Part One
Chapter One


A small girl crouched behind a rather large tombstone, her large, pointy stick at the ready. Her golden hair gave her away; her own quarry caught her. Grabbed from behind by her shoulders, she was put face to face with her arch nemesis. Quickly, she punched him in the nose, and she shook herself off when he released her.

“What do you want, Spike?” Her annoyance was clearly conveyed by her tone.

He wiped off some of the blood from his upper lip and smiled. “You, me, a little fight before I head back to Dru. Got a problem with that?”

She smiled cruelly, “Nah, actually, you were the one I was looking for. Angel said you liked to come down here for your ‘late night snack’.” She stepped back, opening her stance, ready for his attack that could happen any time now.

He leaned into her backwards movement with one of his own and did a low kick that knocked her off her feet. Doing a backward roll, she sprung up and headed back into the fray, his laughter echoing in her ears. She charged, kicking him solidly in the nuts when he wasn’t ready. “Ha! How’s that one for you?”

His left hand rested on his thigh for only a moment, and then he did a roundhouse kick that landed her once again on her back. “You are wrong to cross me, little girl!” His anger was apparent in his voice. “I’m the monster that your mum warned you about!

She stopped to catch her breath for only a second. “Yeah, I get it already. Do you ever just shut the hell up?” She bounded toward him again, this time successfully connecting with him when she slapped her forearm into his jaw. Bringing her knee up right after, she cracked him soundly again in the jaw. He fell back into a nearby tombstone with a loud whack, instantly springing back up to his feet. He started to bounce on the balls of his feet and he punched her in the face. She reached up and openly smacked him in the face.

He stopped and looked at her when he grabbed her arms. “What the bloody hell did you do that for, Slayer? That actually hurt!”

She laughed and pulled her arms free. “Here Spikey, Spikey,” she called in a sing-songy voice.

He growled and lunged to tackle her. Getting her on the ground right where he wanted her, he punched her. “Your blood is sounding so sweet, pet. Do you know just how loud it’s calling for me?” He cut off her oxygen in her throat, and she started scrambling to pull his hands away. “Do you know how easy it would be for me to take you right now?” With a furious laugh, he leaned down, shifted to his other form and got ready to take her, once and for all.

Abruptly, he was pulled off her and thrown into a crypt that was close by. “Don’t think so mate. That won’t be happening anytime soon.”

Buffy looked toward the new, familiar voice. She saw two Spikes. What the hell, she thought to herself. Getting to her knees, she crawled quickly away to recoup for a moment before she confronted the new one.

“Bugger off, mate, she’s my kill. No, wait,” the first Spike started. “Who the hell are you?”

“You’d better get back to Dru, pillock, before she gets herself into a spot of trouble.” He let the other Spike go, growling at him for only a moment. The first Spike returned the sentiment and took off, duster billowing behind him.

The Slayer held her breath so she could hear where her new opponent was. She heard the grass crackle behind her and she turned in a blur. “What the hell is going on Spike?”

A chuckle emanated deep from inside him, and she cringed, having heard this before. “Why, Buffy, I’m the hero. Not the bad guy!”

A confused look crossed over her face and he reached a hand down to help her up. “Come on, love, let’s head over to the library and see what the hell I’m doing here, shall we?”

Not wanting to get too close, she numbly walked with him, a decent three feet separating them.


The library was full of excitement, everyone hard at work researching whatever they could about their newest creature of the week. This week it happened to be yet again, Spike. Pizza boxes were placed strategically around the tables, everyone eating, talking, and reading, which was a feat only Willow truly could accomplish.

The doors came open and Buffy walked in, holding her bruised neck. Xander saw her first and rushed over to help. “Something happen on patrol?” She let her hand fall. A collective gasp came from everyone in the room. “Well, well, I guess something that got you, got dusty?”

“No,” Buffy stated. “But something just definitely got a whole lot weirder. I mean on a scale of 1 to 10, this is like a 50! You guys are so not going to understand this one. I’m not sure I even do, yet.” She sat down in a chair and pointed toward the door, where Spike was leaning against the wall. He smirked and gave a little wave to the Scoobies.

Giles ran to his office for a cross and stake. “What is he doing here Buffy?”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you Watcher, but I guess I have no choice.” He sighed a tired sigh and headed towards a chair to sit in.

The group collectively backed up, a couple running to the top of the riser where they would be closer to the stacks so they could run. If they needed to. But since this was Spike, their chances of having to do that tripled the minute they saw him standing there so casually. Buffy was the only one who didn’t move, instead she rubbed her neck and glared at the copy of her enemy. “Tell ‘em Spike. Cause I don’t know if I got it right.”

He looked directly at Giles. “I need your help Watcher. Something went wrong. Horribly wrong.” The defeat in his eyes showed clear through his voice.

Giles looked at the cross, then the stake, then back at the cross and sighed. Placing them on the table. He leaned down to Spike and spoke softly, but not void of emotion. “Tell me.”

“Well, see, I’m from your future. Seven years from your future to be exact. Bloody hell, I never thought I’d ever be here of all places. I mean a Hell is a Hell, but this is ridiculous!” He shrilly laughed and smacked his hand down on the table. “I think I’m dead, Rupert, honestly I do.”

Chapter Two

Giles took off his glasses and looked down at the blond vampire. He could barely believe he was here, sitting in his library, listening to the ramblings of this vicious lunatic. “Alright,” Giles began, “Let’s start with what you know. Although for the life of me, I don’t understand why you came to us for help!”

“I know you hate me, Watcher. I know the lot of you can’t stand me, but what can I do? You’re the only ones who can help me. And if you move one step closer with that stake, Whelp, you’ll be pulling it out if your ass in a minute.”

Xander stood still behind him, stake now hidden behind his back. He laughed nervously and took it back to the weapons bag.

“Now, let me tell you this much. I am from your future. I need to get back there, or wherever I’m supposed to be right now. All I can safely tell you is that I know where I was, and that I won’t kill the lot of you.” He spoke precisely, carefully, to let them know he was serious. “I don’t know the how of how I got here, but I know I have to get back. That’s about it.” He sounded tired at the last, his voice slightly strained.

Buffy sat up straighter in her chair. “Can I just kick his ass? I mean I really think that maybe he’s telling some of the truth, but this is Spike.”

Giles put his glasses back on, and looked at Spike skeptically. “Willow, I need the book on time travel? Do you know where it is in the cage?”

Willow nodded and headed for the book cage, where Giles kept his private collections of books. Giles continued. “It is important that you tell us nothing more, Spike, or whatever, or whoever you are. If there are things in our future that we need to know, it will come to us in time. We can’t risk changing the way things are to be. Fate is not set in stone.”

Spike humphed his agreement, “You have no idea how bloody right you are, Rupert. No bloody idea at all.”

“If you are who you say you are, you won’t mind us doing a spell to see if you are indeed Spike, will you? I think a standard reveal spell would do the trick.” With that he turned toward the office and grabbed one of the books off the shelves. Returning he wrote down a list and handed it to Xander. “These are the ingredients I’ll need, charge it to my account at the magic shop. Xander nodded and headed out, list tucked into his pocket.

Willow came out of the cage and sat down with the book she found there. “What exactly are we looking for Giles?”

