Chapter 1

Buffy, Dawn, Willow, Tara, Anya and Xander sat in Spike’s car on the way to the carnival, Buffy had been back for five months and was finally beginning to get back into the swing of things. She had settled back into school, she was finally beginning to forgive her friends. She still felt a little bit of resentment towards them but Spike had helped her get over it. He had always been there for her, he had helped her through some though times and was still the only one that she felt fully herself with. But she was trying.

“So why we goin’ to this bleedin’ carnival anyway?” asked Spike looking at Buffy,

“Well you didn’t have to come.” Snapped Xander.

“Shut up Xander, Spike is always welcome. Anyway spike, it will be fun.”

“Yeah, we can ride the ferris wheel, go into the house of mirrors, well not that you would see anything.” Said Willow shyly, hating to bring it up.

“It’s okay Red, never did like the carnival much. Brings back bad memories.”

Buffy looked at him curiously,

“Bad memories?”

Spike looked uncomfortable,

“Yeah, of my childhood.”

Xander took this opportunity,

“Well I’m surprised you remember your childhood. Probably the carnival was the place you…what, killed your parents?”

Spike hand tightened on the steering wheel, and his knuckles turned white. Buffy noticed this and gave Xander a look that could kill. But Xander ignored it,

“Nothing to say, what did you kill your parents here?”

Spike stopped the car and everyone yelped. Buffy had been helping Spike to control his anger but breathing, even though he didn’t need to, wasn’t helping.

Spike opened his door and stepped out of the car, he walked down the road a few paces and back again, they all watched in fascination.

“What did you do that for Xander, what’s your problem?” asked an angry Dawn, who looked upon Spike as a brother and a best friend.

Buffy said nothing but got out of the car to go and check on Spike.

“Well the guy was asking for it.”

“Well technically not Xander”

said Tara who had also grown to like the vampire.

Willow and Anya and Tara glared at him, he started to feel bad.

“Spike?”

Spike turned to see her,

“Yeah”

“What’s wrong?”

Spike turned to Buffy and shook his head,

“You know what Xander said about me killing my parents here?”

Buffy nodded,

“Well not my parents, my brother. When I was eight, my parents brought my bother and I to the carnival. They left me in charge of him while they went to get us something to eat. It was his birthday, he was turning five, so it was a treat to go to the carnival and eat out, so to speak. My brother and I went on the pony rides and we had a great time, laughing and talking.”

Buffy could see his eyes mist over when he spoke,

“After the pony rides we were walking out of the carnival, even though my parents told us to stay inside, I wanted to climb the hill with the other boys my age. Patrick didn’t want to come with but I forced him. We were climbing the hill and he was behind me, it was a steep hill, filled with rocks and stones. Suddenly I heard his call out to me and I turned around the see him hanging off one of the rocks, I grabbed his hand and held it tightly. He yelled to me, ‘William don’t let me fall.’ I tried to pull him up, but he was too heavy and he slipped out of my hands. I’ll never forget the way his tiny body lay all broken and twisted at the bottom. Kind of like yours did, after the whole Glory thing.”

She looked at him with tears in her eyes,

“I’m so sorry Spike.”

“It wasn’t your fault.”

Spike walked back to the car and left her standing there alone. She walked back and once inside Spike started the car and drove off towards the carnival again. They all watched as Buffy wiped a tear from her eye. The rest of the drive was quiet and no one said anything.

Chapter 2

They arrived at the carnival a couple of minutes later, there were hundreds of people milling around inside. There were brightly-lit lights and sounds; this was not like the carnival he had been to. They all scrambled out of the car and worked their way inside. Spike was silent and Buffy walked along side him supporting him with her thoughts. The rest of them were loud and were talking loudly,

“Let’s go on the roller coaster first,” said Willow

“No, the horror house.” Said Anya

“What about the ferris wheel?” said Tara.

“Or we could go and get something to eat?”

The girls all stared at him and he instantly felt small,

“Or not.”

They all laughed at seeing Xander squirm. Buffy looked over at Spike and smiled, he smiled back and everyone saw the hurt in his eyes.

Dawn shoved her way next to Spike,

“Spike.”

He looked over at her,

“Yes love?”

She looked up at him shyly,

“Wanna go into the house of horrors with me?”

