Chapter 18:

A/N: Hi there...sorry about the long wait, we were experiencing a few technical difficulties, but I figured that you guys waited long enough ;-) So this chapter isn't beta-ed, but the next ones will be. ~

"Willow...I wouldn't do that if I were you..." Dawn said warily as Willow typed 'I have red hair' into the response box.

"Why not? He seems nice enough..."

"But he's a demon!" Dawn squeaked, causing many of the students around her to give her a strange look.

"Of the internet!" Buffy announced loudly, "Ya know...the type that preys on young girls and such."

"You guys are too paranoid. He's really nice." Willow said, her voice falling into a monotonous pattern. Buffy shot her gaze up to the room clock.

"Shit. I told Xan I'd meet him in the caf about 10 minutes ago. He said he'd skip half the period. Wanna join?" Dawn shook her head and motioned sharply towards Willow, who was falling deeper and deeper into conversation with Malcolm.

"C'mon, Dawn." Buffy grabbed her friend's hand and tapped her other friend's shoulder "Will, you just gonna stay here?"

"Uh-huh."

"'Kay. See ya." Buffy more or less dragged Dawn out into the hallway.

"Buffy! That is totally dangerous! He's a demon! WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING!" Dawn screamed.

"Shh! Stop that! God, you're gonna give me heart palpitations. Look, Wills is a big girl, she can take care of herself."

"Unless it's a controlling love demon thing!" Dawn replied urgently.

"Come on, how likely is that?" Buffy really, really didn't want to think shop.

"Over the Hellmouth? Pretty * damn * likely." Dawn replied incredulously. Buffy sighed and looked up, mouthing 'Why me?'

"Let's just give it a few days. If anything gets really suspicious, I'll look into it or run in by Giles. " Dawn nodding, knowing for certain that things * would * get suspicious.

< I just hope that Willow has even a few days... >

~

Buffy slammed her locker shut, the next day. Clutching her books to her chest, she looked around for a friendly face. She perked up happily when she noticed the friendly face she had been hoping to find...

"Willow!" Buffy called to her friend, who just kept walking by.

< Weird. >

"Hey! Willow!" Nothing. "Willow!" Buffy ran up to her best friend, yelling her name.

"Will! Wait up!" Buffy finally caught up to her and grabbed her arm.

"Huh? Oh! Buffy! I didn't even see you there." Willow said, genuinely.

"Or hear me. What was up last night? I tried your line, like, a million times." Willow giggled covertly.

"I was talking to Malcolm."

"The internet guy?" Buffy asked, ignoring the worry that began to build.

"Oh, Buffy, you wouldn't believe it! He's so amazing! He's funny and...and...and smart, and clever, oh, and Buffy he really likes me. And I think I might like him, too!" Willow burst out, practically floating on the air.

"That's great, Will." Buffy forced out, "But, um, what do you really know about this guy?" Willow's face fell.

"I knew you'd react like this..."

"React like what?" Buffy asked defensively, "Who's reacting? I just think that you might not know everything about him...he might be leaving something out."

"His name's Malcolm Black, he's 17, a senior, he loves Raspberry slushies, and he likes me. What else is there to know?"

"Short, tall, skinny, fat?" Buffy asked.

"Does everything have to be about looks?" Willow replied, an insulted look coming upon her.

< Damn. I sure am Foot-in-Mouth Girl. > Buffy pursed her lips.

"No, not everything. But some stuff is. I mean, sure he's great and everything, but what if you meet him and...and you find out he has, like, a hairy back or something?" Willow considered this.

"Well, that's just not possible. I mean, he doesn't talk like someone who would have a hairy back. Besides, it doesn't matter, Buffy! Me and Malcolm's connection is so much deeper than that. Maybe I'm not his ideal either." Buffy nodded, thinking.

"So, he goes here?"

"Used to. Past tense. He just transferred today...or yesterday. I'm not sure."

"How convenient." Buffy muttered, the worry beginning to seep up into her veins. She shook it off with a friendly smirk.

"Hey, I'm just checkin' to make sure this guy's good enough for ya, that's all. You coming to Xander's tonight? He's forcing me to watch that Pretty in Pink movie." Buffy said with an eye roll and a smile.

"Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, and that tall, dark, and hunky guy? I'm there!" Willow said perkily. Buffy laughed, shaking off the last worry resting in her. Willow was going to be fine.

Fine.

~

"Is she really wearing her hair like that?" Buffy asked to Xander in response to Molly Ringwald.

"Hey, don't dis my girl Molly. She is a bonifed, classic hottie, okay?" He replied, tossing a piece of popcorn up in the air and trying to catch it with his mouth, to no avail. It hit his nose.

"You're gonna have a little popcorn nation on the floor if ya keep doing that." Buffy joked, grabbing the bowl.

"Then I can be King! Above all of the buttered subjects, who come to my every beck and call...Just imagine the possibilities, Buffy." She chuckled appreciatively and focused on the movie again.

"So, where's this big, bad quote, huh? I can't find where it'd be in the context." Buffy pointed out.

"Well, Molly wakes up on her birthday and no one remembers and she says it and then she goes to school and complains about it and holy crap, that's Sixteen Candles." Xander said, slapping his forehead.

"What?" Buffy laughed.

"The movie. It's not Pretty in Pink that she says that, it's Sixteen Candles. I don't even think my boy Anthony is * in * this shit movie, if you'll excuse the French." Xander explained, leaning back in disgust.

Buffy burst out laughing.

"Movie expert indeed!" She yelled, slamming Xander playfully with a pillow.

"Hey, hey...violence is completely unnecessary!" He said, trying to shield himself with his hands. Buffy stuck her tongue out at him, but sat back down, a few stray laughs being let out every now and then.

"Hey, I wonder where Will is." Buffy suddenly mentioned, "She said she'd be here."

"Right. Yeah. Willow. Well, if I had to guess I'd say she was...Fill in the blank, Buffster."

"Talking to Malcolm." Buffy said, slightly sobered.

"Yeah. So, what, do you gotta get out of here?" Xander asked out of the blue, "Ya know, go off with the very thrilling vampire slaying. I'd understand. Everyone abandons me."

"Look at the jealous man!" Buffy exclaimed.

"Excuse me?"

"Willow's got a thang and Xander's left hanging." Buffy said with a smug smile.

"No, no. Willow and I aren't like that. I don't feel "that way" about Willow." Xander said, stealing an extra glance at Buffy.

"Still. You're used to being the belle of the ball." Buffy replied, staring intently at a picture of Xander giving Willow a piggy-back ride, at the age of 8.

"True. But come on, don't tell me you aren't slightly wigged out by this guy?" Xander asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Slightly." Buffy admitted, "But it's just because he could be anyone! Especially since he "transferred" and I just -"

"I know! I mean, I could say * I * was a high school student."

"You * are * a high school student." Buffy interjected.

"Yes, but I could also say I was an elderly Dutch woman. And who's to say I'm not, if I'm in the Elderly Dutch Woman chat room?" Xander finished, staring Buffy straight in the eye. Her gaze faltered nervously, a true pit finally taking place inside her stomach.

"Oh, God...you're right. You are absolutely right. Xan! Willow could be in real danger!" Buffy said, her eyes widening a la Dawn, "I have to go...do some research on our Mr. Black." Xander grabbed Buffy's arm.

"I think I got ya a little too worked up. Deal with it tomorrow. More than likely, it's totally fine. So just sit back, relax, and finish watching Molly mack on Andrew McCarthy." Buffy nodded, exhaling deeply. They sat in silence for a few moments, watching the movie.

"This is actually not that bad." Buffy commented.

"She doesn't end up with Duckie."

"Well, that sucks!!"

~

< Andrews...Andrews...Andrews...Another Andrews...Hey, look! Andrews!...Not a whole lotta variety in this town... > Buffy paged her way through the confidential files inside the school basement, the next day, looking doggedly for Black-comma-Malcolm. She suddenly felt a presence behind her, moving in. She slipped her hand down her back, reaching for a stake, when she heard a voice right against her ear.

"Shouldn't you be in class, luv?" Buffy smiled and turned around.

"Can't you ever just say 'hello' like a normal person?"

"What's the fun in that? So, what, school project or somethin'?" Spike motioned toward the open file cabinet.

"Nope, just playing Willow's role for the day. Her new internet boyfriend apparently used to go here until he "just happened" to transfer the day he started talking to Willow." Buffy explained ruefully.

" 'Course." Spike replied sardonically, rolling his eyes.

"So now I'm looking for his past records. They've gotta have 'em somewhere." Spike breathed in and scanned the room, exhaling an 'Ah-ha!' when he found what he was looking for.

