“What the hell is going on?”

They turned to see past Buffy standing there, mouth agape.

“What are you taking about?” future Buffy asked, trying to sound casual.

“You were kissing him.”

Buffy took a breath. “Oh…that.”

Spike took that as his cue to leave. If the Buffys were going to fight, he didn’t want to get in their way.

“I’m gonna go see how Red’s getting on,” he said before slipping out.

The two women stood there looking at each other.

“You’re not me,” past Buffy said. “You can’t be me. I would never…”

“Never what? Kiss a vampire? We both know that’s not true.”

“That was different.”

“Always is. You know, I’m really starting to see why people used to be so annoyed with me when it came to Angel. For some reason, everything is different when we’re talking about him. But you know what? It’s really not. And maybe it’s taken this trip through time to make me realize that, but now I see it. Being with him isn’t the same as being with Spike, but that doesn’t mean that being with Spike is…less right.”

Buffy looked at herself, not really believing what she was saying. There was no way this could be happening. Had future her just admitted to wanting to be with Spike? Future Buffy seemed to be coming to a realization of her own.

“They are different; very different. And honestly, I think that’s a good thing. I have spent so much time trying to pretend Spike is less worthy of love than Angel. I convinced myself that he couldn’t be good without a soul, but I was wrong. He defied the black and white world I was living in. He made me realize that not all demons are out to destroy the world and the people that live in it. But more importantly, he helped me understand me. And yeah, we tend to bring out the worst in each other, but at the same time, we can bring out the best. He’s different from any guy I’ve ever been with. He seems to get me; sometimes better than I get myself.”

“I can’t believe you’re saying this.” It was like Spike information overload.

“I know. I know that you don’t understand, and I don’t expect you to. Not right now.”

“I don’t…how can you have feelings for him? How can I have feelings for him? We hate each other. We’re mutual enemies. How can that change so much in two years?”

“You would be surprised at what can change in only a couple of years.”

Dawn had gone from being a bratty kid to a fine young woman, Xander was no longer the freelance construction worker but instead managed a company, and Willow had gone from being a practicing amateur witch to being a powerful Wicca who was going to save the world.

“Do you love him?”

There it was. The question she knew was coming.

“I don’t know. I mean I care about him so much. I don’t think I’m in love with him; at least not yet.”

“But you could be.” It wasn’t a question.

“Yeah, I really could. I feel safe with him. He makes me feel…I can’t really explain it. But it’s good. And for once in my life, I’m not running away from my feelings. I’m tired of pretending I don’t feel things because other people think I shouldn’t. He loves me, and I think he could make me happy.”

“But it’s wrong. Vampires and slayers shouldn’t be together. I found that out the hard way. It doesn’t work.”

“It didn’t work then, but that doesn’t mean it won’t work now. And it may be wrong but…it’s the right kind of wrong.”

“How can you trust him when he doesn’t even have a soul?”

Future Buffy sighed. “Forget it. We don’t have time for this. Willow probably has the spell ready.” She started to turn away.

“Why won’t you answer my question?”

“What?”

“Why won’t you answer my question?” she asked more pointedly.

Future Buffy didn’t respond. Not that it really mattered if she knew the truth since they were all about to forget it anyway, but she had a feeling it would make things a little too weird.

“What are you not telling me?”

Before she could say anything Spike walked back into the room.

“You two planning on being in here all day? They’re looking to get started.”

Past Buffy looked at the vampire. The same vampire that was here in her time. The same one who’d annoyed the hell out of her time and time again. And yet there was something different about him. Something that future her saw.

“Oh my God,” she said as realization dawned on her. It was all but obvious now. “You…you have soul.”

He looked caught off guard at first. He looked to his Buffy for some help but she just sighed and nodded.

“Yeah,” he said after a moment.

“How?” she asked, still in awe of her discovery.

“It’s a long story.”

“I just…I don’t know what to think. Is this why you…” she said the last part to future Buffy but couldn’t find it in her to finish the sentence.

Spike waited for her to answer but she didn’t. He was slightly disappointed but tried not to let it show. They all stood there awkwardly, none of them knowing what to say now. Past Buffy knew the truth. But she probably wouldn’t know for very much longer. Not if the spell worked.

“I thought you were getting them,” Dawn asked from the door.

