He looked around then turned to Angelus. "The natives are restless."

He nodded his head. "They know it’s time. They can smell it." He vamped and sniffed the air. "So can I."

"The time draws near. Prepare her and bring her to me."

He bowed his head and walked out the door.

Richard got the attention of all the creatures in the room. "The time draws near! Soon our oppression will end and a new reign of terror will begin. I stand before you now a new man prepared to take the burden and carry us all into a new future. A future where we rule the world, where our race is bowed down to, where our race is respected and admired for breaking new ground. . . ."

Cheers erupted from the masses. Buffy looked over at Giles. "He’s got to be kidding?"

A thought dawned on him. "I’m afraid not. Buffy, if I understand him correctly . . .he’s not looking to end the world, he wants to conquer it. Populate it with this mixed breed of demon. It’s the human weakness. . .studies have been done, but no scientist has been able to . . "

"Giles. . the short and the quick of it, please." She motioned to the room. "Impending death here. . .no time for a science lesson."

"Yes. It’s . . the perfect human. Or, non human in this case. This is brilliant! Humans couldn’t make the perfect human so a demon is undertaking the task!"

She shook her head. "I fear you. The strangest things get you all worked up."

"I think the whole ‘end of the world’ thing was only a rouse used to throw us off track."

"Gee, ya think?"

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

She heard the door creak and saw Angel walk up to her. He pulled the blindfold down. "Show time, little one. You ready?"

"Willow, no, it’s a trick! He’s not Angel, he’s Angelus. . .don’t fall for it, don’t fall for it!"

Cordelia’s screaming sent him running over to put his hand across her mouth. "Cordy, shh. They’ll hear you."

He pulled the blindfold off and she looked disbelievingly at him then looked to Willow for reassurance.

She nodded her head. "It’s him, Cordy. Angel’s back. . .don’t be afraid."

Her gazed went back to him as he removed his hand. His words to her were barely a whisper. "It’s me, princess. . .and as much as I’d love to start groveling for your forgiveness right now, we have some demons to stop."

She finally grasped what was happening. "Angel? It’s you?"

He leaned in and kissed her gently, lovingly. Before he pulled away, he nipped at her lip.

"Oww. . .yeah, it’s you." She raised her hands. "Mind undoing these things?"

He laughed and stood up. "Not right now. Soon." He turned to Willow. "He’s ready for you. You’ll both find a catch at the base of the cuffs. All you have to do is flick it with your finger and you’re free." He turned around and walked towards the door. "When we walk in, look up and to your left. You’ll see Buffy and Giles huddled in the corner there, ready for the signal. I’m surprised he hasn’t spotted them yet, but then again, demons are notoriously too trusting of their charges. Oh, and by the way. . they’re not magic, little one. . .you could have done your little hocus pocus thing at any time."

She furrowed her brow. "You! Wait till this is over. I’m gonna, I’ll. . .I’ll do something really mean to you!"

He laughed a bit then straightened up and opened the door. "Cordy, Spike’s lurking around here somewhere. . .trust him, he’s on our side. As for you, little one. . .try to look like you fear me. . . for all our sakes." She nodded at him. He changed into game-face and bellowed through the corridor. "Guards! Guards!"

Two Mohra demons appeared in the doorway.

"Take her to the chamber. Our master is ready for her. As for the other one." He reached down and took a handful of brunette hair in his hands. "Be sure she gets a prime seat. . . we wouldn’t want her to miss the show." He winked at her then let go.

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

Willow was led into a bedchamber. There were torches on the walls throwing an eerie glow over everything.

The guard pushed her to the bed. "Change. The master awaits."

She glanced over the clothing and huffed. "You’ve got to be kidding me. I’m not putting THIS on!" She turned away defiantly.

He grabbed her arm and tuned her around violently. "Do it or I’ll do it for you, my Queen."

Her eyes went wide. "Wha?"

He was sent into a wall by a size 13 planted firmly in his back. "Fool! You dare speak to her that way?!"

The demon cowered in the corner. "Sir, I’m sorry sir . . .please spare me."

He reached down and grabbed the demon and threw him half way out of the room. "Be gone with you! I’ll take it from here. At least I know how to treat a lady!"

The demon scrambled to his feet and ran away.

She heaved a sigh of relief. "Spike."

He smiled at her. "In the flesh. Come on, luv. You have to change or they’ll be in here. I don’t know how long it’ll take for that one to grow a pair and run to his commanding officer."

She shook her head and grabbed the clothing off the bed. "I am NOT putting this on. No way."

He chuckled at the look of horror on her face. "You don’t have a choice here, ducks. Come on."

She deferred. "Fine. This better be worth it. If I have to get into this, you’d better have something up your sleeve to get us out of here."

"We’ll get out. I promise."

"Fine. . . now turn around so I can change, and you can start telling me what’s going on by explaining that queen comment from the little green guy earlier. What’s going on, Spike?"

"You’re a smart girl, I’m surprised you haven’t figured it out yet. Demon domination is the name of the game, luv. . .not world destruction. From what Angel and I have surmised, he’s perfected this test-tube race of demon and plans on populating the world with it. Brave New World and all that. The only thing that’s missing is immortality." He sighed and rubbed his temples. "He needs the mother to be immortal in order for the offspring to achieve immortality. With the blood of an immortal running through their veins, they’ll be unstoppable."

"Let me guess. . .I’m the immortal and my ability to reproduce is cut in half when mixed with a demon. You can turn around now."

"Yes, I always knew you were a smart. . " The sentence was cut off when he caught sight of her. His eyes went wide like a deer caught in headlights and if his jaw could hit the floor in the manner of a cartoon, it would have. "I, um. . .Red you’re uh."

She gave him a look of caution. "Don’t say it, Spike"

"You look like . . ."

"Spike. . .don’t say"

"Princess Leah in that Jabba slave get up!"

She sighed. "I asked you not to say it." She became hyper aware of a draft and tried to cover up. "Ugh, I hate this. . . I’m cold." She pouted.

He shook his head a little too eagerly. "Yes, I can see that." A smile played across his lips. She waved her hand and that’s the last thing he saw. "Hey. . I can’t see!" He tried rubbing his eyes but it was no use.

"You promise not to gawk?"

"Aw, come on Red. . .I promise to be good. You made me blind . . .Undo it! Undo it!" He was stomping his feet like a two year old having a tantrum.

She waved her hand again. "No gawking."

"Fine, fine." He grumbled. "Remind me to stay on your good side, oh Immortal One." He offered his arm and she linked it with her own. "It’s show time. You ready?" He looked down at her with concern as he put the black shackles on her wrists again. "You know how to work these, don’t you?"

She nodded. "Angel told me. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be."

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

-----------

"Giles?"

"Hmm?"

"This thing with Quentin. I didn’t like him very much to begin with but . . ."

"It bothers you we left him in the cell with Ethan."

"Yeah. What if he was telling the truth? Then we’ve sealed the fate of an innocent man."

"Quentin was hardly innocent, Buffy, I can assure you of that. Remember his explanation about Willow and Cordelia’s connection?"

"Yeah. I felt like a real jack-ass."

"Well, he was completely correct. He knew of their connection in detail and he knew that Willow gave Cordelia her ring. You and I were the only other people that knew she had the ring."

"You knew?"

"Um, yes, well. . I was out in the hall when you and Cordelia were exchanging words. Only that time I didn’t get caught."

"You were lurking? You’re the last one I’d ever think of to pull an Angel."

"I fear for your safety, Buffy, all of you. If anything were to ever happen, I don’t think I’d ever forgive myself for it." He sighed. "Yet here we sit, Willow is Immortal and you’re a vampire. I just feel like I’ve failed all of you."

She reached out and touched his shoulder. "We’ll be okay, Giles. We’re gonna go in there, kick some demon ass and go home."

He smiled at her and nodded.

He noticed that Willow was being led in by Spike and brought her attention to it. "Look. . .I can’t believe it!"

Willow was arm in arm with Spike. He was leading her up a set a stairs. She caught their attention, motioned to Spike and gave the ‘okay’ signal with her hand. He looked up and nodded. It was done in an instant, but they got the message.

Buffy whispered. "He’s on our side."

He nodded. "Looks that way. We could use all the help we can get."

