Chapter 11:
In The Know

Spike looked down at Lizzie. His face shifted back into his demon form and he bit into his wrist, tearing at the flesh. He held his bloody wrist over Lizzie’s mouth.

The dark red liquid flowed onto her lips and dripped off the side of her mouth.
Lizzie stirred restlessly then licked the blood away. It should have been gruesome for Willow and William to see, but they understood what Spike was trying to do.

Because he was her Sire, his blood could calm her; even heal her to a point. William had watched his brother do this for her a lot in the course of the last few years.

A sick feeling stirred inside William. He hated that his brother still had this power over her. It only reminded him that there was a part of Lizzie he would never have. Never understand. A part that always would belong to Spike.

Spike began to lower his wrist only to be stopped by Lizzie. She held his hand over her, accepting his blood but careful not to let Spike’s hand come in contact with her mouth. She took all that she could and then pushed his hand away, falling back into unconsciousness.

“Now care to tell me what the hell happened?” Spike asked, licking his wound closed.

“How did you know?” Willow asked innocently.

“Her demon. It was in pain. It called out to its mate.” William muttered.

“I was just sitting there when all of a sudden, I found myself running out of the mansion. I knew something had happened to her. I don’t even remembering shifting. One minute I was running the next I was here with her.” Spike whispered.

He began looking her over and paused when he came to the cut on her shoulder.

“What did this to her?” he asked.

“Um, it was a…a…I can’t pronounce it.” Willow wrung her hands nervously.

“Well why don’t you try, Red,” Spike said, losing what little patience he had.

“Right, it started out kind of like....Glar..”

“A Glarghk Guhl Kashma'nik demon?” Spike yelled.

“Yup, that was it.” Willow replied a bit too enthusiastically.

“This isn’t bloody Jeopardy, Red!” Spike spat.

Willow looked down embarrassed.

“Since you know what it is. What did it do to her?” William asked, trying not to act possessive of Lizzie.

“It must have got her with its venom. They’re nasty buggers. She’s gonna start to hallucinate after a bit. You need to go find it and kill it. Once it’s dead, its venom becomes an antidote,” Spike explained.

“And you know this how?” William asked accusingly.

“I’m the Master, William. I know all the demons on the Hellmouth. The Glarghk Guhl Kashma'nik nest was nearly wiped out, but a few remained. They’re a bit too feral for my taste,” Spike told him, staring down at Lizzie with concern.

“So you just let it roam free? What kind of irresponsible idiot are you?”

“Like I knew this would happen!” Spike yelled back.

“Don’t act like you care. If it wasn’t her, you wouldn’t have given a damn who that thing bit into,” William spat.

Spike glared at him. “You expect me to deny it? You’re right. I wouldn’t give a damn if the thing took out the bloody lot of you. But it hurt Lizzie. Now you have two choices here, brother dear. You can keep arguing with me and watch her die, or go find that thing out there and kill it so we can save her,” he snarled, looking down at Lizzie and stroking her cheek.

When William hesitated, he glowered at his twin. “Put it this way mate, how much longer do you think I’ll allow you to live if she dies?” Spike sneered.

William pulled out his stake. “I could just kill you now.” He took a step closer to Spike.

Lizzie suddenly shifted into demon form and moved onto Spike’s lap, facing William and snarling at him.

Spike smiled evilly. “She’s not all there, mate. Her demon has this nasty habit of taking over when she’s in too much pain. And it will die before it allows her mate to be taken. So you don’t really have a choice, do you?”

William backed off, lowering his stake with a look of resignation.

“Go find that thing. It’s probably gone back to its nest. If you take dog boy he should be able to sniff out his scent.” He repositioned Lizzie on his lap. Her face shifted back to its human form and she nuzzled against him. “Don’t take it personal, Will ol’ boy. It’s a Sire/Childe thing,” Spike taunted.

“I have a better idea; why don’t you come with me,” William said, arching one eyebrow as he twirled his stake

Spike shrugged his shoulders beginning to move away from Lizzie. She shrieked and clung to him.

“Sorry again, Willie. My being close to her lessens the pain. I could go with you if you really need me to hold your hand, but I don’t think Lizzie would like that,” Spike said smugly.

William tried not to react, knowing it was what Spike wanted.

“I’ll stay Will.” Willow said quietly.

William shook his head. “Not a good idea, Willow.”

“She should stay. Lizzie might need some help. If the hallucinations get too rough, Red might need to help me out,” Spike explained, staring down at Lizzie.

For a moment just a moment, he almost sounded like the old Spike; kind and caring with the perfect tinge of cockiness.

“Time’s a wasting, Will. Get going now. I’ll take care of her; like I always do when you screw up,” Spike spat, reverting back into his soulless self.

William walked out the door, his heartbreaking.

Willow glared at Spike. “You really are evil,” she hissed.

Spike cocked his eyebrow up. “Hello? Vampire.” He said, sarcastically.

Willow crossed her arms, mulling over a few harmless spells to throw in Spike’s direction. She watched as he looked down at Lizzie, kissing her forehead and rocking her back and forth as he hummed softly. She recognized it as one he had written for Lizzie long ago.

She could feel his love for Lizzie, and his pain at being parted from her. Willow blinked as she got a flash of something in her mind. She gasped, falling back against a wall.

Spike’s head snapped up.

“How?? I mean...How did I get in there?” Willow stammered, pointing to Spike’s head.

Spike closed his eyes. “Oh Bloody Hell.”

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Chapter 12

Between Sleep and Awake


Spike glared at Willow. “What gave you the right, Red!” He yelled. Lizzie whimpered in his arms.

“I didn’t mean to! Wait, you’re one to talk that’s how you know!” Willow argued.


“You went into her head too! You saw the same things I did.”

“That was different. She was under a thrall when she told me those things,” Spike defended himself.

“Right and being in a thrall is so much better than me accidentally going a bit overboard on my powers,” Willow said, rolling her eyes.

“Look I don’t have to...”

Lizzie cried out again.

Spike held her tightly in his arms pressing his cheek against hers. He closed his eyes. “You think you know her, don’t you? All of you think you know what broke her? Bloody idiots. She was never that delicate.” he said, looking down at her.

“Been through hell and back. Lost my Mum, lost me, then Joyce. You thought that’s what made her do it.”

“We thought it was that, and what she told us after,” Willow said quietly.

“What the part about her knowing I was the Slayer before I died, or about her being with my Mum the night she died?” Spike asked.

“You knew?” Willow asked shocked.

Spike rolled his eyes. “Of course I did, you daft bird! Like I said; she told me in her thrall. That, and I have been inside her mind so many times. Trying to help her…Trying to make her better, but she would never let me help. All those bloody pictures in her head,” he choked out.

Willow sat on the floor. “She didn’t tell me I didn’t know.”

Lizzie whimpered again. Opening her eyes, she smiled up at Spike. “Spike you’re here,” she whispered.

Spike smiled down at her, brushing the hair away from her flushed face. “Yes Luv, I’m here.”

“Where are we?” she asked, looking around in confusion.

“She’s hallucinating, Spike. Go along with it. It might help her stay calm,” Willow murmured, closing her eyes as she concentrated on the images on Lizzie’s mind.

Spike gave her an Eskimo kiss. “We’re in your room, luv,” he said, using his thrall to soothe her.

“Of course,” Lizzie answered, accepting his words to be truth. “Is Dawnie downstairs?”

Spike nodded. “Reading. You’re Mum is resting in her room,” Spike lied.

Lizzie nodded. She smiled resting her head on Spike’s chest. “So what do you think?” she asked.

“What do I think of what, luv?”

“Tara,” Lizzie giggled.

Spike shut his eyes tightly, a look of intense pain on his face. “Can you pull her out?” he begged.


Willow concentrated. “I...I can try, but I think she is going to want to play out the memory,” she explained.

Spike nodded and sighed heavily. “All right then.”

FLASHBACK
_________________________________________________________________

Lizzie lay in Spike’s arms. It was a quiet day. The sun was shining brightly through the window and illuminated her room with a golden glow.

Spike kissed the top of Lizzie’s head. “Morning, luv,” he whispered.

She smiled, snuggling into his arms. “What time did you get here?”

“A few hours ago. You were pretty out of it. Still kicking that flu?”

Lizzie nodded. “I think I will be o.k. I hate missing school,” she said, trying to keep a straight face.

Spike laughed. “Right! You hate missing school about as much as I do.”

Lizzie sighed. “It’s just hard. Everyone keeps talking about getting into college. What they want to be when they grow up. I feel like a fish out of water.”

“Why is that, luv?” he asked. He rolled her onto her back and leaned over her, his eyes filled with all the love he felt for her.

She shrugged her shoulders, a tiny frown between her eyes. “Just don’t think I will be doctor or a lawyer. I don’t know it just doesn’t seem like me,” Lizzie said.

Spike hugged her tightly and tried to kiss away her frown. “How about wife of famous rock musician?” he teased.

Lizzie laughed. “Now that I can do.”

Spike closed his eyes. He knew that would never happen either. Damn Slayer calling...

But here with Lizzie he could dream...

“We could tour city to city. Go to Europe. I would take you to England. Marry you in that garden I keep talking about,” Spike said softly.

“Mrs. Spike Giles,” Lizzie said with a dreamy sigh.

“Then we would take the world by storm. Well, at least until the kids came along.”

Lizzie looked into his eyes. “You want to have kids with me?” she asked, her voice choked with emotion.

Spike kissed her on the lips lightly. “Of course I do, luv. I want a daughter first. I want her to look just like you; petite and perfect.”

“But with your eyes.” Lizzie insisted.

Spike kissed her again. They snuggled closer as they dreamed out loud.

“What will we name her?” He asked.

“I like the name Tara. Always have,” Lizzie said.

“Tara it is then...Tara Elizabeth Giles.” Spike announced, liking the way the name rolled off his tongue.

“Elizabeth?” Lizzie made a cute face.

“Why not? Blokes are always naming their sons after them. I want our daughter to be named after her mother.” Spike said. It made perfect sense to him.

“Tara Elizabeth Giles.” Lizzie said her smile incandescent.

***

Three weeks later Lizzie was sitting in the bathtub, the warm water cooling around her.

Spike was dead. She never got the chance to tell him. She had wanted to that night, but she fell asleep. If only she had stayed awake. If only he had known; he would have never gone out. But now it was too late.

She rubbed her stomach. She thought about telling Giles at the memorial service. About telling William the day before, but it seemed wrong.

Spike should have known first. He should have known he was going to be a father...

Lizzie stood up to get out of her bath. She was reaching for her towel when she suddenly felt a cramp in her side. She grabbed the sides of the tub until her knuckles turned white. No. No. This wasn’t happening. Taking a deep breath, she tried to stand again.