Spike hated to see the disappointment in her eyes,

“Sure luv.”

Dawn smiled and they walked over to the house of horrors.

Willow turned to Buffy,

“So what’s up with Spike?”

Buffy didn’t know if she should tell them, but decided to take the chance,

“Spike’s brother died at a carnival.”

Tara gasped; no one should have to go through that.

Xander felt bad, he had to stick his mouth in didn’t he,

“How?” asked Willow

“They went climbing a hill when Spike was left to take care of Patrick, that was his brothers name. Patrick didn’t want to go but Spike made him. Patrick slipped and Spike grabbed his hand but Patrick fell and died. His brother actually said to him, ‘William don’t let me fall’. Spike feels responsible for it.”

“Poor guy, maybe I should go and apologize?”

“No, you know nothing, I didn’t tell you.”

They all nodded in silent agreement.

Spike and Dawn walked through the horror house quietly, with every now and them Spike felt her grab his arm. He smiled at the thought. Dawn was his best friend; they had spent hours talking and laughing, watching passions and Dawson’s Creek together. She had been torn apart by the death of Buffy, so they had kept each other together and alive.

Dawn could see that Spike’s mind was far away, so she tugged on his arm,

“Spike?”

“Yeah Platelet?”

“You know I love you right?”

Spike smiled widely,

“Of course love, I love you too.”

“Well then tell me why you hate the carnival?”

Spike could see her eyes pleading,

“Well…”

Spike told her the story and her heart reached out to him, his eyes were sad and depressed. She grabbed his hand and held it tightly.

“Don’t worry Spike.”

Spike smiled at her, she was the closest thing to a sister he had had in 120 years.

“Thanks Niblit.”

Chapter 3

They walked back and found the others in a deep conversation, huddled on a bench.

“How was the house of horrors?” asked Buffy smiling at them

Dawn laughed,

“I’ve seen scarier things in out back yard.”

They all laughed knowing what she meant,

“And you Spike”

“Bloody scary, things jumping out at you from the shadows. Never seen anything like it.” Replied Spike sarcastically. The girls all laughed and carried on with their conversation about shoes.

Xander looked at Spike and avoided his gaze, Spike knew he knew. He knew that Buffy had told them. It was so obvious; he’d just have to talk to Buffy about it later.

“Look a palm reading fortune teller.” Said Buffy with a yelp of excitement,

They all looked to where she was looking and got up and walked towards it, inside an old women sat with a crystal ball in front of her. She looked up when she saw them coming and smiled,

“Welcome ladies and gentleman. Would you like to have your palms read?”

One by one they went in and came out telling everyone what she had said,

Tara was going to become a great witch and teach Wicca at a local school.

Willow was going to marry the love of her life and also become a great witch.

Xander was going to become a mechanic and get married and have two children.

Anya was going to become a banker and also marry and have two children.

Dawn was going to grow up and have children and live a normal life. That’s what the gypsy had said when she had winked at Dawn. It was like she knew she was the key.

Buffy went in next,

“My child, you are special. A slayer, born to slay vampires and demons. Yet you have died twice, have been in love with a vampire and are in love with another. You will live to be an old woman, marry your soul mate and live happily ever after.”

Buffy just stared at the gypsy,

“How did you know that I was the slayer?”

“Your eyes told me, they are the window to your soul you know.”

“What about the bit about being in love with another vampire, I only know of Angel.”

The Gypsy smiled knowingly,

“You will in due time luv, due time.”

Buffy just looked at her and said nothing but got up to leave.

She walked out and told them what she said, leaving out the bit about loving another vampire.

Spike went in next and the woman smiled happily at him,

“Hello Spike.”

Spike looked at her curiously,

“How did you know my name?”

“Easily, I heard your friends call you Spike.”

Spike smiled,

“But I have been waiting for you.”

Spike just looked at her un-amused,

“Really, have you now.”

She laughed,

“You have no idea who you are do you? You are confused. An evil vampire who was turned soft by his love for the slayer. You befriend her sister and in turn love her like a sister, becoming her best friend. Then, turning your ex-lover, lover for one hundred years away for the slayer. Yet she rejects you. You think you are evil, a soulless demon. Worth nothing. But you are wrong. You are special.”

