"Miss Summers!" the voice of English teacher Jenny Calendar caught Buffy off guard and she snapped out of her daydream fast. Of course in truth it was not so much a dream more of a memory. Friday night with Spike had been the most incredible night of her life and she'd spent many hours of her weekend replaying the scenes in her mind or telling Willow some of the highlights. The red-head seemed a little worried about her friends apparent obsession with this mystery guy but she didn't like to say anything. This was the happiest Buffy had been in months and there was no way Willow was going to be the one to spoil it.

As Buffy spent the entire weekend floating around on a cloud, Dawn smiled secretly to herself and crept out of the house to see Spike. One thing she was kind of glad about was it seemed as yet Will had not given up his secret identity. She liked the mystery thing and she knew that was part of what attracted her sister. She wanted to make sure things were strong enough between Buffy and Spike before he admitted to being William, at least that way he stood a chance of Buffy forgiving him for lying all this time.

He himself had a similar floaty feeling throughout the weekend and his mother noticed he was not without a grin all weekend! She liked to see him so happy after so many years of being apparently friendless and lonely. It now seemed life was getting better for her son and she was very pleased.

William was of course thrilled to know that Buffy was in love with him as he was now with her, and moments they'd shared on Friday night would stay in his memory forever. It had been a hell of a night and he wanted more but he also knew the dream couldn't last forever. Eventually he would have to confess to her that her dream man was nothing more than a geek with new clothes and a bit of borrowed attitude.

Now here he sat, just a few feet from the girl he loved and who had freely admitted to feeling the same way about him, and at this moment she barely knew he was alive. There had to be a way to make her see that he and Spike were one and the same, without her going completely crazy at him and never wanting to see him again.

The bell rang to signal the lesson was over and the teacher yelled over the sounds of scraping chairs and quiet voices.

"I want to see Buffy Summers, Percy West, and Amy Madison before you leave this room" she told them as the rest of the class filtered out. William hung back so he was last out of the classroom and was still by the door when Buffy came out muttering to herself.

"I suppose Miss Calendar didn't like your Shakespeare essay?" he asked her carefully.

"Like I need to know this crap anyway!" she complained as an answer to his question, "I have to write the whole thing again, what sense does that even make?!" she yelled as she stormed off down the corridor and he hurried to keep up with her.

"I could help, with the re-write" he told her, making her slow down and listen to him but not stop as they headed towards the row of lockers where hers resided, "If you want we could meet and go over your essay together, it shouldn't take long"

By now they had arrived at her locker and the gang were all already there, watching with amusement and expecting to see Will get knocked back again. They had figured he'd given in with the whole Buffy obsession but apparently not.

The blonde looked over at her friends, catching sight of Angels' nasty grin. He really loved to see people like William get shut down and Buffy so wanted to piss him off right now.

"Thanks William, that'd be great" she smiled, surprising the whole group, "We could meet in the Espresso Pump after school" she suggested, "today if you're free or tomorrow?"

William was shocked almost into silence when Buffy continued to smile at him and agree with his suggestion. Angel slammed his locker door shut, shoved an arm around Faith and stormed away as the gang stifled both shocked looks and smiles as they too filtered away.

William and Buffy set their study-date for tomorrow at four and then went their separate ways down the hall.

- - - - - - -

"I can't believe you actually got my stupid sister to agree to date you as yourself" Dawn laughed at the absurdity of it all as she sat in William's living room and waited for him to come down the stairs, "If it was so easy, why did we do the whole Spike thing?"

"It's not that easy" Will shook his head as he came down the stairs and responded to the young girl's yelling, "She only agreed to this because of Angel" he admitted somewhat sadly, "and because of the ridiculously good mood her date with Spike has put her in" he realised with a frown, it was still quite strange to talk about oneself in the third person.

"Y'know you look pretty cool for your geek-self" the girl smiled, hoping that would cheer him up.

"The more time you spend with Ripper, the cheekier you become, madam" he laughed as she did the same, though he appreciated her half-compliment really.

"So" William sighed, picking up his books, "do you have any plans of your own?" he asked her.

"Andrew said he was going to the record store tonight to pick out some new stuff" she shrugged, "I might go see what he's getting"

William smiled to himself, glad that Dawn liked this other boy. He wasn't vicious like Angel or ridiculous like Xander, he seemed decent enough and it was comfort to know that Dawn didn't like himself too much beyond friendship.

"You hoping he'll invite you to the Prom?" he asked and watched his young friend blush profusely.

"I don't know" she shrugged, "I mean, I know he's older and everything and a lot of people think he's weird but, I think he's cute and sweet and...oh God this is embarrassing" she laughed nervously and tried to hide behind her hair.

"There's nothing embarrassing about it" William said matter-of-factly, "You like him, there's no reason on Earth why he shouldn't like you. I only hope one of you has the nerve to do something about it" he told her with a smile.

"This was supposed to be about your date not mine" she reminded him and he looked at his watch with a moment's panic.

"Oh bugger" he cursed when he saw the time and hurried to the door with Dawn right behind him. She stifled a giggle as they said their goodbyes and he practically ran down the street. He was most definitely still William underneath it all but there was a small part of Spike that wasn't so very manufactured either.

- - - - - - -

"Hello Buffy" William tried to greet the girl without sounding so obviously out of breath, "I'm sorry if I'm a little late"

"No problem" she shrugged as he sat down on the stool beside her, "Let's just get this over with"

William wished she sounded a little more enthusiastic about spending time with him. She was so thrilled to be near him when he was Spike, but this way he might as well be anyone. Still, he comforted himself with the thought that she was probably just in a bad mood because she had to do extra homework and not because it was him she was doing it with.

Buffy got out her essay and passed it to William who frowned as he read her work. It was not what one could call good at all, which surprised him because she seemed like a fairly intelligent young woman.

"I'm usually not so bad at English" she defended herself, as if she'd read his mind "I just...lately things have been a little crazy" she shook her head and smiled as she thought about the craziness and just how fun it'd been.

"Anything you want to talk about?" William asked her, trying not to smile himself. The grin on her face right now was just the same as the one she wore when she was with Spike.

"No, it's not school stuff" she assured him, looking into the back of a spoon someone had left on the table "It really doesn't matter"

He nodded and looked back at her essay.

