Chapter 14

Spike sat in his crypt and watched TV; he was tired but couldn’t sleep. He kept thinking about the way that Buffy had acted around Angel, like the young Buffy she used to be. She had kept looking at him and her pulse would start racing, Spike knew this because he could hear it, being a vampire and all.

He had felt his heart being stood on,

“Why do you do this to me Buffy?”

He closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Buffy was waiting for him at the end of a passage; she was wearing white and had flowers in her hair. She smiled at him and waved him to come to her. He walked towards her and she disappeared into the bedroom. He smiled as he neared the door; he opened it and stopped when he saw her. She was sitting on the bed and Angel was with her, they were kissing, really kissing. He ran his fingers through her hair, like he did and he had his arms wrapped tightly around her.

“I’m sorry Spike, but Angel is who I’m supposed to be with. Not you, you were just there for my amusement. You were fun to play with.”

Spike ran to Angel but Angel shoved him away, he never even removed his lips from her neck as he spoke,

“I’m sorry too, but I always was more desirable than you. Even Drusilla wanted me.”

Spike suddenly was alone in a room, a white room with no windows or doors. He curled up into a ball and sat in the corner and cried.

“Spike wake up, Spike you’re just having a dream is all.”

Spike opened his eyes to see Buffy staring at him,

“Are you alright? What were you dreaming about?”

Spike was still shocked to see her and still had the visions of them kissing in his head,

“I’m fine, fine.”

Buffy looked worried and put her hands on his face and he flinched away,

“Spike what’s wrong?”

He saw the concern in her eyes, and he hugged her,

“Nothing luv, just a bad dream, nothing to write home about.”

She smiled but something wasn’t right with him, he was acting strangely.

“What time is it?”

He asked suddenly,

“It’s 10:00am, you were supposed to be at my place at 8 o clock, I, we were all worried about you so I came to get you. We are still deciding on what to do.”

Spike nodded,

“Sorry luv, must have fallen asleep, we can go now.”

She smiled at him and stood up, he got up and grabbed his duster and his blanket, and walked out the door,

“So have you figured out what type of demon it is?”

He asked,

“I dunno, some demon that’s name I can’t remember. Giles will tell you when we get there. Are you sure you’re okay?”

Spike nodded and they walked quickly not wanting to be out in the sun for much longer.

They walked into Buffy’s house and everyone was there,

“Hey Spike.”

Said Dawn giving him a hug.

“Morning lil bit”

Dawn sensed that something was wrong with him,

“What’s wrong Spike?”

Spike shook his head,

“Nothing Niblit.”

Dawn didn’t believe him but decided to back off.

“Morning William.”

Said Angel, and Spike felt the anger, ‘it was just a dream’ he kept telling himself.

“Morning Angel.”

Angel immediately knew, as well as Dawn and Buffy that something was wrong. Spike never called him Angel; it was always something like grand poof or something else insulting. Everyone else’s eyes were also on Spike, they also knew.

“Hey Spike.”

They all said in turn, they saw the anxiety in his eyes and the way his jaw was clenched and he was paler that usual.

He sat down next to Tara who smiled at him encouragingly.

“We have got a positive id on the creature, it a Foedus demon. He is a great fighter and once he has killed his opponent, he usually cuts them up into tiny bits and pieces and takes them home to eat them.”

Said Giles explaining things to them.

“Did you say a Foedus demon? Oh bloody hell.”

Said Spike, his clenching even more.

“You seen one?”

Asked Buffy.

“Yeah, ‘fraid so. A couple of years back I met one in England and I watched it kill 20 men in 20 seconds. Bloody viscous things they are.”

Buffy looked around and everyone looked stunned,

“Do you think we could beat it?”

She asked not sure if she wanted the answer.

“Yeah luv, you are the slayer.”

Buffy felt better after getting the pep talk from Spike.

Spike got up and walked to the back door, he stepped out just enough that he was still in the shadows. He lit a cigarette and took a long drag.

“Hey, what’s up?”

Asked Dawn who had followed him.

“Just having a smoke.”

Dawn put her hand in his,

“No, what’s wrong with you. You look upset and angry, did you and Buffy have a fight?”

Spike shook his head,

“No platelet, It’s nothing to be concerned about. I’ll be fine.”

Dawn squeezed his hand,

“You know, everyone in there knows that something is wrong. Even Angel.”

Dawn felt his hand tense when she had said his name.