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

"My fellow kindred. . your Queen has arrived!"

Cheers erupted from the crowd of 20 or so demons. They pumped their weapons in the air and chanted ‘Long live the Queen!’.

Spike handed Willow off to Richard and bowed low. From the door they just came through, Angelus emerged and took his place on the other side of the stage. He and Spike exchanged a brief look then stared out to the crowd.

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

"Giles! Did you see that?"

"I saw. Let’s hope it means what we think it does."

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

Cordelia was led out by another demon and thrown to the ground in front of the stage.

Richard spoke. "The hour of evolution is upon us. Soon we will be the perfect race, the only race worthy of inhabiting this earth! Even as I speak, you’re old Queen is dying. She has passed her prime and must be put to rest. Will the new Queen present to take her place, we will achieve what we’ve fought so long for. Immortality! We will be unstoppable!"

"The Queen must die! Long live the Queen!" The chant took on an eerie rhythm, pounding out each syllable in their brains. The pitch they reached was inhuman and they all had to hold their ears, fearing their eardrums would literally explode in their heads.

"Now! Let the ritual begin!"

Cheers erupted again and suddenly five demons appeared from an adjacent corridor. They wore robes encrusted with jewels and carried daggers in both hands. Silently they marched over to the female and in unison knelt in front of her in a circle.

The creature stirred, but didn’t really move. Buffy noticed that her skin had taken on a pale gray color and her movements were slow and awkward. She was indeed dying, probably from producing so many offspring. <Screwed to death.> She gave a little chuckle.

Again in unison the grabbed her and carried her up to the stage. A stone slab emerged from beneath the floor and she was placed on it, gently. They shackled her arms, wrists, neck and torso. She struggled the tiniest bit, but it was no use. She was then gagged and a black hood was tied to her head.

The five demons turned to Richard and waited. He nodded his head and together they raised their right hands and the daggers were slammed into various parts of her body. The undertook the task of carving into her flesh, her head, her arms. Green ooze flew everywhere and the crowd scrambled to the edge of the stage. The demons continued to cut her up into small, manageable pieces and began to throw the pieces into the crowd. Giles noticed one demon caught a piece of the flesh and pushed his way to the front of the stage. He caught Willow’s attention and hungrily devoured it. Almost immediately he took on a deep green luster. This entire display couldn’t be described as anything but controlled chaos. Each demon that caught a piece of flesh did the same in turn.

He leaned in and whispered to Buffy. "They’re courting her. Trying to prove themselves worthy."

She grimaced. "Ugh, that’s disgusting!"

"It’s an animalistic mating ritual. The one that digests the most is considered the dominant male in the room."

She shook her head and turned away from the carnage in front of her. "Giles. . does that mean they. . "

"They’re vying for her attention. I suppose you could say the one with the best green wins. Then he’ll mate with her and . ."

"Nope, no way. . not gonna happen. NOBODY is gonna mate with her. . .especially those things!"

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

Angel, as casually as possible, walked over to where Spike was standing. "Does he know they’re here?"

He shook his head. "No. The two demons that reported to me earlier have been taken care of. As much for saving face as for safety. I’ll get you for that impotent comment later, mate." He smiled.

Angel shook his head. "You sound like Willow and Cordelia. I have a lot of debts to repay if we get out of this."

"WHEN we get out of this. . .and you ain’t whistlin’ Dixie, old man." Spike glanced up to where Buffy and Giles were waiting and nodded his head.

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

The flesh-fest was over rather quickly and Richard stepped up in front of the crowd. "Very good. You have all served your Queen well and I’m sure she is impressed with your display." He looked back and winked at Willow. She rolled her eyes and looked away. "The time is now!" He pointed to a few scattered demons in the crowd. "You . . .and you. . . and you." They joined him on the stage and knelt down in front of Willow. "You have proved yourselves worthy of the Queen. After the ritual is complete, the line begins with you!"

With a wave of his hand they got up and lined up against the wall. He beckoned to his two favorite charges. "Angelus, Spike, come. . .bring my bride to me."

They each took one of her arms and walked her over to him. She put up a good struggle but stopped when she was thrown to the ground. She looked up at both of them with her patented ‘you’ll pay for this’ look.

Richard bent down and took her face in his claws. "The time is here, lover. What a fine match we’ll make. . .our children and grandchildren will be proud." He lifted her off the ground without resistance. "Mmm, good. . .you’re willing."

She looked at him with a steely gaze and whispered. "Don’t count on it."

Angel noted his shocked expression and screamed from behind her. "NOW!"

With all her strength, Willow used both her hands, pulled back, and slammed him across the face with a crack. Angle came up next to her and grabbed him. "Get the shackles off. . .quick!"

Giles and Buffy jumped down from their perch and ran headlong into the throng of demons. Wielding staffs with blades taped to the ends they began swinging left to right, effectively cutting down almost half the crowd of demons.

Cordelia pulled the shackles off and reached for the dagger stuck in her boot. She ran over to where the first wave of demons were cut down by Buffy and started kicking off their helmets and stabbing them in their skulls. Kick and stab, kick and stab. ..she was practically unstoppable.

Spike had his hands full with the five ritual demons. Two of them had him in a hold and a third was punching his midsection. He jumped off the ground and placed two boots squarely in the face of his tormentor. "Take that you smelly little poof!" He shook the other two off and pounded their heads together, sending them into a pile on the ground. "The Big Bad is. . .ugh!!" The remaining two tackled him from behind.

Willow was standing in the corner chanting under her breath. Two lightening bolts appeared above her and shot out towards the two demons who where going to town on Spike. Upon connection, they were thrown into the crowd and exploded into dust before hitting the ground.

"Thanks, luv!" he yelled from the ground.

"Thank me later!" She began to concentrate again. . .

Buffy was taking care of the adult demons that didn’t dissolve with Cordelia’s stabs. With slayer-vampire strength, she ripped off the breastplates and with her bare hands ripped out their hearts and threw them on the ground. Between swipes of the staff, Giles took to stomping on the hearts Buffy was throwing in his direction. One got away from her and made a wet thwack against the side of Giles’ head.

"Ooh. . .sorry." She smiled sheepishly.

He swung the staff and took down two more then looked over at her. "Indeed."

Angel was squaring off with Richard. He’d just recovered from a direct blow to the midsection and staggered away from the corner. "That’s it." He vamped. "No more Mr. Nice Vampire." He came out of the corner swinging, effectively sending Richard back a few feet with multiple punches to his face. While still dazed, Angel grabbed him and held him high in the air. With a grunt he sent the demon flying to the other end of the stage into a wall. In his hands he held the breastplate.

Angel was on him again immediately. He lifted him high off the ground and slammed him down again into the middle of the stone slab that held the remnants of the dead Queen. He landed with a wet gushy thud.

Willow raised her hands and before he knew what was happening, Angel was thrown into Spike and they both landed at the other end of the room.

She approached Richard who was wriggling on the slab. She bent down and looked into his eyes.

He froze under her gaze and a look of terror washed across his face. He was frozen, unable to move at all.

Suddenly the bindings that held the Queen were snapped into place with the wave of her hand. She tilted her head to the right and he began to struggle again.

He shifted into the form of Timothy and tried to appeal to her. "No, no, no. . .you don’t want to do this Willow. I love you. . .you know I love you."

She was shaken. She hadn’t seen him in almost four years and everything they shared came bubbling to the surface. She stumbled back a bit and tried to clear her head.

"I love you . . .trust me."

That did it. Everything came back, everything. . the nights they shared talking till dawn, the secret meetings in her study, the stolen kisses in empty halls. . .the way he changed in front of her before he raped her.

"No. . you’re a demon! You don’t know what love is!" She grabbed a dagger from the floor next to her and made a calm approach. She spoke in a low voice. "I trusted you. . I believed in you. . .and you repay my love and trust by raping me! You did it, you raped me!" She held the dagger high in the air and brought it slamming down into his chest.

He let out a guttural, primal scream and morphed back to demon form. She continued to swing the blade up and brought it crashing down into his chest. "You rotten!" SLAM! "Slimy!" SLAM! "Evil!" SLAM! "Horrible!" SLAM! "Mean, mean demon!" SLAM!!