"Okay, well..." he stopped short when the spoon clattered to the table and Buffy threw her head in her hands.

"It's just this guy!" she complained a little to loudly, seeming as if she'd forgotten where she was and who she was talking to.

"Which guy?" Will asked casually as he could manage. Buffy looked at him seriously, wondering why he cared. He'd stooped hanging around her like a little lost puppy quite a while ago, and Willow really liked him as a friend so she said Hi to him in the halls sometimes but they weren't really more than indifferent acquaintances. Still, she had to tell someone because the whole situation with Spike and the gang was driving her crazy.

"Okay" she began "You remember I had this stupid idea about like my perfect boyfriend or whatever?"

"Er, yes" William managed to sound fairly casual, as if he could vaguely recall the conversation. In truth he was certain he remembered it by heart, it had hurt so much to hear that he never stood a chance with the woman of his dreams.

"Well, all of a sudden, I met him!" Buffy explained, and William couldn't help the smile that formed on his face.

"Your perfect man?" he checked, loving that she was talking about him this way, and, however wrong it was, getting a bit of a thrill out of knowing she had no clue.

"Pretty much" Buffy nodded "but y'see the problem is, I've met him twice now, I don't even know his real name and I haven't really seen his face cos he has these sunglasses..." she trailed off, looking a bit dejected. William panicked a little.

"And this is a problem?" he asked her "I thought you liked mysterious"

"I do" Buffy agreed "but...I mean, he could be anybody. What if underneath all the leather and bleach and attitude he's just, well, normal" she looked at him like she really did want a proper answer. William really didn't know what to say, since it was true. Underneath it all Spike was him, a regular, less-than-average geek.

"That would be a bad thing?" he said, half as a question, half as a statement.

"I don't know, I..." Buffy's voice disappeared as she realised he looked far from happy now.

'Of course, great move Buff' she thought to herself, 'No ordinary guy is good enough for you, not even him!'

"I think maybe we should get back to Shakespeare" she said with a half-smile and William nodded, glad to let that particular topic of conversation go, though for different reasons to those that Buffy was thinking of.

For something else to do, William began to turn the pages of Buffy's essay and couldn't help but laugh when he stumbled across one particular paragraph.

"What?" Buffy wasn't sure whether to be insulted or amused by the way he was staring at the page in apparent disbelief. Clearing his throat, the young man read aloud what had made him laugh.

" 'Juliet shoved a knife in herself because she came around and Romeo had already kicked it...' "

"I know, it sucks" Buffy tried not to laugh herself at how ridiculous it sounded. Her mind really hadn't been on her school work lately, but if she didn't get this right Miss Calendar would fail her in English and her parents would go nuts!

"Well, what you said was correct in theory" William assured her it wasn't so bad when she rested her chin on her hand and looked a little grumpy "you just could have worded it better"

"Okay" Buffy nodded picking up her pencil, her hand hovering above a new piece of paper "how would you say it?"

"Er, well..." the boy thought about it for a moment and then answered with his own version " 'Tormented by her lover's untimely demise, Juliet sheathed Romeo's dagger in her bosom and joined him in eternal rest...' "

He felt a little stupid when he looked over at Buffy and found she was just staring at him.

"Wow" was all she could find to say "I mean, that is just...wow" she repeated, as she put pencil to paper and frantically wrote down what he'd just said. William tried his best not to blush but found it was ridiculously difficult, despite the fact that when he was Spike he never got the least bit embarrassed or nervous about anything.

"Seriously, you're pretty smart" Buffy smiled, finishing off her sentence "You must think I'm so stupid"

"Not at all" William shook his head "Actually I think you're perfect" he blurted it out without thinking and her eyes darted up to meet his.

There was a moment when she wondered what it was she'd ever disliked about this guy, and a similar moment when he thought about telling her all about his being Spike, but that moment was all too quickly broken when a waitress walked over and waited to take their order.

"Er, you want a coffee?" Buffy offered, shaking her head to bring her out of a slight daze.

"Sure" William nodded with a small smile. Could it be that Buffy was beginning to like him for himself now? He'd see how the rest of their study-date went before he did anything stupid.

- - - - - - -

Buffy was almost disappointed when she realised that she now had all the tips and help she needed to re-write her essay to Miss Calendars standards. William had been so helpful, as well as kind of fun she realised as they exited the Espresso Pump together.

"Thanks for this" she smiled and gestured with her papers. William smiled.

"You're welcome" he told her, feeling that the time they'd spent together had gone even better than he'd hoped "Buffy, I was wondering if you would re-consider my offer of going out sometime?" he dared to ask, finding his shoes very interesting as he awaited her answer.

"Oh Will, I'm sorry" she shook her head and looked very awkward "I mean this was fun but it was a homework thing and..."

"And you actually don't like me at all" William couldn't believe he'd been so stupid as to think his real self would actually be of any interest to Buffy what-so-ever.

"Of course I like you" the blonde surprised herself by saying, though it was true "it's just complicated" she told him, hoping he'd understand, but knowing he really wouldn't since she barely did herself!

"Yeah" William laughed painfully as he turned to walk away "Y'know maybe Dawn was right" he called over his shoulder "She said you weren't worth the effort"

Buffy mumbled curses under her breath as she leant back against the wall by the coffee shop. Why did she have to be such a bitch to the poor guy? When had life gotten so complicated?

"Could today get any worse?" she asked the sky, before bringing her eyes back down and seeing two guys walking towards her, both in black leather jackets.

"Oh, thankyou" she said sarcastically as Angel and Xander arrived in front of her, neither looking very happy.

"Buffy" the taller of the two tried to control his temper "What's with spending time with the freakazoid?" he gestured with his head in the direction William was disappearing down the street.

"Well he helped you with your essays right?" she reminded him "Now he's helping me with mine" she shrugged like it was no big deal. In truth she knew one of the main reasons she'd accepted William's offer of help was because it would bug Angel to no end.

"You looked...friendly" he told her as if it were the worse thing in the world. She knew why he felt that way, it had always been the unwritten rule that their group of friends were above spending time with the other students termed as the freaks and geeks. It just seemed like a really stupid way to live these days.

"And it's a crime to have friends now?" she shot back. Angel opened his mouth to reply but Xander jumped in, always eager to back-up his 'leader' in an attempt to be as cool.

