"Buffy, my sweet girl, I know you're terrified.....I feel exactly the same.....but we can't lose our heads. William and Allegra are depending on us to find them and bring them home. We must be strong and we mustn't give up." Her arms made their way around his waist and he rocked with her until she calmed.

"Spike?"

"Yes, love?"

"I shouldn't have hit you, I'm sorry."

"I was being insensitive."

"You were right. I'm sorry for hitting you."

"It's forgotten. I'm very sorry I got drunk, it was so bloody stupid I can't even begin to excuse it....never a drop again, it's a vow, a promise." If possible she held him closer, squeezed him tighter.

"I did something today that you're not going to like, but it was all I could think of....and you weren't here."

"What is it then?"

"Last year when Riley came back.....when those demons framed you with those eggs. Before he left he said that if there was ever an emergency I was to go to a specific web address and type in a code......it would send a signal to him and he'd get in touch." The last thing Spike needed was to have old reliable Captain Cardboard looking down on him for the ultimate failure of his lifetime.

"And?"

"He called within half an hour. I like and told him it was the Hell Mouth."

"Because if he knew the real reason....if he knew about me he might not come?"

"Yeah....I'm sorry.....but I couldn't take the risk. I promise I won't let him get away with anything where you're concerned."

"No worries, pet, I don't give a bloody piss about what Riley Finn thinks of me......just need his help if he can give it.....I'll take anything."

"He said he was in Panama and would be here tomorrow......he'll get special leave from the army.....they know about him and the Hell Mouth. Thank you for understanding." He nodded, though he doubted she felt it.

"Would you like me to get Dawn or Willow to come and help you? With..."

"I guess I have to."

"There's no guilt in doing it, Buffy, it'll just keep things going until they come home." They let the silence settle in and the darkness shroud them as they clung fiercely to each other. Their love was under its greatest test and neither would waver from the bond they'd formed and sanctified in marriage. However, without William and Allegra none of it meant a thing, the void was too great to be sufficiently filled with only love - it lived in their children now, it had grown from beyond just the two of them."Come, pet, I'll go get your sister." She let him help her up, then Spike took her left hand and held it in his own. He let the platinum band catch and reflect the moonlight before turning them over to show her his matching one. There was the barest glimmer of a smile between them. He brought her palm to his lips and bestowed it with a kiss.

"You're cold....you're paler than usual."

"Haven't had any blood since yesterday."

"There's fresh downstairs in the fridge."

"Have you eaten? No...of course you haven't. I used to have to remind you to do it on the best of days."

"I don't think I could."

"But you should try, love, you must keep your strength up."

"I will if you will."

"That's my girl...fair trade, eh? Um....I'll send Dawn up and then fix you something."

"Alright...just soup." His hands found her face and tilted her upwards to look into his eyes.

"They're together.....I can feel it - William's looking out for his lil' sis...they know we love them and we're coming for them."

"I hope you're right."

"Trust me, love....the four of use will be together again, I swear it."

***

He heard her crying through the walls and ceiling the entire time Dawn was upstairs with her. A mug of of tomato soup and a mug of blood warmed in the microwave. Eating was the farthest thing form his mind, he couldn't bring himself to do it knowing that likely his children had gone an entire day with nothing. Buffy had been nursing them almost every two hours, he didn't want to think about it. He'd swallow his blood only so Buffy would have her soup. She needed the nourishment to keep healthy, for herself and for the twins.

Giles had gone to the Magic Box as well as the archdiocese to retrieve a variety of books. He and Xander now sat in the dining room with columns of books and a bible's worth of notes. Spike had told Giles that the name of "Sem" had been passed around, though not by who. So far the name hadn't appeared in any passage of significancet, only within the body of other names. Spike believed their efforts were futile, but it gave them something to do, and he wouldn't say a thing against it, just in case. Willow had spent the better part of the day in trance, putting out her Wiccan feelers to any vibe from William or Allegra. Apparently things got a little warm towards the east, but the trail went cold quickly. Still, she wasn't giving up and Spike appreciated it more than words could say. Through it all Dawn was taking care of every one of them, Buffy included. Apparently Dawn was the one to get Buffy to shower and dress, even if the elder Summers had been virtually comatose throughout. Now his lil' bit had come downstairs after helping Buffy and was looking through her mother's bible, not that he expected her to know what she was looking for, but she was helping in her own way. He suspected she was carrying around her own burden of guilt for what had happened. In truth there was no blame, there was just a tragedy.

"Hey," Buffy spoke softly as she entered the kitchen. The microwave dinged and Spike brought out their mugs. They sat next to each other at the island, staring at their food. He took her hand and gave it a squeeze.

"Bottoms up, sweetheart....it's not too hot we can just chug it down....be over in seconds, like it never happened." She nodded and took up her mug as he did his."That's it....just...." She started drinking and he caught up with her, as soon as they were done he took the mugs to the sink and washed them out.

"How do you feel?"

"Like a sod."

"Ditto." He came back around and hugged her, for the first time she accepted the comfort and returned it with equal devotion.

"I wish I could tell you it was all gonna be alright."

"You don't have to, it's okay. But we're not gonna give up, not for a second."

"No we're not..."

"Thank god you're here, I couldn't be strong without you."

"Sweetness, I won't be here when Riley arrives tomorrow." She pulled back to look at him, confused and even hurt.

"Why not? Spike, I need you..."

"I'm going to Los Angelos tonight, but I'll be back as soon as possible."

"What's in Los Angelos?"

"Angel, love....I'm going to get Angel."

to be continued.....

Chapter 19 - Bridge

He used to love driving, long and winding roads that never ended, music blaring so loud he couldn't hear the sounds of the road. His mother had once told him that it was dangerous to wander much beyond your own doorstep, every road was like a branch off a river and you never knew if you'd be swept away. He'd driven as far as Buenos Aires in the black DeSoto, as reliable a vehicle as ever there was. It had seen all of America, most of South America and every dive and dust bin in Mexico, and the Caribbean ocean for a bit of grace. The three hours to LA seemed longer than all those past trips. The Hyperion Hotel was dead easy to find, art deco edifice that stuck out against the organic shapes of palm trees. Angel Investigations was closed for business that night, not a single light invited him to the door. It was closing upon 2am, it figured that the grandsire had already turned in, needing his beauty sleep, Spike mused. He turned off the engine after parking out in front. He relaxed in the seat and reached inside his coat for the photograph Dawn had insisted he take with him.

He smiled, William and Allegra were so beautiful. The photo was from just a week and a half ago, he was seated on the couch with a child in each arm. Buffy was behind him with her arms wrapped around his neck, their cheeks next together and the brightest smile in all the world painted on her face. He got out of the car and walked with a resigned cadence to his gate. This wasn't going to be easy, but he'd weather it without protest if he managed to convince Angel to help them. It would make things just a little easier for Buffy, he had to admit. For all Angel's weaknesses and pitfalls, he was a steadfast and heroic man and he wouldn't let Buffy down. It was just up to Spike to remind him of that.

