Per Aspera Ad Astra
*Though the thorns to the stars*

Prologue

***

Anya and Xander sat in the Magic Box, a seating chart in front of them. Tara and Willow sat next to them, heads bent over thick textbooks for homework while Dawn sat doodling in a notebook. The shop was relatively empty, except for the gang, and Anya had decided it was a yet another perfect time to talk about the wedding.

"What do you mean we can't sit your Uncle Mortie there? I've been working at this for weeks, and I think I did a good job, Xander!" she fumed, trying to hold her temper in check. Her newly blonde curls bounced with every syllable.

"Well, An, sweetie, if you put my uncle and my dad together, the probability of them both getting drunk risings one hundred percent. Do you really want them to mess up the wedding?" he tried to reason.

Dawn smirked across the room at Tara and Willow who promptly grinned back. Their jabber was becoming more and more constant lately.

"Well, where you do suggest we put him?" Anya asked pointedly, nearing the end of her rope. She pursed her painted pink lips.

"Put him next to Grandpa and Grandma Harris. They're practically comatose anyway," he said matter-of-factly.

"Xander! Aren't you always telling me to mind my manners? I haven't been human very long, but I'm pretty sure you should respect your elders." She frowned at him, glowering.

"I'm sorry, but my family is a little dysfunctional." He put his head in his hands. "We really should have eloped," he groaned to himself.

"Don't be silly, Xander. I absolutely refuse to elope with you." She smiled, softening. "I want everyone to know that I'm spending the rest of my life with my best friend." He leaned across the table to kiss her sweetly.

Suddenly, the door busted open and in stormed Spike, Buffy not far behind him.

"I told you, Slayer! I told you if you don't do it yourself, I will." He glared at her.

"In the training room, now!" Buffy glared back and practically stalked to the training room, slamming the door behind both of them. They stood glaring at each other a few seconds before she exploded. "How can you?!" she demanded, poking him in the chest with her index finger.

He slapped her hand away. "How can you not, Slayer? You're lying to all of your friends!"

Dawn immediately bolted out of her seat and pressed her ear closer to the door, straining to hear the conversation better while shushing the others. Buffy had been rather moody lately, and she was a bit curious what about. Well, besides the whole hell-on-earth-aftereffect-of-experiencing-heaven thing.

"I broke it off because of my friends, Spike! When will you get that through your thick head? I don't love you!" she shouted fiercely. "I never will!"

"Is that really the reason, pet?" he asked, suddenly quieting. His features hardened.

"Yes, it is," she said, her jaw clenched. He stared back at her, unflinching. Then her tone dropped. "You know I can't be around you Spike … you know that."

"Why, Buffy? Why?" He gave her a pleading look. "You know I love you."

"Well, I don't love you, Spike!" Her voice raised a few notches. "I can't." Her tone was resolute as she looked away, trying not to look at the hurt expression he was currently wearing.

"Keep trying to convince yourself, luv." He hardened his expression, licking his lips, "I am going to tell them whether you like it or not."

"You can't," Buffy ground out.

"What's going on?" Willow asked quietly, her question directed at Dawn.

"It sounds like Buffy's keeping something from us, and Spike wants her to tell us." She snorted lightly. "She just told him she doesn't love him." She glanced up through smoky lashes. "Weird, how does that fit in there?"

Tara's eyes slowly widened and she looked away. "Guys, um, m-maybe we shouldn't be eavesdropping on their conversation."

Xander and Anya exchanged glances. "Do you know something, Tara?" Xander asked suspiciously.

"W-why would I know anything?" Tara asked, pitifully trying to hide her involvement in the situation, her stammer a clear indication of the opposite.

"If you say so," Xander relented, casting Willow and Anya a look.

Then the gang suddenly jumped, as there was a sudden bang in the training room.

"Do you think they're killing each other?" Dawn asked seriously.

"No," Anya said bluntly. "Spike still has the chip, and besides, by the sound of it, they're probably having sex." All eyes shot to her in shock and disbelief. "What? In my thousand years as a vengeance demon, you think I didn't learn anything?"

***

"Is that what you really want to believe, luv?" Spike smirked, slowly approaching her, causing her to back into the door with a bang.

"No-I mean, yes-" She placed her hands on his chest to push him away, but he caught them, bringing them up to the side of her head and effectively pinning her to the door.

"Spike," she said low in her throat, "if you don't let me g-"

He cut her off by crushing her to the door, his lips to hers, unaware of the loud thump caused by the sudden movement. She wasted no time in responding, unconsciously curling her fingers around his. He immediately softened the kiss as soon as he felt her kiss back, loosening his painful grip on her hands.

She pulled her arms away, bringing them to his head, one on his cheek, the other playing in the nape of his neck. Spike reciprocated by placing his hands on her waist and pressing himself closer to her.

The kiss doubled in intensity, and she wrapped her arms around his neck and legs around his waist as he lifted her into his arms. He stumbled back, landing hard on the training mats but quickly recovering and making use of the current situation.

He swiftly flipped them over and hovered above her through hazy eyes, winter meeting spring. He smiled at her softly, and Buffy's breath caught in her throat. He didn't smile often, but when he did, it always took her breath away. It was these times that she always wondered what he was like as a human.

He leaned his head closer again, and Buffy let her eyes drift shut just as the door burst open and the Scooby gang came bursting through into a heap of arms and legs on the floor. Buffy immediately shot into action, pushing Spike off of her quicker than humanly possible. The gang looked up at her sheepishly from the floor before trying in vain to untangle themselves.

Rolling her eyes and trying to hide her red face, Buffy pulled each out of the pile, one by one. Spike sat on the folded mats, smirking. It was about time they got a clue about what was going on.

"I told you guys," Anya shot at the group as soon as she was standing, fixing her shirt and hair. "I'm not a complete idiot."

"Told you what?" Buffy asked quietly almost afraid of the answer. They had found out, even after she spent all that time yelling at Spike … and kissing him.

"That you two weren't killing each other, even with the shouting," Anya told her matter-of-factly. "I said you were probably having sex."

Xander slapped his forehead. Sometimes Anya could be a more frank than need be. "An, this is one of those times I'm always talking about."

Dawn sat grinning on the floor. "So … Buff … when did you two start getting your freak on?"

"What? Dawn, no! No freaking or … No!" she stuttered, her face reddening with every syllable. "Vampires are bad and evil and they're not …"

"Hot?" Dawn finished for her, another knowing smirk crossing over her face, matching the grin currently spread over Spike's.

"So it's true," Xander concluded. "I think I'm going to sit down."

"You mean that Spike and you …?" Willow took a seat next to Xander while Tara sent Buffy a sympathetic look, trying to communicate with her eyes that she had tried.

"Buffy, I'm trying to see this from your point of view, but Spike? Deadboy Junior?" Xander asked sounding disappointed. "I mean, Angel was bad enough, and he had a soul! A soul, Buffy!" He glared at Spike. "The only thing stopping him from killing you the first chance he gets is a piece of silicon that we know practically nothing about!"

"I know, Xander. I know that," Buffy sounded disgusted with herself, and Spike snorted. He should have figured. "I cut it off. I understand that now."