“Look for, oh I don’t know, something to do with metaphysical and physical return to a certain time in the past. I think that should do it. I’ll look in another volume. The Jorgen volumes maybe?” He went to the cage to look for said book.


Spike looked over at the irritated Slayer with warmth showing in his face. She was so beautiful, his memory serving him well. She saw his stare and glared back at him. He tilted his head and smiled even softer, if such a thing was possible. She looked away quickly, her heart beating hard in her chest. He grinned, feeling it from across the table. “What’s wrong, pet?”

Buffy tried to ignore him.

“Pet?” He struggled inside himself not to walk over and comfort her, knowing how hard it may be for her at this age to sit in the same room with the same man, no, creature, that plotted new ways to kill her weekly.

“Shut up, Spike. I don’t want to talk to you, I just want you gone.” She shivered then when she caught the intense look of concern that played over his features. Gone was the sex idol pose that he usually had around her. It was replaced in part with something she couldn’t actually put her tongue to.

He looked away for a moment and then leaned over, softly whispering, “Don’t sleep with Angel.”

She gasped and eyes became incredibly large. Whispering back, she hissed, “What did you just say to me?”

“I wanted to warn you is all. No harm, no foul.” He sat back matter-of-factly.

“I hate you.” She had said that so many times in the past to him, it didn’t even faze him anymore. He knew how she felt later on, when she was his and that was all that mattered. All the hateful things she said to him, could for now, be ignored.

He mumbled something back in response, but she told herself she didn’t care and stood up to go help Giles.

Chapter 3

The reveal spell Giles performed on Spike told them exactly what he needed them to know. He was the real Spike, only not the one from this when. Buffy grunted when Giles finished the spell, walking out of the library to use the restroom.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw something black move just into her field of vision. “Hello?”

She was again grabbed from behind. A hand covered her mouth and cold air breezed by her mouth as someone started to whisper to her. “Buffy….”

She struggled out of the arms of her captor and swung around to face—Angel. “Buffy? What’s up? You’re unusually jumpy.”

She visibly relaxed when she realized who it was. “I have had the night from hell! I swear, another guy grabs me from behind, human or demon, and he’s toast!” She pulled the restroom door open and walked in. Angel followed.

“What’s wrong Buff?” He sounded so sincere, she knew she had to tell him, otherwise he may not let it drop.

Finishing her nature call, she flushed and walked over to the sinks. Peering at herself and her bruises that were clearing up, she turned to smile at him. “You can’t go in the library, there’s something in there you don’t want to see.”

Seeing the confusion on his face, she dried her hands off and walked over to him, putting his face in her hands. “Come on, big guy, I’ll show you.” Taking him by the hand, she led him across the hall, back into the library.

Walking up to the big table, she felt, rather than saw, Angel tense up at the sight if the back of Spike’s bleached head. “What the hell? Are you inviting him over for tea now Giles?”

Giles held back any quips and walked over to Angel in his excitement. “This is Spike, that’s true enough, but he’s from our future. He seems to be pretty tame, to say the least.”

“I’m sitting right here! I can hear every bloody word you say!” Spike stood up and turned to face Angel. “Hello, Hair Gel! I see you haven’t changed—much.”

Angel tightened his fists that were now clenching and unclenching at his sides. He looked at Buffy, who shrugged her shoulders. “Let him tell you. I can’t get anything from everyone except that they want to get physical.”

This stopped everyone where they were and they looked at her. “I mean, well, whatever! I think I need to patrol or something! I can’t be Slayer-gal and Research-gal. Too many personalities for one person.” She turned and walked into Giles’ office closing the door behind her. She pulled the chair over to the window to watch the show unfolding before her.

“So,” Angel paused, “You’re gonna tell me some story about how Dru kicked you out or something?”

Spike relished at the thought of seeing Angel again, unbeknownst to even himself. “I came here, mate, to see if the Scoobies can help me get back to my own time. Nothing for you to concern yourself with unless you have some magician trapped in your brooding forehead over there.” He giggled to himself. “You don’t do you?”

Angel ground out a resounding, “No, Spike.”

“Well then, poofter, I suggest that you head on back out to fight the former me, I know he has to have your hands full with some evil scheme he’s concocting.” Spike was proud he didn’t start a fight, yet.

“Tell me what’s going on Spike!”

“How about I tell you over something to eat? Keep any otter at your place, or do we have to go out?” Something dawned on Angel. Spike was being serious. “’Cause if we have to order out, I think you’ll be more apt to not cause a stir, if you know what I mean.”

Angel stopped and sat down in the chair next to where Spike was standing. “Tell me the whole story, Spike. Then we’ll get something for you to eat, okay?”


In the office, Buffy sat up in her chair as she watched something she had never seen before. Spike shook his head in agreement with Angel and sat down to talk.
 

Chapter Four

Sometime late in the night, Buffy was awoken from where she had laid her head on Giles’ desk in his office. Her face hurt from lying that way and she rubbed her jaw slightly. Looking up, she saw Willow there with a cup of hot coffee in one hand, a Krispy Kreme in the other. “Hey, Buffy! Thought you might like a visit from the donut fairy!” Her smile was great, so Buffy returned it, taking the offerings given to her by her friend.

“What’s up Willow? You guys send Spike back from wherever he was from?” She dug in to her breakfast.

“Well, no. But not from the lack of trying! Apparently we need to do a little more research, cause I can’t get any spell to work. None, nada, nothing!” Her smile was so bright it was contagious.

“Okay,” Buffy drawled, “Spill it, Willow.”

“Well, see, he told us this story about from where he’s from, oh, you’ll have to hear it from him, but hey! With the good! He, uh, wanted everyone to hear it from his mouth so nothing would get confused between us, but I think you should hear what he’s got to say! Oh- oh, and he drinks animal’s blood. Pig, otter, some others if you mix it in just right!” She was waving her hands around excitedly.

Buffy leaned back in the chair. “Spike doesn’t hunt anymore?”

“Nope! He has a soul now too, said he got it for a girl, can you believe the sweetness?”

“Where’s he now? I need to see this load of crap for myself.” Instantly, she knew that wasn’t the way she felt about this Spike, she’d seen too much already to know he wasn’t bad at all. Something was clawing at her conscience, and she was trying desperately to find out what it was. In the meantime, Willow’s happy factor was falling by the minute.
“Sorry Will, I’m just really tired. Where’s our big hero at?”

Willow’s happy face returned with fervor and she bounced in her chair. “He wanted to see your mom. I guess they’re friends in the future or something. Angel took him.” She finished as she saw the look of disbelief on her friend’s face.

Putting down her cup, Buffy walked out of the library, ignoring everyone who talked to her. Quickly, she ran all the way home.


“Want another cup of coffee Angel?” Joyce Summers asked the brooding figure sitting in her kitchen. He held up his hand to pass and she turned to Spike. “How about you?”

“I’d love another cup Joyce. Absolutely love one! Can you throw in a few more of those incredible little marshmallows?” He curled his tongue behind his teeth. Angel rolled his eyes at Spike.

“What?”

“Nothing. Say Joyce, how is the gallery running, smashing I hope?” Spike was curious to how she was feeling, but didn’t want to ask that either.