"It is when they're freaks like him!" he said forcefully until Buffy practically shot daggers from, her eyes at him and Angel have him a shove towards the door of the coffee shop.

"Xand, go wait for me inside" he ordered.

"But I..." the less tough brunette started to protest until both Angel and Buffy gave him a look that made him move his ass like he'd been told.

"Angel, what is this really all about?" Buffy asked him, as soon as their friend was gone. She knew it was more than just Will helping with her essay, and more to do with her going out with Spike on Friday night.

"We're really over, aren't we?" he said almost sadly "I mean, totally"

The look on his face, like a puppy that just got kicked, was making Buffy feel awful, despite the fact that she'd dumped Angel for a totally valid reason, and he'd got with Faith way before she'd even met Spike.

She couldn't really understand at first why that seemed to hurt him so much, but when you thought about it they had dated for quite a while. Besides it was more than just the end of their relationship they were taking about, it was getting close to Graduation, the end of their 'gang', a complete change to their lives.

"Yeah, we really are" she nodded "I've moved on, so have you"

"Easy as that, huh?" Angel shook his head, he'd never thought he and Buffy would end. He cared for Faith a lot and he was almost certain he meant it when he said he loved her, but it still hurt to know Buffy could be happy without him "And here was me thinking you were one of us" he said too nastily for her liking, "Guess your new friends mean more to you these days" with that he stormed into the coffee shop and Buffy's mouth opened and closed like a fish.

She should have expected a tantrum from Angel, he was incapable of letting things go. Still she'd had a decent time with Will today, and Spike had promised to meet her at the Pre-Prom event at the Bronze on Saturday...though that really was bugging her. How the hell did her magically appearing dream guy know about her school dance?

"So you guys will ride in Angel's car and I'll bring the girls in mine" Cordelia, ever the organiser, was still finalising plans for the Pre-Prom party at the Bronze this weekend. The gang were already dreading what she would be like in the week leading up to the actual prom if she was so bad now.

"Buffy are you even listening?" Cordy complained as her friend stared out of the window. She knew the others were getting bored of what they considered to be her rambling, but they at least pretended to listen. Her blonde friend it seemed was not even up to doing that.

"Sure, listening" Buffy snapped out of her daze only when Willow nudged her with her elbow, "Er, Pre-Prom thing, going in your car, got it" she repeated back.

"Hey Buff" Xander got her attention, "You gotta forget this Spike guy, he's bad news y'know"

She knew he was just saying it because Angel had told him too. The man himself was too afraid of losing Faith to make anymore comments on the subject so he'd got his second in command to do it for him.

"You don't know anything" Buffy shook her head as she got up from the table and walked away.

From across the room, William watched her go and sighed. When he was with her and he was Spike it couldn't be more perfect. Last Friday had been the greatest night of his life, and he thought Monday would be a close second when Buffy agreed to a study date after school. All his hopes and dreams were shattered when she made it perfectly clear he meant nothing to her, barely a friend nevermind anything else.

Had he been a fool, pretending to be what he wasn't so that she might love him? He knew the truth must be told and soon. The Prom was fast approaching and then they would graduate, if he didn't act fast this thing was going to escalate out of all proportion.

He'd quite decided that when it came to the Pre-Prom extravaganza at the Bronze, he would tell her who he really was, consequences be damned. He clung on to the shred of hope that she would understand and still want him, though he was also preparing himself for the worst.

- - - - - - -

"How can it go wrong?" Ripper asked the boy at the garage after school that day, "From what you and the little one have been telling me, Buffy thinks you're Adonis personified. She should be made up to find out you're a decent bloke underneath all the mystery"

"I'm not so sure" William shook his head, wiping grease from his hand down the leg of his overalls, "It's impossible to know what is going on in her head"

"S'not just her" Ripper scoffed, "All bloody women are the same. You can drive yourself nuts trying to please 'em, an all for nothing" he shook his head, "'Cept once in a while you get a little gem like your Buffy, and you just know, no matter what happens, it was worth the effort"

"S'pose you're right" William sighed, "but it doesn't make telling her the truth any less daunting" he realised.

"Right now, I don't think it'd matter if you told her you were a demon fresh out of hell" Dawn called from the door, she's been standing there listening for a while before she came in, "She's so completely head over heels for you, there's just no way she could let you go"

"How long have you been standin' there, you little minx?" Ripper wanted to know and Dawn shrugged.

"Long enough to know Spike is totally wigging over my sister...again!" she said with emphasis on the last word.

"You know what she means to me, Dawnie" William shook his head, "I just can't stand the thought that I'm gonna screw things up" he played with the wrench in his hands, looking down nervously. He'd been so much more confident since the whole Spike thing, even when he looked like regular old William, and Dawn hated knowing he was so panicked about this.

"Will, I promise it'll be okay" she swore, "And hey, it's not just gonna be you all nervous and panicky on Saturday" she told him, making him look up at her with a questioning look, "It's not exactly a date but Andrew said he'd save me a dance" she smiled, ducking her face behind her hair as she blushed scarlet.

William appreciated that she was nervous too, and that she was trying to re-assure him, but it was hardly the same thing. Eventually it was obvious that Andrew and Dawn would end up together, or at least dating for a while. What was far less certain was whether Spike would have a reason to go on existing after Saturday night. As much as he cared for Buffy, and he really did love her deeply, William felt he would be very disappointed to let go of his alter-ego as well as her, if it all went wrong.

- - - - - - -

Buffy stood outside the Bronze, checking her hair and make-up in the side mirror of the nearest parked car and flattening out the last couple of crinkles in her little black dress. The party started at seven and she'd arrived right on time, unsure when Spike was planning on getting there and definitely not wanting to miss him or have him think she stood him up.

Cordy had been kind of annoyed when Buffy had screwed with her meticulous planning, and had been dropped off by her mother instead of going in the car with the rest of the girls. Faith and Cordy didn't want to arrive too much before the guys or be the first ones there, they liked to make an entrance and so a certain amount of fashionable lateness was required. Willow went along with that and so they would not arrive til at least seven thirty.

Buffy checked her watch and realised it was almost that now. Several of those termed as the geek squad had already arrived but Buffy didn't pay any attention to them. She was sort of disgusted with herself when one of them said Hi to her and she didn't even know his name til he prompted her. She couldn't remember talking to Jonathan since seventh grade, and yet they'd been friends before. How had she turned into such a bitch?