Finally she dropped the dagger and reached into his chest and pulled out his still beating heart. She threw it on the ground and began to stomp on it while beating on his chest with her fists. "I can’t believe you. . .you did this to me. . .you monster. . you bastard!"

Her screams and poundings were slowed down then stopped by a light touch on her shoulder. She froze and turned slowly, tears streaking her slime covered face and was met with the blood tears of a frightened vampire.

Willow blinked once, twice. . .trying to discern what was happening. "Buffy?" She said in a weak voice, barely able to control the emotion still brewing within.

She nodded her head sadly. "I think he’s dead, Will." She put her hand out and offered it to the redhead. "Come on, let’s go home."

"Home . . ." Escaped from her lips before passing out in the slayer’s arms.

Buffy caught her then Giles screamed. "Buffy! Look out!"

A stream of ooze was making it’s way up the stage and towards the two girls. Angel ran up and grabbed them both. "It’s trying to borrow! Quick, get her out of here." Buffy jumped down the other side of the stage and handed Willow off to Giles. "Go, run! We’ll stay and take care of this thing once and for all!"

"Giles." He turned to the sound of Spike’s voice. "22 Blackbird Circle. It’s mine. . .keys are in the planter."

He nodded and went out the tunnel he and Buffy emerged from not long ago. Cordelia was right next to him.

"Spike!" Angel yelled in the blonde vampire’s direction. "Are we wired?!"

He nodded. "Wired for sound, mate. . .all we have to do is throw the switch." He produced a small remote control from his pocket.

Buffy looked between both of them, confused. "What’s going on?"

Angel grabbed her by the arm and led her to the center of the room. "We blow this place sky high. In it’s liquid state, these demons can’t resist the heat." He motioned to Spike. "Come on."

Angel knelt down and produced a map from his back pocket. "We’re in the center of a circle. . .each of these three corridors leads to a dead end. The only way to get out it here." He pointed to a tunnel next to where they were now. "We go through this place and open all the doors to the cells. Spike and I already put canisters of gasoline in all the rooms. Empty it and run. There are four rooms to each wing. Start at they furthest cell and work your way back here. I already collapsed the tunnel where Richard and Willow came in. We get out the same way you and Giles got in. It’s the only way."

Spike and Buffy nodded in agreement and they all took off in opposite directions.

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

Not ten minutes later, Spike and Angel were standing next to the tunnel that would bring them to freedom. They were holding torches and swinging them at their feet to keep the oozing mass at bay.

Spike looked over to his companion. "I don’t know how much longer we can keep this up, mate."

He nodded and handed the torch to Spike. "Here. . .something must have happened. I’ll go after her. If we’re not back in five minutes, do it."

"Angel . . "

"Do it Spike!" With those words he took off in search of Buffy.

The first three rooms yielded nothing but the stench of gasoline. Upon reaching the forth he heard a yell that was distinctly female.

He burst through the door just in time to see Ethan smashing her over the head with a chair.

He was pure action. He ran over to him and landed several blows to his face and threw him to the ground. Quentin was on his back immediately but he shook him off and sent him flying against the wall, dazed. He reached down and grabbed Ethan by the throat. "You never learn, do you?" He vamped and clamped down on his neck. He took just enough to paralyze him. "The good guys always win." He grabbed Quentin and ripped into his wrist. He took a mouthful of blood, leaned down and pressed his lips against Buffy’s. She stirred a bit but didn’t wake up.

He tied them together and left them in the middle of the room. Feeling a twinge of guilt, he shut and locked the cell without pouring the gasoline. He grabbed the slayer in a fireman’s carry and ran off to the room.

Spike was having a hard time fighting back the ooze and a little of it got under his feet. He quickly hopped up to the escape tunnel and began to turn away. He stopped at the sound of Angel’s voice.

"Spike. . .some help here!" He handed her limp body off to the other vampire and pulled himself up into the tunnel.

"What happened?" He looked down at her with confusion.

"Ethan and Quentin worked her over. She’s lost a lot of blood and I tried to replace some of it, but. . ." He shrugged and touched her cheek. She was so cold, colder than any vampire should ever be. "Come on. Let’s get to the surface and end this."

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

Giles was replacing the cloth on Willow’s head with a new one. Off in the distance he heard a roll of what he thought was thunder and the house shook a little bit.

Cordelia walked in with a towel around her shoulders, rubbing her hair. "What was that?"

"It’s either the first earthquake in England’s history or. . ."

"Or they blew the place to bits." She nodded her head and smiled. "I thought so." She walked over to the edge of the bed and touched Willow’s cheek lightly. "Will she be okay?"

"She’s exhausted, both emotionally and physically. I think she’ll be fine. She just needs some rest."

"Boy, I don’t think I’ve ever heard a truer statement." She stifled a yawn and stretched then looked at her watch. "It’ll be light in a few hours. I wonder what’s keeping them?"

Giles shook his head. "Nothing oozing and slimy I hope."

-----------

Angel climbed out of the manhole and straightened up. "Ten more minutes and the three of us would have been toast."

Spike nodded and shifted the body he held gently. "I know. . .that’s the beauty of England, mate. Best sewer system this side of the ocean. The manhole here in the basement was my idea. I thought it would be better to be safe and wet underground than out there blowin in the wind."

Angel chuckled despite the concern on his face. Spike led the way upstairs and through the kitchen. He walked down the hall and into his bedroom to lay Buffy on his bed. "This is my room. No windows. You’ll be safe here, luv." He turned to say something to Angel, but he was already gone.

He crept down the hall and opened the door. The site that presented itself almost made his heart beat once. Cordelia was laying on the bed next to Willow, he arm wrapped lovingly around her waist. Then there was Giles, asleep in the chair with his glasses on, hold Willow’s hand. The vampire shook his head sadly and closed the door.

"What is it, mate?"

"Nothing. They’re sleeping. I feel like we’ve won, but we haven’t. . .not the way we were supposed to." He turned to Spike and cleared his throat. "Was it really worth it? If Buffy dies, then what did Willow fight so hard for if she ends up losing her anyway?" He ran his hand absentmindedly through his hair. "It’s just not fair, Spike."

He put his hand on his sire’s shoulder. "She fought for herself, mate. She fought to rid herself not only of the demons that threatened her life, but the inner demons that threatened her soul." He stood there in silence for a moment and absorbed all that had happened. "I don’t think I speak only for myself when I say that it’s the one thing that keeps me from walking into the bloody sun."

Angel nodded sadly. "A chance for inner peace and redemption. . .to finally forgive yourself."

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

Angel was jolted awake by a very agitated Watcher. "Angel, Angel. . .wake up man!"

Groggily, he opened his eyes. "Giles?"

"What happened and why are you two down here? What happened to Buffy?"

He got up off the couch and stretched. "The basement is the only other room in the house besides Spikes’ that doesn’t have windows. Ethan and Quentin ganged up on her. She’s hurt pretty bad."

Giles nodded his head. "Yes, I’m afraid so. I’ve examined her. She has injuries that would have killed a normal human being. Her skull is cracked in two places and her spine is out of joint. She has more broken bones than I can count and I don’t know how or if she’ll survive this. . .and if she does, I don’t know what state she’ll be in."

"Willow?" Spike said from the other end of the room.

"She’s with Buffy now. . .she refuses to leave her side, even for a moment. It’s taken Cordelia and I almost all day to find the two of you. . I didn’t even think of the basement till now." He let out a heavy sigh. "Come on upstairs. . .dusk is approaching."

The two vampires nodded and silently followed him upstairs.

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

"Cordy."

She looked up into green eyes and followed the gaze to the doorway. Willow whispered. "Looks like someone is here to see you."

A grinning vampire was standing in the doorway. "Hi princess."

"Angel." She got up and ran into his arms. "Oh, Angel." She wrapped her arms around his neck as he lifted her off the floor.

"God, I missed you." He snuggled down into her neck and took an unnecessary breath. "You smell good."

"You feel good." She choked out before the tears came.

He felt her chest heave and reached up to stroke her hair. "Shh, I’m here now, princess. . .Angel’s back." He looked over at Willow and mouthed a silent thank you. She nodded and watched him carry her out the door.