"Here, pet. 'Recently Transferred Students.' If he went here, all his info'd be in this little cabinet." Buffy slammed the other one shut and walked over to where Spike was now standing.

"You sure?"

"I'll look through the regular 'Past Students' one, if you'd like." Buffy nodded and the two of them broke the locks in unison.

"Last name: Black, First name: Malcolm." Buffy said to Spike, as she thumbed through the new files. After checking and re-checking, Buffy realized that she had nothing.

"I've got nothing. You?" Buffy cocked her head hopefully, watching as Spike kept diligently at his search.

"...Andrews...Andrews...Andrews...Lotta bloody Andrewses in this town...Andrews...Azula...Azze...Binworth...Bherty...Bumperty...No Blacks." Spike finally said, looking up regretfully, "Sorry, luv. And that was my second time through."

"So that's it then." Buffy said resignedly, "Malcolm is a phony, in one way or the other."

"What made you suspect him in the first place?" Spike asked.

"Dawn, actually. She got it set in my brain that Malcolm's a demon. I don't know what her backing for it was, though. Gut instinct, I guess. But..."

"I'll look into it." Spike said quickly, his mind reeling, "Search around, the works. I mean if Dawn said it..." He stopped himself suddenly, "I mean, Dawn was probably onto something, is all." He slammed both drawers shut and smiled down at Buffy, "I'll check up on your status later. This might require our full attention." Buffy nodded, confused.

"If you say so." She whispered, however. Spike's smile lightened and he cupped her face with his hand and felt light headed when she closed her eyes. He patted her shoulder and walked away, leaving Buffy to watch his retreating back.

Sighing, Buffy sat down, trying to take everything in. She hoped to God it wasn't a demon. She'd never forgive herself if it was. She was the slayer. It was her duty to keep her eye out for potential demons, no matter where she was. She buried her head in her hands in frustration, unaware that all the while, someone was watching her...

~

"That girl is dangerous." Fritz intercepted the message from Malcolm, "She will not foil my plans! Not for you, and especially not for the girl."

Fritz nodded, watching Buffy through the camera. He didn't like that girl. Too cocky for her own good. Thought she was God's gift.

"She will not be an easy fight." He said suddenly, feeling panic overtake him, "She would die for her friends."

"Then, my dear boy, be sure that she does." Malcolm replied. Fritz smirked sinisterly, laughing lightly.

"It will be done, Malcolm."

~

"Xan! Jesse!!" The pair spun around at the sound of their names. Buffy rushed over to their sides and held onto their shoulders' for support.

"Hey Buff, what's goin' on?" Xander asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Malcolm's a liar and an all-around asshole. Or demon, if Dawn's theory is correct. Spike and I looked through the "Previous Student" records and there was nothing, no Malcolm Black. He never went here."

"Wow. That's huge." Jesse said, scratching his cheek. "Dawn thinks that he's a controlling love demon, if that makes any sense."

"Not really, but Spike said that there might actually be really cause for alarm. He seemed a little preoccupied with the fact that Dawn said it...like she's some sort of demon expert of something..." Buffy said, cocking her head in confusion. That damned feeling came back, but this time it was more like she was missing a link, instead of the feeling that she was repeating something...

Pushing those thoughts away, once again, Buffy smiled cheerfully.

"No big. If he is a demon we'll just annihilate him like the rest."

"But Wills..." Jesse started, "She's probably gonna be right at the front line of protecting this jerk off."

"Okay, now I know I'm not usually the reasonable one, or the practical one, or the person who thinks," Xander said, looking back and forth between his two friends, "but we're jumping to some huge conclusions here. We have no proof that he's a * demon *."

"Yet." Buffy said, sighing, "I hate to be a pessimist, but it's not completely unlikely that this guy is demonic trouble. I'll run it by Giles; I'm heading to the library anyways. I'll let you know what's what."

"Good luck." Jesse said, giving Buffy a squeeze on the shoulder. Xander threw his arms around her and hugged her tightly, smelling her hair.

"Uh...Xander? I didn't get shipped off to 'Nam, I'm just going to the library."

"Oh, I know," Xander said, letting her go reluctantly, "It was just a good luck hug." Buffy gave him an incredulous look, before rolling her eyes and giving them a retreating wave.

"Kill me." Xander said, sneering at his behavior.

"It wasn't that bad..." Jesse lied, trying to make his best bud feel better.

"I'm mentally challenged. She'll never want me. Not with Mr. Brit-With-a- Leather-Duster around. Who wears a leather duster anyway?"

"I always wanted a leather duster." Jesse admitted.

"Yeah, me too..."

~

"Dawn!" Spike ran through the halls and grabbed her arm, "Basement, now!"

The two of them slipped silently onto the stairway, once again.

"What's up this time, Spike?"

"Willow's latest flame. Buffy said you thought he was a demon?"

"Not thought, know." Dawn replied with a grimace.

"What do you remember?"

"It controls Willow into loving it, then it got a Power Rangers-esque robot body and Buffy kicked its ass, as usual. It was actually sorta lame. Kinda like something those geeks would put into motion." Dawn explained, searching her memory.

"Right. Do you remember what Buffy called it?"

"When she told me about it, I asked the same thing and she did that thing with her eyebrows and said "Something like Mollusk." So if that gives you anything..."

"Gives me something to work with, at least. Thanks, Bit." Spike said with a smile. He patted her head and pulled himself up the stairs. He'd have to go straight to the source of the problem...

~

"Hold up." Jenny said as Spike finished his story, "Let me get this straight. You think there's a mollusk that's been controlling Willow through the computer?"

"No, I think there's a demon that's name sounds like the word "mollusk" that's been controlling Willow through the computer." Jenny stared at him incredulously.

"And you're telling me this why?"

"You know how computers work. You know how demons work. Seemed like a fitting person to ask about it, is all."

"How did you know that I...?" She began to ask, knowing that the only person she had told about being a technopagan to was Rupert.

"I've got my sources. Now look, are you gonna help me or not? Cuz if you're not, I'll just - "

"Oh, no! No, I'll help you, of course. I was just making sure I got everything."

"Right then. Now, I wasn't aware that demons could use the computer to control people; normally they need actual physical contact." Spike said.

"Unless...unless the computer is the demon! A demonic computer! Oh, Rupert will love this one." Jenny put her hands on her hips, shaking her head.

"Let's not jump to conclusions now. A demon trapped inside the computer is more likely. Now how the demon * got * inside the bloody thing is the real bugger." Spike replied, leaning against one of the alleged computers.

"I guess that's where research comes in. Should I get Rupert?"

"Not yet. Now, can you turn this thing on?" He said, patting down on the monitor.

"I see Rupert has you under his "Books, good. Computers, bad" spell." Jenny replied with a laugh, as she pressed in the "On" button.

"Actually, someone taught me how to, er, navigate? Right, thought that was it. Anyway, they taught me how to navigate, but never how to turn this bloody thing on." He took the mouse and clicked the Internet icon and then entered a search engine.

"Computer demons?" She asked.

"Demons are all real old, luv. I doubt he's stuck in here under his own will. I think "Demons + Mind Control" would be a better bet." He sent the information in.

"Alright, here we go...first website of..."

"50,000." Jenny finished.

"Well, damn. Let's try this..."Demons + Mind Control + Emotional Control + M"

Only 4 websites came up.

"Let's see, a fan website for Keanu Reeves, alright, umm...basic demonology, demon called Moloch...Moloch! Sounds like Mollusk! Here's our guy." Jenny motioned for him to enter the site. Spike read the text quickly before sitting back in confusion.

"It says the only way Moloch can be activated, now, anyway, is by freeing him. And to do that, you have to read this spell, cuz he's stuck in a book. That doesn't make any sense why he would be active in here."

~

Fritz navigated the camera.

"He's more dangerous than the Slayer." Moloch hissed, "He has the information."

Fritz nodded, until he felt Moloch laugh.

"He is a vampire."

Fritz nodded again.

"But I smell a soul."

"It's probably just Miss Calendar's." Fritz said, bowing his head in reverence, "Vampires don't have souls."

"I'd hope for your life that you are correct, boy."

~

"Maybe it's not him."

"Please! Moloch, Mollusk? The similarity is bloody uncanny." Jenny bit her lip.

"How the hell did you get "Mollusk" anyway?"

"Sources." Spike grunted.

"Well, I did scan some of Rupert's books into the computer...maybe a few occult books got mixed into the pile. Would that set him free?"

"It's worth a shot. Can you check to see what you did?" Spike asked, feeling like maybe Jenny had hit something.

