get Giles’ e-mail.” One by one, the others left the room, leaving Faith and Buffy alone.

“Hey B., I was just thinking, if anyone goes portal-hopping, It ought to be me.”

“How do you figure that?”

“Well, if the plan goes down wrong, I don’t have anybody to leave behind. You know grieving and all.”

“Nothing is going to go wrong and besides I need you here. This is mine to do.”

Faith shrugged, “Okay, but don’t say I didn’t offer.” She turned to walk off but was stopped by Buffy.

“Faith, you may not believe this but you do have people that would grieve over you.”

Faith gave her a doubtful look and said, “Not like you do B.” and then walked out.

Buffy sat on the couch. She knew Faith had a point. She had more family and friends than Faith, but she knew that she had to do this. This was her fight and it was up to her to end it. Lost in thought she didn’t hear Spike when he walked back into the room. He cleared his throat to get her attention. She looked up into his clear blue eyes and could tell he was still angry with her. “Don’t start with me, Spike.”

He moved a cushion from the couch and sat down. He waited a few minutes idly playing with the fringe of the pillow, gathering his thoughts. He let the pillow fall to the floor as he turned to face Buffy. His voice was deceptively calm when he spoke, “Buffy, luv. You can’t go popping off into unknown dimensions with out any idea of what is going on.”

“I know that. You know Giles will research the hell out of it before he lets me do anything, and besides we don’t even know if there will be any dimension hopping or not.”

“Well if there is, I’m not letting you do it. End of discussion!”

She really didn’t want to argue with him, so she tried another approach. “Maybe we can open the portal and just look in, like Alice in the looking glass.”

“This isn’t a sodding fairy tale, Buffy. It’s dangerous, and if anybody goes in, it’ll be me.”

“Why you?”

He avoided her gaze and looked instead at his hands as he said softly, “’Cause I can’t lose you, again.”

Buffy’s heart twisted at Spike’s soft confession. She reached out her hand and placed it on his. “Spike, I know you care, but I ‘have’ to do this.”

His eyes met hers as he said, “You do what you have to do and I’ll do what I have to.” At that, he got up and walked out, leaving Buffy to wonder what he had meant and why he had given up so easily.

The e-mail from Giles came the next afternoon. Buffy decided to let only Willow, Faith, Xander, Anya, and Spike know what Giles had sent. The group was gathered in the basement. Spike stood off to the side, clearly not pleased with the situation. “Giles’ e-mail explains how to open the portal and how to close it. He wasn’t sure what exactly was in that dimension, only that I could get some answers there,” explained Buffy as she passed the printed e-mail around the group.

Willow studied the paper then looked up at Buffy and said, “Seems pretty basic. It shouldn’t be too hard to do. I’ve got all the stuff I need.”

Xander joined in, “Did Giles happen to mention if this portal thing could fit anybody in?”

“What do you mean, Xander?” asked Buffy.

“Does it have to be the slayer?” At Buffy’s warning look he continued, “All I’m saying is can’t someone else go, like the undead over there? He’s strong and ‘a little’ with the smarts. Can’t he get the information and bring it back? You’ve done enough, Buffy.”

Spike started to say something but was cut off by Buffy. “No Xander. I have to go. It’s my duty, not Spikes or anyone else’s.”

Spike said, “Already tried that Harris, she wouldn’t go for it.” He gave Xander a look that said; talk to me later, and then went back to leaning against the wall, letting Buffy continue.

Buffy explained how the spell worked then they all agreed to try it that night after all the girls were asleep.

To Be Continued
 

Chapter 2

Later, everyone was gathered around a caulked circle drawn on the basement floor. Willow took the caulk and marked a star at the north end then followed around the circle drawing smaller; strange symbols till there were five in all. “Okay. I think I’m ready, just need to adjust the incense candle a little.” The red-head moved the orange candle to the left on the star, and then sat down in a lotus position with a paper in her lap. “Everyone, stand on a symbol, doesn’t matter which one, except you Buffy. You have to stand directly across from me, so if you go in I can guide you. Spike and Xander exchanged glances then made sure they each assumed a position on each side of Buffy. When everyone was in position, Willow began a chant in Latin. The others in the group all looked at each other, clearly nervous but kept their position as instructed. Willow continued the chanting for another minute, when suddenly her head jerked up and her eyes turned black. Xander looked at Buffy as if to say, ‘uh oh, not again’. Buffy nodded agreement but returned her focus to Willow as the air in the room suddenly began to feel cold and heavy.

A breeze started blowing around the room, disturbing papers and anything not nailed down. Anya raised her hand to her blowing hair and said, “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea. Did I mention that I’ve been in other dimensions before and anything that starts with wind is not good.”

Xander reached over and took her hand and gave it a little squeeze in reassurance. Anya smiled, but was clearly not pleased to be there. Their attention was drawn to the center of the circle where a portal was beginning to open. It was a large oval swirling mass of colors. A low humming could be heard, coming from inside the vortex. “So much for a looking glass,” joked Buffy, trying to ease her own anxiety as well as the others. Suddenly her body felt like it was being pulled to the center of the circle. She looked at Willow, but all she saw was her friend lost in a deep trance, continuing to chant in Latin. Buffy turned her head and gave Spike a faint smile as her body moved of its own accord toward the swirling opening.

“Now!” yelled Spike as he and Xander reached for Buffy’s arms. Xander had been distracted by Anya and was too slow to reach for her, but Spike was able to grab her hand as she started to disappear. She turned her head and with a sad smile, pulled her hand from his and vanished. Spike roared his outrage and jumped to follow her when the portal evaporated, leaving him to fall on the empty floor where Buffy had just disappeared.

The wind stopped blowing and the room was filled with an eerie silence. Willow slumped over as Xander and Anya rushed over to her side. Spike lay sprawled on the floor, face down with fist clinched. He raised his head as Faith knelt down by his side. “You okay?” she asked. When his eyes met hers, she flinched at such pain reflected in his blue orbs. “She’ll be fine, Spike. B always comes out ahead.” Faith tried to reassure him as he rose to go to Willow, dismissing her comfort.

Willow was coming around as she tried to sit up, Spike demanded, “Willow! Bring her back!”

She turned sad tear filled eyes to him and said in a whisper, “I can’t. She has to come back on her own.”

Spike frowned at her and asked, “What do you mean, ‘on her own’?”

“The spell that Giles sent said that Buffy had to go in alone and come back on her own.”

“I read the sodding note, and I didn’t see anything about that,” said Spike, obviously still angry.

“Well…uh….Buffy decided that only she and I needed to know all the details.” Willow stammered, still dizzy but more afraid of what the vampire standing in front of her would do.

Spike stood there scowling at the red-head. Xander stepped between the two and said, “Easy there man, it’s not Willow’s fault. You know how Buffy can be when she makes up her mind.”