“Oh No. God…NOOO!” she wailed, watching the blood pour down her legs.

She watched as the blood dripped down her legs.

End of Flashback
_________________________________________________________________

“She lost it.” Willow said, snapping out of Lizzie’s mind.

Spike nodded slowly, his hands incredibly gentle on Lizzie’s hair. “Felt like she let everyone down. She didn‘t. Most of all she felt like she didn’t protect our baby. That somehow it was her fault. Thought if she had been stronger it wouldn’t have happened. Silly girl. She is the strongest girl I have ever met beside my Mum,” he whispered.

He looked over at Willow. “She tried to kill herself for all the reasons you thought she had. But this was the thing she that haunted her. After her Mum died and that bitch told her she was a danger to Dawn, she convinced herself that was why it happened. That she was dangerous and that she let my Mum down. That’s why she did it in the bloody bathroom. She wanted to die in the same place she lost our...” Spike’s voice faltered as he cried.

“Oh God, Spike,” Willow whispered. “I’m so sorry. So very, very sorry.”

Just then William and Oz ran in with a vial. “We got it,” Oz announced.

Spike moved off the sarcophagus and allowed William to take Lizzie in his arms.

He quickly poured the sticky substance down her throat. Lizzie went limp and her body temperature dropped rapidly to what was normal to her. His arms tightened around her as she slipped into a healing sleep. “Is she going to be all right?” he asked.

He turned to Spike, but he was gone.

Willow touched Lizzie’s face, her eyes misted with tears. “She’s going to be fine.”

Chapter 13:
To See You Again

Spike leaned on the rail in the upper level of The Bronze. It was easy pickings because the crowd that went there now did not know him. Most of the kids that did had long ago left Sunnydale for greener pastures. The ones that did remember him, he just put in a thrall and they would forget he was even there.

The place looked a bit different. He had been told that it had to be remodeled a few times because of the rowdiness of the crowd but Spike knew it had to be because of Vamp activity.

He skimmed the room looking for both potential victims as well as wandering fledglings trying to make sense of their new undead lives.

Many women approach him flirting trying to draw him into a seduction. Spike would scoff at their attempts. They were nothing. None of them were. He had stopped feeding on women. Quite simply he took no joy in the game anymore.

They all looked so hopeful, but he knew better. They all paled in comparison to his mate.

He closed his eyes for a moment thinking of Lizzie. The night she had almost died, Willow had entered his mind to tell him Lizzie was fine. “Damn sentimental witch,” he’d muttered to himself.

He told her to bugger off and growled at her in his mind. Willow had not tried to connect with him again after that.

“Hello, handsome.”

Spike heard the voice behind him. He took a swig of his beer and continued to look forward; ignoring her.

The tiny blonde sauntered closer to him leaning against the rail facing him. “Buy a girl a drink?” she drawled.

Spike looked at her from the corner of his eye. From that angle she almost looked like Lizzie.

He was about to comment when he drew in her scent. Damn vampire senses. Even if he wanted to, he couldn’t pretend she was Lizzie. Her foreign scent filled his nostrils screaming at him letting him know she was nothing but an imposter.

“Don’t think so, ducks,” he muttered, trying to will the memory of Lizzie in his arms out of his mind.

She laid a hand on his arm, playing with the cuff of his duster. “Come on let’s have a bit of fun,” she pleaded. He was the hottest thing she had seen tonight and she wanted him badly.

Spike was enraged that she had dared to touch him. He took her in his arms and smiled wickedly.

The girls smiled at him then let out a horrified gasp as his face shifted.

“All right then, let’s have us some fun,” he snarled.

***

Lizzie knew the gang was just trying to show her that they truly felt she belonged.
William had to go to L.A. again with his father to retrieve something that would help them decipher the scroll. He had begged Lizzie to join them, but she refused, stating she wanted to be close to Dawn, who was staying with a friend.

Things were tense in The Hellmouth. Word had been spread by minions who had come up from L.A. that the Slayer had the scroll. They seemed to watch his every move now. They had to be very careful about being seen together.

Lizzie stayed to herself most nights. She would patrol with Will or they would sit in her crypt and talk. She almost felt like a prisoner, but she understood things had to be this way until they could figure out what the scroll said.

The Scoobies had convinced her to come to The Bronze for a few hours just to break her from her isolation. At first she refused but their tireless effort made her finally cave. It was actually fun until they started talking about college life and classes.

Lizzie suddenly remembered how she felt before when she was alive. She knew she was different even back then. It reminded her of how different she was now.

“Let’s get out there and get our boogie on!” Xander said, exuberantly. Willow, Oz, and Anya jumped up and started for the dance floor. They all turned at Lizzie who just smiled.

“I think I will sit this one out,” she announced.

“Come on Lizzie.” Willow pleaded.

“No, really. I’m good. You guys have fun.”

They were soon on the dance floor, jumping about madly. Lizzie laughed at her friends for a while, but her smile faded as she again thought of how different they were from her.

She got up and made her way up to the balcony, careful to keep to the shadows. She saw Spike come up the other side. He was wiping his mouth off. The smell of fresh blood was pungent in the air.

She knew he had just fed.

She found herself hiding from his view, knowing it was foolish. He would feel her, just as she felt him.

Spike reached the landing and stood there. He sniffed the air. “Damn,” he muttered. She was here. Her scent was everywhere, torturing yet comforting him at the same time. What was she doing at the Bronze? Spike looked down at the crowd and saw the scoobies dancing, but no sign of Lizzie.

He knew she was close. He could feel her. Smell her. Taste her.

“You see…” Her voice was intoxicating. Like a melody in the air teasing his senses. Spike tightened his grip on the rail.

“I try to be with them, but I always end up in the dark…” she murmured, wrapping her arms around him from behind. Spike, helpless against her, merely lifted his arms to accept her embrace.

“With you,” she finished.

He felt the familiar softness of her hands as the kneaded the flesh of his back. Spike hung his head. “Don’t…” he gritted out through clenched teeth.

She ignored him, her hands slipping around and running up and down the hard muscles in his thighs. “Stop me,” she whispered, filled with reckless desire as she touched him.

He spun around and grabbed her hands, his eyes wild with pain and longing. “You know we can’t do this, Lizzie.” Spike insisted.

Tears pricked at her eyes as she stared up at him, feeling his mixed emotions of agony and joy at her presence. Seeing the misery in his eyes, she was instantly contrite. “I know.”

The music went from a hard, driving beat to slow and sensual. Lizzie stepped closer and palmed his face lovingly. Spike rubbed his face against her hand and kissed her palm tenderly before allowing her to slip her arms around his waist.

The song filled the air.

“I have a smile
Stretched from ear to ear
To see you walking down the road
We meet at the lights
I stare for a while
The world around disappears”

Lizzie began to sway in his arms. She buried her face in his chest, purring contentedly.

“Just you and me
On this island of hope
A breath between us could be miles
Let me surround you
My sea to your shore
Let me be the calm you seek”

Spike closed his eyes allowing himself to forget everything, if only for a moment. All he allowed himself to think about was how wonderful it felt to have her in his arms again.

“Oh and every time I’m close to you
There’s too much I can’t say
And you just walk away”

Lizzie stared up at him, pain and regret filling her eyes.

“And I forgot
To tell you
I love you
And the night’s
Too long
And cold here
Without you
I grieve in my condition
For I cannot find the strength to say I need you so.”

Spike stroked her cheek, holding her tightly as they moved to the beat of the music.

“Oh and every time I’m close to you
There’s too much I can’t say
And you just walk away”

She closed her eyes, tears sliding down her cheeks as he brushed his thumb over her lips. She began to tremble.

“And I forgot
To tell you
I love you
And the night’s
Too long
And cold here
Without you
I grieve in my condition
For I cannot find the strength to say I need you so.”

He was leaning down to kiss her when they heard the sudden screams from down below. Spike had not taken the time to dispose of the tiny blonde that irritated him and her body had been discovered.

Lizzie looked down as she saw the Scoobies running in the direction of the screams. Lizzie turned to look at Spike. She knew he had something to do with it.

Spike stood there defiantly as if he was making a statement. He was reiterating his heartbreaking point. They could not be together.

“LIZZIE!” Willow yelled.

Lizzie turned, looking for Willow. When she spotted her, she quickly turned back to look at Spike. They stood staring at each other for a long, heartbreaking moment.

Both turned from the other at the same time and headed in opposite directions.

Away from each other...

Author’s Note: The song is ‘I Love You’ by Sarah McLaughlin. My wonderful beta encouraged me to mention it, saying it creates a Kleenex effect when you read the chapter LOL Thank you Tami!
 

Chapter 14:
Torn In Half

William made his way up to his room. He and his father had taken turns driving back from Los Angeles, but he was still exhausted.

Giles was able to obtain a spell that with Willow’s help should decipher the text. Both men were nervous about leaving Dawn alone on the Hellmouth. They knew Lizzie was close by, but they worried about her as well.

Dawn was asleep in her room while Willow and Oz were curled up on the couch. They noticed several crosses were put up as well as two to three vials of holy water within arms reach. Willow explained to them that a girl was found outside of the Bronze. She looked as if she had been mauled by a wild animal, her throat ripped out. Both men knew it had to have been a vampire.

Rupert noticed a magical barrier had even been put up in front of Dawn’s door.

Once the night’s events were explained, the young couple left.

After looking in on Dawn, William made his way to his room. A familiar tingling sensation crept up his neck. Pulling out a stake, he swung open his door.

William dropped his stake on the dresser. Lizzie was curled up in a ball in the corner, sobbing uncontrollably. The moonlight filtering through the window cast a silvery glow over her tear-stained face. She looked much like she had when he would find her out wandering around; muddy, confused, her night gown torn. She was whimpering softly.

He closed his door, making sure his father couldn’t hear her distress. “Lizzie.”

Lizzie’s head shot up and she stared at him wildly. “Don’t look at me,” she wailed.
William crossed the room, sinking to the floor in front of her. “What is it, luv?” He asked softly. She whimpered again as he lovingly wiped the tears from her eyes.

“I..It was…hi..him,” she sobbed.

William took a deep breath. Spike. He must have killed the girl.

Lizzie hung her head. “Please don’t tell me it’s going to be all right, because none of it is.”

When he reached out for her, she cringed farther into the corner. “I know he’s evil. I know he’s a soulless killer. I understand. But, Will, when I’m with him, all I see is him. I see Spike.”

William took her hand in his.

“He killed her. I know he did and it sickens me. I try to stay away from him but I can’t. He’s in me, Will. He’s in my blood.”

William tried not to feel hurt, but it was hard. The old familiar feelings of inadequacy washed over him. Once again he had come up second best.

