The next day Dawn, Clem and Willow were knocking on Buffy’s door by early afternoon. After about 20 minutes of knocking a slightly grumpy Spike answered the door wearing only a pair of jeans.

“This better not be another apocalypse.” He growled when he saw the two girls.

“Nope.” Willow assured him. “We’re here to head off any disasters.” She walked past him into the apartment.

Spike’s eyes narrowed.

”Yeah, we’re here to help Buffy with the cooking tonight.” Dawn explained further.

Spike looked at Clem suspiciously. “Since when can you cook, Mate?”

“Clem’s job is to get you out of the apartment and keep you busy for the afternoon. We knew Buffy wouldn’t dish the good dirt with you hovering around.” Willow giggled at Spike’s offended look.

“Oz will probably join you two after he gets done packing.” She added.

Dawn stood at the bottom of the stairs yelling up at her sister. “Buffy, get your butt out of bed and get decent I’m coming up.”

Spike and Willow looked over at Dawn as she climbed up the stairs prepared to drag her sister out of bed.

Spike looked back at Willow. “Wolfy’s packing? Is he going someplace?” He asked her.

“Yeah, its almost time for the full moon, he wants to go back up to Canada.”

“Where in Canada does his pack run?” Willow looked surprised that Spike knew so much about werewolves.

“Above Banff, somewhere.”

Spike looked at Clem. “Probably Silver’s pack, they run the show in Pocahontas, near Hinton.”

“Sounds like them.” Clem answered. “They run from Pocahontas to Cline River, don’t they?”

“Silver?” Willow asked.

“He ran the pack when I was last there, but I haven’t been there in over 50 years.” Clem told her. “Remember the silver bullet he wore around his neck?” He asked Spike.

Spike snorted and laughed. “Said it made him immortal.” Clem joined him in laughing.

Willow looked from one demon to the other. “Good you guys will have plenty to talk about. One less thing we’ll have to worry about.”

With that Willow went to inspect the items in Buffy’s kitchen to see what ingredients and cooking utensils they would need to ‘borrow’ from the large kitchen downstairs.

“I guess I should congratulate you.” Clem told Spike after Willow had walked away. “How are things going with you and Buffy?”

Spike couldn’t control the smile that came to his face.

“Wow.” Clem said before Spike could answer. “Married life must be agreeing with you, I’ve never seen you smile like that before.”

“It’s better than I ever dreamt it could be.” Spike told him then realizing what a ponce he sounded like he quickly affected his Big Bad persona. “So what the plan for the afternoon? Cards? Drinks?” Spike asked him.

“Willow says we’re not allowed to do any of that. We also can’t get into any fights, we can’t aggravate Giles or Angel, and we can’t torment Andrew or Xander.” Clem told him ruefully.

“What the hell else is there to do around here then?”

Clem thought for a moment. “You could help me start my lesson plan for next fall.” He suggested hopefully.

“Right.” Spike grimaced. “I’ll go get a shirt, you keep thinking of things we can do.”

Spike made his way to the stairs as a sleepy Buffy made her way down.

“We’ve been invaded.” She whined putting her head on his shoulder as he wrapped his arms around her.

”Noticed that, did ya?”

“Dawn jumping on the bed yelling ‘Get up’ was kind of a hint.”

“Break it up you two, we have a lot to do this afternoon.” Dawn interrupted them, walking down the stairs.

Buffy just buried her head farther in Spike’s shoulder.

((Ok here’s the plan, I’ll distract them, you run upstairs and grab some clothes. We can be hours away before they notice.)) Buffy sent to him.

“You know they’d only track us down.” He told her sympathetically, out loud. “At least you get to stay here. I’m being sent away to help write up lesson plans so you birds can gossip.”

Buffy’s head came up at that. “I do need to find out what the deal is with Willow and Oz.”

Spike rolled his eyes. Women were so predictable. “Just make sure you say nice things about yours truly.”

Buffy smiled impishly. “I’ll say nothing but the truth.” She walked away giggling.

Spike grabbed her again and kissed her. When he felt her start to melt in his arms he pulled back. “I wouldn’t do that, don’t want to make Red jealous.” Spike released her and started up the stairs to get his shirt. “Oh and Buffy,” He yelled back down to her. “Don’t forget to wipe down the table.”

Buffy turned bright red and walked into the kitchen after her sister. Clem looked at her curiously.


Buffy, Willow and Dawn were in the kitchen after finally retrieving all the items they needed for their dinner that night. The girls had decided to make a baked chicken dish with rice and green beans. Buffy insisted on chocolate cake for desert.

Buffy had offered to make the sauce for the chicken, but instead Willow suggested she put water in the pot to boil for the rice. Then Buffy tried to help Dawn with the cake, but all Dawn would let her do was grease the cake pan. Finally realizing she wasn’t going to be allowed to do anything Buffy plopped herself down in a chair near the entrance to the kitchen.

“So Will, what’s the deal with Oz?” She asked her friend.

Willow froze in her marinating of the chicken.

“What makes you think anything is up?” She asked Buffy as she turned to face the stove.

Dawn and Buffy exchanged disbelieving looks.

“Maybe because I have eyes.” Buffy answered.

“Ok. Things are good. Real good.” Willow’s cheeks took on a slight blush. “Although I still feel a little guilty about Tara. I know Oz is ready for something serious, but I don’t know if I can make a commitment like that.”

Buffy watched Willow for moment, before deciding now was the best time to tell her about the conversation she had with Tara. “Will, there’s something you need to know.”

“What is it, Buffy?” Willow turned to face her at the seriousness of her tone.

“When Spike and I were mated we saw Tara.”

“WHAT!!!” Willow gasped.

