Consequences

Summary: Buffy’s friends perform the spell to bring her back to life...but there was a side effect. Buffy finds herself crawling out of her grave 80 years after the spell was perform and a very different world around her. SPUFFY!

Chapter 1: Gravedigger

‘Today really isn’t our day’, Xander thought as he traveled the forest with Willow in his arms.

Demons came right in the middle of the Scoobies resurrection spell and now everything that they had planned for 2 months seemed to blow up right in front of their face. For the last two months there was nothing but talk between them about this night and how it would be so wonderful for them to see Buffy alive again, but at the moment Xander forgot all about the spell and feared for his and the girl in his arms life.

Xander couldn’t walk anymore. He came to a tree and looked around to see if any demons spotted them and sat down with Willow in his arms.

“Xan…Xander, where…where?” Willow finally opened her eyes and looked around.

“Shh!” Xander shushed Willow, “We’re using our quiet voice, Will.”

”Where…where’s Tara?” Willow whispered.

”Off running.” Xander panted, “Like we should be. We need to keep moving.”

“Oh...right” Willow finally remembered about all the chaos around her, “Demons…on bikes.”

“That’s right, we got trouble. Right here in Hellmouth City. And our very own robo-Buffy led them right to us.” Xander said.

Willow’s eyes grew, “Buffy! The ritual…we have to go back!” Willow started to get up but Xander pushed her slightly back down.

”Will. I told you.” Xander tried to reason with his stubborn witch friend.

“We have to try again.” She said in her most determining voice.

“No, we can't.” Xander said.

“We have to, Xander! I - she - she's waiting! She's counting on us, on, on me! I can't leave her there any more, I won't. We have to finish.” Willow said and shook her head; she didn’t want anyone to stop her.

” Shh!” Xander hushed her again.

In the distance bikes were roaring loud and the sound of laughter could be heard. Xander began to speak again just as the bike sounds died down.

“Will...the urn of cirrhosis...” Xander began.

”Osiris?” Willow asked.

“Yeah. It got kind of...” Xander trailed off not wanting to break his friend’s heart.

“Broken. It's broken. I remember.” Willow said with the saddest tone in her voice. She knew what outcome this meant.

“So we'll find another one. Better made. Anya and I will jump back on the web-“, Xander gave Willow some hope.

“There is not other one.” Willow stated and closed her eyes. Something deep down inside of her started to hurt; it was a familiar pain that she hasn’t felt since Buffy’s funeral.

“Okay, we'll fix this one… a little tape, a dab of Crazy Glue….” Xander said.

“No. It's no use.” Willow’s eyes started to get teary, “The urn's defiled. It's gone. Nothing, it was all for nothing. Buffy's gone. She's really gone.” Willow started breathing heavily and letting tears come down.

Xander pulled his friend into his chest and hugged her. ‘She’s really gone.’ Willow’s voice echoed in Xander’s head.

SUNNYDALE 2082

The cemetery was dead quiet that November night. The graves looked untended and the grass was high. The area is a disaster, and in the distance a sound of a woman screaming and smashing windows could be heard.

The streets of Sunnydale were littered with trash and barrels with fire were blazing on almost every street. Each house looked deserted and torn apart; bullet holes covered front doors and furniture was thrown onto front lawns.

The main store shops had no customers and some of the buildings were barely standing. Cars parked on the street were flipped over and rusted. The building that was once The Magic Box didn’t look like a building anymore. The letters ‘G’ and ‘I’ from the shop sign were missing and all that was left was ‘The Ma c Box’.

A group of demons walked into the main street and they acted as if they were the boss of the town; kings of Sunnydale. They’re laughter was loud, making sure clear that anyone in a mile radius heard them.

Back in the quiet graveyard a small sound was heard under the ground. Then there was a moment of silence and then all of sudden the sound started again, but this time it was louder. In a few minutes the sound came to the surface of the ground and the sound of someone gasping was heard. The gravedigger crawled away from the hole she created in the ground and looked around in fear. Her hair, her clothes, and her body were dirty. She sat up and started to stand and look around and noticed her surroundings. She turned around and came in contact with her own grave, ‘Buffy Summers’.

Chapter 2: Night of the Living Dead

As she walked out of the cemetery Buffy had trouble keeping her shoes on, every step she took she stumbled. She had the sense as if she didn’t use her legs in years, which in fact was the truth; Buffy was like a baby learning to walk all over again.

Buffy walked the neighborhood streets of Sunnydale and saw the barrels of fire and damaged homes. Theonly thought that playedin her head was, ‘This must be hell.’ The thought of her being in hell took her deeper in her state of shock than she was already in.

She stopped walking and looked around at her surroundings slowly. Buffy became startled when she heard the sound of harsh laughter echo Sunnydale. So upset by the situation, Buffy began to run off the street and in between houses. As she continued to run she lost her shoes in the grass, but for some reason she didn’t stop to retrieve them.

When she finally began to slow down she was panting loudly and her feet hurt. She quickly looked around and in a moment her breath stopped. Buffy looked up and saw the street sign that was in the ground but lying at a forty five degree angle, ‘Rivelo Drive’. Buffy looked down the street and began to walk in a daze again.

Buffy was hesitant when coming upon 1630 Rivelo. She didn’t even recognize her own home. The house was dark, boards of the porch floor were missing, the living room window was broken, and the room that was Dawn’s had three big wooden boards covering the windows.

Buffy slowly walked towards the ghost house and became cautious to where she stepped. Once she got through the front door she noticed the floorwas dirtyand was covered with old brown leafs. The banister of the staircase was half broken off.

She turned her head and looked into the living room and noticed the glass of the broken window on the floor the hard way; Buffy stepped on a piece of glass in her bare feet and suddenly jumped and staggered away, moaning in agony. She stumbled to the ground and grabbed her foot and noticed the blood beginning to come from her skin. Then for the first time she noticed her knuckles, they were bloody and in some places she could see her bone. In her mind she had a flash of the memory just a few hours ago of her crawling out of the grave and her hands ripping at the coffin lid and screaming but hearing nothing could come from her voice. Then as quickly as she had the flashback the memory ended.

Buffy slowly got up on her feet, ignoring all the pain that she had from her wounded body and traveled back into the hallway. She looked up the stairs and started to travel slowly up the stairs as if there was someone pushing her to see what was on the second floor. The floor boards creaked with every step Buffy took.

The second floor seemed smaller than Buffy remembered. All of the doors were completely shut. Buffy looked at her old room’s door and started to become apprehensive, she didn’t know if she should go inside because shefelt she was nolonger welcome. Ever since she laid her eyes on the house she didn’t feel welcome. Her abandoned home had the feel of a motel, like many people had been through the rooms and took all the personal feeling out of a home.

Buffy turned the knob to her room and saw nothing in it but a mattress lying on the ground. She quickly shut the door; she thought there was no reason for her to stay in the room longer; all it did was upset her.

Outside a motorcycle roared down the street and Buffy seemed to quake in fear. ‘What happened?’ She thought to herself. ‘Where is everyone? Where’s Dawn? Am I in hell? Is this what hell is like?’

Buffy traveled back down the stairs and collided into a box. She stopped in motion to see what she bummed into and then she noticed it was something she was familiar with, her weapons chest. She lifted the chest and saw nothing inside, whoever had been in the house last seemed to take all the weapons. However, Buffy knew she had secret hatch. Buffy lifted a lid off the inside of the top of the weapons chest and saw a knife. Buffy grabbed the knife and stared at it…and remembered.

“Shallow cuts, shallow…cuts…let the blood flow free.” The small crazy man with the knife mumbled as Buffy got to the top of the tower.

“Dawn!” Buffy yelled.

“Buffy!” Dawn shouted in pleaded.

“Dawn…” Buffy said softly as she remembered.

“Well, well, well…looks like Goldilocks is in the three bears home.” A voice came from the door. Buffy quickly turned with the knife in her hand and saw three vampires in game face.

Chapter 3: Where Is Everybody?

Buffy stood upon the three vampires with her knife still in hand.

”Well Goldilocks…would you like to bebitten on the right or the left?” one of the vampires asked and stepped towards to Buffy. Buffy moved a step back. The vampire laughed at her actions, knowing she was vulnerable.

“Wait…she’s a human.” Another vampire said.

”Good guess stupid.” the vampire next to him said.

“But I thought the last human left twenty years ago.” The vampire said.

”Well I guess this one is stupid enough to come back…” the vampire closest to Buffy said and took another step closer to her. Again, Buffy stepped back.