Lizzie reached out and touched his face as if she could sense his inner torment.

“It’s not only about him. I feel like I’m being torn in half. I love you, William. So much. You’ve always been there for me; loving me, taking care of me, making me understand it was okay to be me. You never judged me or expected anything from me. You gave me back my heart.” Lizzie said softly.

William felt tears sting his eyes. She loved him. He knew that now. Even in the midst of her confusion, he could feel her love for him.

“I know it’s selfish. I know this doesn’t make sense. How could I pledge love and devotion to both of you? But that’s how I feel. I’ve always known I belonged to the two of you. From the day we met.” Lizzie said, desperate to make him understand.

He nodded, smiling down at her before he kissed the top of her head, silently telling her it was all right to continue.

“I was so stupid.” Lizzie muttered. She drew her legs up against her chest, curling herself into a protective ball. “I thought I would never have to choose between the two of you; that it was all right somehow to feel the way I did. And now look at us. At all of us. Everything is so screwed up.”

“What do you mean?” William asked.

“I saw him there. I smelled the blood in the air. I knew he had just fed, but it didn’t matter to me, Will. I could feel how lonely and cold and empty he felt. I felt the same way. I just wanted to feel him.” Lizzie said.

“Was it the claim?” William asked.

“Partly. But mostly because I love him.” she whispered. “I should go.”

“No, you should stay here,” he insisted.

“Will, why do you keep letting me do this to you? It’s not fair! I’m so divided and I know I’ll keep flip-flopping back and forth between the two of you. You deserve so much more than this,” she said bitterly as she hugged her knees.

William smiled and took her small hands in his. “Do you know why I keep letting you hurt me, Lizzie?” He asked.

Lizzie looked at him with tear-filled eyes.

“No more be grieved at that which thou hast done; Roses have thorns, and silver fountains mud” William whispered. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

“Lizzie, forgiveness between us doesn’t have a time stamp. That’s what makes us different. That’s the one thing we have. I know the rest of it is a mess and yes, it hurts to hear you say those things about my brother, but it would hurt even more if you didn’t. It would hurt more if I didn’t know you have the strength to tell me these things because you trust me so much. Because of that I know you love me. That’s enough for me. That’s why.” William said.

He took her in his arms and rocked her back and forth as she cried. When she had calmed down somewhat, he rose to his feet and carried her to his bed. Lying down beside her he pulled the covers up over them and gathered her in his arms. “Just let me hold you,” he whispered.

**

A little while later William watched her sleep. He loved to watch her sleep.

He walked over to the window, preparing to shut the thick black curtains.

Something in the shadows made him pause. A small amber light moved in the darkness, glowing brighter for a split second before being lowered.

William stood there staring at it for a moment. He knew it was Spike. Knew that it was his twin out there under the tree keeping silent watch over his mate.

Closing the drapes, he went back to the bed and tucked the covers around Lizzie before kissing her lightly on the forehead. After one last look at her peacefully sleeping face, he moved to the dresser and picked up the stake he had discarded earlier.

Twirling the sharpened wood expertly, he quietly left the room. With a look of grim determination he uttered something under his breath.

“This ends tonight…”
 

Chapter 15:

Sibling Rivalry

William walked quickly through the cemetery. “Spike, come out. I know you’re here,” he yelled.

He heard a rustling in the trees and moved toward them. Suddenly he ducked.
Spike smashed into a tree. Leaping to his feet, he smiled cockily. “You’re getting better, little brother,” he sneered.

“What can I say? I have a great sparring partner now,” William taunted, making an obvious referral to Lizzie.

Spike covered his undead heart with his hand dramatically. “Ouch! I must say brother, venom looks good you,” he snarled, taking a swing and his brother and connecting.

William rolled with the punch and flipped over, hitting Spike across the chest.

“You’re nothing but a bloody coward Spike,” he spat out.

They traded a series of blows, neither gaining the upper hand.

“This coming from the little nancy boy ponce,” Spike said, hitting his brother in the nose.

William grabbed Spike by his jacket. “You can’t have her, but you won’t let her go,” William panted.

Spike pushed his brother off him. “You should be throwin’ a ticker-tape parade, Will. You finally get what you always wanted: Lizzie to yourself. You don’t have to whimper in the corner anymore, sneaking looks at her, and wishing you were me. You got everything now. I thought you would be ecstatic,” Spike hissed bitterly.
William circled his brother.

“Maybe it’s too much for you, eh? ‘Cause you know you do a piss poor job of caring for her. Every time she’s left in your care something tragic happens. Tries to take her own life, gets bitten by a demon. Couldn’t even pull a sword out of her with all your Slayer glory.” Spike smirked.

Enraged, William ran toward his brother, his stake in his hand.

Spike easily knocked it out of his hand. “Tsk, tsk Willie. Did you forget your bastard father’s teachings? Let me refresh your memory. Lesson the first: a Slayer must always reach for their weapon.” His face shifted as he let his demon come forth. “I've already got mine.”

William stared at his brother, raising his fists, a look of scorn on his face as he gained control of his temper. “This isn’t about me or any of your soddin’ dancing references, Spike. This is about Lizzie. How could you profess your undying love to her and then cause her so much pain? You were always a selfish prick, Spike. You never cared about anyone but yourself. Now, because it’s inconvenient that Lizzie has a soul, you chuck her away like yesterdays news?”

Spike let out a howl filled with rage and ran at him full speed, knocking him to the ground and hitting him with all his might.

William rolled Spike over, his hands tightening around his throat. “Truth hurt?” he said, egging Spike on.

“She’s the only thing that ever mattered to me. Don’t you ever question that again, or I will kill you all!” Spike growled savagely.

William held him tightly, struggling to control his breathing. “So, what? You torture her night after night until…What, Spike? She loses her mind and becomes Princess Buffy again? You would love that wouldn’t you?” William snarled.

Spike managed to free one arm and hit his brother, sending him flying. “You are this close to pissing me off, brother dear.”

William hopped to his feet and flew through the air, his foot connecting with Spike’s chin. “Guess what, Spike? You’re already there.”

The continued their attacks, both of them getting bloodier by the minute. Suddenly Spike pulled away.

“You’re afraid without me looking over you’re shoulder, something will happen to her, aren’t you?” he commented.

“You’re daft.”

“That’s it, innit?” Spike said, laughing.

William began to shake. He stepped back, lowering his fists. “You’re right. I’m afraid,” he admitted, hating the slight waver in his voice.

Spike relaxed also, wiping the blood off his chin and he stared at his brother.

“I’m afraid because she is in so much pain,” William continued, his eyes unseeing as he stared out over the cemetery.

Spike spun around, unable to look at him. “You don’t think I know that?” He bellowed. “You don’t think I could feel it? Every move she makes, I feel.” He pounded himself in the chest with his fist.

“I feel when she in pain. I feel when she laughs or when she’s sad. I feel when she is afraid. I feel when she needs me. And you don’t think it kills me not to come?”

“Then why?” William pleaded. “Why are you doing this to her?”

“Are you very stoned?” Spike asked, rolling his eyes and laughing bitterly. “Did you not hear a bloody word I said? I said I feel everything she feels. I feel the struggle in her. Wanting to be good but doubting if she can be. If I was around, she would turn cold. She would become like she was before. I couldn’t bear it. Not again,” he muttered, hanging his head.

William crossed his arms. “Then do it Spike,” he challenged.

Spike looked at him confused.

“Claim another. Let her go. End this tonight.”

Spike began to laugh once more. “You think it’s that easy? Even if I wanted to, I can’t. Our claim is eternal. We loved each other before death. We claimed each other in love after death. It’s binding. We can’t break it. The only way it ends is when one of us is dust,” he explained.

“And if you could?” William asked, working his hand around the stake he held.

Spike glared at his brother. “Not on your bloody life.”

William let out a cry and launched himself at his brother, pinning him to the ground once more. He pressed his stake down into Spike’s chest, his hand trembling.

“Come on, brother. You know you want to.” Spike pushed upwards, driving the stake into his flesh. Blood spilled, scenting the night.

William drove his fist into Spike’s jaw instead of slamming the stake home. He got to his feet and stood over him, his face expressionless. “You are truly pathetic.”

Spike sat back on his heels. “So, what now? Gonna run back to Lizzie and tell her how the Big Bad cut up that pretty face of yours?”

William shook his head and lifted his chin proudly. “No, I go back to Lizzie because she needs me. That’s what you do when you truly love someone. You stay…No matter what.” He turned and walked away, never once looking back.

He didn’t see his brother sitting on the ground, sobbing.

Slowly, wearily, Spike gathered himself up and walked back to the mansion.

Chapter 16:
Apocalypse

Spike stood there with Lizzie in his arms. He smiled, allowing their love to envelope him. “Tell me again,” he whispered.

She looked up into his eyes. “So greedy all of a sudden,” she teased.

He touched her cheek then kissed her lightly. “I just need to hear it.”

Her eyes softened as she laid her hand over his heart. “I love you,” she sighed as he kissed her once more.

Suddenly, Spike felt the earth rumble around him, unsure if it was the effect of being in her arms again or an actual earthquake. The earth shook harder under his feet and they were pulled away from each other.

Spike looked up as an angry blast of fire shot up from the earth behind her.

She turned, watching in horror as more tongues of fire spurted out of the ever growing chasm.

From out of the fiery pit a large demon emerged. He reached out and grabbed Lizzie by her throat.

“LIZZIE!” Spike screamed.

He watched helplessly as the demon broke her neck with a simple flick of his wrist and plunged its hand into her chest. Lizzie’s eyes flew wide before she evaporated into dust.

“NO!!!”

Spike shot up in his bed shaking.

It was just a dream. He concentrated, trying to calming himself. He had to be strong. If he gave in to his panic, Lizzie would feel it.

***

Across town at the exact same moment that Spike had bolted up from his slumber, William did as well.

His nightmare still lingered in his mind. It started nice enough, Lizzie telling him that she loved him. Kisses. Then before he knew it, he was knocked to the ground as a demon emerged for a fiery pit. Lizzie was in the hands of a demon, hanging helplessly in the air, while he could do nothing but watch it destroy her.

He turned and saw Lizzie still asleep. She frowned and stirred a little, then settled back down.

William tried not to let it affect him, but to him, it wasn’t just a nightmare. He’d had these dreams before. He knew without a doubt that it was prophetic.
William lay back and drew Lizzie tightly against him. He kissed her head and closed his eyes. “It won’t happen,” he whispered. “I won’t allow it.”

**

The next night Lizzie and William sat in the Giles living room with the rest of The Scoobies. Willow and Rupert were hunched over the scroll.

“What’s the verdict?” Xander asked.

Willow and Rupert exchanged a look.