"Understand what, Slayer? That I love and I would never leave you or do anything to hurt you or Dawn?" he shot at her. Why did he even try? The girl was too stubborn for her own good. She never learned.

"You can't love, Spike! You don't have a soul!" Xander glared. "You're a thing, a monster." His features were set. "Demons don't love."

"Yes they do," Anya joined in. "You think I'm not capable of love, Xander?" she asked. She looked deeply wounded by his harsh words.

"Of course I do, sweetie," he immediately stepped in, defending himself. "I love you. You know I do."

"Then why are you treating Spike like dirt?" She moved across the room. "He's been nothing but helpful, besides those times where he stole from the shop," she added as an afterthought, "but he's very helpful with patrol and he takes good care of Dawn." She sent a furious glare at Xander. "And he definitely loves Buffy! I can tell!" Spike smiled, deciding that he really liked that girl.

"He does," Tara added in just as Spike added her to his list. "He loves her. I mean, if he didn't, he would have left a long time ago. Plus, he spent a century with Drusilla." Spike sent her an appreciative look.

"This is so cool!" Dawn squealed from the floor. "Buffy and Spike, I always knew something was going on!"

"There is NO Buffy and Spike," Buffy said decisively. "At least, not anymore. I made sure of that."

"That's good, Buffy," Willow said in support. "I mean, Angel was bad enough …"

Spike jumped in. "Don't even think about comparing me to Peaches! I am nothing like the poof." He frowned at Willow. "And here I am all this time, Red, thinking you might actually like me." She immediately looked to Tara for support.

Buffy swallowed hard. "Well, you don't have to worry anymore. It's over." An awkward silence followed as Buffy looked around the room. Her friends avoided looking into her eyes, everyone except Spike.

Spike looked straight at her, almost into her, like he could see into her mind, her heart. "Is that really what you want, pet?" he asked her quietly. "No more games."

"It's over, Spike." She looked at the floor. "I can't love you."

He looked at her for a few more seconds before snorting and chuckling to himself. "I really don't know why I do this, Slayer. Why I set myself up for these bloody situations." He laughed sardonically, wishing for something to hit, to crush, to throw. He stopped suddenly, quieting. "Do you want me to leave, Slayer?"

She looked at him, shocked. "How can you ask me that?"

"Do you want me to leave Sunnyhell? Go away?" He snorted. "It's an easy question, Slayer."

She stared at him, as if trying to engrain his image in her mind. "I don't want you to go, but I can't-I can't be around you."

"What kind of answer is that?"

"I don’t want you to leave, Spike." She looked at her friends. "But I can't be with you."

"So what's the point then, Slayer?" He looked eerily calm. "You won't see me anyway."

Buffy grasped desperately for words. "Dawn … Dawn, she would-"

"Don't give me that, Slayer. This is about you. What you want."

She was frantic for words. "Spike, I just can't see you long enough to-"

He laughed here. "That's rich, luv! So you want me to sit around while you go off to find another Captain Cardboard? You expect me to sit back and watch?"

"Can we not have this conversation here?" The others were starting to look uncomfortable, even Xander and Anya.

"You're right. I'm leaving." He got up to leave, stopping at the doorway to the training room. "You know what, Slayer? Forget it. Go on with your life. Be good and pure. You know what's going to happen anyways. It's like a bloody cycle, you can see it coming and there's nothing you can do to stop it." And then he was gone.

She stalked over to the place he had previously occupied and flopped down on the mats, head in hands. "No wonder you all hate me."

"We don't hate you, Buffy," Willow immediately said.

"You should. I'm being nothing but bitchy and self-absorbed and I don't know why," she mumbled softly.

"It's probably just the Bleached Wonder corrupting you," Xander sneered.

Her head shot up, hurt green eyes trained on him. "How can you … Spike's always been so good to me, even when I don't deserve it." She looked down at her hands.

"Buffy," Tara began. "You shouldn't be so hard on yourself." She smiled, almost motherly.

Dawn stayed quiet, though. How could her sister do this all under their noses and without really even caring one bit for Spike? "Buffy, why?"

"What?"

"Why? I mean, why did you do it? Before you …" She wandered off here. They knew what she was talking about. "You wouldn't even consider it."

Buffy swallowed hard. "After … I was just so hurt and confused, and Spike knew what I was going through. He understood me." She bit her lip. "And he loves me, or at least he says he does." She looked away again. "It's funny. We all don't think anyone is capable of love without a soul, I mean, that's what we keep telling him anyway, and he just turns around and proves us wrong. Over and over again. I wish I could love him. It's just …"

"You're scared," Tara concluded. All eyes shot to her. "I know I haven't been around for everything, but from what I've seen, you've been hurt before, and you're scared he's going to leave."

"Spike doesn't leave." She shifted her gaze to Tara. "You want to know what's stopping me? From loving him, I mean?" She paused for a second. "He's a vampire. An evil monster that kills innocent people."

Dawn scoffed. "Spike hasn't killed anyone since he got the chip! And if he got it out, I know he still wouldn't. Spike is not evil," she protested. "God Buffy, I had my doubts, but you really are a bitch." With that, she got up and left, grabbing her books on the way out.

"Dawn, wait!" Buffy followed after her running sister, the Scoobies trailing not far behind. It was already past dusk, no hint of the sun in the sky, leaving open the great possibility of vamps and demons.

Dawn quickly headed for the crypt. She was almost certain he would be there, drinking his sorrows away. She moved faster, trying to greaten the distance between Buffy and herself.

Moving mindlessly, she rammed straight into a rather large and ugly green demon with large red horns jutting out of its forehead and each of its joints. It immediately swung at her, and she let out a terrified scream, causing the gang to run faster. The thing almost swiped her across the face if it wasn't for a flash of black leather tackling her out of harm's way.

"Spike!" She looked at him, surprised and relieved.

"Go," he said firmly before turning back to the ugly thing. She obeyed, scrambling to her feet and taking refuge with Willow and Tara.

Buffy soon joined in the fight, sending a flying kick to the back of the demon's head, disorienting it enough to move Dawn safely away. She didn't bring any weapons with her and settled for pulling out her stake, dodging the large horn coming out of its elbow to slam the wood into its abdomen.

Howling, the creature fell to its knees, chanting something in an unrecognized demon tongue. Spike took the opportunity to reach forward and jerk its head, effectively snapping its neck, but not before the ground began to shake and everything grew hazy for everyone. The world spun and turned black.

***

They awoke early in the morning. Buffy squinted up at the bright sun in the east and froze.

The sun. Spike!

She sat up quickly and frantically searched the heads for a bleached mop of hair. She found what she was looking for.

And he wasn't dust.

"Spike!" she whispered urgently, shaking him. "Wake up!"

He opened his eyes, only to immediately shut them again. "Why is it so bright?" He sat up, holding an arm over his face as protection from the blinding light. "Am I in heaven?"

Buffy rolled her eyes. "No, you are not in heaven. You're a vampire, remember?"

"So why are you talking to me? Through with the act already?" He attempted to glare at her, failing miserably.

The others came to, and Xander noticed what she had. "Why is Spike non-dusty?"

"Where is that ugly demon?" Dawn asked, pushing herself off the ground.

"Um, guys," Willow called nervously. "I think the best question is, where are we?"