Spike said nothing, he was dead silent.

“Is it something to do with Angel?”

Spike breathed, not that he needed to,

“Yes and no, I just figured something out, something that I just didn’t want to see. But I’ve seen it and I just have to have some time to deal. Understand?”

Dawn nodded her head and let go of his hand,

“I’ll leave you to smoke in peace.”

She walked inside and left Spike standing there alone.

Dawn walked back into the room and everyone stared at her waiting for her to say something, but she just shrugged.

“Didn’t say anything.”

Dawn stated.

They all stared at Buffy,

“Well maybe he’s just grumpy, who knows.”

Dawn shook her head,

“He didn’t say it was nothing, he said that it was nothing that I should be concerned about. So that means that it’s something.”

Buffy looked down,

“Maybe I should talk to him.”

Buffy got up and walked outside to find him,

“Hey.”

Spike turned to her and smiled,

“Hey.”

“So why you acting all weird?”

Asked Buffy.

“Just a little freaked about a dream.”

Buffy shook her head,

“One about my death again?”

Spike shook his head,

“No, this one…it told me the truth.”

Buffy looked at him curiously,

“Truth about what?”

Spike turned to look at her and smiled, he needed to end this, she wasn’t his,

“It’s not important now. We should get back to hear the plans.”

Spike walked inside and Buffy followed him.

‘What the hell is wrong about him, why is he acting all off to me?’

“Oh good you’re here, we’ve decided to do it the old way. Go to the old cemetery down the road and kill it. Everyone will be there, witches, vampires and humans fighting side by side. No monster could beat us.”

Giles smiled.

“Well when is this gonna happen?”

Asked Buffy

Cordelia frowned,

“Tonight.”

Buffy paced around in her room, it was nearly time. Another hour of waiting, it was getting dark and she was getting ready. She was afraid, but not of what would happen with the monster but what was wrong with Spike. She thought about what he had said, ‘it told me the truth’, truth about what? She was still pacing when there was a knock on the door,

“Yeah.”

“Buffy it’s me Angel, can we talk?”

Buffy was hoping it was Spike, but it wasn’t,

“Sure it’s open.”

Angel walked in and looked at her,

“Are you okay? You looked kinda upset.”

Buffy sat down on the edge of the bed,

“I am, it’s Spike. He is acting all weird and depressed like a scared little Bunny.”

Angel walked over to the bed and sat down next to her,

“He did looked freaked when he came in, why was he late?”

Buffy shook her head,

“He was asleep, he told me he was freaked about a dream that he said told him the truth. Any idea about what it meant?”

Angel thought for a minute,

“A dream, Spike hardly ever dreams maybe that’s why he was freaked.”

Buffy shook her head,

“He’s dreamt a few times, each time it was about me dying and woke up crying. He didn’t act strange after that.”

Angel looked at her,

“He sees things in dreams that would usually destroy a normal human or even creature. If it wasn’t about you then it must be something bad.”

Buffy looked at her feet,

“I’m really scared, he usually sees things in dreams that come true. He saved Dawn because he saw it in a dream. What if it was something to do with the monster?”

Angel took her hands in his,

“He’ll be fine, just needs a little time. You two are together aren’t you?”

Buffy nodded silently,

“He loves you, and always will. When he spoke about you he had this look in his eyes of love, respect and adoration.”

Buffy smiled and gently hugged Angel,

“Thank you, and just know that I’ll always love you, but not like I love Spike. Spike is my one and only.”

Angel nodded and kissed her cheek,

“I love you too.”

Spike walked around the lounge and kept looking at his watch, time was going by quickly. He hadn’t seen Buffy in a while and decided to just go and check on her in her room.

Spike walked up the stairs and stood by her closed door, he could hear voices. Angel was there with her. He opened the door just in time to see Angel kiss Buffy and say,

“I love you too.”

His whole heart was pulled from his chest and stomped on, he felt like he was going to die. The sight of Angel kissing Buffy and those words, ‘I love you too’ meant that she had just told him that she loved him. ‘God, why does this always happen to me?’ he asked himself. He shut the door silently, and walked downstairs. He felt tears filling his eyes and he had to stop to catch a un-needed breath. Dawn saw him and ran over too him,

“Spike what’s wrong.”

Spike didn’t answer but stood there looking at her with utter pain and remorse in his eyes.

Dawn looked at him and then up at Buffy and Angel walking down the stairs together,

“What did she do?”