Willow returned to her task. "He loves her so much, you know. They’re good for each other." She reached up and brushed a stray piece of blonde hair away from a bruised forehead. "Who would have thought? They compliment each other. . .his brooding and lurking and her strong headedness and zest for life. . .they were meant to be together, just like . . " <Just like us.> A lump formed in her throat and a tear fell from her eye. She wiped them away with her sleeves. "Ugh. . .I can’t do this alone, Buffy, I can’t."

A hand reached out and touched her lightly. "You may not have to."

She turned around. "Giles. What do you mean?"

"Heal her the best you can. . .then we’ll take the matter to a higher court." He looked down at her seriously.

She was afraid to hope. "I don’t know, Giles. She’s hurt so badly. . .I’ll try my best, for her."

He patted her on the back and left the room.

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

Giles was leaning against the wall when Spike walked up to him. "How long has she been in there?"

He looked at his watch. "About three hours."

Spike tried the door but it wouldn’t budge.

"She has it sealed. . .you can’t get in. Believe me, I’ve tried."

He nodded and leaned against the wall next to the watcher. "Then we wait."

"Cordelia and Angel? Are they alright?"

The blonde vampire snorted. "Making up for lost time."

He huffed. "I can just imagine. . no, wait. . .I really can and it’s disturbing." He shook his head and laughed despite himself.

The door opened slightly and a very tired, worn-out redhead emerged from behind it.

"Willow."

"She sighed. "She’s better. No more bruises or broken bones, but. . ." She shrugged and shook her head. "Giles, she still won’t wake up." She leaned her head against his shoulder and whispered softly.

"Why won’t she wake up?"

Of all the questions in all the world anyone could have asked him right now, he feared this one from this particular person the most. She sounded so meek, defeated, afraid. He simply looked down at her with a fathers love in his eyes and his heart broke for her. She’d been through so much, too much for any one lifetime or any one person, and it all came down to this: none of it mattered to her, none of it, if Buffy wasn’t there to share it with her. He knew she’d do it all a hundred times again if there was at all the slightest possibility that it would turn out different. . .better. He put his arms around her. "I don’t know."

She pulled from his grasp and went back into the room again. Silently she climbed into bed and began to stroke Buffy’s hair.

Spike whispered to Giles. "Breaks me heart to see her like this."

"All may not be lost. We have one last chance. . .one final hope." He looked at Spike and motioned for him to follow.

They stepped into the room. Willow was humming a soft melody into Buffy’s ear. She did look better and some of the color had returned to her face. "Willow." Giles broke the silence.

She never looked up. "Hmm?"

"There’s one last chance. We can still save her."

She got off the bed and walked up to him. "How. . I’ve tried everything, Giles. I’ve used all the magic I know and some I just guessed on."

"We appeal to a higher court."

"The Powers That Be." Angel stepped into the room with Cordelia a step behind.

Willow looked between the two men, confused. "You mean personally? In person?"

Angel nodded. "You’re Immortal. They couldn’t hurt you if they wanted to, on principle alone. It’s worth a shot."

She grabbed her coat off the back of the chair. "Fine. . we do this now. Lead the way."

Angel gave Cordelia a quick kiss and they were out the door in moments.

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

Angel and Willow are standing in a white chamber. He looks to her and gives a reassuring smile. "Don’t worry. You're a warrior now. Immortal. And I know your intentions are pure of heart. If I do this right you’ll get in." He places some herbs in the urn in front of them. "We beseech access to the knowing ones" He lights the herbs on fire and it fills up with a blinding flame. They look up and the archway before them glows and fills with light. "You’re in. This is your show, little one. I’ll be here waiting."

She walks into the light into a white marble chamber. Two glittery figures confront her but then take a step back.

The Man smiles and bows to her. "Come before us, Immortal one."

The Woman frowns. "What have you brought us?"

Willow clears her throat. "I’ve come to ask a favor."

The Woman waves her hand. "We take no course or interest in human affairs."

The Man frowns. "Be gone with you then." They begin to walk away.

She steps up to them "No, wait!" They turn back and the Man lifts a brow. "I’ve come to beg for the life of the slayer."

The Woman laughs. "The slayer is dead."

Willow shakes her head. "No, you’re wrong. She was turned into a vampire. . .it was done to save her life, but now. Now she’s sick and she needs help. Your help." She lifts her hands in defeat. "There’s nothing more I can do. I don’t know how to heal her."

The two exchange looks then the Man speaks. "A vampire. . .lesser being. This is no concern of ours."

Willow shakes her head again. "A vampire that used to be the slayer, only now she’s a vampire. . .but with a soul, a good vampire. We need her in our world to fight evil. . I need her."

The Woman cuts her off. "Then this is a matter of the heart. Still not our problem." She turns to the Man. "Immortal or not, I grow tired of her."

Willow grows angry. "I am here to beg for her life! I need her and so does the world. What do you two do up here anyway? Just idly watch time go by and do nothing! Well I can’t not do anything. . I can’t watch her die. You have to save her!"

The Man walks up to her. "Ours in not to grant life or death."

She steps up to him defiantly. "Then I ask you to take mine back. Take away the Immortality I’ve been given in exchange for her life."

The Woman steps up. "You’re asking to be what you were, a mere mortal, in exchange for her life?"

The Man looks at her quizzically. "She matters this much to you? Do you know what you ask? The Immortality you’ve been granted is a gift from the Powers That Be."

She shook her head. "It does me no good. I’m no use to you as an immortal. If you do this, if you grant me this one request. . .the world will have the slayer back. She’s useful. . .she’s averted world destruction more times than I can count on one hand. That has to count for something, anything!"

He frowns at her. "Changing the course of a life cannot be undertaken lightly, especially for a lower being."

"Yes. You’re right." The Woman smiles at Willow. "But this is not a lower being before us, she is an immortal, and we are bound to do what it is within our power to do. To help her. She does it out of love. . .and that makes her possibly a greater being than either of us."

The man waves his hand in the air and a rain of gold dust covers Willow. "Very well then. Go."

Willow rubs the dust from her eyes. "Wait, that’s it? You’ll do it?"

A hand reaches out and grabs her shoulder. "What? Do what Willow?"

She blinks and looks over at him. "Angel?"

"Yeah, what are you talking about?" He motions to the archway. "Are you ready to go in?"

She looks at him, puzzled. "But, I . . .I’ve already gone in. . .and they."

He slaps his head with his hand. "That’s right! When you go in, it’s for an instant. It’s like you never even left." He chuckles. "The first time I went in it took the whole ride home for Doyle to explain it to me."

"So from what you know . . .I’ve been standing here the whole time?"

"Yes. . .you never even moved an inch. So what did they say?"

"I don’t think I’ll be going back there. . .EVER.. . .but if I ever do. Angel, you think you could remind me to bring an offering?"

"I’m sorry."

She smiled. "It’s okay. Turns out I had something to offer them anyway."

"What?"

"Lets go back to the house and see if Buffy’s alright. Then I’ll tell you and everyone else at the same time. Saves me from having to tell the story five times."

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

-----------

". . .at all?"

"No. She hasn't moved at all. I'm so sorry, Willow. I really thought it would work."

Giles looked at her apologetically.

The were sitting in Spikes room where the still form of the slayer lay in the middle of

the bed. She looked so tiny, so frail. . .nothing like the girl she'd once been.

Willow stood up. "I need to get out of here. . .I need to think." With that, she walked

out of the room and out the door.

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

She walked around for most of the day, going no where in particular. It had been almost

two months since Buffy stepped of the plane and this entire mess began. As if by instinct

she made her way to the hill by the tree where she'd watched the sun set for almost the

past four years. She slipped off her shoes, gathered her dress up and sat down against

the welcoming trunk. There was a distinct breeze in the air. . .it was the beginnings of

the first frost and a preview of the winter to come.

"What's happened to us? How did we get here?" She ran her fingers through silky red

hair. " It's so beautiful tonight. Such a contrast to the dark pit my life's been

lately." She chuckled to her self silently.

"I wouldn't say it's been so bad."

She was shaken from her thoughts by the familiar voice behind her. She turned slowly and

saw Buffy standing there. Shocked was the least of all the emotions she was feeling.

"Buffy?"

"In the undead flesh. What's wrong, Will? You look paler than usual? Almost as pale as

me." A smile played across her lips.