“It’s still not completely deciphered. When we thought it foretold the return of The Master we were mistaken. It was not taking about The Master of The Hellmouth. From what we can gather, it tells of the rising of Eligor, a demon who was the bringer of war, poisoners, pariahs, grand obscenity, and also the wretched Master of the Apocalypse. That is what it meant. The Master of the Apocalypse. Leader of the Damned,” Rupert said, cleaning off his glasses.

“Helluva a title,” Lizzie commented.

Willow turned and faced Lizzie. “Also the bringer of the end of all that is good and righteous,” she whispered.

Everyone is the room sat silent.

“Which always translates into the end of The Slayer,” Dawn finally said what they were all thinking, her eyes brimming with tears.

William reached out for her and she ran into his arms. “Come on Bit, it will take a lot more than one demon to take me out,” he teased gently. He reached out for Lizzie and she took his hand.

He looked at his father. “So how do I kill it?” he asked.

“That’s the problem, son. We don’t know how. It states nothing of this earth can defeat Eligor,” Rupert said.

“You said the scroll wasn’t fully deciphered,” Lizzie interjected.

“Right. We’re still working on it,” Willow said, looking down at it.

Rupert was staring at William. Lizzie saw the look in his eyes. “You’re holding something back. What is it?” she demanded.

Rupert looked down, unable to meet her eyes.

“Da, what is it?” William asked.

He released a heavy sigh. “It tells how Eligor was able to ascend from his hell dimension. Eligor was worshipped by The Order or Aurelius.” He continued to look down. “The Order or Aurelius is a sect of vampires who are descendents of the twelfth century prophet, Aurelius. His prophecies included the coming of to Eligor to help them defeat the Slayer. “It was foretold, a member of the line of the Order would open the portal and allow him through.” Rupert said.

Lizzie closed her eyes. “Me, it was me,” she whispered.

William looked at his father, confused when he said nothing to negate Lizzie’s deduction.

“Darla, Spike’s Sire, was in the Order wasn’t she? Because Spike turned me, I am part of the Line. That’s what you didn’t want to tell us,” she said.

Rupert crossed his arms. It hadn’t taken much for Rupert to discover these facts about her. Darla was a very powerful vampire, favored by many of demons and vampires alike. The fact that Spike killed her so easily was still a mystery to most. She was a member of the Order as Lizzie had deduced, and of The Line.

William stared at his father. “Da, that’s a bit farfetched don’t you think?” he asked, trying to not sound as though he was pleading with his father. He could see the despair in Lizzie’s eyes.

“No, it makes sense. Giles said I was rejected in the hell dimension because of my soul. When I was sent back, I opened the portal. That’s how Spike got out too. And now...now the world is going to end because of me.”

William knelt in front of Lizzie. “This isn’t your fault.” He insisted.

“How can you say that?” she demanded.

“Da, this is not doing any of us any good,” William said, turning back and facing his father.

The whole room began to talk at once.

“WAIT!” Dawn screamed. The room turned to face her. “Where’s Lizzie?” She cried.

William scanned the room.

Lizzie had disappeared
 

Chapter 17

Duty Calls

Lizzie walked back to her crypt, a million thoughts plaguing her mind. She wondered how she ended up here? How she gone from Elizabeth Summers; happy teenage girl in love with the most beautiful man she had ever met to this…A vampire with a soul torn between two loves.

More importantly; the bringer of the latest apocalypse.

She sat down closing her eyes, taking in the scent of the night. She smiled softly.

“Hello, Spike.”

Spike took a step into the moonlight. “I wasn’t spying or anything. I was feeling a bit peckish and looking for someone to eat,” Spike announced, kicking the dust at his feet much like a child with his hand caught in the cookie jar.

“Yeah, you’re gonna get real far looking in a cemetery,” Lizzie chuckled.

Spike came and sat next to her, smiling. “Always had my number didn’t you Luv?” He teased.

Lizzie looked up at him, her eyes serious. “And you always had mine.”

Their eyes locked for a moment. They inched closer, leaning in for a kiss like it was the most natural thing in the world to do. But then they did what felt most unnatural and pulled away from each other. They looked up at the stars to avoid looking at each other..

“Do you ever wonder what it would be like for us if this hadn’t happened?” Lizzie asked, her eyes tracing the line of the Big Dipper.

Spike said nothing. He watched as Lizzie got a far away look in her eyes. It reminded him too much of earlier times when she was so lost. He should not have come.

“She would have been walking by now,” Lizzie said softly.

Spike gasped the closed his eyes. He thought of the life they could have had with the child Lizzie was so convinced would have been a girl. He thought of what kind of a father he would have been. He could almost feel the tiny phantom replica of the women he loved in his arms.

“Don’t do this, luv,” he pleaded.

“If I had been stronger…If I had been more careful...” Lizzie said, shaking her head.

He grabbed her shoulders and turned her to face him. “Dammit, stop! It’s not your fault. None of this is. It’s mine and that stupid Slayer destiny,” Spike spat out.

Lizzie touched his face. “How is it you are still so angry about that?”

“How is it you still feel so guilty about everything?” Spike gently challenged.
“Touché, Randolph,” she teased.

They smiled at each other then turned away, suddenly uncomfortable.

“You felt me didn’t you?”

Spike nodded. “I wasn’t trying to, but I felt your despair. I couldn’t not come. Beautiful damsel in distress. You know, duty calls and all that rubbish,” he quipped.

Lizzie put her head on his shoulder. He tried not to show his reaction to her but failed. She needed him tonight and he knew it.

“What’s got you in such a tizzy tonight?” he asked, concerned.

“Everything. Nothing. It’s hard to explain.” Lizzie said, closing her eyes.

“Lizzie...”

“I know. I love you, too, Spike.” She got to her feet and looked down at him.

Moving his hands from his knees, she sat down sideways on his lap, resting her head on his shoulder. It was so achingly familiar that Spike could only close his eyes and hold her to him.

“I’m trying to stay away. I really am. I keep telling myself it’s for the best, but I’ve never been much of a thinker. Even when I was alive, I always followed my blood; which didn’t necessarily flow in the direction of my brain,” Spike smirked.

Lizzie laughed. “You forget I was there.”

Spike held her chin and stared into her eyes. “Would never forget that, Lizzie. I don’t think I truly existed until I walked out on that porch that day and laid eyes on you,” he confessed.

“Everything is spinning out of control. I don’t know how much time we have left,” she whispered.

“What do you mean, luv?”

“There is this scroll. Giles is trying to figure it out. Apparently we are part of some ancient line that is supposed to bring the Apocalypse forth.” Lizzie said.

Spike began to shake. He thought of his dream. Of Lizzie dying in front of him. He spun her around in his arms and kissed her in desperation.

“Nothing will happen to you, do you hear me?” he growled.

She bit her lip knowing that he was just trying to reassure her. She knew better than that, though. Being the bringer of an Apocalypse never ended well for the deliverer. She knew there was not much time. She knew she was being selfish, but it didn’t matter. If they were going to meet their end because of some damned prophecy, he had to know. She had to show him how much she truly loved him.
She rose to her feet once more and took his hands in hers, pulling him to stand before her.

“Lizzie…”

“Don’t, Spike. Don’t think. Take me to our bed. Just this once, let me feel what we had before,” Lizzie pleaded.

It was a short walk to the mansion and no words passed between them, but both were aware of the anticipation and blinding need that sang through their blood.
Lizzie had to smile when he led her into their old bedroom. The memories were still here, the bitter as well as the sweet. She pushed them all out of her mind, determined not to let anything spoil what might be their last time. Her hands shook slightly as she began undoing the buttons on her top.

Spike stepped forward. "No. Let me." His hands trembled as he took over, sliding the clothes from her; kissing each bit of skin as it was revealed to him. With unerring accuracy his lips found his mark on her neck and he growled as he licked and sucked at it.

She arched against him, a ragged sigh escaping her. She tore at his clothes, desperate to feel his cool skin sliding against hers. At last the final barrier was gone and she pushed him down on the bed, moving to straddle his body with cat-like grace.

“I love you, Spike,” she whispered as she worshipped him with her mouth; wet sliding kisses as she worked her way across his chest and down the sculpted muscles of his abdomen. He moaned hoarsely, bucking his hips upward as he felt her cool, moist mouth envelope his penis. She used all the skills he had so patiently taught her to drive him insane with need. Long, slow sucks on the tip, teasing nibbles on the thick shaft, one small hand cupping and massaging his sac while the other wrapped around the base and pumped with a slow twisting motion.

Spike felt his sac tighten and fisted his hands in her hair, roaring as he came.
Lizzie held him tightly when he tried to pull out, her throat working to swallow each burst of his seed. She stared up at him with lust filled eyes as he collapsed back onto the bed and leisurely cleaned him with her tongue before crawling back up to lay at his side. They kissed; a clash of lips and tongues flavored with the salt of his spending and the tears she couldn’t hold back.

Spike wrapped his arms around her and rolled until he lay above her. After denying himself for so long, he was intoxicated by the scent of his mate as she writhed beneath him. He could sense the desperation in her. He felt it himself. His demon was demanding that he take her. There was just the faintest hint of William’s signature floating around her like a fine mist and the demon was enraged by it. It clamored for him to re-claim her; consume her as she consumed him. Spike pushed it back ruthlessly. He would reaffirm his claim over her later if need be.

Right now he was determined to give her what she needed from him. Love.

Lizzie felt his mouth on her breasts and sank her fingers into his hair, holding him to her as he nibbled and sucked a path between their fullness. His hand skimmed over the soft skin of her stomach blazing a path that his lips and tongue followed.

She mewled, tossing her head back and forth as he teased her, nipping her outer lips before his fingers parted the silky wetness of her slit. His rough tongue flicked tauntingly against her throbbing little nub as he pushed two fingers inside her, twisting them to massage her sweet spot.

She screamed her release and clamped down on his fingers, her body bowing off the mattress as he buried his face and lashed at her clit, refusing to cease his sweet torture. She came a second time, sobbing his name and gasping for un-needed breath.

He moved back up and entered her in one swift thrust, growling possessively as he sheathed himself inside her. He rested his forehead against hers and their eyes locked as they moved together. As always, he was stunned by the depth of the love and adoration that shone from her eyes. “Your mine, Lizzie! You’ll always be mine!”

“I’m yours. I’ve always been yours,” she cried. “I was made for you. I’m nothing without you, Spike. I love you.”

With a tilt of her head, Lizzie invited him to reaffirm his claim. Her body shuddered as she neared another orgasm. She was stunned when Spike shook his head, fighting back his demon. “What’s wrong, baby? Please, I know you want to!” she begged.

“NO!” Spike growled. “This isn’t about claiming. This is about US! God, Lizzie. My Princess…love you so much baby…”

Lizzie cried out once more as she reached the peak and they fell over together, bodies spiraling into a blissful black oblivion.

