Angel and Faith ran back to the house while around them the rain pounded in sheets. When they finally got inside everyone was staring out the windows amazed.

“Where are Buffy and Spike?” Xander yelled at them when they got inside.

“They are still out there trying to work things out. I had to bring Angel inside because he didn’t want to play nice.” Faith said disgusted. She looked at Angel. “What the hell did you think you were doing? Its up to them now.”

Angel sat on the couch and put his head in his hands. “I thought I was doing the right thing.” He said mournfully.

“Its time you realized that B is a big girl who can take care of herself. Its time to let her go.” Faith told him. She shook her head when he didn’t respond and turned to look out the windows at the storm.

“Think they’ll be ok out there?” She asked.

“I hope so.” Fred said. “I’ve never seen a rain storm this fierce before.”

“Its not a normal storm.” Willow answered from the doorway. Her eyes had electrical sparks flying through them similar to when she had sucked up all of the power from Rack. Everyone stared at her in shock.

“Will, are you ok?” Xander asked fearfully.

“There’s so much power and energy in the air right now.” Her breathing was heavy and she leaned on the doorway heavily. “Something big is happening.” She licked her lips and sort of swooned at the feeling of power all around her. God, how she wanted to tap into it, she wanted to feel it running through her.

Oz walked over to her.

“Will.” She tried to focus on him, but had difficulty doing so. “Come on, Will. I got you.” He told her quietly. He led her over to the couch they had fallen asleep on the night before. He sat her down and wrapped his arms around her petting her hair. He met Xander’s worried gaze above her head. “Its going to be ok.”



Images flooded Buffy’s mind moving faster than she could process. Places, people she had never seen before zoomed by in her minds eyes. Emotions pounded at her in cadence with the images.

Finally she realized what was happening, she was seeing Spike’s or William’s life through his eyes.

She saw Anya’s friend Halfrek and felt his heart fill with love then despair as she cruelly rejected him. She saw Drusilla come into view and felt William die in her arms.

Then there was blood, killing. She saw him turn his mother, then kill her. Spike involved with Darla, Drusilla and Angelus in ways she never could have imagined, images almost as violent and bloody as the killing, many of them done immediately after the killing.

Years of murder, torture and mayhem flew past her.

She wanted to make it stop, these horrible images along with the feelings of power and euphoria.

Years flying by.

Then she saw something she recognized.

She saw herself, dancing at the Bronze.

The images were easier to follow now that she knew most of the events first hand.

She saw Glory. She saw first hand the agony Glory put him through.

Buffy watched herself fall to the ground off the tower. She felt the grief and pain inside him, much worse than what Glory had inflicted upon him.

She felt his joy and awe seeing her walk down the stairs the night she came back.

She could feel his hopeful, eagerness when she began talking to him about things she couldn’t tell her friends.

His desperation at her rejection of his kiss.

Their first night together in the house, then the next morning.

When the night she beat him in the alley came into view, Buffy couldn’t take anymore. She came back into herself, and wrenched herself free from his arms.

She lay on the wet grass, softly crying.



When Spike’s fangs broke Buffy’s skin, he thought he would pass out from the pleasure. Then he felt her lean into him and pull softly at her bite mark with her lips and everything faded away.

Images hit his mind and he knew immediately what they were. Buffy. Buffy’s life.

He watched her grow up with her parents and Dawn. He saw her get called. He was mildly amused at her choice of high school boyfriends. Especially Pike.

He watched her arrival at Sunnydale.

Her desperate love affair with Angel.

He saw the bright young girl get slowly forged into the warrior she was.

Then it all ended abruptly.

He was sitting on the wet ground watching Buffy curl up on herself crying.

Instantly he knew what had happened. She had seen his life. She saw all the things he had done since he was turned and couldn’t bear to be with him.

The pain bloomed in his chest. He wanted to reach out and hold her and comfort her, but that would probably only upset him more.