Spike looked at her and smiled evilly,

“Who are you?”

“You are a non believer. I am an old gypsy women, who reads palms at a carnival.”

“Then how do you know so much about me, you know everything.”

The old women smiled,

“I know more than you. I can see your soul through your eyes, your life, your feelings, your misery and guilt for letting your brother fall.”

Spike was getting angry,

“You know nothing.”

“Oh, but I do. I know it wasn’t your fault. You were eight years of age, young inexperienced. It wasn’t your fault.”

“It was, I made him go up, I let him fall.”

“You tried, you failed. No one can succeed all the time.”

Spike bowed his head in misery,

“Then why do I feel so guilty?”

“It comes with having a soul”

Spike looked at her confused,

“A soul. I’m a vampire, a demon. I have no soul.”

She shook she head at him,

“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. You have a soul, always have. You have felt secretly, guilt and remorse for those you killed, not telling anyone. Yet you are not like the one they call Angel. Who was cursed that way; you are naturally a good man. You may be a vampire on the outside, but you have the heart and soul of a man in the inside. You have never really been evil, just misguided.”

Spike tried to let this all sink in,

“So you’re saying I have a soul, yet I’m not like the poofter. And I always have. Then why have I only now left my evil lifestyle behind?”

“Your love for the slayer is so strong. You are indeed meant to be together. For only she has turned you to good.”

“But I still feel like a demon.”

She sighed,

“You are a demon, with a soul.”

Spike nodded and the gypsy stood up and headed towards the back of the curtain and came back holding a silver box. She handed it to Spike and waved him off,

“Look after yourself and the slayer and all of those you love. Goodbye my soulful vampire.”

And with that the gypsy returned to the back leaving a rather confused vampire with a strange and mystical box standing at the tent.

Chapter 4

Spike walked out looking rather confused. They all looked at him and waited for him to say something, but he remained silent,

“So…What did she say?” asked Dawn

“Uh well, she said that I will non-live for a while yet and be happy.” Lied Spike

Dawn smiled,

“That’s good, did she know what you were?”

“More than you’ll ever know lil Bit.”

Buffy noticed the silver box in his hand,

“What’s that?” she asked, knowing all too well that he was lying about what she said.

“Oh this, well it’s…” Spike quickly inspected the box and then opened it, inside there was a beautiful old silver necklace, filled with red rubies, a silver ring with red rubies and two small rolled up pieces of paper and one of them was old.

“It’s a box.” He repelled, not wanting them to know.

“Let me see.” Said Buffy

“You can’t.” said Spike quickly.

“Why not?” she asked with a pouty lip.

“It’s uh…private.”

Buffy looked at him evilly, now she knew for certain that he was lying.

“Okay Mr. Secretive.”

Buffy smiled at him,

“Let’s go on the ferris wheel.” Said Dawn,

They all followed Dawn and left Buffy and Spike alone.

“So, what did the gypsy really tell you?”

Spike stared at her, how did she know he was lying.

“I don’t know what you are talking about?”

Buffy laughed and shook her head,

“Oh really, you don’t know. My ass.”

Spike sighed,

“Well, so she didn’t say that so…Well I don’t want to talk about it.”

Spike started to walk away, but Buffy grabbed his arm to hold him back,

“Tell me.”

Spike couldn’t refuse her eyes or her,

“She didn’t really say anything that you would care about. I’m evil remember?”

Buffy laughed sarcastically,

“Spike, you know I know that you are not evil.”

Spike walked away and Buffy followed him, he turned to her and handed her a small piece of paper.

She opened it carefully and read it,

Buffy stared at the note with a heavy heart, Spike had a soul?

“You have a soul?”

Spike turned to her and nodded,

“Apparently I always have, but that makes it worse. If I were a soulless vampire, killing all those people would be understandable. But with a soul, it’s inexcusable. God, can you forgive me Buffy?”

Buffy stared at him and grabbed his hand,

“I already did a long time ago.”

They walked in silence, hand in hand.

Chapter 5

Xander was the first to see the pair walk towards them hand in hand,

“Hey, Buffy, want to tell us something?”

Buffy looked confused,

“Uh, no not really.”

Willow frowned at her and Dawn and Tara nudged each other,

Xander was irritated,

“Hello, Buffy. Holding hands with an evil soulless vampire. Not a good sign.”