Dawn asked trying to calm him down.

“He was kissing her and he told her that he loved her too.”

Dawn could feel the rage boiling inside of her,

“How could she do that to you? I’m gonna go and talk to her.”

“Dawn don’t!”

He yelled,

“It will only make what I’m going to do harder.”

Dawn hugged Spike and kissed his cheek,

“But why?”

Spike smiled,

“We’re not meant to be.”

Dawn understood and nodded. She walked away and left Spike to go over what he was going to say to her.

Buffy walked over to him,

“Everything okay?”

She asked smiling.

“Everything is just grand.”

He told her bitterly.

She was surprised by the icy tone in his voice,

“What’s wrong with you?”

He looked her straight in the eye, she had never seen such pain in his or anyone’s eyes before.

“We need to talk.”

Spike led Buffy outside and he took out a smoke and lit it,

“Listen, I care about you but I can’t do this anymore.”

Buffy stared at him in confusion,

“What do you mean?”

Spike turned away from her, he didn’t want to let her see him cry,

“Us, we don’t belong together. I saw you and Angel, I saw the way you looked at him, the love. You belong with him, not me.”

She stared at him angrily,

“But I want to be with you. I love you.”

Spike laughed sarcastically,

“Bullocks and rot. You love him and always will, even the god dammed prophecy says so.”

Buffy looked at him hurt,

“Are you breaking up with me?”

“You deserve better, you deserve him. He’ll look after you, he’ll love you. He can give you things that I can’t.”

Buffy started to pace,

“Oh I see, it’s the ‘I want to give you a normal life’ speech. I’m not two, I can decide who I love and who I don’t.”

Spike swallowed hard,

“Why can’t you just walk away from me? Why do you have to make this harder?”

She laughed and spat out venomously,

“Harder for you? What about me, I love you. Angel is past tense, I’ll always love him but I’m in love with you. I’d give up everything for you.”

Spike just started to cry and turned to face her,

“I don’t want to hurt you. I’m a demon, and undead evil. But you, you’re something else. You’re love, beauty and kindness, trust adoration and honesty. We two different things, you may not belong with Angel, but I need time. Time to sort things out.”

Buffy started to cry and Spike wanted to hold her more than anything,

“I’ll always love you Buffy, till the end of the world.”

Giles picked a perfect moment to come and call them,

“Time to go.”

Chapter 16

They all climbed into two different cars and Buffy made sure she was far away from Spike, she had climbed into a car with Angel, Cordelia, Wesley and Gunn, while Spike had gone with the others. He wanted to stake himself, right then and there. He couldn’t live with the pain of loosing her, but it was the right thing to do. The gypsy had made a mistake, it wasn’t him, it was someone else, someone human. Spike was lost in thought as they pulled into the cemetery and everyone climbed out.

They cemetery was dark and deserted with no sign of life or un-life. They all looked around, waiting. Then out of the darkness a huge demon leapt out at them and knocked Gunn, Anya and Cordelia to the ground knocking them into a state of un-consciousness.

Then Giles and Wesley threw the weapons to Xander, Angel, Spike and Buffy. But the demon went straight to Willow and Tara who sat chanting,

“Willow hurry up with the spell already.”

Shouted Buffy

But her shouts were in vain as with one swipe of his hand he knocked Willow into a tree and Tara into a tomb. Giles and Wesley grabbed weapons and ran to help,

“Need some help?”

Called Giles,

But were soon struck by the demon. Xander ran at the demon and was thrown into the air by the force of it’s tail. Angel, Buffy and Spike were the only ones left, the demon swung his hand and knocked Buffy over and she landed with a thump on the ground. She got up again and started to swing her sword at the demon. The demons skin was thick and the swords just bounced off of his skin. Spike got in a good hit, stabbing the demon in the arm, a fountain of red blood spouted out of it’s wound drenching him in blood. It roared and reared up and Spike was left dangling in the air hanging from his sword. He fell to the floor and made a quick run to the boot of the car. He grabbed an axe and resumed his fighting position. Angel tried to fight but it was too fast for him, he swung his sword but it connected with it’s tail and Angel was thrown off balance. He wasn’t quick enough and was thrown into a cold stone angel. Cordelia looked up at that moment and saw something,

“Buffy, it’s my vision it was you and Spike.”

