AU Season 7; Spike has always had such a hard time trying to make things go his way. This past summer in Africa, though, seems to have found him in a better place. He's back in Sunnydale now, for better or worse -- but is he ready to handle it all? What will Dawn say to his face? How will Buffy react to the changed man that's returned to her? And what about that strange presence lurking in the shadows?