In the back of Buffy’s mind she had another flashback, a memory that seemed very long ago.

“You really have no idea what’s going on, do you? You think it’s a coincidence, your being here? That boy was just the beginning.” Giles said to the young Buffy.

“Because you are the Slayer…” Giles said.

Buffy’s memory quickly ended and Giles words echoed in her head, ‘Because you are the Slayer…’

After a moment things were starting to fall into line for Buffy, and she looked up at the approaching vampire and slashed him with her knife. The other two vampires were startled by Buffy’s action. The hurt vampire growled at Buffy and through the moonlight she could see the cut on the vamp's face. Buffy dropped the knife and gave the vampire a round of punches while the other two vamps watched. Buffy then threw the vampire into the broken wooden banister and he instantly turned into dust. Buffy seemed confused for some reason. One of the vampires that stood behind Buffy mumbled “Slayer.”

When Buffy heard “Slayer” from the vampire she instantly turned to the vamps. Both of them, so scared, backed awaytowardsthe front door, onto the porch and quickly left.

By the time the vampires had hopped on there motorcycles and rode off, Buffy was standing outside her front door. She was breathing heavily and seemed in a daze. She didn’t know what to think or what to do. Many thoughts were jumping around her head and instead of sorting everything through Buffy just ran.

She ran as fast as she could to a destination she didn’t know. All she knew was she didn’t want to be in the house anymore.

Buffy ended up back where she started her evening, the graveyard. She looked around and spotted something familiar, a crypt, Spike’s crypt.

Buffy entered Spike’s crypt like she had always had, without knocking. She slowly pushed the door open and saw a new set of furniture and a new TV. The layout of the room was the same, but yet the crypt felt different. The only sound that was in the room was Buffy’s breath. She moved away from the door and she traveled around the room.

Buffy didn’t know why she came to Spike’s place but for some reason seeing the same old crypt from the outside brought Buffy some comfort, unlike her home on Rivelo.

The sound of footsteps coming from the ladder made Buffy jump. She instantly thought ‘What was Spike going to say?’ ‘Did he go bad or is still sort of good?’ ‘Will he be able to help me?’ However, when the figure got to the top of the ladder Buffy saw that it wasn’t Spike. Instead of Spike, it was a demon with wrinkly skin.

”Uh…who are you?” the demon simply asked. In its hand he had a bucket of chicken wings.

Buffy didn’t answer and continued to stare at the creature.

“Umm…wait a minute…” the demon stepped closer, “…do I know you?”

Buffy stepped back when the demon came closer to her.

”Don’t be frightened…I’m…I’m good. I’m a good demon.” The demon reassured Buffy, “I’m Clemon—Clem.”

Buffy still didn’t answer.

”I’m a friend of Spike’s.” Clem said.

”Spike.” Buffy whispered.

”Yeah…Spike…you know him?” Clem seemed happy that she knew Spike so they could talk reassembly and she wouldn’t feel too insecure.

“Yeah…” Buffy answered Clem’s question.

“Well that’s good…” Clem said and started to study Buffy. Buffy noticed he was looking at her oddly and she turned away, “Oh…sorry…didn't mean to stare, it’s just…you look like…” Buffy turned to face him so he could finish his sentence, “…well you couldn’t be because she’s well…you look like Buffy Summers…the Slayer…” Clem said.

“I…I…am.” Buffy said.

Clem was speechless for a moment, “Wow…but you were…wow…oh boy.” Clem said and started to breath heavily, “Spike’s going to flip.”

”Where am I?” Buffy questioned.

Clem paused and looked at Buffy, “What?” he didn’t understand her random question.

”Is…is this hell?” Buffy looked up at him.

“What?” Clem asked, “No…this is Sunnydale…” Clem said but also mumbled, “But it’s close to hell.”

”It…it can’t be.” Buffy softly said.

She couldn’t comprehend that the world outside of the crypt was Sunnydale.

”Well it’s what’s left of Sunnydale…it’s gone downhill since the big attack of 66’. Most of the humans were marched out or killed.” Clem said.

“66? 66 what?” Buffy asked.

”2066.” Clem said.

Buffy blinked a couple times and stared at the demon before him as if he was crazy.

”What…what year is it?” Buffy asked, scared to get the answer.

“2082.” Clem simply said.

Buffy inhaled a big breath and turned around and ran out door.

“Wait!” Clem yelled, but didn’t stop Buffy, she was long gone.

TBC...

Chapter 4: Tell Me

After Buffy’s run in with the nice wrinkled face demon who now seemed to live in Spike’s crypt, she didn’t know what to think. ‘Is this really the future?’ she thought to herself. She tried to figure how much time has pasted since she was last in Sunnydale and she calculated a number close to eighty years. Eighty years is a long time, but to Buffy it only felt like yesterday she was fighting Glory and trying to save Dawn.

”Dawn...” Buffy spoke out loud as she walked the streets of Sunnydale yet again. ‘Was she saved? Is...is she still alive?’ Buffy thought.

Buffy stopped in mid step when she realized she was on the main street of Sunnydale where the Café Espresso was and the Magic Box. Buffy looked down the street in the direction on the Magic Box and saw the building that once was the Magic Box had be raided and possibly burned down many times. Even if she wanted to go inside to see what was left of Giles shop she probably couldn’t make it in, the building being so damaged.

”Thought I’d find you here.” A voice came from behind Buffy.

Buffy turned around and was face to face with a timeless face.

“Remember me? Hope being dead didn’t destroy your memory kid.” Whistler said and walked down the middle of the Main Street and closer to Buffy.

”You’re...” Buffy drifted off.

”Whistler...I came to see you—well to you it’s been three years since we talked...but in reality” Whistler looked around at the reality that was now Sunnydale, “Well...eighty years sure turned this place into a disaster...”

”What happened?” Buffy said softly, she was still getting use to talking and was having trouble thinking up the words she wanted to say.

”To Sunnydale?” Whistler asked, “Huh...don’t know where to start.” Whistler looked down at his feet and kicked some debris on the street and then looked back up at Buffy.

”Tell me...are they...my...are my...” Buffy trailed on.

”Are you asking if your friends and your sister are...well dead?” Whistler asked.

”Are...are they?” Buffy whispered, dreading to hear the answer.

”I’m sorry.” Whistler said.

Buffy looked down. She couldn’t even bring herself to tears. She didn’t even know how to bring herself to tears.

”If it makes you feel at all better...they didn’t die in battle...none of them did...they died of old age.” Whistler said, “Unlike you.”

”They...they did?” Buffy asked.

”Yeah...your friends...they protected Sunnydale...for a while...until they couldn’t do it anymore.” Whistler said, “And sooner or later...this happened.” Whistler eyed broken windows of stores and overturned cars.

”Why didn’t someone stop it?” Buffy asked.

”No slayer...” Whistler said, “Faith...you remember Faith...well she was in prison and couldn’t really help...the next slayer that was called had to wait till Faith died...so there wasn’t a slayer protecting the world or the stopping the Hellmouth for about thirty years.”

Buffy couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She was certain that her friends could manage without her and stick together. Those were her last dying wishes and yet, it seemed like they were ignore.

“How’d you know I was alive again?” Buffy asked.

“Long story...but I’m not the one to tell you...someone else will.” Whistler said.

”Why am I here?” Buffy asked.

”Sorry can’t really tell you that either.” Whistler said.

Buffy walked up to Whistler and punched him in the face.

”Yes. You. Will.” Buffy said sternly.

“I can’t. I’m not the one to tell the story...” Whistler said in his defense.

“But if you know...tell me.” Buffy said.

”Remember Spike?” Whistler brought up out of the blue.

”What...what about him?” she asked.

”He’ll fill you on some of the answers you want to hear.” Whistler said and backed away.

”What? Why...why him? And where is he?” Buffy asked.

”Don’t worry...he’ll be coming soon.” Whistler said with a smile, “But while we wait lets get you cleaned up.”

Buffy just stared at him, confused.

The Next Day...Nighttime
Los Angeles...

Spike hated LA. He traveled around the world for years and it was weird that he still lingered back to L.A ever so often. That night, after getting ganged up by a bunch of vampires and have to fight them, he decided to drink the rest of his evening in a demon bar.

He sat down at the counter and ordered a beer and take a load off. He heard at the other side of the bar a conversation heating up.

”...I’m telling you, she's human...” one of the vampires said.

The rest of the vampires in the group shook there heads and didn’t believe the guy’s story.