“Anya, Tara, and Halfrek were sent to give us some kind of blessing and explain the whole ‘Buffy’s not human’ concept.”

“Why was Halfrek there?” Dawn asked. Just thinking about the former vengeance demon brought back too many bad memories for her.

“Believe it or not, she was the reason Spike became a vampire.”

“How is that possible?” Dawn asked.

“He had the hots for her when he was still human. I guess she was human then too, but you wouldn’t know it from the way she shot him down. He was so upset at the way she treated him, he followed Dru off into an alley.”

“Wow. That’s so weird.” Dawn said.

“Buffy, what about Tara?” Willow was impatient to hear about her love.


“She looked really good. I guess she is a messenger for the Higher Powers now. She gave me a message for you.” Willow looked at Buffy expectantly.

“She said to tell you that she knew how much you loved her and that now you have to follow your heart and not worry about her. She said that you will be together again though.”

Willow had tears in her eyes as she stared at Buffy. “Thank you.” She whispered.

“I didn’t do anything I’m just the messenger.”

Willow turned her attention back to the marinade. For a while no one spoke, everyone was lost in their own thoughts and memories of Tara.

“Hey Buffy, why did Spike tell you to wipe down the table? I didn’t think you ever used that table.” Dawn spoke up suddenly. Buffy’s face turned a bright shade of red, but she refused to answer her sister.




Spike had spent several hours with Clem and Oz helping Clem with his lesson plans. It wasn’t nearly as tedious as Spike expected. He actually had fun reminiscing with Clem about some of their more outrageous encounters with various types of demons.

After a good amount of time had passed, Clem had to leave, turned out he had a date with some girl he met online. Spike wasn’t sure how that was going to work out once she saw him, but Clem assured him she knew about his skin problems.

As Spike wandered the house, he wondered if it was safe to return upstairs yet, he felt Buffy coming towards him. He stopped where he was and leaned against the wall just waiting for her to come to him.

She rounded a corner a few seconds later, smiling when she saw him standing there.

“I knew I was close.” She told him.

“Is it safe for me to come back yet?” He asked her.

“Yep, now we have to get ready for dinner tonight.”

“What do you mean get ready? Don’t tell me I have to dress up for this.”

“Do you even have any different clothes with you? Besides the sexy clothes you wore to the party?” Buffy asked him.

“Actually, no. Guess I’m as ready as I’ll get.”

Buffy sighed. “Fine, then you can come help me get ready. I think I may need help washing my back.” Her voice held all sorts of promises.

They had just reached the main stairs when Angel appeared at the first floor landing. He noticed them and waited until they climbed up to meet him.

“I was just on the way up to talk to you both.” He told them.

“What’s up?” Buffy chirped.

“I’d prefer we did this somewhere privately.” He told them.

“Well your rooms are closest, let’s go there.” Buffy suggested.

They followed Angel down the hall to his small room.

Since Angel didn’t spend that much time at the school he had declined Giles offer to give him a suite, instead taking a small room on the first floor. His room was very simple, with a bed and a large desk in the corner. There was a small bath off the room that was actually shared with the room next door, which belonged to Lorne.

Buffy and Spike sat down on Angel’s bed, while he sat down at the desk.

Spike draped his arm over Buffy’s shoulder. “So what’s up, Peaches?”

Angel glared at Spike and addressed his answer to Buffy.

“It’s about what you asked me for yesterday, Buffy.” Buffy turned red with shame.

“Angel you don’t have to do any of that. It was just the anger talking, really.”

“That’s good, because I don’t have 5 million dollars lying around.” Buffy grinned sheepishly. “However, I want to hire you both.”

“Huh?” Buffy asked him. She looked at Spike confused, but he just shrugged.

“Look, one of the reasons I took the position at Wolfram and Hart was to keep an eye on the other side. I keep getting information that the forces of darkness are building up for something, it’s going on all over the world.
I was thinking you two could check things out while you’re out sightseeing. I would pay you through Angel Investigations. We’ll cover your expenses and then enough to make it worth your while to report back to us.”

“But wouldn’t we be working for Wolfram and Hart?” Buffy asked. She really wasn’t comfortable taking money from them.

“No, like I said, this is purely through Angel Investigations.”

“What happens if you go all evil on us? Then we’ll be supplying the enemy with valuable information if we want to have money to eat.” Spike questioned Angel suspiciously.

“I’ve set it up so you won’t have to answer to me, but Wesley and Fred. They will take care of deciding what to do with the information you gather and making sure you get paid.”

Spike nodded. He and Fred had become good friends during his stay with Angel and he knew enough about the former Watcher to know that he was a decent fellow. He was one of those people who would risk anything for what he believed in or the people he cared about, something Spike understood all to well.

“Sounds all right to me, but it all depends on how much you are willing to pay us.” Spike told him.

“How much do you think you’re worth, Spike?”

“Oh you couldn’t afford me Peaches.” Angel rolled his eyes, while Buffy grinned at Spike’s egotism. “We want Buffy to see the world and you can’t do that staying in flea bag hotels and looking like a wandering hippie.” Spike answered him.

“But looking like Billy Idol is Ok?” Buffy had to interrupt Spike.

((I’m trying to make sure Peaches doesn’t short change us, luv. Let me do this.))

Buffy shook her head no, before turning and addressing Angel.

“I’m sure you’ll be fair Angel, we trust you.”

“No we don’t.” Spike insisted.

Buffy and Angel both ignored the now sulking vampire.

“That’s not all.” Angel told them. He took a black jewelry box from behind him and handed it to Spike.

“Aw, you shouldn’t have.”

“What’s that?” Buffy inquired.