The large front doors to the hotel were locked up tight, and Spike didn't fancy trying to pick the locks, they were probably alarmed at any rate. He was about to begin pounding on the door when suddenly he'd been spun around and slammed against them. A stake was poised above his heart by a teenage boy with a wild look in his eyes."No! Wait....wait!" Spike shouted, trying to cover his heart. The stake was taken away by a careful hand as a second man came upon the seen.

"Connor, it's okay..." Angel spoke, easing the younger one away from Spike. Angel snickered to himself and advanced on Spike, pinning him back against the doors."You shouldn't have come back, Spike." Spike blinked back tears and looked for pity from his elder,"Spike?"

"Do you believe in miracles? Angel?"

"What?"

"Real honest to goodness miracles. The kind of blessing you know could only come from somewhere divine.....a twist of fate that changes everything about who you are?" Angel glanced off to the side at the boy, then back at Spike.

"Yeah, I do...." Spike eased Angel's arm off him and fished inside his duster to bring out the photograph. He passed it to Angel and let the solemnity of what the older vampire was seeing set upon him.

"This was us, a week and a half ago. They're only three weeks old. Last night they were taken from us, stolen out of their beds while we slept not two feet away. I know how you hate me and how you probably are sure I deserve pain of this magnitude, but I beg you...for their sake, for Buffy....please..."

"I'll help."

"You will?"

"Don't start asking questions, Spike....I'll just...I'll come with you back to Sunnydale. I need to pack a few things....come inside."

"Angel, thank you...I..."

"Just......be quiet, Spike." Angel unlocked one of the doors and let Spike walk ahead of them, he and Connor following after. Angel made for the stairs, but paused, looking back at his son and what he supposed was his grandson, in a manner of speaking."Connor, there's plenty of blood in the fridge in my office, get him a mug......I'll be a few minutes. Don't stake him, not matter how tempting it is."

"Sure thing, dad," the boy replied.

"Dad?!" Spike exclaimed, the resemblance between the two of them starting to be noticed,"Dad as in he rescued you from the streets and you've formed this bond......or dad as in the poof's a dirty old man...."

"Dad as in he's my father.....I think you might've know my mother....Darla?"

"Bloody hell...."

"Come on....office is this way."

***

The DeSoto had been left behind in lieu of Angel's car, due to the fact that the windows were all tinted and they could make it back to Sunnydale that day. Considerably more practical than taking black paint to the inside of his car again. Angel's son, Connor, had summarized the story of his existence, including the torture he'd inflicted by boxing the poof up in a coffin and dumping him into the ocean. Spike had to give the lad credit for originality. Father and son had traversed their own terrain of loss, betrayal and pain, but come to a good place. Perhaps the same result could be had for the Summers family.

"What's so funny?" Angel thought Spike had gone mad as they drove north. The younger vampire stopped laughing and giggling, wiping tears from his eyes.

"You and me, mate. Bloody look at us! We got half the Scourge of Europe in this car and we're about as threatening as two spaniels." Angel smiled, realizing what Spike was actually inferring.

"We've changed."

"That we have, peaches. Angelus and William the Bloody have gone the way of the dodo.....replaced by Angel n' Spike, fathers of the bloody year." After that Spike seemed to grow pensive."You think this is karma? Divine punishment? To be given our children, to fall in love with them so completely and then have them snatched away?"

"God.....I hope not.....but sometimes, I think so, yeah. I got Connor back, you'll get William and Allegra back."

"They're so helpless, Angel, so small.....fragile...if anything happens...."

"You'll go on......you and Buffy at least have each other."

"No.....if I lose them....I'm walking into the sun."

"Doesn't matter, Spike, because we'll get them back."

"Bloody rights." Angel continued driving and they sat in silence. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Spike's head sink forward and then trails of tears stream down his sharp cheeks. Angel reached out and gave Spike's shoulder a reassuring squeeze."Poof," the blond mumbled.

"Brat."

"Glad you're here.....no matter our past....I'm grateful it's you helpin' us. I trust you with this." Angel nodded and took his hand away.

Chapter 20 - Arrivals

Buffy gave her sister half a smile as Dawn passed her a hot cup of herbal tea and sat down next to her on the couch. "Did you sleep?" Dawn asked, knowing Buffy had spent the entire night on said couch. Buffy shook her head.

"Can't really sleep without Spike....can't sleep right now anyways. It's been over 24 hours you know?"

"Yeah, I know. When's Riley arriving? Where are the others?"

"Willow's meeting with a local coven. They're gonna try some big group locating spell, focusing all their energies. Giles and Xander are checking all the places Spike did. Giles also called in some favors overseas, to a University in Jerusalem....there's stuff the public never gets to hear about.....like freemason secret society junk. He said his friend might know something, Israel being kinda Old Testament."

"Sounds promising...."

"I wish Spike was here."

"I know Buffy, me too. Getting Angel was a good idea, right?"

"It was, but I think Spike did it to make me feel better. He think it's all his fault, that's he's failed me. He's afraid I hate him."

"Spike knows you love him."

"He does...but he's been talking lately, about wishing he had a soul. He believes that's the only way he'll be worthy of me. He doesn't understand that I don't think that way about him anymore. He's different, special."

"Maybe it's the only way he can rationalize it all. He loves us so much and I doubt he understands that it's possible when all he's ever known is that it wasn't because he didn't have his soul. He's very confused."

"You're right. He's also scared beyond belief...he's never really been scared of anything in the past."

""But he has us to help him through and we have him." Buffy reached over and hugged her sister. A solid knock came to the door and Dawn rose to answer it. Buffy readied herself, configuring in her mind what she was going to tell her former boyfriend. She looked intensely upon her wedding band and hoped Spike could feel her lover for him. She turned and looked behind her out the window, sure enough there was a military jeep parked in her driveway.

She stood up and forced a smile for Riley Finn to greet the rows of gleaming army polished teeth he showed for her. His feet clomped down on the floor as he strode towards her with arms wide."Riley," she stated flatly as she patted his back to give his embrace a semblance of amicability. He pulled away and frowned becoming aware of how unenthusiastically they had heralded his arrival.

"I guess it's serious then, huh?" Buffy nodded and motioned for him to sit.

"How's Sam?"

"Terrific.....I told her I was going back to the Hell Mouth and she said have fun honey!! She's in Russia right now, special ops assignment....we're meeting in the Dominican Republic after I'm finished here. So tell me, what's going down? Or coming up probably, you said it was the Hell Mouth." Buffy opened her mouth to reply but instead yawned.

"Excuse me.....I haven't slept...."

"Are you okay, Buffy? You seem....different..."

"Alot has changed since last year...."

"I mean, you look good, healthy...you've up put on some...."

"It's okay you can say it."

"No, look, I know guys aren't supposed to notice when a girl gains a little wieght....but it suits you......um....curves...."

"Riley...I have birth three weeks ago..." That revelation made the soldier's head spin,, he was absolutely godsmacked.

"You.....you have a baby?!"

"Yes, two actually, I have twins. A boy and a girl, William and Allegra."

"Wow, I never expected, congratulations."