They lay quietly, staring at each other for a long time. Finally, she pushed him over onto his back and settled against his chest. Tears stung her eyes as Spike wrapped his arms tightly around her.

“Though lovers be lost, love shall not,” she whispered, closing her eyes.

This time Spike did not smile. He was too afraid. Afraid for his Lizzie. He could feel her loss of hope. The resignation she felt in knowing that she would be meeting her end. Silently he vowed he would do anything; even take on Lucifer himself, to prevent that from happening.

He thought to all the pain and despair he’d had to endure while in the hell dimension. As bad as it had been, he could live with that. But if Lizzie should die...he knew he would walk out into the sunrise and turn into dust if he had to exist in a world without her. He was his blood. His perfect Princess. No one would take her away from him.

He stared up at the ceiling, closing his eyes as his hands sifted through the silk of her hair.

“And death shall have no dominion.”

***

Lizzie watched Spike sleep. She knew he would be enraged to wake and find her gone, but now more than ever she knew she had to try to stand on her own to feet.

It was her duty.

She thought back to Spike’s sarcastic quip.

When duty calls and all that rubbish...
 

Chapter 18:
The Prophecy of the Guardians

William paced Lizzie’s crypt. It did not take a genius to figure out where she was. She was afraid and in pain. He sat down and buried his face in his hands.

Hearing the door open, he lifted his head as Lizzie walked in. Her eyes met his and he smiled; holding out his hand to her.

She took his hand and sighed as he pulled her into his arms.

“Believe it or not I’m not mad or hurt,” he murmured, burying his face in her hair as his arms tightened around her.

Lizzie looked up at him confused.

“You were dealt a big blow tonight, pet. It only seemed natural.” William said.

Lizzie touched his face. Of course he knew. She could never hide anything from either of them.

“I remember the night we made love. I thought for the longest time I had let you down, but now I realize you were telling me you loved me. You were saying goodbye. You did that tonight with Spike. I get that. I don‘t agree with you, though. I swear on my love for you that nothing is going to happen to you,” William said. “Not as long as I draw breath.”

“This whole thing is sick isn’t it? The way I go back and forth between the two of you,” she derided herself.

William shook his head. “If I thought for one minute you loved one of us more than the other I would be enraged. You belong to Spike. You always have.”

Lizzie nodded and opened her mouth to say something. William cut her off before she could.

“But, you belong to me too.”

She stared at him, shocked.

“Doesn’t make sense to most, I suppose, but I understand it perfectly. Weird, huh?” he laughed.

“No, you always seem to understand, just like Dawnie.” She said.

William hugged her. “They deciphered the last part of the scroll,” he announced.

“What did it say?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t know. I came to get you before I could find out.”
He hopped off the small stone bench and stood for a moment, holding her small hands in his.

A quiet understanding passed between them.

William kissed her forehead and led her out the door.

**

Most of The Scoobies were sound asleep when they arrived. Giles sat in the den with Dawn. He looked up as Lizzie and William walked in.

“So what’s the word?” William asked.

“It seems the according to the scrolls there is one thing that can stop Eligor,” Rupert said.

They all walked over to the scroll as he continued his explanation. “It’s called The Prophecy of the Guardians. Two beings, both with supernatural strength, will stand against him and he will be defeated.”

Lizzie looked at William. “That must be us,” she muttered.

Dawn looked at Rupert. “Tell her the rest Dad.” she said quietly.

“It talks of one being sacrificed.” Rupert said, his eyes full of sadness as he stared at the two of them.

William wrapped his arm around Lizzie protectively. Dawn left her seat on the sofa and joined them, hugging her sister tightly.

“Does it say which one?” Lizzie asked her voice devoid of feeling.

Rupert nodded slowly. It says The Keeper will be the sacrifice.”

“Keeper of what?”

“It does not elaborate. I am afraid we are not meant to know until the very end.” Rupert explained.

“No, we know now. Lizzie is going to take Dawn and leave Sunnydale tonight.” William announced.

Both Dawn and Lizzie screamed in protest.

“You need me!” Lizzie cried.

“Lizzie You don’t understand...”

She pulled away from William furious. “No you don’t understand. We fight together shoulder to shoulder. Until the end.”

“Lizzie, please! I can’t let you die. Not again. Not if I can stop it.”

“I’ve died twice already Will. One more time won’t matter.”

William shook his head violently. “This is not up for discussion.”

“Yes it is!” Dawn bellowed, banging her fist against the table.

All three of them turned to her, shocked.

“I love my sister more than anything in the world. I don’t want her to die. But I love you guys too. If you don’t let her stand by you, Will, you don’t have a chance. You need her and I need to be here with my family. If I live, what good is it if you guys are not around?” Dawn demanded, throwing herself back down on the sofa.

“Besides it’s a prophecy. It does not make it absolute truth. Look at Nostradamus,” she said.

Lizzie chuckled and Rupert smiled. William however was enraged.

“This is not a joke. This is real the end of the world. How can you laugh about this? There isn't time for fun and games and quips about quack prophets!” He stabbed his finger at the scroll. “This isn’t a joke. This...this is going to happen.”

Rupert crossed his arms. “We understand, son, but…”

William stared at Lizzie, his eyes full of anguish. “I’ve seen it in my dreams. Lizzie dies. I may die. It's time to get serious.”

William turned around and walked up the stairs.

**

A short while later, Lizzie entered his room.

Dawn and Rupert had gone to bed after Lizzie had assured them that she would deal with William. She knew he was having problems accepting all of this.
He was staring out the window, avoiding her searching eyes.

“You’re thinking about when we were in high school aren’t you?” she asked.

He nodded. “This is all insane, Lizzie. None of this should be happening. None of it seems real.” He turned to her and smiled. “Wouldn’t it be great if this was all some sort of horrible dream? We all wake up and Mum and your Mom are still alive? You and Spike were still just a boy and girl in love and I was nothing but a pounce that drooled after you?” William voice was teasing but it cracked with emotion at the end.

“No, it wouldn’t be great,” Lizzie denied softly.

William looked at her warily as she walked up to him and stared into his eyes. “If it were all a dream, then I would have never known what it was like to love you the way I do, William. As crazy as it sounds, especially after what happened between Spike and I tonight, I would have missed that. I would not trade knowing your love for anything.” Lizzie said.

His tears wet her shirt as he pressed his face to her stomach. “I can’t let you walk into this! You don’t understand, Lizzie.”

“No, you don’t understand William. Something inside is telling me that I am the one that is going to die. The Keeper, it makes sense. I kept my soul when I should not have. I could run and hide but I won’t, because if it is meant for me to die for the good of the world, then so be it. You, Giles, Dawnie, the Scoobies, even Spike. If it means you all get to continue to exist, I will gladly lay down my un-life.”

“You don’t need to be noble Lizzie,” William insisted. “You have been through enough at my hands. I won’t sit back and let you give up anything else.”

She reached out and touched his cheek. “Being noble has nothing to do with it. Will. I made a promise to you; to be with you until the end. Nothing you do or say can make me break that vow. I love you.”

William hugged her tightly until she turned and stared out the window. He took a few steps away from her. “I’m sorry Lizzie,” he whispered. Drawing his hand back, he clubbed her in the back of the head with the blunt end of a stake. She sank to the floor, unconscious.

“But I made a promise too.”
 

19. A Promise To Keep

William walked carefully through the house with an unconscious Lizzie in his arms; careful to wake none of The Scoobies camped out in the living room. Earlier, he had taken the keys to Spike's Desoto and stuffed them in his pocket; waiting for Lizzie to come and talk to him.

He had known she would. He'd had to force himself to remain unmoved by her pleas, but she had almost made him waiver in his decision.

Once outside, William opened the car's door and laid her carefully on the front seat. He rolled it down the street, not wanting to wake anyone with the roar of its engine when he got in and started it.

As he drove across town, he turned and looked at Lizzie's unconscious face. He knew what had to be done; he only prayed that she would forgive him.

He understood about her vow to him. About her promises she had made. But he had promises to keep as well. His mind drifted to a long ago memory and the promise he intended to keep.

FLASHBACK

William watched through the window as his brother kissed their dying mother on her forehead, tears falling down his face. Their father leaned against the wall trying to be strong for his boys. The doctor's had told him Jenny didn't have much time. The strange wooden object that she had been stabbed with had broken through her stomach lining and they could not stop the internal bleeding.

His thoughts were irrational. He thought that if it was Spike, he would have recovered in a few days. He found himself wishing his mother was endowed with just a bit of Slayer strength.

He watched as his twin cried, holding their mother's hand and looked up at the ceiling. William stared through the small window as Spike made pleas to the heavens.

Jenny touched her son's head. A faint smile crept across her face as she said something to her older boy. Spike nodded, kissed his mother on the cheek, and walked out the door.

Once away from his mother's presence, his tortured face suddenly hardened to stone: the only emotion in his eyes was pure, undiluted rage. He glared at his father. "She wants to talk to Will." When William began to walk in, Rupert made as if to follow him. Spike stood in his path, refusing to give way. "Alone," he sneered.
William walked into the room, conscious of the loud beeping noise of Jenny's heart monitor. She turned her head to smile at him, every bit of color leached from her face to leave it a haggard caricature of her former beauty. In spite of her obvious weakness, she reached out for her younger son. He took her hand and sat down by her bed.

"My William. Always so strong." Jenny said, her face full of pride. "Did I tell ever tell you we had no idea you were in me with your brother?"

When William shook his head, Jenny chuckled slightly. "They did not even hear your heart beat. The doctor said it was because both of your hearts were in perfect beat with each other. You should have seen the shock on your father's face when they told him you were coming out."

She smoothed her hand over his hair and then framed his face. "You were very weak. The doctor's were afraid you weren't going to make it, but I knew you would. When I looked at you the first time, I knew you were the stronger of my two boys," she said, tears rolling down her temples and into her hair.

William wiped his mother's cheeks, disregarding the tears running down his own.

"When they put you in that incubator and separated you from Spike, he wailed the entire time. Nothing could console him. It was like he knew a part of him was missing. Then when you were finally strong enough, we had to put the two of you in the same crib or else you two would cry all night. That's when I knew William. You're the heart between the two of you."

She coughed weakly and William helped her to take a sip of water.

"Mum, please stop. Save you're strength for getting better," he said trying desperately to feed his mother hope.

Jenny shook her head as she looked up at her son. "We both know it's time son." She smiled bitterly. "I could not say that to Spike, or to your father, but I can to you. I want to apologize to you William."

"Mum, don't be silly. What for?" William asked incredulous.