Buffy and Spike looked down and noticed that they were holding hands and a smile crossed both of their faces,

“You know, we didn’t even notice.”

Xander shook his head and Anya came and shook Spike’s hand,

“Good for you Spike.”

Spike laughed at Xander’s discomfort,

“Hey Harris, did you have fun on the ferris wheel, or was too scary for you?”

“Well at least you’re back to your old cocky way again. Maybe you should go on the pony rides. They are probably the only ride that won’t scare you.”

Buffy shot her arm out and punched Xander. And everyone started to laugh,

“Sorry Xander, but you should learn to keep your mouth shut.” Said Buffy.

Xander stood up and held his nose in pain,

“You didn’t have to punch me Buffy, you could have just told me to back off. You have definitely been hanging around Spike too much.”

Spike burst into laughter and slapped Xander on the back,

“What can I say Harris, she learns from the best.”

Xander shook his head and they all walked off in the direction of the restaurant,

“Maybe some food will cheer you up Harris.” Said Spike as they walked into the restaurant. They all sat at a table in the back of the room, overlooking a lake that sparkled in the moonlight. A waiter came over to take their orders,

“What will it be tonight?”

“We will have two steaks (for Xander and Spike), two seafood pasta’s (for Anya and Willow) and two normal pasta’s (for Tara and Buffy) and a pizza (for Dawn)

The waiter nodded and disappeared into the kitchen.

They all sat silently for a while, snacking on the bread sticks when the waiter arrived with their drinks,

Spike had a beer, Xander had a coke, Willow and Tara had lemonade, Buffy had a diet coke and Dawn and Anya had fruit juice.

They all sat once again in silence, not knowing what to say to each other. Xander was putting the cold coke glass against his nose where Buffy had punched him,

“Buffy really got you good huh?” asked Dawn sniggering,

“Is it broken?” asked Tara trying not to laugh but failing.

Xander sneered at them,

“Ha ha ha, very funny.”

“My Xander is very brave, anyone else would have cried if Buffy had hit them well of course not Spike, ‘cause he’s a man.”

Spike sat silently not listening to the others speaking but jolted up when he heard his name,

“What?”

Buffy giggled,

“Anya was just explaining how much of a man you are.”

He turned and looked at Anya and smiled,

“Thank-you Anya.”

Anya smiled proudly at herself,

“It is a pleasure Spike.”

Xander eyed Anya carefully, ‘was she flirting with Spike?’

“Well if Spike was such a man he would of hit me himself, instead of getting Buffy, a girl I might add, to hit me for him.”

Spike laughed and stood up,

“Well if you insist I hit you.”

“No, no, no, that’s alright, I was just proving a point.”

Spike sat back down,

“Bloody right.”

The waiter came to their table and sat each of their meals down in front of them. The waiter walked over to Buffy and smiled,

“Well what’s your name sweetheart, and what’s your number?”

Buffy nearly choked, but decided to play with the guy,

“Well, I just move so I forget. Why don’t you ask my boyfriend, Spike what’s my number?”

Spike stood up and towered over the young man,

“You hitting on my girl?”

The boy started to shake in fear,

“N-n-no sir, my mistake.”

The boy rushed away as fast as he could, and Spike started to laugh,

“Bloody wimp.”

Everyone laughed and started to eat, giving glances at Buffy and Spike, who were constantly smiling at each other. They all had a sneaking suspicion that something was going on between them, but they didn’t interfere.

Buffy felt proud to call Spike her boyfriend, she was finally admitting to herself that she had feelings for him. Spike was good looking, sweet, kind, annoying, dark, and he had a soul. Not that having a soul made any difference.

Spike’s heart soared when Buffy had called him her boyfriend, and he felt proud to stand up and defend her. He loved her so much that he could never explain it; her smile, her beauty and her heart made her the perfect women.

Chapter 6

After dinner all the Scoobies walked to Spike’s car, the carnival was quiet and most of the people had already left.

“We had fun tonight, didn’t we?” asked Dawn as she climbed into the car,

“Yeah Dawnie, we did.” Stated Willow.

They all climbed into the car and Spike drove off, first he dropped off Anya and Xander and the Willow and Tara and lastly Dawn and Buffy.