"But they were kidnapped last night."

"Buffy....." Riley had no words to express his sympathy,"How? Who?"

"Spike and I were asleep..."

"Woah....wait a minute....Spike?!"

"Is their father. I know this is alot to hear all at once..."

"I'll say....." Riley rose to his feet and began pacing in front of her,"Spike?! The vampire?! Is this some kind of joke? The evil, amoral, conniving vampire?"

"He's not like that, not any more! Riley would you stop pacing, please listen to what I'm saying. My babies were stolen from us.....they're only three weeks old. They're so small....." Buffy had begun to cry again and the sight of a broken young mother, especially one he'd loved was enough to stall his rant.

"I'm sorry....I'll do anything I can....where is he, Spike?"

"He went to LA to ask Angel for his help too. He's Spike's grandsire you know?"

"So, that makes them??"

"Family. We need every bit of help we can get."

"Tell me what happened."

"I'll let Dawn...I don't feel up to it." Buffy curled up on the couch, pulled her feet up under her. She closed her eyes and rested her chin in her hand.

"Riley," Dawn began,"It's long and it's complicated....and it's ugly."

***

It was after 10am when Angel pulled his black '67 Plymouth in behind the SUV and the jeep."Bloody marvelous, looks like the White Bread's arrived," Spike complained.

"Pardon?" Angel replied.

"The army jeep....Riley Finn, the rebound between her first love and her true love."

"Oh him, reminds you of a tree, has this really creepy Pat Boone vibe..."

"Yeah, that's the one."

"I hated him....what the hell was Buffy thinking? Thank god she came to her senses and moved on."

"Did you just pay me a compliment?"

"Maybe...don't let it go to your bleached head. Anything's better than that guy, even you."

"Ready to make a mad dash inside?" Angel reached into the back seat and handed Spike a treated canvas blanket.

"Got 'em for $19.95 each at Fred Meyers..." Spike made a face,"Okay, we'll save the shopping tips for another time."

"Right....let's get inside."

***

The distinct and unpleasant sound of sizzling vampires was detected just before Spike and Angel burst through the front door. The gang, including Riley, were seated around the dining room table. The vampires patted down any smoldering spots and discarded their blankets. Buffy rose from her seat and glided into Spike's embrace. He dipped down and consumed her with his arms around her waist and lifted her off the ground. He held her securely, their faces buried against each other's necks, lost in the still moment. The display of both comfort and affection was keenly noticed by both Angel and Riley. Each man felt unwarranted pangs of jealousy, but they were felt nonetheless. Spike let his wife find her footing and looked upon her weary, tear stained face, still the most beautiful woman in the world to him. Spike looked past her and caught Riley's eye, but quickly returned his attention to the one before him. He cocked his head to one side and smiled a slight turn of his lips.

"Went n' got the poof," he said softly. She turned and smiled at Angel, genuine and welcoming.

"Thank you for coming, Angel," she said,"And for not dusting Spike on sight."

"Tempting....but I wasn't up for a dusting of my own when you found out," her former replied,"Buffy, I'll do everything I can to help find your children." She nodded and moved again into Spike's sphere. The three of them proceeded to the dining room where a map had been laid out on the table with Giles' gatherings of books.

"Do we know anything at all yet?" Spike asked, standing behind Buffy as she took her seat,"Giles?"

"Nothing, Spike, I'm sorry," the Watcher informed,"Or at least nothing new. We have the name Sem as you mentioned and the information about the demons gathering in the east....but nothing in any of the books speaks of them. I had a meeting with the archdiocese early this morning but it was decidedly unhelpful. The Catholic Church, though adamant about the existence of angels refuses to accept that they are in fact as we know them. My last effort is to get in contact with an acquaintance at one of the universities in Jerusalem. He's well aware of Slayers and the supernatural.....I left a message with his assistant and the necessary details, but he was out on an underground sit excavation, a new tomb under the city. He's the leading authority on old testament lore and mythology."

"Thanks, Rupert. It still doesn't do us any bloody good. William and Allegra are still out there somewhere and we don't know where.....we don't know if..." his voice cracked and Buffy took hold of his hand and squeezed,"We have all these people here......a Watcher, the military, a bloody Kung Fu freak, the Key, the Slayer and two vampires and we've still got sweet fuck all on where the twins are!" He left Buffy's side and continued with his unplanned rant,"What's the use of any of any of you?!.....I....I...." The words fell away and he was caught between bursting into tears or putting his fist through the wall. As a vampire who once answered every emotional challenge with violence, Spike found himself crying in front of everyone again. The depth of the vampire's emotions surprised the only doubter, Riley. The soldier was about to show uncharacteristic support when suddenly the shrilling ring of the phone startled everyone. As Giles went to answer Buff quietly led Spike into the other room. She sat them down on the couch, holding his hands in her lap,"M'sorry, love...I'm such as useless bloody weakling....bet my manly display impressed the hell outta Captain Cardboard." She leaned in and pressed a kiss to his wet cheek.

"Who cares what Riley thinks?"

"Right....but still...."

"I love you, okay?"

"I love you...I love you so much sometimes I can't bear it. What are we going to do if we never find them?!"

"I don't know.....but it's only been one day. I don't know either." He closed his eyes and lay his head forward into her lap. Buffy kissed into his blond curls and to cajole him, she moved her hands up and down his back.

"This is weirder than the Twilight Zone," Riley grumbled as he came over to where Angel was standing, watching Spike and Buffy from a respectable distance,"I thought she was out of her mind when I found out she was sleeping with him last year. I thought she was just depressed after coming back from the dead....she was working at the Doublemeat Palace for godsakes! The guy's an idiot!"

"No, he isn't, Spike's alot of things, but he's not an idiot. Trust me, I know," the vampire replied.

"Yeah, he's also a ruthless, amoral killer. It wouldn't surprise me if he just made a deal for her kids..."

"Kitchen...NOW!"

"What?" Angel took Riley by the scruff of his neck and forced him into the kitchen, pushing him to the other side of the room.

"What the hell's your problem?! What if Buffy had heard you?"

"Come on, don't tell me you don't think the same about him?"

"Your experience with Spike is what? A few fights over the course of a year? I knew him before he was even a vampire. I don't like him, but after a century I know he deserves my respect and more credit that you're giving him. Right now he isn't your enemy, he's Buffy's husband and the father of her twins. Buffy can't afford to have you acting like a a jealous boyfriend. First off you have no right and second there's more important things to worry about - her children are missing and both Spike and Buffy are out of their minds with worry. If you're here to help, you're here to help both of them...got it? Or you can walk out and leave it to those of us who are willing to have a little perspective."

"I can't believe you're defending him....what the hell does he know about loving Buffy?"

"Are you blind? Love is the one thing Spike knows better than all of us. His capacity to love is beyond anyone else's....he loves her, he loves his son and daughter. If you keep this up it'll only hurt Buffy and distract us all from the mission. I'm sure you mother told you that if you didn't have anything nice to say then you shouldn't say anything at all. Time to follow that advice."

"Fine, I can do that."