"There haven't been humans there for years...there are no humans left in that town." another vampire said.

”She was! I have a feeling she is the slayer.” The vampire storyteller said.

Spike instantly shot his head to look at the group of vampires talking and drinking beer. When he heard the word ‘slayer’ Spike listened.

”...she threw Eddie into the banister of the house we were staying in Sunnyhell.” the vampire said.

Spike got up off his stool and walked down towards the group of vamps. His boots were heard as he stomped down across the room.

”What did you say?” Spike butted into the conversation.

“Huh?” The vampire that was telling the story looked up at the bleached blonde haired vampire that was wearing at leather duster.

”There’s a slayer in Sunnydale?” Spike asked, trying to get the information straight.

”Uh...” the vampire said and looked to his group of vampire buddies, “Not sure...she could be...saw her the other night in a house my buddies were crashing in...why do you ask?” the vampire turned to talk back to Spike but Spike was already out the door.

Spike walked into the alley and got on his nice motorcycle and started it up and traveled down the road.

TBC....Thank you all for the reviews.

Chapter 5: I Walk Alone

If Spike had a heart it would be racing. He hadn’t been to Sunnydale in years and didn’t plan to return ever again, but there he was, in the middle of the night, speeding down the highway moving closer to the Hellmouth.

Every mile Spike got closer to reaching Sunnydale his memories in the back of his head became more and more clear. The memories seemed to play as if they were movie in front of his face.

“I'm counting on you ... to protect her.” Buffy said to Spike as held the ax in his hand.

”Till the end of the word…even if that happens to be tonight.” Spike answered.

He hasn’t played her voice in the back of his head for so many years; he didn’t allow himself do it. Trying to remember her voice only reminded him it was only just a memory, and all he had left was memories. And memories to Spike weren’t good enough.

“I’m counting on you…”

“I’m counting on you…”

Spike’s tears started to well up in his eyes but he never noticed them. The wind from the motorcycle ride blew his tears away in seconds.

He looked up ahead he noticed he was at the overlook of the town, which was once his home for awhile, the good old Hellmouth. He stopped his bike in the middle of the road and looked down at dark town and shook his head in disappointment. He saw in some of the streets barrels of fire burning and demons on the east side of town gathering. The site of Sunnydale looking like this disgusted him so much he started to get anger. He was anger with the new Slayer that was called living in Texas while the Hellmouth looked like this. Spike knew once he had run in with the new slayer, he was going to give her a good yelling at…and maybe her Watcher too.

Spike sighed, “Home sweet home.” He said to himself and started his bike up and traveled down into the valley of Sunnydale. He didn’t even have to bother doing his custom ritual of knocking over the ‘Welcome to Sunnydale’ sign, it was already knocked over.

She walked the alley with attitude, with a stake in hand and glare that would cause anyone a second thought before messing with her. Whistler cleaned her up the night before; gave her new clothes and a new set of weapons so she could do her job. Her hair was decent and her skin was nice and clean, anyone that didn’t know her would never guess she had been dead for eighty years.

Her mission was pretty clear after talking with Whistler, kill everything in the town. Take back her town; take back what was once hers.

Buffy came to the end of the alley and looked out onto the street and saw a bunch of demons gathering around a fire. Buffy was about to step out of the alley when a hand grabbed Buffy’s shoulder. On impulse, Buffy grabbed the hand and threw it over her shoulder and then noticed it was Whistler.

“Nice reflexes kid.” Whistler said with a touch of pain in his voice.

”What are you doing out here?” Buffy asked. She didn’t seem to be friendly or be sorry for her actions. She seemed nasty and defensive.

”Seeing what you are doing out here.” Whistler said and started to get up on his feet.

“I’m the Slayer…this is my business.” She nodded over to the group of demons.

”I know that…but don’t you think…maybe you should…I don’t know…wait?” Whistler didn’t want to come out and say that the Slayer couldn’t handle herself; if he did he knew he would get another throw down by her.

“I think this town has done enough waiting…its time to kill some demons.” Buffy said.

”Uh…do you think that’s a good idea…I’m mean, you just got back and all…you may be a bit…rusty.” Whistler said.

”Didn’t seem rusty when I threw you over my shoulder.” Buffy said.

”Well that’s different, I’m not a fighting demon….they are.” Whistler motioned to the demon pack.

”Get out of my way.” Buffy said
 

Whistler knew there was no way he could take on the Slayer, so this time he stepped away and let Buffy exit the alley.

Spike rode on his motorcycle to the entrance of the cemetery and stopped. He got off his bike and looked at the degraded graveyard and shook his head and started to walk into the cemetery.

He was on a mission to know what the news in Sunnydale was, if there was really a Slayer or not protecting the town. The only demon Spike knew that would be happy to answer his questions was his old friend Clem, if he was still alive and living in his old crypt.

Spike didn’t bother to knock when he opened his old crypt door. Clem instantly jumped out of his seat in front of the TV and his bowl of popcorn tumbled to the ground.

”Oh man…way to make an old demon—“ Clem instantly stopped in mid-sentence when he saw his bleached blond vampire friend walk through the door, “Spike! Where have you been…long time no see pal.”

”Hey Clem.” Spike gave a nod.

”What…how? Where’ve you been?” Clem asked, “Been awful lonely with you gone and all.”

“Yeah…look…Clem…” Spike started but got interrupted.

”You should have been around two weeks ago…a couple of the old gang got together and decided to go to that new demon casino on the edge of Vegas and—“

”Clem!” Spike stopped Clem from talking.

”Yeah?” Clem asked.

”Look…I got some news that I need to know if it’s true or not…” Spike began.

”OH you mean about the Slayer…wow, news travels fast...I mean she only just got here about a day ago.” Clem said.

”So it’s true? The Slayer is in town?” Spike asked.

”Well yeah…but—“ Clem said but that was all Spike wanted to hear and went out the door, “Wait!” Clem called out, “Jeezs…no one lets me ever finish.” Clem mumbled.

TBC…thanks for all the reviews and the nomination.

Chapter 6: The Aftermath

Summer, 2001

Xander and Willow took every back street that they knew in Sunnydale to get away from the demon bikers that had invaded town. They had wondered around for nearly two hours, trying to find a familiar landmark that might guide them to The Magic Box. Willow being wiped out from the big spell that was performed, didn’t help there journey.

“Do you know where we are?” Willow asked Xander who had his arm around her waist, trying to help her walk.

”Uh…” Xander looked around, “Yeah…I think the Magic Box is this way.” He pointed forward down a different alley and they started to travel some more.

The two best friends walked in silence down the alley, both of them still had there minds on what happened earlier.

“Maybe we could try again…I mean…maybe-maybe we can find another urn.” Willow said out of the blue.

“Will please…” Xander said in a tone that pretty much begged Willow not get into the discussion about the resurrection of there friend.

”We could…I mean—or maybe Tara and I could—“, Willow began but stopped when Xander stopped walking. Willow turned to Xander to see why he stopped.

”She’s gone Willow.” Xander looked straight into Willow’s eyes and tried to set things clear to his best friend.

Willow just looked at Xander, her eyes were starting to get watery but she never let a tear roll down her cheek. They both started to walk again down the alley in complete misery.

Inside The Magic Box Tara and Anya were worrying about Willow and Xander. Anya was pacing near the counter while Tara was checking out the big front window to see what was going on outside.

Frantic knocking was heard from the back training room. Both Anya and Tara exchanged a glance before rushing towards the back door.

”Umm…looters?” Anya asked in a scared voice. Tara just rolled her eyes at Anya’s question.

”Anya!” Xander’s voice was heard from the other side of the door.

”Xander?” Anya asked in relieved voice and unlocked the back door and opened to see Xander and Willow.

Tara helped Xander take Willow, and Anya instantly gave Xander a hug at the doorway.

”I knew you weren’t dead.” Anya said as she hugged him.

”I will be if we don’t close this door.” Xander said and loosened out of Anya’s hug and shut to door.

Xander and Anya turned to see Willow and Tara sitting on a stack of gym mats.

”What took you guys so long?” Tara asked.

”We kind of got lost in the woods…did you hear from Spike and Dawn?” Xander asked.

”No…we called them but no answer.” Anya said.

“Maybe they’re on their way.” When Xander finished his sentence he heard a frantic knock at the door Willow and Xander just came through.

”Ask if it’s a looter.” Anya whispered to Xander.

“Open the bloody door!” Spike yelled from the other side of the door.