"For two things. The first being if I ever made you feel that I doted on Spike more than you. I worried about him constantly. He was always so rash, so easy to anger. I thought if I was there, I could somehow quell his impulsiveness. I never did that to you because I knew you were the more centered. It's not until now that I realize how much that could have been misconstrued." Jenny sighed.

"Mum, I knew. I always knew you loved me. Don't do that to yourself," William pleaded.

Jenny's eyes fluttered closed as she smiled. "See William even now you are so giving, so strong. I'm so proud of you."

William held his mother's hand. "Never mind about the second thing, Mum. It's not important." he whispered.

Her eyes flew open and her hand tightened on his. "Yes son. Yes, it is. It's the most important thing I could ever tell you," she insisted.

William gently shushed his mother, afraid of getting her more worked up. "I'm listening."

"I need to apologize; to tell you how sorry I am for what you will have to endure. You will bear so many burdens, William. You'll endure so much more than any person ever should. If I could take this burden from you, I would. With my last breath," Jenny cried.

The different pieces of machinery hooked to the various leads on her body jumped to life as her heart rate and respirations skyrocketed.

"Mum, don't!" William cried anxiously.

She made a visible effort to calm herself, knowing she had to finish this before it was too late. "I need you to promise me something else."

"Anything."

"Promise me that you will protect her. She can't die, William. If she does, everything is lost. I know you'll be strong enough to do what you need to do when the time comes, no matter how painful. You'll know everything is as it should be when you have to give over the most precious thing you ever had to him. This is what I need from you, son; your promise that you answer the call when it comes." Jenny said.

William tried to make sense of his mother's cryptic words. He wanted to tell her that he didn't understand, but she looked so desperate that he merely nodded.
"I promise, Mum. I promise," he whispered, gently kissing her cold cheek.
Jenny Giles smiled and closed her eyes for the last time.

The beeping of her heart monitor became one steady sound. Nurses and doctors flooded the room armed with a crash cart, thrusting William out of the way as they began to work feverishly to revive her. They worked on her for ten minutes then called for the time.

At that moment, Joyce, Lizzie, and Dawn stepped out of the elevator. They heard Spike's roar of grief as he lashed out, slamming his fists into the wall as four orderlies struggled to restrain him. He threw them all off of him and started towards his father's devastated figure when he saw Lizzie standing there. He ran to her, collapsing to his knees in front of her and wrapping his arms around her waist as an anchor as he wept like a child.

Rupert sunk to the floor, broken. Joyce hurried to his side and knelt down, allowing him to cry in her arms.

Dawn found William standing in the darkest corner of Jenny's room. She slipped inside and made her way to his side, staring up at him with sad blue eyes as she opened her arms wide. He finally began to cry as he drew Dawnie into his embrace.

The younger siblings of the two families stared at Jenny. William thought she finally looked at peace and was glad that she had died knowing he would keep his promise.

(end of flashback)

William stopped the car and walked to the passenger side, his mother's words ringing in his head.

"Promise me that you will protect her. She can't die, William. If she does, everything is lost."

He looked down at Lizzie for a moment before he pulled her from the car.

"I know you'll be strong enough to do what you need to do when the time comes, no matter how painful."

He nuzzled his cheek against her cold one, trying to forget the pain inside. He walked into the cemetery, scalding tears blinding his sight.

"You'll know everything is as it should be when you have to give over the most precious thing you ever had to him."

Sobbing, he yelled for his brother. "SPIKE!"

Within moments, Spike emerged from the shadows.

William looked down at Lizzie's limp form then looked at his brother.

"This is what I need from you, son; your promise that you answer the call when it comes."
 

20. Worthy

Spike had felt the blow to Lizzie's head at impact. He knew something had happened to her. He bolted up from his slumber, quickly put on his clothes and went searching for her in the cemetery.

Fear stuck him to the core. He prepared himself for everything. A demon attack. Humans that might have attacked her. He was not prepared for what he saw before him.

The site of Lizzie unconscious in William's arms propelled him back to the fateful night she had tried to take her own life. He could see his brother's tear stained face in the moonlight. Quickly he ran to them.

William stared at his brother, his arms shaking.

Spike stopped in front of him looking at his sibling warily.

"Take her," William said, his voice thick with emotion.

"What did you do?" he said, glaring at his brother.

William handed Lizzie over to him. "She'll be out for awhile."

He pulled out the car keys and shoved them into the pocket of Spike's duster. "There is gas in the car. You should be able to get far enough away before she comes too and demands to come back." William explained.

"Are you mad?!" Spike yelled, holding Lizzie in his arms.

"You don't understand I had a dream, Spike. In it Lizzie..."

"Dies." He finished, closing his eyes.

William took a step back, his eyes wide and his face ashen. "You had one too?"

Spike nodded.

"Then you know what we have to do." William said.

"Will, she'll just head right back," Spike argued.

"Then do whatever it is you do to make her stop. A thrall or something. Hell, use that damn Sire/Childe bond you love to rub in my face. Just make sure she doesn't come back HERE!" William screamed.

Spike looked down at Lizzie again, his face filled with indecision.

"You know it's what you want." William urged. "It's what you always wanted. You talked about it all the bloody time. How you were going to take her far away from all of us. Now is your chance."

"So let me get this straight. You're just handing her over to me? No fight, no nothing?" Spike said.

William looked down, reaching out and trailing one finger lightly over her closed eyes. "I've done it since the day we met her, why should I stop now?" he said, the slightest tremble in his voice. "She can't die, not again. If she stays, you know she will."

"And what makes me suddenly so worthy, Will? Why now, after all this time?" Spike challenged.

"Because you are the one person that loves her as much as I do."

Spike held Lizzie tighter to him.

"Besides, this has nothing to do with being worthy. If it did, neither of us would have her."

The brothers looked at each other, for once in complete agreement over something.

"You know if we leave you'll never see her again, Will," Spike said.

"I probably won't live through the night anyway. If I do, then just knowing that she is out there somewhere is enough for me."

Spike looked at his brother again, unable to hide the sympathy in his eyes. He walked past William with Lizzie in his arms and put her back in the car.

William sank to the ground and buried his face in his hands.

He looked over at his brother as he started the car, knowing that he was crying as he knelt there.

Spike put his foot to the gas peddle and took off it the night. He reached over to Lizzie and pulled her closer to him, then turned on the radio to drown out the sound of his brother's voice in his head.

As they sped through the night, he tried not to think about the how hurt and betrayed Lizzie would feel when she awoke.

The music taunted him as he drove.

"Crowded streets are cleared away
One by One
Hollow heroes separate
As they run
You're so cold
Keep your hand in mine
Wise men wonder while
Strong men die"

"Stop it, mate. She'll understand. She can't die. Why the hell do you care if the world falls into hell? More fun for you, I would say." Spike muttered to himself.

"Show me how it ends it's alright
Show me how defenseless you really are
Satisfied and empty inside
That's alright, let's give this another try"

Spike continued to speed into the night.

"If you find your family, don't you cry
In this land of make-believe, dead and dry
You're so cold, but you feel alive
Lay your hands on me one last time"

Lizzie stirred. His undead heart constricted. He knew running was the last thing she wanted.

He knew she would never forgive herself, or him, if something happened to William. It would destroy her.

"Show me how it ends it's alright
Show me how defenseless you really are
Satisfied and empty inside
That's alright, let's give this another try"

Spike closed his eyes and took his foot off the gas. The car slowed to a stop.

"It's alright
It's alright
It's alright"

Spike took an unnecessary breath and concentrated. "Lizzie wake."

Hearing his command inside her head, Lizzie's eyes sprang open and she bolted up out of Spike's lap.

"Spike what's going on?" she demanded.

"Nothing, luv. I'm taking you back." Spike said, turning the car around.

"What? Where were you taking me to begin with?"

She thought back to the last thing she remembered. She was standing there with William. They were talking....

"Oh God, Will hit me?" Lizzie said, her voice filling with rage.

"Take it easy on the nancy boy, he was just trying to protect you." He slowed the car down again and looked at her. "This is your stop," he said quietly.

Lizzie looked at Spike. She knew what he was doing. He was trying to be brave, but she could see the fear in his eyes.

Spike knew taking her against her will was not the way he wanted it. If she was going to come to him, it would have to be because that's what she wanted. He was through making decisions for her.

"You have to go, luv. Stay by his side and fight the good fight, like all you white hatters do." Spike whispered. He smiled at her, trying to hide his own angst. He kissed her lightly on the lips and whispered the same words William had told him not so long ago.

"Because that's what you do when you truly love someone. You stay no matter what."

Tears slid down Lizzie's cheeks. "I love you, Spike," she cried.

He hugged her tightly. "Go. Before I change my mind."

She slid from the car and ran back towards the cemetery while he gripped his steering wheel and let out a loud, pain-filled roar.

"It's alright
It's alright
It's alright"

Spike started his car. Defeated, he turned around. The world was going to end and Lizzie was going to die trying to save it. He sure as hell wasn't going to stick around and watch.

"It's alright..."
 

21. Shoulder to Shoulder

William walked out of Lizzie's crypt armed to the teeth with battle axes and swords. They had decided long ago that Lizzie dwelling would be a good place to store extra equipment.

For some reason, he knew whatever was stirring, whatever impending apocalypse was coming, it would start tonight.

He looked up at the sky. Even the night seemed darker than usual, with not a star to mar the inky darkness. The only light came from the moon that floated through the black abyss of the heavens.

When he heard footsteps behind him, he turned to see Anya, Oz, Xander, and his father approaching.

"What the bloody hell are you doing here?" he demanded.

Xander walked up to his friend and put his hand on his shoulder. "You think after years of being a Scoobie, we would miss a fight like this?" Xander said.

"All of you go home now!"

Rupert shook his head. "There's no way that's going to happen, son."

"What about the Bit and Willow?" William asked.

"We drew straws," Anya offered.

"We decided Willow should stay with Dawn. She is working on a protection spell now," Oz said.

William looked at his friend. He could see the mixture of relief and longing in his eyes. he could not fault Oz for how he felt. Not after what he had done...

"I appreciate the backup, guys, but this thing is too big. I can't lose any of you," William explained.

Anya glared at him. "We have no intention of fighting off Eligor. We're just here to take care of the lesser evil things because, as you know, there are always lesser evil things involved in things like this. Besides the prophecy didn't say we were going to die, just the Keeper. By the way where is Lizzie?" She asked, looking around.

Xander stood next to his girlfriend. He loved her, but by God did she have a knack for saying the most inappropriate things.

"She's..."

"Right here."

They all turned and saw Lizzie standing there holding a battle axe. When William  strode purposely to meet her, she flung the ax to the ground and punched him in the nose.

"AW BLOODY HELL!" William roared, rubbing his nose.

"That's for knocking me out!" Lizzie screamed.