“Great! I am so glad we cleared up the misunderstanding about Parents night. If I had known you had snuck in to help everyone under that disguise, I wouldn’t have hit you with the axe. Here’s your chocolate.” She smiled kindly at him. Angel rolled his eyes again.

The backdoor came open and Buffy walked in out of breath. “Guys! What are you doing here? I told you to wait for me at the library!” She motioned to Spike. “Can I talk to you in private?” He stood and knew when he was in trouble, for all he did you was shake his head and follow the Slayer.

She headed upstairs to her room, knowing he was following her. “Buffy? What’s got your knickers in a twist? I was only talking to your mum!”

She went into her room and waited for him to come inside. Shutting the door behind them, she leaned against it casually. “What’s your game Spike?”

He looked at her incredulously. “I don’t- I mean, what?”

“I know you’re plotting something, letting everyone think that you’re from the future, but tell me something. You don’t drink from humans anymore, you pal around with us like we’re your buddies, and you have a nice personal relationship with my mother. Mind letting me in on your new dastardly deed?” Walking over to her chair at her vanity, she pulled it out for him and she sat on the edge of her bed. “Talk, Spike, or you’ll be fitting in a dustbuster before I’ll let you leave my room.”

Spike walked over and sat down, legs spread before him. He reached out and took her hands in his and smiled. They had done this before, he remembered. After she was brought back the last time. He smiled a sad smile and looked down at their joined hands, his thumbs stroking hers. He could feel the anger building in her.

“Buffy—,“ he began.

“Quit calling me Buffy! It creeps me out!” She tried to pull her hands away from him.

“I can’t let your hands go, pet, just let me have them for a moment.” She stopped her struggling. “Now, you want to know why I’m so different? Let me tell you a story you won’t believe, but I swear to the Big Guy Upstairs, its all true. Can you handle that?”

She nodded, relaxing now.

“Right. Well, I was fighting a horde of demons six years in the future with Angel, when I saw him jerked of the ground by a dragon. Last thing I remember, a light, a bright light showing up ahead in the alley where we were. I was headed straight for us. I remember Blue sidestepping it amazingly enough, but it caught me and pulled me in. So, that’s how I got here.” He waited for a minute. “What else do you want to know?”

Buffy thought for a minute. “I want to know why you think it’s alright for you to touch me. Why do you call everyone by their names? Explain.”

“I can’t, Buffy, I was told by Giles not to. Something about how it would mess up time or fate or something.” He looked at her, tilting his head. “I can tell you something though. We work together in the future. More than once.”

The sixteen-year-old Buffy looked at the joined hands and lost herself in thought. “Spike.” She paused. “You’re holding my hands. Are we like boyfriend and girlfriend in the future? Cause if so, eww.”

Spike chuckled again. “Remember earlier when I told you not to sleep with Angel?” She nodded. “Well, let’s just say we’re a little closer than we are right now. We fight together, argue even still, but for the most part, we’re allies.”

Spike let go of her then, and Buffy rubbed her hands together. Something was going on, that was for sure. She felt some kind of charge when she touched him, maybe she’d have to tell Giles. Have him check and see if he was full of electrical energy or something, when they got back to the library. Something else dawned on her. She would never have let him be so intimate unless something changed drastically between them. No one touched her really, till they broke through her tough shell.

“Does she love you?” Her voice was barely a whisper, she was actually scared he’d say yes, and sick at the same time.

“Thought she did.” He didn’t look at her. “That’s all I can tell you. Now, let’s get out of here and head back to the library. Got me some people I need to take care of back home.”

Shuddering at his last statements, she nodded and headed down to the kitchen, ready to send this Spike straight to hell, if it would take away this feeling she was having.

Chapter 5

Sliding his hand down his abdomen, he rubbed himself just there, above his pelvic area. She looked marvelous tonight, he thought. Wouldn’t mind a little bit of the action himself. The shadows swallowed him, where he could watch, no one the wiser. Apparently, she lost the apparition he had thought was himself, and that was good. He could concentrate on more important things, like the deciphering of the damned book he stole from the Watcher.

She flew at the minion, swiping his face with her feet, throwing him to the ground. Chest heaving, she walked over and staked her opponent in the back. Suddenly, she was thrown to the ground again by a frumpy looking business vamp in a cheap suit. She flipped back up to her feet and punched him repeatedly in the face. His downfall came when she doubled him over with a sharp kick to his stomach. Pulling out her stake, she dispatched him, quick as she could.

Wiping her hands free of debris, she shoved her stake into the back of her pants. She shook the fight off and headed back toward the high school.

Spike chuckled and headed back to the old factory. Dru lay on the main table, staring at the ceiling again. Sighing, Spike walked over and laid his hand upon her cheek. “Dru, love, what are you doing on the table?”

She spoke softly and pointed to Dalton, who was peering over the book he had been given the pleasure of deciphering. “The king said I wouldn’t get any cakes, Spike. He said the fairies spoke in his ear and told him so.”

Dalton whispered from behind his fortress of paper and binding, “She wanted to eat the pages of the book. You told me to figure it out, not let your nutty girlfriend-“

Spike picked him up and threw him up against the wall. “You know, I keep you around for a few things. None of them being your apparent gift of pissing me off!” He walked over and grabbed the smaller man’s glasses, turning them over in his hand. “I need to kill something. That damned Slayer killed everything in the cemeteries tonight, I thought she’d have me, but it wasn’t to be.” He restrained himself yet again from destroying other’s spectacles, and placed them tenderly on his nose. “Finish the book, and maybe you’ll die quickly, instead of slow and painfully.”

The brunette, who had shifted from lying on her back to now lying prone, slid of the table in a single fluid movement. “My dark prince, she clouds you, all over. I know Miss Edith would not be happy, not at all!” Her hands ended at her mouth, and a long wailed emanated from the slim body. “No one can save you, my love, unless we give it a muff.”

Rolling his eyes, he went to take her downstairs where she could rest. He called up to the scholarly vamp, “Dalton, have someone go fetch Dru her supper. Wouldn’t want you walking out in the morning, getting a little sunburn, now would we pet?”

She stopped her crying and utterly ruled onto the bad, facing away form her lover. “I need Daddy,” she whined in a little voice. “Bring him to me Spike. Make us a family again.”

He grunted at his girl, “No, pet. Angel thinks he’s a white-hat now, remember? It’s time to let it be!”

Heading back up the stairs, he growled at nothing at all. Without looking at the bookworm, he said, “Figure it out by morning or die.” With that, he walked outside.

Taking in the night air, he decided it would be great for a hunt. He was hungry anyway, so why the hell not, he thought to himself.


An hour later, he sat in the shadows out at the local make out spot. Windows were fogged up, cars were rocking and moans were heard all around. A young couple sat in the moon’s rays, highlighted naturally by the damned heavenly body. Their hands were exploring, tongues meeting in the middle, and sweat was pouring off to mix in the heavily warm fall night.

He heard a familiar voice from somewhere in the darkness and swore silently to himself.

“I tell you Xand, I hate having him in my house. He’s a lunatic. Crazy, laughs at absolutely nothing, and he hogs my towels. Like he owns them!”

Xander clicked his tongue at the antics of her houseguest. “I think that you’ll have to see if Giles will let him stay at his house. That’s the only way you’re going to be rid of the walking Undead.”