Xander quickly opened the door to see Spike and Dawn, and they both quickly entered. Dawn was wearing a football helmet.

”What’s up with the hat?” Anya asked about Dawn’s football helmet.

”It’s a helmet.” Dawn said defensively and took off the football helmet and threw it down on the ground.

“Jeezes…no reason to get defensive.” Anya mumbled.

”How many are out there?” Xander asked Spike about the demons outside.

”I don’t know…saw a bunch near the house...I don’t get why they’re here…” Spike said.

”Well…it seems that they know about Buffybot.” Anya explained.

”What?” Spike asked and looked at Willow and Tara. Spike saw blood stained on Willow’s face and squinted his eyes to examine her, “What happened to you? Is that blood?” Spike asked Willow about her face.

Willow instantly looked down, wanting to hide her face.

Spike looked from Willow to Anya and Xander and back to Willow and Tara, “What’s going on?” he demanded. Dawn also looked around at the group, waiting for answers too.

”Nothing…” Willow mumbled.

”If nothing happened, why did you paint your face in bloody blood?” Spike asked. He was started to get mad because the Scoobies were obviously keeping something from him.

”We did a spell.” Tara came out and said it.

”A spell?” Spike asked.

“Yes, but it doesn’t matter now…it didn’t work.” Willow looked up at Spike.

”What kind of spell?” Dawn asked.

”Anya take Dawn in the other room.” Spike said while glaring at Willow. It seemed that by just looking at Willow he figured out what happened.

”But—“, Dawn was about to object but got cut off by Spike’s hard voice.

”Now.” Spike said.

Anya and Dawn didn’t want to mess with Spike so they did as they were told. As soon as the two girls left Spike started to move closer to Willow and Tara.

”Please tell you didn’t do what I think you did.” Spike said.

”We did.” Willow said looking at Spike and with no shame in her voice, “But it doesn’t matter…it didn’t work.”

“Look—“, Xander was about to explain but stopped when Spike’s head wiped around and gave a deathly glare.

Spike turned back to Willow, “How could you do this…how could you not tell me!” Spike shouted and clenched his jaw.

”We thought you wouldn’t—“, Tara began.

”Thought I wouldn't what!” Spike asked, “Understand? Approve? Because you’d be right, I don’t approve. How could you be so stupid! What if you started an apocalypse!” Spike paused and said it a low voice, “What if you did something to her soul?”

Xander, Tara, and Willow looked away from Spike’s face, sort of looking ashamed. They never thought of the effects of whatwouldhappened if the spell was partly done.

”You think I don’t want her back! I probably want her back more than all of you combined…but this wasn’t the way…did you even think of the effects…the consequences?” Spike asked the three.

”It doesn’t matter now! It didn’t work!” Willow spoke let tear escape her eye, “We failed...I failed.”

TBC...

Chapter 7: Face to Face

SUNNYDALE 2082

As Spike traveled through the graveyard and out onto the street after running into Clem he had on thing on his mind, ‘I’m going to ring out this Slayer’s neck. How dare she walk in when she wants and decide to FINALLY help.’

The barrels of fire were starting to burn out in the main streets and it was getting darker. However, it didn’t matter to Spike; he hunted better if it was dark anyway; easier for no one to see him.

---------------------

After leaving Whistler in the alley Buffy approached the gang of vampires that were huddled in the middle of the street. Her hands swayed back and forth as she neared them. In one hand she carried her stake, firmly grasped in her hand.

”Well, well, well…what do we have here?” a vampire said as he spotted Buffy walking near them, with no intention to stop.

Buffy came right up to the nearest vampire and punched him straight in the face, and knocked him down. Another vamp took a swing at Buffy but she ducked and kneed him in the stomach and hit him on the back to knock him down. Every vamp stepped up and tried to take a piece of Buffy but had failed. She didn’t kill them with her yet thought she wanted to play with them first, get back into the game that she hadn’t played for so long.

The first vampire Buffy knocked down gets up from the ground and faces Buffy, “Who are you?” he asked as they circled each other.

”Guess…” she said as she pulls out her stake.

”The Sla—“ the vamp didn’t finish his sentence, Buffy staked him and he burst into dust.

The sound of motorcycles came from behind Buffy made her turn around to see six demons on bikes coming straight towards her. The leader on the bike stopped a few feet in front of Buffy and got off the bike.

”A Slayer…guess this is my lucky day.” The demon said.

The rest of the demons on bikes circled Buffy on there bikes, and the crowd of vampires started to create a circle so Buffy had no way of escaping. Then the bikers got off there bikes and walked near the circle. Buffy surveyed the demons and vampires around her and saw she was in trouble. The fight now was one to about fifteen.

“Feeling lucky…Slayer?” The leader smirked at Buffy.

------------------

In the distance Spike heard the sounds of battle. He instantly thought this was his lead to meeting up with the Slayer so he grabbed the chance and started to run down the street, turned the corner and saw the huge fight. Demons were being tossed into dumpsters and lying on the ground. Spike couldn’t see the person that was tossing the demons and vampires like rag dolls so he started to walk forward.

--------------------

Buffy punched and staked the vampire to her side and kicked one of the demons a few feet in front of her. She took a moment to stop and catch her breath but then she felt a hand on her shoulder, turning her around. She was face to face with the leader of the demon bikers and he took the opportunity to grab her by the throat and lift her in the air.

“You made a big mistake coming her Slayer…” the head demon said as he stared at Buffy face in his hands. Buffy was struggling, and tried to use her hands to break free of the demons grasp but she had no luck.

“The Hellmouth belongs to us and you alone can’t do anything about—“ the demon stopped in mid sentence and dropped Buffy to the ground for some reason.

The demon leader looked as if he was he pain. He turned around and there was an arrow sticking out of his back. He turned to see who his new attacker was and saw down the street Spike pointing a cross bow at the demon. Spike lowered the cross bow down and stared at the demon.

“Spike…” the head leader said.

”Razor…” Spike said.

”I see you’re back in town…” Razor said.

”I am.” Spike said and glanced down at what he figured was the Slayer on the ground, coughing from lack of breath.

Razor followed Spike’s eyes down to the ground to look at Buffy, “She’s a pretty Slayer…” Razor looked up at Spike, “Come to fall in love with this one too?”

Spike didn’t answer and started to walk forward. Razor also walked forward too and they started to fight.

------------

Buffy’s eyes were blurry and she felt dizzy from her lack of breath. She looked up at two fighters in the dark and tried to adjust her eyes to see who her rescuer was but couldn’t focus on the face. Her head slummed down to stare at the pavement and she coughed one more time.

---------

Razor and Spike held each others heads with there hands but Spike was quicker and stronger, so he got the upper hand and snapped Razor’s head and threw him to the ground. Spike leaned on his knees to rest, he took this time to look up and see the girl still on the ground.

Spike straightened up, “You know luv, you shouldn’t really be here without backup…”

The girl still was on her hands and knees on the ground, not looking up.

Spike started to walk forward, “I’m impressed you took out that many by yourself…but it was still a stupid move.” Spike stopped when he was in front of her. He looked down at the girl with no pity. “Get up.” Spike said with a pitch of anger in his voice.

Buffy slowly started to get on her feet, with her hair blocking some of her face. She started to move around Spike so she could walk away, but Spike didn’t let her go that easy. Spike quickly grabbed her hand and made her stop and face him.

Buffy’s eyes were harsh and in pain. Her lip started to tremble, which had blood on the corner.

When Spike saw Buffy’s eyes he instantly let her arm as if it was fire. His eyes grew wide in disbelief. He didn’t notice her pain or anger at the moment, he was focused on that she was right in front of him. Alive. Breathing. Buffy.

The moment ended when Buffy turned her face away and started to run down the street. Spike didn’t go after her, his feet seemed to be heavy and he didn’t register what was happening. He just watched as Buffy continued to run.

TBC…Next Chapter Spike goes after Buffy. Don’t worry Spuffiness from here on.

Chapter 8: Breathe

The sun was high and bright as it shined over Sunnydale. The town looked completely different during the day. During the day the town looked deserted, there were no vampires or demons to be seen or heard. However, living on the Hellmouth didn’t mean that if you heard nothing that nothing was there, there was always something unseen by the naked eye.

In the shadows vampires hide away from Mr. Sunshine and waited till sunset. Even though Spike thought he was better than the other demons and vampires in the town didn’t mean he couldn’t avoid the sunshine, so like the others he had to hide in the dark too. Just before dawn Spike traveled back to the graveyard to his old crypt, it was the only place he knew that was a guaranteed save place to stay.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Spike asked Clem. Spike was sitting in the comfortable chair looking down at the ground with his hand rubbing the top of his head, moving his curly bleached hair.