"Good...then let's..." Suddenly Angel's demeanor darkened. His shoulders hunched over and his eyes flashed yellow with the low growl burgeoning in his throat.

"What is it?"

"Someone's here...."

"ANGELUS!!!" Spike hollered urgently from the other part of the house.

to be continued.....

Chapter 21 - The Messenger

Spike was already wrestling with the angel when the other vampire came back from the kitchen. Buffy kicked the angel solidly in his ribs, sending him away from Spike and into Angel's grasp. The elder vampire spun the intruder around and pinned him against the stairwell. Riley too joined the fray and took one side of the creature and secured it against the wall. Like his grandsire, Spike's full demon was alive and vicious. He gripped the angel by the throat and poised a clawing hand over his heart."Tell me where you've taken them!!" Spike roared,"Tell me or I'll rip your heart out!"

"Spike, no!!" Dawn countered, rushing to stop Spike and positioning herself between him and the angel.

"Dawn?!"

"He's here to help....aren't you?" She gave the heavenly creature a sideways glance and for a moment they held each other's eyes. He turned back to look without fear at Spike, his angelic eyes the color of peridot stones.

"I had no part in the taking of your children," he spoke in a melodic, calm voice,"She is right, I have come to you in your time of need."

"Who are you?" Buffy asked, taking Spike's arm in her hand and guiding it off the angel's throat.

"Michael, Son of Light and the Prince of the Presence; the angel of repentance, righteousness, mercy and sanctification; Chief of the Archangels; weigher of souls and the defeator of Lucifer in the first war."

"A bloody roll call of titles earns you nothing here. I don't care what the bit says, I have no qualms about ripping your heart out," Spike shot back.

"I know which angel it was that stole your son and daughter. I know too where they are being held. They haven't much time left before Semyaza makes use of them and that means their death. Release me."

"Please, let him go guys," Buffy bade. Angel, Riley and Spike did as she asked. Michael straightened his clothing, a well worn and beaten pair of brown leather pants that came over scuffed engineer style leather boots. He wore also an ancient style tunic of a homespun fabric under an oil skin duster that looked like it had seen a million miles and battles. He looked as if he belonged in an old Clint Eastwood western with his clothes and long sandy blond hair. His face was as angular as Spike's, but with an eagle nose and a luminescence possessed only by those who had touched heaven. Dawn turned to face Michael and they stared long at each other.

"You are named Dawn now? Very appropriate for the essence that brought about the first morning. You are still the most beautiful of the On High's intelligences." He reached out and brushed his fingertips over her cheek and she smiled at him.

"You look tired, Michael," she replied.

"My brothers and I are weary.....the wars only escalate....time has run out now that the Sons of Darkness have the ones who will sway the balance."

"The twins?" Michael nodded solemnly."Let's sit.....I have a feeling this could take a while." Dawn led Michael towards the living room and without hesitation they were followed by all the others. Spike and Buffy sat with her sister and the archangel on the couch, the new parents feeling a swell of both hope and fear in the presence of the divine being. It was Dawn who addressed them first,"Michael is the most valiant and pure angel in Heaven...I promise he's here to help.....we've known each other since the beginning."

"I am remised for coming upon you all as I did....it is our way to announce ourselves by appearing from the ether. I have come because a second war is being waged between the Sons of Light and the Sons of Darkness. In the first war, on the second day of The Creation...Lucifer claimed equality with our creator and took a third of Heaven's legion with him against us....we were victorious and cast these fallen ones into the Earth's core for eternity....into Hell, over which Lucifer obtained dominion. Among Lucifer's minions was Semyaza...he was the leader of the most wicked sect....those who claimed mortal women and beget children. The nephalim, their children were wiped out and it was I who imprisoned Semyaza and his followers. They've escaped now, against Lucifer's will....this is a new an independent force of evil and I have come again to stop them."

"Why did they need my babies?" Buffy asked, overwhelmed.

"Semyaza means to undo the Sefiroth..." With Michael's words Dawn gasped audibly.

"No...he can't.....how can he??!" Dawn shrieked, exploding with panic. This reaction from the teenager chilled Spike to the core and he held tight to Buffy to keep himself sane."It's not possible!!"

"He means to try all the same....the ultimate vengeance....against our Creator and Lucifer," Michael continued,"I will explain...the Sefiroth represents a divine emanation through which the On High manifested its existence during the creation of the universe, the tools he used to in the shaping and creation of all things."

"Like me..." Dawn supplied, taking Buffy's hand,"Creation tools...but we weren't all like that, some were just the first of their kind...like the first human soul...."

"This first soul?" Buffy breathed out,"What are you saying?"

"The twins," Michael continued,"They are the harborers of the first soul....twins, each half of the one....they are the first human soul created." Spike's forehead fell against Buffy's shoulder, the revelation meant so many things in the grand scheme of the universe, but to Spike and to Buffy, they were their babies and nothing else could make them any more special."Semyaza means to reverse the Sefiroth, to uncreate the universe. He will start at the completion and work his way back to the first element of creation, thus bringing about the end....to everything."

"What's he going to do with William and Allegra?"

"He will kill them, release the two halves, harness them and destroy them. The last aspect of the Sefiroth eliminated will begin the unraveling of creation...this cannot be."

"But he can't complete the process...." Dawn began to reason,"He needs all the components of the original Sefiroth, there's no way he can get them...angels can't touch me, I'm the first part.....at least my energy is...what I'm trying to say is..."

"He's set upon it nonetheless."

"But it's not possible, that's what I mean....he can't get me and I have the Key to immortality right here....." She drew out the marble sized black sphere that hung around her neck, the encapsulated Key she had defeated the previous year,"And how can he get the others? The keystone to the Earth's forming is in the crust somewhere...he'll never find it...."

"He already has....under a mountain in India...Dawn I am telling you that Semyaza believes it possible and he will do everything he possibly can to make it happen, this is fact. He may not succeed in undoing the Sefiroth....but by taking possession of the first soul, he will certainly bring about untold cataclysms."

"You know where they are?" Spike asked, jaw tight and body tense from Michael's story.

"I do...the angels wished, despite their corrupt way, to feel the presense...your children have been taken to the last heavenly vestige on Earth, the Garden of Eden. The garden will care for them, nurture them. It remembers purity, how itself once was."

"But Semyaza is still gonna kill 'em!? Forgive us if your little garden doesn't give us a lick of comfort."

"Where is it?" Buffy asked. Spike could see her determination already brewing, she was going to Eden no matter what. It gave him strength to see his Slayer coming alive again.

"It is located on the east of this continent....hidden within New York City."

"Then we get on a plane tonight...."

"No...." Michael looked to Dawn.

"They could attack...and we'd be defenseless and innocent people could die in the process. We have to get there on our own....drive...it would only take a few days..." Dawn explained, then looked back to Michael,"We have a few days right?"

"We have time, he won't do the murders in Eden...there will be a place, a genesis point for his apocalypse."