It all made her think of William and how terribly she'd treated him. She wondered if maybe he'd show up at the party, but it would make little difference to her in the long run. After all she was waiting for Spike and who knew what excitement the night could hold once he arrived.

In the distance Buffy heard a bike engine and a smile spread across her face as she saw the headlamp of Spike's motorcycle as he approached. What she failed to notice was the black car coming from the side.

"I'm so glad you're here, I..." she began as soon as the bike stopped in front of her, but he never got the chance to answer her or even turn off the engine as a head appeared out of the black car's passenger window.

"It's him!" Xander yelled as Angel peered out of the other side of the vehicle.

"I warned you two!" he shouted angrily, "Now this guy pays!"

Spike pulled the bike round to leave, and Buffy panicked.

"Don't go" she begged and Spike smiled, reaching out a hand to her face.

"I'll be back, gorgeous" he promised, before he raced off, swerving around the car and burning rubber down the street.

"This time we get him, Summers!" Angel grinned maniacally as he revved the engine.

"Angel, no!" Buffy called as the car swung around and gave chase to the bike. The blonde girl panicked, wondering what to do for the best, then she saw her salvation.

"Cordy!" she screamed as the red car came into view "Cordy, we have to follow them, they're gonna kill him" she cried as she forced Faith forward in the passenger seat and scrambled into the back with Willow.

"What?!" was all Cordelia could find to say, glancing towards the Bronze and then into the back of the car at her friend.

"Please, just drive" Buffy begged and with a glance to Faith who nodded, Cordelia put the car in gear and sped off in the same direction as Spike and Angel's gang had gone.

"Buffy, what the hell is happening?!" Faith yelled at her friend, turning in the front seat to peer over at the blonde.

"It's Spike" she explained, tears streaming down her face "They said they're gonna kill him"

"Your mystery guy?" the brunette frowned as they all looked up ahead, straining to spot Angel's car.

"Buffy they wouldn't do it" Willow shook her head as she got hold of her friends hand "Oz wouldn't..."

"He wouldn't need to Will" Cordelia called from the front, interrupting the red-head "Angel would, and as much as I love him Xander is stupid enough to help"

"And Andrew'll do anything to stay in that gang" Faith added, actually starting to worry a little now. She was okay with the guys getting into fights, she'd got into more than a few herself in the past, but now they were talking about murder.

"Oh my God" Buffy gasped, pointing to the road ahead, as a bike flew around the next corner with a black car in pursuit. Cordy screeched the tyres as she made the tight turn to follow, and Willow tried to comfort her distressed friend.

"It's okay, Buffy" she said putting an arm around her, hugging her as she cried "I promise it'll be okay" she knew she should be making no promise of the kind but what else could she say?

"Where the hell is he going?" Cordy mumbled as they pulled round yet another bend, and started travelling uphill.

Faith shook her head as she looked up ahead.

"We're a half mile from a dead end" she told her friends, "This chase'll be over before you know it"

Buffy brought her head up from Willow's shoulder to glance at the view and she realised Faith was right. This was the way Spike had brought her on Friday night, up to the bluff over-looking the whole town. She wondered why he would lead the guys up there if he knew there was nowhere to go when he reached the top...or maybe he'd thought he'd lose them before now.

- - - - - - -

"He's got nowhere to go, he has to pull up" Xander yelled excitedly as they continued to chase the bike up the slope.

In the back of the car Andrew looked scared stiff and Oz, though he'd given up trying to tell Angel and Xand this was a bad idea, was far less than happy with what was happening around him. He'd spotted Cordelia's car racing along behind them, and knew both his girlfriend and Buffy looked petrified.

The black car stopped abruptly when Angel realised driving any further would be suicide. What he couldn't believe was when Spike didn't make the same decision. The bike he rode flew off the edge of the precipice. As if in slow motion it hung in the air and then it was gone, tail lights disappearing into nothingness.

"What the hell...?!" Xander yelled as he climbed from the car, the other guys doing the same. Angel's face was pale and he was shaking though he tried to hide it. This guy had just driven to his probable death, and all because of him.

"Spike!" Buffy screamed as Cordelia's car screeched to a halt and the girls ran from it, "What did you do?!" she shrieked at Angel who still stood motionless a few feet back from the edge.

Oz being the most sensible and least panicked amongst them climbed right up to the edge and looked over and Buffy ran up beside him.

"He's not down there" the currently green-haired guy told Buffy and then the assembled group.

"What do you mean he's not down there?" Xander frowned coming to see for himself, "Where did he go?"

"He's dead" Buffy said flatly, as tears ran unchecked down her cheeks. Willow immediately ran to her side.

"Buffy, he's probably okay" she tried to comfort her friend, "You said he rode that bike like no-one else ever could. If that's true, you know he'll be okay"

"She's right, B" Faith did her best at sympathetic but soon realised why she didn't usually try, "and hey, he wouldn't've felt nothin' even if he did hit the bottom"

Cordelia rolled her eyes as she pushed past her friend and came to stand the other side of Buffy.

"Come on, sweetie, we have to get out of here" she said gently as she could, whilst Buffy only cried harder.

"Yeah, we should get out of here too" Oz told the guys, taking the driver's seat when it was clear Angel was in no fit state. Andrew was only too happy to get away from this place and Xander felt sick now he realised the guy might really be dead. Threatening violence, even doleing out punches was fine but to be an actual murderer, he hated to think he should take some of the responsibility for what happened here tonight.

Buffy could not stop crying as the girls managed to get her into the car and drive back to The Bronze. Willow had suggested they take the blonde home, but she said she couldn't face her parents in this state. They didn't know about Spike, and probably wouldn't approve if they did. It seemed Buffy would be forced to mourn for her love alone, who else was going to care?

Rupert Giles, a man known to the town of Sunnydale by the dangerous handle of Ripper, was loathed to admit it, but he was actually worried. There were few things in the world he truly cared about and even less that he thought were worthy, but one boy he'd come to care for almost like a son was William Spencer. He assumed it was because there were so many similarities between the two of them. Like William, young Rupert had been quite the geek, all into books and poetry and wearing sensible shoes that his mother picked out for him. Then he'd met this girl, an American exchange student called Jenny Calendar.