“Want to come in for some coffee or something?” asked Buffy hopefully,

“Sure.”

The three of them entered the house and headed into the lounge,

“So Spike are you gonna show us now what’s in the box?” asked Dawn

“Bloody hell, you Summers women never give up do you?”

“No, so does that mean yes?” asked Dawn again.

“No.” replied Spike dryly,

“Why?”

Spike laughed,

“Because I haven’t even finished looking inside the box yet, and there might be things not for young eyes like yours.”

Dawn scoffed,

“Oh I understand, you don’t trust me enough.”

Spike sighed,

“That’s not it luv, but I’ll let you on in a little secret.”

Dawn jumped up and down excitedly,

“Tell me, tell me.”

Spike smiled evilly,

“Apparently that Gypsy woman told me that I happen to have a bleedin’ soul, can you believe that?”

Dawn’s eyes bulged,

“You have a soul, oh my God.”

“That was my reaction too. I have always had it, and never new it.”

Dawn laughed,

“How could you have a soul and not know about it?”

Spike smiled,

“I must be really dumb.”

“Yeah, but why were you evil?”

Spike shook her head,

“She said that I wasn’t evil, just misguided. It was probably that bloody poofs fault, bleedin’ moron.”

“You know you are more like Angel than you might like.” Said Buffy

“Me like soul boy, I don’t think so luv, he’s a bloody poofter.”

Dawn giggled,

“He’s not the only one with a soul.”

Spike shot Dawn arrows with his eyes and Buffy laughed at him,

“Yeah, she’s right soul boy. And in actual fact, you are the original soul boy.”

Spike sighed,

“Love, I guess you’re right, I’m a regular poof.”

Dawn yawned,

“I guess it’s time I went to bed.”

Dawn walked over to Buffy and hugged her,

“G’night Buffy.”

She walked over to Spike, kissed him on the cheek and hugged him,

“Good night Spike, or should I say soul boy.”

Spike kissed her on the fore head and smiled,

“Night Niblit.”

Dawn walked upstairs and disappeared into her room,

“So Buffy, I guess I’d better go.”

Buffy looked at her with big eyes,

“Pleases stay, I don’t want you to go yet.”

Spike nodded and sat back down into the chair and Buffy snuggled onto his chest,

“You know Spike, I really appreciate you and everything you do and did for me and Dawn.”

“It was my pleasure luv.”

Buffy looked up at him and kissed him gently on the lips,

“I need to tell you something, but don’t think I’m only saying this now because I found out that you had a soul. I realized it a long time ago and I have just been waiting for the right moment. Well what I’m trying to say is that I think that I might have feelings for you.”

Spike smirked,

“What kind of feelings luv?”

“You enjoy making things harder for me don’t you?”

Spike laughed, he was just playing with her but it was fun,

“It’s what I do luv.”

“I think I love you.”

Spike kissed her gently just enough to tease her,

“You think or you know?”

She kissed him hard,

“I know.”

Spike lifted her onto his lap and pulled her into a hard, long and passionate kiss,

“I love you so much it hurts.”

Spike wrapped his fingers in her hair and in an instant they were lost in each other.

Chapter 7

Spike woke up the next morning while it was still dark, Buffy was lying on top of him and he smiled. Something on the table caught his eye, and he reached out and grabbed it. It was the silver box that the gypsy had given him. He opened it and studied the beautiful necklace carefully; it would look beautiful around Buffy’s neck. Then he noticed the old piece of folded paper and lifted it out carefully, it was written in Latin and this is what it said:

Spike read it over and over again not knowing what it meant. Why had the gypsy given it to him, what was its significance?

Buffy stirred and opened her eyes to look at him,

“Hey tall dark and handsome.”

Spike smiled,

“Hey beautiful, how you feeling?’

“Great thanks to you.”

She kissed him on the lips and stood up and walked into the kitchen and put the kettle on,

“Want some coffee?”

Spike nodded his head silently.

She was beautiful; he couldn’t get over what had happened last night. It had been better than any of his fantasies. He was one happy vampire with a soul.

Buffy interrupted his thoughts with a cup of coffee,

“Sorry, we’re all out of blood.”

Spike put his cup of coffee down carefully and grabbed her around her waist and pulled her into him for a long kiss.