Willow scrambled to her feet. Cautiously, she reached out her hand to touch her and Buffy

grabbed it. "What's with you Will?"

"You, your in the bed, hurt and I couldn't, I didn't fix. . the Oracles didn't and there

was gold dust and Angel, the bright light, Giles and Spike then there was slime, not Spike

slime 'cause that would be gross and this is all so confusing. Ugh."

"Sooo, the Oracles got you with some Angel dust and Spike slimed Giles? I can see how

that would make you go ish but your still not making any sense, Will."

"This is all just so confusing." She shook her head in the attempt to jog all the images

into order.

Buffy pulled her closer. "Here. . .lemme clear it up for you." In one fluid motion Buffy

pulled Willow to the ground and was on top of her. She smiled her best sinister smile and

shifted into game-face. "I want you. . .I can take you. . therefore, I will have you

forever. Comments? Questions?"

She was struggling and shaking her head. <No, this can't be happening!> "Buffy . .w-what

are you doing?" The words past her lips but the answer was firmly imprinted in her

brain. She knew full well what the answer would be.

"Taking what I want."

<Just like the dream.>

She bent down and licked the nape of her neck and slowly made her way up to her earlobe.

"Mmm, you taste as good as I always thought you would . . .maybe even better." She pulled

back and licked her lips.

"Buffy, you don't want to do this. . .y-you don't want to hurt me. Please." She was

pleading for her life as well as Buffy's. She knew, the instant that her life was taken

and replaced by the demon, Buffy would lose her soul. <Oh God, it is the dream . . .the

dream is coming true.>

She leaned down and whispered. "I don't want to hurt you, lover. I want you to be with

me. . .forever." She shifted and Willow could feel the creeping of her skin as the fangs

danced lightly across her flesh. She clamped down and began to feed.

A darkness suddenly rolled in over the sky. Clouds gathered and not a star could be seen

in the sky. Somewhere in the distance, thunder rolled and a streak of lightening cut

across the sky and landed firmly between the shoulders of the slayer.

Her body shuddered as the electricity shot through her. She let go of Willow's neck and

let out a piercing scream, throwing herself back against the tree. Willow scrambled to

her and grabbed her by the shoulders. They looked into each other's eyes as another bolt

flew from the sky and branched off, hitting them both. They screamed into the night in

unison as the pain and electricity and light streamed through their veins. Then all went

black.

-----------

Thu-thump . . .thu-thump. . .thu-thump. . .thu-thump. . .

Willow awoke to what she thought was they rhythmic beating of her heart. She lay there

with her eyes closed for a moment, doing a mental 'body check' list in her head. <Arms,

there. . .legs, there. . .torso, fingers, toes, nose . . nose in breast. . .? . . .Oh, no

this can't be good.> Slowly she shifted only to find there was a distinctly beating heart

under her ear and a warm body covering her form. Not wanting to get her hopes up, she

reached up with her hand and felt around. <Slender waist, shoulder length hair. . .

leather pants!> She opened her eyes. "Buffy?"

She groaned. "Ungh . . .five more minutes, mom." And preceded to snuggled down more

comfortably.

<Mmm, this does wonders for my body temperature. . . .no, bad thoughts. . .get her up, get

her up.> "Buffy, come on. . .if you don't get off of me."

"Huh?" The slayer blinked once, twice. She shifted her gaze and was met with a pair of

wide green eyes below her. "Will. . .what happened?" She moved over to the side. "Oh,

my aching back. . and my head, uh. . .think headaches measure on the Richter scale?" She

brought her knees up, wrapped her arms around them and put her head down. "I think I'm

having about an 8.4 right about now."

Willow sat up slowly and touched her friends neck with two fingers. "Buffy, you. . .you

have a pulse! You're breathing. . .and your back hurts!" She clapped her hands together

and bounced up and down on the grass. "They did it, they kept their promise!"

She lifted her head up and everything Willow just said registered all at once. "I

remember biting you and it was dark and I got hit with alota juice. . .it made my hair

stand on end." She reached out to Willow and examined her neck. "Oh, God. . did I bite

you?" Willow flinched. "No, I did. . .I did bite you. I'm so sorry, Will. Does it

hurt?"

"A little, but. . ." She cupped her face in her hands. "Buffy, you're alive."

"Shh." Buffy brought her finger to Willow's lips.

She tilted her head questioningly but remained silent.

"Do you hear that?" A small sob escaped from her throat. "I can hear my heartbeat." She

smiled and collapsed into her friends arms. . .inhaling and exhaling deeply. "I can

breath, Will. . .I can breath."

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

"One be the champion, one the eternal. One be the savior with struggle internal. One be

the witch with powers for teaching. A prophesy fulfilled, effects far reaching. Each one

in turn will save this earth, beginning with the slayer's re-birth." He'd read it a

hundred times in the past hour. Looking at it now only made him cross-eyed. "It's right

here!. It was a prophesy. If not for the end of the world then what?"

"You and those books, Giles, I swear. Can't you go a day without consulting them. You're

a big boy now you know. . .you can make decisions all by yourself."

He glanced up then back to the book. "As much as I appreciate your sense of humor, Buffy

. .I" He looked up and took his glasses off. "Buffy? How did you? Where did you come

from?"

"Uh . . little town named Sunnydale? Ever heard of it?"

Spike stomped through the hallway towards them. "Bloody hell man. . the slayer's gone.

She's in a coma for the love of Pete. . .she was there one minute then the next she was"

He pointed his finger at Buffy. "Right there.. . .s-she's right there!"

Giles shook his head and rubbed his eyes. "I can't believe it. Buffy, you're alive!"

Willow was watching the entire exchange with amused delight. As if on cue, Angel burst

through the door and breezed right past her. "Not exactly."

Buffy turned and faced him. "Oh, great! The Angel of death. Aren't you supposed to blow

a horn or something before you announce impending doom?"

"What's going on?" Cordelia poked her head around the corner.

Giles stood up. "Well, since everyone is present and accounted for. . .would you two, er,

three care to tell me exactly what's going on? When did this happen Willow?" He turned

to the redhead. "Last I remember, you went out for a walk after you came back from the

Oracles."

"I think we all need to sit down. This is gonna take a while."

They all gathered in the living room and Buffy and Willow began.

"I woke up in the bedroom and. . .I don't know, it was like I felt like a different

person. I knew something was happening and I was feeling really, you know, grr. I walked

out of the bedroom and no one was around so I walked out the front door. I wandered

around a little until sunset and I saw Will."

"When Buffy didn't wake up after I went to see the Oracles, I wandered around half of the

afternoon. I just need to bail and clear my head. So I went to my spot in the park. You

know the one Giles, by the tree?"

"I don't know how I found her, I just did. It was like I knew where she was."

"I was really shocked to see her. She was acting all wiggy and all of a sudden she

grabbed me and we were on the ground."

"I don't know what came over me. I just had this overwhelming urge to bite her. I

couldn't stop myself even if I wanted to. . .and believe me, right then I didn't want to.

It was like I HAD to have her blood in me. . .I had to feed off of her."

"She bit down on me and I heard some thunder then the sky lit up. A split second later I

felt a shock go through my body and Buffy was thrown back against the tree."

"I couldn't think I couldn't see. . .all I could do was scream. I didn't even know she

was there. . ."

"I grabbed her and tried to see if she was alright then the sky lit up again and I don't

remember anything. After that when we woke up in the park."

Spike snickered in the corner. "And they say lightening never strikes twice in the same

place."

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

"Angel?" Giles shook him out of his thoughts.

"I went to see the Oracles. Willow's dream . . .the prophesy has been fulfilled." He

closed the gap between him and Buffy. "You're not human."

"Care to explain soul-man. . .this cryptic routine is getting quite tiresome." Spike

snapped at him.

He nodded his head. "The Oracles. They granted Willow's request and spared your life,

but not without a cost."

Willow nodded her head. "Yes. I offered them something in return for her getting

better. They agreed. . .they said they'd do it."

He smiled at her. "And they did. You offered them your Immortality."

Buffy turned to her. "You gave that up? For me? Will, you shouldn't have." She placed

her hand on Willow's.

"I had to, Buffy. I tried to make you better but." She shrugged. "It was the only way."