He couldn’t contain the tears that ran down his face as he watched the woman he loved cry her heart out.

“Buffy…” He tried to speak, but his voice was hoarse. What could he say that would make it better anyway?

She looked up at the sound of his voice and her soft crying became a hiccupping sob as the sight of him and she quickly lowered her head back down as if she could bear to see him. He didn’t think the pain could get any worse but it did. He had to get away from her before he caused her more upset. He tried to move, to push himself away from her when she spoke.

“How can you love me?”

He froze and just stared at her.

She raised her head and looked directly at him. “How can you love me after all I did to you? You tried so hard and all I did was hurt you over and over again, deliberately?” Her voice broke as she once again broke down into sobs.

Spike still didn’t know what to say to this, but he finally understood she wasn’t upset about what she saw him do, she was upset at she saw herself do.

He reached out and pulled her into his arms, his hands stoked lightly through her hair as he murmured softly to her.

“Hush now, luv. Its alright, all in the past now. We’re all ok now.”

“No, its not ok.” Buffy insisted shaking her head buried in his chest. Her sobs slowed to sniffles as she pulled back far enough to look into her his eyes.

“Spike, I’m sorry for the horrible things I did and said to you after I came back. There was so much you were right about, so many things you did for me that I ignored. I hurt you so much over and over again and no matter what I can’t take any of it back now. All I can do is say I’m sorry, but that doesn’t even begin to cover it.” Her voice broke down with tears again.

“Buffy, I wasn’t the perfect person either. Telling you that you came back wrong, trying to convince you join the dark with me, that comment about ‘the only thing better than killing a Slayer…’. It wasn’t like I didn’t deserve what I got.”

Again Buffy shook her head. “No, you didn’t deserve that. You had already changed so much at that point Spike. All you needed was a little encouragement, not beatings and insults.” Her eyes unfocused for a few seconds as she seemed to see something beyond him.

“I had to believe that I was above you. I had to keep believing you were nothing more than a soulless demon, otherwise you would be able to sneak into my heart and I was afraid that once that happened, once you had that power over me, you would be able to hurt me.

So I kept telling myself that I felt nothing, that I couldn’t feel anything for just a thing. When the truth was you were the only one who could make me feel and all I wanted to do was be able to let go of everything else and get lost in you. But I couldn’t do that. Slayers can’t fall in love with soulless vampires. I was too worried about what everyone else thought to worry about what I really felt.

Instead I just hurt you again and again. That’s why I broke up with you after Riley left, being with you and not being able to let myself really be with you was killing me. It was all so out of control.” Her voice was barely a whisper.

“Well then, seems like we’re both a right pair of jerks. We must be made for each other.”

Buffy just looked at him dumbfounded before she started giggling through her tears.

“You just might be right.” She laughed.

He snorted at her. “Might be my arse. Of course I’m right, and if you have any doubts about us being made for each other, its too late now, because YOU are MINE.” He purred into her ear, sending all sorts of delicious shivers through her. “My mate for all eternity.” He pulled her to him and kissed her lips.

“Forever.” He kissed her again on her neck above his mark and listened to her hiss in pleasure.

“And Ever” He then kissed the other side of her neck, wishing that he could cover up the previous marks on her neck.

“That won’t work.” Her voice interrupted his contemplation of her neck.

“What’s that, luv?” He asked distractedly.

“Forever, that won’t work.” He looked up at her worried now.

“I want more than forever. I want at least forever and two days.”

“Forever and two days, huh?” The amusement was clear in his voice.

“Yep, that gives me time to bind you to me for another forever.”


Buffy and Spike were so caught up in each other they never noticed the streaks of light that were now falling to the ground instead of rain. They never saw the iridescent figures that appeared in the background until one of them spoke.

“What was sundered and undone, behold the two made one.”

Buffy and Spike jumped apart and stared in shock at the three figures before them.

“Um, isn’t that from The Dark Crystal.” One of the figures asked.

