*AUTHOR'S NOTE! STORY IS COMPLETE! GO BACK AND READ THE CHAPTERS YOU MISSED!!!* When you're evil, you're evil, right? Not necessarily. Not in William The Bloody's case, anyway. He's still as big of a Big Bad as they come -- but keep in mind that it's always been his passion that has gotten him as far as he is now. And maybe, just maybe, if that passion were tweaked a little bit... directed toward a certain person... We could see what Spike was really capable of.

Gee. Wonder how Buffy's friends found out? Also, Buffy has a visitor.

Spike and Buffy are losing it; Riley's an ass; Willow speaks!

Spike comes to a few startling revelations. Buffy is... Buffy. With an influx of angst. AN: There is a reference in this chapter to, suprisingly enough, flesh-eating scarab beetles. Now, if you've seen the season finale of season 6, you know how they came in to play. But I wrote this chapter of OoMH during my junior year of high school, early in the season (possibly just after the Halloween episode "All the Way", but definitely before the Wham!Bam! of "Smashed." Yeah - shocked was a very weak word for my reaction when I saw what I'd written ^_^ Also, there is a quote in here from a Post-"Crush" episode that I'm sure a lot of you will recognize. Thankfully, though... it's not directed at the same person. I'd like to reiterate that none of this belongs to me because if I were Joss, I'd have treated them better.

Set just after Season 5's "No Place Like Home." Buffy's performed the spell that gives her that telling information about Dawn. Now who can she trust enough to tell? Also, Riley's still stalking Buffy.

Riley's still thinks that he can get an in with the Scoobies... silly, stupid boy. Buffy and Spike have another, hotter encounter. PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!

It's party time at the Bronze for the Scoobies... and Buffy comes to a bit of a startling revelation. Willow is informed that her drink has a very interesting name. ^_^ No Riley here, peeps! We're getting into more Season 5 stuff after this one, so you only have to deal with the Boy Blunder for a little more! Also, the song used here is called "Butterfly" by CrazyTown, a group that is now, apparently, defunct. Boo :(

Riley's back. And Buffy encounters some interesting side effects of the claim for the first time.

More encounters between Buffy and Spike... and Dawn does some snooping. This is the last chapter before I start stealing -- ahem, I mean, borrowing dialogue from Season 5. Enjoy ^_^

Text taken and/or modified from Season 5's "Blood Ties." The search for Dawn begins; Buffy apologizes (?!); a nice, big fight with Glory; and Spike gives Not-So-Sleeping Buffy some information to chew on.

*AN: Psst. Did you read chapter 10?* Buffy tries to deal with the repercussions of Spike's words. Glory plots. Most scenes are taken from "Intervention," but are modified. Joyce isn't dead, there was never a Buffybot, and apparently, any episodes from "Blood Ties" until "Intervention" never happened.

*AN: Psst. Did you read chapter 11-1?* Buffy tries to deal with the repercussions of Spike's words. Glory plots. Most scenes are taken from "Intervention," but are modified. Joyce isn't dead, there was never a Buffybot, and apparently, any episodes from "Blood Ties" until "Intervention" never happened.

*AN: Psst. Did you read chapter 11-2?* Glory has Spike - and the pains Buffy receives from the claim are getting worse. Can she get to him in time?

*AN: Psst. Did you read chapter 12, part one?* Glory has Spike - and the pains Buffy receives from the claim are getting worse. Can she get to him in time?

Some realizations still have to be made. *AN: Psst. Did you read chapter 12, part 2?*

Everything winds down. Thanks so much for reading! I love you all so much :) *AN: Psst. Did you read Chapters 10 thru 13?*