"Sure can. Hold on a sec." She pressed some foreign buttons and entered a file tracker. She scrolled down until Spike stopped her. There was a file without a name, which (if his computer knowledge was correct) was an impossibility, under normal circumstances.

"Click that." She obeyed his instructions and up came Italian poem set-up, which looked suspiciously like a spell. Spike scanned it until a smile broke onto his lips.

"We got our guy." He said, pointing to the one word he could decipher.

'Moloch'

"Great! Now, what?"

"Now we get Giles." Spike said, throwing Jenny a smile, "Finding this guy was the hardest part. Once we get him back in the book, it'll be over."

"Good. Hey." Spike turned around again and stopped by the door.

"Yeah?"

"I really like your hair." Spike gave her a smirk and shrugged.

"I'm Spike, by the way, if ya ever need some help eradicating your demon troubles."

"Eradicating?"

"Destorying. Spending a lot of time with Giles has its advantages."

"Yeah..." Jenny said, feeling oddly wistful.

"I'll see ya. Giles'll probably be over in a few."

"Okay. See ya."

"Bye."

Spike stepped out of the lab to run straight into Buffy.

"Well, hi there." She said, smiling up into his face. He felt his insides go weak for a second, for remembering he had a mission.

"Hey pet. I'd love to stay and chat, but I've gotta run. I found out some info on "Malcolm." "

"Uh oh. What's up? I was going in there now to see if I could catch him online and then give him a good, heart threat-fest."

"He's a demon, real name Moloch. He got into the computer when Jenny, or Miss Calendar, and Giles accidentally scanned in an occult book."

"Fuck." Buffy whispered, holding her temples, "Can we stop him?"

"Most likely. We just have to get him into the book, again." Buffy nodded, feeling tears build in her eyes. < I'm not going to cry, I'm not going to cry...> However, this didn't seem to be what her body had decided to follow.

"Geez, luv! What's wrong?" Spike jumped back in alarm, realizing that Buffy had tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Nothing! Nothing is exceptionally wrong. I don't know. I'm a hormone bomb...you said that once."

<Yeah, in the * other * reality. And that was about Dawn... >

"No, I didn't, pet." Spike said softly.

"Whatever. You could never understand the pressure on me. Willow is in trouble because of what I do. If I wasn't here, if I had no purpose, Willow wouldn't be controlled by demons and I mean, demons only exist because I exist and that's my fault and Willow is in trouble because of that." Buffy rambled as more and more tears broke loose.

"So, let me get this straight. You feel bad because demons exist and because you exist?"

"Pretty much, yeah. It's kinda complicated. It makes sense in my head." Buffy exclaimed with an ironic laugh. Spike took an unnecessary breath and drew her into his arms. Suddenly, however, she tensed up and in an unthinking reaction, she backed away from him. Spike felt a wave of indignation go through him.

"Right then." He said curtly, moving her out of the way.

"No, Spike, it wasn't. I just-"

"Don't." He whispered, his face stone, "I almost forgot. I can't win with you. Doesn't matter, though. You're probably better off without me." Spike gave a disgusted sneer and sauntered off.

"I just have a problem being open about my emotions." She whispered to his retreating figure. But he was gone. And she wasn't exactly comfortable with the amount of pain she felt at the thought of him mad at her.

Suddenly, Willow's face flashed before her.

She had more important things to deal with.

She was done with Spike.

< Yeah, right. >

~

tbc...

Part 19:

~

Buffy walked through the hallways, going over the facts in her head, before running straight into Fritz, a boy in her History class.

"Buffy." He said, a tinge of fear detectable in his voice. He was not supposed to be seen by her.

"Hey Fritz, how's it goin'?" She asked, courteously, taking note of where he came out of. The school surveillance room.

< That's wiggy. >

"I'm fine. And yourself?" He asked, mechanically.

"Fine. Um, what were you doing in the surveillance room?"

"Mind your own damn business!" He shouted, trying to get past Buffy. Buffy moved in front of him.

"Fritz, do you know something about Malcolm?" She hissed softly.

"Stay away from Malcolm. You do not understand him. His needs." Fritz replied, before slapping his hand onto his mouth and running away.

"FRITZ!" Buffy chased after him, running at full Slayer speed. She grabbed him and straddled him to the ground, ready to go in for a kill.

"You tell me everything you know or I swear I'll -"

"You'll what?" Fritz asked, laughing sarcastically, "Kill me? Not likely, *Slayer.*"

"Yeah, okay. It's official. * Everyone * in this town knows who I am." Buffy said, folding her arms crossly.

"Look, Malcolm is my friend and he likes your friend. And I know you don't trust him, but he's a cool guy, alright?" Fritz bluffed.

"Bullshit. Malcolm's a demon and you know it." Fritz, however, suddenly pushed Buffy off of him, in a moment of her unfocus.

"Stay away. Or you will pay the price." He muttered before running off, zigzagging.

"So not worth it." Buffy mumbled to herself, standing up. She needed to talk to Giles again.

~

"Fritz knows something." She announced, walking into the library and sitting down between Xander and Dawn.

"Who?" Jesse asked.

"Fritz. He's in our study hall." Dawn explained to her boyfriend, "What do you think is up?"

"I'm not sure, but he kept on talking about Malcolm in a freaky way. He was all jumpy and what not. Then he'd be all cool and power-hungry"

"Well, Buffy, you, uh, you must remember that that boy is not, um, sparklingly normal as it is."

"Giles, trust me." Buffy replied

"I-I do! I-I-I really don't know how to advise you. Things involved with a computer fill me with a childlike terror. Now, if it were a nice ogre or some such I'd be more in my element. Well, I-I suppose you could, um, tail Fritz, see if he's up to something."

"In what, a trench coat and dark glasses? Please. I can so figure this out myself."

~

Buffy watched from inside a bush, dark glasses and a trench coat in tow. < Note to self: Never mention espionage tactics to Giles. >

She caught her breath as Fritz suddenly jumped into a large, white van...the letters CDR written in block lettering on the side. It drove off, leaving Buffy to stand up and shed her disguise.

< One more piece added. >

~

"Whatever Fritz is into, it's large." Buffy sat down at a study table inside the library, rubbing her eyes, "But it just doesn't make sense. I mean, it seems a little...wonky."

"Thank you for restating that. Gives me a great lead. Now, what was on the side of the van, again?" Giles asked, pacing.

"It said CRD. But, I couldn't get close enough to see what it was."

"Calax Research and Development. It's a computer research lab. Third largest employer in Sunnydale till it closed down last year." Everyone's eyes wandered incredulously over to Xander, "What, I can't have information sometimes?"

"Well, it-it's just somewhat unprecedented." Giles said, cleaning his glasses.

"Well, my uncle used to work there. I-in a floor sweeping capacity." Xander explained.

"But it closed?"

"Yup."

"I guess that's what really doesn't make sense then." Jesse commented.

"Yeah, I mean, what would they need Fritz for?" Buffy asked no one in particular.

"Look, guys, I don't mean to sound like Giles or anything, but let's take an enormous intuitive leap here and factor in that Spike already found out that there's a demon inside the computer?"

The Scoobies, except for Buffy, looked at Dawn with wide eyes.

"You serious?" Xander asked, "Buff, did you know this?"

"Must've slipped my mind." She muttered.

"Slipped your mind?!" Giles asked, his voice rising an octave, "How could it - never mind, let's move on, shall we? Now that we have this exceptionally important piece of the puzzle, we can figure it out much more efficiently.

"So, computer demon, I guess another big jump would be to say that he's the one who reopened CDR?" Jesse responded.

"CRD." Xander interjected.

"Whatever. Now, what else did Spike say about it?"

"Apparently," A voice from the door came, "When Rupert, er, Mr. Giles and I were scanning books into the computers, an occult one got mixed in."

"Miss Calendar?" Buffy asked, bunching her eyebrows.

"You didn't tell them?" Jenny looked over at Giles who shrugged, "Well, fine. I know about demons. I work on them on the internet."

"Slip your mind, Giles?" Buffy asked, smugly, only to receive a glare.

"Spike said all we have to do is get the demon back in the book, somehow. Here's the spell that activates it." Jenny handed a copy to Giles, who quickly read it.

"Moloch. Of course..."

"That rings a bell to you?" Buffy asked.

"In the dark ages the souls of demons were sometimes trapped in certain volumes. They remained locked within the book, harmless, unless the pages were read aloud. Unless I'm mistaken, this is Moloch, the Corrupter. A very deadly and seductive demon. He draws people to him with promises of love, power, knowledge. Preys on impressionable minds."