"Oh no! I left the shop open!" Anya cried out, suddenly anxious and worried. "All my money!"

Xander quickly alleviated her fears. "I locked it when we were going after Dawn. I figured you had the key, and it wasn't a good idea to leave the shop alone, even for a few minutes." Anya quickly threw her arms about his neck and gave him a hard kiss, thankful for the saving of her money.

The gang moved into sitting positions to scan their surroundings. They lay in the middle of a grassy field in front of a humongous villa.

"That is the biggest house I have ever seen," Dawn muttered to herself.

Willow looked over, rubbing her head. "And that looks like a Roman," she said dazedly. The gang immediately followed her line of vision to see a man wearing a toga approaching the group.

"Holy shit," Xander muttered to himself after Anya let him come up for air. He moved a considerable distance away and quickly looked over the scene before him. "If I wasn't so scared, I might have actually been angry that Spike isn't dust."

Tara looked almost as pale as Spike. "So … do any of you speak Latin?"

***

Now, I know I should be working on "Becoming Me," but reviews truly do motivate me to write faster, and I am not really getting any feedback on that besides "I like it." I will eventually finish, but this popped into my head and I had to get it on paper. I really would appreciate some C&C on "Becoming Me" so read it! Again, please review and tell me what you thought. Any suggestions will be taken into account. Thank you!

Evangeline

Chapter One

***

"So ... do any of you speak Latin?"

"I do, Glinda," Spike answered Tara's question quietly.

"No, seriously," Xander said, annoyed.

Spike leveled his gaze. "Seriously, you wanker." He glanced over at the appraoching man. "You want me to make up a story? I think I remember enough about Rome to pull it off."

"Salvete!" the man in the tunic called. He was eyeing their unusal clothing curiously.

"It's now or never," Willow said under her breathe as Spike got to his feet and walked over to the man.

"Salve," Spike said in response, gripping the man at the elbow in an odd sort of handshake.

The two got to talking, a name leaking out every now and then and some darting eyes. Spike finally finished with a, "gratias maximas tibi ago" before turning back to the group.

"So?" Anya asked, a little anxious. "I'm not sure I like this situation very much. It's creepy, and we don't have any money at all."

"I told him that we're foreigners, and we're lost and don't know how we got here. I also said that none of you know how to speak Latin. I gave him some altered forms of your names for some of you to make them sound realistic."

"What kind of names?" Dawn asked, suddenly curious.

"I said your name was Davna, Nibblet." (AN: Okay, I usually don't do this either, but Romans didn't have the letter w, so they used the letter v with the same pronunciation as a w, so basically it's Dawna. I won't use the v's any other time except for introductions.)

"What's the fun in that? One letter, big difference," Dawn muttered to herself.

Ignoring her, "I kept Tara and Anya's names the same, and I changed Willow to Villiana (Williana). Said Xander was Alexander."

"What about us?" Buffy asked.

"Well, Spike and Buffy are probably about as far from a Roman name as you can get, so I told him my name was Villiamus (Williamus)." This sent Dawn into a surge of giggles that he also pointedly ignored. "Told him your name was Anna from your middle name."

"What's toga guy's name?" Willow asked. "He looks very Giles-y, doesn't he?"

Spike glanced back over his shoulder. "He does, didn't notice." Snorting to himself, "His name is Crispinus Scribonius Tiberius. Crispinus is his given name, Scribonius is his family name, and Tiberius is his nickname. Call him that."

"So do you know what's going to happen to us? Where are we staying? We don't have any money!" Anya was nearing frantic.

"He says we can stay with him in his villa," he indicated the large house with a nod

"Just like that?" Xander asked, trying to be civil in front of Buffy. "He doesn't even know us."

"Romans have a policy of hospitality, think the gods or whatever will reward them for it," he answered. "'Sides, there's a problem."

"What kind of problem?" Buffy asked.

"Well, you don't speak Latin for one."

"Oh."

"And the other, we would draw too much attention from the servants. We're very suspicious, pet." He looked at her with kind eyes that she promptly looked away from.

"W-Well, anything unusual usually draws the attention of the servants," Tara pointed out, fingering the hem of her blouse nervously.

"Love, it isn't exactly respectable for a lady to be travelling alone without a related male, so to fix this problem, I told him that demon girl and the whelp are married. Told him that the Slayer and Nibblet are sisters, and you girls are together." He ran a pale hand through slightly curling hair, still a little uncomfortable in the sunlight.

"You told him what? Is that even legal?" Willow asked.

He smirked, pleased with himself. "Look, you girls will just have to make do with the living arrangements. You only have to share a room to sleep. And, of course, Red, the Romans openly accepted homosexuality. It was pretty common, especially among men although I don't know the hell why."

"What about you?" Xander asked. "If Anya and I are together, and Willow and Tara are together, where do you fit in? You look nothing like any of us, so you can't say you're a weird older brother or something." He grinned. Maybe they could ditch him.

Spike fidgeted. "You'll probably be mad, pet," Spike said cautiously, "but it's not like I want this arrangement either."

"Spit it out," Buffy narrowed her eyes. Spike was up to something.

"I told him we're married." The words came out in a rush as Spike steeled himself for a blow.

Instead, he was met with wide, frightened eyes. "What?"

"I said I told him we're married. Pet, it's just a coverup, and he would expect you to be married by now. Most girls here married at fourteen." He gave himself a mental kick. "Look, would you rather I said I was married to Dawn?"

"I can't believe you did that!" Xander roared. "You could have said you were a-a servant or something!" He was beyond pissed now.

"I am not the bloody servant! A servant wouldn't be bilingual you stupid sod!" Spike glared. "So deal."

"No, that's it, Deadboy, Jr.," Xander shot back, "As soon as I find a stake, you are so gonna fit into a mini-vac."

Spike lifted a scarred eyebrow at him. "Well that's just too bad, bricklayer."

"What are you talking about?" His fist clenched.

"I'm the only one who can speak Latin here, at least fluently. So you're stuck with me." He smirked.

"Guys, cut it out," Dawn cut in, "Giles the second is looking."

"You mean Tiberius?" Tara pointed out.

"Whatever," Buffy said. "I'll do it. We just have to share a room?" Spike nodded. "Fine. But this doesn't mean that things between us are any different."

"I wouldn't dream of it, Slayer," Spike sneered. Without another word, he turned back to Tiberius.

The old man smiled as he was spoken to, slightly graying whiskers turning upward. Gesturing to the rest, he started for the villa, speaking to Spike the entire time.

Spike glanced back and translated for them. "He says we'll be given four cubiculum. That's a bedroom."

"Four?" Dawn asked, then, "Oh. One each for every couple with one left over. I get my own room? Wicked." She grinned to herself, and Tiberius laughed as if he could understand what she was saying just by her facial expressions.

"Don't get your hopes up, Nibblet. The only thing you do in your room is sleep." She rolled her eyes in response. "We're in the atrium," he announced as the rest looked at the shrubbery-lined walkway. "This is just the entrance to the house."

"House?" Anya said off to the side. "More like mansion. This man is really rich."

They walked through a pair of large heavy doors into a much larger room. There was a big hole in the middle of the roof as well as a pool in the middle of the room beneath it surrounded by marble columns.