The group looked at her.

“I was,” Spike said. “Bloody woman won’t listen.”

Dawn laughed and the two Buffys just stared at each other. One wondering how the hell so much had changed in two years and the other hoping Willow was right about this spell.

“Well,” the young girl continued. “That sounds like her.”

“Hey,” they exclaimed, finally taking their eyes off of each other.

“Come on,” she said, ignoring them, and walking out of the room.

Spike followed after her.

“I don’t like this. I don’t understand it,” past Buffy said.

“I don’t expect you to. But in twenty minutes you probably won’t remember.”

“I don’t like that either.”

Nothing about this situation seemed like a good thing. And there was no way…NO WAY…the future could be like that. She would never fall in love with Spike. Right? She had to admit that once or twice she may have had thoughts of a desirous nature towards him, but that was lust at most. Not love. And she would never even admit that to anyone. But it seemed that in the future everyone knew the couple was…whatever they were. She tried to shake all of this off as she followed future her into the other room.

“You’re gonna erase our memories?” they heard Dawn ask in a somewhat disappointed voice.

“Just from the past two days,” Willow said.

“No bloody way,” past Spike said. He was still not convinced. He’d seen enough magic go wrong in his day.

“We won’t erase them entirely. Just any memories of future Buffy and Spike.”

“So we won’t get suspicious when we wake up tomorrow having lost 48 hours of our lives,” Riley said. He had been lying on the counter, attempting to will the pain away, but had pushed himself up into a seated position.

Past Buffy looked at him, concern all over her face. She still wished he would let them take him to the hospital.

“Exactly.”

“Sounds…iffy,” Xander said.

“Well, there is no 100 percent guarantee that it will work.”

“So what kind of percentage are we looking at?”

“80ish,” Willow said, and off of all of the looks she received, “85.”

“I don’t know…”

“It’ll work,” Tara said.

Everyone looked at her, not expecting her to speak.

“And we’re pretty much ready. I have to start the initial spell. Where’s Joyce?”

“On the way. I just talked to her,” Dawn said.

“Good. I’ll go ahead and start. I just need to mix these ingredients.” She pulled a small pot out of a cardboard box and laid it on the table. She and Tara then began putting things into it. Soon it was bubbling of its own accord and smoke rose from the inside. “This makes me feel like a real witch,” she commented with a laugh.

Not five minutes later, Joyce entered the shop.

“Sorry I'm late.”

“Its okay, Mrs. Summers,” Willow said. “This is taking longer than I thought.”

She nodded and looked at Past Buffy and Riley. “Hey honey….Riley.”

“Hey mom.”

“Joyce.”

When she was past them, Buffy turned her attention back to her boyfriend. “Are you sure you’re alright.”

“For the 100th time, I'm fine. Now drop it.” Her persistence for him to get help was really starting to annoy him.

“Okay,” she said, still not convinced, but not wanting to push him on it. He was getting more and more sensitive these days.

‘Like someone else you know and loathe,’ her brain screamed at her. She couldn’t stop her eyes from wandering to future Spike. He was standing near future her. No way that was gonna happen. No way.

“So what do I need to do?” Joyce asked Willow.

“Just drink a potion.”

“Wait, we have to drink that?” Anya asked, scrunching her nose at the pot. “It’s not like eye of frog or something, is it? Cause I’ve had that, and contrary to popular belief, it does not taste like chicken.”

“No, it should actually taste like orange juice,” Willow said, giving her a weird look.

“Should?”

Willow ignored her and continued mixing in the pot.

Future Spike was now leaning against the ladder and his former self came to stand beside him

“This is bloody fantastic. More spells. I hate magic. Always consequences.” Past Spike figured if anyone could understand his dislike for magics, it would be himself.

“Yeah,” future Spike said thinking about Buffy.

The consequence of bringing her back had been more than a tag-a-long demon. And if they hadn’t already agreed not to change the future, he would make sure that never happened. Though he was no fool to think he would ever let her die if he could stop it. Then, there would be no reason to bring her back.

“Is it like this, in the future?”

Future Spike was pulled out of his thoughts. “What’s that, mate?”

“Do they rely on magic to fix everything?”

He was about to say no when he remembered the huge spell future Willow was getting ready to perform. “Yes.”