"Power equals Fritz." Xander quipped.

"And love equals Willow. What should we do?" Buffy asked.

"Spike said we have to get him into the book." Jenny said.

"How the hell are we gonna do that?" Jesse said, reaching over to Giles' PC, "Here I have an idea. Why don't we just delete him? Now, which file is it..."

"The blank one." Jenny pointed.

"File...Delete!" Jesse sat back as suddenly a demonic face appeared on the screen.

"STAY AWAY FROM WILLOW!" It yelled, "IT IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!"

"I guess I was on the right track with the hairy back comment." Buffy said, quickly turning off the computer.

"So much for deleting it." Dawn said, leaning back.

"Guys, are we overreacting here?" Xander asked, "I mean, he's stuck in a computer, what can he do?"

"That's the trouble. He's not just stuck in one computer, he's stuck in every computer with a modem." Jenny explained.

"So...still not getting what he can do."

"How about mess up all the medical equipment in the world?" Dawn offered.

"Or randomize traffic signals." Jesse added, getting it.

"Access launch codes for our nuclear weapons." Buffy said.

"Destroy the world's economy." Giles said.

"I think I capped it with the nuclear weapons." Buffy said.

"Yes, right, yours was best."

"Okay, he's a threat, I'm on board with that. But what does he want with Willow?" Xander asked, worried.

"Let's not ever find out. Now, here's what we-"

"Um, guys?" Dawn called over from the PC.

"Yeah?"

"I just went into Willow's account - she gave me her password once - and there's something you might wanna see." Buffy rushed over.

" 'No more waiting. I need you to see me.' See him where?" Buffy asked, panicked.

"CRD. Yes! Of course! I remember now! Giles, the spell...the binding spell?"

"I have it here, what about it?"

"Do it now. I think you have some time before...I don't know. Just hurry with it. Buffy, Xan, Jess, we'll head to CRD. That's where Willow is now. We can save her."

"Let's move." Buffy said.

~

"Willow."

"Malcolm?" Willow asked, walking around, "Where are you?" Suddenly, a large, black, steel figure moved in on her.

"How good it is to see you...with my own two eyes."

"Oh my God." Willow whispered, taking him in, "You're a robot!"

"No. I am life. I am earth. I am everything. This world is so new, so exciting. I can see all of it. Everything flows through me. I know the secrets of your kings. But nothing compares to having form again. To be able to walk, to touch, to kill." Willow screamed as Malcolm grabbed Fritz from behind him and slowly broke his neck, "Do not be so frightened, my love. For you are my life. I love you."

"No!" Willow yelled, "No! You don't! You can't love!"

"I love you."

"No!"

"You are mine."

"I'm not yours, I'll never be yours!"

Buffy, Xander, Jesse, and Dawn suddenly crashed in through the window.

"Nice job, Dawn." Buffy said, standing up and facing Moloch, "Hello, Moloch."

~

"The circle of Kayless is formed inside the computer. I got a bunch of my group to join in." Jenny pointed at the screen.

"Brilliant." Giles said as he lit the last candle, "Now, do you have the script?"

"Here."

"I'll read, you type."

"Fine."

"By the Power...start now...ahem...By the power of the divine and the essence of the word, I command you. By the Power of the circle of Kayless...Kayless, with a 'K'...the circle of Kayless I command you. Demon, come! I command you! Demon, COME!"

"It worked!" Jenny squealed, "He's out of the 'net!"

"But, he's not in the book." Giles pointed out.

"Huh. Where is he then?"

~

"NOOOO!" Moloch rounded on Buffy, who was in her fighter's stance, " I was omnipotent and you ruined everything!" He laughed mechanically, staring at Buffy. Dawn held Willow back.

"It won't help." She whispered urgently.

"This body is all I have left, but it is enough to crush you with." Moloch yelled, about to charge.

"Buffy!" Dawn hissed, pointing at the electrical box. Buffy repositioned herself in front of it.

"Hit me with your best shot." Buffy said, folding her arms. Moloch reached across and punched. Buffy ducked and Moloch's "hand" went straight into the box behind Buffy, short-circuiting everything, and finally, at last, killing Moloch.

Willow promptly fainted into Dawn's arms. Buffy and Xander rushed over to check on her.

"She'll be fine." Dawn assured them. Jesse kissed Dawn's cheek and Xander scooped Willow up into his arms.

"We'll call Giles and Miss Calendar." Dawn said, "Let them know everything turned out okay."

"Cool. We'll bring Willow back to her place, hang with her a bit. She's gonna be pretty upset." Buffy said, hugging Dawn.

Buffy sighed and nodded, proud of herself. She smiled at Dawn and Jesse before following Xander out of the CRD building.

~

"I just feel like the biggest idiot to ever walk the planet." Willow murmured, as she stuffed her face with ice cream.

"Don't beat yourself up about it." Buffy soothed, running her hand over Willow's hair.

"Yeah, it could happen to anyone...I'm sure." Xander commented.

"No, just to me. I got in way over my head with this guy. Or demon-guy, I guess."

"A little, yeah. But it so wasn't your fault." Buffy assured her friend.

"Hey, Hagen-Daas, ya gonna leave some for the rest of us?" Xander joked as Willow pulled out another scoopful of ice cream.

"I'm in pain, here, Harris. I get full ice-cream eating privileges." Willow said through her now * mouthful * of ice cream.

"Point dually noted." Buffy smiled at her friends and gave them both a hug.

"What was that for?" Xander asked, confused, yet happy.

"Just cuz. I mean, you do realize we're gonna hafta go through this together, right?" Xander nodded, but Willow squinted her eyes in puzzlement.

"Go through what?"

"Our love life. I mean, remember the praying mantus woman?" Xander asked, raising his eyebrows.

"And me, my only romantic prospects were Spike and Angel." Buffy said, ignoring the feeling that her heart had just imploded at the mention of Spike.

"Yeah, and now me with Malcolm. Gosh, we're really doomed aren't we?" Willow giggled.

"Totally doomed." Buffy said, smiling as Xander laughed.

They suddenly sobered.

"Yeah..." Xander trailed off, looking nervous.

"Doomed." Buffy repeated, "Never gonna have a normal relationship."

It was then that she made up her mind.

"I gotta run...I have to take care of something." Buffy said, standing abruptly, giving her friends one last smile before turning and running in the opposite direction.

~

Spike looked up from his couch when he heard the sound of spit-fire knocks on his front door.

"Coming! Geez...calm-" He opened the door to reveal an out of breath Buffy, "down." He finished softly, before crossing his arms stubbornly, "Need something?"

"We need to talk." Buffy managed out, pushing her way into his apartment.

"And I need a way to deinvite humans." Spike muttered, closing the door.

"Look, I know you're angry with me cuz of the whole crying incident, but just hear me out, okay?" Buffy inhaled and began the speech she had been rehearsing in her head ever since she had begun running to Spike's, "I don't know you. Not really, anyway. I mean, I don't know much about you. But as I've told you before, I feel like I do. I feel like I've known you for years and I feel like I've cared about you for years. And I'll be damned if I'm gonna let you ruin what we might have just because I have a problem crying in front of people. God, the first time I met you, I was prepared to hate you, being a vampire and all. But I couldn't. Instead, I have feelings for you. Major feelings." Buffy began pacing around the room and staring at everything and anything but Spike, "I know it's probably unfair of me to say this, but I'm tired of being upset with you because you ran out after you kissed me. I just...God, I just wanna finish it, ya know?"

"Finish what?" Spike finally spoke, his voice hoarse.

"The kiss. And, and I wanna be the person who you get up in the morning for, to see, and I wanna be the person who gets to kiss you whenever I feel like it, ya know? And, and, and I mean, this probably really won't interest you, but I wanna be your girlfriend...or girlfriend type, if that makes you more comfortable." Buffy looked up, never feeling as vulnerable in her entire life than she did at that moment.

Spike stared at the ground for a moment, not sure how to respond.

"It doesn't really matter to me, pet." Spike said, still looking down.

Buffy felt her eyes widen and tears fill them, once again. < Not happening...not happening.>

"I mean, I guess if you wanna be called my 'girlfriend' that's fine. But 'girlfriend type?' Sounds a bit too pseudo-intellectual for my tastes." Spike finally looked up at Buffy, a playful smirk resting on his lips.

Buffy looked at him incredulously for a moment, before bursting out laughing and lightly crying at the same time. Spike moved over slowly to her and drew her into him so they were only inches apart.

"That was really mean." She said quietly, laughing and wiping away a tear.

"Yeah, but it was fun."

"Oh, so that's how it's gonna be? Having fun at my disadvantage?"