Buffy felt a familiar tingle crawl in her skin. She stopped Xander by pressing a hand to his chest. Listening, she heard twigs crack behind her and she pulled her friend to the bushes. Covering his mouth she motioned for him to stay silent as she headed back the other way.

When she hit a small clearing a few feet behind, she spied tons of cigarettes on the ground in front of her. It had to be Spike. Question was, which one?

“Xander,” she whispered to him when she came back. “Come on, we’re heading to Angel’s. He has to help me find Spike and take him out. He’s making me too jumpy, and hello, tomorrow’s the full moon! Kinda have to keep my priorities straight.” He nodded in agreement, and away they went.


Spike laughed to himself when Buffy drug her little whelp away. Second time I’ve gotten to watch you tonight, pet. Gonna be getting the drop on you more, he thought to himself. His laughter rang out in the night, wafting through the trees like a harmony all by itself.

Reaching the couple he’d been watching earlier, he leaned in from behind, yelled boo, and smacked their heads together, conveniently knocking them unconscious. One by one, he sucked them dry and left them to rot.

I’ll get you all, he thought, walking away in the dark of the night.

Chapter 6

A few weeks had passed, nothing mentionable happening, unless of coarse you count the demon Eyghon trying to kill everyone. The present Spike had behaved himself, future Spike as well, unless you count the whole, ‘I’m more comfortable in Buffy’s house than she is’ thing. The world had gone on and the gang was nowhere closer to figuring out the mystery surrounding the second Spike’s appearance in Sunnydale. It was too quiet for Buffy’s taste. She knew something was brewing.

At the dinner table one night, she was making a dot-to-dot picture of the Mona Lisa with her peas, thinking about her aptitude test she had taken at school today. Nothing was going well, her mom had warmed up to Spike like he was her own son, and they had both forgotten that Buffy really existed. Her Spike, the Spike she’d been kicking the ass of since he got here, was nowhere to be found and she had nothing to do except beat up and dust the fledgling vamps that came out of the ground nightly. I must be twisted, she thought, to want more mayhem and violence.

Spike #2, as she thought of him more often than not, came out of the kitchen holding a mug of blood in one hand and a pad and pencil in the other. Joyce trailed behind. They were laughing over some joke that she wasn’t allowed to get, something she wouldn’t be a part of. It pissed her off.

“Remember what I said, Joyce. Go see the doctor about those headaches you’ve been havin’. They’re liable to get worse, and I don’t fancy havin’ to carry around someone’s mum just because they don’t think they need it!” He winked at Buffy as he sat down in the chair to her left. Buffy rolled her eyes and went back to her masterpiece. He peered over at her plate. “Sistine Chapel?”

“No, I was going for the Mona Lisa, but what the hey!” She got up, plate and glass in hand and went back to the kitchen, depositing them in the sink. “Mom!” She called to the other room. “I’m gonna go see Angel. Be back after patrol.”

“Don’t be late, honey! Have a fun time and be careful!” Her mom added.

“Can I come, Buffy?” Came a small voice from Spike.

The answer was the same as it was every night. “No, later you guys!”

Buffy shook her head and walked out the door.


Kisses that rained down on her face, cold and wet, went down to the nape of her neck. His breath was reassuring her, that is she was with him, everything could got back to the way it was meant to be. Hands roamed in places that a year ago, she never would have allowed him to go. She moaned a he passed a hand over her nipple, pushing up into him. Gaining her sense of a reality that was fading fast, was proving to be a losing fight. His knee slipped in between her legs and she felt weak. “Angel… Angel. Stop.”

He rested his forehead against hers and looked down into her eyes. His brown matched well with her green. There was mirth behind his and he chuckled, and kissed her forehead. Pulling her close to him, they peered out together at the graveyard, staring at nothing, enjoying the quiet night.

“I love you, Buffy.”

“I love you, too.” She snuggled closer. It was good to have a place to belong to.


Spike from the future had followed this Buffy, catching her in the make out session with the poofter. He shook his head and turned to walk back. At least she was safe. He had been thinking about this time period all night, remembering it was around this time that he had sent the order of Taraka to her, to kill her. But now, she was with the vamp of her dreams, so at least she was safe.

Joyce was smart to listen to him and make an appointment with the doctor. He was trying to save her, for herself. For Buffy. For him even. He hoped that it would pan out and she would get the attention she needed, for all their sakes. Dawn, who wasn’t even here yet, would definitely be eternally grateful, of that he was sure.

He had a sudden hankering to run by the old factory, to see how things were progressing over on that front, but wasn’t sure if he wanted to make his presence known, or if he wanted to hide and slink around in the shadows. Dru would be healed soon, and he would be bound to a wheelchair for some time, something he did not want to see again.

So, he headed down there anyway, curiosity getting the better of him.

Sure enough, he saw that they had indeed found the cross and were in the already in the process of getting everything together. Angel would be imprisoned later tonight, and tomorrow, well, Dru would be back in true form, whilst he, would be confined in that damned chair. He winced. He never wanted to remember that, but since he was here, he would help them the best he could.

Walking back to the house, he paused as he entered, seeing a light in the nest house. He looked in and saw the Bug Man, sitting there watching the house. Shaking his head, he went in.

Joyce was in the kitchen, cleaning the dishes. He took off the duster and went to hang it on the coat rack. “All’s quiet.” He called to her.

“Good, I was worried. For some reason, I had this nagging feeling that something was going to happen tonight.”

“Not while I’m on watch.” He thought himself the world’s worst liar, but he knew these things must happen, so he brushed that off quickly.

“Good. I’m heading to bed. Good night, William.” She walked up the stairs, but not before kissing him on the cheek.

He sat down on the couch, remote in hand. He would wait for Buffy, then try to help guide her through this, for her own sake.


A little after one, Buffy walked in the door and pulled off her jacket. Seeing the T.V. on was nothing new now, she knew that Spike would still be up watching and waiting. She thought he did that for her, since he and the other Buffy were so close. It annoyed her and made her feel protected all at the same time.

“Night, Dead boy,” she called to the relaxing vamp in the other room.

“Slayer. Wait. I want to talk to you.” He had moved off the couch to stand in the doorway.

Sighing, Buffy headed back down the stairs, standing on the very last one. “What?”

“I was just wondering how things were going tonight. Just curious.” He looked down at his feet, shuffling them around beneath him.

“Fine. Great. Just peachy, no murderous plots underfoot.” She turned and started to back up.

“Slayer, wait.” He spoke softly. “I want to tell you something. Come in here, please?”

She was getting angry. “You know Spike, this better be good. I really don’t have the time to hang out with you like Mom does.” She bounded down the stairs, and flopped down on the couch.

He sat opposite her on the coffee table, leaning toward her. “I don’t want anything to happen to you. I need you to know something.”

“What?” Just a question.

“I need you to back out there. Some big bad’s afoot and you need to get out there.” He looked serious.

She thought a minute, concerned only by the look he was giving her now. He knew something. “I’m only gonna trust you because you’re from the future and have lived this all before. But that’s it.”

“That’s just great.” He looked more relaxed when she got back up to get her coat on.

A second later, she grabbed the door handle and paused to look back at him. “Well?” She asked.

“What?”