"Whoa," Willow breathed. "A swimming pool in the middle of a mansion."

Spike chuckled. "That's the impluvium. It's meant to catch rain water."

"Darn," Xander replied sarcastically. "I was hoping to catch you offguard and give you a little push."

"Sod off."

They continued on through the entire villa, Spike naming rooms as they came to them. The taberna was near the front entrance. Those were the shops used to sell goods the servants made. The triclinium, or the dining room, was situated next to the culina, or the kitchen. In the dining room, there was a table surrounded by three lounge couches. Each couch fit three. The lararium was a room-shrine dedicated to the penates, or the household gods. This room was next to the latrina, the bathroom at which Dawn immediately wrinkled her nose due to the replacement of toilet paper with a sponge. Separated from the main building was a bath house with hot running water. Towards the middle of the villa was the peristylum, the garden that everyone immediately marveled at. It seemed like the entire house was built around the open-air space complete with an aviary full of foreign and exotic birds.

"He must be really rich, An," Xander muttered to his fiance.

Finally, they came to a rather large study, the tablinum. Tiberius gave them a grave expression, dark brown eyes turning even darker, before telling Spike that they had to stay out of it. Then, he called four servants, Justinus, Servius, Fulva, and Messalina, to show them to their rooms and bring them clothes to wear. They were directed to four rooms adjacent to one another and handed a buncle of clothes each but not with several odd looks.

None of the rooms had a door, but a thick piece of cloth was strung across the doorway on a rope just as the windows. There was a large chest at the foot of each bed full of garments, and the beds, in all actuality, weren't beds at all. They were reclining couches with a couple throw pillows and beautifully woven blankets.

"Hey, Spike," Xander said, sounding confused. "How come I don't have a toga? I got this dress thing instead." He held it out with two fingers. He had a garment that looked like a long t-shirt that would stop just above his knees. He held a leather belt, leather sandals, and a hunting knife with sheath in the other hand-just the same as Spike.

"We don't get to wear togas, you whelp. We're not citizens. Don't they teach you anything in school?" he glared.

"I didn't take Latin!" Xander protested. "Which would explain why I can't speak it either."

"Hey, Anya, why don't you speak Latin?" Tara asked curiously.

"I haven't spoken it for a long time. I'm very rusty, and I'm sure my accent has gotten atrocious," she answered. Tara nodded in understanding.

Frowning down at the clothes in her hands, "Everyone just go change."

The one of the servant girls touched her on the shoulder. It was the one with the blonde hair. Fulva. She spoke to her, and Buffy looked to Spike for help.

"She wants to know if you need help dressing, luv," he told her.

"Oh." Buffy's could feel her cheeks heating. "No, but thank you."

Rolling his eyes, Spike told the girl, "Minime, sed gratias tibi ago." The girl smiled and nodded before padding off silently.

As they entered their small room, Spike pulled his black t-shirt over his head, revealing a pale chest. He stopped and looked over. "What?"

"Never seen you in the sun before," she quickly covered.

"Right. We need to figure that out, too." He gave her a knowing grin. She looked away as he continued to strip down.

The room was quite simple, very cube-like in shape. It's walls were covered in red and golden hued frescoes of Diana, the virgin huntress, goddess of the moon, and Apollo, archer god as well as patron of musicians. The room provided a warm glow from the translucent curtains strung across the single window. There was a single torch in one wall as well as a candle on a small table near the door. Then, she looked down in dismay at her clothes. Placing the material on the trunk, she put the shoes on the floor. She picked up one garment, and turned it over in her hands, dreading more and more.

Buffy looked back up as soon as Spike had finished belting the dagger around his waist. The tunica stopped just above his knees, and he sat down on the bed to tie his sandals before noticing Buffy standing there. "Are you gonna change or what? Do you want me to turn around now, Slayer?"

She shifted uncomfortably before muttering. "I don't know how."

"What's that, luv?"

Oh, so they were back to pet names, she thought wryly. "I don't know how," she said again louder. "I looked at them, and they confuse me. There's so many layers."

Spike chuckled to himself. "Here. I'll help." He took the material from her. "Take your clothes off."

"What?!"

"So you can change, Buffy. I don't think you can wear this over your jeans." He rolled his eyes.

"Oh." Shyly, she pulled her shirt off followed by her shoes and pants.

"You can keep your bra and knickers on," he told her, giving himself a mental kick. "Now, come here." She approached timidly, and he pulled a dress over her head, closing it at her shoulders with two gold pins and belting it around her waist with a thin rope. Then, he pulled another dress over her head, but this on was rather frumpy and looked like a tanktop that was twenty sizes too large for her.

"I really don't like this," Buffy said to break the silence. "It's too hot."

"Well," Spike answered. "You really don't have a choice but to wear the tunica, but I don't think you have to wear the stola around the house." He pulled the ugly tanktop dress off, mussing her hair. Then, taking her hand, he set her down on the bed, kneeling before her. He took one of her feet and placed it in a soft leather sandal, lacing it up around her ankles. He repeated the process with the other foot before grabbing his own sandals and putting them on. He reached over to the trunk, folding their clothes silently and making some room for them. Then, he pulled out a smaller box, pulling out a hair pin and handed it to her. "Put your hair up," he ordered her.

"Why?" she asked even as she pulled her hair back.

"You wear your hair up when you're married." He glanced down at her with cerulean eyes. "Some people couldn't afford rings." He grabbed his duster off the end of the bed, searching the inside pockets. He pulled out a rather old ring. It was an antique by the looks of it, a ruby flanked on either side by small diamonds. "But here. To make it more believable."

"You steal that?" Buffy asked, teasing as she slipped the ring on.

He flinced involuntarily. "That was my mother's, Slayer. Always carry it around with me," he ground out.

"Oh, Spike ..." Buffy began, reaching a hand out to him.

He abruptly stood. "Let's go." She reluctantly followed him out into the hallway to meet with the others.

***

That's it for now. I was planning on making it longer, but I figured it was long enough. More installments will come quickly depending on reviews. They're my fuel. :)

Evangeline

Nos: In response to your review, all the times I've heard this saying used, it was never "ad astra per aspera" although that would make just as much sense. "To the stars by the hard ways" would also work as a loose translation for the saying you heard, but it isn't as correct as the one I'm using.
If you're curious, I'll break the quote I'm using down for you (Per aspera ad astra, through the thorns to the stars.) I'm almost finished with my fourth year of Latin, and I'm pretty positive that my translation is correct.
"per aspera:"
First of all, per means "through," not "by." The only way this could be translated as "by" is if the form aspero (the ablative form) was used. However, aspero is not a possibility because per takes the accusative case (this case means that the word is the direct object).
Aspera is the accusative plural form of the word asperum, -i. Asperum is most commonly used as a rough place (which is probably the translation you heard), but Livy once used asperum as a thorn, and it is most likely that this saying comes comes from poetry seeing how Livy was a poet. More proof is the "a" sound alliteration with aspera and astra used often in poetry.
"ad astra:"
Second, ad does mean "to," and it also takes the accusative case. Astra is the accusative plural form of astrum, -i, and as you know, it means "stars."
So, if you used your saying "Ad astra per aspera" with your meaning of asperum, it should be translated "To the stars through the rough places."
Hope this answers your question. :)

Chapter Dua

***

Buffy frowned and silently followed Spike out of the room, the soft brown leather sandals padding on the marble tiled floor. It was funny. It was usually the other way around with Spike sticking his foot in his mouth. Time travel can do funny things to you.

