Xander and Gunn were sitting in the front seat of Oz's van, which was parked down the street from the house where Spike and Xander had encountered the Al-Azon two months before. Spike and Dawn referred to the demon as "Doc" but Xander didn't think he was much of a Bugs Bunny fan. Tara and Anya sat in the back in front of an elaborate computerized communication set up that Willow and Wesley had devised. All four wore headsets.

"Nice town, I guess. Strange though…"

"What's that?"

"Only place I've ever been in my life got more vampires than brothers."

"Yeah, strange, I guess I don't know anyone that has a brother, only sisters…"

Gunn stared blankly at Xander.

"Oh…you mean that kind of…oh…well, whenever the town fathers of Sunnydale tried to be diverse it always seem to go in the Hellmouthy direction."

"I bet."

"You never met the mayor."

"Hush," said Tara. "They're starting."

In the sewers below the van, Spike, Angel, Faith, Willow and Oz were making their way through the sewers. It was still an hour before the sun went down, but it was pitch dark inside the sewers. Oz, Angel, and Spike could see just fine, but Faith and Willow were having to follow closely behind.

Tara heard Giles' voice come over the air. "Spike, are you all in position?"

"Almost mate, give us a couple of minutes."

Faith was bringing up the rear. She had yet to be given a straight answer from anyone as to what had happened to Willow. What ever it was it gave her the creeps. She could literally feel the power rippling in waves from the redhead in front of her. She could tell Spike and Angel felt it, too. Angel looked shocked, and almost concerned, while Spike looked angry. What was it about Buffy, thought Faith. These guys were two righteous bad-asses who could take whatever they wanted, and they both just wanted Buffy. She had just answered her own question. It was Buffy, after all.

"Up here," said Oz.

"You sure?" asked Angel.

"Smelled that blood Xander couldn't get out of his shirt. It's up there."

"Alright. Giles, we're in position."

"Understood. They're at the first mark. Anya, are you picking up the proximity signals Willow set up?"

Angel shook his head. He was still amazed at Willow. If ever the word "technomage" would apply, he was sure that Willow would eventually be the embodiment of it. She had somehow arranged for the computers in the van to pick up signals from magical beacons that she had willed into existence throughout the tunnel system and the surrounding area.

"[sqwauk] Roger, This is Devil in a Blue Dress, 10-4 on that, Gandalf. Bogies spotted on at high noon and two o'clock."

Gunn turned to Xander. "What's she talking about?"

Xander turned to face Anya. "Honey, what'd I tell you. We're not using code names or talking like fighter pilots."

"But it looked like so much fun when that Rubber Ducky man did it in that film about trucker solidarity."

Gunn shook his head in disbelief.

"Anya, hun", said Xander. "I liked Convoy as much as the next guy, but this isn't the time."

"Alright…but can we sing the song when we get Buffy back?"

"Spike," Tara said. "The entrance is ahead of you and to the right. There looks like he's got a nest of vampires guarding the entrance."

Spike held the microphone to his hear, and looked at Angel to see that he heard as well. "How do you know they're vampires, luv?"

"There are a bunch of little V's on the screen."

Angel looked back at Willow, whose eyes he thought were slightly glowing around the edges. "I'm impressed, Will."

"Thanks, just something I've been working on."

"Cool, Red," said Faith. "Can you hook me up with a little hand-held model? That'd come in handy."

"Like the bleedin' fat man with a metal detector at the beach…"said Spike…

They made quick work of the vampires. Willow and Oz hung back, and it wasn't two minutes before Angel beckoned them to follow. Oz could feel the piles of dust on his shoes as he walked through the room.

They came to a door, which felt to Angel like cold iron plated with silver.

"Old door," said Willow.

"Strange," said Spike.

"What's so strange about a big heavy door?" asked Faith.

"Cold iron. A magic ward," said Angel.

"But is it to keep magic out or to keep it in?" asked Oz.

"I don't know," said Angel.

"Question is, how are we going to get in?" asked Spike. "I don't know about you, but I didn't bring any dynamite."

"Like this," said Willow. Faith could see Willow's eyes blaze a cold green, and the door started to dissolve in front of them.

Oz stepped through followed by the two girls. Spike and Angel stood and stared at the door.

"That was cold iron," said Angel.