“Are you coming with, or what?” He grinned, shook his head yes and went for the duster.

The grin stuck there for some time later. He couldn’t get that one thought out of his head. There’s my beautiful, brave girl. Someone he would save the world for, a million times over. And more, if he could.

Chapter 7

A few nights later, Spike’s sleep was being bothered by horrible dreams. Some flashes of the final battle with Buffy, some of the with the more recent one with Angel. Blood poured down his face, but the black rain washed away it quickly. Charlie on his left, wielded his weapon till the last, a cry coming up from the pile he was quickly taken under by. Then it was silent.

Then there was Blue, the former god, ripping apart anything that moved into her path. Human wounds were proving to be her weakness though, and through the fog that was the scourge, he saw her fall as well.

Bright and gleaming as always, the last to go was his comrade in the battle, Angel. There had been many years, hell all but the last actually of bad feelings between the two of them, but in this they were together to the end. Minutes into the battle, they were still toe-to-toe. Then the aforementioned dragon swooped out of the sky and dropped on the redeemed soul. Just as it reached out its talons to take out the mismatched group’s leader,

A light blew from the pile that was formerly his keeper, Illyria. A blue light flashed and he was sucked in. Blue electricity enveloped him.

In the dream, he remembered seeing the witch, Glinda. No—Tara was her name, he had almost forgotten. She smiled kindly to him and held her hands out to him. “Come here, silly. Come with me.”

Behind her, he was his past bled from scene-to-scene. Coming to Sunnyhell, running over the welcome sign. Killing the Annoying one, taking care of Dru. Later, teaming up with the Slayer, leaving with Dru. Even later still, then there was the chip, loving the slayer, and nearly raping her. The soul. The trials to get the soul. Something he knew deep inside that he wanted for her, to be hers, but never thought he needed. Then he was crazy, in the basement of the school, and then everyone walked around him like he wasn’t sane at all, just like Dru.

Then there was that last time they had on the night before the permanent closing of the Hellmouth. She lay in his arms and slept in his bed, even if it was only just a cot, and they had held each other. The hands on fire, hell, actually the whole body burning from the inside out.

It stopped there and went back in reverse.

Tara watched as it went back and forth over and over, with a mildly amused expression on her face. “Make it all right, Spike. This is y-your history.” She left him then and he blacked out, but not before hearing her whisper something in his ear.

“Make them know.”


Spike shot straight up in bed, his chest was heaving. Sweat, when did he sweat? Reaching for his jeans that were on the floor, he pulled them on, and grabbed his shirt that was hanging on the back of the wooden chair. He turned it right side out and tugged it on. He grabbed his belt and smokes, and threw them somewhere on his body. Padding the short way down the hall, he headed for Buffy’s room. Pausing, he thought he’d better not knock, as it might wake up Joyce.

Instead he walked in. Her bed was made, no one occupied it. Looking at the calendar on her bulletin board, he saw the date ,"Bugger!" he yelled in anger.

Today was her 17th birthday and she would find out all about the Judge. Then she’d sleep with Mr. ‘I can’t have a happy’ and screw everything up.

Running down the stairs, he ran over to the rack and grabbed the duster. He threw it on and grabbed one of the heavier blankets off the couch and tossed it on his shoulders.

Chapter 8

The Watcher was in his living room drinking a cup of tea when he heard a knock at the door. He sighed and replaced his cup on the saucer in front of him. Placing a finger for a bookmark in the book he was reading, he went to open it. Spike stood there, a very annoyed look on his face. “I need your help Rupert. I want to leave.”

Rupert held the door open and welcomed him, “Please, Spike, c-c-come in.”

Spike rolled his shoulders and walked in. “Watcher, I can’t be here for all this again. I want to go somewhere else and live by myself. You gotta help me. I’m gonna go mad!” He waved his arms in the air, frustration apparent.

He sat down on the couch and clasped his hands in front of him. “Can I borrow some cash? Set you back up as soon as I get settled?”

Giles looked at the floor. “I’ll help you, but you’ll have to help me. I think I knew that this was going to happen sooner or later, considering the circumstances of you showing up here. So, I’ll help you only if you know of any time when Buffy will be in grave danger, you’ll have to let me know.”

Spike smiled. “I think I’d know that, Rupert. I’ll keep in touch. No worries.” He thought for a moment. “Say, do you know of anyone who could help me understand some dreams I’ve been having? Nasty ones, bits from the future?”

“I don’t know, let me do some calling around and arrange for your travel to where you want to go. I suggest that you say your goodbyes and then come back as soon as possible.” Giles started to rummage through his books on the table in front of him.

“Well, right then. Thank you.” Spike got up to leave, but turned to look at the Giles. “Say, will you tell them something for me? Don’t know if I could tell them, so maybe you can break it to them, yeah?”

Giles looked at him skeptically, for only a moment. “Yes, I believe I can.”

“Can you tell them to forget Osiris? Just forget all bloody well about it?” The pleading look on his face spoke volumes.

“Yes, forget about Osiris.” He smiled warmly at the vampire.

“Thanks, Rupert! You’re one hell of a man, you know that?” He chuckled and headed out the door to go to the Summer’s house. To face his destiny, and all of theirs with it.


Coming in the kitchen door, he ran up to the stairs, climbing then by twos. He headed into the spare room to gather the meager things he’d picked up here in his short stay. Dawn was coming, and he knew he had to hurry. Throwing them all in his coat, he went to Joyce’s room and knocked on the door. A rustling and then, “Come in.”

Spike walked in slowly and went to her bed. Laying a hand on her side he smiled down to her and cleared his throat. For once in his un-life, he didn’t know what to say, and even then, he was so sad he had to leave, that he didn’t think he could.

“Spike? Is there something wrong?” Concern crept into her voice and she started to sit up.

Putting a hand on her shoulder, he eased her back down. “Nothing’s wrong, pet. Just came to say goodbye.”

“What do you mean goodbye?”

He closed his eyes and paused before answering. “I have to go. Now, please, do me a favor and go see the doc like we’ve been talking, okay? I know it’s been a bad nagging I’ve been giving you, but I need you to do this for you, not for me.”

When he opened his eyes, he saw she was crying. “Do I die in the future? I wanted to ask you, but I knew you wouldn’t answer. But, can you tell me now?”

He shook his head and leaned down. Looking in her eyes, he kissed her on the forehead and waved his hand as he headed out her door.

Shutting it behind him, he felt no shame as tears were pouring down his face. Time to go.


Going to Angel’s apartment was the absolute worst thing that he could ever do, but he needed to get this done. It was pouring down rain now. Walking in there, he passed the poofter’s possessions, which were thrown around from his struggle with the soul no doubt. In the left hand corner of the one room apartment, he saw her lying there in Angel’s bed. Her hair was tousled, but she still looked like an angel to him. Even lying in someone else’s bed.

The tears hadn’t stopped coming, and he was positive that they weren’t going to anytime soon.

Sitting down nest to her on the bed, he reached over and laid his hand on her arm. She jumped, startled, but soon relaxed when she recognized him. “Spike?”

He leaned down to her face, merely inches away and whispered to her, his only love. “I have to leave, pet. Gotta go my own way. Just wanted to say goodbye and all.”

“Where are you going?”