She was broken from her reverie when Spike knocked loudly on the doorframe of the next room down. When no answer came, he pulled back the curtain to find an empty room. As if to answer them, Willow stuck her head out of the room next door.

"Hey guys, we're in here. Anya is helping everyone dress in Tara's and my room." Without another word, the two entered the room to find Anya helping Xander put his sandals on.

Spike smirked. "Need a woman to help you dress, whelp?" he quipped.

Xander simply glared back, too annoyed to answer. "How the heck do these people live with such stupid clothes?" he cried out, frustrated. "Guys are meant to wear pants, not dresses!"

"I think you look very manly," Anya patted him reassuringly.

"I think Spike looks hot," Dawn added. "Nice legs."

"Dawn!" Buffy immediately criticized.

"What?" Dawn asked innocently. "Look at him."

Tara exchanged a look with Buffy. She had looked all right, but at least she had tried not to. The frescoes were interesting, after all, and very appropriate.

"You're all done, Xander," Anya patted him on the knee before standing. "You didn't have any trouble, Buffy?" Buffy shook her head in response. "Why aren't you wearing your stola?"

"You mean that big frumpy thing?"

"Yes, it means you're married. I mean, your hair is up, but where is the stola?" Anya asked as she put her own hair up.

"It was too hot, so I decided not to wear it while we're inside the villa."

"I guess that's okay. You know, I'm hoping that if I hear enough Latin, I might be able to remember how to speak it," Anya said, changing the conversation.

"Well," Tara added, "I think I know a translating spell so that all of us can understand, but I'll need all the ingredients."

Buffy fiddled with the new ring on her left hand, oblivious to the talk. It was a funny feeling, being married to Spike, and the ruby ring was ten times better than the skull ring he had formerly used when proposing. Then, something caught her eye and she quickly turned around.

"Who's there?" she called cautiously to the door.

A girl about Dawn's age stepped into the room. She was quite pretty with black hair and deep blue eyes that were also twinkling in mischief. She began jabbering off in Latin, and Buffy immediately turned to Spike, helpless.

Spike smirked before talking to the girl. Then, he turned to Buffy, "I just told her that you don't speak Latin."

"Oh. Um … can you ask for her name?" she asked him, feeling a little silly having to communicate through a translator.

He did as he was asked, and his eyes darkened suddenly when he received the answer. "Her name is Portia Opimia Drusilla."

"Do we call her Drusilla?" Dawn asked meekly.

The girl turned to her and smiled. "Portia," she said, as if knowing the question. "Et tu?"

Dawn grinned, finally knowing something that had been spoken. After all, who hadn't heard Shakespeare's famous words, 'Et tu, Brute?' "Dawna." She beamed, proud of herself for remembering the name Spike gave her. "Spike, ask how old she is."

"She says she's fifteen, Bit."

Suddenly, Tiberius appeared behind Portia, placing a heavy hand on her shoulder and spoke to her. Although they couldn't understand what was being said, it sounded mightily like scolding.

Spike immediately stepped in, launching a full-blown conversation. After about five minutes, he turned to the group. "Portia is his adopted daughter, along with her older sister Livia who is eighteen. She wasn't supposed to be here; she was supposed to be shopping in the Forum with her sister. I suppose she snuck back home. From what I hear, there is going to be fireworks soon."

As in response, another girl stormed in also with flowing black hair and blue eyes, but this time, they were filled with fury. The two started shouting at one another complete with finger pointing and mockery. The Scoobies held back several chuckles, seeing as they were probably not supposed to be witnessing this. It was very interesting to watch a fight going on in a foreign language.

Rolling his eyes, Tiberius grabbed the older girl by the shoulders and diverted her several feet away to talk to her. Portia made a move for the door, but Tiberius stopped her with a word. After some rapid speaking in a hushed tone, the two girls turned back towards the group and muttered several words.

Spike whispered to the group, "They just apologized, if you're wondering."

"That's okay!" Willow said brightly, "Oh, but you probably didn't understand that …" she trailed off. "Too bad I'm way too wigged out to remember any Latin from my spells …"

Finally, Tiberius hustled Portia out of the room and said a few words to Livia.

Rolling her eyes, Livia turned back to the group. Standing with her hands on her hips, they were finally able to get a good look at her. She was a couple inches taller than Buffy, with a flattering tan and high cheekbones. Her black hair spilled over her shoulders to mid-back. That was interesting, an unmarried nineteen year old.

"Salvete, nomen mea est Livia Opimia Drusilla." Her voice sounded haughty, and she ran her eyes through the group stopping briefly on Spike before continuing her observations.

Spike gave her their names before she nodded briefly and spun on her heel, leaving the room in a huff.

"What a bitch," Dawn muttered. Buffy glared but didn't respond. There was something weird about this girl.

"She told us to meet her in the garden. I suppose Tiberius wants to speak to us," Spike said.

"Something wiggy is happening," Willow said. "I can feel it."

"She was giving me weird vibes, too," Tara agreed.

"You think this is why the demon sent us back?" Xander asked. "To punish us with bitchy nineteen year olds who have the hots for Captain Peroxide?"

"What are you babbling about, you ponce?" Spike shot back.

"You didn't notice?" Anya added in. "She was giving you the look."

Spike groaned. "Just what I bloody need."

"I thought you liked young girls," Xander drawled.

"I'm supposed to be married here, you nit," Spike reminded him.

"Maybe that's it," Xander continued. "You want to be married to Buffy. I mean, you were the last one to touch the demon. Maybe he's granting your deepest desire or something."

Spike stopped and gave him a funny look. "Yeah, bricklayer, that's it. My deepest desire is to see you in a dress while a woman puts on your shoes. Hello, there's no Passions here," he said bluntly.

"That's right," Dawn added in. "I hadn't even thought of that. Do you think we'll miss much?" she asked Spike. He had drawn her into Timmy's world due to her frequent visits. They would sit on the couch and watch Timmy fall down a well or something.

"Dunno, Nib," he told her, "I just want to find out what's going on. Why in bloody hell are we here and why can I go into sunlight?"

"Did any of you guys wear a cross?" Buffy asked the group, finally jumping into action. "Dawn, let me see your necklace." She stuck out her hand as Dawn pressed the tiny silver crucifix into her palm.

She crossed the room to Spike. Then speaking softly to him, "Do you trust me?"

He looked up at her, speaking with an equally soft tone. "Should I, pet?"

Gracing him with a small smile, she pressed the edge of the cross onto the back of his hand. When he didn't sizzle, she pressed the full cross onto his palm. "That's weird." Biting her lip, she reached forward to place her hand full on his chest.

"What are you doing?" Spike reared back.

"Would you hold still?" Buffy bit back. "I want to see if you have a heartbeat."

"So you think I'm human now?" Spike sneered. He felt the familiar shift of bone that called forth his true face. "Guess not." He shook the face away.