"Yeah…it was," answered Spike.

"Not even fey magic can affect cold iron."

"I say treat it like gays in the military, mate. Unless somebody asks you, don't leave a greek horse with a man bearing gifts."

"Yeah…yeah…is that what they say?"

Spike and Angel stepped through the now empty doorway, Angel still staring back in disbelief.

Cordelia's voice came over the headsets. "Angel, Wesley and Giles are finished."

Oz held a hand up, signaling to Angel and Spike that they had arrived at their destination. Covering his mike with his hand, Angel turned to Spike. "This is your show, William."

"You believe that, Angelus?" he asked.

"Like Whistler said…you were supposed to be there, not me. If you don't believe that, fine. Blame yourself for her being gone. I don't care. But I will blame you for her staying gone. Lorne told us that it wasn't my fight anymore. If that's true, I'm not taking any chances. It doesn't matter who gets her back, as long as she's back."

"No, I don't guess it does." Spike lifted his hand from where it had been covering his own mike. "Harris, Gunn, you're up, boys."

Xander and Gunn got out of the van, and went to the back of the vehicle. Tara opened the doors, and handed them each a large backpack.

"We're ready."

"Burn the bugger," said Spike.

Xander and Gunn approached the house, each going to an opposite corner of the side facing the street. Cordelia, Giles and Wesley emerged from the bushes near the house, slowly trailing cans of gasoline behind them. Gunn and Xander looked at each other, nodded and pressed the triggers on the flame throwers. The lines of gasoline slowly led up to the house until they reached what looked like a fire hose. A wall of almost green flame suddenly burst up in front of them. They ran back from the intensity of the heat, which Gunn could have sworn was starting to melt the trees.

Gunn looked at Xander. "Man, what'd you put in that hose?"

Xander smiled and looked at him. "Don't you just love the smell of napalm in the…late afternoon early evening hours?"

Gunn looked at Cordelia who stood gazing at the fire. "You guys okay? No nasties jump out at you?" he asked.

"No," said Wesley. "We're fine."

"That hose was blasted heavy, Xander," Giles said. "We should have had you two roll the hose out while Cordelia set the accelerants."

"But I like shooting the flame thrower. It makes me feel all manly," said Xander.

"Glad something does," said Cordelia in a whisper.

"Cordy, are you all right?" asked Wesley.

"Tell me why we just did that again."

"Well," said Giles. "That high temperature a flame won't kill the Al-Azon. But it would cause it considerable harm. We're trying to keep it from getting out of the house, a moat so to speak, so that it will be trapped inside with Angel and the others."

"Uh-huh…tell me something…anybody know how to put napalm out?"

"Why do you ask Cordy?"

"Because the our moat just set the house on fire."

"Oh…" said Wesley.

"Oh," repeated Giles.

"Giles?"

"Yes, Cordelia."

"Fire kills vampires, doesn't it?"

"And humans for that matter."

~ Chapter 5 ~

"Did you guys hear that?" asked Cordelia, screaming into her microphone. "Angel, the house is on fire!"

There was no answer.

Angel and Spike stood in what Angel thought was the house's main hall. It seemed larger than Spike remembered. Angel could smell something vaguely reminiscent of the Louisiana bayou. He realized it was the smell of swamp gas.

"Down," he yelled, and flames burst through the room.

"What the bleedin' hell?" yelled Spike.

"Oh, just a little magic, boy."

Spike looked up to see Doc step from the next room. "You're becoming quite the bothersome little insect. I think I'm going to have to squash you." With that he raised a mace from behind his back, smashed it across Spike's face.

Spike rolled with the blow. "I though you preferred blades, Doc."

"But blades are so quick. This prolongs it. More fun."

Angel slammed into Doc from the back. Doc quickly turned and struck Angel on the shoulder. A large crack was heard as Angel's collarbone broke.

Doc looked back at Spike. "And you brought a friend. I'm glad you came boy. I haven't had any fun since I watched that bitch Slayer of yours die."

Spike rushed him.

Faith looked around the room where Spike had told her it would be. Seeing nothing, she finally spoke into the microphone.

"Dawnster, you there?"

"Yeah, Faith. I'm here."

"Okay, I'm in the room. Where is it?"

"Look up to your right. Near the fireplace."