"Only occasionally. It'll probably be more like having fun at * Xander's * disadvantage." Spike smiled at Buffy as she slapped his arm.

"Be nice to Xander."

"Can we talk about something other than Xander?" Spike said, resting his forehead against hers.

"We don't really have to talk about anything at all." Buffy wrapped her arms around Spike's neck.

"I could live with that." Spike whispered, before placing his lips on hers. Buffy replied by deepening the kiss, moving her tongue gently into his mouth. Spike brought her up against him, holding her as close as he possibly could, before breaking the kiss and allowing her to breathe. He leaned in and left a trail of soft kisses on her neck before nibbling her bottom lip and giving her a short, tender kiss. Buffy sighed happily and leaned into his embrace, holding onto his arm for dear life.

"You alright, pet?" He asked, feeling the pressure from her grip.

"Duh." Spike smiled.

"No, I mean, you're startin' to hurt my arm a bit." He motioned down.

"Oh! Sorry. I was just...I wanted to make sure you wouldn't run again." Buffy admitted, embarrassed. Spike laughed and gave her a hug before pulling away and placing his hands on her shoulders.

"I won't if you won't." He said, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Deal." Buffy said, sticking out her hand comically. Spike laughed again, shook it and then pulled her into his arms, once again.

~

tbc...

Part 20:

A/N: "| |" now indicates a Buffy future-flashback-thinga-mabobber.

~

Buffy twiddled her stake delicately between her fingers as a light March rain drizzled down onto her hair. < Ugh. I'm gonna need some serious frizz control later. > She thought ruefully, fingering her ponytail.

"Buffy." A masculine voice said from behind her. She spun around and came face to face with Angel.

"Well. Long time, no see. It's been what, 2 months now?" She asked, not really expecting an answer.

"3, actually."

"What do ya know, * more * déjà vu." Buffy muttered, remembering her last conversation with Angel in December.

He replied, wringing his hands together, "I'm sorry."

"Yeah, well...I managed." She said, shrugging.

"How are you?" Angel asked suddenly, falling in step with the Slayer.

"Okay. You?"

"Okay." They walked in silence for a few moments and Buffy began to whistle, rolling her thumb over the blunt end of her stake.

"I missed you." Angel said, stealing a quick glance at her. Buffy laughed and shook her head.

"I'd be lying if I said I was completely unworried about you, too. I mean, last time I saw you, you got in a fight with Spike and the time before that we...I mean...well, you know."

"I do." Angel stopped and turned toward her, feeling the pit of his stomach rise and fall with anticipated breaths. Buffy blinked her eyes down shyly and then looked up at him again.

"I've wanted to come see you." He admitted, "I just never felt that the time was right."

"And what was so right about this time?" Buffy asked. Angel shrugged and smiled. Buffy smiled back.

"Buffy, can I ask you something?"

"Sure." Angel sharply took in a breath.

"Are you...I mean, are you...still...do you still have feeling things for...you know?" Angel motioned wildly, thinking of Spike. However, Buffy stopped him and looked at him gently.

"No, I don't." She was about to apologize to him when his face broke out into a huge grin.

"Well, great!" Buffy was taken aback by this. She frowned and stepped away.

"Great?" She asked, not sure she heard correctly.

"Yes, of course it's great! How did you think I'd react?"

"Well..." Buffy began, "I wasn't really sure, but a little groveling would've been-"

"Groveling? No, no...I have no reason to do that. Not for him." Buffy nodded, confused. < Not for him? What's that supposed to mean? > Buffy shook that away, cursing herself for being overly analytical and opted for just smiling.

"That's a good attitude to have." She said.

"I think so." Buffy looked down at her watch.

"It's getting late, my mom will go postal if I'm not home in about, oh, now. But hopefully I'll see you again." Angel smiled and kissed her hand.

"Definitely." He murmured. Buffy smiled warmly at him, waved, and walked away.

~

"Hold on, you talked to the poof?" Spike asked Buffy at their usual post- patrol Bronze table, "And he was okay with the two of us being together?"

"First of all, his name's Angel. Second, why wouldn't he be? Apparently, he spent the last 3 months getting over me."

"Right." Spike rolled his eyes and took another sip of his beer.

"You don't think so?"

"Just seems unlikely, is all." Spike said curtly, wanting to end the conversation, "So, how was your day at school?" Buffy gave him a weird look before shrugging.

"Fine, I guess. Got called into Snyder's office again."

"Miss Summers, what did you do?" Spike asked jokingly.

"He doesn't like me going to the library so much. Thinks I'll get smart. But I'm onto his tricks..." Buffy laughed and took Spike's beer, who immediately disentangled her fingers.

"Hey!" Buffy protested.

"You and alcohol are like bloody water and oil, luv."

"How did you know that?"

< Shit. >

Spike laughed awkwardly.

"Just a guess." Buffy cut him off by gripping the side of the table.

| And the only person I can stand to be around is a * vampire * who cheats at kitten poker... |

| You want a drink? A world of no. |

Buffy loosened her hold, but looked up at Spike with terror.

"Oh my God. I'm having those feelings again." Spike bit his lip.

"Well, uh..."

"Spike, this is serious. There's something that's trying to make me aware of something." She looked up at him, question marks for eyes. Spike clenched his jaw and tilted his head with strain.

"You'll be fine." He whispered, before taking on a more pleasant sounding voice. " 'Sides, it's American piss, anyway. I don't want to subject you to the torture of drinking this." Spike made a face as he took another sip.

" * You're * drinking it." Buffy commented.

"I like the taste of beer * that * much. Besides, after years of drinking pig's blood as opposed to human, drinking American beer as opposed to British or...ooh! Or Belgian! Anyway, that's nothing."

"Did you just say 'ooh?'" Buffy laughed. Spike shrugged and leaned back, embarrassed, "So, I'll probably regret asking this, but...there * is * a difference between animal and human blood?" Spike nodded vigorously.

"Hell yeah. Human blood is..." Spike trailed off before going into a deep description and squinted at Buffy, "you probably * would * regret asking if I continued that sentence." Buffy laughed.

"Probably." Buffy looked down at her watch.

"Shit! My watch broke. Do you have the time?" Spike tilted his head and muttered a few calculations.

"Should be around 11:20, give or take a few minutes." Buffy widened her eyes, impressed.

"You can really do that?" Spike smiled and shook his head.

"Nah. Fooled ya though, didn't I?" Buffy rolled her eyes. Then, she leaned over and gave Spike a quick kiss.

"I'll see ya." Spike jumped up and stopped her.

"That hardly counts as a good-bye kiss, luv."

"I'm probably late." Spike buried his head into her shoulder.

"Tell your mum your watch broke." He kissed her.

"I have to go. I'll talk to you tomorrow." Spike nodded reluctantly and drew her in for a deeper kiss. Buffy pushed away and looked up at him.

"Bye." She kissed him one last time before leaving the Bronze. As soon as Buffy was out of sight, Spike exhaled and pulled out a fag, shaking. He could feel the guilt pulsate throughout his entire body.

All of the lies were going to be really bad for his health.

<And, being a vampire, that's saying a lot. >

~

"Yeah and so I was thinking, maybe what he really meant by 'Could you pass the Cheez-Its?' was really 'Could you commit yourself to me?'" The next night, Buffy held the phone between her chin and collar bone, listening intently to Willow's patented 'Xander-babble.'

"How did you get that one?" Buffy asked, laughing lightly.

"Wishful thinking, I guess." Willow audibly sighed, "Buffy there's something wrong with me."

"Cuz you like Xander? Please. You guys hang out all the time, it's bound to happen."

"You hang out with Xander, too! And you don't like him." Willow argued.

"True. But that's because I'm with Spike." Buffy reasoned. She pulled out her leather jacket and slipped it on, hugging the fabric to her, "I'll talk to ya later. I've gotta do a quick sweep through the cemetery."

"Yeah, yeah...go save the world or whatever."

Buffy said goodbye one last time before hanging up the phone and racing down the stairs.

~

She firmly planted the stake into the vamp's chest, with a victory cry.

"I don't think we've met. I'm Buffy and you're history!"

He exploded into a thousand, tiny, dusty bits. Buffy looked around, proud of herself and sat down on a nearby gravestone. Seeing her, Spike walked over and put his arms around her back, pulling her in.

"Hey." She looked up and kissed his jaw line. He smiled down at her and she spun around clasping his neck. She kissed him and then pulled away, standing up, keeping his hand in hers.

"A lotta action tonight?" Spike asked.

"Dusted three of them. You?" Spike shrugged and shook his head.