“Yes, but that’s a really good movie, except for the scary large bunny creatures. They never said the blessing had to be original.”

“We all know originality wasn’t your strong suit, don’t we dear.” The third figure spoke.

“Halfrek, I was above you the entire time we were demons so I don’t want to hear it.” The figure turned and looked at Buffy and Spike. “Buffy I never really what cute pert breasts you have. You’re never going to need a lift, that’s for sure.”

Buffy gasped and threw her hands up to cover her chest. Spike jumped across the grass and gave her his shirt since he accidentally destroyed all of her clothes, while zipping up his own pants.

“Anya.” Tara’s voice sounded disapprovingly.

“What? She does have nice breasts, mine were never that nice.

Tara just sighed, before focusing on the two standing before them in shock. She smiled at them.

“I’m sorry to interrupt you two, but we were sent to Congratulate you.”

“Not that I’m not happy to see you Tara, but a card would have worked, too.”

“Then who would tell you about all the new powers the two of you are going to get?” Anya asked them.

“Powers, what new powers?” Buffy asked looking at Spike to see if he had any idea what was going on. He just shrugged.

“You are both going to be stronger now. You can also borrow strength from each other if you ever need it.
Buffy, you are no longer a mortal. You will still age, but very slowly, about the same speed as a souled vampire.”

“I’m going to age?” Spike sounded nervous about that.

“You haven’t noticed Angel again over the years?” Tara asked him.

Spike shrugged. “I just thought he was getting soft.”

“You also are going to receive visions for Buffy now. Angel is no longer going to be the Champion for the powers. They aren’t sure if they are going to be able to trust him for much longer.”

“So we’re the new Champions?”

“Yes, you two have been their goal for many years now. When you died Buffy, you weren’t in heaven you know. When you jumped, the forces at work in that gate would have destroyed any sense of self you had. Your consciousness was sent someplace else, someplace safe for you. It was supposed to have been a break for you, the Powers were going to eventually explain everything and bring you back after explaining everything to you.

No one counted on Willow and no one counted on how your violent return would effect you.

After Willow brought you back, the Powers thought all their plans had been for nothing. Spike was supposed to change a lot more before you two got together. And you were so damaged they didn’t think that you would ever be able to control the darkness inside of you to become the warrior they wanted.

However, you two battled through your own demons and managed to surprise all of the Superior Beings with your strength and determination.”

Tara turned to address Spike now.

“That you sought out a soul on your own earned you a place of honor, even if you and Buffy hadn’t found your way back to each other. Everyone underestimated you, Spike.”

“I didn’t really think I was choosing a soul. I thought I just wanted the chip out so I could kill her.” Spike felt the need to finally confess the last worry in his heart. He had been so torn up and confused when he had gone to that demon. The demon’s rage and anger had been crying out for Buffy’s blood.

“That may have been what you thought, but it wasn’t what you really wanted. You were dreaming of her love, of being good enough for her, even then.”

Tara turned and focused on Buffy again.

“You didn’t come back wrong, Buffy. Your death was needed for the Slayer side to grow. Unfortunately, the way you were brought back had some consequences that will make your journey together that much harder, but it is believed by the Powers and other Superior Beings that after all you’ve been through those challenges will be nothing more than inconveniences to you.

The two of you are the perfect combination of demon and humanity, the perfect warriors to fight for the balance. You are going to be the Chosen Ones.”

“So what? Are you saying ‘m a Slayer now?”

“No. You are a vampire mated to a Slayer and Buffy is a Slayer mated to a vampire. Nothing more. But the two of you together are going to be one of the most powerful forces in all of the realms.”

“I bet you never thought you’d come this far all those years ago, William.” Halfrek’s said in a smug voice.

That was when Buffy realized exactly who she was.


“You goddamn bitch!!!” Buffy yelled at her.

Halfrek looked at her clearly offended.