Spike’s shoulders slumped as he nodded and stepped back. “I know exactly how she can be. Stupid bint. Couldn’t she see that it’s not always hers to do alone? That there are people who…care for her, that can help her.” He turned and started to pace around the room, “We’ve got to find a way to get her back.”

Willow added, “She has to come back on her own, Spike. And she will when she has some answers, I just know it.”

He turned angry blue eyes to her, “That’s not good enough! Call Giles and get some answers. Now!”

They all jumped at his tone, but no one wanted to disagree with him. Xander and Anya helped Willow up stairs as Anya said, “I told you that wind was not good.”

Spike continued to pace the floor as Faith sat on his cot and watched him. “Nice little ‘trick’ you and Xan had planned.”

Spike stopped his pacing and turned to look at the dark haired slayer. He reached for his cigarettes and sat down beside Faith on the cot. He offered her a cigarette, and then lit both of them. “Yeah, great plan, only it didn’t work out too well.”

Faith studied the blonde vampire then said, “You really love her, don’t you?” He took a long drag on his cigarette and remained silent. She was beginning to think that he wasn’t going to answer her when he said, “Ancient history, luv. Now we’re just friends.” She noticed how he had said the last word with sarcasm.

“Doesn’t seem so ancient to me.”

Spike looked at her and said, “Doesn’t matter how it seems, it’s just the way it is.”

Faith took a deep drag on the cigarette then stood to leave, “Some times the way it is, isn’t the way it should be. Some situations call for action, not waiting and just accepting. Know what I mean, big guy?” She tossed the cigarette into the sink and walked out, leaving Spike alone with his thoughts of Buffy and how to get her home.

He had been sitting there in the dark for a long while, when he heard the basement door open, letting light spill down the stairs. A soft voice asked, “Spike? Are you down here?”

He reached over and turned the cot-side lamp on and said, “Yeah lit’bit, I’m here.”

Dawn came down the stairs and stopped in front of Spike but didn’t say a word. “Something on your mind, platelet? And why aren’t you in your beddy-bye like all the rest of the tiny-teens?”

Dawn pushed his leg over and sat down beside Spike on the tiny cot. “Can’t sleep. I over heard what happen.”

“Over heard or ease-dropped?”

“Same diff.” She sat there, quietly twisting her hands as he let her take her time. He knew she had a lot to deal with. A part of him was thankful that she had turned to him when she was upset. A bit like old times, he thought.

Dawn raised tear filled eyes to him and asked, “Why’d she do it, Spike? She already sacrificed herself once. Wasn’t that enough?”

He wanted to pull her to him and hold her, to reassure her that everything would be alright, but instead he lay there and said, “It was her choice, Dawn. No one could stop her.” Anger mixed with helplessness filled him and he said, “It’ll work out. Don’t worry.”

A single tear fell down her cheek. Spike forgot all his reservations as he reached over and pulled her into his arms. He gently brushed the tear away and said, “Shhh, don’t cry, la’blu. I don’t think I can take that.”

Dawn sniffled and kept her head again his cool chest. She whispered, “Will she come back?”

“Yeah Dawn, she’ll come back if I have to tear the bloody portal apart with my bare hands.”

“’Kinda hard to tear air apart.”

“You know what I mean.”

Dawn smiled and as the tears slowed she stayed wrapped in his arms. Moments passed while each drew comfort from each other. Finally Spike said, “Better get back to bed. It’ll be morning in a few hours.”

Dawn raised her head and asked, “Can I stay down here with you? I’m little. I don’t take up much room.”

He was torn between wanting to keep the girl, that was so much like his own little sister, with him to comfort her, and knowing what the others would say about it. Finally deciding to do what he thought best he said, “Better not, Dawnie. Big sis will stake me when she gets back if I let you stay down here.”

“Oh please, Spike! I just don’t want to be by myself.”

He knew he was lost when she turned that pleading voice and soulful eyes on him. “I am such a wanking pouf,” he said to himself as he agreed. “Alright then, but I sleep on the floor and you get the cot. I’ll not have monkey-boy on my case come morning.”

“Thanks Spike.” Dawn said as she hugged him then scooted under the covers. Spike made himself a pad on the floor and settled in for what remained of the night.

He thought the young girl was asleep when she asked, “Spike?”

“Yeah?”

“You’ll get her back won’t you?”

“Yeah, lit’bit. This time I’ll save her.”

Dawn snuggled down and said, “I know you will.” A few minutes passed when she whispered, “I love you.”

Spike lay there in the dark, letting her confession wash over him. He replied, “I love you too, Nibblet. Now get some sleep.
Tomorrow is a busy day.”



Continue Chapter Three
 

Chapter 3

Buffy lay still in the darkened room. It had only been a minute ago that she had been in her own basement, entering a portal that led to another dimension. Now she didn’t know where she was. The room was dark and had a strangely familiar smell. She squinted her eyes and tried to make out her surroundings. She was obviously on a bed of some kind, metal with white sheets. She could barely make out a chair and a chest of drawers across the room. There was that smell again. She suddenly sat straight up in bed. A hospital. The smell was the same as when her mother was in the hospital. She looked down at her clothes, moaning when she found she was wearing a light blue hospital gown with the little ties in the back. ‘Oh crap, what now!’ she swore.

She started to get out of bed when she heard someone walking down the hall and stopping outside her room. She quickly slipped back under the sheet and pretended to be asleep. The door unlocked as someone entered. Buffy barely opened her eyes but could only see a male in white clothes, probably a nurse or doctor, she thought. He reached over and turned the bedside light on and said, “Good morning, Elizabeth. How are you today?” He chuckled at himself then added with a false female voice, “I’m fine Andrew and how are you?” Returning to his own voice he said, “I’m fine, Elizabeth. Are you going to wake up today?” The false female voice replied, “No, I’m going to stay asleep like I have for the last four years.”

Buffy lay perfectly still as the person who’s name and voice was exactly like the Andrew she knew continued to have his own pretend conversation. Four years! In this world, she had been in a coma or something for four years. Then it occurred to her, ‘Oh no! Not again.’

Andrew returned to the bedside and said, “Alrighty now, let’s get you ready for the day. I got your chair all ready and I fully expect you to sit up and be out of bed for most of the morning. Don’t want any of those nasty bedsores to set in that pretty skin of yours. Let’s just get you a clean gown on.”

He reached to untie the gown when Buffy opened her eyes and said, “Touch my gown and you’ll draw back a nub.”

Andrew jumped back like he had seen a ghost. “You…you’re awake!” he shrieked.

She couldn’t help but smile at the horrified look on his face. “Yeah, Andrew. I’m awake. Now if you can keep from passing out, tell me where the hell I am?”

Andrew indeed looked like he was about to pass out. His heart was racing and his face had lost all color. “You. You’re in Sunnydale Sanitarium, where you’ve been for four years,” he stammered as he sat down heavily in the chair he had prepared for his patient. Buffy frowned as she tried to think of what she should do and how she was going to find out what she needed to know so she could get back home. There were no delusions this time. She knew that this was an alternate dimension and not a delusional dream like the time she had been attacked by that demon.