"One. It was pathetic, too. He practically * ran into *my stake." Buffy laughed.

"Yeah, I know what you mean. Newbies all seem to have a death wish." Buffy froze suddenly, at that.

"And Slayers do too..."She whispered.

"Havin' a nice conversation with yourself there, luv?" Spike asked, jokingly, not hearing what she said.

"Did you ever tell me that I, and all slayers, have a death wish?" She asked, violently facing him.

A cold hand gripped Spike's insides.

"No." He lied. Buffy sighed and closed her eyes.

"I don't know what's wrong with me. I could've sworn you-" Spike cut her off sharply.

"Well, I didn't, alright? Now, how was Snyder today?" He asked, hoping she'd drop the subject.

"Snyder was fine. But, do you have any idea why I'd be having these weird flash-back like feelings?" Spike hissed in a breath.

"No clue, pet." He answered, shortly.

"What the hell is your problem? You are, like, refusing to talk about this."

"Bloody hell..." He ran his hand over his hair, wishing desperately for a cigarette.

"Don't 'bloody hell' me, buster. Why won't you talk about this? I'm concerned about it and you keep just cutting me off!"

"Cuz there's nothing to talk about, Buffy!" Spike cried out, desperately, "I don't know what you want from me! I don't know why the hell you're having these feelings, so why do you keep asking me about them?!" Buffy tightened her hands into fists and glared wildly at him.

"I just want you to talk about it with me, not give me the freakin' answers. Giles doesn't even have any clue to why I keep getting them! It would just be nice if my *boyfriend* would help me through it!"

"I've been trying to help you through it! If I kept you talking about them, you'd just get even more confused about it and it would make the entire situation worse! I'm here to distract you, pet." Spike offered, scratching his head and really, * really * wishing for a cigarette.

"But you are ignoring my trying to show you that I don't want to be distracted from it! I want to talk about it! I want to try to make some sense of what they're trying to tell me. And they are trying to tell me something." Spike shook his head.

"You don't know that."

"Right." Buffy said, simmering with anger, "I'm just crazy."

"Buffy..."

"No, no. You're right. I'm insane. Hell, maybe I'm * imagining * all of this! Maybe you're not even real. Or, or...most likely... I'm just a fucked up little drama queen!!!" Buffy screamed, until Spike grabbed her shoulders.

"Buffy, stop it! That's not what I meant and you know it." Buffy sniffled and looked up into his eyes, traces of anger still sparking within her.

"Then what did you mean?" Spike sighed and hugged her.

"I just meant that you don't know enough about these feelings to have anything to go on." Buffy pulled away gently and nodded.

"Yeah...I know. I know! God, it's just so confusing."

Spike drew her in again and kissed her top of her head, whispering lightly into her hair. Buffy lifted her head and Spike kissed her gently, only to be met with a strong, forceful kiss from Buffy, who grabbed the back of Spike's head and pulled him roughly to her. He quickly responded, clutching her back, darting his tongue into her mouth. Buffy broke away and panted, resting her head against Spike's shoulder.

"Ahem." Buffy turned around to face the intruding voice, which came from none other than Angel.

"Hi Angel." Buffy said, wiping away a barely fallen tear. Angel glared in response.

"Over him, huh?" He asked, uncharacteristically harsh.

"What are you talking about?" Buffy said, genuinely confused. Spike laughed humorlessly and shook his head.

"I think you and the poofter here had a bit of a communication gap, pet."

"Apparently." Angel said, his eyes never leaving where Spike's hand rested against the small of Buffy's back.

"Oh...oh, God. You were asking me if I still had feelings for * Spike.* " Buffy said, mentally slapping herself. < I'm a complete bonehead! >

"I thought that was obvious."

Buffy pulled away from Spike, who felt a rush of possession, but didn't move.

"Angel, I'm so sorry. The truth is I'm with Spike now. In a relationship." Angel mimicked Spike's laugh.

"I do have eyes, Buffy." Buffy darted her gaze downward. < Maybe the graveyard isn't the best place for an impromptu make-out session... >

"I'm sorry you had to find out like that. I would have told you earlier- in fact, I thought I did. But I'm still sorry."

"Spike." Angel said, ignoring Buffy, sending poison darts with his eyes in the direction of the younger vampire. "Come." Angel began to walk away, expecting Spike to follow.

"I'm not a bloody shiatsu, mate." Spike said, annoyed.

Angel growled and rounded on him in game face.

"I AM NOT YOUR MATE!" Buffy stepped in between the two of them and Angel's face reverted back to human. He looked down, ashamed.

"I don't...I don't know what's wrong with me." Buffy laid a hand on his back, but Angel pulled away sharply, before looking back up at Spike.

"I'll be leaving now. Spike, you'll be hearing from me."

"Ooh, I'm scared!" Spike replied sarcastically, waving his hands in the air. Angel paused to look back and forth between them, before turning on the ball of his foot and sulking off into the night.

Buffy turned around to face Spike and put her hands on her hips.

" 'Ooh, I'm scared?' " She asked incredulously. Spike looked down, embarrassed.

"Just came out."

~

"Hey this is Dawn, the student formerly known as Ambrine! I'm not in right now, but just leave one and I'll call ya back ASAP!" Dawn ran into her room, about to pick up the phone, when she heard the voice on the machine.

"Briney? Hey! It's Harmony! Remember, you're best friend? Anyway, I was just calling cuz I know that we haven't hung out in awhile and I was just wondering, ya know, what is up with that?!? I mean, you were my BEST FRIEND. Other than Cordelia, of course. Cuz no one could beat Cordy, cuz she's all cool and stuff. But I did like you a lot! But anyway, we used to be tight, girl! Like spandex. Ooh, speaking of spandex, me and Jennifer were thinking of making these unicorn costumes for Halloween next year...or *this * year I guess." Harmony laughed maniacally, grating Dawn's nerves, "So, yeah, but she totally backed out on me! I mean, seriously, that's not cool, right? But I was wondering if you would help me with it, cuz we gotta plan ahead-"

Dawn made a disgusted face and picked up the phone and slammed it down again, realizing that the machine was not going to cut Harmony off, who would then be free to ramble on and on and on and on...

"Tigress?" Dawn spun around and saw her "mom", who looked somewhat concerned.

"Yeah?"

"You have a visitor...or at least, I think it's for you. He called you Dawn for some reason. And he has a British accent. And dyed hair." Dawn rolled her eyes.

"I told you, I go by Dawn now." Gladys pursed her lips.

"That's not the name I gave you."

"It's not really your choice." Gladys' eyes flashed.

"It is * so * my choice! I am your mother, Ambrine!" Dawn felt tears well up in her eyes.

"No. No, you're not." With that, Dawn ran out of the room, not looking back at the woman who called herself her mother.

~

"Fuck!" Dawn yelled as she stormed out of the house.

"Nibblet!" Spike backed away, but still gave Dawn an "authority" look, "Where in the hell did you learn that word?'"

"Gee, Spike. Maybe from the 16 years of living with Buffy, the Cursinator?" Spike scrunched his eyebrows.

"The Cursinator?" Dawn sighed and motioned with her hands as she spoke.

"Yeah, it was a weird nickname I gave her when I was eight cuz she used the f-word a lot when she was fourteen. Still does, I think, but not as much." Spike nodded and turned toward her.

"So, what provoked the whole Cursinator, Jr. thing I just witness 'ere?"

"My quote-Mother-unquote. She really has a lotta gall. Calling me her daughter and telling me I can't change my name, like she really plays any part in that."

"Yeah, but..." Dawn quirked her eyebrows.

"But what?"

"The thing is, Shorty, as far as that woman is concerned, you * are * her daughter. She loves you just as much as Joyce did."

"She couldn't. She's not * really * my mother." Spike bit back a 'Neither was Joyce' and just gave a strained smile.

"So, other than the family troubles, all's well in the world of Dawn?" Dawn shrugged.

"Yeah, I mean, Buffy and I are getting really close, even though I think she might suspect something, I'm actually doing really well in school, and well, Jesse... Jesse's great." Spike rolled his eyes.

"Little bugger. You remember what I told you before, alright?" Dawn rolled her eyes.

"Thank you, but if we break up, I really don't need you to "beat him to a bloody pulp," as you so eloquently put it."

"Not if you just break up. But ya know, if he cheats on ya, uses ya, hurts you in any way...then I'd beat him to a bloody pulp." Spike explained.

"So, speaking of relationships...how goes yours?" Spike exhaled and made the so-so sign with his hands.

"Uh-oh. Trouble in paradise?"

"It was never paradise, pet." Spike said, hoisting himself up onto the railing.

