Summary- Things get a little twisted when the chip-Spike switches places with the chip-less. Can our do-gooder Spike keep Buffy and the gang from killing him? And can Buffy keep the old Spike from dancing herself back to heaven?

Rating- NC17

Disclaimer- None of the characters belong to me. They’re Joss Whedon’s property.

Spoilers- A TON for Becoming part II! Will have some from the second season to the present sixth.

This happens after Older and Far Away. It also occurs during and after Becoming part II.

The first thing he became aware of was the cold. The furnace of Buffy’s body was gone. The next was that he was standing up. What the. . . ?

Spike’s head whipped upward. He met a very pissed off slayer. She had a stake raised, prepared to strike.

“Give me a reason not to let my wooden friend here do his job,” Buffy demanded.

Opening his mouth, Spike struggled with something to say.

Buffy sighed in annoyance. “I had the impression you wanted to tell me something.”

Spike glanced around. “How’d we get out here?”

She lowered her stake. “I walked. You, I don’t know. Maybe you flew,” she said with sarcasm.

“But we were inside, all cozy and wotnot, and now we’re not,” he muttered.

“Did you just get dumber in the last minute?”

He ran a hand over his slicked-back hair. “I must have blacked out or something.” He stared at Buffy. “How long since we were in bed?”

Snorting, she replied, “Geez, about sixteen hours for me. You, couldn’t say. All those vampire schedules and all.”

“This is ridiculous!” Spike shouted in exasperation.

“Look, I don’t know what your deal is, but if you have nothing important to say, I’m leaving.”

“Something weird is going on.”

Buffy tucked her stake in the pocket of her jacket. “I’ll leave you to figure it out.” She began to go.

There was a moan. Spike looked around for the cause. He discovered the police car behind him. The cop was waking up. Memories were triggered. Spike turned back to Buffy. He examined her clothing and hair, which confirmed his hypothesis.

“This all happened before,” he mumbled. He went over to Buffy and grabbed her shoulder. “Is it 1998?”

The slayer threw his hand off her. She punched him in the jaw. He staggered back with surprise. “I don’t have time for this,” she informed.

Spike straightened himself. He felt the place she hit him, checking for blood. There was none.

Thinking quickly, he said, “I know where your watcher is.”

That got her attention. Her fingers came up and locked around his neck. She squeezed tightly. “You’re going to tell me everything you know!”

He smiled. She let go, keeping her eyes on him. “Sure, luv,” he told her. “Be happy to. Can we go inside? This may take awhile.”

Relaxing a bit, she nodded. “Yeah, we can go to my house.”

They began to walk away. Spike stopped. “Wait a sec.”

“What?” Buffy asked. She watched as he went back to the police car.

He came back with a pack of cigarettes. He took one and lit it, taking a drag. With a grin, he says, “Forgot something.”

She rolled her eyes and continued her path home.

The two made it to Revello Drive in no time. As they entered the driveway, a jeep pulled up. Joyce saw them through the window. She quickly got out of the car.

“Where have you been? Are you okay? The police were here! I’ve been looking for you!” Buffy’s mom shouted.

“Mom, let’s, let’s go inside and I can explain,” Buffy said.

Joyce was hysterical. She notices Spike. “Who is this man?”

Spike gaped at Joyce in amazement. It hadn’t occurred to him that she would be there, alive and well.

“Who are you?” Joyce asked Spike. Before he could answer, she talked to Buffy. “Are you okay?”

“Mom! I’m okay,” Buffy said, trying to calm her mom.

“Buffy, terrible things have happened. What are you doing?”

A laugh came from Spike. The females shot him looks. Buffy’s turned into a glare.

He tried to become serious again. “Sorry, ducks, I just . . . This is rather funny.”

“I don’t find the humor,” Buffy icily commented.

Spike lifted his head to the sky. It was blackened, with no stars. “Okay, this was fun, I want to go home now!”

Buffy actually looked worried. “Spike, you need help. No wonder you’re attracted to Drusilla.”

He shifted back to her. His expression was pained. “I don’t want to be stuck here. I was beginning to enjoy my life.” He gestured to Mrs. Summers. “Sure, Joyce was gone, but I had you and the bit. I even thought you were starting to like me. And Willow and Tara weren’t bad. Anya’s a pain in the ass, but she could say things that needed to be said. Xander still hated my guts. That’s all right, though, the feeling is mutual. He can play a mighty good game of pool, however.”

The slap came out of nowhere. His rambling abruptly ended.

“What was that for?” he demanded.

