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Beta'd by Leon Stryfe. Banner by nmcil12, thank you I love it!

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It was a group decision to leave; we had far too many enemies chasing us and far too many innocents to protect. I seriously doubt any of us, aside from Spike, could withstand the tortures Glory inflicted upon him and not have divulged the identity of the key.

While I was pondering these things I noticed that Dawn was watching me with a look of concern on her face and immediately I knew what she was thinking. Once we arrived back in Sunnydale, I assured her that I in no way thought that Spike had been the one behind Ben's death. The look of relief on her face opened my eyes to just how much Spike had come to mean to the child. In retrospect I understand completely her sentiments.

Things settled down over the summer, as they are wont to do. Buffy officially moved in with Spike and she continues to go to college. I have found myself spending time with Joyce. It started out as simply the only two real adults spending time away from the younger members of the group. As time went on however, I found Joyce to be a wonderful woman and our time together became romantic in nature. Spike took me aside and informed me that if I ever hurt Joyce he would torture me so badly that it would make my time spent with Angelus look like the work of an amateur. I took the speech in the manner it was intended and wasn’t offended in the least.

We next found ourselves under assault, not by a 'big bad', to quote the children, but by three young men. One of them was Jonathon, the boy who had cast a spell two years ago to make himself into a superstar. Buffy and Spike prevented them from committing a robbery at the museum. This did not sit well with their leader, a man named Warren Mears. He has since made it his personal mission to exact revenge on Buffy and Spike.

The first real attempt at revenge could have had disastrous results. Despite the Initiative being long driven out of Sunnydale, the demons in town remember them. It was no secret that Spike had been inhibited by the group and eventually Warren found out about the chip. Due to Willow’s adept nature with a computer we learned that Warren was something of a computer genius himself. How he managed to do what he did is a mystery but somehow he made a device that gave him control over Spike’s chip. Thankfully, either because of the same problems the Initiative had or Spike’s contrary nature, the control was very limited. He was unable to force Spike to take any human lives, despite his many attempts. We quickly realized that something had to be done to remove this possibility from ever happening again. Willow was able to obtain the same information that Warren had through some computer hacking. Armed with the Initiative's files, we were able to have Spike’s chip removed successfully.

Afterwards, Warren set a demon on Buffy that altered her mental state. She was forced into a nightmare world where she had to watch over and over again as all of us were murdered while she was helpless to stop it. In a rare showing, Spike and Xander joined forces with a common goal and captured the demon so that an antidote could be crafted to combat the creature's effects on Buffy.

It was during this time we learned from Wesley that Angel had a son. Apparently Wolfram & Hart had somehow resurrected Darla and the two of them had created a child. Wesley had called us because there was a prophecy that he had translated saying that Angel would kill his own son. Wesley begged us for sanctuary and we granted it. Once Wesley had arrived it seemed safest for he and Connor to stay at my house. Everyone quickly became enamoured with the boy, especially Spike and Buffy. We originally discussed having him stay with Buffy and Spike, as they are the strongest in our group, but in retrospect I can only be thankful we decided against it.

Warren’s final act was made in desperation. I can only be thankful that I had given the Gem of Amara to Spike when I had. Warren, apparently frustrated in his failed attempts to neutralize Buffy, sought a more permanent solution. He came to her house in an attempt to kill her with a gun. Upon finding that she was not at her home, he attempted to kill Dawn by firing wildly at the house. Spike, hearing the shots, ran outside into the bright light of the sun and subdued the would be assassin, taking numerous rounds aimed straight for Dawn in the process. 

After rendering Warren unconscious the police were called and Warren was arrested. We were able to keep Spike’s name out of the reports and Warren was convicted of attempted murder. Jonathon and the other boy left town, having not been involved with Warren’s final vendetta against Buffy.

This event caused all of us to think honestly about our lives. Numerous changes occurred as a result. I asked Joyce to marry me and she has said yes. Xander also proposed to Anya and they decided to get married in Vegas, as a wedding with her demon friends and Xander’s family would be quite difficult to plan. Willow, after struggling with her magic and the correct uses thereof, decided to travel England to study with a coven. Tara made the decision to go with her.

Wesley discovered that the manuscript depicting the threat of Angel towards Connor was manufactured by Wolfram & Hart. He and the child returned to Los Angeles after Angel was able to deal with an old enemy from his past. It was that figure who had wanted to harm Connor as revenge against Angel.

The biggest change led to the biggest discovery. Spike and Buffy claimed each other. I chuckle when thinking about it; if this had happened years ago I would have done everything and anything in my power to break them apart. At this point in our lives it seemed like the most natural progression.

A few weeks after the claiming Spike, presented Buffy with an engagement ring. Plans were made and a date was set; it wasn’t until the invitations went out that any trouble befell us. As soon as Angel received his invitation he came to Sunnydale. He challenged the claim and a brutal battle was fought between Spike and Angel. To prevent Buffy from interceding I explained to her that Angel did have the right to challenge the claim as head of the line. I also explained that if Spike didn’t accept the challenge he would forfeit his rights as her mate or if he lost the fight Angel would take over the claim.