"You guys having problems?" Dawn asked.

"She doesn't think we are. I mean, we get along great. Cept for a little tiff on our last patrol and the Brooding Wonder wanting me dead, but other than that it's great. But..."

"But what?"

"I still feel awful about lying to her." Spike admitted, his shoelaces becoming stunningly interesting.

"Spike. You have to."

"I know that! Doesn't make it easy though." Dawn walked over to the vampire and tilted his chin up.

"Spike. Buffy loves you. You love her. So you're from the future and you know some things ahead of time. If you tell her that, you'll lose everything. It's not like you told her you're not from the future. You just haven't told her anything at all. You aren't lying to her, just omitting the truth."

"That can be worse, sometimes."

"Sometimes. But it's necessary now. Ya gotta suck it up, Blondie. All our lives might depend on it." Dawn stated, her voice low and her stance strong.

"You watch too many Sylvester Stallone movies." Spike said, hopping down from the railing and stood by her.

"But I'm right." Dawn argued. Spike nodded.

"Yeah, Nibblet. You're absolutely right."

~

Willow extended her thumbs and index fingers into a miniature, human field- goal.

"There's no way you'll make it from there." Jesse commented from a top of the main desk to Xander, who was positioning his Chinese football from the other end of the study table.

"Thanks for the support, ye of little faith." Xander said, flicking the paper smoothly between the "posts."

"Xander's a Chinese Football god." Willow proclaimed.

"My mistake." Jesse said, sending a sidelong look to Dawn and Buffy, who sat beside him.

"That is an enormous waste of time." Dawn commented to Xander.

"Yes, but a * fun * waste of time, which makes all the difference in the world. Speaking of wasting time, Buffster, how goes your relationship with Peroxide Boy?" Buffy glared at Xander.

"It's fine." Xander forced a smile.

"I'm just kiddin' ya, Summers."

"You better be." She replied, also forcing a smile, before hopping down and patting him on the back, "And also, I think you should be nicer to my boyfriend."

"I'll be nice to him when he's nice to me. I'm like a hornet." Buffy gave him an incredulous look, "Okay, maybe a bumble-bee."

"What? No, I meant that you should be the bigger man."

"Wouldn't you expect that from the guy you're macking on?" Xander asked, the bitterness in his voice * just * concealed.

"When it comes to being nice to you, I have no expectations of Spike. There'd be too many headaches."

Jenny and Giles suddenly walked into the room, discussing a demon in full- length.

"Yeah, it's pretty weird." Jenny said, "When it explodes, it kills anything with in a 12 foot radius of itself. But it also makes * another * one. Kinda like a clone. Oh, and the first Borga, the one that exploded, always survives."

"How long have they been, er, nesting here?" Giles asked, who rushed to the study table and grabbed a general book of demons.

"What's the dealio?" Buffy asked, coming between the two adults.

"Borga demons." Jenny said, before turning back to Giles, "I already downloaded some info off the 'net."

"Wonderful. How might we fight this creature?"

"If you, or Buffy, I guess, can kill the original demon, it'll be gone. All of 'em."

"No problem. Just point me to it." Jenny looked at Giles warily.

"* That's * the problem. He might have moved on." Buffy's eyes widened.

"Where to?"

"Another town, hoping to wreak some havoc. But maybe not, this being the Hellmouth and all. He might've stayed for an extra long vaca."

"Well, let's all hope so." Buffy said, sitting down next to Willow.

"Hey, do you wanna go Bronzing tonight?" Buffy asked, breaking abruptly out of Slayer mode, "I have to do a patrol, but we could meet up after." Willow nodded enthusiastically.

"Cool! Xand, you wanna come?" Buffy asked.

"Will Spike be there?" Xander asked shortly.

"Doubtful. He's not really a "people person." Not big into Bronzing with me and my friends." Buffy explained, "Yet." She added as a footnote.

"Count me in then." Buffy ignored Xander's dig and looked to Dawn and Jesse.

"You guys gonna come?" Dawn nodded and looked at Jesse.

"Unless you have plans, Jess."

"My plans were to hang out with you, so...Bronze it is."

Buffy smiled and leaned back...basking in the glow of her friendships.

| "To good friends and old times." |

Buffy blinked back to reality, an uneasy, somewhat familiar feeling in the pit of her stomach.

< Wiggy. >

~

"Dum de dum dum...vampires! C'mere vampires. I gotta nice little treat for you..." Buffy called out, moving swiftly through one of her regular cemeteries. She heard a rustle in a bush. She spun around and ran into Angel, nearly staking him. Jumping and gasping, she threw the stake down.

"Didn't your mother teach you not to sneak up on people in the graveyard? You have to wear a bell or yodel or what not."

"I'm sorry." Angel replied softly.

"Well, well. You're back to being the passive guy, as opposed to the passive *aggressive * guy the other night."

"I'm sorry about that, as well. I was just taken aback." Buffy nodded, closing her eyes and sighing.

"I understand. If I were you, I'd be upset, too."

"Is * he * coming tonight?" Angel asked, trying desperately to hide the fury in his voice. Buffy smiled gently.

"No. I gave him the night off."

"From you?"

"No..." Buffy said, choosing her words carefully, "From patrolling. I really hope that being with me isn't like a chore."

"I wouldn't know." Angel said tersely.

"So, you are still mad." Buffy replied, picking up her pace so she was walking with Angel.

"Do I have a right to be mad?"

"Not really." Buffy said, honestly.

"Too bad. Cuz I am. I thought we had something." Angel stated, turning around.

"I did, too. For awhile. But then you did your little disappearing act and Spike stayed around."

"So the reason you fell for him is because I wasn't around?" Angel asked, hope entering his heart once again.

"That's part of the reason." Buffy admitted.

"And the other part?"

"I don't think you'd want to hear that." Buffy said slowly, choosing her words delicately.

"Right." They stood in silence for a few moments before Angel faced her again.

"Do you love him?" Buffy widened her eyes and stepped back.

"What?"

"Spike. Do you love him?" Buffy opened her mouth and then closed it again.

"I don't know. I never thought about it."

"So it's not yes then." Angel said, smiling despite himself.

"It's not a no, either. We just started dating. It's too soon to know if I love him." Buffy reasoned. But Angel wasn't listening. In a frenzy, he took Buffy's arms and leaned in as though to kiss her.

Buffy backed away sharply and just looked at Angel, who closed his eyes.

"I'm sorry." She whispered, before walking in the other direction.

~

Spike carried a bag of groceries through one of the cemeteries, in hopes of running into Buffy.

Unfortunately, he ran smack into his grandsire.

"Well, well, if it isn't Nancy-boy." He said with an eye roll.

"Don't toy with me, Spike." Angel said, rounding in on him.

"Didn't know I was toying, ma-" Spike stopped himself, "Angel." He finished lamely.

"Stay away from my Buffy."

"I don't mean to sound predictable and adolescent , but male chauvinist much? Buffy doesn't belong to anybody." Spike began to walk away, but Angel cut him off.

"I love Buffy..."

"You barely know Buffy." Spike countered.

"Oh and what? Like you know everything there is to know about her?" Spike smiled.

"No one knows everything there is to know about Buffy. It's one of the reasons I fell for her."

"Stay away from her!" Angel yelled.

"No! Sorry, but you lost your shot with her. She's with me now and you better bloody well deal with it."

Angel's face shifted into game and he lunged at Spike with a thousand pent up, angry emotions, but was instantly cut off by a furious, running, black demon, on top of which was Buffy.

"It's the original Borga!" She screamed down to Spike and Angel, who looked at one another confusedly.

"The what?" They asked in unison.

"Just help me kill it!" Buffy yelled, exasperatedly. Spike hopped up and kicked the Borga in the stomach, making it reel back and propel Buffy through the air.

"Buffy!" Angel yelled, running to her side. Buffy hopped onto her feet and ran back over to help Spike.

It lashed a giant claw at Spike, who tried to dodge it, but instead was slammed on the side of the head, knocking him to his back. Angel ran to where Spike was and distracted it.

"Buffy, here." Spike sputtered out, "My second grocery bag...it has an axe." He then promptly passed out. Buffy rushed over to the bag and pulled out the weapon.

Meanwhile, Angel was punching the Borga in the face and stomach, hoping to weaken it.

"Angel, hold it down!" Angel reached over and slammed himself atop of it, holding it down to the ground. Buffy moved over and swiftly crashed the knife down onto it's neck, turning the demon into a puddle of goo. She helped Angel up, who looked into her eyes and was about to say something when she abruptly pulled away.

"Spike!" She rushed to his side as he began to awake.