She was brought back to reality by Andrew as he asked, “Elizabeth? Do you know who you are?”

She looked at him and smiled, “My name is Elizabeth Anne Summers, but my friends and family call me Buffy.” Suddenly she remembered, “Family? Do I have family here?”

“Sure. They come everyday.”

“They?”

“Yeah, your mom and kid sister. Cute kid, a little annoying sometimes though.”

“Mom is here?” she asked, not quite sure how to react.

“Well, not here now. She usually stops by after work, but I’m sure she’ll come right away as soon as she hears that you’re awake. Oh, that reminds me I better go tell your doctor.” He got up to leave then turned, “You’ll be all right now Eliz..I mean Buffy. Let me go get Dr. Harris. Don’t go back to sleep now, Sleeping Beauty,” he teased as he rushed out the door.

This was too much. Sunnydale Sanitarium. Her mom and Dawn…and Andrew. Who else from her reality was here? The question was answered when a man wearing a white lab coat that looked just like Xander opened the door. Buffy jumped out of bed and leap into his arms. A little taken back, he awkwardly patted her back and said, “Hey, young lady. That’s quite a welcome for your doctor.” Buffy released her grip and leaned back.

“Xander? ‘You’re’ my doctor? This ‘is’ a mixed up place.” She smirked and sat back down on the bed.

Dr. Harris just smiled as he opened her chart and made a note on the page. “My first name is Alexander, no one calls me Xander. Tell me Elizabeth, how do you feel?”

Deciding to play along, Buffy answered, “Well, Doc. I’m great. Had a nice long rest now I’m ready to leave.”

“You’re not ready to leave just yet. What is the last thing you remember before you went into the coma?’

“Coma? I don’t really remember too much. Why don’t you tell me how I got all coma-like?”

“All right. Let’s see, you were admitted four years ago for delusions.”

“What kind of delusions?” she asked.

“It seems you thought that you were from another world that had vampires and demons and that you were someone called ‘the slayer’ and it was your destiny to kill these things. Your delusion was quite elaborate. I wrote a paper on it. Fascinating history.”

“That explains why I’m here, but it doesn’t explain why I was in a coma.”

“That’s the remarkable thing. You were admitted with delusions then went into a catatonic state. About three years ago, you woke up. Not like this. You were a bit more confused, still insisting on that the delusions were real, then one day you actually said goodbye and lapsed back into catatonia. That’s where you’ve been ever since.”

Buffy sat on the edge of her bed and tried to absorb what Xander or rather Dr. Harris had told her. “Elizabeth? Are you having any delusions now?”

Buffy looked at her doctor and said, “No Doctor Harris, I know exactly who and where I am. There’s no sure thing as vampires and demons.” She knew she had to play along or she would be on a Thorazine drip faster than she could spell Prozac.

“Excellent! Now, get some rest. Waking from a coma takes a lot out of you. I’ll go call your family right now.” He smiled in reassurance then left Buffy alone.

She didn’t know what to do. Should she try to escape so she could find out what she needed to defeat the First and get back home? What about this world? Her mom? She had to take the chance to see her mom again, even if it wasn’t real. She wanted desperately to see her again.

Buffy sat there trying to figure out this universe. It appeared that the same people were here but they weren’t exactly who they were in her world. Andrew was her ‘nurse’ and Xander was her doctor. She sure hoped her mom was her mom. She also wondered how her real friends and family were doing back….home. She was overcome with sadness as she remembered Spike’s face when she released his hand and went into the portal. He wanted to stop her so much, but he should have known that she would do whatever it took to defeat the First.

Her thoughts were interrupted as the door flew open and her mother can running in. “Oh Buffy!” Joyce said as she rushed to embrace her daughter.

Buffy was speechless. This woman looked just like her mother. She felt like her and even wore her favorite perfume. Tears sprung rapidly to her eyes and her heart pounded as she held her mother again. Buffy leaned back and whispered, “Mom? Is it really you?”

Tears ran down Joyce’s face as she answered, ‘Yes sweetie, it’s me. Mom’s here.” She gathered her in for another tight embrace as she whispered into Buffy hair, “I’ve missed you so much. You were here in body but you were gone from me.” The two held each other until the tears were spent. Joyce pulled back and wiped the remaining tears from her cheek. “If this keeps up we’ll both become dehydrated.” They both laughed. “I have a surprise for you.”

Buffy wiped her own tears away and asked, “What more could I want, you’re alive. I got to hold you again and tell you…I love you, mom.”

Joyce hugged her again as fresh tears started. “I love you too, sweetheart. I knew you would wake up someday. I never gave up.”

The reunion was interrupted by a cough from the doorway. Buffy looked up to find Giles standing there. Before Buffy could speak, he said, “I hope I’m not interrupting but there’s a rather impatient little girl out here, who’s waiting to see her big sister.” He smiled as a blur of blue rushed past him and fell into Buffy’s arms.

“Oh gee, Buffy. I thought you would never wake up!” cried Dawn.

“Dawn. I’ve missed you too.” Dawn was the same age as she was in her world only she looked younger and more carefree. She hadn’t realized how much years of living with the slayer had taken its toll on the young girl.

She looked at Giles in question. She knew he probably wasn’t her watcher because in this world there were no watchers or slayers. What was his role in this life? Seeing her questioning look, he stepped into the room and said, “Hello Buffy. We haven’t met yet. My name is Rupert Giles. I’m a…friend of your mothers. Please call me Giles.” He looked at Joyce as she reached over and took his hand.

“Honey, Giles and I became…friends, a couple of years ago. Well, actually we’re dating.”

Dawn rolled her eyes as if to say, ‘Gross!’ but her smile was evidence that she approved of the relationship. “Giles has a daughter your age. Her name is Willow and she’s cool.”

Buffy sat there with her mouth open trying to take it all in. “You and...Giles?” Buffy started laughing. “That explains a lot.” At Joyce and Giles questioning looks she smirked, “Still like candy, you too?”

Joyce looked at Giles with concern. “Buffy are you really alright? You’re not making much sense.”

Her laughter died down as she said, “I’m fine mom. Just weirded out a little.”

Joyce rose off the bed and started to pull the covers over Buffy. “Sweetheart, you get some rest. It’s been a big day for you. We’ll let you rest and be back in a few hours.”

Buffy’s head was swimming with all that had happen. “I am a little tired.” As her mother and the others turned to leave, Buffy asked, “Mom? Do you know anybody named Spike?”

With a worried frown, Joyce replied, “No, honey. I don’t.”

“What about William…Damn what was his real last name?”

“No, I don’t know any William either. Why do you ask?”

She shrugged, “Never mind. He was probably just a dream.”

As Joyce turned to leave, she whispered to Giles, “She never cussed before the coma! And I wonder who this Spike is?”