That girl was all he wanted but she paid him less attention than the mud on her shoes. She was never unpleasant to him, she didn't care enough for that, he just didn't even register on her radar and eventually Rupert decided something had to be done about it.

First came the ripped jeans, the leather jacket, then the punk music and attitude, that soon earned him the name of Ripper as he learnt to fight and took on anyone who so much as looked at him in the wrong way. He got a motorbike and a gang, and was soon known all over town as a man not to be messed with. Jenny fell into his arms as the cliché predicted and it seemed that happily ever after was inevitable, but all too soon Ripper lost his girl back to her home country.

His luck seemed to come and go like the tide, his favourite uncles death bringing him terrible pain, but at the same time joy since he'd left a vast sum of money to his nephew. Enough cash now to travel to America and good enough prospects to apply to stay, Ripper went in search of his beloved. It was a hell of a shock when he arrived at her home only to told by her distraught flat-mate she'd been killed during a mugging a few days before.

The pain almost tore him apart, and for days he survived on scotch and little else. He plotted revenge, the one thing that he was not as proud of as some might have been, but that was a topic he did not dare to dwell on too much and he wasn't given a chance as Dawn came bolting into the garage, tears streaming down her face.

"Oh bloody hell"

- - - - - - -

"I just feel awful for her" Willow was close to tears as she slow-danced with her boyfriend, looking over his shoulder at Buffy. The blonde was sitting at the bar, still crying over her lost love.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart" Oz sympathised, "but y'know Angel never meant for that to happen, and I'm not saying I'm glad he's gone, but maybe it's better for Buffy to find a real boyfriend, not some fantasy guy"

"I know you're right" Willow nodded, "but you didn't hear her talk about him, Oz. She was so into him, it was insane but it was so real. I think somehow they really were in love"

Not knowing what to say, Oz just pulled his tearful girlfriend closer as they swayed to the music.

It was clear that none of the in-crowd gang were really enjoying this event that should have been spectacular and second in greatness only to the Prom of next weekend. That was set to be equally as dismal at this rate.

Cordelia had managed to adequately distract Xander from grim thoughts of possible murder charges, and Faith was trying to do the same for Angel. Andrew seemed to be in some kind of shocked state until Dawn arrived a few minutes later. That was when bad got worse.

"Hey Andrew" she smiled as she sat down on the stool beside him. The girls had left without her before, as Joyce insisted all her homework be done before she headed out to the party. Her father dropped her off and she was to get a ride home with her sister and friends at the end of the night.

"Hi Dawnie" he replied, not really looking at her. She was terribly disappointed since she'd spent so long on her appearance tonight.

"Is something wrong?" she asked, wondering why he was staring at some meaningless spot on the wall.

"Your sister's boyfriend...er, Spike, I think" he explained, "Something bad happened"

Dawn closed her eyes and sighed. So it seemed William had told the truth and Buffy wasn't quite so forgiving as she ought to be. Well, Dawn was gonna have to deal with this. She stormed over to her sister, only seeing her from the back until now. It was as she arrived at her side she realised how upset she was.

"Buffy, I have to talk to you...Why are you crying?" she asked, knowing she should be more angry than tearful about William's dishonesty.

"What do you care?!" her sister snapped, trying to dry the tears from her cheeks but finding it pointless as more replaced them faster than she could cope with.

"Of course I care" Dawn was quite hurt to think Buffy believed that she didn't, "So tell me"

The blonde swallowed hard, looking up at her little sister through a veil of tears.

"Spike's dead" she choked out before beginning to sob all over the bar again. Dawn shook her head, a frantic stream of words filling her head but none willing to leave her mouth as she stepped back in shock. She glanced around the club and then ran for the door, making it just outside before she threw up spectacularly.

If Spike was dead, that meant William was too - they were one and the same after all. He was her best friend, sometimes her only friend, not counting Ripper, and that was different because he was a grown-up. Of course she had to tell him what had happened, only she didn't really know. Maybe he did? It didn't matter who knew what, she realised as she ran for all she was worth, heading for the garage on the other side of town. It was miles but she didn't care, as she pounded down street after street. Almost half an hour later she burst into the building and Ripper gasped at the sight of her.

"Bloody hell" he exclaimed, taking in her wild hair, red and tear-stained face, the mud splattered up her party outfit and her special shoes so mangled they bearly held together.

"Is it true?" she gasped, "It can't be, it just can't but..."

"Whatever's wrong with you, Dawn?" he asked, rushing over to her and carefully helping her to a place where she could sit down. She tried to breathe and found it difficult after the exertion of running so far and so fast, coupled with the crying she'd done the whole way. Ripper rinsed out a cup and got her some water to drink which she was grateful for.

"Now, calm as you can, luv" he said gently, "Tell me what happened?"

"I went to the Bronze" the girl sobbed, "I...Buffy was there, she was upset...she said..Oh God, she said Spike was dead"

Ripper just shook his head and looked stunned, much as Dawn herself had done when she was told the news of Spike's demise.

"How?" he choked out eventually and the girl told him she didn't know.

"He was my friend, and I loved him" she said sniffing and coughing still, "and now...he's gone"

"Not quite" said a familiar voice from the door, and Ripper and Dawn both turned to see if it really was him.

Framed in the doorway by the light of the moon, stood a thoroughly cut and bruised William, still in his alter-ego's gear, a mess of a bike next to him.

"Spike!" Dawn squealed running at him. He winced as she hugged him tight and came close to falling down when she let go. Ripper rushed to help him over to where Dawn had been sitting before.

"You look bloody awful" the older man told the boy who let out a painful laugh.

"Thought I looked pretty good" he managed a painful smirk "for a dead man"

"What happened?" Dawn asked frantically, "Buffy just said you were..." she couldn't say the word to his face, not even if he himself could do it. He breathed unevenly, looking over at his bike that leant against the wall now.

"Can't tell you exactly what happened" he admitted, trying to remove his coat and finding it hurt in all kinds of ways, "I know that stupid bloody Angel and his gang started it, chased me from the Bronze in their soddin' car threatening to do me in"

"Bloody bastards" Ripper threw in as he brought the first aid box over. There was one particularly nasty cut above Spike's eye, heaven only knows how he'd got it.

"Anyway, I led 'em a right merry dance and then headed up to the bluff. I figured it was my own turf so to speak, maybe I could lose them on the way...I don't know" he shook his head, realising he hadn't pulled off any kind of plan too well.