“You didn’t give me a chance.” Clem shrugged. Clem sat opposite of Spike on a coffin watching the vampire’s actions.

Spike moved his head to look up at the ceiling and shut his eyes, “God…” he mumbled.

“Do you know where she went?” Clem asked.

”No…she ran off before I could…” Spike looked straight ahead into space.

“I’ll help you look for her when night falls.” Clem suggested trying to get an actually emotion out of Spike. At the moment Clem couldn’t read what Spike was feeling. Spike’s hurt, anger, joy, sadness just wasn’t coming to surface, “Are you okay?” Clem asked.

Spike eyes were glossy and he blinked back tears, “She was there…” Spike whispered, “Right in front of me, she was there…” Spike shook his head and continued to stare off, “I touched her…and she was real…”

Clem looked down at his lap.

“…but…her eyes…they were different…” Spike looked down at his lap, “Like she lost her fire… like she was angry, afraid, and hopeless all at the same time.” Spike said.

“She came back from the grave man…that’s not something you can get over in a snap.” Clem said.

Spike looked up at Clem, “I got to find her.”

“I don’t think Mr. Sunshine will let you right now.” Clem nodded towards a window in the crypt that showed a little sunlight.

”Then I’ll take sewers or the alleys…” Spike got up from his seat and started to the bottom level.

“What are you going to do when you find her?” Clem asked.

”I don’t know.” Spike said and went down the ladder to the bottom level that was connected to the sewers, “But I can’t stay here while she’s out there.”

-------------------

After going through every dirty and smelly sewer, and looking in all the potential dark alley’s that someone would hide Spike was still unsuccessful at finding Buffy. By the time he was done searching the last tunnel in the sewer it was dark outside again and he could now venture the streets and cover more ground.

While walking down the sidewalk towards the old shopping area Spike heard a sound. The noise sounded like pieces of metal hitting each other. Spike looked to his left and saw a huge fence blocking the area where the noise was coming from. He continued to walk forward when he spotted a hole in the fence that he could walk through.

Once Spike got through the other side of the fence he saw her…Buffy. She was sitting on a large piece of debris that once was the tower that she swan dived into the portal that killed her eighty years ago. The pieces of the tower looked rusted and shrubs were starting to grow in-between the spaces of the tower. Buffy continued to sit and look down at her healing knuckles, oblivious that Spike had entered the scene, and Spike looked at Buffy as he did the night before, shocked and in disbelief. However, in a few moments he was over it and slowly and quietly walked forward towards her until he was standing in front of her.

Buffy sat staring at the two heavy black boots that entered her view for a minute until she let her eyes wonder up and meet the blue eyes. Buffy sat like a child looking up at a grown up while staring back at her old nemesis that fell in love with her and became her allied so many years ago.

Spike crouched down to be eye to eye with her green sparking eyes that looked like they were about to burst into tears. It took every ounce he had in him to not lift his hand and touch her face.

“Nothing seems to feel right anymore…” Buffy said while looking at Spike.

Spike looked a little shock that she talked.

“I…I know.” Spike said to her.

They didn’t say anything the rest of the night. Spike later sat on iron beam watching Buffy look up at the sky and into space. He analyzed her breath and the way her hair danced when a gust of wind came out of no where.

About an hour before dawn he looked over at Buffy and saw she had laid her head down and fell asleep. Spike walked over to her and wrapped his coat around her body to keep her warm and picked her limp body in his arms. Once he lifted her up he could see her face up close, he got the sudden memory of the way Buffy looked when she lied dead on the pieces of rubble, the way her face looked then and now was exactly the same with only one small difference…Spike could see and feel her breathe.

TBC…

Chapter 9: Eighty Years of Grief

Both Spike and Buffy were asleep on the bottom level of the crypt at the moment. Buffy was laid out on an old bed and covered with a small blanket and Spike’s coat on top of that. Spike sat on the chair next to her, sleeping with his cheek resting on his propped up hand that leaned on the arm rest.

Spike arrived back at Clem’s crypt just as the sun was starting to come up. Buffy didn’t stir at all as Spike carried her the whole way, and once they were inside Spike took her to Clem’s bed and laid her down to watch her rest. He watched her until he couldn’t hold his eyes open anymore.

As Spike rested he had mixed up dreams that made him shift in his seat.

“…One…good…day.”

”… I've always been bad...”

“You're all covered with her. I look at you... all I see is the Slayer.”

“I don’t smell a soul anywhere on you…why do you even care…?”

“…I’m counting on you…”

“…I made a promise to a lady…”

“…to protect her…”

”Till the end of the world…world…world…world…”

The echo of the word ‘world’ in Spike’s dream made him jolt out of his sleep and look around his surroundings to find out where he was. He instantly laid eyes on the sleeping form of Buffy on the bed next to him, and when seeing her peaceful face made Spike sighed in relief. He slowly got up out of the comfy chair, making sure he didn’t make a sound, and went up the ladder to the upper level of the crypt.

Once Spike got to the top of the ladder he saw that Clem was watching the television at a low volume, not noticing that Spike was in the room.

“Hey.” Spike said, and in an instant Clem jumped up, spilling his snacks.

”Woah...” Clem said holding his chest and breathing heavily, “You guys got to stop doing that to me…”

“Sorry.” Spike mumbled.

”I thought you were asleep.” Clem said, bending down on the ground to retrieve the dirty potato chips he spilled.

”Yeah, I was but I- I just…” Spike trailed on, “What time is it?”

“You guys slept all day…its night again…” Clem said.

Spike nodded.

”She still asleep?” Clem asked quietly.

“Yeah.” Spike simply said.

“So…what are you going to do?” Clem asked, and after a pause he asked, “About Buffy?”

”Not really sure…” Spike said and walked over to a chest in the corner of the room and started looking through it, “Maybe…maybe I’ll take her out of town… somewhere else…”

”Why?” Clem shrugged.

”You kidding?” Spike asked, looking up at Clem, “You think she’d want to stay here? I mean…look around you…Sunnydale is no longer sunny anymore…this place has gone downhill…” Spike said while looking back in the chest.

“But this is her home…don’t you think she would want to stay? It’s familiar to her.” Clem asked.

”Familiar?” Spike looked back up and started walking towards Clem, “This place is the total bloody opposite of familiar…she probably couldn’t tell the different from this place and hell…”

Clem looked down at the ground because he knew it was the truth. He remembered when he first saw her and she asked ‘Is this hell?’

“...staying here is something I don’t even want to do…” Spike continued.

“Do you know why she’s here? What brought her back?” Clem asked.

Spike looked down at the ground, “Yeah…”

”You do?” Clem asked.

“Yeah…magic…” Spike said quietly.

”What?” Clem asked.

“…it always has consequences…” Spike continued to say quietly, ignoring Clem’s question.

Clem just stared at Spike and then turned his head in surprise at something that stood behind Spike. Spike turned around and saw Buffy standing by the ladder. The silence was unbearable for all of them, but none of them knew what to say.

Buffy took one last look at Spike and then started to head for the door. She left so fast that Spike couldn’t call out her name until he got out the door.

”Buffy!” Spike called out.

Buffy stopped and turned around, waiting for Spike to talk. But all Spike did was stand there and stare at her, and when she knew he wasn’t going to speak she turned around and continued to walk.

Spike gave a small growl in frustration and started to walk again, trying to catch up to her in the graveyard, “Wait!” He yelled out, but she didn’t turn around or stop, “Wait!” he shouted again and finally got up to her to touch her arm.

”Let go of me.” Buffy mumbled and took her arm away from his grasp and kept moving.

”No.” Spike said, and stepped in front of her and set both of his hands on her shoulder, “Listen…look…I know this is confusing to you and all—“

”You don’t know nothing…you don’t know what I’m feeling.” Buffy said harshly.

“You’re right…and you don’t know what I’m feeling either.” Spike pointed out and still held on to her shoulders, while she struggled a little bit.

“I said let go of me!” Buffy said and shoved him away and punched him in the face, which made him go tumbling onto the ground instantly. Buffy looked at Spike on the ground, holding his face in pain, and then in a moment she walked away.

Spike climbed back onto his feet, looking anger and frustrated while rubbing his nose. He then started to walk again, picking up on speed, and grabbed her arm once again.