Cont. Chapter Four.
 

Chapter 4

Spike entered the kitchen and walked to the refrigerator to get his morning cup of blood. When he turned around, he noticed Willow standing in the doorway. He just nodded and continued to drink, not ready to forgive her for her part in Buffy’s disappearance. Willow slowly walked over to the counter and sat down. She was nervous and a little afraid to talk to him, but she knew she had to tell him what she had found out. “Ah..Spike? I got a phone call from Giles this morning.”

He tilted his head and asked, “And what did the watcher have to say? Any more advice on how to get Buffy back?”

Willow looked down, avoiding his eyes. She stammered, “That’s just the thing. Giles didn’t know anything about it.”

Spike nearly choked on his drink, “What! Giles didn’t send the e-mails?”

Unnerved by his outburst, and frightened, she knew she had to tell him everything. “Well…you see…We..I mean I got the e-mail on my computer and then told Buffy.” Before he could interrupt she continued, “They had Giles’ e-mail address and everything. How was I to know that he didn’t send them?”

“You mean to tell me that someone just had us send Buffy into another dimension. And you have no idea who it was?”

“I have a pretty good idea, but you’re not going to like it.”

“Who?” he asked as he stepped closer.

“Don’t do anything rash, Spike. It was an innocent mistake. You know I would never hurt Buffy.”

Spike calmed down after seeing the tears form in Willow’s eyes and hearing the sorrow in her voice. “I know you wouldn’t Red.” He ran his hands through his hair in frustration. “Who do you think did this?”

“I think the First did it to get Buffy out of the picture.”

“Willow, that’s impossible. The first would have to be corporal to use a computer.”

“He could get one of the bringers to do it. What better way to get Buffy…gone, but to sent her into another dimension.”

“Can you get her back?”

Willow dropped her head, “No, like I said last night. The portal can be opened from this side, but she has to open it from the other side to come back. And Spike, she has to want to come back.”

“So what? We just sit on our asses and wait till she decides to pop back here on her own?”

“I’m not sure there’s anything else we can do. Giles and I are going to keep looking.” She stood up to leave then added, “Spike. I’m sorry. We just wanted to defeat the First so bad that we jumped on this without checking it out.”

Spike could see how sorry she was and said, “I know Willow. We’ll get her back. You go on now and get to surfing on that bloody computer of yours until you find a way. Al’right?”

Willow gave a small smile then left Spike alone. He was lost in his thought when he sensed a presence in the room. He looked around but saw no one. “I know you’re here, I can feel you. Come on out, you bloody coward!”

Suddenly the First as Buffy appeared. Spike jerked back then straightened his shoulders. “Oh it’s you again. Come here to stir up a bit of trouble? Well you can just sod off, ‘cause I’m not listening to you.”

First/Buffy walked to him, with a playful smile on it’s face, “What’s a matter, lover? Afraid to hear what I have to say?”

“No. I’m just not ‘interested’ in anything ‘you’ ‘got to say.”

‘She’ stopped a few inches from him and leaned him. Spike knew it wouldn’t be able to touch him, but memories of the cave caused a flinch anyway. ‘She purred in a seductive voice, “Oh, you’ll be interested in what I have to say.”

“Is that ‘right?” Spike asked.

The First morphed into Spike and said in the same British accent, “That’s ‘right, if you want to save your lady love.”

Anger filled Spike as he vamped into game-face, “Tell me where she is!”

The First morphed back to Buffy. “You think those ‘lumpies’ scare me. Oh please Spike. You know how much I love it when you’re bad,” ‘she’ teased.

Spike’s face smoothed into his human form and he sighed, “It seems we’re at an impasse. I can’t hurt you and you can’t touch me.”

“But I can hurt you,” ‘she’ said with a wicked smile.

He was tired of playing games, but he knew that the First had a reason for being there. “What do you want?”

“I want to rule the world of course. I will be master over everything, as soon as I finish ridding the world of slayers and all the rest of you do-gooders. But for right now, I’m content just pulling you and your friends strings.”

“If you’re just ‘going to gloat, then sod off and leave us be!”

“She tilted ‘her’ head and smirked, “Wouldn’t you like to go to her, bring her back?”

“She’ll come back when she’s ready.”

‘She’ cast a playful glance at Spike. “What if I’m somewhere that I’m happy? No vampires, no evil demons and no slayer responsibilities to worry me. Just a happy normal life,” First/Buffy said in Buffy’s teasing voice. “You would want that for me, right?” ‘She’ laughed as ‘she’ disappeared, leaving a trembling Spike behind. He tried to get his emotions under control. The First certainly knew what it was doing when he taunted him with Buffy’s happiness. That all he wanted now was for her to be happy.

Faith walked into the kitchen and saw Spike’s anguished face. “What happen? Did you hear from Giles?” Spike raised his eyes. Faith could see the blue irises darken in anger. Impatient she asked, “What gives already?

“We need a meeting in the basement. Now!” Spike said as he brushed past her.

The same group as before met in the basement, this time Dawn was included. Spike paced the room waiting for them to get settled.

“Ya just gonna wear a path in the floor or are you going to let all of us know what’s going on?” asked Xander.

Spike stopped and looked at them. “The First paid me a’little visit. Seems he did have something to do with this mess.”

“What did he say, exactly?” asked Willow.

“He said that Buffy was in a place where she was happy, and wouldn’t want to come back.”

“Buffy would never stay gone on purpose. Would she?” asked Dawn as fear formed in the pit of her stomach.

Spike noticed the look on her face and smiled as he knelt down in front of her. “No Nibblet, Buffy would never leave you.”

“She did once,” she whispered.

“This is different; Dawnie, Buffy can come back on her own and she will, I just know it,” said Willow trying her best to reassure the young girl.

“Willow, I want you to open another portal,” said Spike.

“Why? Buffy has to want to come out. What good would it do?”

“”Cause I’m going in to get her!” Spike stated, leaving little room for argument.

Continued, Chapter Five
 

Chapter 5

Author's Notes: Time bounces around a little because of the six month difference in the two worlds. They soon catch up, so please be patient. Spike and Buffy soon get together along with a few surprises


Buffy stood in front of the mirror absentmindedly combing her hair and daydreaming. A lot had changed in the last few months. She still knew she was in another dimension, but each day made it harder to remember her old life. This world was where she had always wanted to be. Home, where her mother and sister were. Home, where there were no demons and…vampires, where she could be a regular girl. She threw the hairbrush down and flung herself across the bed. If this world was right, then why did she feel so…detached from it all? At first everyone around her treated her like a reject from the loony-bin, which she guessed she actually was, but as time pasted and she remained, they all found their own pattern and settled into a life with Buffy as she tried to figure things out.