Spike was bloody. So was Angel. Both of Angel's arms were broken, as was Spike's left arm and his right leg. Both of them barely managing to kneel on the floor, Doc was walking around them, alternately smacking them with the mace.

Angel had never seen anything so fast in all his nearly 250 years. He understood now why Spike had been beaten on top of the tower. If this was the thing that Spike had had to face he was amazed that both Spike and Dawn weren't dead. How Buffy had managed to get by it, he had no idea.

"Well boys, I can smell a fire outside. You think I should take you boys out to see it?"

"What do you think, Angel? You want to go outside and see Mr. Sunshine?" joked Spike, feebly, coughing up blood.

"I don't know…give it a second."

"All right."

"You two are just delaying the inevitable. I think you're right, my boy. I think a blade is preferable right now. Just quick and painless, chop off the heads. What do you think, right through the neck."

Angel saw the last glimmer of sunlight escape under the window. He could hear something rustling against the back wall.

"I don't know, Spike," said Angel. "That sounds pretty good to me. Sun's down, moon is up, I'm ready, how about you…"

"Not quite yet…"

"Awww…that's sweet," said Doc. "I get it now. You guys came here as a kind of suicide pact. You're all moony over the girl, aren't you? Both of you. You, I understand," he said, pointing at Angel. "You're burdened with a nasty little soul, but you," he said, looking back at Spike. "Last time I saw you there wasn't a hint of a soul on you. And still you act like a poor love-struck child."

"Put me out of my misery then, you prancing git."

"I think I'll do that." Doc went up and picked a sword from where it hung on the wall. He walked up to Spike and tilted Spike's head. As he did so, Spike heard Faith's voice come through his earpiece: "Spike, we're five by five." Spike smiled.

"What are you smiling about, boy?"

"You, you bastard are about to get what you deserve…Will?"

Angel had to duck as the back wall exploded. Willow floated there, lightning streaming from her eyes, flames rising behind her.

Doc looked up, chipper. "Oh, who's this?"

"Your death," intoned Willow. It echoed throughout the burning house.

"Silly child," he said, "no magic can kill me…"

"No," she smiled. "But I can bind you."

With that Angel seemed to feel all the air rush out of the room. He watched as Willow's eyes turned pitch black and he felt walls of force rush by him and slam into the demon before him. Bands of red force held him in place.

Spike and Angel rose to their feet.

They both limped slowly around to where Doc floated in the air.

"Let's see, Spike…what do we know about this guy…"

"Bloody fast…

"Yeah…"

"Bloody mean…"

"Yeah…"

"and bloody unattractive."

"Yeah."

"Boy insulting me won't do trifles such as you any good against me."

"What kind of demon was this again, Angelus?"

"I think he was Al something…"

Doc grimaced. "Al-Azon. A name you should bow and worship before…"

"Oh yeah, Spike. That's it. What else do we know about Al here?"

"Can't kill him by stabbing him."

"No?"

"Can't burn him."

"Really?'

"Can't even mojo him to the great beyond."

"Really? Then how do you kill him?"

"You don't, you insignificant gnat," snarled Doc.

Spike smiled. "Let him go, Will"

Angel barely saw the blur of brown fur flash by him. He and Spike turned and walked back toward the space where the back wall had been. They could hear the screams of something inhuman as the Oz-wolf ripped into Doc's flesh.

"It's really very simple, Angel."

"Really?"

"Yeah…you eat him."

~ Chapter 6 ~

"Let me go, Xander!" screamed Cordelia. He strained to hold her back.

"Gunn, help me!" Xander pleaded.

"Angel's in there!"

"Stop it, Cordy. We know!"

She stepped closer to him, their faces almost touching. "Xander, please."

"No, Cordy. Stay here."

"Xander, Faith's in there, too."

Xander slowly looked and turned at the house, which was now not even recognizable. All he could see was waves of heat.

"Look!" Anya yelled.

"Holy Sh-" Gunn whispered.

Xander followed Anya's line of sight. There set against the full moon, was a sight that made him cry.

Willow was levitating there, her arms outstretched. Beside her floated Angel, Spike and Faith. Faith held the Chalice up for them to see. Behind Willow, Xander could see the Oz-Wolf floating in bands of red force. The fire didn't seem to have touched them.