"Then I know where it is," Giles suddenly interrupted. Having remained silent as an archangel held the floor had been difficult when he had something perhaps equally as vital to share,"The phone call was from Jerusalem....my friend. I will get to the point directly, as it is we really do not have any time to spare. Mammon has also escaped his imprisonment." As he spoke the words he looked squarely at Michael and the angel reacted with an obvious swell of foreboding.

"Bloody hell....how bad is this Mammon?" Spike interjected.

"Mammon is another fallen angel....he was also an architect and it was he who built the demon city of Pandemonium, their capital demon city in Hell. He's not in Hell anymore, he rose out of a fissure under the Dead Sea right around the time the twins were born. My friend believes that in conjunction with the demon exodus that is occurring all over the world and heading to us that Mammon will be raising Pandemonium."

"For the commencement of the reversal of the Sefiroth," Michael completed, then closed his eyes and prayed.

to be continued.....

Chapter 22 - The Promised Land

Buffy hurried around their bedroom, stuffing clothing for her and Spike, toiletries and everything the twins would need when they found them into two backpacks, blinking back tears as she went about it. She turned too quickly to go back to the closet and banged her knee on the bed post."Damn...damn......ow......" She proceeded to slip on the throw rug under her feet and found herself tumbling back on her rear end, but fortunately Spike had come in then and he caught her. He helped her to the bed then knelt before her, rubbing her knee. Her hands were shaking and she was breathing erratically.

"Calm down, precious..." he soothed.

"I'm tr....trying..."

"I know you are, love, you're doing terrific. M'very proud of my wife."

"It's too much all at once. Too much information, too much danger....."

"Yes. We'll be on the road in less than an hour, everyone's just gettin' their stuff together. If we drive straight through it should take four days...the way I drive at any rate. But I imagine we'll stop every now n' again....so I give it five days. Michael said we have that much time, likely more. Pandemonium wasn't built in a day you know?" He'd tried to make a joke of it and she did smile, just a bit, enough to let him know that whatever he was doing was working."Now what say we finish packin', get you into your favorite angel ass kickin' boots and go get our little'uns?"

"I really love you, you know that?"

"I love you too, sweets. It's not all so bad...in a week you'll be holding your babies, I promise you that." It didn't matter that he couldn't make the promise for real, the words were enough to get her from this moment to the next.

***

They'd left Sunnydale just after 2pm, locking up the house behind them and departing in two vehicles. Angel took the wheel in his Plymouth with Spike in the passenger seat and Buffy pressed up against him in the middle. The others for the present all occupied the SUV, Riley at the helm and the back packed with his military gear while Angel's trunk held the more traditional weapons, just in case they were needed. Dawn insisted she went with Michael, there was more to their story than what she was letting on, there was no doubt on that score. At present the three in Angel's car sat in perfect silence, the rear windows rolled down to give them some air current, but preventing the sun from touching the vampires. The brigade of two cars made their way north on Highway 101 until they could begin the trek eastward on Interstate 80. Angel was tireless at the wheel while Spike and Buffy dozed against each other, fingers laced together for the past eight hours. They'd passed Lake Tahoe and then Reno, Nevada without stopping or even looking at the scenery. Now they were approaching the middle of nowhere and when Angel unexpectedly pulled off the road the couple next to him were suddenly wide awake.

"Oi! What are you doin'?" Spike demanded, looking over his shoulder behind them to be certain the SUV had at least followed.

"Gas...we're outta gas and I saw a sign a few miles back for a gas station and diner....just follow the offshoot and we'll come to it. I'm sure everyone's hungry...I just hope it's still open," Angel explained.

"Right...sorry...."

"Don't apologize. I know you want to keep the momentum going....but I think we could all use a pit stop." Sure enough, ten minutes later a neon sign illuminated a sparse gathering of houses, a gas station, a convenience store and a diner, typically called Joe's. Both vehicles pulled up to a gas pump and unexpectedly for 10pm at night, two attendees came out of the store fast as lightening. Meanwhile the group crawled out of their seats from the SUV and car, Dawn rushing away from all of them and straight into the diner. Willow sauntered up to Buffy, who was receiving a massage at the back of her neck from Spike.

"She's had to go to the bathroom for the past 4 hours.....we didn't think we should stop..." Willow attempted to explain."Actually, we all do....except Xander - something about moving all the chi away form his bladder so his body forgets it exists.....whatever. I have to pee..." The witch dashed after Dawn. Buffy turned to Spike and tilted her head towards the restaurant.

"Gotta go too?" She nodded. "Go on then, love, be after you in a snap. We should get supper then get back on the road." Xander and Giles followed suit while Riley kept a good ten paces behind the angel. Michael walked to where Angel and Spike stood in front of the Plymouth,"What about you?"

"I will stand guard..." the archangel replied, looking skyward, in a flash he'd ascended into the black and was gone.

"Not that impressive, I must say....the fact that I think his whole soddin' race should be burnt up might have something to do with it." Angel curled his mouth to a half smile and looked at the stars. Spike's attention was then turned to Riley, the soldier standing in the middle of the dusty parking lot watching after where Michael had flown off too.

"Don't get into a fight," Angel cautioned as Spike started forward.

"I won't, Buffy wouldn't like it."

"No just because of Buffy....I think he's having an identity crisis or something. He's on edge, I'd guess it's because of Michael...probably shot the entire concept of God straight...well, straight to hell."

"I don't really care if the God-fearin' corn fed's havin' a hard go of it."

"Buffy wouldn't like it."

"Hence, no fightin'...stop playin' dad, peaches." Spike took the distance between him and Riley double-time. When he came beside the soldier, Riley scowled."Angels....not much for inner light, glowing charges of righteousness or halos are they? The first time I ever saw one he was about to assault Buffy, had his hands on her body, tight on her breast. She was under his influence, like he'd put her mind in a box so she couldn't defend her body. Don't care what you think of vampires, besides Dracula n' his gypsy magic, maybe Angelus...none of us are so twisted....well, I'm not. The only way to kill an angel is to rip its heart out." Riley sighed and rubbed his eyes, he didn't want to hear Spike's words.

"My mother had this glass angel that goes on top of our Christmas tree," Riley began quietly, solemnly,"One year I was running through the house playing and I tripped on the cord of the lights, pulled the whole tree over. The angel went flying and shattered, there was glass everywhere. We'd still find the odd shard all the way into summer."

"Feels like the glass just got shattered again?"

"Yeah."

"Well, good....bloody things don't deserve the praise you mortals put on 'em. Religion doesn't mean a thing in the real world...not our world at least. Finn, it doesn't really matter to me what you think.....about any of this, of me....but so long as you protect the others when it counts and rip out an angel's heart when it needs rippin' out.....and help find the children, then, mate, I am forever in your debt."

"You don't deserve anything of what you have, you know that right?"

"I know, I've always known. But I do have a wife and I have a son and a daughter...I can't do anything less than devote myself to their happiness and safety. You can understand that, yeah?" Riley remained silent and Spike rolled his eyes, the boy was probably revisiting gospels or some such rot in his mind to try and make sense of it all,"We're havin' food....I'm buyin', get yourself a steak, white bread."