She spent the first few weeks, enjoying being around her mother and family, and at the same time covertly trying to find answers. She had to be careful, because any weird questions brought concerned looks from her mom and the others. She had tried hard to find answers to how to defeat the First, but it was impossible when there were no Magic Box or Willy’s Bar to get information. Before long she realized that this little adventure down the rabbit hole was a bust and she needed to get back to her real world.

So, she tried repeatedly to get back home; but she soon realized she had no idea how to do it. “I command you, portal, to open!” she said as she stood in the middle of her room. Nothing. A frown creased her brow as she thought of what to do. She stood with her feet together and clicked her heels three times, “There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home.” She opened her eyes. Nope! Still here. ‘Maybe I need red ruby slippers’ she thought. She had even gone back to the hospital and found the same room she had been in, just in case she had to return to the same entry place. Again, nothing.

After a while she realized she was stuck here and slowly gave up any hope of returning to her reality. Days were filled with finding a way to settle into her new life, helping to plan her mother’s wedding and enjoying her new family and friends. Willow, her soon to be half-sister was fast becoming her ‘new’ best friend. They even decided to become roommates at college in the fall. But she missed her real home. She missed the real Dawn and the others. Thoughts of Spike would drift across her mind and she wondered what he…and they were doing. If he were here in this world, he wouldn’t be a vampire because there were no vampires. She smiled as she tried to imagine what the cocky Brit would be like.

She had been here two months when the doorbell rang. “I’ll get it!” yelled Buffy as she ran down the stairs. She opened the door and staggered back. “Angel?” she whispered.

The tall brunette smiled, “I didn’t think you’d remember me, Buffy.”

Buffy stood transfixed as she gaped at Angel, standing on the front porch, in the sunlight, smiling. After an awkward moment of Buffy standing there with her mouth open, he cleared his throat and asked, “Can I come in?”

*******

The circle was formed as before, only Spike was in Buffy’s place and Dawn was in his.

“You’ll bring her back, right?” asked Dawn as she cast a glance at Spike.

He reached over and took her hand. “Yes, lit’ bit. I promise, I’ll bring Buffy home,” Spike said as he gave her hand a quick squeeze.

Willow began chanting as before. Every one gathered in the circle looked nervously at each other. Just because they knew what was going to happen didn’t make it any less terrifying. The wind started to blow. Anya pulled her knit cap down over her hair. It had taken thirty minutes to comb all the tangles out of her hair, last time.

As the portal began to open, Spike’s skin began to tingle. He could feel his body being pulled toward the swirling vortex. As he disappeared, he heard Dawn’s voice yell, “Don’t forget us!”

At first he was blinded by the light shining through the glass window. He instinctively pulled himself down to a crouched position, trying to shield himself from the burning rays. Only they weren’t burning. He ventured a glance from underneath the blue suit coat. Spike wasn’t sure what surprised him the most, the fact that he wasn’t in flames or that his black leather duster had been replaced by a sports coat and ‘heavens’ a bloody shirt and tie. “What the bleeding hell is going on!” he swore. After the initial shock had worn off, he stood up and slowly walked to the large plate glass window. He reached out to let the rays play along his hand. That’s when he noticed it.
That steady thumping of his heart. The confused grimace was soon replaced by a slow grin as it spread across his face he took a deep needed breath and truly smelled the air flowing into his lungs. He certainly didn’t understand what was happening but somehow in this dimension, he was sun-proof, had a heartbeat and needed to breathe. He didn’t really feel human, but he didn’t really feel like a vampire either. Hell, he hadn’t felt like a real vampire in a long time. No bloodlust, or evil urges, especially since the soul.

The sun filled the room. He stood there for a long time, with his face upturned and his eyes closed, breathing deeply, enjoying the suns rays for the first time in over a hundred years.

“William?”

Spike spun around and was greeted by a man that looked like Xander but was dressed in a white lab coat and tie. Before he could react, the man said, “When did you get in town?” The man then walked over and gave Spike a big bear-hug. “I didn’t think you were coming over till next week.” He released a very stunned and speechless Spike. He smiled, “What’s the matter? You haven’t got anything to say to your old friend?”

Spike tilted his head and asked, “We’re old friends, are we?” At the same time he noticed the man’s name badge. ‘Dr. Alexander Harris’. Monkey boy’s a doc?, thought Spike.

“Of course we’re old friends. We have been since Oxford. Are you alright?”

Spike knew he had to cover until he could find out what was going on. “Just kidding, mate. Knew it was you all along…Harris.”

Alexander smiled as he ushered Spike down the hall. Spike looked over his shoulder at the sunlit room and sighed. As they walked down the hospital corridor, Alexander showed Spike or rather, William around. Spike acted interested at all the right moments but he kept his eyes open for any sign of Buffy. “It sure was good of you to come all the way over here to have a signing of that new book of yours.” Surprised, Spike kept quiet, trying his best to take it all in.

Finally he asked, “Alexander? Do you happen to know anybody by the name of Buffy?”

“How do you know her?”

“I just heard the name is all. So do you know her?” Spike asked.

“Elizabeth was discharged five months ago,” explained Alexander.

“Discharged? What do you mean discharged? And did you just say FIVE months ago?”

“Yes. She woke up from her coma about six months ago; we kept her for observation for about a month, and then released her home to her family.” He watched the shocked expression on his friends’ face, “Oh, that’s probably where you heard the name, from your uncle.”

Spike’s head snapped up, “Uncle?”

Alexander shook his head, “Yeah, your Uncle Rupert.” He didn’t understand the confused expression on his friend’s face but tried to explain, “Your father’s brother. The man whose house you’re staying while you’re here in town. Gees man, do you have jet-lag or something?”

“Or something,” smirked Spike. “How do I get to Buffy’s house or Gil…I mean Uncle Rupert’s?”

“I’ll give you Elizabeth’s address, that’s probably where you’ll find your uncle.”

“Why’s that?”

“Well, he is engaged to her mother.”
***

Continue Chapter Six
 

Chapter 6

Buffy sat on the couch lost in thought. Angel. Ever since she regained consciousness, he had made it a habit of stopping by to see her. Here in this world they had dated in high school before her trip to the sanitarium. It soon became obvious that he still had feelings for her. At first, she was confused. He looked like her Angel, but he wasn’t anything like her brooding first love. Besides something was missing, he wasn’t…cocky and blonde and…irritating and…. her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the doorbell. She shuffled to the door and opened it. There standing on the porch was…. Spike.

“Spike! What are doing here? It is you, isn’t it? You’re not somebody else, are you? You’re in the daylight? And what’s with the tie?” The questions came rushing out as she stood there still holding the door.

Spike stared at her as he exhaled the breath he had been holding. A part of him had thought that he would never see her again. Relief mixed with humor showed on his face. “Slow down, luv. Yes, it’s me…. or at least I think it’s me. In this wonky world you really can’t be too sure.” Buffy stood there transfixed with her mouth open. “You gonna’ let me in, pet or are you just gonna’ bore a hole in me? We need to talk.”