“Excuse me, there isn’t any call for such horrible language.”

Spike was also shocked at Buffy’s words he had never heard her talk like that before. Before he could say anything however Buffy was up and in Halfrek’s face.

“You are so lucky you’re all see-thoroughly or I’d kick your scrawny ass all the way back to the higher realms.”

Halfrek looked down on the tiny blonde woman standing in front of her.

“You should actually be thanking me. Without me William would never have gone with that Druscilla. I set the whole thing in motion.” She told Buffy, obviously pleased with herself, this only angered Buffy even more.

“I at least realize that I treated him badly after I came back. You seem to think it was nothing to drive a young man to his death just because you were a bitch!!”

Halfrek just sighed, although she was more than a little upset at Buffy’s outburst.

“Well, perhaps I was a bit harsh. You don’t understand what things were like back then, appearances were everything and peer pressure was awful.”

Buffy just rolled her eyes. “Give me a break. You want to talk about keeping up appearances and peer pressure try attending public school in Los Angeles.”

Halfrek frowned at her inability to understand how embarrassing it was to have the sniveling dork, William fawning after her all the time.

“Fine then.” She said to Buffy, before turning to Spike. “William, I’m sorry I was so mean to you when I rejected your advances. I just needed to make sure you dropped the silly fantasy of ever having a chance with me.”

Buffy snorted derisively at her “Apology”.

Spike just smirked at her horrible apology. “Got your message loud and clear, luv. Thanks.”

Honestly, he couldn’t care less about what Cecily had done to him back then, but he was getting a real thrill watching Buffy stand up for him. No one had ever really done that for him before, well except Clem, but he wasn’t nearly as ferocious as Buffy could be.

Halfrek was disappointed he wasn’t more grateful to her for her apology. Evidently she needed to make some gesture too. She thought a moment, her eyes focusing on the annoying blonde in front of her when suddenly it hit her.

“I know just what I can do to make it up to you.”

“Not necessary, pet. It was a long time ago.”

“No.” She insisted. “I want to do this.” She sounded almost evil when she said that and the smile on her face could only be described as conniving. Before Spike could again refuse her offer she reached out to Buffy’s neck.

“Ouch.” Buffy yelled and Spike saw a flash of light. “What the hell?”

Spike was up in a flash and next to Buffy, he had her in his arms and pulled her back away from the ex-demoness.

“What the fuck did you do?” He growled at the apparition, game face out and snarling.

Halfrek just let out a tinkling laugh and gestured to Buffy’s neck.

“See for yourself.”

Spike inspected both sides of Buffy’s neck but saw nothing but his healing mark. He looked at Halfrek confused, but she just grinned as did the others. Then it hit him. There was nothing on Buffy’s neck, but his healing mark. Spike started to laugh, a truly happy laugh.

“What?!” Buffy demanded. “What did that bitch do to me?”

“You’re all mine now, luv.” Buffy looked at him blankly for a moment, then her eyes widened with realization.

“You mean…?” She whispered up at him, amazement in her voice.

“They are gone, pet. Angel’s, the Master’s, Drac’s. Not a mark on your neck but mine.”


The smile she gave him was almost shy, but so tender and sweet. Her eyes got shiny, with tears of happiness.


“Well, I think our work here is done, ladies.” Anya said. “All you need to do to complete your bond is to go give each other great orgasms. Which we both know from experience Spike is very good at…”

Buffy and Spike just stared at her incredulously.

“Anya, you’re right its time for us to go.” Tara interrupted her before she could get started.

“Its bad enough I can’t have any anymore, now I can’t even live vicariously through them.” Anya complained loudly as she started to fade away.

Halfrek grinned at Buffy and Spike proudly. Buffy still had the urge to smack her face repeatedly and that grin did nothing to help, but she too faded from sight.

Last was Tara. She just looked at them for a moment before speaking.