Spike turned and looked at Cordelia and knew he had made a mistake, the prophecy was about him, not Angel, and Buffy belonged with him, not Angel. His thoughts soon disappeared when the demons fist ran down on his head. Spike fell to the ground and the demon stabbed Spike with one of his horns. He was lifted into the air by the horn that was through his stomach and his flesh ripped. He screamed in pain and he was released and dropped to the ground. Buffy was right by his side leaning over him,

“Spike, oh God, Spike please speak to me.”

Spike lay there and tried to block out his pain by listening to the sound of her voice. He heard something pick up his axe and he heard the footsteps approach them, he opened his eyes and looked straight at Buffy,

“I love you Buffy.”

He struggled to say. He lifted himself up and rolled over on top of Buffy. The beast dropped his sword and it severed off Spike’s head. He burst into a cloud of dust and fell to the floor. Buffy looked at the dust around her, and all that was left of him were ashes and his beloved duster. She cried for her lost love as the wind swept his ashes into the clouds,

“Spike!”

Buffy fell to the floor and wept, clawing at the ground trying to pick up some of Spike’s ashes. He had died for her, he had protected her.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the shouts of all her friends,

“Buffy, behind you.”

Buffy turned to see the demon coming towards her but she saw Spike’s face the moment before he had turned to dust and she felt the anger the pain and the sorrow all join together into one emotion. She grabbed a nearby sword and charged at the monster stabbing him in the stomach,

“That’s for getting my clothes dirty.”

She pulled her sword out and chopped off one of its arms,

“That’s for my friends.”

She chopped off another arm and it fell to the floor,

“That’s for me.”

And she raised her sword and its head left its neck,

“And that’s for Spike.”

She stood before the creature, well what was left of it, and fell to the floor. She looked up at the faces of all her friends. They were all covered with blood, wounds and sores on their faces and sad expressions on their faces.

“He had to do it, it was his way of showing you how much he loved you.”

Said Angel reassuringly.

Buffy looked up at everyone,

“I know this is a bit late, but I love Spike and we were together.”

Tara and Anya were crying and Xander’s eyes filled with tears,

“He was a good guy.”

Buffy looked at Angel,

“You know Angel, we only just found out that you’re not the only one with a soul.”

They all stared at her,

“Spike had a soul?”

Asked Cordelia.

“Yeah, the gypsy told him. He loved you all you know. Not just Dawn and I.”

Giles lifted Buffy into his arms and she cried. She cried because he was gone, she cried because she had been horrible to him, she had cried because she loved him but most of all she had cried because she hadn’t been able to tell him, to tell him that she loved him.

They all walked to the car remembering Spike and the man that they had all grown to love. They remembered the Buffy-bot and how he was beaten up so badly, just to protect Dawn and Buffy, they remember his cockiness, his smile, his taste in clothing, they remembered how much he loved Buffy and Dawn.

Chapter 17

Buffy walked inside and found Dawn waiting for her,

“Buffy are you alright?”

Asked Dawn.

Buffy shook her head and handed Dawn Spike’s Duster. The duster was full of dust and it had blood stains covering it all over. Dawn looked at it and looked up at Buffy, with tears welling in her eyes,

“Why do you have Spike’s Duster?”

Dawn knew the answer but she wanted to hear it, she wanted Buffy to tell her that Spike was okay and that he had just left it with her. She wanted to hear that he was coming to stay with them, that he was gonna always be there for them, that he loved her and that he would be coming through the door any minute.

Buffy began to cry softly and she began to talk through sobs,

“He was badly hurt and I ran over to him, he looked me in the eyes and he told me that he loved me just before he threw himself over me just as the demon threw he sword down. Spike is gone, his head was chopped off and he protected me, he died for me.”

Buffy broke down in sobs and Dawn cradled her in her arms,

“He loved you, he would’ve done anything for you. Why did he leave me, why couldn’t he just come back, I love him, he’s my best friend. He’ll come back, he will walk through that door any moment.”

Dawn let go of Buffy and opened the door, no Spike. Dawn shook her head,

“He’s not gone, he’ll come back any minute now.”

She kept repeating it over and over. She sank on to the floor and grief over came her,

“Why didn’t you protect him, why weren’t you there for him. Why did he have to die for you?”

Dawn cried and threw a vase onto the floor,

“He died for you, it’s all your fault!”

Buffy ran and hugged Dawn and they both cried silently until Dawn fell asleep.