Past Spike snorted. “Figures.”

“That’s the Scooby’s for ya.”

“Yeah. What’s the deal with you and the Slayer?” past Spike blurted out before he could stop himself.

“Come again?”

“You and Buffy? I'm not blind.”

“You don’t think I know that?”

“Then you know I'm not buying your little act.” Past Spike wasn’t quite sure himself what he was talking about, but knew that if he kept it up, it might bring out the truth he so desperately sought.

“And what act would that be?”

“Friends. You’re not friends. You’ll never be friends,” he said, echoing the words he’d spoken years before, but for much different reasons.

“Why not?”

“Slayer, vampire,” he said as if that explained everything.

“Chip,” future Spike said, pointing to his head. Given, the chip wasn’t exactly there anymore, but other him didn’t need to know that.

“So you mean to tell me that the Slayer, that slayer,” he said with a gesture at past Buffy, “has some sort of change of heart regarding me because the government made me its bitch?”

“I'm telling you things change.”

“I hear what you’re saying, but what aren’t you telling me? Because I know there’s something.”

Future Spike was getting really annoyed. Why couldn’t he just let this go? Oh right, because he didn’t do that. Even the soul hadn’t changed that about him.

“You really wanna know?”

Past Spike didn’t answer, but the look on his face told future Spike he most certainly did. And for whatever reason, it didn’t seem to matter anymore. The spell would erase the memories anyway. Why not have a little fun with himself? Future Spike made a face at how wrong that sounded, even in his head.

“Alright then.” He took a step closer and lowered his voice to almost a whisper. No need to bring anyone else into this. “I know things about Buffy you never even dreamed of knowing. I know fighting for her is both a release and a frustration. I know exactly where to touch her to make her knees buckle. I know what sounds she makes when you nibble on her neck. I know every curve on every inch of her body. And I know her blood is the best I’ve ever tasted.”

Satisfied that he’d made past him happy, he stepped back and leaned against the staircase. Past Spike on the other hand was having trouble wrapping his head around all that was just said. Was future Spike just yanking his chain, making him think something that happened that didn’t? Or could it possibly be true? He didn’t know, but somehow didn’t feel the need to press the subject any further, for which future Spike was grateful.

In the meantime, Joyce had walked over and took a seat at the table, where Future Buffy, Dawn and Xander were seated. Future Buffy looked at her mom and could feel the emotions stirring.

“How are you?” Joyce asked Buffy.

“I'm good. Ready to get back,” she said, knowing it was only partly true.

“I can imagine.”

“Well, I wish we didn’t have to do this spell,” Dawn said. “It would be so cool to remember you guys.”

“Maybe for you,” future Buffy said somewhat quietly. She was sure that past Buffy was dying to forget what she’d learned in the past two days.

“What?”

“I said…maybe it would be cool but it could also change everything. And that could be bad.”

“It could also be good.”

“Yeah, but I'm not willing to take that chance.”

Dawn sighed. There was no point in arguing with her. Their minds were all made up and it seemed this spell was going to happen. And pretty soon from the weird smell coming from Willow’s general direction.

“And we understand that, Buff,” Xander said. “That’s why we’re gonna drink whatever that is.” He pointed towards the witches.

“I appreciate you guys being so understanding. This is all just so insane.”

“You don’t have to tell me.”

Buffy smiled despite herself. “I'm just ready to get this over with. I wonder what’s taking so long.”

Xander shrugged. “I don’t know, but I know better than to rush magic. Last time I did, I ended up with twelve toes.”

Buffy raised her eyebrows.

“Long story.”

“Uhuh.”

Buffy looked away from Xander and back at her mom. This would be the last time she ever saw her, ever talked to her. What was she going to say? And she couldn’t say any of it with Xander and Dawn around.

“Can I talk to you…alone?” Joyce asked her, almost as if she’d been reading her thoughts.

“Sure.” The slayer looked at the other two.

“Oh…right,” Xander said, getting up from the table. “I'm just gonna go see what’s holding us up.”

“That means you too,” Buffy told her sister when she made no move to leave.

Dawn rolled her eyes and followed Xander across the room, leaving future Buffy and Joyce alone at the table. Buffy was happy to get to see her mom again, but at the same time she was a little unsure of what the older woman wanted.

“So what did you want to talk about?”