“Don’t walk away from me…” Spike growled at her, “Don’t you dare…”

Buffy looked at him for a moment and then punched him once again in the face and did a kick in his stomach, “Leave. Me. Alone.” She said, looking harshly at him.

“You need help…” Spike mumbled quietly, “Leaving you out there alone will just get yourself killed.”

”Good.” Buffy said and turned around but didn’t get a single step in as she felt Spike turn her around once again and hold her shoulders with a harsh firm grip.

“NO…not good!” He said, “Seeing you die the first time nearly killed me…eighty years …eighty years, Buffy…eighty years of torment…eighty years of pain…eighty years of days that I’d fear that I’d wake up and not remember your voice, or your smile…do you know what that’s like?” Spike asked with anger.

Buffy didn’t answer and just stared at Spike and he stared back. He slowly let go of her shoulders, giving her the choice to run or stay.

“You need someone…I know I’m not your first choice but…I’m someone…” Spike said when he saw she wasn’t running away, “And if you decide to run away…I’m coming after you...”

”Why would you want to do that?” Buffy said quietly.

Spike paused and looked at her, “Because I love you…”

TBC…

Chapter 10: Welcome to Hell

‘Because I love you…’ The sound of Spike voice echoed in Buffy’s head as she walked down the sidewalk of the trashed Sunnydale. At Buffy’s side as she walked was Spike, having no intention of leaving one step away from her. After Spike told her he loved her they just simple started walking all of over Sunnydale, not talking.

At times Buffy glanced over at Spike and noticed that there was something different about him. She tried to pinpoint what the change was but came out with nothing. Buffy noted that he still dressed the same and had the same bright bleached hair, so she concluded that it wasn’t his physical appearance that changed.

As they kept walking Buffy’s thoughts were automatically washed away when she saw something. She stopped dead in her tracks to stare.

Spike noticed Buffy wasn’t walking by her side anymore and so he turned around and looked to see what she was doing. Spike saw her looking at the building that was once the popular Sunnydale hangout, The Bronze. However, it wasn’t The Bronze that Buffy was once familiar with; the building was old and looked unsafe.

Spike looked from the building back to Buffy for her reaction. He stood there for a few moments until her saw her finally starting to walk towards the building entrance. Spike watched as Buffy ripped nailed boards off the main door, and walk inside. Spike followed her at a safe distance, not wanting to disturb her.

Inside The Bronze the air was stale and dusty. To Buffy it was just yesterday that the building had be reopened after the troll destroyed part of the building, but for her to see it like this now it was just mind-blowing.

Buffy walked over to what was left of the performance stage, and ran her hand across the dust that had collected over the years.

“Not pretty is it?” the sound of Spike’s voice echoed in the building.

”No…it’s not.” Buffy said in a whisper without looking at Spike.

“This place has really gone downhill…” Spike said while looking around at the building, “Nothing in this town is right anymore.”

Buffy turned around and faced Spike, “What happened to my town? Why did it get so bad?”

Spike quickly glanced at Buffy when she addressed him and stared at her for a moment, “You died is what happened.”

”What’s that suppose to mean?” Buffy asked.

”It means…once you died…it seems that the town died too.” Spike said giving Buffy a meaningful look.

Buffy looked down at the ground to think and then looked back at Spike, “I can’t believe that happened…that my friends…Giles…I can’t believe they would let that happen.”

”It’s not their fault pet…their was no slayer in town and so we did the best we could …your friends couldn’t fight forever…old age caught up with them.” Spike said and then looked down.

Buffy also looked down at the floor. She couldn’t believe they were gone.

”How about you?” Buffy asked without looking up at Spike.

”What about me?” Spike looked back at her.

”Why’d you stop fighting?” Buffy looked up at him.

”I never have…just…I haven’t been around here…” Spike explained, “I guess Sunnydale seemed like a lost cause…no one cared anymore and so, I guess I stopped caring too.”

”And other Slayers?” Buffy asked.

”Other Slayers are around...just not stationed here…I guess they were just too scared.”

”Too scared! Being the Slayer means putting fear aside and facing the scariest thing the world…being the Slayer means not caring about your own damn life and caring about other people’s lives before your own. Too scared? I guess those girls don’t really know what a Slayer really is.” Buffy said.

Spike looked at Buffy’s face and saw how upset she was. “Yeah…I guess they don’t” he said while staring at her.

Buffy walked over to a wobbly table and looked down at it. She turned her back to Spike so he couldn’t see some of her tears escape her eyes. The tears slid down her cheek and onto the dusting table, leaving imprints in the dust.

“About that night…” Spike started. He wanted to say this for eighty years to Buffy and now he had his chance. “The night we fought Glory…I just…” Spike looked up and saw Buffy looking at him with teary eyes. He wanted to come over and brush her tears away but he just continued talking, “I’m sorry for what happened…”

”What?” Buffy breathed out.

Spike couldn’t continue while looking at her face so he turned away and continue to speak, “If I did what you told me- if could have kept Dawn safe…you wouldn’t have had to jump.”

Buffy gazed at Spike until she spoke, “No…”

Spike turned to face her.

”It wasn’t your fault…” Buffy said.

”Buffy if—“

”Death was my gift.” Buffy interrupted him.

”What?” Spike asked after a moment of silence.

”A few weeks before the battle…I went on a spiritual guide. The First Slayer told me that death was my gift…I didn’t understand what it meant until I was up on that tower. Everything was so clear and I knew everyone I loved was going to be alright, so I sacrificed myself for my sister…I died for the world…” Buffy looked around at the building, “But not this world.” She looked back at Spike, “I don’t know what to do now….”

”How ‘bout we take it one day at a time?” Spike suggested, “And for now let’s go back and get some rest and some food…you must be starved.”

Buffy nodded and walked towards the exit and Spike walked beside her.

”What about the town?” Buffy asked.

”It will still be here tomorrow…” Spike said as they both exited The Bronze the way they came in.

Las Vegas….

It seemed that Sunnydale wasn’t the only place where demons had taken over. In Las Vegas demons and vampires seemed to have run amuck. Hotels and casinos were now the owned by vampire gangs. Everything in the city was centered on one hotel though, called The Crypt.

On the twenty-fifth floor was where the vampire staff catered to the owner of the hotel’s everyday need. One vampire knocked on their boss’s door.

”Come in.” a voice yelled from behind the door.

The vampire entered through the door and looked around at the beautifully decorated office in a huge room. The vampire walked slowly towards the main desk as if he was afraid. Behind the desk was a nice executive office chair that faced away from the regular vampire but towards the nicely lighten city of Vegas at night.

”Sir…” the vampire spoke cautiously.

The chair spun around quickly and there sat Angel, grinning.

”Please…call me Angelus.”

Chapter 11: Better Left Dead

In the middle of the graveyard at night a group of vampires were hanging, smoking and talking without a care in the world. Now that there were no longer any humans left in Sunnydale they were discussing leaving, find a new town to crash.

”How about Seattle…its rainy 9 months of the year; its vampire paradise.” One vampire suggested to his gang.

“Nahh…that place is already squirming with vamps; it’s like Disney World there for us.” Another vampire said, he seemed to be the leader of the gang.

“Is Disney World still around?” another vampire asked.

”I’m not sure.”

”We could go and find out.”

”Florida is one of the sunniest places in the country you dumby.” The vampire leader said and threw is cigarette close to the vampire.

”How about Vegas…heard that’s the place to go.” Another vampire said.

”Yeah but it’s like invitational only to get to stay at the nice buildings that are sun-proof.” The leader said.

“I think you guys should go to Colorado…” Buffy’s voice came out of no where.

The vampires got up off the ground and looked around and spotted Buffy and Spike standing on top of a crypt. The vampires just glared at the two of them.

”…I hear it’s nice time of year…but hey…that’s just my opinion.” Buffy said then got serious and whipped out her stake.

Both Spike and Buffy jumped down off the crypts roof and started to fight the group of vampires. The fight was two to ten in the beginning but after nearly twenty seconds the vampires were dropping like flies.

Spike punched one vampire down onto the ground. On the ground the vampire examined Spike.

”Hey…aren’t you Spike?” the vampire asked.

”Good guess.” Spike said and pulled out a crossbow from behind his back and aimed it at the vampire, “Now here’s a lovely prize for playing our game.” Spike pulled the trigger and hit the vampire straight in the heart. Spike started to reload his weapon but he paused when he looked over to see Buffy fighting off her last vampire.