She slowly set them down. Tara reached out and hugged Willow, who smiled.

Cordelia rushed Angel, and he winced in pain as she put her arms around him. "Oh God, you're hurt."

"Well, that was the plan."

"That was a stupid plan."

"Hey, it was Spike's."

Wesley stepped up to Giles. "That was amazing."

"Wasn't it though."

"Have you ever seen the like?"

"No…I haven't."

Dawn rushed out of where she had been sitting in the van and hugged Spike, who squeezed her in his one good arm.

"Is he dead?"

"Yup."

"You mean?"

"Yes, little bit. I'm the big bad, and I brought my wolf," he said indicating Oz. "He's all gone."

Cordelia walked Angel, toward the van, holding him up.

"Cordy…Cordy…"

"What…"

He nodded his head, indicating she look toward the van. She looked up and saw Gunn sitting in the open door of the van. He was holding Anya, who was crying into his chest. Cordelia slowly turned. Her heart broke for Anya. Xander was holding Faith in his arms, quietly looking down into her eyes. He slowly bent his head to kiss her.

"Cordy…"

"Yeah, Angel…"

"Let it go…"

Looking back to the vampire leaning on her shoulder, she sighed. Xander was right. Denial isn't just a river in Egypt.

~ Chapter 7 ~

They all stood on the main sales floor of the Magic Box. Everything had been prepared. Gunn and Xander had gone with Willow the night before and dug enough dirt to make the mud to make Buffy's new body. They were about to start to process to call her soul.

"Willow…who do you need where?" asked Giles.

Willow sat in the center of the five pointed star drawn on the floor of the shop.

"This is going to be different from the First Slayer spell."

"How so," asked Wesley.

"I need to draw on aspects of Buffy herself, not just on aspects of the Slayer. Dawn, I need you at the top of the star. You're her love."

Dawn took her place, smiling at Spike as she went.

"Xander, to my right. You're her heart."

Xander looked over at Tara, and rather immodestly proclaimed, "Did you hear that…I'm her heart."

Xander took his place, facing the center of the circle.

"Angel", said Willow. "To my left…you're her strength…"

Angel looked back at Cordelia, his hand trailing behind in hers until their fingertips finally parted.

"Giles…you sit beside Angel to my left…you're her wisdom."

Giles nodded and took his place.

"And Faith…"

Faith looked up. "What, me?"

"Yes, Faith. You. Sit beside Xander. You are her passion."

Anya turned away, and started to walk from the room. Gunn followed her and grabbed her shoulder, putting his arm around and her calmly bringing back into the room. Xander saw this and silently looked away.

Faith was hesitant.

"What's wrong, pet?" asked Spike.

"I want this to work."

"So do we all, pet. It'll help a lot if you get on with it."

"How can I be a part of Buffy?"

Willow looked at her. "You're the Chosen Two, wasn't that what you called yourselves?"

"Faith," said Dawn. "Please. Believe me. It'll work."

Faith slowly sat down at her corner of the circle. Xander reached his hand toward her.

"It'll be all right."

"You promise?" she asked.

"I promise."

"So Willow," asked Wesley, "what is your role in the spell?"

"I am her power…" she said.

"Oh…of course."

"Wesley, could you hand me the Chalice, please."

Wesley went to hand it to her, then blanched.

"Oh, no," he said. "What about the heart's blood?"

"What?" Faith asked.

"The spell calls for the heart's blood of a vampire."

They all looked at each other. Spike spoke up.

"Right then. Gunn, please grab that knife there and punch a hole in my heart, then."

"No," said Angel. "It'll drain all of your blood. You won't survive."

"I don't care. She will."

"That's not the plan, William."

At the front door of the shop stood Whistler, dragging something behind him.

"Besides you need to be in the circle itself."

"Excuse me?"

"Trust me, you'll see what I mean once Red does her thing."

"So what are we supposed to do for the vampire blood," asked Cordelia.

Whistler, shook his head. "Kids these days. So forgetful." He slung what he had been dragging around to where they could see. Drusilla lay there, awake, but gagged and unable to move.

"You forget you had one in the trunk? Besides, it had to be her."

"Oooh…Synchronicity" said Oz.

Spike looked very cautiously at Whistler. "Why her?"