“Oh… yes,” she stuttered, “come in. I was just shocked that’s all.” As Spike passed her to enter the room, Buffy shook herself back to reality. Months of worrying and the magnitude of the situation came crashing in on her; she caught him by the arm and spun him around, enveloping him in a tight squeeze. Startled at first, he didn’t respond but as her body molded itself to him, he returned the embrace. He closed his eyes and inhaled her fragrance. God, how he had missed this. They stood there holding on to each other, then pulled back slightly, eyes widen with deep emotion. They slowly started to lean in for a kiss when they were interrupted by a pronounced throat clearing noise coming from the hall doorway. They both jumped apart and turned to find Joyce and Giles staring at them.

“I see you’ve met Buffy; William,” said Giles. He walked into the room and smiled as he pulled a very stunned Spike into his arms. Giles patted his back said, “Welcome, my boy, I didn’t expect you till next week.” He separated from Spike and stood next to Joyce. “This is my fiancée, Joyce.” Giles said indicating the attractive women standing next to him.

Joyce extended her hand and said, “Pleased to meet you, William.” Joyce turned to Buffy and said, “Buffy that was quite a welcome for Giles’ nephew.”

Buffy blushed and tried to cover her mistake, “Just trying to be friendly, mom.” Her mother raised her eyebrow in confusion but didn’t say anything else about her strange behavior.

They went into the living room and sat down. Spike sat awkwardly on the edge of the chair. He knew he had to continue the charade until he could get Buffy alone.

“How’s your mother?” asked Giles.

“Mum?”

“Yes, Anne,” asked Giles as he frowned at his nephew’s odd behavior.

“Fine… she’s Fine.” ‘Mum’s alive!’ thought Spike.

“And how’s Drusilla and the twins?”

“What?” stammered Buffy and Spike at the same time.

Joyce and Giles exchanged worried looks as Giles said, “Drusilla and the boys. Are they well?”

Spike looked at Giles then at Buffy then back at Giles. He didn’t have a clue what to say. “Ah…Ah…”

Giles smiled at him and said, “I’m sorry William. I know it’s hard for you to talk about them, now that you’re separated.”

Spike wasn’t sure if he meant separated as in distance or as in legally separated. It was hard to imagine being married to Drusilla, much less having two sons. Memories of how devastated he had been when she left him for a chaos demon came to mind. A strange mixture of hurt and anger filled him. Buffy watched the play of emotion on his face and somehow knew what he was thinking. Before he could answer she said, “I’m sure…William is handling it okay. Aren’t you, William?”

Spike looked at her and mutely nodded until he found his voice and said, “Right. I’m okay with it.”

Giles nodded and said, “I’m glad to hear that.” Spike was hoping he would elaborate on it more, but couldn’t see any way to ask questions without raising suspicion.

Spike told them how he had found Alexander and got the address from him. They all continued to make small talk until Joyce asked Giles to help her in the kitchen and they both left. “Finally!” said Buffy, “What are you doing here?”

“I’ve come to bring you back home,” said Spike. He noticed the way she ducked her head and turned away. “Buffy, you are coming home, right?”

She found it hard to look him in the eyes as she answered, “I’ve tried for six months. I can’t open a portal.”

Spike frowned at her and asked, “What do you mean, you can’t open a portal. You just do it.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“It is if you really want to.”

Buffy tried to explain, “Spike, it’s been six months and I can’t find a way to get back. There isn’t any way to find information on the First Evil, because there is no…evil here.”

Spike interrupted and said, “Of course there’s evil, there’s always evil.”

“Yeah, the everyday, bank robbing and mugging kind of evil, but not THE evil. Besides, I’ve got a mom and family here.”

“You’ve got friends and family at home, people who love you. What about them?”

“It’s been months, I’m sure they’ve adjusted.”

Spike couldn’t believe his ears. “Adjusted! How could people who love you and count on you…adjust?” he shouted.

Buffy looked toward the kitchen and whispered, “Keep your voice down.” She studied her hands a minute then said, “I’m not the Slayer here. I’m just a regular girl…a normal girl.”

He reached over and placed his fingers under her chin and raised her face and smiled as he looked into her sad eyes, “You’ll never be a regular girl, luv, and it’s only been a day, since you left. Don’t think too much adjusting has happen so far, besides you’re not someone that people get over too easily.”

“Only a day?” Buffy started to say more, when Joyce entered the dining room and started setting the table. Motioning for Spike to follow her she led him outside. They stood on the porch, each unsure what to say. Spike stared at Buffy as he if he was seeing her for the first time. He watched as the highlights in her blonde hair shined in the sunlight and how her once pale skin was covered with a glowing tan. He thought she had never looked more beautiful.

Buffy was becoming uncomfortable under his glare and snapped, “What!”

“I’ve never seen you in the sunlight…You glow,” he said softly.

Buffy blushed as she turned to face him. “I’ve never seen you in the sunlight either. You…you’re really pale.”

They both laughed as the tension between the two eased.

Spike stepped closer and asked, “Ah, Buffy? You do want to go home don’t you?” Unsure if he wanted to hear her answer.

“It’s complicated, Spike.” She thought for a minute then added, “You have a home here too, an uncle and friends…and evidently a wife and kids.” He raised his eyebrows at that but let her continue, “You could belong here. Spike, there are things here that I don’t want to leave.”

The front door opened and Joyce called out, “Buffy, there’s a phone call for you. It’s Angel.” Joyce closed the door before she could see the surprise on Spike’s face. Buffy looked at him and started to explain but he cut her off.

“Angel’s here! Oh, I get it now! You can’t leave ‘bloody’ peaches! Bet there’s no sodding curse this time!”

“No, it’s not like that!” Buffy tried to explain as she reached for his arm.

He stepped back and smirked, “It IS like that. It’ll always be like that. You know it and I know it! You would give up everything and everybody that…loves you, for Angel!” He said the last with so much venom that Buffy flinched. Before she could argue, he turned and walked away as he said over him shoulder, “Hope you and the big pouf have a grand life together!”

Buffy called after him, “Wait! Where are you going?”

He called back, “Home!”

She slumped to the step and watched him leave. She wanted to run after him, but she was torn by her need to stay here, not with Angel like Spike suspected, but with her mom and the normal life she could have. Besides she thought, he didn’t know how to get home either.

Cont: Chapter Seven.

Chapter 7

Spike walked for hours, wondering aimlessly alone the streets of Sunnydale. His fascination with sunlight had faded with the sunset as his thoughts were filled with Buffy and his grandsire. Angel! Here! Hell, he would never get her back home, now. He knew that Angel would always hold a place in her heart, but he thought that she was over wanting to be with him. He also thought that in some small way he and Buffy had come to an understanding about their feelings for each other. She had to know that he still loved her; after all, hadn’t he proved it over and over. He even thought that she was beginning to care for him….more. Maybe not love, but more than mere tolerance and mistrust like before.