She put her hands on her hips. “To shut you up! You aren’t making any sense.”

Suddenly he stiffened. His eyes widened. “Give me your stake.”

“Not when you’re like this.”

“Just give it to me!” he ordered.

Buffy didn’t comply. He growled in frustration. A vampire rushed out of the shadows. The demon headed toward Joyce. She screamed in fright, stepping backwards.

Spike fought the vamp. The creature was sent hurdling at Buffy. The slayer took her weapon and drove it into his heart. There was a burst of ashes.

Buffy brushed herself off.

“I told you to give me your stake,” Spike said.

“Why didn’t you just warn me a vampire was coming?” She lifted an eyebrow.

He smirked. “Coulda done that, I suppose.”

A few feet away, Joyce was freaking out. “Buffy . . . What . . . is going on?”

Buffy glanced at her mother then at Spike. She inched toward her mother. Facing Joyce straight in the eyes, she said, “Mom, I’m a vampire slayer.”

Joyce blinked. She shook her head in disbelief.

*+ *+* +*

The Summers women sat on the couch, while Spike lounged in the chair. Joyce stayed quiet as the other occupants talked.

Buffy leaned forward. “Explain to me, rationally, what is going on.”

“I’m reliving the bleeding past,” Spike told her.

She seemed skeptical.

“I know what is going to happen. In a few moments Willow’s gonna call. Maybe then you’ll believe me.”

“Willow’s okay?” Buffy let out a long sigh of relief.

“Good enough to try the curse for soul-boy.”

Buffy perked up. “Angel? She’s going to restore his soul?”

It hurt to see her so worked-up over his grand-sire. He dug his nails into the arms of the chair. If it were up to him he’d let her kill him outright, but he knew how much Angel meant to her. He never could bare seeing her in any pain.

“Yes, but I suggest you tell her to hurry. Didn’t quite work out well last time.”

“What happened last time?”

The phone rang, interrupting them. Buffy looked at Spike before answering it.

Spike and Joyce were left in awkward silence. The older woman turned to study him.

“Have we met?” she inquired.

“Yeh, at the school. Hit me with an ax. Member?”

Reorganization came over her. “Oh, yes, you were in the gang.”

He chuckled. “Say, Joyce, when all this is over, could I come back for some of you cocoa? With those wonderful marshmallows?”

“I . . . I, think that would be fine.”

Spike stood up. “Right then. Maybe we could even watch Passions.”

Her face lit up. “You like Passions?”

He smiled. “Adore it.”

Buffy came in. “They’re setting up for the spell now.”

“Believe me now, pet?” Spike asked.

“I don’t know. Saying you time traveled is kind of too sci-fi for me.”

“Like vampires aren’t? I knew that Red was going to call!”

“Yeah, but . . . I can’t deal with this now. I have to save the world.”

A nod came from Spike. “All we gotta do is stop Angelus from opening up Acathla. Shouldn’t be too hard. This time I’ll stay to back you up.”

Buffy grabbed her coat. “I have to go get the sword.” She stepped toward the door.

He followed her.

Buffy spun around. “You’re not coming with me.”

Determination was written on his face. “Why not?”

“You have to go back and look after Giles. If he dies, I’ll dust Dru right in front of you,” she threatened.

For some reason that didn’t scare him much. When he thought of his ex, there was only a cold hollowness.

“Bloody hell! I’m not going back to wheel around my sire and ex!” he yelled.

“Help me here, or I won’t look into sending you back to your time.”

He made an exasperated sound. “You always have to be difficult, slayer. I’ll do it,” he said, giving in.

“Good, I’ll see you soon. Be ready for the grand-finale.” She opened the door.

Joyce got to her feet. “You aren’t leaving until I get some answers, young lady!”

Ignoring her mother, Buffy left.

Spike fished for a cigarette. “Well, gotta jet. We’ll hook up for that cocoa then.”

Spike began to leave. Before walking outside, he said to Joyce, ”Don’t you worry. You’re a great mum. When you get all the details you’ll be right proud of her.”

Mrs. Summers looked at him, stunned. He gave a friendly smile and left.

__________________________________________

Next part will be set during 2002. Buffy goes to Tara, desperate for help.

Spike has a little bit of fun with the locals before discovering Dru and Angelus are no longer around.

Summary- Things get a little twisted when the chip-Spike switches places with the chip-less. Can our do-gooder Spike keep Buffy and the gang from killing him? And can Buffy keep the old Spike from dancing herself back to heaven?