Buffy looked at him for a few seconds, tilting her head to the side before reaching forward and running her fingertips down the side of his face thoughtfully. His brow furrowed as he tried to comprehend what she was doing.

"So," Tara broke the uncomfortable silence. "From what I've gathered, I guess you've somehow gained some human characteristics."

"There's one last thing to test, though," Xander jumped in.

"And what would that be, whelp? A stake?"

"Your chip," Xander smirked.

"Oh? You want me to hit you? No problem," Spike said, ready to stalk over and pop the boy a good one, damn the pain.

"How about you hit Buffy?" Willow suggested. "She probably could take it."

Buffy shifted uncomfortably. "Well, you see, there's a problem with that, too." Taking a deep breath, "Spike can hit me."

"Well, Spike can hit anyone, Buff," Xander said slowly, "It just hurts a lot. For him, I mean."

"Without the pain," Buffy added.

"The chip stopped working?" Dawn said quietly.

"No," Buffy said quickly. "Just on me. Something went wrong when I came back, but nothing big. Just a … molecular sunburn or something." She looked over at Spike. "But it's okay. He won't hurt me."

"How can you be sure?" Xander asked frantically. "You should dust him right now."

"Because he hasn't tried anything, Xander, and trust me, there were a lot of times when he could have just killed me in my sleep and he hasn't. I trust him," she answered quietly.

Spike looked at with wonder. Clearing his throat, "Well, I guess this leaves me with no choice." Taking the few steps, he hit Xander, holding back his full strength before screaming in pain, holding his head. "Jesus H. Christ! I didn't even hit you hard!"

Dawn immediately came to his side. "Well that's that." She led Spike over to the bed to sit down. "Guys, how are we gonna feed Spike?"

"With blood," Anya answered matter-of-factly.

"Where are we gonna get the blood?" Dawn asked again.

"Oh."

Buffy rubbed her eyes. "I guess … I could …"

"No!" Xander shouted.

"Look Xander, it's not a big deal. He can probably last a long time on Slayer blood. He wouldn't have to drink a lot," Buffy answered. "It's my decision."

Xander huffed before settling back on his seat.

"Do you think we should go to the garden now?" Anya asked. "Didn't Tiberius want to meet us there?"

Without another word, they left the room. The two servant girls that showed them to their rooms were standing in the corner, giggling to themselves.

"Hey Anya?" Dawn asked. "Can you understand what they're saying?"

Anya's brow furrowed, then she giggled a little. "They think Spike's handsome and they're disappointed that he's already married."

Spike glanced over and chuckled under his breath. They made the rest of the way to the gardens without another word.

Suddenly, a scream made its way through the villa. Buffy and Spike exchanged glances before running full-speed in the direction of the voice. Surprisingly, the voice was coming from the garden.

A large demon was standing over a young screaming girl. Portia.

Spike leapt into action, unwary of the sunlight, Buffy not far behind him. As Buffy starting an attack on the demon, he swept the fifteen year old girl off the ground and moved her to the rest of the gang.

A brutal-looking orange fist backhanded Buffy across her face, leaving a trail of slime and ripping her hair from its confines. As it was ready to punch her across the other cheek, Spike grabbed the gruesome hand and twisted it hard behind its back until he heard a satisfying pop. Pulling up her skirt, Buffy delivered a roundhouse kick across its cheek, watching as it landed on the dirt of the garden. Spike pulled his hunting blade from its sheath and stalked over to the demon. Reaching down, he slit its thick throat and immediately pulled Buffy away from it, watching as deep orange blood spilled from its throat.

"Don't touch the blood," he murmured into her ear. "It's like acid."

Nodding, Buffy turned back to the group and sighed. They had had an audience-practically the whole household of servants. "Great," she said under her breath.

"Let's go face the music," Spike answered her quietly.

Tiberius was crouching over his daughter as Livia stood next to them protectively. With a fierce shout, she dismissed the servants. Her eyes landed on Spike. "Lamia," she hissed at him.

He glared back with equal force. "That's right, luv, Lamia." He smirked. "Vampire. Knew you could sense it when you came in. I can smell your blood pounding through your veins, occisor." He ran his eyes down her length. "You're one of the prettier ones."

The girl sneered before brandishing a stake from the folds of her tunica. With a growl, she launched herself at Spike as the rest stood on watching. Her moves were graceful but fatal as Spike parried every punch and blocked every blow but not launching a counterattack.

Buffy immediately threw herself in between them, taking a blow to her face. Launching into Slayer mode, she dropped to the ground, kicking the girl's feet out from under her and pinning her to the ground. "Back off," she hissed at the girl. "He just saved your sister. Portia."

The girl attempted to buck her off, failing miserably. "Occisor," she said in shock.

Spike stalked forward, pulling Buffy off the dark-haired girl. "That's right. Occisor, like you." He placed Buffy on her feet and tilted her face to the side, touching the forming bruise lightly.

"I'm fine, Spike," Buffy told him quietly.

"Just making sure, luv." He released her and she moved back toward the Scoobies.

"Are you guys okay?" she asked, concerned.

"We're good," Dawn answered. "How about you?"

"That's one ugly bruise," Willow joined in.

Buffy touched her cheek. "I think that girl's a slayer," she told them. "Spike?" she called softly.

"Yeah, luv?" he asked, coming to her side.

"Lamia means vampire," she said, and he nodded in response. "What about occisor?"

"It means slayer."

"That girl's a slayer?"

He smirked. "Which would explain why she just tried to kill me." He stopped and swung around, catching the girl's hand in his own. He spouted off in a flurry of Latin before pushing the girl away. Rubbing her wrist, she moved back toward Tiberius and Portia.

"What did you say to her?" Dawn asked.

"I told her I wouldn't hurt her and that maybe it would be better to take care of her sister." He leveled gazes with Xander before turning around and stalking over to the smaller group, Anya following.

They started a quick conversation and Anya even joined in albeit hesitantly. Nodding at them, Tiberius called for a servant and sent him away with instructions. Several minutes later he returned with a wet towel. Other servants began moving the demon from the garden wearing thick sheets over their arms as to not burn themselves.

Spike took the towel from him and walked back over to Buffy. "Here, luv," he said, pressing the cold towel to her face. "Sorry they didn't have ice." He offered her a smile before going back to Tiberius.

Buffy looked over at Willow and Tara from under her lashes before turning back toward Spike and Anya. The other group started moving back toward the house. Anya looked over her shoulder. "We're going to the study. You can come."

They followed hesitantly before coming to the wooden door that was the entrance of the study. "Funny," Tara said to them quietly. "This is the only room in the house that has a real door."

Willow nodded before they followed Tiberius into the room. The study was filled with hundreds of scrolls and tablets up to the ceiling. "Geez …" she breathed.

The study was cleared on one side, several types of weapons decorating the wall. "You think Tiberius …?" Xander trailed.

"Definitely a watcher," Dawn answered.

Finally, Spike turned back to the group. "If you haven't figured it out already, Livia is a slayer, Tiberius is her watcher, and we are in his library." He took an unneeded breath. "Demon girl and I told him everything."