Buffy walked into her room in a daze of sadness, her whole life seemed so empty and worthless without Spike. He had always been there, pissing her off or helping her or comforting her. He had tried to kill her so many times but non-of that mattered now, all that mattered now was that he loved her and died again for her.

She saw his silver box on her bed and she picked it up. Opening it carefully she found a note:

Buffy pulled the ring out of the box and slid it onto her finger.

“I love you Spike.”

She kissed it and curled up into her bed and fell into dreamless sleep.

Chapter 18

Buffy saw Spike’s face over and over again as it turned into dust, his pain and his love just exploded into a cloud of emotions as it swept over her. She cried 24-hours a day for 7 days refusing to see or speak to anyone. Her grief overtaking her sense of duty, not patrolling, not slaying not even speaking. She refused to eat and the only person who ever saw her was Dawn, who occasionally brought her food and things to drink.

Dawn hardly ever left her room either, the only time she would move from her bed was too eat and drink, she never answered the telephone or the door. She would cry for hours on end whenever she thought of Spike. She thought about how he was training her to fight, how they used to spend time watching her romances and his horrors and actions. He used to come over every Friday night to keep her company, making running commentaries during the movies, having popcorn fights, gossiping about the people at her school. They had had fun.

Angel felt empty, he could no longer feel his childe’s presence, and he sat alone in the motel room that he had been staying in. He was proud of Spike and approved of him being with Buffy, if Angel couldn’t have her then his childe would. Spike would’ve protected her like he did and been there for her. But now he was gone and Angel missed him and his cocky comments. To Angel the world had always felt happier when Spike was around or even alive but now that he was gone, Angel felt the cold and darkness of the world around him.

Giles and the rest of the Scoobies felt the pain of Buffy and Dawn, they also missed Spike, even though it had only been 7 days. Xander missed his daily pool matches with Spike, Anya missed him on movie night, Willow missed his help he gave her with the spells and his friendliness, Tara missed his older brotherly protection and help and Giles missed his fun and cocky remarks about Xander, he also missed Spike’s witty knowledge about the demons and the things that they faced. They all missed Buffy and Dawn, they had both refused to see any of them and the Scoobies were gonna use action.

They pitched up at Buffy’s house a few minutes later and they all climbed out, Willow did a spell and the door burst open and the Scoobies piled in. They looked around, the house was dark and dusty and dirty plates and saucers filled the kitchen sink. There was no sign of Buffy or Dawn so they walked up stairs. They walked to Buffy’s door and it was locked so Willow opened it with another spell. They all walked into the dark room and immediately saw Buffy curled up in her bed. She had the blankets curled all around her in a bundle and she was sobbing softly,

“Buffy?”

Willow asked quietly.

Buffy turned and faced them and then turned back. Anya turned on the light and Buffy turned to them again,

“Buffy, it’s been a week, please talk to us.”

Buffy looked at Xander and heeded his small plea,

“Hey.”

She said quietly.

“Buffy you really should get up and do something, just lying here won’t bring Spike back, nothing will.”

Buffy started to cry again at Willow’s remark.

“Why does it have to be so hard?”

Buffy asked quietly.

She sat up in bed and Dawn walked inside,

“What’s going on?”

Xander and Willow hugged Dawn,

“Hey Dawnster, how ya holding up?”

Dawn shook her head as a small tear ran down her cheek. Anya wiped it away and looked Dawn in the eyes,

“Do you both really think that Spike would like it if he saw you lying in bed and crying all the time? No he’d want you to be happy and to live.”

Everyone looked at Anya with surprise on their faces.

Dawn looked at Buffy and walked over to her,

“Buffy, I’m sorry about what I said. It wasn’t your fault. I love you Buffy.”

She crawled up onto Buffy’s bed and they hugged.

Buffy reached over to her bed side table and grabbed the silver box,

“Dawn, Spike knew what he was doing and he wanted you to have this necklace.”

Buffy lifted out the necklace and fastened it around her neck.

Dawn stared down at it and began to cry and Buffy held her tightly,

“He gave me this ring so that we will remember him always.”

Giles stared at the set with wide eyes,

“You have the necklace and the ring.”

Buffy and Dawn looked at Giles carefully,

“You know about them?”

Giles nodded and began to smile,

“They will bring him back, it’s part of the prophecy that brought the two of you together. He had them all the time. Two people who love him must wear them and chant a special chant that will bring him back.”

Buffy’s face was blank and she grimaced,

“You knew there was a way to bring him back and you didn’t tell me? How could you?”