"They did this to you?" Dawn gasped, knowing Angel could be violent, and even the others had got into fights, but to willingly beat Spike to a pulp like this was just barbaric.

"Did they hell!" Spike protested, coughing when he tried to raise his voice, "Drove off the edge didn't I" he admitted and Ripper glanced between the boy and the bike.

"You drove off the end of the bluff, on that" he gestured towards the machine, "and you and it are still in more or less one piece each?"

"Looks like" the boy agreed and Ripper grinned.

"Then I either taught you bloody well" he told him, "or you're a favourite amongst the Powers That Be" he said as he helped him clean up his cuts and checked him over for broken bones. Spike explained he'd hit his head on a sharp rock, gaining the cut above is eye. Ripper reckoned he'd have a cool looking scar running through his eyebrow after this, it was just a fraction away from needing stitches.

Dawn begged him to go to the hospital until he finally caved, it was only the possibility of broken ribs that convinced him. For the rest part he was just all cuts and bruises, though it seemed that unseen parts of his body had taken the brunt of it, luckily for William. His mother would go crazy if she realised, and the cut on his eye was at least explainable - he tripped and hit his head on a door knob, yeah, that'd work.

"We have to tell Buffy you're okay" Dawn suddenly released and began running for the door. William, now in his other clothes, those he had as Spike in a messy pile in the corner, called for the girl to stop.

"She thinks Spike is dead, and she's right" he said solemnly, "I'm alive, but that part of me is gone, it's better that way"

"What are you talking about?" Ripper frowned and the boy sighed before explaining.

"Being Spike almost got me killed" he pointed out "and Buffy will never understand about me being him" he said sadly, "I can't be Spike forever, I have to be myself. If that's not good enough then maybe she's not worth my time and effort"

"But you love her" Dawn reminded him, "and I know she loves you"

"The man she loves is dead, Dawn" he said, maybe a little too harshly, "I can't do it anymore"

- - - - - - -

Monday morning at Sunnydale High school and it was the last place Buffy Summers wanted to be. The night before last, her one true love had taken a fatal tumble off the end of the bluff and died. What seemed most tragic was he had passed away in the very same place they'd stood together, when they'd confessed love for each other and kissed beneath the moon and stars.

Saturday night she'd had the most exquisite dream about him, only to wake up in even more pain than before when she realised it had been just an illusion.

She was standing up there, right on the edge, looking out at the town down below

"Don't wanna go down there" a familiar voice had said behind her and she hadn't needed to turn to know it was him.

"You did" she'd pointed out as he came closer to her and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.

"But I'm still here" he'd whispered in her ear, and she'd turned to face him. He'd kissed her then and the world spun out of control in wondrous fashion. Words of love and emotion whispered between kisses that went on forever until the ground gave way beneath them, the magic of the dream broken, and all she could hear was the alarm clock ringing and her mother yelling she was going to be late for school.

Buffy closed her eyes and sighed before concentrating back on the here and now, getting her books from her locker. Dawn watched her go off to her next class and then spotted William, who'd been doing the same.

"How can you do this to her?" she hissed as she reached his side. He'd been in no fit state to be repeatedly washing his hair to get the dye out yesterday so he wore a baseball cap, the front pulled down far enough that his eyes were in shadow, hiding the cut above the left one.

"It's better this way Dawnie, and you know it" he told her, "I can't keep on lying to her"

The young girl shook her head as she turned to walk away.

"You're still lying"

- - - - - - -

After school, William went over to Ripper's garage, thankful yet again for the fact his mother had gone to visit his aunt, from last Thursday to this.

"Look here, it's the walking dead" the older man commented, finishing off his cigarette and stubbing it out with the heel of his boot.

"Thought I'm come and see what I could salvage" the boy gestured towards the bike with his head as he removed his cap.

"Didn't think you'd care now" said Ripper, following his line of sight "Spike's dead, right?"

"I thought he was" William nodded, "but...it's like the line that separated the Spike side of me and the real side, that line's not so clear anymore" he tried to explain "I'm not who I used to be"

"It's not just the play acting that did it" Ripper smirked, walking over to the bike. He hadn't touched it all day, hoping Will would come back to deal with it himself "You fell in love. That wild part of you that makes you Spike, that part fell in love too, there's no way round it" he said, concentrating on cleaning the filth off the machine in front of him.

"You think Dawn's right, don't you?" William sighed as he came to crouch beside his friend and the bike "I should tell Buffy the truth"

"I think, first of all, we fix this little beauty" Ripper told him "and worry about the rest after, if you don't know now"

"I've only got a week, then it's Prom, Graduation..." William shook his head "there's nothing to say where we'll all end up after that" he said thoughtfully.

"So?" Ripper prompted, hoping for a positive response.

"So, I have to stop being such a spineless git" his young friend said, sounding more like Spike than he ever had, whilst supposedly not being him, "Reckon we can have this bike fixed by Prom night?"

"Buffy sweetheart, you look beautiful" Joyce Summers grinned from ear to ear as her daughter descended the stairs in her Prom dress. It was a beautiful fabric that shimmered as she walked, apperaring cream at first and then gold when the light caught it. It was off the shoulder and hugged her figure, ending at her knees, with strappy sandals to match and her hair curled and pinned up on her head.

This had all been for Spike's benefit in the first place but even with him gone she knew she had to make an effort. Her parents had been looking forward to her Senior Prom almost as long a she had, as had all her friends. Her night might be ruined, her life in fact may be changed and spoilt, but she wasn't about to wreck the night for everyone else, it meant too much to them.

"Thanks, Mom" she said with a half-hearted smile that lasted just long enough for two photographs before she got to the bottom of the stairs and Dawn took her turn.

"Dawnie, you look so grown up" Hank commented as she posed for a couple of shots and Joyce frowned slightly as she pulled at the front of the dress, attempting to cover more of her younger daughter's skin with the small amount of fabric.

The girl herself was just thrilled to be attending this Prom. Andrew had finally asked her, and tonight was going to be perfect, especially since Spike had planned on a big surprise for Buffy. He was going to show up in his gear, ask her to dance and hold her close whilst she got over her shock that he was still alive. Then he planed to take her up to the bluff on the bike and show her who he really was when they were alone. Dawn only hoped it all went to plan.