“I don’t know. Say, could you do me a favor? Just a small one?” He was starting to choke up, it was almost unbearable for him.

“Sure, what? Wait, no blood, biting, or anything kinky!”

He smiled, and took her hand. “I want to give you a small kiss, and then I have to go. I only want you not to look for me okay? Let me be. Can you do that?”

“Yeah no problem. You’re on, and hey, why would I want to find you anyway?” She started to sit up once she realized where she was.

He leaned farther down and tilted his head. Her lips were sweet like chocolate, smooth like the finest silk. Her eyes were big when she realized what was going on, and they went even bigger when she felt his tongue sweep along her teeth. Her cheeks were wet from his tears. Then, he pulled away, just as quickly as he started.

“I love you.” In a swirl of black, he was gone.

Sitting straight up, she saw she was alone, wondering more about where Angel went.

Chapter 9

Giles sat at his table on Halloween 2000. To be more truthful, it was actually the morning after Halloween, because he couldn’t sleep. Something was nagging at his brain. He was perusing the books he had brought home with him from the Magic Shop so he could search for the entity known as That Which Cannot Be Named. They had had no luck, and he had sent everyone home to study on his own. Hearing the tea kettle, he went to the kitchen, reading a book about some druids that worshipped dead gods in 90 B.C.. Steeping his leaves, he turned them with one hand, while turning pages with another. When it was ready, he went back to the table and got comfortable.

The phone rang.

He looked at his watch.

It was 3:21 a.m..

Who would be calling him at this time?

Only one name came to mind. Spike.

Everyone had dismissed Spike’s leaving to mean that he was going back to the future where he belonged, but unfortunately, he had only gotten as far as a small town in Iowa.

Burr Oak to be exact.

And it wasn’t that much of a town, Giles had even visited once.

He grabbed the phone on the 3rd ring. “He-hello?”

“Watcher.”

“Spike, how great to hear from you. How is the autumn weather there?”

“Just puppies and kitties here, how’s my girl?” He sounded sad, like always.

“She’s fine. Actually, our Spike and Buffy are getting along rather, well. Well, that isn’t true. He tried to kill her the other night. Had some notion to get the chip out. Pillock.” He paused. “Sorry. Forgot who I was referring to.”

There was a deep sigh on the other end. “I need your help. First though, I want you to come answer your door.”

A knock sounded. Giles shook his head and hung up.

“Come in, please.” He held it open for Spike, who was wearing his traditional black on black ensemble.

Carrying in his luggage, he put it in the corner by the couch. “I’ll only be staying for the next few days, long enough to take care of some business.” Smoothing his hands down his pants, he went to the kitchen to warm up the only bag of blood left in the freezer. He had left it there a couple of weeks ago, knowing he’d be back soon.

“What exactly are you doing this time, Spike?” Giles started to clean his glasses.

“I’m looking for the same bloke you are. The one that freaks when he’s around the Dagon Sphere. Am I right?” He raised his eyebrow. The microwave beeped and Spike grabbed a smiley cup from the cupboard. Opening it, he continued, “I think I’ll need your help, but first, I eat and then go see her.”

“I think she’s at home with Joyce. You can call and see if she’s up, if you want.” Giles placed the glasses back on the bridge of his nose and smiled. “It’s good to have you back.”

“Good to be back.” Throwing back his blood, he rinsed out his cup and left it in the sink.

“What did he wear today, do you know?” He walked to the suitcase, rummaging for something to change into.

“Same outfit, minus the red shirt. This one was a dark green—not wait, navy blue.”

Spike pulled said shirt out of the case. “Right. Be back in a while. Don’t wait up.”


Buffy sat on the porch looking out at nothing. The nights were so long, with all the things she had to think about. Her mom was sick; Spike was trying to kill her again. The last thought made her laugh. Well, things weren’t so bad. At least one thing remained constant.

Shaking her head, she stood up to stretch and then head inside. She heard a sound and turned back to the street. Spike, in all his glory, stood there, his head tilted just so. Great.

“What now? Want to some in and test the theory of the revocation of the invite?” She placed her hands on her hips.

“Hello, Buffy. Came to chat.” He smiled. A nice smile.

She rolled her eyes and sat back down on the stair. “I really don’t have time for this. What do you want?”

He walked, no, slinked over to her in a fluid motion. He looked at the stair next to her, maybe looking for an invitation to sit.

“I don’t think so. Do you not recall only days ago trying to kill me?” She gave him an incredulous look. “Go find someone else to bother.”

He sat anyway. “Do you like to piss me off? I mean, cause really. You are doing such a great job right now.” She looked away.

A cold hand turned her face to look at him. “I want to help you.”

She smiled. “Really? I know one way you can do it in the next few minutes, and God, that would be a great help.”

He was serious. “Something’s coming. Something bad. I want to help you. All you have to do is tell me I can, and I’ll take care of it for you.”

“You are Spike? Right?” She was getting wigged now. And when did his eyes get that blue?

“Listen, pet, I don’t have all the time in the world right now. I need an answer, right now-like.” He set his jaw and placed his hand on hers in her lap.

She didn’t even notice. “Okay, you can help.” She scooted toward him a little.

“Good. Now, I have to go, but you’ll see me soon. I promise.” He tilted his head to take her in, savoring the time spent with her. It had been so long since he’d touched her, felt her warmth. Leaning in to her, he looked at her lips. She had a blank face; he didn’t know what to do.

She leaned in for him and placed the smallest of kisses on his lips. Immediately, she pulled away, shaking herself out of the dream she’d put herself in. She mumbled something under her breath.

“What’s that love?” He leaned in again.

“I said I must be out my mind! I can’t” and in a whisper “kiss you!” She stood up, ready to head back inside. “I was thinking about someone else. Leave!” She walked up and grabbed the door.

He caught her, blocking it with his body. “Do you know what you do to me, Slayer?”

She shook her head slowly.

“You make me feel like I’m alive.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her thoroughly, something he hadn’t been able to do in a very, very long time. “I love you, and if I deny it later, you’ll know the truth.”

In a small voice she said, “But I love Riley.”

“No, you don’t but thanks for saying it. I’m in your blood, like you’re in mine. That’s why neither of us is dead right now.” He paused to pull her into a tight hug. “That’s why you’re not telling me to leave again. You need me, like you need air.”

He let her go, and she noticed a lonely teardrop slide down his cheek. “I’ll miss you every minute we’re apart.” With that, he walked away into the night, and she headed inside. Turning one more time, she saw him disappear and she actually cried.

For him, for them, for herself.

Chapter 10

The nest morning, Giles woke to the sleepy vampire watching T.V. and eating some cereal. In his cup of blood. Wrinkling his nose, he went into the kitchen and started the pot for some tea. Covering all the counters, there were diagrams, blueprints, and some address forms he wasn’t familiar with. ‘Spike?” he called, “What is all this?” He picked a few up to emphasize his question.

Without turning from the television, he answered. “They’re for the bloke we need to find. Seems he’s living somewhere else at the moment, but he should still be able to help us. Have my cousin’s hubby, you remember me talking about him? Well, he’s helping us look for the chap.” Getting up, he walked into the enclosed area of the kitchen and went to the sink to rinse his cup out.

“What exactly do we need to find this man for?” Getting his own cup out, he watched as Spike went back out of the kitchen and went back a forth from some things to another.