Angel offered an explanation. "The Oracles are notoriously self involved. You'd think

that since they're the direct link to the Powers That Be they'd be more aware of what goes

on in the world. They took your immortality from you and gave it to Buffy. They thought

that was what you wanted. When Buffy bit you, she was struck by the lightening at the

same time. That was the beginning of the transformation. Both of you weren't supposed to

be struck. . . "

"I'm alive but Immortal? Sounds like an upside to me." She grinned.

Angel nodded in agreement. "I'd agree. . .only there's a catch."

She put her head down on the table. "A catch. . .there's ALWAYS a catch."

"What is it Angel?" Giles pushed on.

"The transformation actually started the moment she woke up. She lost her soul. We all

know what a soulless vampire has on it's mind. She went in search of the one person she

loved the most, the one that mattered most when she was alive. I did it when I was first

turned. The first person I killed was my mother." He sighed, the memory weighing down on

his soul. "When she was struck, she received immortality. . .the second time she was

struck, she regained her soul. Because she and Willow were, um, connected at the time. .

.they're now connected forever. As long as Buffy lives, so does Willow. A part of

Buffy's immortality was passed to Willow in the bite and some residual of Buffy's soul now

resides in her. With the prophesy about the Immortal Watcher being diverted, the amount

of years between Immortal Watchers rising has been converted to the amount of miles they

can be apart. If they're more than one thousand miles apart, even for an instant, they'll

both die."

Giles stood and grabbed a book from the far end of the table. "Yes, yes. . .why didn't I

see it before." He flipped through and settled on one page. "One be the champion, one

the eternal. . . .That's Willow and Buffy respectfully, not the other way around. One

be the savior with struggle internal. . . that's wrong. If you translate it into old

Latin you get the word 'one' instead of 'with' and 'struggles' instead of 'struggle'. One

be the savior, one struggles internal. Buffy is the Chosen one and with the attack Willow

went through, I'd say it qualifies as and internal struggle. One be the witch with powers

for teaching. . . .That's obvious now. Willow, in a round about way, has taught Buffy how

to be Immortal. A prophesy fulfilled, effects far reaching. . .another obvious one . .

.With Buffy being immortal and the Council being a non-issue, then another slayer cannot

be called. . .this effects the entire dynamic of Good versus Evil. Each one in turn

will save this earth. . .Willow saved us all by killing the demon and putting a stop to

them inhabiting this world and with Buffy, it's her sacred duty to save on a daily basis.

Finally, beginning with the slayer's re-birth . . .Buffy's re-birth as a vampire was the

catalyst for all of this happening." He snapped the book shut and looked very pleased

with himself.

Willow was staring at him wide-eyed. "Wow."

Spike shook his head. "Well, this is a bit disappointing, now isn't it. I've bagged at

least three slayers in my time. A little thunder here, some well placed lightening there.

. .and my bloody reign of terror is over!"

Buffy looked up at him. "Don't worry, Spike, with my being a lifer now, I'm sure I'll

find you some more little green nasties to kill."

He smirked a little. "You promise?" She nodded and it seemed to satisfy him.

Giles cleared his throat. "Well, seeing as we've gotten a lot accomplished tonight, why

don't we retire and decide what we'll do from here tomorrow?"

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

"It's not much, but at least it's a bed." Buffy and Willow were standing in the attic.

As far as most attics go, it was surprisingly clean. Since Spike rarely had any visitors,

almost every pillow in the house was carried upstairs and arranged into a little nest in

the corner.

Willow tilted her head. "At least it kinda looks like one." She walked over to her bags

and grabbed some toiletries. "I'm gonna run down and go to the bathroom. Be right back."

Buffy stood there a few seconds and tried to clear her head. Finally, she decided that

sleep was definitely in order and began to get changed. <God, has it really been two

months since I've gotten here?> It was unusually warm in the attic, Spike had supplied

them with an electric heater. She changed then decided to go downstairs to see what was

taking Willow so long.

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

Willow was leaving the bathroom when she heard a voice behind her. "Hey, Red."

"Cordy. Hey! I was just heading upstairs." She smiled.

"Can I talk to you for a second?"

"Sure, what's up?"

"I think I'm going to leave in the morning. One world destruction averted and there's no

reason for me to stick around anymore."

"No, Cordy. You have to stay. I think Giles is going to suggest we all go back tomorrow

anyway. There isn't anything for any of us to do. Please stay so we can at least leave

together." She took her hand. "Wait, what about Angel?"

She smiled sadly. "We decided that we need some time apart. We had a long talk last night

while you were with Buffy and Giles and Spike were standing vigil outside the door. He's

going to stay here with Spike for a while and I'll go back to LA and take care of the

business. He's already called Wesley and he agreed to stand in as Angel's replacement

until he returns."

"Oh, Cordy . . .I'm sorry. Are you going to be alright?"

"I'll be fine, Will. We agreed together. He's feeling really guilty about the whole

torture thing and I feel like I just need to sort some stuff out. . . .maybe even go see

one of those really expensive therapists the Council sent you to. I'll be fine."

She pulled her into a hug. "I'm so sorry, I just feel like this is all my fault."

Cordelia pulled away. "No, it's not. You know that as well as I do. You couldn't have

stopped it, Red. None of us could."

"I still feel responsible. . . no matter what you say." She pouted a little and looked

down at the floor.

Cordelia reached over and lifted her head with one finger. "You're responsible for a lot

of things . . .this not being one of them. You taught me how to be a better person, you

taught me how to love people other than myself. . .and you've given me a terrific gift.

You're friendship and love. Those are the only things I hold you responsible for." She

leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her lips.

"Cordy. . ."

"That was a thank-you and a goodbye." She took a step back. "Now don't you have an

immortal slayer waiting for you upstairs?" She turned on her heel and walked back to her

bedroom.

Buffy stepped out of the shadows. "I was wondering what was taking so long."

Willow turned around and shades of red crept up her neck and settled in her face. "Buffy,

I. . uh, didn't see you standing there, I wasn't"

"Kissing Cordelia?" Her arms were crossed and she studied her a moment. Finally she

walked over to Willow. "Don't worry, Will. . .as much as I would have like to jump out of

the shadows and rip her head off, I understand why she did it."

"You do?" Her voice had a hint of hope in it.

"Yes. Other than you being quite kissable, I think she just needed closure. Kind of a

one last kiss thing."

<Buffy thinks I'm kissable?> She looked like Buffy, dressed like Buffy, but Willow wasn't

sure if it was the real deal Buffy or a look-alike standing in front of her. All she

could do is stand there with her mouth open and blink a few times. Then she poked at her

with her finger. "You look like my Buffy-shaped friend."

Buffy laughed at the odd expression on her face. She reached out and grabbed her hand.

"Come on upstairs already. I'm beat."

Willow could do nothing but comply.

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

They were laying in bed looking at the ceiling. "You know, I just realized something,

Will."

"You figured out why there's glow in the dark stars on the ceiling?"

They noticed it as soon as they turned the lights off and a discussion on just how quirky

Spike was ensued for about ten minutes.

"No, I still don't have a handle on that one." She turned to face her. "For the first

time in about two months, we don't have anything to do tomorrow." She reached up and

brushed some stray red hair from her face.

"Yeah. Feels kinda nice." It was a response to both the sentence and the action.

". . .and I'm human again. Well, sorta." She outlined Willow's lips with her finger.

"That's a really big plus."

". . .and you're not the big IW." She leaned down and kissed her shoulder lightly.

"Can't find a downside with that one."

"There's no real fear in me dying anymore either." She kissed the nape of her neck.

"Mmm, that's a load off my shoulders."

"I really don't see it happening, but, the only way it would happen is if we were

separated." She nibbled on her earlobe.

"No, I don't like that."

Buffy froze and looked up at her, eyebrows firmly in 'huh?' mode.

Willow giggled. "No, I meant the separation thing." She cleared her throat and smirked.

"The whole earlobe thing you had going on there was really nice."

She managed a brief 'Oh' before planting her face in the pillow.

Willow tugged on her arm. "Hey, where'd ya go?"

"Mp urm brasng mr e."

"Didn't I warn you about talking in tongues?" She shook her shoulder.

