Disclaimer: The characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer are owned by Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and Fox studios. This story is not meant to infringe upon anyone's rights, only to entertain.

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CHAPTER 12

“Hey guys, I can’t find a counter spell so we’ll just have to find the condition that Spike said used.” Anya said as she walked into the training room with her head bent down looking at the book in her hand. “I found a memory spell so that Spike could tell us exactly what he …” She stopped mid-sentence, seeing that the Slayer and master vampire were in their own little world. “Well I'm guessing Spike is feeling much better now. So I'm going to be leaving before I start hearing orgasms.”

Anya turned around and closed the door behind her, just as Giles came from the front of the store.

“Is everything okay? Have you found something that can help?”

Anya smiled whimsically. “Uhm.. I didn’t find anything but I don’t think we’ll need it anymore.”

“Why? Doesn’t Spike need something?”

Anya shook her head. “Nope, not anymore. They’re both okay but I wouldn’t go in there if I were you. … So how long can we keep Willow like that?”

“Hopefully we don’t have to wait too long. The coven should be ready soon. “



back in the training room

Buffy wrung the washcloth she had brought in earlier. She started cleaning his chest, washing away the blood stains that had formed. When she was done, Spike caught her hand and placed a gentle kiss on it.

She couldn’t help but smile at the small gesture.

"Are you sure about this, luv?"

Buffy placed a hand on his cheek and smiled. "No more running for Buffy. No more pushing away."

Spike turned his head to kiss the palm of the hand that was touching him. Then, he tilted her head, exposing his bite mark on her neck. "It looks good on you. It makes me feel all manly that you're wearing my mark."

She answered him with a slight smirk. "You're getting ahead of yourself again Spike."

"But I love you."

"I know Spike." She leaned in and rested her head once more against his chest, finding comfort in being close to him. "I love you too." she whispered into his cold chest.

Spike wrapped his arms around her and planted a kiss on her hair. He held her there for a moment, basking in the knowledge that this time Buffy wasn't going to run away. But his bliss was short lived. Something was going on outside. The hairs behind his neck were tingling. His senses were telling him that magic was involved.

"Red ..."

"Huh?" Buffy said pulling away from him. Then she heard it herself. There was the sound of some sort of commotion outside.

Both of them rushed outside in time to see Giles desperately trying to hold his own against Willow. But it was to no avail. She was able to get close to the Watcher and drain him of the magic she needed to restore her strength. With an evil grin, she turned to Buffy. "You want me to work through my grief but I think I found a better solution." Smoke appeared beside Willow as two bodies began to materialize.

The smoke soon dissipated to reveal a very bewildered Dawn and Xander who were both surprised that they were both back in the Magic Box.


"Anya!" Xander cried out as he rushed towards his ex-fiancé who was unconscious on the floor for the second time today.

"Buffy!" Dawn said as she ran towards her sister only to be stopped by some force that was pulling her back to Willow.

"Let her go Willow!" Buffy cried out.

"Oh I will, once I get what I want from her. You see, I know I can't bring Tara back, but I think I found another way to be with her."

"What are you planning Red?"

"Well Dawnie here is the key right. She's the key to thousands of dimensions. Tara should exist in at least one of those places. So I'm just going to borrow your sister for a little bit Buffy. Then I can move on."

"Willow, you can't do that. That's Dawn. She’s my sister. She's human. She's not a thing Willow. She's human!"

“But she wasn’t always human. I’m just restoring the order of things.”

“This isn’t right, Will. You know this isn’t right.”

“If you haven’t noticed, I really don’t care. I love her and I’ll do anything to be with her again.”

“We loved her too, Will. We all miss her.”

“This is life, Red. There are just some things you shouldn’t being messing with. And you’re talking about opening dimensions … destroying the world. That sounds like Glory. Don’t do this Red. You’ll destroy yourself. Do you really think Glinda would want this?”

“Well I didn’t hear you complain when I used magic to bring Buffy back. Besides, it seems like you could care less about anybody else at the moment, seeing that you already have what you want.” Willow said staring at Buffy’s and Spike’s intertwined hands.

Spike was about to pull his hand away from Buffy’s but she wouldn’t let him. She held on tightly, giving him a small smile. “No running away, remember?” she whispered.

The master vampire smiled as he gently squeezed his girl’s hand in appreciation before turning once more to the problem at hand. “This ‘as got nothing to do with me and for the record I do care. If I didn’t, I would ‘ave just let every single nasty out there get their ‘ands on you and the rest of the Scoobies. I know a number of them would love to just ‘ave at it with the Slayer’s friends. And before you even start, I didn’t do it to get close to Buffy. Remember, she was out of the picture this time last year. I ‘elped you guys out. I fought beside you because I cared.”

Willow shook her head. “None of you could ever understand the pain.”