Walking into the restaurant he quickly spied everyone stuffed into a pair of read vinyl covered booths, Riley passed around Spike to join them. Buffy however sat in a lonely part of the restaurant, in the corner waiting for him. She was drinking orange juice, her favorite, and looking over the dessert menu. He sat down across from her and took a sip from her juice, just because her lips had touched the glass,"I ordered you a steak, bloody rare.....hope that'll do you. We need to get you and Angel some blood, maybe a hospital if we don't find a butcher's."

"That'll do fine, pet, thank you. I hope you got something for yourself?" She slumped back in her seat.

"Their breakfast special....pancakes, eggs, bacon, toast and hash browns. I'm hungry, really hungry."

"Good, you need the food."

"Do you suppose they've been fed? How can I justify eating when my babies might be starving?"

"We can't, love, we really can't. But you're breastfeeding n' I know you need to keep your nutrients up."

"It's just going to waist right now, first motel stop I need to do it again....the pump."

"And then you'll be full up again soon enough and you'll keep doing it so the first babe back in your arms gets it sweet and warm.....that's why you have to eat."

"Sucky logic."

"I know, sweets, but what else can we do?"

"Nothing...nothing. Where are we?"

"Somewhere in Nevada. We'll cross into Utah next, we'll find a motel once we hit Wyoming. Always wanted to take you on a road trip. This isn't what I imagined." The waitress appeared suddenly and put their food down in front of them."Never imagined we'd ever be in this place." She knew he wasn't referring to the diner.

to be continued.....

Chapter 23 - The Lost Highway

Michael had flown off again and Spike shook his head more than a little fed up with the whole business. Michael hadn't said a thing since Nevada, except to Dawn and then it seemed secretive, too secretive. Normally he'd sit the teenager down and grill her for information, but in this affair he felt like a naive beginner. The ways of the ancient world were too far out of his league. So instead he resumed his role of making sure Buffy was taken care of. The sun had set in Wyoming on the second day of their travels and they stopped at a motel off the interstate, a Best Western that had likely been built in the 1970s it was so run down. But it was reasonably clean and at this point no one much cared. They agreed to stop for four hours, enough time to refuel, perhaps eat and shower and then catch a little sleep that was not in a moving vehicle. Willow paired herself with Dawn in one room, Angel and Giles in a second and Riley with Xander in a third.

Spike and Buffy took one room to themselves and the first thing she did was close herself in the bathroom for half an hour to take care of whatever she needed to. When she emerged he was laying on the bed and watching the news on television, but flipped it off the moment she came out. She'd showered and cleaned off the wear of the day's travels and changed into a nightgown. He sat up and looked over her with a discerning eye, she'd emptied herself of her milk and he could see how shaken she was. He rose from the bed and led her silently to where he tucked her under the covers and the he turned out all the lights. He changed clothes as well, getting comfortable in his jogging pants and laying next to her on his side, though not joining her under the blankets.

"How are you feeling, love, you look....look like you're not doing so hot," he whispered.

"I'm carsick....dizzy, very tired," she replied in a equally quiet tone,"I just want a little sleep...hold me?" He moved quickly up behind her, forming his body to her shape. One arm went under her neck to substitute the pillow and another went around her waist."I'm so tired."

"Shhhh....rest now, my precious."

"Will you tell me a story? Something from when you were small?"

"From the annals of William? Bloody hell....shall I tell you how the older boys at school locked me in a closet in the bowels of the school and now one found me until two days later? They had a good laugh of it...."

"Something happy, about your grandmother?"

"Alright....close your eyes. She lived in Devonshire, close to a dot on the map sort of town, seaside village. She was very well off, had a nice large house. I was eleven when my father died and I spent that first summer with Allegra. Victorians weren't much for the beach, but Allegra loved it. So, this being my first real trip out of London, I was into it. The wind was very high that day and the waves were bloody huge, never seen them like that since. We played this game where we'd run out as far as we could, then hurried back in as the wave chased us, tryin' to outrun it. I don't know what came over me, but I stopped once and turned to face that wave...defying it, daring it to knock me over. I was convinced it wouldn't, that I was stronger. Totally wrong of course, planted me in the sand like a clam...but I'd had the courage to try. Love? Buffy?" She was sound asleep and he was grateful for it. He buried his face in her wet hair and found he couldn't sleep, only tremble with the knowledge of how easily he'd lost the innocence of his boyhood and how easily his children could lose theirs.

***

After their brief repose in nondescript Wyoming, the extended groups of Scoobies were on full throttle back across the interstate. The next stop for any length of time was likely to be Des Moines, Iowa. Spike had not slept since leaving California and Buffy was insistent he forgo his turn behind the wheel in favor of stretching out in the back seat. He slept soundly now, his leather duster rolled up under his head for a pillow. Buffy toyed with a few stray curl that had fallen about his forehead, he hadn't bothered or cared to bring gel to tame them. She gave his sweet face one last caress before turning back around in her seat next to Angel.

"You sure you're not too tired to drive?" she asked.

"I'm fine, I slept back at the motel.....we're almost to Iowa now."

"How long ago did the sun set? I wasn't paying attention."

"About six hours ago, actually." Buffy sighed and relaxed, opening the window a crack despite how cold the temperature was outside.

"Spike told be about Connor......he must mean the world to you."

"He does."

"He's 16 now, right? Because of the dimensional hinge? I can barely remember being 16....I grew up pretty fast."

"I still remember, when you were just beginning as the Slayer, still just a girl."

"Not a girl anymore.....now I'm a mother.....I'm someone's wife."

"And to Spike of all people! Couldn't you have chosen a nice boring accountant?"

"Nah.....need a little monster in my man. I love him, Angel, I love him so much. If anything ever happened to him, I'd be so lost. I couldn't keep things together now if I didn't have him to lean on."

"There isn't much about Spike that I could say I like....but his capacity to love is staggering."

"He's been talking about want a soul, ever since the twins were born. Part of me thinks that's admirable...but on the other hand I don't want him to change. I'm scared he will."

"You mean like I do?"

"Yeah, I guess so. It's not like I think I won't love him still, I just kinda wonder if he'll still love me...and his children. I don't know how it works for him, what is demon? What is man? I'm just babbling...nevermind."

"For what it's worth, Buffy, I doubt there's anything that could ever make Spike stop loving you and from what I remember about William, he'd be writing god awful poems about you inside of a heartbeat." She smiled, contented by Angel's reassurance. She turned herself around and found comfort in watching her husband sleep, a steady rise and fall to his chest lulling her. The mere fact that he breathed told her so much about his closeness to her. His eyes fluttered open and met her's, there was a palpable connection between them. It was as if an invisible cord joined them heart to heart.

A moment later a strange horror befell all. A sensation that could be likened to passing from the clean, oxygenated surface into a pool of stagnant water, settled upon them. Spike and Angel both felt the change heighten by their vampire senses. When the car suddenly died, Spike bolted up. He looked behind them to see the other vehicle in the same predicament and Michael climbing out, shedding his coat and tunic then unfolding his massive white wings. He summoned a long bladed sword to his hand and with a swirl to cut the air, the thing ignited in brilliant flames. The stars in the sky died out, the wilderness faded around them and soon enough the only light was that what shone from the headlights of the vehicles and Michael's sword.