“I’m not supposed to do this, but I can’t stand to see Willow in pain. Tell her to follow her heart. I know she loved me, all she can do now is live her life and be true to herself.” Tara smiled softly. “Tell her we will be together again.” With that she faded from sight as well.




“Well, its almost sunrise and they aren't back, yet, one of us should go look for them." Willow was saying.

After the storm had passed Willow had been able to relax without the seductive power running all over her. They had all moved into the library to research what could have possibly happened. Willow insisted that nothing about it felt evil, but she didn’t have any idea what could have caused it.

"One of us who isn't Angel." Dawn advised, shooting Angel an evil look. The others had filled her in on how he tried to make Spike abandon her sister in the same way he had. She had never really liked the unhappy vampire, but she never thought he would try something so cruel as to play on Spike’s insecurities.

"I'll go." Xander volunteered.

"I'm going with you. That way if they are caught out in the sunlight, maybe I could conjure some protection for Spike." Willow said.

The two walked out of the library down the hallway and into the ballroom, with the intentions of going out through the parlor in the back.

Willow saw them first and froze in the doorway. Xander, not noticing her stopping walked right into Willow.

"Geez Will, signal when you're gonna stop like that ok?" She didn't answer him and he looked up to see what she was staring at.

They had obviously just come in from outside. There were still drops of moisture on them from the drizzling mist outside. Buffy appeared to be dressed in Spike's shirt, his Duster over that to cover the rest of her. Her arms were wrapped around Spike's waist, her head resting on his chest right under his
armpit.

Since Buffy was wearing most of his clothes, Spike had only his black jeans on. One arm was wrapped around Buffy holding her close while the other hand rested on her arm around his waist. From the rain and moisture outside his hair had escaped from the slicked back gel that usually held it in place and in its place were unruly curls.

Willow was reminded of a statue she had seen outside of a church once as a child. The statue was a woman kneeling down in front of an angel looking up at him with such peace and love. The angel had his hand on the woman’s cheek a look of rapture captured on his face.

That haunting image had stayed with Willow for many years. She had wondered if there could really be a moment so pure as to cause that look of innocent ecstasy or if it only existed in an artist's imagination.

Now she was seeing that look on the face of her best friend and the beauty of it brought tears to her eyes. The irony of comparing a vampire to an angelic figure was not lost on Willow. However, with the curling hair and smooth features, it was an easy comparison to make.

The couple moved across the ballroom towards the back stairs not noticing Willow or Xander staring at them in awe.

Willow's senses were on overload. She felt the tears welling in her eyes spill over at the powerful sight of the love between the two. She could feel energy rolling off the two, but it was like nothing she ever felt before. It seemed so pure and natural, but supercharged, making her feel all tingly, kinda like last night.

"OH!!" She said loudly, realizing that the episode last night must have been from them.

Her voice called the couple's attention to them. Buffy and Spike stopped and looked over at Willow and Xander who were still staring at them open mouthed. Willow quickly wiped the tears from her face.

"Uh, Hey Buff." Xander said awkwardly, feeling like he was a caught peeping tom. "Are you guys ok?"

Buffy looked up at Spike and the two smiled at each other lovingly. Willow got the impression that volumes were communicated through that smile.

"We're fine." Buffy finally answered Xander. Her voice came out soft and feminine. She giggled.

"Although, Will, if you have any transport spells, I really don't want to walk up all those stairs to my room."

Willow found her voice again, sort of. "No, no spells that transport. Sorry." She managed to get out, her brain was still trying to process the feeling of power she was getting from them.

Spike chuckled low behind her, watching her with amusement.

"Too tired to walk, pet?" He asked her.

Buffy looked back at him and shrugged. "It was just a thought."

Without another word he scooped her up into his arms cradling her to him. Her arms slipped around his neck and she nestled her head into his neck, a contented smile crept across her face.

When she leaned into him her hair fell back from her neck and both Willow and Xander gasped in shock at the very obvious bite mark they saw.