“We need him to save the world.”

“Oh.”

“I need someone with tinted windows or a truck to drive me up to Dutton. That’s where he’s at.”

Giles thought for a moment. “I think I can give you a ride. When would you like to leave?”

“As soon as you can throw on one of those smashing tweed suits you’re so fond of.” Spike turned around and smiled.

“Alright, I’ll be back in a moment.” Giles grumbled and went upstairs.


“This is the marvelous contraption you got to take us there?” Spike was amused. They were sitting in an old armored truck in fact, the same truck the Watchers Council used to kidnap Buffy, who was actually in Faith’s body.

“I thought if I covered the few areas where there may be sunlight so you’d be okay.” Giles started the engine and Spike’s laughter could be heard from behind him.


At Dutton, it was easy to find their quarry. All Spike had to do was find the geekiest looking group of people and ask questions.

Knocking on the dorm room door, they waited for the resident to answer. Instead they got a pretty brunette girl. “Hello! Are you looking for Warren?”

Spike smiled. It was the robot, April, the one that had thrown him out the window. “Yeah, ducks, we are. Is he in there?”

She smiled brightly to them, “No, I’m sorry you have just missed him. He needed to take a shower.”

“Great, we’ll find him then, thanks!” Spike grabbed Giles and headed down to the community showers.

Walking in the steam filled room, Spike searched all the rows until he came to the very last one. A very hairy Warren Meers stood at the shower and was washing his hair.

“Warren?” Spike asked.

“Y-yes?” He blinked through the soap and tried to cover himself.

“Just the bloke I was looking for. Say, can you finish, whatever it is you’re doing so we can talk to you?” Spike averted his eyes long before then, but didn’t want to spend any of his time looking at the nerd.

“Yeah, can you excuse me for a minute?” Warren quickly rinsed himself off and turned for his towel.

Spike and Giles waited by the only door. Warren came to them moments later, fully dressed. “What can I do for you…?”

“Name’s Spike. This is Rupert. Say, we need to talk about something you need to make for me.” Spike flashed his game face for only a moment, enough for Warren to shake his head yes in a numb answer. They walked to his room together.

When they came in, Spike brought in a case he had brought from Sunnydale. “Warren, my good man, you are being commissioned for a job.”

“And why would I take the job, besides the fact that you’re a vampire?”

“Because you’re going to save the world.”

Warren sat down on his bed next to April, who instantly grabbed his hand to give him comfort. “What do you need me to do?”

“I need a bot, a special one though. I need one of the Slayer.” At the blank look he got, he became impatient. “The Vampire Slayer? Are you daft?”

Warren smiled. “Do you need any ‘special’ additions to her?” He actually giggled.

“No.”

“Oh.” He looked sad.

“I need you to follow the specifications here in this case. I can give you two days. Can you have her done by then?” Spike closed the case and laid it back on it’s side.

“Oh, oh, yeah. I can have it ready in two days. Where can I find you?”

“I’ll be in touch. Thanks.” He turned to walk out, but then quickly turned back and threw a large wad of cash back at him. “Two days, Warren.”


Back in the armored truck, Spike sat in front because night had fallen in their search for the nerd. Giles, who had just basically been quiet since they got to Warren’s room, wanted some answers. “Did Earl find another spell that might work?”

“Yeah, he found a couple actually. One burned a rat all to hell and the other sent his dog to Mason City. Hell, the only reason we even knew that was because someone found it and called the number on the tag.” Spike lit a cigarette. “One thing that was funny though, he never did find out what happened to the pig he sent.”

“Just as well, I suppose. Do you the two of you get along well?”

“Seein’ as he’s from Iowa and I had never even seen so much farm before I got there, yeah. I do chores all the time, and he runs his experiments at trying to get me back.” He looked down.

“I can tell there’s something else. Would you mind telling me what it is?” Giles turned right down the county road to Sunnydale.

“Yeah. Well, uh, there was this thing that we found out during one of the hypnotic trances he put me into. The whole bloody thing was a temporal flux.”

At the blank look on Giles’ face he decided to explain. “Blue, the old god from the Well? Yeah, she died and her power burst forth and brought me here. Earl thinks that may be the reason I can’t get back.”

“Have you spoke to the Keeper of the Well about any of this?”

“Nah, Drogyn didn’t like me much. Thought I’d wait until after we get this gob sorted out, and then I’d head over to Merry Ole England. Know more then, I suppose.”

He sighed, looking down again at his hands. “Better I’m here anyway. At least now I can make a difference.”

Giles nodded. They spent the rest of the ride in silence.

Chapter 11

His plan set in motion, he went back to Buffy’s that night. Knocking on the door, he waited until Joyce came to the door. “Spike?” She said confused. She started to shut the door.

He held his hand up. “Joyce, wait, pet. It’s me. The other Spike. From the future?” He waited hoping she’d remember.

She stopped and looked at him. He looked like Spike well enough, so shrugged and let him in. He stood there waiting, she’d forgotten about the de-invite Willow had done on the house. “Sorry, where’s my manners? Please, come in Spike.”

He smiled and nodded his thanks. Hearing pounding footsteps upstairs, he turned to the lady of the house and held up a finger. “Be back in a moment, love.”

Clothes were being thrown in the hallway from Dawn’s room. He chuckled and took a deep breath, savoring the scent of the Bit, one he hadn’t smelled in so very long. Closing his eyes, he leaned back into the wall enjoying it—right until she punched him in the shoulder and gave a frightened yell.

Running back in her room, she started to shut her door and was stopped by his boot. “Now pet, is that any way to treat an old friend?” She looked at him, her brown eyes staring into his blue. Concentrating, maybe? He wasn’t sure.

“Spike! Why did you scare me? I wasn’t exactly expecting stalking guy to be right outside my bedroom! Can’t you give it a break for even a few minutes? I mean, eww!” She reached down and picked up more clothes to throw out.

He caught them and laid them down at his feet. “Can I come in?”

She turned her head to look at him a little closer, pausing during her cleaning spree. “Yeah, but she’s not in here you know!”

“Don’t care, came to see you, your majesty.” He sat down nonchalantly on her bed, kicking off his boots, one by one.

“Stink someone else’s room up, dorkwad. Put those back on!” She picked one up and threw it at him. It bounced off his shoulder and hit the poster hanging above her bed.

He laughed and picked it up. Sobering up a bit, he stood to his full height. “You shouldn’t mess with me, I’m the Big Bad.”

She laughed. “Big Bad my ass!”

From downstairs, Joyce yelled, “I heard that missy!”

She playfully punched him in the arm. “You’re gonna get me in trouble. Go bug someone else!”

“Alright pet, there’s need to get your knickers in a twist.”

He went back downstairs and went into the living room to find Joyce there on the couch. “Fancy a cuppa for a poor lad that’s lost his way?” He grinned and she did too, right before heading in the kitchen for some hot chocolate.


Buffy walked through the graveyard toward Spike’s crypt. A million thoughts were buzzing around her head, the most obvious being her kiss with Spike. He had been acting crazy lately, stalking around her house, trying to kill her. She hated him.

The only thing she couldn’t figure out was if she hated him so much, why did it feel so good to kiss him?