Giles took his glasses off and cleaned them carefully,

“Well, they were supposed to be lost in the middle of the ocean. I guess that gypsy really was amazing.”

Buffy smiled and jumped out of bed,

“Well what are we waiting for?”

They all looked at Giles waiting to hear the instructions,

“Well I’m afraid I or we will have to do some research to bring him back, because I don’t know the chant off hand. We will have to find it.”

Dawn jumped off the bed and stood next to Buffy,

“Well lets get researching.”

They all began to walk out the door when Buffy stopped,

“What’s wrong Buffy?”

Willow asked concerned.

“Well I can’t resurrect Spike looking like this, you guys will have to wait for me while I have a deserved shower and get dressed.”

“We’ll go and get Angel and we’ll meet you at the magic shop.”

Buffy nodded and ran to the bathroom, she was excited that she thought she might burst.

Chapter 19

Buffy walked into the Magic Box and saw that everyone was already there, they all had their noses buried in books. Buffy walked over to Dawn and put her hand reassuringly on her shoulder and Dawn responded by covering her hand with her own. Buffy sat down and picked up a book.

Hours passed and everyone was getting tired, they had found nothing and everyone was beginning to have doubts about this working. They read books and things off the Internet but there was nothing. Dawn had fallen asleep and Buffy was losing all hope.

A tear ran down Buffy’s cheek and fell onto the book she was reading, a wind blew suddenly and turned all the pages of her book coming to a stop on a page filled with Latin. She looked at it and smiled, this was it, this was the spell. In the back of her head Buffy heard laughter,

“Send my soulful vampire my regards.”

Buffy knew that voice, it was the gypsy, but why could she hear her?

Buffy got up and ran over to Giles,

“Giles I think I’ve found it.”

Giles took the book and read over it carefully and a smile crossed over his face,

“You’ve found it, we can bring him back!”

Everyone turned and looked at Giles and Giles nodded, smiles filled the room and even Dawn, who had woken up earlier smiled and jumped up with excitement. Everyone listened carefully as Giles gave the instructions,

“We all need the sit in a circle and hold hands, we place a possession of Spike’s in the middle of the circle and we say the chant, but it will only work if everyone sitting here wants him back. It takes one persons doubts to ruin the spell so if any of you have any doubts what so ever you should remove yourself from the circle.”

Giles looked at everyone and everyone shook their heads, and Giles lay a heavy look at Xander,

“Xander, and doubts?”

Xander shook his head,

“Nay I want him back, no one else here is fun to play pool with or insult.”

Buffy smiled knowing that Xander had come to like the vampire.

“Okay so are we ready?”

Buffy asked as everyone gathered into a circle.

“Now Buffy and Dawn, seen as you are Spike’s greatest loves you must be on either side of the circle.”

Buffy and Dawn moved so that they were directly opposite each other.

Angel who stood next to Buffy gave her hand a tight squeeze and Buffy did the same to him, they were finally friends, finally over their pasts, finally comfortable with each other.

Buffy began to chant slowly and softly and soon everyone joined in, They all chanted in unisom and slowly everyone was waiting for the outcome. A strange glow came from Buffy’s hand and Dawn’s neck as the necklace and ring began to glow. Buffy opened her eyes and saw the light and smiled. Everyone opened their eyes slowly, still chanting as they watched the glow grow brighter and brighter until the room was filled with a red light. They light suddenly vanished and reappeared as a strong wave that rippled around the room throwing everyone to the floor.

The light was gone, ‘had nothing happened’ thought Buffy

Buffy and everyone else stood up and looked around, where was Spike?

Buffy looked at everyone and the smile disappeared and turned into rage,

“Why didn’t it work? Who of you had doubts? Which one of you has taken Spike from me again?”

Buffy was angry and stared at everyone,

“Was it you Xander? Or you Willow? Or was it Angel or Cordelia? Or Anya or Tara or Giles or Wesley? Or was it Dawn?”

They all stared at her and Giles began to speak,

“Buffy, we don’t know if it worked or not, he could be anywhere from here to London. We don’t know.”

Buffy fell to the floor and put her head between her knees and began to cry,

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. It wasn’t any of you, maybe it was me? I don’t know.”

Angel put his hand on Buffy’s shoulder, and let out a growl that loud and painful,

“He’s back, Spike is back, I can feel him. I can feel his pain.”