Willow looked at Spike and saw what could only be a human's corresponding bite mark on his neck.

‘Its like a marriage in the truest sense of the word. You share your life with someone else completely.’ Oz’s voice echoed in Willow’s mind.

Willow looked over at Xander, but he was just standing there opening and closing his mouth. Thankfully, no sound coming out.

"I thought you guys were going out to look for Buffy and..." They both jumped at the sound of Angel's voice. They hadn't realized he had followed them out of the library.

He didn't finish his sentence as his eyes caught sight of the couple in the middle of the ball room. His immediately noticed their Marks.

"Buffy?" His voice almost broke with sadness. He took a couple of steps towards them, but stopped when they both turned to look at him.

Buffy and Spike both looked at him curiously, happiness shining on both their faces. For the first time, Spike didn't seem at all threatened by Angel's presence.

‘Why should he?’ Angel thought bitterly, ‘She belongs to him now.’

He tried to close his eyes at the sight before him, but he could still see them shining behind his eyelids. Buffy's eyes were clear, the cloudiness that had lived in them for so long was gone. He opened his eyes again and smiled at the two.

"Congratulations on your Marriage." He said, trying to mean it.

The answering smile from the two of him made his heart soar with happiness for them. He couldn't deny them this amazing happiness they found in each other.

"MARRIAGE?!?!" Xander exclaimed, he could finally speak again. "HOW? WHAT?." He looked helplessly at Willow. "Will?"

"Later, not now."

"But Will, married?" He was pleading with her to make this go away she knew. At her warning look he just stepped back finally realizing she was going to make him wait.

"My head hurts." He whined.

"Whose getting married?" Dawn asked coming up behind Angel with Faith and Andrew.

Just then the morning sun hit the windows of ball room and lit the room up with light and color.

With the morning light and the colors dancing around the room, they almost didn't realize the silver glow coming off of Buffy and Spike who had gone back to staring at each other lovingly, Buffy still cradled in his arms. There was a silver chord connecting the two where their hearts would be.

"Uh, why are Buffy and Spike glowing and what‘s that silver cord shining around them." Dawn asked.

Everyone was too caught up in the sight in front of them to answer her.

“Duh, it means their soul mates.” Andrew told her.

Everyone turned to look at him surprised.

“What?” He asked. “Its in all the romantic fairy tales.”

“Those are just stories.” Dawn told him dismissively.

“So is Dracula, to most people.” He argued back.


"Guys?" Dawn pleaded.

"It’s OK, runt." Faith put a hand on her shoulder to reassure her. "I'd say B, finally got that reward she was always promised."

Buffy and Spike still hadn't noticed the glowing or the chord. They really didn't seem too aware of anything for very long aside from each other. He felt a shiver go through her and realized she must be cold with the few clothes she had on still damp from the rain outside.

"Right then," He suddenly spoke for the first time. "We need to get you warmed up and into bed."

She raised her eyebrows at him, the smirk she wore was totally Spike.

“Mmm. I like that idea.” She murmured in his ear. She turned her head to address her friends who were still staring at them amazed.

“Um guys, its been kind of a stressful couple of days, we're going to bed and sleeping for about 24..." Spike whispered something in her ear.

"36 hours." She corrected her smile widening.

"You know B, why don't we just say 48 hours. We'll even leave you some food outside your door every 8-12 hours or so." Faith offered, knowing all too well how much she would need the nourishment.

"Thanks, Faith." Buffy gave her a nymph-like smile.

"I'll make sure to get some blood for your bleach boy there."

Spike looked up at her briefly and smiled in appreciation, acknowledging someone other than Buffy for the first time since they came inside.

"Right then, bed time, pet." With that he turned and carried her out of the room leaving the others standing there, most of them with their mouths hanging wide open.

Willow turned at took in the looks on the faces of her friends. "We better go get Giles and break the news to him." Willow had a feeling Giles wasn’t going to take this news too well.