"He took it surprising well," Anya added in. "He's got a translating spell. He's going to send the servants for ingredients and maybe Tara can …"

"Perform the spell? Is it big?" Tara asked.

"Not really."

"I guess I can." Tara looked over at Livia. The girl was glowering in a chair, glaring at Spike. "Is she okay with not killing Spike?"

"She'll get over it," Spike answered smirking.

Before anyone could answer, the door to the study slammed open and a young looking man stormed in.

"Lucius," Livia sneered as she grabbed a stake and stalked over to him.

He smirked at her and grabbed her hand as she tried to stake him. Pulling her to himself quickly, he pressed his lips tightly to hers. Pushing him away with her other hand, she slapped him hard across his face.

"Well isn't this interesting?" Spike asked amusedly. "She was all for the killing me while little do we know …"

"That guy's a …" Buffy breathed.

The vampire swung his eyes over to her. He had deep brown eyes and a lighter shade of brown for his hair.

"He's hot," Dawn whispered to Willow.

"He is," Willow agreed.

He walked over to Buffy and took her hand. She balled the other into a fist, ready to strike him. Instead of hitting her, he took her hand to his mouth pressing a small kiss to the back of her hand. "Occisor," he greeted not at all fazed at the sight of another slayer as Spike bore holes into the back of his head for touching Buffy.

***

Chapter Tres

***

A low growl emitted from deep in Spike's throat as he glared daggers at the arrogant vampire.

Buffy snapped to attention, back-handing Lucius off of her. She immediately grabbed a stake and shoved him onto the floor, straddling him, preparing to strike.

While Spike was happy to see Buffy trying to kill Lucius, he wasn't particularly happy about the position in which she chose to do it in.

Before Spike could think another thought, Tiberius stepped in stopped Buffy from ramming the wood through Lucius' chest.

Livia frowned. The new vampire, Williamus, looked very possessive of the other slayer, the one from the future or so her pater had told her. Funny, did vampires and humans coincide peacefully in the future? At least this vampire did. He seemed very ... emotional, but then again, vampires -are- very territorial and passionate creatures.

Smirking, Lucius stepped away from Buffy. He swung his chestnut eyes over to Spike, speaking a drawling tone. Spike bit back fiercely in Latin, ending with an English "Bugger off!"

Tiberius placed a fatherly hand on Spike's shoulder. "Williamus," he began before spouting off in Latin. Slowly, Spike and Lucius backed down, retreating to different corners of the room.

"What just happened?" Xander asked blankly. "I think I missed something."

"He just told Spike that he won't be of any harm to anybody in the room and that he has regular fights with Livia whenever he comes in. He has some type of truce with them," Anya told him. "Hmm, I've never heard of a vampire with a truce with the slayer before Spike and Angel ..."

"He loves her," Tara whispered in realization.

"Yeah," Xander said sarcastically, "Which is why he just tried to hit on Buffy."

"Look at him," Willow said calmly. Lo and behold, Lucius had his chestnut eyes trained on Livia from across the room, silently watching her every move. Everyone gave Xander a knowing look.

Before another word was spoken, a loud knock resonated through the wooden door. Tiberius called something out and the door swung open. A servant entered holding a basket of varied herbs and ingredients apparently essential to the spell. Tara and Tiberius began to set the spell up as the others sat back to watch curiously.

Buffy looked over at Spike who was sitting in a wooden chair across the room pouting ... or rather, brooding. She didn't really want her friends to see her speaking so friendly to Spike, but when she cast a quick glance around the room, it seemed as if they weren't paying any attention to her.

Buffy crossed the room toward him, the layers of her tunica swishing around her legs. "Did you hear that, Spike?" she asked him quietly. "They think Lucius is in love with Livia." She unconsciously placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "For some reason, I think so, too," she told him softly.

Looking up at her, Spike gave her a wary smile and gently pulled her into his lap.

At first, Buffy thought about resisting and then realized that they were married here. It would be out of character for a wife ... Wife? The word sounded very comfortable for some reason, and Buffy could feel her cheeks heating. Without facing him, she settled herself further into his embrace.

Spike broke her silent reverie. "Really, pet? He doesn't have a soul either. I was under the impression that no soul equals no emotions," he said sarcastically.

Grinning, Buffy wrapped her arms around his neck. "Yes, I do think he loves her." Then glancing at the Scoobies, she added playfully, "You realize I'm only doing this to stop Lucius from feeling me up?" She added this in for good measure, knowing full well that he was jealous of the other vampire.

"Of course I do, luv," he answered, cupping the back of her head in response. "You are mine," he whispered for her only before pulling her face down to his and claiming her lips.

Buffy pressed back softly, placing both hands flat against his cheeks.

They were interrupted by a squeal and turned abruptly to see Dawn standing there, hands clasped tightly in front of her, stars in her eyes. "No Buffy and Spike? Ha!" she exclaimed mockingly.

Groaning, Buffy dropped her head onto Spike's shoulder and pressed her face into his neck, inhaling the unique scent that is Spike. She grasped the front of his tunic in balled fists. "Do I have to get up?" she murmured into his neck.

"Yeah. Sorry, luv, don't want you to get up either." Pressing a sweet kiss to the underside of her jaw, he mumbled, "Mine," once again for effect before reluctantly helping her to her feet.

Without responding, Buffy turned back to the group. "Do you think we could do that spell before we have any more conversations?" she asked, ignoring the stunned look on Xander and Willow's faces.

"Sure, Buffy, just as soon as everyone leaves," Tara answered, not looking up from the circle she was drawing on the floor.

"What?" Xander asked.

"The spell has to be done with only Tiberius and me in the room. The rest of you have to leave. The spell will take effect as we finish chanting. It's not dangerous or anything. You'll feel a little dizzy and then it'll be over," she explained.

"Okay, we know when we're not wanted," Xander said as everyone began to pile out of the room. "You come get us when you're done." Tara nodded assent.

They stood beside the heavy wooden door. Then, Portia took Dawn by the hand and said something to her in Latin.

Dawn turned to Spike.

"She wants to show you the stables," he translated.

"Can I go?" she asked Buffy, her eyes twinkling at the thought of horses.

"I guess," she said. "You'll be able to talk to her soon, so there shouldn't be a problem."

The two fifteen year olds moved down the long corridor, Livia at their heels.

"Why do you think she's going with them?" Willow asked no one in particular.

"I'm guessing she's kind of like me," Buffy answered. "Overprotective." She looked over at Spike. "I'm going back to the room. Do you want to come?"

He looked at her, surprise showing on his face. He quickly reverted back to the cool, composed look. "Sure."

"Yes," Anya agreed, "Xander and I are also going to go to our room to have wild, hot sex." She grabbed Xander's hand tugging him along as Buffy and Spike followed them to the bedrooms.

"Sure, ditch me," Willow muttered to herself. She turned to go wander when she slammed into a solid chest. "Oof." Looking up, she came into contact with dark piercing eyes. She immediately stepped back. "Lucius ..."

He looked her up and down a moment. "Salve."

Her eyes grew large. "Um, sorry ... I don't speak ..." She grimaced, thinking about how stupid she sounded. "Um, I'm just gonna go follow Dawnie and ... yeah ..." With that she ran down the corridor after the other girls. "DAWN!!!"