Spike opened the box and they looked inside. It was a small gold medallion about an inch in diameter. On the front was a picture of the sun over a pyramid. Hieroglyphics were engraved on the back.

“I told you that I didn’t have the Ring of Amara anymore, Buffy. Instead, I had my people track down anything else that may similar to that. This was crafted in Egypt about 1200 years ago. It protects the wearer from the effects of the sun.”

“So I can go outside with this on?” Spike asked him.

“I haven’t tried it out myself, but that’s what it is supposed to do.”

Spike stared at Angel for a moment. He wanted to believe that Angel was trying to help them, but his memories of Angelus and the incidents with Angel from a few days ago left him suspicious.

“The last time I wore a bangle you provided I wound up flambé.” Spike said slowly.

“I know. I would offer to try it on myself first, but I doubt even that would make you trust me.”

“True.”

Spike stared at the necklace for a little longer, before deciding that Angel did seem to be trying the least he could do was meet him half way.

“Thanks Grandpa. You may just turn out to be Ok after all.”

“Spike, don’t ever call me that again.”

Spike gave Angel an impish look. “Oh what are you going to do Grandpa?” Spike crossed the room and stood in front of Angel taunting him.

“The only condition to all of this,” Angel told Buffy, seriously. “Is you have to keep Spike as far away from me as possible.”

Buffy laughed. “I don’t think that will be a problem.”

“What’s the matter Grandpa? Can’t handle dealing with your family?”

Deciding enough was enough, the older vampire went to grab Spike’s arm and remind him how the hierarchy of their family worked. He was shocked when Spike easily evaded him and moving faster than Angel could comprehend, Spike grabbed him by the throat and held him menacingly.

“See, that’s something you didn’t consider, eh Peaches? Slayer blood tends to increase one’s strength.” Spike tightened his hold on Angel’s throat before releasing him.

“I just wanted you to make sure you were aware of how things stand now. So the next time your inner demon comes out to play, he better make damn sure to stay the hell away from Buffy.” Spike bent down and spoke directly into Angel’s ear. “Because if he so much as comes near her or threatens her or her friends again I’ll show him how well I did pay attention to his little lessons in discipline.”

Angel met Spike’s eyes. He could feel the increased strength and power flowing through the younger vampire. He knew Spike could easily overpower him now.

As much as he disliked Spike he had to admire his protectiveness of Buffy and he had good cause to be concerned given the fact that if Angelus ever did get free again the knowledge that his grandchilde was mated to Buffy would definitely cause him to hunt the two down.

“If you two are done with the Vamp testosterone thing, we need to get going Spike.” Buffy interrupted the two.

They turned to see her standing there watching them both.

“I think we’ve come to an understanding, luv.” He walked over to her, rested one hand on her hip and kissed her tenderly.

Angel watched Spike’s transition from cold and dangerous to warm and tender. Even knowing Spike as long as he did, Angel was still amazed at the dichotomy within him. It was even more amazing to know that he possessed this wide ranged of emotions even before he had the soul.

“Angel, you are coming tonight right.” Buffy interrupted his musings when Spike released her lips.

“Yeah, I’ll be there.”

Buffy and Spike made their way to the door.
“Good. So we’ll see you later.” Buffy turned unexpectedly and grasped Angel’s hands. “Thank you, Angel, for everything and I’m sorry for the other day.”

“Yeah, Peaches. I don’t like to admit it, but I really appreciate this.” Spike added holding up the box containing the medallion.

“You’re welcome, both of you.” Angel closed the door behind them.

With that the couple left Angel alone, for a moment he brooded over the closeness the two shared, but that didn’t last long. Instead he found his thoughts drifting to another Slayer, only this one had brown hair instead of blonde.


Later that evening Willow, Oz, Xander, Dawn, Giles, Angel, Faith, Spike & Buffy gathered in Buffy’s rooms for dinner. Willow and Dawn were busy in the kitchen finishing up the final preparations. Faith and Buffy stood right outside the kitchen ready to help if they were needed.

“Is everything Ok?” Buffy asked her hesitantly. Faith seemed a little more subdued than normal, this evening.

“Well things aren’t great, but I’ll be ok.” Faith shrugged, then gave her a cocky grin, although it came out a little weak. “Worried about me, B?”

Buffy rolled her eyes. “No more than usual.” She said dryly.

Faith actually laughed out loud at that.

“Thanks.” Faith said quietly. Even after all this time Faith still wasn’t comfortable with accepting the concern of others. Yet at the same time, she felt a warmth inside every time it happened.

The girls were silent for a minute as they watched the men sitting down in the living room.

“It seems the boys are all playing nice for once.” Buffy commented.

“Yeah, but Giles seems a bit distracted.” Giles seemed to have aged greatly in the past few days. He looked haggard and tired.

“Think its because of me?” Buffy asked Faith.

Faith just snorted. “Shit, yeah.”

Buffy looked at her wide-eyed. “Think about it B, its like his daughter just ran off and eloped with an ex-con.”

“Not good.”

“Nope.”

“So should I go talk to him?”

“Nah, I’d leave it for now. I’ll go distract him from his thinking.”

Faith walked over to Giles, while Buffy entered into the kitchen to see if dinner was ready.


“Dinner’s ready.” Dawn yelled a few minutes later walking into the dining room carrying a pan with some pot holders.

Everyone was seated as the girls carried the food to the table.

“Wow. Not only do I get to eat this time, but I’m not tied to a chair.” Spike commented as he sat down next to Buffy.

“That could be a mistake.” Angel muttered.

“Wasn’t that the Thanksgiving Angel was skulking outside in the bushes?” Xander asked innocently.