Buffy raised her head and looked at him,

“You feel him?”

Angel smiled and nodded.

“Well where is he?”

Angel sniffed the air and walked to the door,

“He’s at his crypt.”

Buffy jumped up and followed by Dawn and the others, ran outside and headed for Spike’s crypt.

They burst through Spike’s door and stopped when they saw him sitting on his couch with his head in his hands.

“Spike?”

Buffy asked walking slowly towards him.

He lifted his head and stared at her,

“Buffy?”

Asked his weak voice.

Buffy could see the pained look on his face and the tear marks that had stained his beautiful skin.

Buffy ran to him and wrapped her arms around his neck giving him a deep and passionate kiss,

“God I’ve missed you. I love you so much Spike.”

Spike stared at her and then at the rest of the people around him,

“How long have been gone?”

Buffy held his hand,

“Seven days.”

Spike smiled at her and looked at Dawn,

“Hello Niblit.”

Dawn smiled and ran and hugged him,

“I’ve missed you so much Spike, I love you so much.”

Spike kissed her head and he looked at Buffy, lifting her hand to his chest a tear rolled down his face. Buffy’s eyes widened and she looked at him,

“Your heart?”

Spike nodded his head and Buffy hugged him again.

Giles saw what was happening and the realization hit him like a ton of bricks,

“Spike your gift.”

Spike looked at him and then at Angel who was holding Cordelia’s hand,

“I guess I’m human.”

Angel smiled and nodded,

“I knew that when I felt you come back.”

Spike looked at Buffy with piercing eyes,

“How can I be h-human.”

Giles walked over to Spike and placed his hand on his shoulder,

“It’s your gift because you gave yourself for the person you loved, you died for Buffy.”

Buffy had her arm around Spike and held him tightly,

“How can all you bloody people stand this pounding in your chest?”

They all laughed and Anya stepped forward, giving Spike a hug she answered,

“You get used to it after a while but the feeling never goes away.”

Xander hugged Spike and looked him straight in the eyes,

“You’d better not die again until I’ve won all my money back.”

Spike laughed for the first time,

“Well don’t count on it.”

Willow hugged him and kissed him on the cheek,

“Welcome back, we’ve all missed you.”

Spike smiled at Willow and Tara hugged him,

“I’m so glad that you’re back, I missed you too.”

Cordelia hugged him,

“Nice to have you back.”

Spike smiled at the cheerleader and nodded over to Angel,

“You’d better look after the poof for me.”

Giles hugged Spike as well as Wesley leaving Angel to be the last,

“You know how proud I am of you, it seemed so depressing when you left and I couldn’t feel you anywhere. I’m glad you’re back.”

Angel hugged him and whispered in his ear,

“Look after the love of our lives for me.”

Spike nodded and Dawn hugged Spike again,

“Just checking that you really are here and that I’m not dreaming.”

Buffy kissed Spike again and looked at his crypt,

“You know you’re gonna have to gather some of your things if you’re gonna move in with me.”

Spike kissed her again and hard,

“God I love you Buffy.”

Buffy kissed him again,

“I love you too.”

Angel was leaving, they were going back to LA. And he turned to look at Spike and Giles,

“You told him didn’t you?”

Spike smiled evilly,

“Of course.”

Giles and Spike and Angel laughed and Buffy looked at him carefully,

“What?”

Spike smiled at Angel and Angel shrugged and got into the car,

“Angel was depressed when Darla left him so he spent a month at a farm looking after Carla his new best friend. A cow. He went a bit crazy.”

Buffy was laughing and they all looked at Angel, who hid his face,

“Well goodbye guys, Spike, look after Buffy and the rest of the Scoobies.”

Spike nodded and Angel drove away, but not before he got a loud ‘Moo’ that filled the car.

Buffy and Spike walked down the beach hand in hand in the sunlight, it had been five months since he was brought back and hadn’t changed, he was still obnoxious and a idiot most of the time, he still dressed the same, he still looked and spoke the same, he still fought the same and kissed the same. He still loved Buffy the same way and she still loved him the same. Spike had proposed a month earlier and their wedding was in three months.

Everyone was the same, Spike and Xander still had their daily pool game and Dawn and Spike were now even closer. Tara and Willow were still together and So were Anya and Xander. Dawn had found a boyfriend that Spike finally approved of and Giles had moved into a big house, which he shared with his new girlfriend.

They were all happy and would be together forever.