Lucius stared after her, shaking his head thoughtfully.

Buffy tugged the curtain closed on the doorway to their bedroom.

"You know, love, I think this is more than a mere coincidence," Spike told her.

"What do you mean?"

"For one, one of the servants told me that the name of the town is Lamia." He arched a scarred eyebrow.

"That means vampire. So what?" She plopped down on the bed next to him.

"Well, we already know that Livia is a slayer. Lamia must be the Hellmouth." He laid back on his elbows.

"I kinda figured that already, Spike. Slayers are supposed to live on the Hellmouth," she said sarcastically.

"Don't you think it's weird, pet?" The ice blue of his eyes became darker. "How they're allied with Lucius, how Lucius loves the slayer, how the slayer has a baby sister the same age as Nibblet ..."

"We're missing the Scoobies in this situation," she grinned.

"The servants all seem to know about this, and they're willing to help. Did you see how they went to clean the demon without any orders? And they knew that they couldn't touch its blood without any previous warning? And the main thing I noticed is that they are servants, not slaves."

"Huh?" Buffy asked, confused.

"They're not forced to be here; they know the consequences. And there aren't many of them. Apparently, not many people want to work here." He paused for a second. "I'm guessing they'd count as Scoobies."

"So you're saying that that demon sent us back to a time that was pretty close to ours?"

"A situation that was pretty close to ours," Spike corrected. "And there's something weird about Lucius," he added.

"Aww," Buffy teased. "You're so jealous of him."

"I am not, Slayer," he insisted, pushing himself off his back.

"Sure you're not," Buffy allowed.

He glared for a second before letting her comment slide. "There's something very familiar about him. Something in the blood," he said.

"Blood?"

"I think he's of the Aurelius line," Spike answered. "Maybe we should ask him later."

"Whatever. This is giving me a headache." Buffy frowned then glanced over. "And hungry. I haven't eaten in a while." She paused. "Are you hungry?"

"Huh?" Spike asked, confused.

"I don't think Lucius has his own personal blood stock. You yourself told me that they didn't have ice," she said.

"You're offering?" he asked, amazed.

Buffy scooted closer. "Just .. don't take too much. I'm still hungry."

"You're sure about this, love?" Inside, Spike was ecstatic. He had never thought in his wildest dreams she'd let him drink from her.

"Yeah," she whispered. "Go ahead."

Spike gently pulled her over, settling her body into his. "Do you want me to bite your wrist?" he asked quietly.

"No, I'm fine," she answered.

Spike brushed her hair off her shoulder and away from her neck. Pressing his lips to hers gently, he pulled the strap of her tunica gently off her shoulder. Moving over her cheek and jaw, he made his way down, lavishing her neck with his tongue. Moaning quietly, Buffy cupped the back of his head with her palm. Sucking gently, he bared his fangs and bit down delicately so as to cause as little pain as possible and immediately withdrawing his fangs. He took long and gentle sips as Buffy gripped his hair, moaning.

"Whoa," Willow said, gripping her head. "That was just weird."

"Yeah, I know," Dawn agreed, holding onto the wood of the stable entrance.

They both immediately stopped and looked at each other. "We're speaking Latin!" they squealed.

"This is so wicked!" Dawn smiled big, her grin stretching from ear to ear. "Wait till Buffy sees this!"

"Sorry to spoil your fun, but the other slayer will also be able to speak our language after the spell has taken effect," Livia cut in.

"I can understand you!" Portia exclaimed.

"I can understand you!" Dawn repeated.

"Come on, let's go," Portia said, once again taking Dawn's hand. "This is my horse, Polyhymnia."

Buffy lay on her back, stroking Spike's hair softly as he licked the wounds closed. He was perched somewhat above her, supporting himself on his forearms.

"I'm sorry, love," he murmured into her neck.

"Hmm ..." she said below him, feeling limp, her hunger forgotten. "Not really complaining," she told him.

He immediately sat up and looked at her.

"What?" Then her eyes widened. "I'm speaking Latin!"

Suddenly, Anya and Xander burst through the curtain separating their room for the outside, both looking highly disshevled.

Buffy immediately sat up, trying as discreetly as possible to pull her tunica up and conceal the recent bitemarks curiously placed directly over Angel's marks.

"Oh-" Anya stopped mid-stride. "Sorry, didn't know you guys had the same thing in mind as us." She spoke Latin as well.

Xander did nothing but stand there and sputter, obviously quite shocked at the picture presented him.

"I mean, I was in the middle of sex with Xander and I was screaming-very low, mind you-when an 'Oh God' somehow changed into an 'O Deus.' It was very disturbing," Anya told them, an eyebrow arched.

"Right then," Spike answered, looking amused. He eyed Xander, smirking. "You think we should go see how Pixie is doing?"

"Tara?" Buffy asked, confused. Then she remembered the spell. "Oh, right. Sure."

They returned to the study to find Tara sitting in a cushioned chair chatting away happily with Tiberius, their materials scattered on the floor. Servants had just entered the room and were scrubbing the floors clean of any leftover herbs or paints. Lucius was also in a chair near the two, joining in on the conversation. He looked so normal in a crisp white tunic and leater sandals. His dark hair gave him an ivory appearance.

Tara glanced up. "Salvete!" she called grinning. "I take it the spell worked?"

"Ita," Buffy answered, smiling back. "Are you doing okay?"

"Great," Tiberius answered. "Finally, I get a chance to speak to you, Anna. From what I've heard, you are the oldest living slayer in history," he spoke with an air of pride.

"I have my friends to thank for that," Buffy answered, pink beginning to rise in her cheeks. This man reminded her so much of Giles.

"And you, Williamus," he turned his focus onto Spike. "Well, I thought Lucius here was the only one to turn back to the light."

Spike, however, was not as flattered. "Anya here used to be a vengeance demon," he said plainly. "And my sire is all soulful now."

"Oh really?" Tiberius really did seem quite interested, not quite ready for such a surprise. The news probably sent his little Watcher heart into cardiac arrest.

"Yes," Anya said, smiling widely. "I'm human now." She latched onto Xander's arm. "I'm also married." She shoved her engagement ring at his face. "See? Diamond. It cost a lot too, I can tell." She started rambling off on the cut and style of her ring.

Spike frowned at Lucius. "What is your name?" Spike demanded suspiciously.

"Lucius." He smirked. "I thought we had already established this."

"Your whole name you prat," Spike glared.

Lucius grinned at Buffy. "Your husband is not in a good mood. Perhaps you should do the talking."

"Leave Buffy out of this," he immediately stepped him.

"Buffy? But I thought her name was Anna?" Lucius asked, immediately stepping into the opening.

"Anna is my middle name," Buffy explained. "Buffy doesn't sound Roman ... that's probably why it's not."

"Gaius Aurelius Lucius."

"That's your name?" Spike asked, a little amazed. "Bullocks!"

"Do you have a problem?" Lucius drawled.

"But you can't be-"

"Wait, Spike," Xander cut in, finally gaining his voice, "isn't your line called Aurelius?"

"Yes, it is, whelp," Spike answered casually, "which leaves me wondering. How can one of the greatest lines be descended from a great poofter like you?"

***