He stopped walking and found himself standing in front of a bar. “How ‘bout that, just what I need. This bloody world doesn’t totally blow.” he said as he entered the bar.

Spike found a booth in the back corner, checked his pocket for money, and then ordered a drink. He studied the room from his vantage point. The bar was old, dark and well used. There was a lingering smell of cigarette smoke and stale perspiration. A few customers sitting at the bar looked like regulars, and appeared to be well into happy hour. One particular patron seemed out of place. He was short, with red hair sticking out beneath an old worn hat. He wore a short brown coat that was badly wrinkled. He turned his head around, glanced at Spike and nodded his head in greeting. Spike tilted his head and returned the look with a slight nod of his own. This seemed to encourage the redhead as he slipped off his stool and headed toward Spike’s table.

“Bollocks!” said Spike. He really didn’t want any company right now.

The man slid into the booth and sat his beer on the table. “How ya’ doing?” he asked.

Spike studied him for a minute before answering. “Don’t mean to be rude, mate. Just not in the mood for a friendly chat.”

The redhead smiled revealing his slight overbite. “Oh, Spike. Sure you do.”

Spike cocked his head frowned his brow. “How is it ya know my name?”

“I know a lot of things, Spikey, such as you’re here in this dimension trying your best to figure how to get the Slayer back home but she doesn’t appear to want to go and oh yeah, I know you’re really a vampire.” He let that sink in then continued, “My name’s Whistler. I’m what you call a ‘go-between’.”

“Go-between what?”

“I’m the one who goes between the higher powers and demons like you.”

“Is that right? What are you doing here?” Spike was suspicious; he really didn’t like strangers knowing his business.

Whistler noted the menacing look on Spike’s face and said, “Look, Spike, I’m on your side. I came here to help you get the Slayer back to your dimension where she belongs.”

“If you ‘ARE’ here to help, why didn’t you just open a portal so she could hop back months ago?”

Whistler took a long drink of his beer and looked directly at Spike. “That’s not how it’s supposed to work. You see, the spell that brought Buffy here was specifically designed to keep her here. The First instrumented this little trip to get her out of the way.”

“I got that part. Had a’ little visit from the evil impersonator before I left. So, if the purpose of this little adventure in ‘Wonderful’ land is to get the Slayer out of the picture, what about me? How do I fit in?”

“There lies the twist. You weren’t supposed to come after her.”

“Is that right? What was I suppose to do? Leave her here, not knowing where she was or how she was doing. Not my style, mate. I look after my own.”

A sly smile showed on Whistler’s face as he asked, “Is she; your own?”

Spike pursed his lips and looked down at his hands, as he gripped his glass. Without looking up, he said, “As far as I’m concerned she is.” He downed his drink in one gulp and signaled the waitress for another.

Whistler sat in silence as he studied Spike. He told the truth when he said that the souled vampire wasn’t suppose to be here. It was foretold that the Slayer would be tricked into this dimension. What she would do here and how long she would stay was unknown, even to the ‘powers that be’. The fact that the vampire that loved her had followed her could present problems.
The waitress sat his drink on the table along with a suggestive smile, which Spike completely ignored. Whistler watched as she reluctantly accepted his disinterest and walked away.

“Now that you’re here, what are you planning on doing about the situation?”

Spike took a slow drink of his whiskey as he thought about the stranger’s question. Buffy had been right, he could stay here with her, and have a reasonable normal life. He would have to figure out the thing with Dru and the kids, but he would be here with Buffy without all the vampire issues that were between them in their world. On the other hand, that wasn’t right either. He loved her, but he had hurt her and didn’t want to ever do that again. Maybe she would be happier without him. Let her have her bloody first love and be happy.
He downed the rest of his drink in one gulp and signaled the waitress for another.

Whistler watched the play of emotions on Spike’s face. He had a pretty good idea what he was thinking. Personal issues aside, he had to know what was at stake. Stay here and the First wins, two strong fighters gone from their world. Go back alone and the First still wins, the Slayer is out of the picture. The only way to defeat the First is for both of them to return. Whistler knew it had to be their decision or they couldn’t return. “So what’s it gonna be, Spike?”

Spike raised sad eyes and looked at the red head. “I don’t know. It’s not about what I want; it’s about what she wants. If she wants me to stay, I’ll stay.”

“And what about the First? You forget about him? There’s a reason he did all this you know.”

“The First isn’t my problem right now.”

“You better make it your problem, before he destroys your world and everybody in it.”

Spike didn’t reply, he just continued to drink his whiskey and think. Whistler had enough of this. “Fine! Stay here and drink yourself into oblivion and let Dawn and the others die.” He started to get up but was stopped by Spike’s hand on his arm. He looked at him and waited.

“A’ right, what do you have in mind?”

Whistler sat back down with a grin on his lips. Somehow he knew the ‘evil’ vampire had a heart and wouldn’t let them down. “It won’t be easy.”

“It never is, mate,” Spike said as he downed the last of his drink.

Cont. Chapter Eight

Chapter 8

Spike and Whistler sat for hours drinking and planning a strategy to get Buffy to ‘want’ to go back to her world. Spike slumped into the corner of the booth with one hand holding a glass of whiskey and the other supporting his head off the table, causing the peroxide blonde strands to stand out in various angles. As the time and alcohol increased so did his accent and slurred speech.


“So…. let me get this straight; Red, the longer the s.. Slayer is in this bloody world, the more she’ll forget her own?” Whistler nodded in agreement, causing his hat to fall forward. “Bollocks!” Spike snorted.


“That’s right…Blondie; her world will be less important to her…like a memory or something.” He was having a hard time focusing his words as he pushed his hat back on his head causing it to sit at a tilting angle.


Spike studied his drinking companion, momentarily distracted as he tried to decide if Whistler’s hat was crooked or was it his head. As he remembered what they were talking about he picked up his glass and pointed his finger at Whistler and nodded. “That’s why she just thought the others would…adjust. I thought it a’bit strange for her to dismiss the Nibblet so easily. Not like my girl at’all.” Spike sniffed in pride as he tried to set up straight in the booth but instead his elbow slipped off the table causing his head to nearly fall on the wood surface. Whistler cackled as Spike caught himself and sat up, trying his best to appear unfazed by the incident.


A flash of anger caused by embarrassment crossed his face. “What are you looking at …Whistling…you think you’re so hot, with the powers that be and crap. Great mighty ‘go between...my ass!” He paused as Whistler’s laughter increased. “You know what I mean. You ‘suppose to know things, well as far as I’m concerned you don’t know Jack! Can’t get Buffy home. Can’t tell me how I can get her home. Some go between you are!”


Whistler sat up straight and adjusted his hat. “First of all…for the last time, it’s Whistler. Whist-ler, not Whistling or Whistlet or Red! And second, I told you how to get her back, you just won’t do it!”


“‘Cause its rubbish, that’s what. You say Buffy has to want to go home and the longer she’s here, the less she’ll want to do that.”