"The limo's here girls" Hank interrupted both of his daughters thoughts and they headed outside to the car where the rest of the gang waited.

"Hey Buff, looking good" Xander smiled, still feeling bad about Spike and knowing he'd been a part of the cause of her pain.

Buffy climbed in and sat beside Willow who agreed she looked great. The blonde didn't really answer, just managed a half-smile as Dawnie climbed in behind her and Andrew grinned so wide his face almost split in two.

"Dawnie you look incredible" he told her and she had the good grace to blush.

Angel and Faith seemed to be over any badness in their relationship as they made out in one corner, Xander took full advantage of Cordelia's low cut dress in another, whilst the other two couples chatted animatedly. Buffy stared out of the tinted window and sighed. Tonight should have been so perfect, now it felt as if nothing ever would be again.

- - - - - - -

When the limo pulled up outside Sunnydale High, Dawn and Andrew were first out of the car, with her sister not far behind. The other couples were all so 'busy' they barely noticed the car had stopped moving. Buffy couldn't help the small smile that graced her face as she took in the scene.

Three weeks ago some troublemakers had managed to set part of the school gym on fire and whilst the damage was repairable there was no way of knowing how fast it could be done. Emergency meetings of the Prom committee were held and an idea was soon formed - why not hold the Prom outside? What could make the evening more romantic, special, and memorable, than being out under the stars?

Money for decorations had been spent mostly on fairy lights that hung with vines of fake flowers around white trellis panels, that surrounded a specially built dancefloor and small stage. A marquees to one side held refreshments and there were sections with tables and chairs laid out with white table cloths and ornate centre pieces.

The lights and the music and the atmosphere made it feel like fairyland, though Buffy knew if such a place existed she wouldn't be standing alone in it, magic would bring her love back to her. If only it could be true.

- - - - - - -

"Er, hi" said a small voice from a mini stage that had been constructed next to the dancefloor, "It's time to announce the Prom King and Queen" it was Jonathan who spoke and no-one paid much attention until he said 'Prom King and Queen' then everyone's ears were wide open, wondering who would earn the crowns.

Buffy hid at the back of the crowd, sipping at her punch and thinking about Spike as she had been for the past hour and a half. She couldn't help but wonder how he would look in a tux, what he was really like underneath it all. She loved him as he was, but she would have loved to have known more.

"Prom King for 2004 is...Angel O'Connor" she heard the announcement and rolled her eyes. Like it wasn't obvious he'd get it? She watched Angel dive up onto the stage and accept his crown with a huge grin on his face. Faith was watching too, and Buffy absently thought it was a little unfair that she'd probably get Queen, just because she was dating Angel now...

"And the Sunnydale High Prom Queen of 2004 is...Buffy Summers"

The glass of punch almost slipped from her hands as she heard the words. Angel looked only moderately surprised, whilst Faith looked ready to explode. Buffy shook her head at Jonathan as he urged her onto the stage, the sound of her classmates clapping and cheering re-verberating all around.

With a deep breath she accepted fate and made her way up onto the stage where a tiara type crown was placed upon her head.

"Thankyou" she said into the microphone, just as Angel had done and she vaguely heard Jonathan announce that the Prom King and Queen would now share a dance. She winced at the very idea as Angel silently took her hand and led her back down to the dancefloor. She allowed herself to be pulled into his arms as the music started up again and they moved around the floor without a word. As soon as the other couples filtered in around them and everyone stopped staring, Buffy caught site of a fairly pissed-off looking Faith.

"Hey" she called, waving her over. The brunette sulkily did as she was asked, "I think you should have your boyfriend back now" Buffy said kindly, stepping out of Angel's arms. Faith happily went into them, kissing him soundly as he pulled her close.

Buffy headed towards one of the tables but Dawn quickly intervened.

"Hey Buff, if you wanna dance you could borrow Andrew" her sister told her, "I don't mind, so long as it's just for one song"

"Thanks Dawnie, but I think I'll sit this one out" she smiled at her sisters kind thought and took a seat, watching the younger girl head back to the dancefloor with her date.

Buffy's head soon filled itself with thoughts of Spike again. She just couldn't help but be taken over by memories and dreams of him and all he meant to her. It was all so unfair, to find what you'd been looking for only to have it snatched away just when you were enjoying it so much.

In the distance a motorcycle engine revved and Buffy swivelled in the seat, her rational mind being over-run by her wishes, praying that the sound meant Spike was back somehow. She got the shock of her life when she realised it was the bike beneath Riley Finn that she had heard, riding one side of Adam Walsh's car, containing him and his gang, with Graham Miller riding his motorcycle on the other side. They made a menacing sight, especially since they were driving in a straight line, right towards the dancefloor.

Many a girl screamed in panic, running for their lives as the car pulled up with a bike either side, mere inches from the edge of the dancefloor. Riley and Graham dismounted as Adam and three other large guys climbed out of the car. Angel and his gang were quick to face up to the trouble as all the other students took a step back.

"What are you doin' here Walsh? This ain't your turf" Angel asked the leader of the opposing gang, who smiled evilly.

"You think we care about that, Angel-boy?" he sneered.

"We told you you'd get what was coming to you" Riley reminded them, "Now it's payback time"

With that, the fight began, the girls all shrieking everytime a blow was given and received, whilst a few of the guys decided to get in on the action. They were not happy that their Prom was being ruined, or that their girls had been upset.

Buffy quickly found Dawn and made sure she was safe. Despite the fights they often had, the sisters cared a lot for each other and were soon standing well back from the action, watching in horror as Andrew took a hit and went down.

Dawn yelled and broke free from Buffy's grip as she went running to her fallen dates side. Walsh turned to face the girl, a nasty look in his eye. Her sister opened her mouth to scream Dawn's name when a voice came over the tannoy system making everybody listen.

"Hey, Walsh!" called the voice that grabbed everyone's attention.

"Hey, it's that guy from the Bronze?" one of the gang members frowned and Buffy looked up in utter shock.

"Oh my God!" she gasped.

"No way!" Angel yelled as he tried to pull himself up from the ground where he'd previously fallen.

"Yes way" Dawn smiled as she dragged Andrew off to the side. Okay so this wasn't how Spike had planned the evening, but it was about to get good, she just knew it.