"Suit up, Slayer, we've got company!" Spike warned. Angel was already out of the car and at the trunk ready to hand Spike and Buffy swords of their own. Willow and Giles occupied themselves with raising magic, while Xander and Riley armed themselves with weapons and tuned in for battle. Dawn was the last to descend from the SUV, her entire being covered in the green luminous manifestation of her power.

Against the black of the sky five figures broke out. Their wings were spread wide, twenty feet across, feathers as white as the driven snow, but with quills of black and crimson in contrast. They were guised in battle armor of an ancient and timeless fashion; with breastplates that depicted hideous tableaus of deeds past and of their inherent attributes - these angels were killers.

to be continued.....

Chapter 24 - The Angels of Punishment

Buffy and Spike fell into a fighting stance with their backs to each other, each determined to protect their spouse. Likewise, Xander and Angel stood their ground together; while Giles and Willow combined their white witchcraft, the Watcher having become quite advanced in working with the Wiccan since her move to England. Riley stood hardened and controlled, armed with a standard military rifle. Lastly, Dawn and Michael came forth into the position on the front line.

The attackers assaulted the group as one full force. Their savage weapons of swords, battle axes and a scythe were on full tilt and slashing in wide arcs as they made their first descent. Michael met the leader's blade and countered with a reverse parry, meanwhile Dawn emanated a pressure that sent it reeling back. The others opted for a more traditional defense. As the angel wielding the scythe swooped to cut through Spike and Buffy, the vampire spun around and took her by the waist, completed his circle, saving them both and allowing for her to cut her blade across the angel's calf as it passed. Blood burst forth and it howled.

Angel and Xander held their own, the vampire with a sword and the martial artist with a misery cor knife in each hand. Giles and Willow were able to prevent attacks via a conjured field of energy and able to send their opponent off course with bolts of energy. Riley however seemed petrified. The others hadn't opportunity to notice as they fended off the second wave from the angels.

Michael was now engaged in a duel high above the rest. He and the other angel clashed their weapons and the din was like thunder. At one point the two got hold of each other and began to wrestle. Being the superior warrior, Michael was able to over power his opponent and take his chance to force through the angel's rib cage and tear out its heart. The dead creature fell to Earth for the second time in its existence. Without time to rest on his laurels, Michael descended to aid the others.

"Angel hold him!" Xander shouted to his partner. The vampire struggled to subdue the one angel they'd somehow managed to anchor to the ground. Xander became intensely still and quiet, his breathing even and controlled. Closing his eyes, he extracted his mind from the world around him and concentrated. Angel watched in utter amazement as Xander poised his hand a good distance back but over the angel's heart, a moment later the organ burst from the divine creature seemingly of its own volition and straight into the shaolin protégé's hand,"Guess angels never paid much attention to the movement of chi, huh?" He tossed the heart on the ground and made face of definite ewwwww at his hand.

"Guess not," Angel replied, still bewildered,"Um, Xander? When did you turn into Bruce Lee?"

"Spike! Drop!" Buffy shouted. He obeyed and reacted just in the nick of time as the angel they'd been continuously fighting made another attempt with his scythe. Buffy brought up her sword and with fortune on her side she contacted with her blade with the staff of his weapon at just the right spot and sent the angel crashing to the ground. Already Spike, his demon vicious and blood thirsty, was charging at the angel. Without hesitation Spike punched through to ripped out the heart. He threw the thing back on the dead body as Michael's second kill hit the ground. Only one angel now remained and he was hell bent on taking out at least one of his master's enemies. In this moment that meant Riley Finn.

As a soldier he was perfect. His instincts had been honed to react at a hair trigger's pace; he was trained in countless combat maneuvers and strategies; but he was also a god-fearing man who slept with a King James Bible on his beside table. He'd been sitting in the same vehicle as the archangel Michael himself all this time, but it wasn't until this moment, this fight, that he came to realize just how it had blown his faith sky high.

"Bloody shoot him Finn!" Spike yelled, while Riley stood petrified and fixated on his impending death,"Bloody hell! Do you want to die?!" Spike snarled and with stealth and speed hurled his sword through the air in a move to intercept the angel just before it took out Riley Finn. The angel spasmed violently as the sword went into its back, falling to the ground before Riley in time for Spike to kick it over and take out its heart. With the final death the stars returned and the world shifted back to the one they knew. Spike, however couldn't have cared less. He stormed over to Riley and with his bloody fist clocked the soldier with a right hook to knock him back to his senses as well as take out a few frustrations. Buffy had to restrain her husband from taking a second round out on her ex-boyfriend."You stupid bloody sufferin' git! Do you know how close you came to gettin' killed?!"

"Spike...come on, leave him alone, come with me," Buffy tried to reason, but Spike would have none of it.

"If you freeze up like that again it could cost someone else their life, if you can't handle this, get the hell away from us!"

"It was an angel!" Riley shot back. Spike tore away from Buffy and stalked off back to the Plymouth, and she followed, casting a worried look back at Riley. The vampire leaned on his hands against Angel's car, teetering back and forth on his feet, trying not to lash out or wreck anything. Buffy went into the back seat and brought out a bottle of water and a towel.

"Lemme see your hand," she bade calmly.

"M'hand's fine, love."

"Yes, but there's blood on it." He scoffed, hardly caring, but let her rinse and dry it nonetheless."I want you to know I think you're right about Riley....it doesn't seem like he can handle this...he was uh...very religious when we were together."

"Despite the premarital sex?" Spike laughed, moving closer to his wife. She took his hand in her's and moved it around to the small of her back.

"So he's a bit of a hypocrite...my point is..."

"I get your point, Slayer....but I don't really care, we didn't bring him along so he could have himself a crisis of faith. He's here because he's muscle and a good guy, but if he makes a mistake like that again....you could get hurt....or someone else could, we can't take that risk."

"I think he'll be okay, I'll try and talk to him. Give me a hug." He obliged, leaning them against the car as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Oh Buff..." He squeezed her impossibly tight against him.

"I love you too, vampire mine. Don't ever let me go."

"Never, never."

***

Michael had stowed his sword back into the divine corner of the universe from which it came and dressed himself again in his tunic and coat. He approached Riley Finn cautiously, slowly, with a warmth and love that came from the On High. He brought Riley to his feet and guided him away from the others.

"I understand why it is you hesitated, why you could not kill him. Man has closed himself off from the On High - he no longer sees the Creator as it is, he sees it as his religion dictates. When you imagine God, do you picture an elderly man with a beard? In some places God has blue skin and many arms - the On High is none of this, but yet it is all the same. God is love and God is wrath; creation and destruction. The Creator exists in all things, is everywhere at once - in every demon and every angel. I am a warrior and I fight my own kind when they are corrupt and evil. We have no souls, my brethren and I, we have no souls Riley Finn. We choose our side and we defend it to the last.