Joyce looked around to make sure that no one else was standing near them. She took a deep breath and prepared herself for the answer to the question she was about to ask.

“Mom?” Buffy asked when he didn’t say anything.

“I’m not around anymore, am I? In the future?” Joyce asked her after a moment.

Buffy’s eyes widened. She hadn’t expected that. She wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do. She could lie and pretend she was, but Joyce would probably see through that. And what did it really matter now that they were doing the spell? She wouldn’t remember soon anyway. “No,” Buffy responded sadly.

Joyce let out a sigh. “I didn’t think so.”

Buffy could feel tears forming. “I'm sorry, mom. I didn’t want…”

“It’s okay.” She reached a hand out to her daughter. “Don’t cry.”

The slayer quickly wiped the tears away before they could spill down her face. “I wanted to tell you…or tell me, so that maybe I could stop it.”

“You can’t do that. Mr. Giles told me about the dangers of knowing the future. And if I'm not meant to be there, then I shouldn’t. Just tell me, you and Dawn, are you alright?”

Buffy nodded. “Yeah.”

“Then that’s all that matters.”

She wished she could agree with her mother. But how was she supposed to believe that life wouldn’t be better if her mom was around?

Joyce decided to change the subject. “But enough about me. What about you? What’s changed for you?”

“What do you mean?” Buffy asked.

“Well, you and Spike, you’re together in the future.” It was more of a statement than a question.

“What makes you say that?”

“I saw the two of you the other night.”

“Wh…”

“In the backyard. You were hugging. It seemed pretty intimate.”

“Oh.” She looked down at her hands. “Look, mom, you don’t have to tell me how wrong you think it is. I’ve already gotten enough of that from past me. I know it’s crazy, but I want it. And for once I’m not afraid to admit that.” She slowly raised her eyes to meet her mother’s.

She was surprised to see her smiling.

“I'm not gonna tell you anything. You’re old enough to make your own decisions. And if you say he’s worth it, then I believe you.”

“He is.”

“Okay, we are officially ready,” Willow announced to the group.

Joyce gave Buffy’s hand a pat and smiled that somehow let her know that everything would be alright. The two women stood up from the table and gathered with the others around the witches. Past Buffy helped Riley, despite his protests.

“Now stand in a circle.”

They moved around until they formed what would pass for a circle and waited for further instruction. Past Buffy had one hand on Riley, hoping he could stand long enough to make it through the spell. Anya was fiddling with her key to the cash register. She’d decided to put it on her necklace so if they did lose all of their memories at least she would know the money was safe. Giles cleaned his glasses and past Spike eyed future Buffy out of the corner of his eye. When she looked at him, he only smirked, causing her to turn her gaze to future Spike.

“What did you say to him?”

“Nothing.”

Willow handed everyone, with the exception of future Buffy and Spike, a small bottle that she had filled with some of the potion she had mixed together. “No reason to make you two forget.”

They nodded.

“This isn’t going to kill us or make us ugly, is it?” Anya wondered.

“Uh no. If anything we’ll all end up with permanent amnesia.” Off of their looks she covered quickly. “Which we won’t.”

“It could still be dangerous,” Giles pointed out. “You need to take every precaution.”

“I have. Trust me. I’ve read the spell forwards and backwards.” She looked at future Buffy and Spike. “I need you two to link hands and stand in the center of the circle.”

Buffy reached her hand over and Spike took hold of it. They stepped into the center.

“Now everyone else, drink your potions. The memory spell will take effect in about ten minutes, so we have to hurry.”

“Here we go,” past Spike said, raising his bottle.

Future Buffy and Spike watched as the group around them downed the liquid. Past Buffy being the last, and only drank it after receiving looks from everyone else. At least she wouldn’t remember the craziness that would be her future.

“Wow, this really does taste like orange juice,” Dawn said.

“Pulp free. My favorite,” Xander replied.

They shared a laugh while Willow picked up her book.

“Now, everyone be really quiet, unless you want your heads to explode.”

Silence filled the room as Willow began chanting in Latin. Within moments a mist rose up around them. The mist soon turned into a bright, blinding light. Future Buffy and Spike could almost feel themselves being pulled away from each other but kept a firm grip on the other’s hand. At first it felt like they were falling. And then…nothing.