’God how I miss watching this…’ Spike thought to himself as he watched Buffy’s moves.

Buffy plunged the stake into the vampire and then began to dust herself off. She turned around and stopped when she saw Spike staring at her.

”What?” Buffy asked.

”Nothing…” Spike said quietly and shook his head.

Buffy shrugged and started to walk off in the graveyard. Spike followed close behind.

“So…good fight back there huh?” Spike said after there was a moment of silence.

It had been a week since Buffy had been back from the grave, and everyday Spike thought he was starting to make a little bit more progress with Buffy. He was glad that she didn’t look so pale anymore and that she was starting to eat when he took her out of the town to a regular restaurant. He noticed she was talking more, but however it wasn’t the things Spike wanted to hear. He wanted to know where she was when she was dead, and how she is feeling about being back.

They both still stayed a Clem’s crypt until they could find another arrangement.

“Yeah…I guess it was a good fight.” Buffy said while she was still walking and looking around the cemetery.

Spike grabbed Buffy’s arm to make her stop walking, and she did.

”What?” she asked.

“Just…” Spike started while staring at her. He noticed she had a blank face that he couldn't read. In the past, Spike knew how to read her like a book, but now it was hard to know if she was sad or really pissed at him. He hated not knowing what was going on in her head, he felt like he had to keep his guard on all the time because he didn’t know if she would strike out at any point in time.

“What?” she asked again with a little more attitude.

”Nothing…” Spike mumbled as he stared at her.

Buffy shook her head and turned around and started to leave, but Spike didn’t follow.

”Where were you?” Spike called out to Buffy.

Buffy froze in place for a moment before turning slowly around and looking back at Spike.

”I need to know…” Spike said, “Where were you after you…?”

Buffy paused, “Why do you want to know?”

“Because I have to know…” Spike said and started to walk towards her, “It will eat me away if I don’t know and right now it’s eating you away too.”

Buffy stared at Spike for a moment, “Alright…I’ll tell you.”

Spike was surprised that she agreed so quickly. Usually it was like pulling teeth with her to cooperate.

”But you have to tell me one thing…” Buffy continued.

”What’s that?” Spike asked.

”Why and who brought me back?” Buffy asked, “Whistler said you had all the answers…so…tell me.”

Spike glanced away from her as he began to speak, he couldn't bear to look her in the eye.

He took a deep breath, “It-It was the summer after you…after you died when it all started. I was looking after Dawn one night, Giles had flown away to England, and your friends….your friends decided to go behind my back and do something dangerous.”
Spike faced Buffy as he ended his sentenced.

Buffy took a deep breath and waited for him to continue.

”They thought Giles, Dawn, and I didn’t understand the pain they were going through…” Spike snorted, “However, it was just the opposite….we felt the pain ten times as much as they did, we were the ones hurting the most.”

Buffy looked down at her feet, still listening.

”So they performed a spell one night…but it got disrupted…Sunnydale was under attack by a bunch of demons and they interrupted the spell, which didn’t make it work out the way they planned.” Spike paused, “I guess they didn’t get what they bargained for.”

“Why’d they do it?” Buffy asked softly as she looked up at Spike with a few tears running down her cheek.

”I think you know why.” Spike said.

Buffy sniffed and nodded. She turned around so Spike could no longer see her tears or see the expression on his face what she was about to tell him. She looked out in a distance at the graveyard as she began to speak.

”I can’t believe they…if they loved me they would let me go.”

”Buffy they—“ Spike started but she interrupted.

”I was happy.” She simply said and stared off in a daze, “…and I was at peace…being where I was…I felt a great deal of happiness and love and joy. I felt complete…and finished.”

While Buffy talked on Spike stood there in shock.

“…I don’t really know what to call where I was...if there really is a heaven…then…then I think I was there.”

Buffy looks upset and distressed. She then starts to walk away and lift Spike standing alone in the graveyard. What Buffy didn’t know was that she was not the only one upset, a tear escaped and slide down Spike’s cheek as he watched her walk away.

TBC...

Chapter 12: His Angelic Smile

A/N: Some of this stuff comes from the episode off of Angel in Season 4 titled “Long Day’s Journey”.

When Buffy got back to the crypt she went straight to the bottom level and crawled into the bed that she had called her own for the past week. She laid her head on the pillow and stared off at the wall. Buffy didn’t even bother to say hello to Clem when she walked into the crypt. He asked her how patrol was and tried to make small talk but Buffy just tuned him out of her mind and kept walking past him.

When Spike walked through the crypt about an hour later Clem jumped in and started questioning him.

”Hey, where have you been? Buffy’s downstairs…is she alright? She’s been down there for an hour. What’s going on?” Clem asked.

As Clem kept talking Spike walked passed him and over to the weapons chest that was placed in the corner; he put his stakes and the crossbow away.

”Spike?” Clem asked when he noticed Spike was acting odd.

“She was in heaven.” Spike said softly as he stared down at the stake in his hand before he placed it in the chest, “She was in heaven.” Then he slammed the chest closed.

Clem flinched at the loud sound, “What?” he asked quietly.

Spike walked over to a sarcophagus and sat on it. He took a deep breath that was more like a shiver. He kept his eyes locked on his hand, which he was clenching together tightly.

”Heaven…” Spike said and then chuckled at the word, “Of course she would be there…” he mumbled.

Clem frowned, “She told you she was in heaven?”

”Yeah…” Spike sighed.

“At least you now know why she is…the way she is.” Clem said.

”Yeah…god…why is this happening to her?” Spike asked, “She doesn’t deserve this.”

”Yeah…I know….” Clem said as he watched Spike get up off his seat and started to pace.

”We should keep a close eye on her…” Spike concluded and then looked back at Clem, “Theirs no telling what she could do.”

”Right…sure I’ll look out for her.” Clem nodded and then automatically thought of something, “Wait…did you tell her about your…you know?”

”No…not yet.” Spike said.

”You can’t hide it forever.” Clem said.

”I know…but we have more important things to take care of, like trying to get Buffy back on her feet and getting Sunnydale back to its old self.”

Clem nodded, “Your right…one thing at a time.”

Los Angeles

2002

Cordelia and Connor stood anxiously near their car in an alley, staring up at where the sun was shining. However, the sun was replaced with a ball blocking it, making darkness spread over LA.

Angel and his crew exited the building and came into the alley. Seeing Angel, Cordelia ran over to him.

“Angel we have to talk.” Cordelia said.

Fred glanced up at the sky in awe, “I can’t believe we lost the sun.” Gunn, Angel, and Wesley glanced up with her.

Cordelia ignored Fred’s comment and addressed Angel, “I think I figured it out.”

Angel glanced from the sky to Cordelia’s face, “So have I…The Beast knows me.”

Cordelia shook her head, “No…it knows Angelus…I had a vision while you were gone…a memory.”

Gunn looked at Cordelia, “How could you have a memory that is not your own?”

Cordelia looked at Gunn, “I told you, when I was a higher being, I’d experienced everything Angelus has done. But some how now, the Powers have refreshed me about what happened…” Cordelia turned to Angel, “I saw you...it was long ago…in a field of bodies with The Beast.”

Connor looked at Angel with disgust and outrage, “You knew this thing and you never told us!”

Angel ignored Connor and stared at the ground, thinking, “No…I couldn’t come up against something like that and not remember.”

Gunn thought of something, “’The answer is among you.’” Angel turned to Gunn and both of their eyes met, “That’s what the little girl in that white room said…is-is this what she meant? That it wasn’t about Connor…that it was about—“

”Angelus.” Fred finished Gunn’s sentence.

Angel shook his head, “I told guys…I don’t remember.”

”I don’t think you should trust your memory Angel…you didn’t remember killing Manny.” Cordelia said.

”What?” Angel asked and turned to Gwen.

”It was an inside job.” Gwen said.

”So what does this mean?” Angel asked.

”It means you’re a suspect. If Cordy is right, then this means that The Beast had some sort of mind control on you to make you forget.” Wesley explained.

”And he has a plan…blocking the sun, taking down Wolfram and Hart, the rain of fire….” Cordelia said, “And I think those things are not the finally straw…it’s gonna lead to something bigger.”

”I don’t know what to tell you guys…I don’t know what the plan is. I don’t remember.” Angel said with frustration. He felt like he was repeating himself a thousand times.

”No, but Angelus might.” Wesley said.

Fred didn’t like the sound of where this conversation was going, “Wes…”

Wesley stared Angel straight in the eye, “The only way to defeat The Beast…” Wesley paused, “Angel, we need you to be Angelus.”