“Yes.” Buffy was the one who answered. “And you had syphilis.” She gave him a bright smile.

“I think I missed that one.” Oz said.

“That was right after you left me.” Willow told him.

“I don’t think any of us can win here, guys.” Xander said.

“I’d say that was a good assumption.” Faith told him.

“Well, I must say everything looks wonderful, Buffy.” Giles told her.

“Thanks, I had nothing to do with any of it.”

Giles looked confused.

“Willow and I actually did the cooking to help out.” Dawn explained.

Everyone helped themselves to servings of the dishes.

“So Giles, what are we going to do about getting a new principal for the school?” Faith asked him.

“Well, I’m probably going to have to start taking resumes, but then its always a concern what the general public can handle.”

“We don’t need to hire anyone from outside. We have the perfect person already here.” Dawn interrupted.

“You mean Wilson in the Language department. I thought about that, Dawn, but he is a bit old to be handling teenage girls.”

“No, not Wilson. Xander.”

Xander, who had just taken a bite of chicken, started to choke and cough.

Spike started pounding on Xander’s chest. “Easy whelp, you’re supposed to chew before trying to swallow.”

“It actually makes sense.” Willow said thoughtfully.

“Yeah, he would be the perfect.” Buffy enthused.

“ME?!? The guy in charge? Are you guys nuts? I’m just the handy man.”

“Please, you are not just the handy man.” Dawn insisted to him. “You watched Buffy deal with being a Slayer and have always been one of her main sources of support.”

“She’s right Xan.” Buffy told him before he could argue with her sister. “Plus, with all the trouble we used to get into and all the stunts we pulled you know better than anyone what to look for when the girls are up to something.”

“And you usually know just the right thing to say to get through to people.” Willow added. “I would have ended the world if it wasn’t for you.”

“Plus you’re dumb enough to try and reach to people even when they really don’t seem to want it. Like me.” Faith told him.

“Yeah, and you almost killed me.”

“Consider it an occupational hazard.” She answered back.

“Giles help me out here. You know this is a bad idea, right?”

“Actually Xander, they make very good points.”

“You want to give me all the responsibility? You want to make me responsible for their well being here?”

“Think of it this way mate; that means you are also responsible for their discipline. You can take ‘em over you knee if you have to. Give ‘em a good spanking.” Spike threw in.

Seven heads swiveled to stare at him incredulously. Faith chuckled.

Buffy opened her mouth to reproach him, but Willow stopped her.

“Let me handle this one.”

Willow levitated a wooden spoon off the table and used to hit Spike on the back of his head.

“Ouch!!” He yelled. “I was only kidding.”


The dinner finished without any more incidents. Xander had finally agreed to take the position of principal, but he insisted that they were making a mistake.

After the dishes had been cleared, everyone gathered in the living room again.
Buffy began the conversation by explaining, without the graphic details, exactly how she and Spike became Mated. Everyone but Willow and Dawn were shocked and fascinated to hear about Anya, Tara and Halfrek. Giles had numerous questions about their positions with the Higher Powers, which Buffy and Spike tried to answer. Unfortunately they didn’t really have all the answers there.

Buffy also tried to explain the powers they seemed to have now, but she found words escaped her when she tried to describe how she and Spike seemed to join together. Finally frustrated she turned to Giles.

“Is there anything in the stuff you translated that explains this better than me?”

“There wasn’t anything specific about your powers. They did confirm Robin’s notion that beheading would kill you. Also your lives are now tied together so when one of you dies the other will also perish.”

Buffy nodded her head. She didn’t remember if Tara had told them that, but it seemed obvious to her.

“It also describes the Reality Storm that took place the night you were Mated.”

“What’s a Reality Storm?” Buffy asked.

“Well one theory suggests that a Reality Storm occurs when an event happens that will affect multiple realities instead of just one or two.”

“Huh?” Buffy looked at the others to see if they understood any better than she did.

“What the Watcher is saying, pet, is the effects of what we did was felt across all the realms, dimensions, realities, and everything else.”

“Wow, we’re special.”

“That isn’t necessarily a good thing.” Giles snapped at the couple.

Willow sensed that Giles knew something he wasn’t telling them. “Giles were there any prophecies about the two of them in those texts.”

“Actually, there were two opposing prophecies there, Willow.”

“What does that mean?” Xander asked him.

“One prophecy claims that you both will be a powerful tool for the Powers. You will live honorable lives together and help save the world several times before eventually moving on to the Land of Dreams.”

“Oooh, Land of Dreams sounds good doesn’t it Buffy?” Dawn asked her sister.

“The other prophecy says that Buffy will be corrupted and become an instrument of a Powerful Evil. Spike will try to stop her, but will join her instead and the two of them will wipe out the Slayer line completely. Eventually they will lead the world into complete darkness. Their cruelty will know no bounds.”

There was dead silence in the room.

“So somewhere there is some kind of Darth Vadar waiting to lure Buffy to the dark side?” Xander broke the silence. “Can I be Han Solo?”

“If anyone is going to be Han Solo I think it would be me.” Spike told him.

“Dammit, this is serious.” Giles snapped.

“Really. I don’t think so.” Spike snapped right back at him. “Your telling us one prophecy says we’ll be saints and have some big reward and another says we are the ultimate evil and turn the world into hell. How prophetic.” Spike rolled his eyes. “I prophesize that we won’t be the devils you are expecting and we sure as hell won’t be saints either. We’re going to live our lives doing the best we can to fight for good.”

“Ok, Spike the Prophet doesn’t work for me personally.” Xander felt the need to interject. “But he does have a good point. There is a lot of room between those prophecies, it seems more likely that the reality will be somewhere in between.”