Buffy turned her head slightly. "Stop, you're embarrassing me." Then back to the pillow.

"Well, from what your ears are telling me, it didn't suck for you."

She pushed up on her arms. "Will! You're not supposed to know that!"

The hacker shrugged. "I know you and your ears well enough to know that." She slid over

closer to her. "You were gettin all toasty."

"Was not. I was just being playful. That's all." She settled down again on her back.

Willow reached up and outlined her ear. "Liar. I happen to be good friends with your

ears and they're singing an entirely different tune."

Buffy swatted her hand away. "Yeah, well. . .your hands are all sweaty."

"They are not!" It was her turn to be embarrassed.

"Are too! Just like they were every time you kissed Oz goodbye before we went on patrol."

She quirked her head to the side. "You noticed my sweaty palms?"

Buffy thought for a moment. "Yeah. We'd always go on patrol together. . .you, me, and

Xander. You guys were arguing about something constantly and I'd grab your hand to pull

you along. . . vampires to dust and all. . .and your hands would be all sweaty. So I

thought to myself, hmm, must be Oz." She reached over and took her hand, entwining their

fingers together. "And now your hands are all sweaty."

". . .and your ears are red." Willow switched to her side and places some strands of

blonde hair behind Buffy's ear. "I don't know what I would have done if"

"Shh. . .don't think about it." Her finger pressed against Willow's lips.

She opened her mouth slightly and kissed the skin pressing on her lips. Little kisses

fluttered down slightly callused fingers and she licked tiny circles in an upturned palm.

Her lips worked their way back up the backside of a slender hand. She whispered. "I like

your hands."

Buffy hooked the back of her neck and drew her closer. She nipped and licked her way

sensually up Willow's neck then she sucked her earlobe in quickly. "Yeah, well, I like

your ears." She whispered huskily. She turned her head slightly and kissed her on the

lips and slowly drew away. "but I think I like your lips better."

She nodded in agreement. Willow grew bold and pressed her lips to Buffy's more firmly.

Caution and embarrassment were thrown to the wind and replaced by a growing, smokey

passion. Buffy deepened the kiss and a low moan escaped from her throat. She reached

down and danced her fingers across the exposed flesh of Willow's hip, rubbing sensual

circles in the crook there with the tips of her fingers.

Willow broke a moment to gasp for air. She breathed lightly into Buffy's neck. "Mmm,

still loving your hands."

She smiled and ran her fingernails up her back and then back down again. Gently she

pushed her down on her back and began to slowly unbutton Willow's top.

"Want some help?" She smiled.

Buffy shook her head. "I think I've got it covered . . ." She pushed the fabric back

slowly and placed a kiss on her newly exposed collarbone. ". . .or uncovered." She began

to kiss slowly down her chest.

"Depends on how you looungh" She passed all point of coherent thought. Buffy had it

covered all right. She arched into the form on top of her and shut her eyes tight. A low

moan escaped from her lips when Buffy's hand trailed down. Never in all her life had she

realized exactly how many nerve endings could be alert and at attention all at once. Soon

a slick sheen of sweat covered her brow and she reached down and brought the slayer up so

they were face to face.

"Something wrong?" Buffy almost had the chance to switch into concerned mode. Almost.

Willow pushed her down on her back with a little 'fwump' from the pillows. She knelt next

to the slayer and wasted no time by pressing their lips together. While running a feather

light touch up and down the slayer's arm, she seductively poked her tongue out to run it

along the inside of Buffy's bottom lip. Buffy's own tongue met her there and soon they

were wrestling back and forth, each meeting the other stroke for stroke.

Willow kissed and licked her way across the slayer's chest. Buffy moaned a bit, which

only encouraged Willow more. Soon they were all hands, limbs and lips. Neither could

discern where one left off and the other began. The first acute sensation began to rumble

low in Willow's stomach as Buffy's touch increased in pressure. Buffy gasped and clung

tightly to the redhead next to her as she became lost in the touches of her lover that

mirrored her own.

"So close." Buffy whispered huskily into her ear. Willow nodded her head in

acknowledgement.

It started as a warm feeling in the pits of their stomachs then suddenly flared out to

every inch of flesh, every last follicle, on their bodies. Willow tightened her grasp as

the first wave flooded her senses. She shook in the arms of her lover as every nerve

ending and every muscle twitched with enough electricity to light up all of Times Square.

Just as she started to come to her senses, she felt Buffy's grip tighten. She held on to

Buffy as her entire body shuttered. She felt nails dig into her back and she let out a

moan of pleasure and pain. . .and as Buffy reached to peak of her release she let out

short, moaning, primal gasps that made even the stars blush in the still night sky.

-----------

I can't believe it's almost two years.

What a bloody mess we found ourselves in. I've never been much for words or memories and
such, so you'll have to bear with me if this becomes jumbled and non-sensical. Finding
trouble has never been that hard for me, come to think of it, trouble has a way of finding
me. So I jumped at the chance to help some mixed breeds end the world. Who knew what the
hell I was getting myself into when I agreed. Angel knew, I'm sure of it. Even though he
was parading around as Angelus, he knew full well what the hell he was doing. That's
mostly why he let me in on how he lost his soul. Yes children, my sire knows me well. .
.perhaps too well. He knew my condition, and he full well knew I was just blowin' smoke
about ending the world. I told the slayer as much - I like this world, and it's just
gotten better since I found out I could kick some demon ass without the damn head aches.

So old Spike went soft. I took pity on the old poof and his band of misfits and I broke
into the Council's mansion, got the last orb of Thesula, and restored his soul. Who the
hell am I kidding anyway? End of the world, hrumph, what good is that? I'd have nothin
to do, no one to annoy, there'd be no animals to feed from. . .I thought about it and it
wasn't all I thought it was cracked up to be.

So now I find myself here after the 'good deed'. Should've kept my mouth shut. Got
myself into it neck deep I have, and there's no way out of it now. Damn immortal Slayer -
bossin me around like she's the bloody end all be all of it. Sheesh! Can't a guy get a
moment's peace? No, not me. "Spike do this, Spike do that. . .Spike, don't eat the cat
again". . .how the hell was I supposed to know it was the little witches' familiar? Far
be it for them to tell ol' Spike something important like that.

So where was I? Yeah, so we've been here a year. Sunnyhell doesn't seem to change too
much. . .I guess if you've seen one Hellmouth, you've seen them all. The old poof and I
kicked around England for about six months then he went back to LA. . .obligations and all
that. If ya ask me, I'd say he was missin that little skirt he was chasin. Cordelia -
Queen Bitch of Sunnydale and the vampire she tamed. Yeah, she tamed him alright. . .I'm
surprised she hasn't had him de-fanged by now.

The little tree and the Slayer - they get on my nerves. All kissy feely all the time.
What the hell can I do about it. I thought she was bad with Angel. . . with Red she'd a
hundred times worse. She's immortal too for Pete's sake, you'd think she'd lay off a
little. Red can handle herself, that's for sure. I learned not to mess with her after
she turned me into a goat for a week - I still get this hankering for grass now and then,
but I'd never admit it to her. I'd be the last one to admit it out loud, but they make a
terrific team. . .almost unstoppable if you ask me. They compliment each other. . .the
Slayer's always goin off half cocked, ready to rock and Red brings her down to earth,
makes her think about the consequences of her actions. The Slayer would've died fifty
times over if it hadn't been for her. . .I don't know if I should thank her or hate her
for it.

The old bloke wanted me to do this - write down everything I knew and remembered. Ahh, I
don't see the point. There's no sort of council left now, no reason to save everything
for posterity. But, it looks like the old man has a plan. He wants to start the Council
from scratch. Make it better than it was before. We're better off in this world without
it if you ask me, but you didn't. Nope, no one ever asks old Spike here for advice,
never. Just as well though. I'd tell them all to sod off.

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

I am the slayer.

Geez, that sounded dumb, now didn't it? Well, I am. The slayer I mean, not dumb. .
.though some people would argue with that. I don't know how I didn't see it coming. Will
and I that is. This is confusing, I'm sorry. I've got so much stuff running around in my
brain right now and it's all insisting that it comes out at once.