“Sorry, I just had to check that I wasn’t dreaming.”

Buffy laughed,

“Yeah I must admit, last night was too good to be true.”

Just then Dawn came downstairs, and stopped in her tracks when she saw Spike and Buffy sitting on the couch. Buffy was wearing Spike’s shirt and Spike was shirtless. She smiled happily as they quickly kissed each other,

“Good morning Buffy, morning Spike.”

Spike turned and smiled at Dawn,

“Morning Niblit, how’d you sleep?”

Buffy couldn’t believe how calm they were.

“I slept well thank-you. So did you too have fun?”

Buffy flushed red,

“Dawnie why don’t you go and get some breakfast?”

Dawn laughed and winked at Spike,

“Okay Buffy.” She said as she walked into the kitchen.

Buffy looked at him and glared,

“How can you be so damn calm, she just found us, in bed, you with no shirt on and me with yours and she probably saw us kiss. She’s not stupid, she knows what we did.”

Spike shook his head at her,

“Niblit’s a big girl now. She knows the facts of life, she and I had a little chat while you were gone and she completely understands and isn’t bothered about it.”

Buffy winced,

“You had a little chat?”

“Yeah, I was elected seen as I was the closest with the Platelet. So I did, no biggie.”

Buffy started to giggle,

“You gave Dawn the talk?”

“Yeah, what’s wrong with that?”

“Le’me see, you probably said,” (putting on a English accent) “Well it’s like this, get a bloke to think your hot and hop into bed with him?”

Spike looked at her appalled,

“No, I simply told her not to do it until she was ready, and if anyone was pressuring her she must come to me. She already knew how and everything.”

Buffy looked at him and smiled,

“Thank you.”

“You know that I would do anything for her.”

Buffy smiled and snuggled her head on his chest,

“I know, so would I.”

Dawn walked back into the lounge and smiled,

“So does this make you a couple?”

Buffy kissed him quickly on the mouth,

“I should think so.”

Spike kissed her fore head,

“I should bloody well hope so.”

Dawn walked over and sat next to Spike and leaned her head on his shoulder,

“Good, I’m glad. Now we’re like a family.”

Buffy and Spike laughed and they all sat there in silence enjoying each other’s company.

Buffy and Dawn walked into the Magic Box a few hours later, needing to talk to the gang. They all sat inside researching a demon that they had seen earlier,

“Hey Buffy, Dawn”

“Hey Xander, hey guys.”

“Hey guys.”

They all said in unisom.

“So what you guys up to? Researching some evil nasty that has come to the hell mouth to reek havoc on the earth?”

Willow looked up and smiled,

“No, just a weird looking demon Anya and Xander saw.”

Buffy lifted her head and smiled,

“Oh, very interesting. I wanted to talk to you guys about something, or maybe someone.”

Giles interrupted,

“Well we were actually wanting to speak to you about someone, we don’t think it’s healthy for you or Dawn to be spending so much time with Spike. We don’t want you to be too upset when his chip goes faulty and we have to kill him.”

Buffy stared open mouthed at him,

“What are you talking about. Don’t you trust him?”

Xander interrupted,

“We do Buffy, it’s just…”

“Just what?” snapped Buffy

“We’re just worried about you is all.” Said Willow quickly.

“Worried about me? God I thought Spike would have proved himself to you already. I can’t believe you, I don’t care what you say, I trust him and he’s my friend.”

Buffy stormed out of the shop and left Dawn looking at them angrily,

“How could you say that about Spike, he has done nothing but help you. And he has helped me and loved me more than any of you ever have. I love him and he loves me and Buffy and I will see him all we want. And anyway, if Spike did loose his chip, he would never hurt us.”

Dawn ran out of the shop and burst into tears, ‘how dare they say that about Spike’

Dawn looked around and figured that she shouldn’t go home, Buffy would go to Spike she knew that and she didn’t want to disturb them.

Buffy walked into her home where she and Dawn had left him to get some rest, with a tear stained cheek she looked around for him, ‘why did what they said make her feel so lost. She knew that they might be right, but some how she couldn’t believe them, she wouldn’t let herself. But just incase, she had to be sure.’