“That’s right; she has to want to go home…”


“Well, that’s the rub, innit! She has everything she ever wanted right here, her mom, Dawn, friends and even tall, dark and now human, curse-free Angel. Bollocks! It’s hopeless!” Spike lifted his now empty glass and frowned as if wondering where the whiskey had gone. He started to signal for another round but sat the glass down, no longer interested in having any more to drink. “You think if I get her to fall in love with me, that she’ll gladly follow me back, like a sodding puppy in heat? Well, let me tell you some’in…Whistler! It ain’t that easy.” He ran his hand through his hair in frustration. “God knows I’ve tried to make her love me but…” he stopped and looked for the waitress; maybe just one more drink.


“Look Spike, I might not know everything, but I do know she cares for you. I’ve seen it.”


Spike cut his eyes at him and smirked, “What ever you saw wasn’t love. She’ll never love me. I know it but that doesn’t change how I feel. I…just want her to be happy and…home, where she belongs.”


“Then do what you have to do man!” At Spike’s unbelieving look, Whistler continued, “Look, Spike, you’re a reasonably good looking fellow, can’t you turn on the charm or something and just…woo her!”


“Woo her? What do you mean? Like flowers and sissy stuff like that?”


“What ever it takes, do it!”


Spike sat at the table studying his empty glass and thinking of different ways of ‘wooing’ Buffy. “I guess I could give her some flowers,” he mumbled more to his self than to Whistler.


Whistler knew it would take much more than a bunch of flowers, but at least it was a start. “So now then, what’s your plan?”


“First off, I have to figure how Angel fits into the picture. Sort out my competition. I guess I need to sus’ out the situation.” Spike slid out the booth and got to his feet, a little more unsteady than he would have liked.


“Where you going?” asked Whistler.


“Got me some wooing to do!” He said as her walked uneasy to the door.


Whistler watched him leave and sighed, “Well, he bought that hook, line and sinker.” He grinned at Spikes’ retreating back and then disappeared.


*****


It was well after two in the morning and Spike stood under the tree in the front yard of the Summers’ house, smoking a cigarette, watching Buffy’s darkened bedroom window. He had abandoned the idea of flowers shortly after leaving the bar. He knew that if he brought her flowers in the middle of the night, it would not be romantic, it would be suspicious. Buffy would never fall for flowers. What he needed to do was turn on the charm and do what he did best…. talk.


He tossed the cigarette down and started to climb the tree to reach her window. She had left the window open to the night breeze, making it easy for him to slip in. Trying his best to be very quiet he slipped one leg over the window ledge and was in the process of bringing in the other when the remaining effects of the alcohol he had consumed earlier caused him to loose his balance and fall on the floor with a loud thump.


Buffy awoke with a start and squealed. Fumbling for the light she turned it on and was surprised to find Spike sprawled on the floor, holding his head. “Spike! What are you doing here?”


He remained on the floor, eyes closed with one hand on his head, “Oh my head. I think I broke it.”


Buffy raised questioning eyebrows at him and asked, “You broke your head?” When he didn’t answer or attempt to get up, she got out of bed and went to sit by him on the floor. She gently pulled his hand down and looked at him, waiting for an answer.


He squinted one eye at her and smiled, “Don’t imagine I really broke it, too hard. But it ‘just as hell’ feels like it.”


Buffy smiled at the obviously intoxicated vampire and reached to help him up off the floor. “What are you doing here in the middle of the night?”


“I.. we need to talk!” he said as he sat unsteady on the bed.


“And this couldn’t wait till morning?” Before he could answer, she left the room and returned with a cool, wet cloth. As she placed it on the back of his head she said, “Spike, I know what you’re going to say, and a part of me agrees with you.” She paused as she tried to gather her words. “I know I left that world in a mess, but this is my world now. And besides, I don’t think I can leave Mom again.”


Spike reached over and took her hand, “Buffy, this woman isn’t your mum; she’s the Buffy of this dimension’s mum.”


With her head down, she said, “I know, but she feels like my mother.” She raised tear filled eyes to his and said, “I could be happy here, Spike. I could have the life I always wanted. I’m tired, tired of slaying and fighting and….” She stopped as a tear slip down her face.


Spike’s heart ached with seeing her cry. He reached up and slowly wiped the tear away and said, “Don’t worry luv, It’ll all work out.”


She continued to look at him and let the tears fall, “How? How will it work out?” She was too upset to remain seated so she stood and started pacing, “I left my world in a mess and now I don’t want to go back! I like it here; this is where I want to stay!”


He let her rant and rave for a few minutes then stood to stop her pacing. Dizziness overcame him and he fell back to the bed. Buffy stopped pacing when she saw his paler than usual face and went to his side. “Are you alright?”


“Yeah, just a bit light headed. Had too much to drink, I suppose.”


Buffy eased him down on the bed and turned to unlace his shoes. “What are you doing?” he asked when she pulled the first shoe off his foot.


“I’m getting you ready for bed, stupid. You can’t leave in this shape.”


He looked at her as he cocked one eyebrow. He didn’t want to mention that he had walked back to her house and climbed a tree in this shape, so he laid his head on her pillow and sighed, “I do feel a bit shaky.”


After the second shoe was off, she stood with her hands on her hips and smirked, “That’s what you get for storming off and getting drunk.”


He cut his eyes at her and said, “I’m sorry about earlier. I just couldn’t stand the thought of you and Peaches together. Thought you were over him, but I guess you’ll never really be over him.” He sniffed as if to dismiss the thought, then said, “None of my business anyway. I don’t have any right to say who you want or don’t want.” He closed his eyes to avoid what he know he would see reflected in her eyes…pity, anger, truth of his words…anything but what he wanted to see…love.


Buffy sat on the edge of the bed and placed the cool cloth on his forehead. His eyes remained closed while she studied his face, the angles of his chiseled cheekbones, dark eyebrows about his closed but still beautiful eyes and his straight noble nose that she knew she had broken so many times in the past. She knew every curve and plane of his face that she had touched in anger and love so many times. How could she tell him this Angel didn’t mean anything to her? It was him that she wanted. In that moment sitting there, Buffy realized that she had to make him want to stay here, with her. She knew he loved her, still, but was it enough to make him stay with her.


She slowly reached up and placed her hand on his cheek. Spike opened his eyes, reluctant but ready to face what was in her own. They looked at each other without saying a word. Each unaware that their mission was the same; to make the other love them enough to follow or stay with them.


Buffy leaned down and said, “Stay here, with me.” She placed a small kiss on his lips. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”


Spike wanted more, but knew she meant only for the night. He would take what he could; after all he needed more time to make her love him enough to go back with him. “Alright luv, but I didn’t bring my ‘jammies’,” he smirked. Buffy jabbed him in the ribs as she laughter, “We’ll figure something out.”


Cont. Chapter Nine.

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