“Giles, is there any reason you think Buffy vulnerable to an Evil force?” Willow asked him gently.

Giles took off his glasses and stood up. “Well…”

“Chocolate Cake!!!” Buffy suddenly stood up and yelled.

“Excuse me?” Giles asked her.

“We haven’t had desert yet. We have chocolate cake for desert.”

”Buffy this is a very serious matter.”

“I know that’s why I think it would go better with chocolate cake.”

“Chocolate can make anything better.” Faith agreed. “Well, chocolate or sex.” Only Spike noticed the considering look on Angel’s face as she said that.

“Dawn help me with the cake and ice cream.” Buffy told her sister.

“Buffy, I didn’t bring up any ice cream.” Dawn told her.

“How can we have cake without ice cream?”

“Please by all means, load up on sugar.” Giles muttered.

“You should know by now my brain is powered on sugar G man.” Xander told him.

“Will, would you help Dawn with the cake? I’ll go get the ice cream.”

“Sure Buffy.” Willow went to help Dawn in the kitchen, while Buffy ran downstairs for the ice cream.

“Do you really think Buffy could be turned into an instrument of evil?” Oz spoke for the first time.

“Buffy was already part demon, due to being a Slayer, now she also shares Spike’s demonic nature as well, both are inherently evil. When you add to that the fact that she is no longer a human I believe it makes her vulnerable to corruption.”

Spike snorted. “Bollocks. She’s the same person she always was, she’s just learning the world isn’t so simple.”

“Buffy never would have condoned the murders of Ethan and Amy before.”

“Or Robin.” Faith’s voice was hurt. “What does that say about me that I killed him?”

“Faith, I wasn’t talking about you.” Giles voice was impatient, he was going to have a hard enough time explaining about the First without also having to fight them all.

“No, its ok that I killed someone because I’m not as good as your precious Buffy.”

“That’s not what he said, Faith.” Angel tried to soothe the hurt girl.

“There’s something you aren’t telling us.” Spike said slowly, he looked at Giles suspiciously. Giles looked down unable to meet the accusation in his face. Spike stood up to walk over to him, when he suddenly grabbed his head in his hands and started yelling in pain and collapsed.

After less than a minute the yelling stopped. Spike’s face changed and his now yellow eyes popped open. He moved with the speed of lightning.

“You bastard.” He yelled as he launched himself off the floor straight for Angel. “I’ll kill you.”


Buffy dug in the back of the freezer for the mint choc chip she knew there. Finally locating it, she pulled it out and shut the door. That’s when she noticed him.

“Angel!!!” She jumped when she saw him standing there. She briefly wondered why she didn’t sense him. “God you scared me. I thought you were still upstairs with the others.”

Angel gave her a toothy grin. “Ah Buff, why would I want to be upstairs with them when I can have you all to myself down here?”

When he called her ‘Buff’ her senses went on alert and by the time he finished his sentence she was backing away from him.

“Angelus.” She hissed.

“Have you missed me lover? I’ve missed you.”



Upstairs Faith tried to separated Spike and Angel, but Spike threw her off of him easily. When he had Angel pinned to the ground he growled at the other vampire. “I told you what would happen if you couldn’t keep control of your soul.”

“Spike, I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Angel told him.

“I SAW you. That was a vision. I saw you in game face, lunging at her.”

“Did you see anything else?” Giles asked anxiously.

“No I saw Angelus lunging for Buffy and then I saw a container of ice cream falling to the floor.”

Realizing what he just said Spike jumped up and ran to the door.

Everyone else followed as quickly as they could.



“How did this happen?” Buffy asked, trying to distract him as she scanned the kitchen for a weapon.

“You don’t seem happy to see me, my love? Don’t tell me you actually think Spike is vamp enough to keep you happy?”

Buffy spotted a wooden spoon on the counter across from her. She dove for it quickly. She was slightly surprised he didn’t even move to try and stop her. With her weapon in hand and the ice cream still in the other she faced him.

“Do you feel better now?” Angelus taunted her. “Go ahead take your best shot.” He held his arms out indicating for her to take her best shot. Buffy only hesitated a moment before plunging the handle of the wooden spoon into his chest, but nothing happened. Buffy stared in shock.

“I know, it does take you by surprise.” Angelus grinned at her. “Check this out.” He changed into game face and dove right for her neck before Buffy had time to move. The ice cream in Buffy’s hand fell to the ground as she tried to evade him.

However, instead of connecting with her Angelus went right through her.

Buffy spun around to face Angelus, but instead she came face to face with herself.

The other version of Buffy giggled. “You never answered my question.” She transformed into Glory. “Did you miss me?”

Buffy stared in shock as she watched her own features morph into that of Glory’s. The final pieces clicked in Buffy’s mind as she realized what was going on.

“Hello. Earth to Slayer. I’m talking to you.” Glory’s irritated voice cut through her paralyzing shock.

“The First.” Buffy whispered.

“Hey, there you go.” Glory smiled at her.

“But we defeated you.”

Glory laughed a tinkling noise that was filled with a mocking cruelty, then she morphed again, this time into Quentin Travers.

“Really Miss Summers, I would have thought you were taught better than that. The First Evil cannot be defeated. It is as much a part of this world as the earth or sky.”

“What do you want this time?” Buffy growled out. Her voice was filled with hate.

The First morphed back into Buffy. “Maybe I just want a little recognition. Surely you can understand that. I mean I am the one that saved you and your vamp toy yesterday.”

The First morphed again, this time into Nikki, Robin’s mother. “Robin baby, you don’t want to do this.” She laughed as she changed back into Buffy.

“I bought you the time you needed to get to Spike and free him. Without me you both would be dead by now.”