"Lizzie what happened. Spike was supposed to get you out of here." William said.

Lizzie crossed her arms.

"Unlike some people he was suddenly enlightened. William, how did you think I would feel when I woke up? Either way it would have killed me. You would be dead or the world would be ending. What the hell was going through that head of yours?" she screamed.

The others could hardly avoid listening to the argument.

"He was just going to let her go?" Xander asked.

Rupert closed his eyes and shook his head. "No, he was trying to save her."

"And you approve?" Oz asked.

"Let's just say I understand," the older man said. He understood why William did what he did, and he also understood why Lizzie had come back. He thought of his beloved Jenny and the things he had been willing to do to save her life and the life of their unborn child; before he knew William was residing in his mother's womb with his brother.

Giles looked at William; the younger of the twins. The twin Jenny had always called their special gift. It wasn't until this moment that Rupert fully understood what his wife had meant.

William was their gift. He took up the fight without a moment's hesitation and stayed so strong and kind.

A torturous debate raged through him. He loved them both so much, but one of them was destined to die tonight.

He looked up into the black sky and took a deep, cleansing breath. A look of grim determination settled on his face.

"We have to make sure that both of them are kept as safe as possible, so stand your ground," he ordered.

"But the prophecy," Anya argued, looking around nervously.
 

Rupert smirked remembering his young daughter's words. "It's a prophecy. It doesn't make it absolute truth. Look at Nostradamus."

There was an ominous rumble in the distance.

"Besides, whatever is out there is going to have to go through me to take my kids away," Rupert said gritting his teeth.

Lizzie and William were still arguing when they saw four robed figures approaching.

"What in the hell is that?" he asked.

When she closed her eyes, she could feel them. She could almost hear their thoughts. Lizzie knew right then who they were. "It's The Order. They are here for the rising of Eligor," she said.

Before William could stop her, Lizzie picked up her axe and charged at them. Cursing, he followed close behind her with Rupert and the Scoobies hot on his heels.

The battle seemed to rage forever, but finally the group of vamps was disposed of and Rupert demanded they all fall back.

William grabbed Lizzie by the shoulders. "Leave now!" he pleaded.

She shook her head and touched his face. "I fight with you until the end. Shoulder to Shoulder."

"God! For once will you please listen to me?

"You know when I died the first time in the bathroom, I felt myself slipping away, and you know what I did?" she whispered.

William shook his head.

"I stared at our picture the one in front of my house. You had me on your shoulders. I wanted you to be the last thing I saw. If I am going to die tonight that's how I want it to happen. I love you William."

He grabbed her shoulders and yanked her into his arms. He smiled, allowing their love to envelope him. "Tell me again."

Lizzie looked up and into his eyes. "So greedy all of the sudden," she teased.

"I just need to hear it," he said softly, touching her cheek as he kissed her lightly.

Lizzie's eyes softened and then put her hand on his heart. "I love you," she whispered

William's eyes became wide with fear. His dream was unfolding before his eyes.

The ground shook and the earth started to crumble as a large pit opened up and fire burst out into the black night. The Scoobies came running towards the, screaming.

Helplessly, William watched the whole scene unfold as he looked over Lizzie's shoulder.

"No..." he muttered, making a grab at Lizzie as the ground gave way beneath his feet. His eyes widened as a huge demon came lumbering out of the pit.

Just like in his dream, it grabbed Lizzie and held her in the air by her throat...
 
 

22. The Keeper

William watched in horror as Lizzie feet dangled in the air. She tried to pry the demon's hand loose for her. Her demon emerged, only angering the larger demon.

William saw the demon's wrist begin to turn. "NO!!" he screamed

Suddenly William heard a savage growl. Something kicked the demon on its side, causing it to drop Lizzie.

"Look out, here comes Spike!"

There standing in front of Eligor was his twin. Spike lit a cigarette exhaling the smoke. He pulled Lizzie behind him and glared balefully at the creature.

"You lost or something, mate?" Spike said.

The demon struggled back on his feet.

Spike threw his cigarette into the pit then spun around and kicked him to the ground again.

"This here is my town. Go start an apocalypse somewhere else. I hear Florida is lovely this time of year," he smirked.

William looked off in the distance. The Scoobies and his father were embroiled in their own battle.
More members of The Order had emerged from the pit with Eligor, all determined to see the Keeper meet its end and allow their demon to rise to power.

The demon finally regained his feet and stood snarling and growling at Spike. "You are one of us," he said in a gravelly voice, sniffing the air.

Spike circled him. "Don't know about that. I know we're both demons and all but at least I enjoy a nice bath everyone once and awhile." Spike snarked.

The demon lunged at him as he continued to taunt it. While it was distracted, William ran over and helped Lizzie to her feet. She was holding her throat and wincing in pain.

"What the hell is he doing?" she cried hoarsely.

"I don't know but get out of here now!" William begged.

Lizzie grabbed his arm. "This is going to be the last time I say this. I AM NOT GOING ANYWHERE!"

Eligor turned away from Spike. His yellow eyes zeroed in on William and Lizzie. "The Keeper," he sneered, ignoring Spike to walk purposefully towards them.

Spike hit him from behind. "Didn't they tell you it's rude to turn your back on someone when they are trying to kill you?" he said as he spun Eligor around.

Lizzie and William heard Anya scream.

"Go help her now!" Lizzie pleaded.

William ran over to Anya, yanking a large vamp off of her.

Lizzie ran at Eligor and Spike. She watched as a sharp claws dug into Spike's shoulder. He howled in pain.

"SPIKE!" she screamed.

She bolted past William and did a flying kick, connecting with Eligor's slimy skull. Eligor released Spike and looked over at Lizzie.

"What do we have here?" he rumbled.

Lizzie stood in front of him, her fist in the air.

"I'm just a girl," she said.

Eligor grinned at her. "Such a pretty little thing. No wonder these two fight so hard to keep you safe. Too bad they will both have to watch you die."

Lizzie stood her ground while Spike launched himself at Eligor once more. She never once hesitated as she jumped into the fray.

Both vamps fought the huge demon. When one would fall, the other would charge forward and take their place.

As it was foretold Eligor seemed to be invincible. Nothing they did seemed to hurt him. They fought their hardest to keep the demon at bay, but the more they fought, the weaker they became while Eligor's strength only increased.

Spike launched himself at Eligor only to be knocked against a tree. Lizzie screamed and ran to his side. He stared up at her groggily as she lifted his shirt to check the deep gash across his chest.

"He's too strong, luv. Please run. I'm done for. Save yourself," Spike said.

"I'm staying," she insisted, bending to kiss his lips. "Because that's what you do when you truly love someone. You stay, no matter what."

Hearing Eligor approaching, she used her body to shield Spike's wounded one, certain that this was it for the both of them.

Suddenly an axe flew out of nowhere imbedding itself in Eligor's chest.

William jumped in the air, the force of his kick causing Eligor to take a few steps back. For a moment he looked to be gaining the upper hand. Suddenly Eligor caught him by the throat, mimicking the position he'd had Lizzie in earlier. His smile was vicious as William struggled in his grip.

"Finally the Keeper," Eligor rasped as he stared down at the Slayer and shook him like a rag doll.

Lizzie gasped. "Oh my God, it was Will all along. Spike, Will is the Keeper, not me," she muttered.

Eligor held William up triumphantly as bolts of crackling white magic shot out of his eyes and into William's. The Slayer began to convulse as the demon sucked his life force from his body.

"NO! WILL!!!"

Lizzie heard her scream of protest voiced from another's lips. It was Spike. He gathered himself up and rushed Eligor, slamming into his midsection and ripping his twin from the demon's grasp.

Eligor snatched Spike up, raising him over his head to throw him into the fiery pit.

Lizzie ran toward them, but William was faster. He launched himself at the demon and grabbed him by the waist. Lizzie watched in horror as Eligor began to sway.

William.

Spike.

All twins tumbled forward, following the demon into the fiery pit...
 
 

23. And Death Shall Have No Dominion...

Lizzie screamed, scrambling her way to the edge of the pit. One hand was gripping the crumbling earth and she clutched at it desperately. She knew it was Spike's hand she held and dared to peek over. While one hand held hers, the other strained to hold on to the hand of his limp and dangling twin.

The Scoobies and Giles finished off the rest of the vamps and ran over as she struggled to pull their combined weight back up to solid ground. She reared back, sobbing with the effort as she pulled with all her might.

Giles flung himself at her as she started to slide towards the edge. He anchored her as Oz and Xander lay down on either side of them, grabbing hold of Spike and adding their efforts to Lizzie's.

Spike began to slip and Lizzie shifted into demon form as she felt her mate slipping out of her grip. Xander managed to grab Spike's belt and with a mighty heave, the four of them pulled Spike and William out.

They all lay in a weak and breathless pile while Spike cradled his brother's battered body in his arms. "I've got you, little brother," Spike whispered.

Rupert looked at William blood poured out of him. Eligor must have tried to hold onto William by ripping his claws into him. His back and legs were a mess of slashing cuts.

The Slayer smiled weakly. "It was me. I was the Keeper," his voice shook with effort. "Damn, did we ever screw that prophecy up, Dad."

Spike smiled down at him. "I know guess we showed 'em, eh? Another aborted apocalypse and we are all still here."

William shook in his brother's arms. "I saw, Spike. He showed me. I understand everything now," he said smiling at his brother.

"Don't go yammering on now; you need to save your strength. Let's get you home." Spike said desperately. He could feel as brother slipping away.

"I get it now," William said, chuckling.

Tears begun to spill from Spike's eyes as Lizzie moved to sit on the other side of William.

"WILL!"

Willow and Dawnie appeared out of nowhere. Dawn looked like she was in shock.

"Will, please be strong. Fight!" Lizzie cried.

William touched Lizzie's face, his hand trembling. "I understand now why it never bothered me. I get it now," he whispered. He looked at his brother. "You know when we were born that they had no idea I was there. I came out after you. Everyone was shocked. Mum told me. I understand now what she was trying to tell me."

William looked at his father. Rupert sunk to his knees.

"I love you, Da," he said.

Rupert wept. "Son, please."

William looked at the Scoobies. "Keep kicking demon ass. Annihilate them, for justice - and for - the safety of puppies - and Christmas," William joked, his voice rapidly weakening.

Anya began to cry in Xander's arms

"Always fight that evil and when need be kill something."

Oz went to Willow as William looked up at his best friend.

"Don't forget to watch the mojo, Red," he teased.

Willow sunk to the ground, crying as she reached out to touch him.

Spike shook his head. "Oh no you don't, you nancy boy! You're not going to die. I'll never hear the end of it if you do. Everyone is always going on about how you're the strong one, so be strong." he demanded.