She looked around and saw him, asleep on the couch. The curtains were shut as not to let sun in. He was curled in a ball and was mumbling something. She walked closer to him and realized that he was repeating her name,

“Buffy, Buffy.”

Tears ran down his face and he had a pained expression on,

“No Buffy, come back, come back to me.”

Buffy felt her heart aching for him.

“Buffy, Buffy? Wake up, no you can’t die, you can’t.”

Buffy realized that he was dreaming about the day she died.

“Buffy, I love you so much. I’m sorry that I let you down, it’s all my fault. If only I had stopped Doc, why couldn’t it be me? Not you.”

Buffy started to cry again and started to shake Spike gently,

“Spike wake up, it’s only a dream. I’m here with you.”

Spike sat up quickly and stared at her,

“Oh my God.”

He grabbed onto Buffy and hugged her tightly,

“I thought I had lost you again.”

Buffy smiled and gently stroked the side of his face wiping away a tear,

“You’ll never loose me. I love you.”

She kissed him softly and held him tight, never wanting to let go.

Dawn sat in Spike’s crypt reading a magazine that she had left there a while ago; she wanted to leave the two alone for a while so she decided to come to the only other place, other than her own home, where she felt safe.

She flipped through the magazine and looked at the pictures not feeling like reading. She looked around the room; it looked way less creepy than it had. Dawn had redecorated with a few things to make the place feel more homier. Spike had let her under his supervision, not wanting any frilly or flowery things.

“If you want to do that then you can go to Soul boys and do it there. I’m sure he would love some more Nancy boy stuff”

Were the exact words that he had used. She giggled at the thought.

She looked at her watch, ‘they have had enough time to sort things out’ she thought so she decided to get home.

She walked through the cemetery and slid her hand over each tombstone,

“I hate walking alone in the cemetery.”

She stated out loud. She walked until she let out a sigh of relief,

“Thank God for that.”

She started running across the street to get home, she got to her front door a few minutes later and making a lot of noise to let them know she was there, she walked into the lounge and found them sitting, arms around each other, watching TV,

“Hey guys what ya doin’?”

Spike smiled widely at her,

“Watching a movie luv, care to join us?”

Dawn nodded and sat down next to Spike,

“So are things okay?”

Buffy nodded and smiled,

“Yeah I told him about what happened at the Magic Box and he’s cool with it. He doesn’t care.”

Spike smiled at Dawn and kissed her on top of her head,

“Don’t worry Niblit, I’m not going anywhere.”

Buffy smiled and kissed Spike on the cheek,

“You better not mister, life would be incredibly boring without you.”

Spike laughed,

“Is that the only reason?”

“No, I also love you, so I would be extremely unhappy.”

Chapter 9

Spike sat alone in Buffy’s lounge, he was reading the old piece of paper to himself. He was sure he had seen this somewhere before. He was looking at it carefully and made his decision,

“Buffy luv, I’m going out. I’ll be back soon.”
Buffy stuck her head out of the kitchen,

“Okay, but dinner will be ready for you when you come back.”

It was late, and already dark. He had stayed at Buffy’s house for the day and they had been having fun watching movies, listening to Spike’s stories. Dawn was right, they were like a family, ‘like the bloody Brady bunch’ he thought to himself.

He closed the door behind himself and walked out into the cool night air, he sensed no danger so he carried on walking.

He walked along the road towards the Magic Box; he knew it would still be open but he hoped the rest of the Scoobies wouldn’t be there. He had to ask Giles about the saying.

He opened the door and stared inside, the bell rang and all the Scoobies turned and looked at him,

“Hello all.”

He said lightly not wanting any trouble.

“Hey Spike.”

Said Tara who had always liked the blonde vampire.

He smiled at her, she was a nice girl, a bit on the shy side but nice non-the less.

Spike walked over to Giles and stood in front of him,

“Giles can I have a word?”

Giles looked at him and sighed,

“Alright Spike, what about?”

Spike shifted uncomfortably,

“In private.”

Giles sighed again; he just didn’t have time for this. Giles walked into the training room and Spike followed. Spike closed the door and pulled something out of his jacket,

Giles flinched in fear, still afraid of the vampire.

Spike noticed this and smiled, he obviously hadn’t lost his touch. “Was that gypsy a demon or something?”

“Why do you want to know, why the sudden interest?”