Inside herself, Buffy could feel Spike approaching quickly. The First continued on seeing Buffy had no response.

“So I was thinking that maybe you want to consider a little payback. Maybe doing a few odd jobs for me. Help out an ally.”

“You aren’t my ally and I’d never do anything to help you.”

“Didn’t anyone tell you to never say never.” The First in Buffy skin smiled at her then she looked up sharply. “Oooo, guess who’s on his way.” It morphed again, this time into a Spike.

Just then Spike barged into the kitchen. “Buffy!” His voice came as he entered the room. He skidded to a stop at the sight of himself standing before Buffy. He could feel the fear, anger and tension drawing her muscles taut and ready.

“What the hell?” He asked.

“’Lo Mate. Long time no see.” Spike looked to Buffy for an explanation, but she never took her eyes from the Spike in front of her who then began to sing. “Early one morning…”

“You.” Spike knew what he was dealing with. “Didn’t we kick your ass back into oblivion last year?”

“You people think a lot of yourselves. That any of you have the power to get rid of me is really very funny.”

There was a pounding of footsteps as the others ran into the kitchen with Angel leading the pack.

“Well, well, well. The gang’s all here aren’t they?” The First observed. Everyone stared at the apparition of Spike before them which then morphed back into Quentin Travers.

“Tell me that isn’t what I think it is.” Xander said aloud.

“The First Evil.” Giles said quietly.

“I asked that you not tell me that.” Xander muttered.

“But how is that possible didn’t we defeat it last year?” Willow asked.

“The First Evil cannot be defeated.” Giles muttered.

“Aren’t you going to tell them the rest Rupert?” The First in Quentin’s skin inquired. “Don’t you want to tell them how I came to be so powerful and what’s keeping me here?” Giles didn’t say a word. “Come now, I would’ve thought you would have told your Slayer by now that she’s the reason I’m able to do all this.” Buffy finally tore her eyes away from the figure in front of her to turn and look at Giles. The fear was now clear in her face.

“Ok. Since no one else is going to tell her I guess I’ll have to do it.” Quentin turned back into Spike. “Buffy, luv.” At the sound of Spike’s voice coming from the First, Buffy spun back around. “The thing is that when Red brought you back from heaven she also disrupted the balance. That allowed me to start preying on the Slayer line. Now that you aren’t just a regular Slayer it gives me the ability to branch out even more.” He moved close to her, within touching distance. The real Spike let out a growl at his proximity.

“Don’t worry I’m not going to hurt her. It’s thanks to her that I’m here. As long as she’s alive I’m tied to her. Isn’t that right Rupert?”

“Enough of this.” The real Spike’s voice suddenly cut through the air strong and angry. “So what? You here to threaten us? To scare us again? Please. We got rid of you once, we can do it again. Why don’t you just bugger off and go haunt little kiddies with your ‘oh so threatening’ self?”

The two Spikes stood toe to toe staring at each other.

“To defeat me you’ll have to kill yourself and your mate. Are you ready to do that?” Spike didn’t say anything. “I didn’t think so, but I will leave you now. I love to watch you all scurry around and trying to come up with plans to defeat me.” He backed away. “Buffy, luv, I will be in touch. Think about taking some of those jobs for me. It will make things so much easier in the long run.”





With that the First disappeared. For a few long moments no one spoke.

"Is it true?" Buffy's hard cold voice broke through the silence. She glared at Giles, daring him to confirm it. "Is it here because they brought me back?"

"It would appear so, yes." Giles answered hesitantly.

Her face fell tragically.

"Buffy." Spike called to her quietly and stepped towards her. At the sound of his voice she pulled herself together and turned away from him abruptly.

“Library. Everyone. Now.” Buffy’s voice made it clear there would be no oppositions to her request.


They gathered in the library. Dawn and Andrew, who was already there, were looking through the books for any information they could find on the First Evil. Angel was on the phone with Wesley directing him to search Wolfram & Hart’s database. He also was requesting a meeting with the Senior Partners to find out what they knew of it. Giles sat quietly in a chair watching as Buffy paced back and forth gathering her thoughts and trying to find the strength to deal with this new threat.

Spike also sat in a chair watching Buffy anger clear on his face. Since the First had disappeared she had shut him out completely once again. She ignored him when he tried to talk to her and she turned away whenever he tried to approach her. He wondered if seeing the First wearing his skin had convinced her that he was inherently evil and going to lead her into darkness.

“Ok you guys lets get started.” Buffy’s voice was still hard. General Buffy was back commanding her troops. The others exchanged nervous glances.

"Will, I’ll need you to reinforce the wards around this place. Make sure that it can't get in here again, at least not without us knowing about it. Also check and see if you can find a spell that will mask me or hide me from its detection.”

“I can try and work on something to detect it, but chances are if its linked to you we won’t be able to keep it out without keeping you out. We also won’t be able to hide you from it.”

The tightening around Buffy’s mouth was the only indications the others saw of how much that statement hurt her, but Spike knew.

Spike tried again to catch her attention, stepping in her sight, wanting to offer her comfort and support.

"Buffy."

She only ignored him again, turning to face Angel.

Frustrated Spike tried to reach out to her through their bond only to run smack dab into a brick wall.

'Stubborn, Bloody, Fucking BITCH!!!' He thought to himself, at this point, he was ready to throw something at her to get her attention.

In his rage he stopped listening to what was going on around him and just watched her.

He smiled slowly. His stubborn Slayer. She honestly believed that she could just shut him out by closing off their bond. She thought it was going to be that easy to get rid of him.

Even without the bond she was an open book to him. He was certain he knew what was going on in that head of hers, it was just a matter of breaking through her wall.