"She is of the Master's line, like you and the brooder over there. Only the Master's bloodline will work."

"You're saying it has to be Dru's blood?!" asked Spike.

"Yeah. It does. Just get in the circle."

"Where?"

"Just sit across from Red there."

Spike did as he was told.

Whistler bent down and spoke to Willow.

"Okay, now Red, listen to me. Forget the script."

"WHAT?!" screamed Giles.

"Calm down, Rupert," said Whistler. "She's got enough juice to do this on her own. Go with what feels right, Red."

"Are we ready?" asked Angel.

"Hold hands with each other," said Willow. Giles, Angel, Faith, Xander, and Dawn reached out and grasped each other's hands. Spike looked around nervously at the closed circle around him, then at Whistler.

"I swear if you screw this up…"

"Calm down, Billy, and go with the flow."

Willow started to chant in a language Wesley thought to be Aramaic.

A small circle of light formed across the shoulders of the five sitting at the points of the star, following the paths of their extended arms.

Willow stopped chanting, and looked over to Wesley and Gunn. Wesley took a large knife and made a hole in Drusilla's chest while Gunn held her. Cordelia looked over and almost laughed. Crazy bitch is finally dead, she thought. We're on a roll.

Wesley handed Willow the Chalice. She set it between her legs. She then reached up and placed the pearls around Spike's neck. The circle of light became a wall of light reaching up to the ceiling. Only those in the circle could see what Willow did next.

"I hope you know what you're doing, Will."

"Trust me, Spike."

"I do."

"All, right then." She held the chalice to his lips. "Drink".

"Will?"

"Drink."

Spike looked toward Angel, who nodded to him.

"Drink, Spike. Please," said Dawn.

Spike held the chalice to his lips. He had often tasted Drusilla's blood, but this was different. It didn't taste like blood. Instead of being base, coppery, it was sweet. If Spike didn't know better, he would have said fruity. Then he realized where he had tasted it before. It was the taste of the air around Buffy. The smell of her hair, the taste of her skin. He drank the rest of the cup down.

Willow said something Spike couldn't understand and bolts of light shot from the five corners of the star into Spike's body. The pearls glowed. Willow watched as the pearls dissolved into Spike's skin.

Cordelia sat next to the wall, staring at the tower of light in front of her. It was bright, but it didn't hurt her eyes.

"Wes…"

"Yes, Cordy…

"What do you think's going on in there…"

"I have no idea…

"It's working," Whistler said.

"Cool," said Oz. "That's always good."

"Look," said Tara. "Do you see that?"

The light seemed to shiver, and then there was a sudden flash.

Suddenly, Cordelia could see them all. Willow was standing in front, the five points of the star in a line behind her, with Xander and Faith on either end. Willow walked toward the table where they had fashioned a rudimentary body from mud and a lock of Dawn's hair. Willow bent and kissed the body on what ostensibly was its forehead. The five points of the star came next, Xander reaching toward the body's feet, Faith placing a finger on the mouth. Cordelia though she saw a slight glow escape from Faith's fingers.

Then she looked up and saw him. Spike stood there, his eyes glowing in the warmest color she had ever seen. He walked up to the body, and looked down on it. He brought up his hand, and stroked the forehead. Then he bent down and kissed it. Cordelia watched as the warmth spread from Spike's lips through the body, covering it in a sheet of light. The light slowly faded. He was no longer kissing a body. He was kissing Buffy.

~ Chapter 8 ~

"What just happened?" asked Gunn.

"They did it," said Whistler.

Spike looked down at Buffy. She lay there in the same clothes as when he last saw her. "Open your eyes, luv."

Slowly, she did. He looked and saw the same light behind those eyes as he did the first night he met her.

"Hey," she said.

"Hey, yourself."

A tear rolled down his face, as it did down most faces in the room. Cordelia looked up and saw Angel looking at Buffy. He then looked down at Cordelia, and held her to him. Cordelia thought he hugged pretty well for a guy with two broken arms.

Buffy looked around, saw everyone there, and started to laugh. "Look at you guys. You'd think someone died."

They all laughed.

Spike looked down at her. "Oh, luv, you don't know the half of it."

She held her hand up to his face. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, now. Nothing now." He held her to him.