Spike handed the small piece of paper to Giles.

“So what do make out of this?”

Giles looked at the paper and his eyes grew wide,

“Where did you get this?” he asked quickly.

“That gypsy woman gave it to me, any idea of what it is?”

Giles looked at him,

“This is a prophecy that was lost hundreds of years ago. It foretells about a vampire with a soul that will join forces with the slayer and create peace among the world. I always thought that it was between Buffy and Angel, so why did she give it to you?”

Spike looked down at the ground and mumbled something that Giles couldn’t hear,

“What was that Spike?”

Spike looked him in the eyes and spoke softly but forcefully,

“Because I have a soul.”

Giles stared at him with wide eyes,

“What makes you think that?”

Spike laughed,

“That gypsy women told me and believe me, I didn’t want to believe her either, but I do.”

Giles laughed and stared him in the eyes,

“You can’t have a soul, you’re a ruthless killer who killed millions of innocent people, obviously if she was right, then you have only just got it.”

Spike shook his head,

“I’ve always had it.”
Giles looked at him with disbelief,

“If you had a soul for all those years, why did you kill all those people?”

Spike looked at his feet,

“Well I always did feel bad afterward, but that’s no excuse. I’m a bastard and should never be forgiven; I killed people in cold blood. I am sorry, but that doesn’t change anything.”

Giles saw the truth in his eyes,

“Oh my God, it’s true. You feel remorse for what you’ve done. Does Buffy know about this?”

Spike looked at Giles and spoke silently,

“Well she knows I have a soul, but I never showed her the prophecy thingy, I figured that she had a lot to deal with and didn’t need this to worry her.”

Giles smiled,

“And here I thought you were heartless and soulless, but I guess I was wrong on both accounts.”

Spike smiled,

“Thank-you Giles that means a lot to me.”

Giles looked down at the paper again and studied it. He walked out of the room and walked over to the bookshelves and pulled out a book,

“Spike, I think that this may help us.”

Giles walked back into the training room and closed the door.

The Scoobies stared at the closed doors,

“What is going on here?” asked Xander in disbelief.

They all shook their heads,

“Maybe they have found a new nasty and are secretly plotting to get rid of it.”

Said Anya.

Willow shook her head,

“No, because then Buffy would be there.”

Xander gasped,

“Maybe something happened to Buffy.”

They were all silent and then Tara spoke,

“No then we’d know about it.”

They all breathed a sigh of relief, and nodded.

Giles walked back into the room and sat down cross-legged on the floor and Spike followed his actions. Giles opened the book and read the index. Finding what he was looking for he turned to the page he needed and set it out before Spike and Giles began to read,

“It has been foretold…”
“Do all prophecies start like that.”

“Do be quiet and listen Spike.”

“Sorry” mumbled Spike.

“It has been foretold that a slayer will join forces with a vampire with a soul. They will be the strongest fighting team on earth. The vampire will be a master and would have once been evil but will turn to the light once he falls in love with the slayer. He will change sides and help the weak.

The slayer will be the strongest slayer in the history of slayers. She will pair up with the vampire and stop the evil bringing the earth into a time of peace.”

Spike stared at him,

“Well I don’t know about you but to me, that sounds like Buffy and I. Buffy is definitely the strongest.”

Giles nodded,

“It also talks about a great sacrifice, and a ring that will be the only thing to bring you back. The ring is a part of a set, with a necklace it will only work if the wearers love you and need you. I can’t believe I always thought that it was Angel, and it was you all along.”

Spike nodded in agreement,

“I can’t blame you, I wouldn’t of thought it was me either. So are we gonna tell Buffy?”

Giles thought for a moment,

“Well not right now, just let things run their own course, if you are the one then things should take a turn for the better."

Spike nodded,

“You know Rupert, you’re not such a bad guy after all.”

Giles smiled,

“Neither are you.”

Spike smiled evilly,

“Did you tell the poofter about this whole thing?”

Giles nodded,

“Why yes, I did happen to mention it to him.”

Spike laughed,

“Isn’t he gonna be happy to find out that it was me all along.”

Giles laughed too, not really liking Angel either,

“I suppose he won’t.”

“You should have seen what happened to him the last time something like this happened…”

Spike told his story and they laughed at Angel’s expense.