“I do, Red. You should know that since you went inside my head. But what you’re thinking of isn’t the answer.”

“Willow, Tara’s gone. She’s in a better place and you know that. I’m sure she’s in heaven, Will.” Buffy pleaded.

“I can’t live without her. No one loved me like her.”

“We love you, Will.” Xander said.

“No. Not like her. No one saw me like she saw me.”

“We see you, Will. I see you. I’ve seen you since we were kids. Please, let it go. I wish I could tell you everything is going to be easy and alright. But I’m not going to lie to you. I know you’re hurting, but we’re here for you. Please, Will. Don’t do this. Don’t destroy yourself and all that’s left of Tara.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Will, when you love someone, they become a part of you.” Buffy interjected looking up at Spike briefly. “Just as Tara was important to you, I’m sure you were important to her. You two made each other happy … complete. She’ll always be with you and she’ll live on in you and your memories. Don’t destroy what she loved about you by giving in to the darkness. She loved all of us Will. Will you destroy everything that she loved?”

“But it hurts…” she said, tears threatening to flow.

“You were lucky to have felt and touched true love with Tara. Don’t erase that memory by doing this.” Xander said.

Tears started streaming down the witch’s cheeks as she let Dawn go. The former key rushed towards Buffy and held onto her older sister tightly.

Xander gave Anya a tender look and helped her up before turning to look at his best friend weeping uncontrollably now. Anya placed a hand on his arm and nodded. Xander gave her a small smile then made his way towards his best friend and pulled her into a comforting embrace.

“Why does it have to hurt so much?” Willow asked to no one in particular.

Xander couldn’t really give an answer and just held her close to him, hoping it would be enough for at least now.


**

Willow made her way down the stairs, followed by Xander who was carrying her luggages.

“I’ll go load these in the car.”

“Thanks Xander.” Willow called after him before turning to Buffy and Dawn.

“Have a safe trip!” Dawn said cheerfully.

“Are you going to be okay, Will?”

She nodded. “It’s not going to be easy, but I think this will be good for me. Just a few months away from here and I’ll get to see my sisters. I’ll be back before you guys know it.”

“BLOODY ‘ELL!” all three of them heard from the kitchen.

Spike walked into the living room, dusting himself off and making sure he wasn’t burning anywhere. He gave all three women his signature grin.

“What are you doing here, Spike?” Buffy said playfully annoyed.

“Didn’t come ‘ere to see you, Slayer. Came to see Red.”

“Oh, uhm ... well... I guess that’s sweet. Thanks Spike. Well I better go, Xander’s out there with Anya. They’re either fighting or smooching at the moment and whichever it is you know it will take me around five minutes to pry those two apart.”

Dawn gave Willow a hug. “Take care.”

Buffy then leaned in to give her best friend a farewell hug. “I know he’s all evil and soulless, but he really loves you and who am I to get in between that?” Willow whispered into Buffy’s ear.

“Thanks Will.”

Willow then turned towards Spike. “Thank you,” she said with a small smile. “Hurt her and I’ll turn you into a toad or something ickier!”

Spike raised his hands up in mock surrender. “Would never dream of it, Red.”

“See you guys in a few months.” Then she headed out the door and Buffy followed her up to the front porch. She waited till they pulled out of her driveway before stepping back into the house.

“So can someone drop me off at the mall? There’s this sale there for ...” Dawn stopped in mid-sentence seeing Spike and Buffy staring at each other. “Gah… guess I’ll be at Janice’s if anyone cares.”

“You really came over to see Willow off?”

“Among other things.” He said, raising his eyebrow suggestively.

“You know for a vampire, you sure don’t follow the rules. Vampires are supposed to be awake during the night and asleep during the day.”

“Well, rather fancy being unconventional I guess.”

“How unconventional are you willing to be?”

“Huh? What are you getting at luv?”

“Well, Willow will be gone for a few months and uhm … she said that she wanted to exchange rooms with me when she got back. That means I’ll be moving into my Mom’s old room. But her room just seems a little big for one person and since part of your job description will now officially include looking after my sister, I was thinking maybe you’d want to move in here with us.”

“Job description, pet? Vampires don’t have jobs.”

“Well yeah they don’t, but you’re no ordinary vampire.”

“What makes me different, luv?”

“You have a Slayer for a girlfriend.” She said a little embarrassed.

Spike started to grin uncontrollably as he pulled Buffy into his arms and crushed her lips with his own.


The End.


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A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed this. I know that someone was interested in a sequel. Strangely enough I actually have an idea for one but I've got a few WIP that I want to finish first plus I actually want to start on the Rebellion sequel. Thanks for all the reviews and for the encouragement. This fic was originally suppose to be only a one chapter deal and it ended up being 12 chapters long. That's thanks to the inspiration I got from all you readers.