"Spike," she said. "What's going on? You're shaking…"

"I guess I am…"

"Your heart's beating so fast."

"I guess it is…"…hold on…

He looked down at her. "What did you say?"

"I said your heart is beati…oh…hey…"

Spike held his hand to his throat. Yep. He recognized a pulse anywhere.

He looked to Whistler. "What happened?"

Giles forward. "Yes…and go through it slowly. First why was Spike necessary to the spell?"

"What spell?" asked Buffy.

"You left us for a while," said Angel. "We just got you back."

"Left us, where'd I go?"

Dawn ran forward and hugged her sister.

"Ooohh…hey Dawnie…"

"Buffy," asked Wesley, "what's the last thing you remember?"

"I was fighting Glory, and I went up to make sure Dawn was okay, then…oh…OH….THAT's where I went," she said, looking over at Spike. "How long?"

"Two months, three days and 17 hours, pet."

"Glad to know you're still keeping track of everything I do."

Giles turned back to Whistler. "What happened? Why is Spike's heart beating?"

"He shansu'd."

"He what?" asked Buffy.

"Became human," said Cordelia. Spike had shansu'd. Not Angel.

"Well, kinda" said Whistler. "He's human like Buffy's human."

"So what are you saying?" asked Wesley.

"He's a Slayer," said Angel.

"Yeah," said Whistler.

"That's impossible," said Giles. "Only females are Slayers. Besides, he was a vampire."

"I told you. He's the intermingling. The fusion. The first of his kind."

"I don't understand," said Buffy.

"Join the club," said Xander.

Buffy smiled over at Xander, and raised her eyebrows at seeing Faith standing there holding his hand.

"Hey Faith."

"Hey B."

"You in on this shindig?"

"Yeah…."

"Thanks…"

"So explain this, again," said Giles. "First, why was Spike necessary to the spell."

"No," said Spike. "Start sooner. You said I was meant to be by her side when she fought Glory."

"Okay…let's see, the easiest way to put this. Buffy is the top of the line model Slayer, okay. A long time ago, the Powers That Be saw that pretty soon one Slayer isn't going to be enough. So they tried to figure out a way to have more than one at a time. I'm telling you they hatched this idea way back when Darla turned Angelus. That's also why we have Miss Sweetcheeks, here," he said, indicating Faith. "They needed to see if two could even work together before they let all this go forward."

"I'm involved in this?" asked Angel.

"Yeah. Your bloodline, the Master's bloodline, has produced the strongest master vampires in history. Darla, Angelus, Drusilla, Spike. All masters."

"As opposed to what?" asked Gunn.

"As opposed to the rest," said Giles. "All those fledglings you saw them kill. The masters are the most powerful, the best of the breed."

"Yeah, and Angelus was the first experiment."

"Experiment?" asked Cordelia. "You make him sound like a lab rat."

"The Powers that Be needed to see if a vampire shell could even hold a soul," said Whistler. "And obviously, it can."

"What does this have to do with making more Slayers?" asked Dawn.

Whistler looked at her. "Smart kid. Where do you think your sis gets all her power from?"

"I don't know…"

"Giles?" asked Buffy.

"Vampires," said Spike.

"Give the man a prize!" said Whistler.

"I don't understand," said Faith. "You're saying B and I are vamps?"

"I'm saying you have all the strength, speed, and power of a vamp."

"With none of the weaknesses," said Angel.

"Right. Don't have to suck blood, worry about sunlight, none of that."

"So what are you saying," said Giles. "The Slayers are the result of some magic or…"

"Genetics," said Willow. "Let me guess. We all have the genes for it, except…"

"In most people, the power is only accessible after you die. And it comes with some horrible side effects."

"Wait," said Wesley. "What about the demons inside them? Are you saying that the demons aren't real?"

"No, they're plenty real. When the first demon bit a human and made a vampire, it possessed the body, pushed the right genetic buttons and got a vampire. All the weaknesses a vampire has comes from the demon's weaknesses, not the human's."

"So all the strengths are always there," said Willow.

"Yeah," said Whistler. "Only thing is, there's only two ways to access it. Either have no soul like a vampire, or a really strong soul like a Slayer."

"So why are all Slayers girls?" asked Xander. "Do men just have wussie souls?"