Ok, so, Willow. Yeah, wow. I'm still amazed over that one. I can't believe she's with
me and she loves me. It's such a risk for her, and not just because of the impending doom
factor. It's the danger stuff too. I want to keep her safe now that I've got her. .
.really got her. But of course she insists on helping. She says there's no danger in it
for her as long as I keep my immortality, but I still can't help but worry. We really
don't know anything about this even two years after it's happened. I feel things, creepy
things, and I know she feels them too. I guess my spidey sense has rubbed off on her. I
wish she wasn't involved and I'm thankful that she is at the same time. She's not only
saved my hide countless times, she's saved my soul too. I get angry, really angry and I
know I don't think straight when I'm like that. Will to the rescue with her level
headedness and insight.

One of the things I'm sure if is that I never want to be a vampire again, even if it's
temporary. You don't know what it's like, you never want to. I had this little voice in
my head for the ten minutes I was soulless and it was strong. There was some really dark,
incontrollable thing inside me and I couldn't control it. It kept telling me to kill,
maim, destroy . . .and the hardest part to live with is that I wanted to. I wanted to
destroy every person in that room because I loved them. When I got my soul back it was
better, not easier, just better. The lust was still there but I had control over my
actions and thoughts. I don't think I've ever felt that kind of guilt ever before. I
don't know how Angel does it. He had an eighty year run of death and torture before his
soul was restored. I have a newfound respect for him. I think I would have killed myself
before I'd be able to live with that kind of guilt.

Angel. After all this time my heart still skips a beat when he's around. I don't think
it will ever stop and I don't want it to. He's a very big part of my life, my love, and I
don't want to lose that. I don't want to forget the way I felt when I was with him. If I
do, it would be like it was all for nothing. But it was for something, a big something.
I learned what it was like to love and I learned how to let go. I think it's toughened me
up a bit and helped me grow up.

Will. My Willow. I could sit here all day and write a one million word essay about my
favorite hacker, and it still wouldn't be good enough. She's my strength and my hope and
my companion on this long trip. Believe me, it's gonna be a long trip. As long as she's
around, it'll be worth it. God, am I an idiot or what? She's been there, right in front
of me for almost ten years and I never saw it. I never saw the love she had to offer and
I almost missed it.

I still don't get this immortality thing. I'm immortal, thanks to Will talking to the
Oracles, and because we were connected when I was given the immortality, she's immortal
too. Well, in a way. That's the part I don't get.

So Giles, he's gonna be a watcher and think like a watcher till the day he dies. He
wanted us all to write down everything that's happened, everything we felt. He has hope
in a new and better Council. I say more power to him. If anyone can do it, he can. So
the first step is this journal of collective thoughts and how the last Council ended. So
this is it. It's the beginning of a journal of the collective thoughts of the four of us.
. .and the beginning of a new Council that will be run the way I think it's always been
meant to be run. . . by Giles.

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

It's so strange to be back here after all this time. Everything looks smaller and more, I
don't know, less scary. I guess it's because of all the things we've gone through both
here and in England. I don't think I'll forget England for a very long time. So much
happened there. It all just seems like some weird freaky dream.

What was supposed a happy reunion with Buffy turned into some freaky prophesy thing that
we'd all been involved in for like three years before she got here. Giles says that he's
still trying to figure out the far reaching ramifications of all that's happened. I think
it's watcher talk for more research. Not that I mind. . .old habits die hard I guess and
I'm still his number one research girl. It's nice to know that the more things change the
more they stay the same. It's kind of like a creature comfort to me.

Buffy's been playing big bad Slayer lately. She doesn't let me go on patrol as much as
she used to. It shouldn't really be her choice. Right? I mean of the two of us, who
runs my life? I love her and I know she just wants to protect me from all the goulies out
there in the dark. I'm afraid for her all the time. As much as she wants to protect me,
I want to protect her too. I think she still sees me as the shy, awkward fifteen year old
hacker she met in high school. Yes, sometimes I see her as the vulnerable heartbroken
mess she was when Angel left. I guess we're both guilty of it. God, to have her in my
life, to have her in this way. . .it's more than I could ever have dreamed or conjured up
for that matter. How did I get so lucky?

So Giles is playing Watcher guy again. A new Council for the new millennium. I don't
wanna burst his bubble, but the millennium started about eight years ago. Leave it to him
to be way behind. I love him though. He's more of a father to me than my own has ever
been. Not that I don't love my dad, he and mom have just never been there for me the way
I needed them to be. They're always off on this conference or that business trip. Even
now, it's been almost five years since I've been back to this little one Starbucks town,
they're away and didn't leave word when they'd be back. I've learned to live with it
though. Giles and Buffy are all the family I've ever really needed. Come to think of it.
. .I wonder how Angel and Cordelia are doing? I haven't heard from them since Angel went
back to LA. I'm gonna have to give them a call.

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

Sometimes, when faced with the uncertainty of the future, you must return to the shadows
of the past. Even now, just the thought of returning to this place makes my blood run
cold. One must do what one must do, I suppose. I swore to them, I gave them my honor
that their fight would be the good one - the just one - now I'm afraid I must go back on
my word. It's not the good fight anymore. Bad, good, evil, just - the lines have been
blurred and sides have been taken . . .where any of us will land is just as predictable as
nature - it's not.

I get ahead of myself here in this tale. Now where was I? . . .ah, yes, the beginning.
In the beginning, a girl arrived in a small town called Sunnydale. She was the one girl
in all the world who would stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of
darkness. She was the slayer. She averted the apocalypse on two occasions, killed
countless vampires, demons and children of the underworld, held steadfast the balance
between good and evil and still managed to graduate from college in one piece. The former
was accomplished by preternatural powers and a destiny she was born to. The latter was by
all accounts a miracle, of which a resident witch had a hand in.

Buffy and Willow have proved to be an outstanding team through all of this. They are each
others compliment, a true Ying and Yang. What one lacks, the other makes up for. They've
learned to read each other in times of battle and it's proven to be a life saver. In all
the years I've known Buffy, I've known one thing about her that's always held true. She
had difficulty in trusting people. Who can blame her for that. Even I have betrayed her
trust down the line and I'm thankful everyday for her eventual understanding and
forgiveness. As much as they compliment each other and trust each other, I'm afraid still
that she cannot fully trust Willow and her abilities. Perhaps this will come in time,
perhaps it will not. I can only hope for the best and help them along. Right now their
survival depends on it.

Even now as the letters come together and the words try to form coherent sentences, I
still can't believe it's happening again. My sources tell me that something big is coming
and we need to be prepared for it. What it is, I'm still not sure. I've kept all of my
Council contacts, and after little deliberation, they've agreed to form a new and better
Council. DNA testing has been implemented and I can assure you as well as myself that
they are all, in fact, human. I don't know why I didn't think to test Richard in the
beginning. It's just a mistake I'll have to live with. One that almost cost us our
lives. I will not make the same mistake again.

A demon walks this earth, even now as we speak. There isn't much time. I must gather
them together and find a way to stop it. This is a demon like no other. He walks this
earth on the line drawn between this world and the next. He has been referred to in
countless ways through the ages: The Boogie Man of childhood nightmares, the Shadow Man
of adult fears and he's even been called the Grim Reaper. What ever he is, he's powerful
and must be stopped.

I've asked Spike, Buffy and Willow to write down some thoughts on what we all went through
in England. My purpose is simple: If they are made to deal with the forces of the past
that almost tore them apart, then they will be able to defeat the darkness that lies in
our future. Drudging up horrible memories isn't what I'd call a favored past time, but
I'm afraid it's necessary so we can focus on the problem at hand.

Angel and Cordelia have agreed to help. I'm thankful for that. Angel has contacts and
sources that I could only attain after I've lived 248 years. . .and that seems highly
unlikely. They'll be here in a week, then we can get started on stopping this thing.
Even Xander has agreed to help, which, in itself amazes me. He's kept my apartment fairly
clean and is even holding a steady job bartending at the Bronze. The boy never ceases to
amaze me. Twenty four years old and he still has that childlike gleam in his eye and his
hair is forever tousled. The girls haven't seen him yet, though I do suppose they're out
looking for him. I must admit, I am looking forward to the looks on their faces when they
find out what he's been up to. Serves them right for not keeping in touch. All in good
time I say. . .it'll all happen in good time.


Sequel