William smiled up at his brother and gripped his arm tightly. "Spike I love you."

Spike began to shake. He pulled his brother closer in his embrace. "I...I love you too, Will. You can't die. You're the other half of me. The better half."

"You don't know how true that is, Spike," he smiled.

Spike looked down at his brother. He could tell by the look in William's eyes that he had gained some sort of higher understanding of everything that had occurred.

"Mum told me, I just didn't understand. I thought she was talking about Lizzie."

William reached out for Dawn. She took his hand, her entire body trembling as tears poured down her face.

"She was talking about you, Bit."

Promise me you will protect her. She can't die William. If she does everything is lost.

William looked at Lizzie and smiled. "I love you," he whispered.

Lizzie sobbed as William touched her cheek, remembering the first night they made love. The song that haunted his memory for so long filled his mind as he whispered to her.

"From your lips, the heavens pour out
I can't forget when we are one
with you alone, I am free."

Lizzie trembled as she kissed his lips. "Don't leave me, Will," she pleaded as tears fell from her eyes.

"Never going to, luv. I promise," he said.

Lizzie looked at Spike in confusion while William simply smiled, thinking back to his mother's words.

Promise me you will be strong and do what you need to do when the time comes.

William looked up at Spike. He took Lizzie's hand and linked it to Spike.

"Take care of her brother?"

"Until the end of the world," Spike responded.

"I know you will." He looked at Spike. "You don't get it yet, do you?"

Spike looked at him, shaking his head.

"I'm the Keeper," William said as if that explained everything.

Promise me you will know everything is as it should be when you have to give over the most precious thing you ever had to him.

William turned to Lizzie, remembering her vow.

To be the last thing he saw...

He smiled at her as he closed his eyes. Reaching up, he put his hand over his brother's unbeating heart. The other still clasped Dawn's.

Promise me you will answer the call when it comes.

Spike screamed out as William fell limp. He hugged his brother, sobbing in pain and agony.

Suddenly, William began to feel less than solid in his arms and as Spike looked down incredulously, his brother began to disappear before his eyes. He reached out desperately but his hands came up empty.

In William's place there was an orange light surrounded by a swirling green cloud.

The same orange light that engulfed Lizzie when her soul had been restored...

The same green cloud that called both Spike and William to be the Slayer....

The light and the cloud separated, the orange light shot into Spike with lightening speed while the green cloud hovered in the air for a moment then settled above Dawn. Slowly it engulfed her.

Both Spike and Dawn fell back on the ground, gasping for breath.

Lizzie sat there shocked. On the wind she heard something that she hadn't heard since the day she met William and Spike. She looked around to see if anyone else heard it but everyone was too preoccupied taking care of Dawn and Spike. She closed her eyes as tears rolled down her face.

She heard William's voice whisper in her ear...

"The soul takes flight to the world that is eternal. But there arriving he is sure of bliss, and forever dwells in paradise...."
 
 
 

Epilogue: The Gift

Spike Giles looked around the garden. The same garden he had fallen in love with as a young boy. Everything seemed to change in the world over the years but his beloved garden stayed the same.

He had forgotten most of the time just how long he had been on the earth. The only time he did was when he and Lizzie celebrated their anniversary. The anniversary of the day he brought her here for the first time and they made their vows to each other.

It had not been easy at first being a souled vampire. If Lizzie had not been at his side he did not think he would have gotten through it, but somehow he did. And now, here they stood.

The Guardians.

It had been so long ago since that night. He and Lizzie were the only two true witnesses still walking the earth.

The Watcher journals all made William sound like he was this mystical being. That he was not real. They argued that Spike should not have had a twin. Twins classically skipped a generation. Since Jenny and Janna were twins it must have been some sort of magical force that placed William in his mother's womb.

At times Spike could see the validity in their arguments. The fact that Spike and William as children could never be separated. How they were completely opposite of each other. Even in the way they accepted Lizzie's feeling that she belonged and loved them both equally.

Everything pointed back to the prophecy.

William was the Keeper.

The Keeper of Spike's soul.

The Keeper of the Slayer calling until  the true line was ready to receive it.

Spike was never a conformist. He refused to give in to the explanations he had heard over the years. William was real. He felt his brother inside of him, at peace and happy. He felt his strength and wisdom guiding him through life, and he felt his love for the girl they both cherished.

Jenny had been right. William was not just the Keeper.

William was a gift...

Lizzie looked up at Spike. She knew he was thinking about William, He always did when they walked in this garden. It had become their ritual when a new child was born.

Instead of the happiness they usually felt. today their hearts were heavy.

All these years later, they understood Jenny's plea.

It did not seem to shock anyone that Dawn was called. Somewhere in the back of everyone's mind they had suspected that she had something to do with the Slayer line. What shocked everyone was that Dawn did not die young at the hands of some creature of the night. She died in her bed, an old lady of eighty-three.

The youngest Slayer ever to be called out lived all of her predecessors; happily married to a man named Connor with a son by the name of Rupert Giles, Jr.

Dawn explained had to Connor that all their offspring and the generations to come would always bear the Giles name, married or not.

The Giles name became the most revered and feared name in the history of the eternal fight between good and evil.

Connor accepted it just as he accepted his wife was the Slayer and their son Rupert would be a Watcher. Lizzie and Spike stayed by her side until the very end, fighting the fight and keeping her safe.

When Dawn finally passed they were not surprised when the green cloud lifted out of her and found its way to Rupert Jr.'s 16 year old daughter, Joyce...

The Slayer was an unstoppable force with The Guardians at her side.

Joyce gave birth to Janna

Janna gave birth to Jenny

Jenny gave birth to Willow.

Willow gave birth to Alexandra, named after Xander.

Each child heard the tale of their heritage. Each understood their role. Each knowing no matter what happened to them, Spike and Lizzie would be at their side.

When Willow passed Alexandra was called.

After Alexandra passed her daughter Anya was called.

Anya, much like her namesake, had a strange sense of humor. She too had a daughter. She retained the Giles last name, just as every generation before, but when it came time to name her daughter, she chose the name Randi, after Spike.

Spike groaned but Lizzie found it amusing and sweet.

Randi, not to be out done by her mother, named her daughter Oz.

Oz also seemed to inherit traces of her namesake. She was a woman of few words and kept to herself, only socializing with Spike and Lizzie.

Spike and Lizzie were shocked when she married and had a daughter herself that she named Elizabeth.

Beautiful sweet Elizabeth.

When it came time for Elizabeth to give birth, the only names that were left were William and Dawn.

However it was agreed long ago that William's name was never to be used.

There was only one William.

The younger Elizabeth thought long and hard about what to name her daughter. She thought of her ancestor Dawn, the first in the legacy of Giles Slayers. She had the same opinion about using Dawn that they had about using William's name.

There was only one Dawn.

When Elizabeth gave birth to her daughter, a name came to her.

Faith.

Named after the songstress in what now sounded like a distant fairytale.

When Elizabeth passed, Faith was called.

She was more like Spike than any of the other girls. She resented her calling and was rash and impulsive, but Lizzie guided her through it. Finally she relented and did her duty.

To no one's shock that Faith never married, but she did have a daughter.

Everyone was shocked when they found out Faith was sick. After all these centuries there were things that modern medicine still could not cure. Faith gave birth and left the earth the same night, but before she left, she gave Lizzie and Spike one final gift.

Lizzie looked down at the baby cradled in her arms. Spike pulled out a large stone with Faith's name etched on it. He laid it next to the other stones with the names of all their beloved charges.

Dawn, Joyce, Jenny, Willow, Janna, Alexandra, Anya, Randi, and Oz. Even Rupert had a stone. And now Faith. All part of the little girl that long ago came bouncing out of her mother's jeep ready to take Sunnydale by storm.

Lizzie cradled the baby in her arms. Spike held her from behind.

"How do you think we are going to explain to her that we are vampires?" Lizzie asked.

Spike kissed the top of his mate's head.

"We are watched their mothers do it for centuries, luv. I think we'll muddle through," Spike whispered.

Lizzie turned in his arms, still looking down at the baby as she marveled over all that she had been blessed with.

She had been given so much. The perfect love of two boys, one that taught her what love was, the other that taught her how to love herself. Both were with her constantly. Guiding her giving her strength Loving her the way they had all those years ago.

She had been given a chance at redemption; the opportunity to watch the world change before her eyes with a mate that was hers eternally.

Their love and devotion for each other was an example to their wards, showing them what true love really meant.

She had been given so many things. A chance to be a teacher, a mentor, and a fighter.

And now this...

The chance to be a mother.

"She will be called one day," Lizzie said sadly.

Spike nodded. "And we will be right there to keep her safe. But for now, maybe The Powers That Be will be giving us a little break. Give us time to raise this Nibblet. Tell her about the extraordinary stock she comes from. Let her know she was her mother's last gift to two people that cherished her."

Lizzie smiled kissing the top of the baby's head.

Faith's gift. She had been the only Slayer Lizzie had told her secret to. The loss of her own child. That's when Faith had known she would name her daughter Tara Elizabeth Giles.

Spike wrapped his arm around his wife and looked at the bundle in her arms. They walked out of the garden shoulder to shoulder, ready for the reprieve they were granted to take care of the child before them. They feared for all the obvious things. How two vampires would raise a mortal child.

What they would tell her. What would they do when she was called. All their fears swirled around them, but they knew that together they could conquer anything.

Both of them stopped and looked at each other, a smile creeping across their faces as they kissed, both remembering Jenny Giles's words from centuries ago..

"Just have faith. Faith that this will all turn out the way it should....somehow."
 

Credits

First to Joss for creating these characters. James Marsters and SMG for providing me the imagery with their incredible chemistry.

The Songs I Used:

Are you Gonna Be My Girl -Jet
Here Comes The Sun- The Beatles
The Dolphins Cry - Live
Hear You Me- Jimmy Eat World
Love Of My Life- Dave Matthews with Santana
When I'm Gone- 3 Doors Down
Do What You Have To Do - Sarah McLaughlin
The Gift - Annie Lennox
Smile - James Marsters
My Sacrifice- Creed
I Love You- Sarah McLaughlin
So Cold- Breaking Benjamin

The Poems

And Death Shall Have No Dominion - Dylan Thomas
Sonnet 129- William Shakespeare.

The quote used in book one Perchance To Dream Her and the last line of the chapter And Death Shall Have No Dominion by Plato.

Thank you to everyone who stayed with me through this long journey!!

Bloodshedbaby for telling me to go for it and fixing all my errors so patiently.

Kari for encouraging me to continue no matter what

Mandi, Kar,  and Vamps for shaking those pom poms

And most of all to my brilliant beta Spikeslovebite and Rae for everything!! This story is as much yours as it is mine!!