Rating- NC17

Disclaimer- None of the characters belong to me. They’re Joss Whedon’s property.

Spoilers- A TON for Becoming part II! Will have some from the second season to the present sixth.

This happens after Older and Far Away. It also occurs during and after Becoming part II.

It was like Buffy had turned to stone. She stared blankly at the ceiling, stolid. Coldness swept through her body. She was lost, the path darkened by shadows.

Suddenly, Buffy rolled over. She scrunched up into a fetus-position.

Ever since coming back, she found a flicker of heaven here on earth. Spike. He could make her feel. Not pain, suffering, and void. But contentment, as if everything is as it should be. And that was gone now. There wasn’t anything left to hang on to.

Buffy Summers wanted to die. Instead she closed her eyes and fell into a restless, dreamless slumber.

Tara stepped up to the Summers’ door. She nervously knocked on it. She waited for a moment before the wood opened to reveal Dawn.

“Hi, Dawnie, is Buffy home? I thought we could go to the movies. You can come too, if you want,” Tara explained.

The teen was angry, that much was clear. “She’s not here. It was supposed to be sister-quality-time day. But, I guess she had to bail.”

“Oh, she probably got detained,” Tara soothed.

A glare was shot from Dawn. “Right, every night,” she snapped. “It’s almost two in the afternoon now, she left at eight yesterday. That’s eighteen hours! I don’t even consider this her home anymore! Why she comes back at all is beyond me!”

Tara frowned. “If you’re lonely, the two of us can go out.”

Dawn shook her head. “Don’t worry about me, I’m fine.” After saying that, she slammed the door.

So much for having a friendly outing. Dawn wasn’t the only one lonely. It were times like these when she missed Willow terribly.

Tara began to walk down the road.

She knew where Buffy was. She wasn’t judgmental, if Buffy wanted to be with Spike, so be it. But the slayer seemed to be oblivious to how it affected others. Spending time with a boyfriend, or girlfriend, was good to a certain extent, but it can’t monopolize all of it. Especially when you have a fifteen year-old sister and addicted friend to look after.

To Tara’s total astonishment, Buffy came into view. She didn’t seem to notice Tara even being there, and was about to pass the other girl.

“Buffy?” Tara asked.

Buffy stopped. She blinked a couple times, coming out of her daze. She looked horrible, blood-shot eyes, and rumpled hair and clothes.

“Tara?” Her voice was a only a whisper.

The witch nodded. “Yeah. We’ll get you inside. You can wash up . . . and if you want . . . you can tell me what’s wrong.

Buffy didn’t answer, only let Tara lead her home.

Dawn was locked in her room when they arrived. Buffy went to the bathroom to take a shower. Tara picked out a tight purple shirt and black pants for her to wear afterward. The slayer took a long time to clean herself. Tara was beginning to get worried, and wondered if she should check on her friend, when Buffy emerged wrapped in a towel. She handed over the outfit and left to give privacy.

A few moments later, Buffy came out of her room. She appeared to be slightly better, but her eyes were still red.

“You can come in,” Buffy informed.

Tara smiled. She went in and sat on the bed. She lifted a stuffed pig lying next to the pillow. “Cute,” she commented.

“Yeah, that’s Mr. Gordo.”

The pig was placed back in its original spot. Then Tara directed her gaze back at Buffy. There was a lingering silence.

“They always leave,” Buffy squeaked, breaking the quiet.

Tara’s eyes widened. “Spike left town?”

Buffy shook her head.

“Th . . . Then, I don’t u-understand.”

The slayer fiddled with her fingers. “Just me. He left me.”

Tara stood up. “What happened?” she questioned with concern.

“I told him I loved him,” Buffy confessed. She stared at the floor.

Tara’s heart went out to her. “Oh, Buffy.”

“I don’t understand it. He got furious. He started talking about Drusilla, and how he only wanted to fight me.” She met Tara’s gaze. “What he said really didn’t make sense. But it all led to one thing. He doesn’t love me. He only loves pain. I said that once to him, before the first time we. . . I was a fool to actually think a souless demon like him could feel.”

Tara took a step forward. “You know that’s not true. I’ve seen him. He’d do anything for you. He was willing to die for you.”

Tears rolled down Buffy’s face. She couldn’t hold them in anymore. She started to tremble. “Then why was he going to kill me?”

Horror came over Tara. “He was going to k. . . kill you? Are you sure?”

“He was about to bite me, drain me dry. But he quit at the last second, and ran away.”