"No…it just never worked before. The Soul just would never stay within a man's body once the powers were activated. The Powers that Be tried it, along time ago, right after the First Slayer was born, but the result was always a vampire, or just as bad a vampire zombie."

"A corpse that needed blood, but had no demon guiding it," said Angel.

"Yeah. Nasty. So anyway, the Powers thought of a way to do it."

"Let me guess," said Giles. "Let the men become vampires."

"Right," said Whistler.

"So what's the deal with the souls?" asked Willow.

"Yeah," said Spike. "You still haven't said why I was the one that had to be in the circle with Willow."

"Okay, here's the short explanation. Angel here they saw if a vampire could even handle having a soul. Spike, when Dru brought you over, they didn't let your soul just fly away…"

"Oh, no?"

"No, they held it. Bonded it really with another soul."

"Another soul?"

"Mine," said Buffy.

"Yeah. That's one of the reasons you've been the one of the greatest Slayers they've ever had. Nice side effect."

"So you're saying that Buffy has had Spike's soul all along?" asked Cordelia.

"They don't share a soul, no. They have separate souls, but they're bonded."

"Mated," Angel quietly said.

"Yeah," said Whistler, understanding the meaning behind the question.

"So when Buffy died," said Giles…

"I still can't believe I died" said Buffy. Spike still held her round her shoulders. She leaned in against his chest.

"When Buffy died," said Whistler. "Her soul didn't go anywhere. Or it did, just into Spike."

"What?" asked Xander. "Her soul went into Spike?"

"I told you, their souls were bonded. When they left Buffy's body, they went to the natural place for them. Spike. The Powers had been readying Spike's body to accept his soul back ever since he was made a vampire. That's why he's such a passionate fighter. Why he had feelings stronger than other vampires. And the more he was around Buffy, the stronger his feelings became. The closer he was to Buffy, the more of his soul he could use."

"So getting his soul back…" asked Buffy…

"Is what turned him human again. A male body that can house the soul and the power."

"So why isn't Angel human already?" asked Cordelia.

"Because, Sugar, Angel has a soul, just not the whole thing. He was bonded to another, too. The Powers weren't sure his body could handle the whole thing, so they were cautious. Once he gets the rest of his soul…the part that lets him be truly happy…he'll be human and shansu, too."

"What does he have to do?" asked Wesley.

"He's already doing it. It's just a matter of time."

"What do you mean he's already doing it?" asked Cordelia.

"Listen, kid. Tell me if I'm wrong. The last few years, he's laughing more, isn't he? Acting a little more human…"

"Yeah, so…"

"I understand," said Wesley. "Whistler, is the bonding of souls always male/female?"

"Both times it's been done by the Powers, yeah…"

"Done by the powers?" asked Willow. "You mean there's another way?"

"Yeah," said Whistler. "The good old fashioned way…love."

Willow smiled, looking at Tara.

"Oy," shouted Spike…"Are you saying I only love Buffy because the powers say I do?"

"No…not even the Powers could bond two souls that didn't want to be together. And if you didn't love Buffy, you wouldn't be human right now. Because the powers did what they did, your souls are now symbiotic. You maintain each other's humanity. One without the other just won't work."

"That still doesn't explain why Angel isn't human yet," said Cordelia.

"Yes, Cordy, it does," said Angel. "Did you hear what he said? I've been acting more human the last few years."

"So?"

"He said Spike started acting more human the closer in proximity he got to Buffy. The more time with her, the more of his soul he could use."

"I don't understand."

"Is she dense or what?" asked Faith.

"Cordelia," Buffy said. "It's you."

~ Chapter 9 ~

"What?"

"He hasn't been with me the last few years, Cordy. He's been with you."

"You've got the other piece of Angel's soul. Pretty soon, once you two can actually come to terms with it, he'll shansu," said Whistler.

"Comes to terms with it?" asked Cordelia. "How?"

"We'll work that out when we get home, Cordy," said Angel.

"Bum chicka bow wow," said Faith.

"Classy, Faith, really," said Xander.

"But Cordelia's not a Slayer," said Tara.

Whister took off his hat and crumpled it in his hands. "Like I said, Angel was an experiment. They tried it with a normal human soul first, and then only partially."

"So why did Angel turn to Angelus when he was with Buffy?" asked Oz.