'There is a voice inside you that speaks through your soul, that is the word, not the pages in books. You have always had it and you always will. The On High speaks into my ear and I hear the will as clearly as if you spoke to me now, and I must obey. There is no black and white in the universe, it is all colors, including the metaphorical gray. Righteous angels deserve your respect and your awe, the others deserve to have their hearts removed from their chests. Understand?" Riley nodded as Michael spoke. In actuality he wanted to lay down and die; to weep; to rage; but he didn't want to believe the truth he couldn't deny. Michael reached out and boldly lay a hand upon Riley's heart,"Listen to the voice, it speaks only truth."

Riley and Michael rejoined the others, who all gathered at the highway side. Angel and Xander had piled the corpses of the angels between the two cars. Fortunately this stretch of road was absolutely deserted. There was another truth Riley didn't want to believe - Spike and Buffy seemed to be wrapped in a perpetual embrace. Even standing still their hands were all over each other. They caressed and cajoled over shoulders, backs, rear ends. There was nothing he wouldn't give to be back in Panama taking out nests of Hortus demons.

"The Angels of Punishment," Michael proclaimed,"Af - angel of anger; Kezef - angel of wrath; Hemah - angel of fury; Hasmed - angel of annihilation; and Mashit - angel of destruction. Semyaza knows we are coming....I fear time may have run out....for the twins......for all of us."

to be continued.....

Chapter 25 - Solace

"Such little things, aren't they? So fragile...it would take almost nothing to cause them so much pain. A cut into the flesh, it would make them weep for hours. A minute amount of pressure would snap a bone," the angel Semyaza ruminated to the soul that had once been a human being. There was two of them, one menacing and pontificating, the other timid and submissive, but laying before them on a marble slab, the angel's altar, were the two babies that four days previously had been stolen from the loving nest of their parents' home. William clutched possessively to Allegra, holding her smaller self to him just had he did when they had been inside their mother. They were naked, but not cold; they had not had milk, but there was no hunger - the Garden provided. There was however fear, fear so extreme that were they not so innocent and unknowing they would have gone insane. They did cry sorrowfully for the mother who'd held them and fed them warm milk from soft breasts, who kissed their tummies and laughed with such joy. They wailed mournfully for the father that held them too close, that sang lullabies and rubbed their feet."It matters not...in one day I will undo the Sefiroth. Blood and bones are nothing, the soul is all I need."

***

The group had decided on a few hours rest just outside of Cleveland, Ohio. Coming ever nearer to New York city filled Spike and Buffy with hope, but it also drowned them in apprehension and worry at possibly being too late to save their children. The new parents found themselves in another hotel room, as stale and cold as the previous ones.

"I'm gonna take a shower alright, love?" She simply nodded and walked away from the bed, pretending to look around the motel room. Spike wished he had something, anything to say to her, but he knew nothing would help. Therefore, he sighed quietly and went into the bathroom, closing the door behind him.

Spike came out a time later with a white hotel towel secured around his waist and his hair still damp, rivulets of water running down his spine. He spied Buffy standing by the window, looking mindlessly out at the remaining rays of the sunset that peeked through the hazy clouds. She was wearing one of his old black t-shirts, thread bare and dingy from so many wearings and washings, but comfortable. She's claimed it as her's and stopped him as he was throwing it out. Often she wore nothing at all to bed, sometimes she wore a sexy nightie, then on the odd occasion it was this t-shirt. He rummaged around in the backpack for his own sleepwear but couldn't locate them. He moved over to her bag and looked there, but to no avail.

"Pet, have you seen m'pants? Not in the bags..." he inquired. She turned and looked at him and shook her head.

"Did you forget them? When did you see them last?"

"Night before last..."

"Where did you lose them then?"

"If I knew that, sweets, they wouldn't be lost."

"Does it really matter? You don't like wearing them anyways."

"Yes, but....but..." He gestured towards the bed.

"Doesn't matter Spike...we hardly need to be nervous about being naked together."

"No, I mean....yes, it's hard being near you and not being you. It's just that...."

"You'll feel guilty if you get aroused?"

"Yes." She turned back to the window and sighed.

"Would it be so wrong to take comfort in each other? Solace? William and Allegra are frightened, hungry, cold and about to be killed by a psychotic angel and there's nothing we can do about it, we'll be on the road again in two hours, there isn't anything we can do until then, and maybe....maybe I need it too? Things like this can tear two people apart....I don't want to lose you." He walked over to her then, laying his hands on either side of her upper arms and stroking lightly with his finger tips.

"You could never lose me, Buffy. I can't be without you...or our beautiful lil' babies."

"Spike....what if we get there and it's too late?" He turned her around to see the tears in her eyes and the fear that inhabited her constantly,"What if...."

"If....if...." his voice was shaky,"We'll go somewhere...maybe to Africa....you'll let me drain you and then I will lay myself over your body and wait for the sun to turn me to a shroud of ashes." She leaned forward and pressed her lips to the center of his chest while her hands swept the towel away from around his waist. He pulled his old T-shirt over her head, leaving the two of them naked before each other. Reaching beyond her, he closed the curtains before sweeping her off her feet. He lay her down on the cold sheets of the bed and hovered over her, half standing and half on the bed. Buffy's thighs parted of their own volition, inviting him to join with her, give her a slight reprieve from the woes that plagued them. Spike moved over her and rested beside her, his hand massaging over the plains of her body. His rubbed his nose on the underside of a warm, plump breast, the scent of her skin was soothing to him, assuaging his sorrow. His dragged his lips over her torso, down her stomach, and back upwards to curl his tongue around and engorged nipple. She gasped and turned into his mouth, holding the back of his head against the breast. She swallowed nervously as he began to suckle, it felt wonderful, but wrong in a certain way. He felt the change come over her and he moved away, looking at her face he saw the uncertainty. It didn't matter, he couldn't make himself hard even though he truly wanted to, there was too much ache in his heart to allow himself the pleasure of her body. Opening his arms to her, she rolled into him and held tight around his back. His leg covered both of her's and cocooned her.

There was no space between their skin, but the emptiness between them in their hearts couldn't be filled. It was enough to just hold each other in silence. Her breath was hot against his neck and his lips were pressed to the pulse point on her's. She tightened her body's grip around him and he knew what she was asking. He vamped out, sunk his fangs into her and drank. She made small screams and her body shuddered, but it was in almost divine ecstasy. Her fingernails dug into the taut muscles on his back as her sweet blood pooled in his mouth and slid down his throat. He always had full control of himself when she allowed him to have her this way, but it wasn't until she pulled at the back of his hair that he finally released her. His tongue caught the streams of blood that threatened to run away from the punctures while her voice echoed,"I love you," at his ear.

His human face sought her's and there was no kiss, but they held each other's eyes."Where in Africa?" Buffy asked, before she caught the tear streaming from the corner of his eye and down his face with the back of her hand.

"Where the first Slayer was born, where she walked, where she hunted, where she was killed.....where we began....and that's where we'll end it."

to be continued.....