She was still talking to Angel.


"...that Wolfram & Hart would have more information on the First than the Watcher's Council. The also have more access to other resources. Anything you can find out would be helpful at this point."

"I'll get my best people right on it, Buffy. I also have a meeting with Senior Partners." Angel told her, looking at her sympathetically. “I will have your passports and the bank account numbers to the account that we opened in your name and Spike’s real name. So if you can’t stay here you have the option to leave.”

“Thanks, Angel. I’m thinking I’m going to have to leave. The sooner the better, probably.”

"SLAYER." Spike growled at her in a warning tone of voice it didn’t escape his notice that she said “I” instead of “we” when she talked about leaving.

“Leave?!? You’re going to leave?” Dawn ran up to her sister upset. Buffy’s manner loosened up slightly as she turned to her sister.

"I have to go Dawnie. My being here is dangerous for the other Slayers.”

"So I'm never going to see you again?" Dawn asked fearfully. Tears welling up in her eyes.

"Hopefully Willow will find a spell to hide me from the First and you can come visit me..." She paused for a moment thinking. "well, where ever it is I wind up. But, I don't know when I'll be coming back or even if it will ever be safe for me to come back here."

Spike decided enough was enough. He wasn’t going to let her keep fooling herself that she was alone in this. It was time to break through that wall of hers.

"Dammit, Slayer." He yelled loudly. "You promised me a white picket fence!!!"

'Ah' he thought, 'That got her attention alright.'

Actually it got everyone's attention.

"Uh, did the First possess Spike again? Because I am thinking that definitely wasn't in the realm of normal." Xander asked.

Spike ignored everyone else in the room, focusing all his attention on Buffy who stared at him impassively.

"A normal life." He continued as if Xander never spoke. "Little house, white picket fence, dog? Ringing any bells here? Its m'dream."

He sighed dramatically.

"Now I suppose we're going to have to travel around the world, having adventures and other such nonsense." He through his hands in the air disgustedly. "There's probably going to be danger and fighting involved. Slayer, you know I hate fighting, danger and adventure."

Willow and Dawn smiled realizing what he was doing. Xander just still looked confused.

Buffy struggled to keep her wall up between them, but he could tell it was crumbling. He stepped closer to her noting she didn't move away this time, she just watched him through pain filled eyes.

"You can't get rid of me, pet." He told her quietly, but firm. "Bond or no bond. You love me and I will never leave you again."

For some reason his words seem to make her stiffen and her wall go back up. He looked into her eyes but they were as blank as her face. He narrowed his eyes at her and - pushed was the best way to describe it - his way into her.

Her eyes widened as he slipped easily through her wall.

His eyes closed and he gritted his teeth when he felt the fear and the pain swirling inside her. It was like a weight was pressing down on her, surrounding an image in the back of her mind which she seemed to be trying to ignore. He pushed through her tangled emotions to the cause of her misery.

Suddenly it all made sense. She was afraid for him, she was afraid that the First was going to take him away from her again.

He saw two images of himself, the first was the way he looked in the cave the night she came to rescue him, bloody and tortured. The other was when they were in the hell mouth, the amulet was around his neck and he had already started to burn.

He pulled out of her and came back to himself, laughing in relief at what he saw. He had been afraid that she was afraid of him, or afraid of the First controlling him again.

"You think this is funny?" She asked him incredulously, her eyes flared with anger and the pain that was insider her.

She pushed him roughly away from her and he almost landed on his ass.

"You know what, I'm sorry I care." She turned to walk away from him, but before she could even turn the whole way around he grabbed her and spun her back around.

"You're forgetting one thing, Slayer." He told her cockily.

"What?!?!" She snapped.

He grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her to him smashing his lips over hers. For a few moments she struggled against him before she realized it was useless and kissed him back just as furiously. She put all her fears, and anger into the kiss, almost challenging him to handle.

It reminded him of their time together after she had come back, only this time he knew how to handle that.

He pulled her closer to him and softened his lips on hers. Instead of holding her to him he nipped and kissed over her lips avoiding letting her trap him. He ran his hands down over her back in circles soothingly as he sent her all his love through the bond as well as his kiss and touch.

He knew he had her back when her body stopped trembling and she went limp in his arms. He pulled back and looked into her now glassy eyes. He ran his lips across hers softly again as if to apologize for abusing them before.

"The thing you were forgetting was I'm here. He, she, it already killed me once. It didn't keep us apart then, what chance do you think it would have now."

She looked at him uncertainly. She wanted to believe him, but she was so afraid.

“Buffy.” He grabbed her arms and turned her so she was facing him. “It all comes down to that balance, luv. You are a force of good, of course there is an echoing force of evil. It may be able to maneuver more because of you, but that isn’t your fault. That’s the fault of the Higher Powers.
What’s more, those Higher Powers believe in you. They don’t think its possible that you are going to turn all evil. In fact they believe in you so much they gave you a secret weapon. Me. They gave me those visions so I could help you. That’s why I’m here. I’m your vision guy, remember? So there will be none of that nonsense of sending me away for my own good, got it?”

Buffy gave him a weak smile and nodded.

"Besides, pet, I think next time its Peaches turn to die saving the world." Spike said loudly making sure everyone in the room heard.

Spike turned back to them and found Angel glaring at him coldly.

"What?" Spike asked, in an almost believably innocent voice.

"Actually Spike, Angel already died saving the world." Willow told Spike confused.

"Yeah, Red, but it doesn't count. Cuz he was also the one trying to end it."

"He's got a point there." Dawn injected gleefully.

Xander nodded along with her.

“Enough of this.” Giles cut in. “Buffy you need to consider very carefully what you are doing. It may be that Spike’s demon could help influence you towards working with the First.”