"You want a real fight with a guy who really pissed you off?" Spike challenged an enraged looking Adam Walsh, "Bring it on, Nancy-boy!" he added with a grin, as he leapt from the stage and scrambled onto his bike. He revved the engine before driving full pelt at the shocked looking gang members.

Riley and Graham were the first to take him on but Spike out manoeuvred them at every turn, knocking them off their transport enough times to make them give up. Seeing them go down worried the rest of the gang, all except Adam who stood rooted to the spot, shocked by the turn of events.

"Hey, asshole!" a voice said behind him and he turned around fast, only to receive a severe smack in the face, coupled with a kick in the vitals from one angry brunette in a red dress.

"That's the last time you lay a hand on my guy!" Faith said defiantly as he fell to the ground with a thump, groaning from the pain at either end of his body.

Buffy's eyes were wide as dinner plates as she watched Spike lead Adam's gang a merry dance, til eventually they grabbed up their leader and left at an even higher speed than they'd arrived.

The crowd turned to the hero on the motorcycle as he slowed up next to the stage, abandoning the bike to climb back up onto the podium and grab the mike. He had one final thing to say to this lot before school was permanently out.

"Sunnydale High School, Class of 2004" he yelled, "I came here tonight because I'm in love with Buffy Summers" he told them as she fought threw the crowds to reach the edge of the stage. He spotted her immediately and smiled still as one hand went to his face, "and because there's something I have to tell her..." he added, removing his sunglasses and looking straight at her.

If she was shocked before she was doubly so now as William Spencer jumped down from the stage, landing right beside her. The geek that had asked her out months ago, the guy who helped the guys with their homework and her with her English essay, the guy she had confided in about Spike...all the time he was him, her dream guy. It was too much for her mind to take in.

"What the hell?!" Angel had trouble standing after the fight and the shock of realising that not only was Buffy's mystery man not dead, but that underneath it all he was nothing but a geek.

"You?" Xander gasped as he ran to see what was going on "Homework guy?"

"That's..not what I expected" Oz added as he and Willow stepped forward too.

"No" Angel laughed slightly, looking the boy up and down "seriously, you're not..."

"Yes Angel" the bleached blond cut him off "I am Spike, and William" he explained.

"Gotta hand it to ya English" Faith grinned, slinging an arm around her boyfriends shoulder "you surprised me"

"Surprised myself a bit" Spike smirked, before he turned back to look at Buffy who was still stunned. The look she and Spike shared made Faith realise this was not time for a chat, the needed to be alone.

"I think this'd be a good time to split" she told Angel, dangling his Prom crown on her finger "Okay with you, lover?"

"Yeah, sure" he smiled over at her, turning to leave before changing his mind "Oh, one other thing...here" he said, surprising Spike immensely by taking his crown from Faith and handing it to him.

"But I..." Spike frowned, but Angel shook his head.

"Doesn't go with my outfit" he smiled slightly, slapping him on the back before walking away. In someway that was acceptance, and a huge relief to Spike who didn't really feel up to yet another fight! He placed the crown down on the stage and looked back at Buffy, knowing he owed her a huge explanation.

"Buffy I..."

"Spike! That was amazing!" a young voice yelled, and he was distracted by the young girl that came barrelling towards him, hugging him tight as soon as she reached him.

"You okay, Dawn?" he smiled, hugging her back, loving to see the huge grin on her face when they parted.

"I'm the only Freshman to get invited to the Senior Prom, Spike" she said with a tone of voice that said 'duh!' "I'm having the time of my life!"

"Well, you look the part" he told her, knowing all she wanted was to be a grown up "The dress is stunning" he assured her.

"Thanks" she almost blushed at the comment "not looking so bad yourself" she admitted "but y'know, I kinda got my own man now" she illustrated her point by moving closer to Andrew and taking hold of his hand.

"Finally managed it, eh?" Spike smirked, knowing this was all Dawn had wanted for a long time.

"That thing you did, with the bike, that was incredible!" Andrew enthused, but Spike was getting more and more distracted by the woman still waiting for his explanation.

"Thanks Andrew" he said absently as Dawn nudged her date in the side with her elbow.

"Come on, I think they wanna be alone"

As the crowd dispersed, and calm returned, someone managed to get some quiet music playing and a few couples were soon dancing again whilst some decided they'd had quite enough excitement for one night.

In the middle of it all, Spike, or should it be William?, stood opposite Buffy with an apologetic look on his face.

"I thought you were dead" she told him with tears in her eyes, though he was still unsure as to what she was really feeling right now.

"I'm sorry, luv" he told her, not knowing what else to say. He had whole speeches he'd planned for tonight and now it came to the crunch all his words escaped him. She stepped closer to him and reached out a hand to her face, fingers tracing the scar that ran through his eyebrow, before moving back through his hair.

"I can't believe it was you all along" she whispered, emotion over coming her.

"I wanted to tell you, pet" he told her just as quietly, "really I did..."

"Sshh" she hushed him, so close he felt the sound more than he heard it before she brought her lips to his and initiated a kiss that made his head spin as well as her own. Her arms wound round his neck as his hands went to her waist and pulled her closer.

Moments later, when oxygen became an issue for both of them, they parted but not by much, foreheads still touching as they both smiled.

"Wow" Spike was feeling so many different and wonderful emotions he didn't know where to begin "I never thought you'd kiss me like if you knew I was William" he said honestly and Buffy couldn't help but laugh.

"You are so mentally challenged!" she exclaimed, tears of joy and relief and heaven only knows what rolling down her cheeks "I'm kissing you like this because you are William" she told him solemnly "and because you're Spike, and because you cared enough to be what I wanted" she lowered her eyes to her shoes as she added "I just feel awful for making you change"

"Don't feel so bad about it, luv" he told her, lifting her chin with his fingers until their eyes met again "I happen to kind of like the new me" he told her with a tilt of his head and a smirk.

"Yeah?" Buffy smiled again now "Well, I pretty much love the new you...I love all of you" she said in total seriousness and it was all he ever wanted to hear. He lowered his head and kissed her then as literal fireworks went off overhead.

"I love you too, pet" he whispered, pulling her close as he could get her.

And off to the side some uninformed student squinted her eyes and pointed in the general direction of the couple as she whispered to her friend;

"Who's that guy?"

--The End--