“Do, do you think the chip malfunctioned? It may have had something to do with him loving you, and then when it stopped working. . .”

Buffy cried harder. Tara gave her a comforting hug.

“Everything that has ever given me any joy has been taken away. Why, Tara, why?” Buffy choked.

There was no answer to that. The slayer gave all she had to defeat evil. And what was her reward?

*+* +* +*

Spike had gone back to the mansion to find it empty. At first he found it odd that Angelus and Drusilla weren’t there. Then it dawned on him. They skipped town together.

In a rage, he hit the wall a couple times. Blood flowed from his hand, and down his arm. He laughed at himself, then slid to the floor.

Damn Angel! And damn Buffy for turning him back into Angelus!

He discovered that the sun had come up when he tried to leave. He was stuck there until dusk. He hated the slayer more than ever, made him waste the night away. Now he would have to wait hours until he could eat.

Finally he was able to go. He hung around the Bronze, hoping a tasty morsel would come out. A red-head exited. Spike didn’t rather like red hair, but when your appetite was as large as his was then, you couldn’t be choosy.

The girl wasn’t bad looking. She had on a sexy tank-top, and a very short skirt. Usually, Spike would play with his food. Not tonight. He dove.

A cry escaped the girl. She struggled in his grip. He roughly tilted her head, exposing her neck. He sunk his teeth in, tearing at the vein. He sucked in the coppery fluid. It was hot on his tongue, and soothed his throat on the way down.

After filling himself with an ample amount of blood, he dropped the dead girl. Her body hit the concrete with a thump.

Spike wiped his mouth. His human mask slipped back on. “Mmmm, that was refreshing,” he muttered.

*+*+*+*

Willy’s bar was packed. Spike ordered a whiskey and sat down to drink it. With a full stomach, and alcohol to get drunk, he was feeling pretty good. He ignored the other demons as he tipped the bottle back.

“Yo, Spike, haven’t seen you in awhile,” the bartender said.

Spike rolled his eyes. He wished he could be left alone. “Yeh, Dru and I have been busy.”

Willy’s eyes got bigger. “You and Dru? I thought you gave up on her. Besides, don’t you have a thing for Buffy now?”

Anger shot through Spike. He slammed his fist down on the counter. “It was only one night, and I don’t know how it happened! I was asking her for help, the next. . . And now Dru’s gone off with Angelus.”

Willy held up his hands. “Look, didn’t mean to get you upset. Why don’t you go on home? I think you’re smashed.”

A demon walked in. He looked human except for the green scales on the sides of his face. He made his way over to the bleached vampire.

“Why if it isn’t the chip off the old block.” He chuckled at this pun. “You’re getting as pathetic as your souled sire.”

Spike turned to face the demon. He recognized it from the Wonke species, very smart, but not very strong. He fixed his gaze, cold and unwavering.

“You have a lot of nerve showing up her. Do you know how many kittens you owe me?” the Wonke went on.

Abruptly, Spike charged at the demon. He banged the Wonke against a table, snatching his throat.

“I’m nothing like the poof with a soul. And I owe you nothing!” Spike was seething.

Fear showed on the Wonke. “Okay, you aren’t pathetic. You can kill me with one snap. Those felines, forget about them.”

Spike threw the demon across the room. He hit the wall hard.

Spike grabbed his purchase. “Think you’re right, mate, I’m leaving,” he told Willy. Then he staggered out of the joint.

He traveled through the darkened town, drinking on the way. The place seemed deserted. He passed a store window, glancing at it. Heart stickers and red lettering decorated the glass. He did a double-take. They were way slow on taking things down, last time he checked it was May, long past Valentine’s Day.

The vampire eyed the empty bottle in his hand. He tossed it at the store window.

A few moments later, he came across a marquee. He halted in horror. The sign said: Extreme Blow Out Sale, February 22. What the fuck was going on?

____________________________________

I meant to post this on Monday, but was loaded down with homework. Sorry about that. Hope it was worth the wait.

Next chapter is going to be in present time also. Spike pays the slayer a visit, and is confused to find a teenage girl who seems to know him.

Summary- Things get a little twisted when the chip-Spike switches places with the chip-less. Can our do-gooder Spike keep Buffy and the gang from killing him? And can Buffy keep the old Spike from dancing herself back to heaven?

Rating- NC17

Disclaimer- None of the characters belong to me. They’re Joss Whedon’s property.

Spoilers- A TON for Becoming part II! Will have some from the second season to the present sixth.

This happens after Older and Far Away. It also occurs during and after Becoming part II.