"Did we win?" He asked, a la Willow.

"Yeah...it's dead. I killed it." Buffy cradled Spike's head gently in her lap, "How's your head?"

"Hurts, but I should be alright by tomorrow at least." He smiled and forced himself to sit up, after which Buffy tenderly kissed his forehead. He leaned up and captured her lips in a soft kiss before pulling away, squinting in pain. Buffy lifted Spike up slowly from underneath his shoulders and allowed him to use her as support until he stabled himself.

"Damn, how hard did he hit me?" Spike asked, holding his head with his palm.

"Obviously pretty hard. You'll be fine."

"Thanks for the update." Spike muttered, suddenly feeling embarrassed. Buffy turned around to thank Angel, but was surprised to see that he was gone. She frowned lightly and turned back to Spike.

"I told Will and them that I'd meet them at the Bronze, will you be alright getting home?" Spike rolled his eyes.

"It's just a little bump on the head, Slayer. I don't need a chaperone." Buffy's frown lines increased.

"Could you not call me that?" Spike blinked and nodded.

"Sure, luv."

~

Dawn walked through the school hallways when she noticed a figure slip into the basement. Shaking her head, she opened it just as Spike was about to reach for her. She smiled at him and entered in, standing next to him.

"What's up?"

"Angel. Why does he have to leave?" He asked, hoping that his head injury made him forget it and that he told Dawn.

"We don't know, remember?"

"Yeah...it's just getting more confusin' though. Angel helped up kill the Borga."

"Buffy mentioned that last night. How's your head?" Spike brushed it aside with an embarrassed hand wave.

"Fine. But Angel helped us. Really well, too. So why would he have to leave? It just doesn't make any bloody sense..." Dawn patted his arm.

"I gotta get to class, I'll just leave you here to mull for awhile." Spike nodded her a goodbye, leaning up against the railing, practically scratching his head.

< Maybe that Whistler guy's just on something... >

~

"And even after I, I! Me! Myself! Liam-freakin-quote-Angel-quote-the- vampire! After I saved their lives, who does she run to?" Angel's alcohol induced slurred voice screamed into Whistler/Willy's voice shrilly, "She runs to SPIKE! WILLIAM THE BLOODY! That good for nothing little son-of-a- bitch. I always hated him, ya know?"

Whistler nodded and just continued to wipe down the bar.

"God, I would love to kill him. Right in front of that girl...just make him suffer so much...make him scream...that's what I'd do. I'd make her watch...show her just how inadequate he is. Fuckin' secondary vampire. I'd even kill her...she'll never love me...not like she loves * him. * DAMMIT!" Angel slammed his fist onto the bar and hoisted himself up so he was inches away from Whistler's face.

"You wanna help? You could rake a few knives through their skin...slowly...then I'll drain Spike. Make him live a pathetic, scarred former version of himself. Goddamn shell. And I'd make Buffy love me...and if not, I'd rip her throat out and drink, drink the sweet goddamn ambrosia of the Slayer's blood."

Angel sat back down, everything growing more and more blurry at every second.

"It...would be...grand." Angel slumped over, conked out.

Whistler sighed and hoisted the vampire over his shoulder. < Thank the Power's for demon strength. >

He then carried Angel back to his apartment.

~

Angel shot up in bed.

He doubled over...remembering...the things he had said...the things he said...

He didn't want them dead.

He didn't want anybody dead.

Angelus had no control over him.

Yes, he was heartbroken. And yes, he hated Spike, but Spike was good now. And he didn't want either of them dead, or tortured, or maimed, or maligned...

Angel felt a smile creep onto his face, which he quickly wiped away with a scream of agony. A sudden flash of every person he had ever killed passed before his eyes and plunged into his heart.

"Get it together." He whispered to himself, "You're a good person. A good person. A good person." He muttered to himself the slow mantra, trying to make himself believe it.

But when you have thoughts like the one's he had...it's nearly impossible to believe.

It was as though Angelus had revisited.

Angel felt his stomach lurch as he thought of his alter-ego.

He couldn't put Buffy through the pain of meeting Angelus.

He thought of Spike's warning. Spike said he had to go to Los Angeles by June 6th.

Angel shook his head...He wasn't about to let Buffy meet Angelus.

But he wasn't about to leave either.

~

Buffy knocked lightly on Spike's apartment door. It creaked open and Spike smiled down at her. He opened his mouth to greet her, but was met instead with a warm kiss.

"Hi." She whispered, giving him a tender hug.

"Everything alright, pet?" Buffy nodded and ran her fingers through Spike's hair.

"I'm great. Just thought I'd drop by. Why, is this a bad time?" Spike smiled and squeezed her hand.

"Never." He cleared his throat and allowed her in. Buffy circled the apartment and sat down on the couch, staring up at Spike all the while. Spike sat beside her, concern still playing on his features.

"God, stop looking at me like I'm ready to have a nervous breakdown or something. I just missed you." Buffy said gently.

Spike nodded and kissed her.

"So, how are you?" She asked as Spike broke their embrace.

"Alright. Anything you need to talk about concerning those flashy things?" Buffy smiled affectionately.

"No. But thank you for asking."

"Anytime, luv." Spike was suddenly aware of his voice being hoarse as he stared at her. Buffy locked eyes with him and unwittingly licked her lips. She filled the tiny gap between them and laid a loving kiss on his lips, moving around them slowly. Spike intensified the kiss, leaning into her, raking his hands through her hair, surrounded by feelings he hadn't felt since he was last with her...in an intimate sense.

Buffy responded and tugged at his shirt, bringing him closer to her, so that their entire bodies were touching. Spike broke away, allowing Buffy to breathe. Buffy opened her eyes and met his powerful gaze, before nodding. Spike cupped her face and fiercely kissed her, remembering everything he had ever felt when near her...from the blood lust to lust to obsession to love, all rolled together in an intricate dance of tongues and the entwining of hands.

Buffy laid down, pulling Spike atop of her...curling her leg over his. He rolled his hips across hers, making Buffy moan into his mouth. Spike broke the kiss for a moment before plunging down again.

Spike's hand reached up Buffy's shirt...

Buffy broke away, panting, and pulled Spike's shirt off before he swooped down to place his lips on hers again.

Buffy felt her bra unclasp.

Spike moved his lips down to her collarbone...he delicately placed a trail along the edge, licking the tiny scoop between them.

Buffy reached down to Spike's pants and fumbled slightly...

In that next instant, however, Spike was on his feet, looking panicked. Buffy sat up, hurt, and stared at him as he paced around the room.

"What's wrong?" She asked, taken aback by the entire incident.

< What's wrong?!?! Every bloody thing about this entire relationship.that's what's wrong...>

"Nothing, pet." He lied, swallowing his guilt, "I just don't think this is the time for...that." Buffy sat up and reordered her disheveled clothes, still staring up at him with question.

"Don't you want me?"

"Don't be ridiculous. Of course I want you. I always want you." Buffy felt the world stop.

| Tell me you love me. I love you...you know that. Tell me you want me. I always want you. |

Buffy blinked back to reality and decided against mentioning that one to Spike.

"Then why...?" Spike knew he couldn't tell her the truth.

That he couldn't make love to her under false pretences.

That he wanted her to know everything about him, about his past, her past, their future, and be okay with it, before he could peacefully and fully give her the love she deserved.

Of course, he wasn't about to say * that. *

"It's just not romantic enough, luv. 'Sides, we've only been datin' for 3 months. I figured you'd want more time than that. We haven't even discussed it." He said sinuously, surprised at how persuasive he sounded.

Buffy laughed calmly to herself before looking back up at Spike.

"Well, we know who the level-headed one in this relationship is. You are completely right. I mean, I'm actually glad you stopped us now." Buffy sensed Spike tense. Realizing she may have bruised his ego, she slid her arms around his neck and soothingly kissed him.

"It doesn't mean I want you any less, though." Spike smiled.

"Ditto."

And for the first time, Buffy ignored the flashback-feelings.

~

Night had fallen over Sunnydale. It was nearing two in the morning as a car rolled onto the main highway, heading toward the town. The car was making the only sound throughout the night. A low, thunderous rumble from the engine, barely noticeable.

SCCCCCRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEECH!

The car slammed into the 'Welcome to Sunnydale' sign.

The car door slammed open.

A pair of combat boots slipped out, sauntering cockily around.

A flash of leather glinted in the moonlight.

The figure laughed as he lit a cigarette.

"Home, sweet home. "

~

tbc...

A/N: Yes, I know it's a bit early, but the time line will be explained in the next chapter, so don't fret kiddies.