Angel stared at Wesley and all of his crew, and then lastly he stared up at where the sun was. All that was left was darkness consuming the sky.

Las Vegas

2082

Up on the twenty-fifth floor of The Crypt Hotel and Casino, Angelus stared out his big office window in the daylight and smiled. He loved his new necrotempered glass that his staff installed in the hotel so he wouldn't burn up.

Their was a knock at the door but Angelus seemed to ignore it, and whoever was outside the door decided to take the chance and come in anyway. The vampire that walked in looked business like, dressing sharp and was holding a folder.

”Uh…boss? Can I have a minute?” the vampire asked.

Angelus just continued to stare out into the city of Las Vegas in a daze; he noticed there were no people out in the streets. He laughed to himself, ‘Maybe because there ARE no PEOPLE left in the city…only demons.’ he thought.

”I remember a time where the sky was dark all day long…for days.” Angelus said out loud, remembering the time The Beast came to L.A.

The vampire that stood a few feet away looking side to side, not know how to respond.

Angelus placed his hand on the window, and looked at his hand, “We’re like caged animals here…” he said while still looking at his hand stay on the glass, “This is not good enough.” Angelus mumbled.

From Angelus’s point of view, he was the one being laughed at; being looked down upon. At the moment he didn’t seem too satisfied with his big hotel and casino, and the fact that practically ever vampire in the city loved him. Angelus wanted more.

Angelus took his hand off the glass and made a fist and punched the glass. His hand sizzled as he drew it back from the outside daylight and he walked off away from the direct sunlight that came pouring through the hole in the window. However the little business vampire wasn’t too lucky, in an instant he was on fire; burning into dust because he was standing right in front of where the hole was made. Angelus didn’t take the bother at watching the vampire burn, he just walked across his office, avoiding the sun, and walked out his door.

In the hallway Angelus grabbed a random vampire that walked by and barked an order, “It seems I made a mess in my office…clean it up.”

”Right away sir.” The vampire said.

Angelus shoved the vampire away and walked down into the hallway, humming himself and smiling.

TBC...

Chapter 13: Damaged From the Inside

Buffy and Spike were crouched behind a bush, watching two demons talking with one another. They were getting ready to attack, all they had to do was right for the signal. After Buffy had told her little secret of being in heaven both the blonde duo had been avoiding the subject. Spike figured that when Buffy was ready she would talk more about her pain of being in the world. But while he was waiting for that time to come he decided to try to ease Buffy back into the world she once knew, slaying the bad guys.

“Where’s Clem?” Buffy whispered to Spike.

”He should be coming any moment.” Spike whispered back, eyes still glued on the two demons.

There was silence between them and then they both saw the two demons to walk away.

“Damn it…they’re walking away.” Spike mumbled and crouched down even lower and started to move. “Stay close” he said and moved swiftly toward another bush.

However, Buffy didn’t follow orders, she stayed put. She seemed a little hesitant of moving towards Spike, she was afraid of being caught. Spike motion her to come over to where he was but she shook her head. Spike mouthed to her, ‘Come on!’ Buffy shook her head again and mouthed, ‘No!’ Spike rolled his eyes and looked back at the two demons and observed them. Buffy turned her head back to the two demons as well and then saw Clem walk into the scene. Both Buffy and Spike watched as Clem started talking to the two demons casually for a few minutes.

”…so you guys are heading out of town?” Clem asked.

”Nothing here to stay for…heard there was a slayer around in Sunnydale, but I think that was just rumor…” one of the demons said.

”You staying in town?” the other demon asked Clem.

”Yeah…its home…” Clem said and tried to act casual.

”You should try going to Las Vegas…” one of the demons said, “That’s where were headed.”

”Las Vegas huh?” Clem nodded and made a noted in his head the city of Las Vegas.

”Yeah…ever heard of Angelus?” the demon asked.

”Uh…no.” Clem lied.

“Master vampire…was once souled about eighty years ago…but get this, he lost his soul because his human friends wanted him to…” one of the demons laughed.

Clem did his fake laugh, “Yeah…that’s funny...”

”Yeah…Angelus just a few days ago came up with a plan to change everything for vampires…actually, to change the world…” the demon said.

”You don’t say…” Clem said, “Well…best of luck with all that uh…changing the world business.”

”I still don’t know why you stay here man…nothing left in this town but ghosts of the past and a few drunken vamps…” the demon said.

Clem backed away from the demons and stood in between the bushes that he knew Buffy and Spike were hiding behind, “You’d be surprised…” Clem said to the two demons.

Buffy and Spike rose behind their hiding places, ready for business. Both of the demons looked shocked and anger that they were set up.

”Slayer…?” one of the members mumbled.

”Surprise!” Buffy said with a little smile and ran from behind the bush and began to bet on one the demons while Spike took the other.

Spike threw his punches left and right until his demon collapsed to the ground. Having the opportunity, Spike grabbed the demon’s neck with both hands and snapped it with one quick motion, letting the demon drop dead onto the ground.

Clem walked up beside Spike and whispered, “What is she doing?” Spike looked over to Buffy and saw her giving the three horned fellow a good rough and tumble just for fun.

Spike sighed, “She’s just getting back in the game…” Spike and Clem continued to stare at Buffy pound the demon until he was just a limp body. Spike walked up from behind Buffy and grabbed her arm to make her stop but she just shook it off and continued to beat the demon on the ground. “It’s dead luv…” Spike whispered.

Buffy was panting heavily when she stopped her thrashing out at the demon. She took her hands off the demons bloody face and looked down at her palms, they were covered in bloody. Her behavior reminded her of her sister slayer, Faith.

“Buffy?” Spike watched as Buffy stood still. He was getting worried because she wasn’t moving away from the demon.

Buffy had a flashback of the time she was trying to help Faith stop being bad and killing.

‘You know exactly what I'm about 'cause you have it in you, too…’ Faith said.

‘No, Faith, you’re sick!’ Buffy said.

“Buffy?” Spike’s voice broke through Buffy’s flashback.

‘I’ve seen it B…you got the lust…’ Faith told Buffy.

‘…I’m not going to do this…’ Buffy said.

‘Why not? It feels good.’ Faith said.

Buffy shook Faith’s words off her mind and looked back at her hands that were still covered in blood. Buffy looked up and saw Spike’s questionable face. Then she looked over and saw Clem staring at her as if she was a crazy girl. Buffy took one glance at both of them before turning around and running off.

”Buffy!” Spike yelled as she kept running.

Clem stepped towards Spike and watched too as Buffy ran off through the cemetery.

”Are you going after her?” Clem asked and looked at Spike.

Spike sighed; he seemed exhausted with the whole situation. “I don’t know…I’m tired of running after her…I don’t know what to do anymore…”

”Maybe…maybe you can’t help her…” Clem said.

Spike looked at Clem, “I’m not giving up hope…”

Clem nodded, he knew whatever he said to Spike would go in one ear and out other. Spike was on a one set mind when it came to Buffy and Clem knew that his vampire friend will not give up her; Spike loved Buffy too much for that.

“So…what did those demons say…any info?” Spike changed the subject.

Clem sighed, “Well…”

Buffy broke into an old home that seemed to be uninhabited for years, figuring it didn’t matter; the town really wasn’t going by the law anymore anyway. She walked into one of the bedrooms and saw a king size bed. Buffy sighed and walked towards it but then stopped and moved mirror that was hanging over dresser. She stared at her reflection, she seemed like she was looking at a stranger.

“Who are you?” she asked the reflection in the mirror after a few moments of staring at herself.

After she asked the question she got no reply, so she asked again.

“Who are you!” she asked a little louder and tears welled up in her eyes.

Then she asked it once more but it more like a cry and scream. She took her fist and punched the mirror, shattering it. She didn’t stop once the mirror was broken, she kept punching it and punching it, not caring the pain she was causing to her hands.

Her screams and words that rolled off her tongue seemed to come from a place of anger, confusion, and madness. At one point she yelled ‘You don’t belong here!’, and then she yelled ‘You’re dead inside!’ repeatedly.

So out of it, Buffy didn’t even notice that something was pulling her back from the mirror, holding her and trying to calm her down. She kept thrashing out but the person held a strong grip on her until she was no longer fighting.

Buffy looked up and saw Spike as she cried, “Please…please” she sobbed, “Please help me. Help me….”

That’s all Spike needed to hear when he brought her close to his chest, protecting her as she continued to sob.

TBC…