Spike turned on Giles. “Give it up Rupert. You can’t blame this on my demon. She was linked to it before we were mated, which you conveniently forgot to mention by the way.”

“I didn’t forget, Spike. I just didn’t believe it to be true until recently. I was planning on telling her, but she decided ice cream was needed first.” Giles finished dryly.

Spike snorted and turned to look at Buffy. He was upset to see the confusion back on her face. “Don’t tell me you are buying into all this, pet?” Spike tried to keep the pleading out of his voice. He just broke through her wall and now it looked like it would be for nothing.

“You heard the prophecy, Spike. What if I turn all evil? It said you would follow me and we would wipe out the Slayer line. I don’t want to do anything that would increase the chance of that happening.”

“I believe being mated to a demon might increase those chances, Buffy.” Giles said carefully.

Spike could feel things start to spin out of control. Buffy loved him. She told him she loved him. She loved him so much she chose to mate with him. However, none of that meant anything. It all came down to this. She was going to have to choose between her Watcher and him. She needed to decide for herself who she trusted and believed in.

A few years ago Spike would have said after everything they shared in the past few days there would be no way he would lose this battle. Now he knew better. This was Buffy. No matter how much she had changed there was always the chance that she would reject him. Bond or no.

Well he wasn’t going down without a fight.

“What are you people so afraid of?” Spike demanded of Giles. “It’s the First Evil. So what? Big deal.”

“I happen to think the Original Evil is a big deal Spike. Maybe not to one of your questionable nature, but it is to me. It is so old we can’t even find any information on it.”

“You Watcher’s are so dependent on your books you ignore what common sense tells you.” Spike turned to the others in the room. “You’ve all heard the story of the First Evil haven’t you? Came in the form of a snake and used fear and insecurity to lure Eve towards and apple.” Spike could see the understanding glimmer in Willow’s eyes. “Next he used the same method, fear and insecurity to lure a bloke named Cain into killing his brother. You can see his work all over the Old Testament in the bible.” Spike turned back to Giles.

“There’s your First Evil, Watcher and you are feeding him right now, with all this fear. Don’t you get it? Why hasn’t it come to Buffy before now? Why didn’t it appear to her before? You brought back her fear talking about that prophecy, then it showed up. If we keep control of our fear it doesn’t have any power over us.”

“Really? It did quite a good job using the Bringers to almost wipe out the Slayer line and cause an apocalypse.” Giles insisted.

“Every evil power has minions, hell the Bringers are easier to kill than most evil minions. So we deal with them as it comes, and anything else that comes our way as we explore the world like the Slayer wants.”

“Of course, I forgot what an expert you are on the nature of evil Spike.” Giles snapped at him.

“Is there something you want to say to me Watcher?” Spike growled at Giles. He was getting tired of the man’s obvious contempt.

“Other than what I’ve already stated, that you are not good for her?” Giles growled back.

Spike advanced on the angry Watcher. “What gives you the right to judge what’s good for Buffy? Was abandoning her to run back to England when you knew what kind of shape she was in, the best thing for her?”

“Obviously it wasn’t since she wound up sleeping with you after I left.”

“ENOUGH!!!” Buffy finally couldn’t take their bickering anymore. They both turned to look at her. She stared at them trying to figure out what to do. She knew that this decision may cause her to lose one of them permanently. Buffy took a deep breath and turned away from them both.

“Oz?” Oz had been quiet through everything that had happened he sat back and watched the Scoobies mobilize and observed all the conflicts going on.

“Yeah, Buffy?”

“Willow said that you had people in the pack you stay with who helped you control the Wolfy side.”

“Yeah, they use meditation and they taught me that trying to deny my nature was more dangerous than allowing it to run free.”

“Could Spike and I go with you and maybe take some of these meditation classes?”

Spike felt his heart soar. She wasn’t going to leave him. She was going to try and work through this with him.

“I don’t see why not. They could probably even give you the names of some other people you could see about more advanced techniques.”

Buffy turned back to Spike.

“Does that sound ok to you?”

“I told you before, luv, as long as I’m with you I don’t care where we go. You could take me to hell for all I care.”

“That’s a likely possibility.” Giles muttered.

Buffy looked at her Watcher. “I can tell you aren’t going to understand my choice, but Spike is my choice. I love him Giles and nothing in this world is going to make me give him up now that we’re finally together. I hope someday you accept that.”

"We better go start packing, Oz needs to leave tomorrow morning." Buffy looked over at Willow. “Are you coming too, Will?”

“Yeah, I think so. Since we have our new principal now, it frees up some time for me.”

“Just leave me here by myself with all the responsibility guys. I’ll probably lose all the girls by the time you get back.” Xander said sulkily. Dawn smacked his arm.

“Hello. You aren’t by yourself, you have us. We’ll help keep everything under control.” She turned to look at her sister. “You guys will keep in touch right?”

Buffy smiled at her. “Of course.”

“And don’t be surprised if I appear out of a swirling green glow from time to time.”

“Just make sure you give us some advanced warning, Bit. Don’t want you appearing in the middle of anything private.”

Dawn rolled her eyes. “I’m amazed you two even manage to leave the bedroom once in a while.”

“Bedroom gets boring after a while.” Spike told her, which earned him a smack from Buffy.

“You don’t say things like that to my little sister.” She admonished him as they started to leave the library.

"Did the two of you even stop to consider the First using your true natures to pit you against each other? He could drive you mad, you could wind up killing each other." Giles lectured at the two, officiously.

Spike just laughed at him.

"That's a possibility with ANY married couple, Rupert." Spike called back to Giles as he and Buffy walked out of the library.