"Because…the part of the soul that allowed him perfect happiness…wasn't his. It was Spike's. The body rejected that part and the rest of the soul with it. If it hadn't of been Buffy it wouldn't have happened. He basically hijacked part of Spike's soul. That's why it never happened when he slept with Darla."

Buffy coughed… "You slept with Darla."

"Something I didn't know, either," said Cordelia, looking very displeased.

"So you're saying that if he slept with the Cordelia," asked Buffy, " then he wouldn't turn into Angelus."

"No," said Whistler. "He would be using his own soul. He can't achieve perfect happiness with anyone else."

"So why did he turn into Angelus when that actress drugged him?" asked Wesley.

"Oh that," said Whistler. "He was just drunk."

"So hold on a minute, guv," said Spike. "Let me get this straight. I'm human because I love Buffy, is that what you're telling me…"

"Because you both now have equal use of your souls. Yes."

"So why is she human?"

"What do you mean?" asked Giles.

"What I mean, guv, is that she was mud not ten minutes ago. Now she's a living working girl. What am I, damn Gipetto?"

"That's simple," said Buffy.

"Explain it to me, luv."

"Because I love you."

"Oh….OH…"

"Her love for you gives her soul an anchor in humanity. Just like yours allows you to keep your soul."

"So back up, here," said Xander. "I still don't understand how this goes back to the Powers wanting more Slayers."

"Xander," said Angel. "Think about it."

"I don't get it…are they going to keep doing this soul bonding thing, then transplanting them back into vampires?"

"Xander," said Giles…"tell me…how do humans usually get more humans?"

"You mean?"

"Now that there are both male and female Slayers…."

"Ohh," said Willow "I get it. The pitter-patter of little Slayer feet."

"Exactly," said Whistler.

"Oh, no," said Buffy. "I was just dead. Now I'm pregnant."

"Not yet. That still has to be done the old-fashioned way."

"Oh," Buffy said, relieved. "Good."

"Yes, that's very good," said Spike, nuzzling up to her neck. Buffy playfully slapped at him.

"Dawn," Buffy said, speaking to her sister at her side.

"Yeah?" Dawn asked.

"You think you'd mind if Spike moved into the house with us?"

"Not really. After all, he owns it."

"What?"

~ Epilogue ~

Six months later

Spike and Buffy (aka Mr. and Mrs. William Sumner) were married three months after Buffy came back to life. They still live in the same house, and still patrol every night, although Buffy's pregnancy has caused Spike to try to get her to stay home some nights. Buffy has developed a paralyzing addiction to Passions while Spike has embraced the joy of sunbathing. They use the Buffybot to clean the house, and do errands. Dawn is very much looking forward to being Auntie Dawn, and was somewhat less than impressed when it turned out that Spike's great-great-grand-nephew was Gordon Sumner, aka Sting. Buffy was thrilled to learn that tantric sex was a family tradition. The twins are due in seven months.

Angel and Cordelia finally admitted their feelings for each other and moved in together. Angel shansu'd less than a week later. He now operates as a Slayer in the LA area. Angel and Cordelia's relationship left Phantom Dennis without a roommate. That void was soon filled by Anya, who moved to Los Angeles to be with Gunn. She has made a point of repeatedly calling Xander and imitating Madeline Kahn's lines from Blazing Saddles, "it's twue, it's twue!". She never did get to sing the theme song to Convoy. Wesley is dating Fred, and Lorne is still wearing loud clothing.

Faith is now dating Xander, and has gotten a job at the local radio station as a morning shock-rock DJ. She is now alternating patrol nights with Buffy and Spike, which allows the couple some nights off. Things are going well with Xander, and for the first time, she thinks she might really be in love. Xander is working hard to build up his stamina.

Tara has taken over Anya's job at the Magic Box, while Willow has continued to grow in power. Willow occasionally disappears for days at a time. No one knows where she goes, or what she does. Tara often turns to Oz for advice during these periods. They are growing closer daily.

Giles is very happy, having met a very nice lady at the Pottery Barn. He gave away Buffy at her marriage to Spike. Faith is living with him, and she has adopted him as a surrogate father. He has developed a predilection for saying, "Oh Screw That" when the Council calls.

Whistler continues to dress like crap.

THE END