Shaking her head, she walked right up to his door and kicked it in.

“Son of a bitch! Slayer!” Spike was standing next to one of the two sarcophagi in there. Without a shirt on. With his pants hanging low on his hips. Drinking a cup blood. Eww.

“I want to talk to you, so you’d better just answer my questions, or it will be a dusty ending for Spikey!” She smiled brightly.

“Blah blah blah, she said. Sing me another tune, pet. You don’t even scare me anymore.” He smirked at her, rubbing his hand up and down his chest. He walked over to her and kicked over a piece of the door that had flown in his path. “Deal, pumpkin.” He planted his butt in his chair.

She growled and pulled him over the back of the chair onto his back. “I can’t even believe I put up with you! God!” Reaching in the back of her pants, she grabbed the stake and positioned it over his chest. “Give me one good reason not to!”

He reached up with his left hand and pulled her head down toward his. To his surprise, she didn’t pull back or struggle. In fact, she started kissing him, so being him, he went for it.


“Does Buffy know you’re here?” Joyce stirred her cup of coffee.

“Has no idea. I’d bet my whole wad of cash, she’s out patrolling, but I didn’t want to play the whipping boy. She been hankering to play ‘kick the Spike’ some more I’d guess!” After what I pulled, he thought to himself. He chuckled and took a drink of his cocoa.


She pulled back after what seemed like hours of kissing and stared straight into Spike’s eyes. “No, God. No!” She pulled herself out of his arms and wiped her mouth. “No, no, no, no, no!” Getting up she ran to the door.

Spike sat up, furious. “Bloody hell!” He threw a nearby piece of debris toward the door hole.


Walking in her front door minutes later, she quickly took off her coat and started to go upstairs. Halfway up, she heard laughing from the kitchen. Male, British laughing.

Chapter 12

“This is it! I told you to stay away from my family!”

That was all Spike heard before he was thrown out the back door and onto the deck. His head cracked on the wood and he shook it off. Buffy straddled his chest and started punching him in the face, repeatedly. He laid there and took it, just like before.

And just like before, when she was done, he croaked out, “You always hurt the ones you love, pet.”

Disgusted, she shoved herself off him and walked inside.

He got up slowly, brushing himself off. And then without a fight he headed to Giles’ apartment to recuperate.


The next morning, he was woken up to being slapped in his already bruised and blackened face. “Get up, Captain Peroxide! Rise and shine!” He opened what he could of an eye. Xander knelt in front of him, a goofy grin on his face.
“Giles wanted me to tell you that he needs you to finish whatever you started. I wanted to make sure you got that message before I left for work.”

Spike mumbled something and rolled over to face the couch.

“You’re welcome!” He got up to leave and yelled before he hit the door, “Why he always sides with the crazies—nah never mind.”

The door closed behind him. Spike fell back asleep.


Lunch wasn’t particularly sitting well with the Slayer. Musta been the tuna, she thought to herself. She headed down to the basement to switch around the laundry. Taking the clothes from the washer, she noticed when a little scrap of fabric fell to the floor. Part of Spike’s shirt laid on her big toe, and all she could do was look at it.

The dream last night had been bad enough, but not this too.

She had been near a crumbly tower somewhere in Sunnydale, when Tara had grabbed her and pulled her behind a dumpster. The witch shushed her and told her to watch as two wrinkly demons tied Dawn to a plank at the top. Trying not to scream, she saw Spike walk up and talk to her, and an old man follow him up. After a small struggle, the man stabbed him in the back, and Spike fell to what she presumed was his death, for she wasn’t sure.

That was when she woke up, shaking and crying. Deciding then and there she needed Giles’ help with this one, she vowed to get over there this afternoon.

Apparently, her slayer dreams were wanting to kill Spike, but she wanted to be sure before she saw him again.

Sighing, she grabbed the scrap off the floor and walked upstairs. As she went to the dining room to fold the load of clothes, she grabbed the phone to call Giles. No answer. She called the Magic Box.

“Thank you for calling the Magic Box. We value your patronage!” Came Anya’s voice.

“Hi, Anya. Is Giles there?”

“Yes, Buffy, he is. Giiilllleesss!” She boomed in a loud voice.

Clatter, and clang, the phone fell to the floor. She sighed and a rushed Giles answered. “H-h-hello? Buffy?”

“Yeah, hi. Do you have time to talk to me about a Slayer dream?” Good job of getting right to the point.

“Yes, but can it wait until later? I have to run out of town until this afternoon.”

“Um, yeah, sure.” Frowning, she hung up.



Giles went home shortly after to see him now-room mate just waking up.

“Hello, Rupert.” He winced and headed into the kitchen for some blood.

“What happened, Spike?” He went to look over his face.

“A real nasty Slayer decided to kick my ass for being in her kitchen with mum and little sis. That’s what.” Leaning into the fridge, he pulled out a bag. “Today’s the big day, you know. Lot’s of things to do.”

“What exactly are we going to do today?” Giles started sifting through the ever-growing pile on the table.

“We need to track down a medical student. Goes by the name of Ben. Gonna need the glowy ball for tommorow’s big finale too.”

“What exactly do we need this gentleman for?” Giles sat down.

“We need to kill him.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, why?”

“Because he’s the reason I lose my job, of protecting the girl until the ends of the Earth.” He smiled, taking a drink of the blood. “Was a promise I made to a lady.”

“Who?”

“Buffy.”

“Oh.”



The next morning, nurses rushed about, tending to the various emergencies that popped in as the day went on. Trauma was full, and who could have guessed, because after all, it was Sunnydale. The waiting room was full of police harboring some insane people, chained to the chairs they were sitting in.

Giles sat down in one of the chairs after being directed by the triage nurse. Grabbing a men’s health magazine, he slowly scanned over the articles, paying more careful attention to the door to the actual emergency room. Back there, he would find the person he was looking for.

Few people went in, a few came back out. A young dark haired man in blue scrubs walked out following a man of larger size and his family. The man was rambling, and it looked like the man in the scrubs was reassuring those taking care of him.

Giles took his chance then, heading for the would-be doctor. Catching him as soon as the others left, he quickly took him by the hand. “Say, excuse me, but I think you're the man I'm looking for.”

The younger man flashed a friendly smile. “Hi!” He was totally taken off guard. “Do I know you?”

“No, but I believe you know a friend of mine. Joyce Summers.” Rupert flashed him the most eager glance.

“Sure! What is it that you have for me?” He placed his hands on his hips.

“Well, I want to thank you for all the help you did with her the other day. Seems as though you took care of her here and I wanted to thank you so much for all you have done!” Giles knew he was laying it on a little thick, but apparently Spike was right, this boy was very kind and could be maneuvered easily.

“You’re welcome. It is kind of my job!” He started to turn back to the swinging door.

“Wait! I wanted to know if you want to come to supper tonight. We’re having it at my house, in your honor.” He paused, “Unless your schedule is too busy.”

“No, I think I can come, what time would you have it at? I won’t leave here until 7 p.m..”

Giles thought for a moment, already knowing the answer. “Not a problem, how about 7:30?”

The med student shook his head, “Great, when and where?”

He was given the information. “Thank you, Mr. Giles! See you tomorrow then!”

Giles gave a little wave, “It will be a pleasure having you, Ben.”