Chapter Two

10 weeks earlier.....

“No,” Spike calmly denied.

“But Spike, her birthday is in a few days. We have to do something!” Dawn was using her best hurt little girl voice.

“Look Bit, she already said she didn’t want anything. In fact, she wants you and all the junior slayers out of the house on Friday and I’m not one to argue with her on this. Way I see it, when Friday rolls around, the fewer people near her, the better! Watcher really should look into whoever cursed her and undo the bloody thing.” Spike continued making breakfast for all girls now living there. He’d appointed himself official cook, since he seemed to be the only one who could do so efficiently and without setting the kitchen on fire.

“Dawn, I’m not one to agree with Spike on, well, anything,” Willow said as she walked in the kitchen, “but he’s right. Every party we try to throw for Buffy ends in chaos and destruction. Heavy on the destruction.”

Dawn simply stuck her bottom lip out and tried to pout. Maybe that would get them to do it. Couldn’t hurt.

“Bit, you can stop giving me that look. Not gonna work this time.” He’d seen her display from the corner of his eye.

“Oooohhhh, you guys are impossible!” Dawn had shouted as she stormed out.

“Red, since you’re feeling agreeable, I need a favor.” He spared a glance at a wary Willow. “I want to do a spell for Buffy, for when everyone is gone.” Willow stared at him as though he had spoken Swahili. “Look, I know I don’t usually go for the magic, but she deserves a decent birthday for once. Maybe a protection spell or something.”

Willow watched Spike as he finished the pancakes for the girls. She found herself thinking a lot about Spike and Buffy since his rescue from the First. Sometimes she almost thought she could hear Tara whispering in her ear, telling her to watch them together. She saw the laughs they shared. The little touches they didn’t even seem to notice. The looks each sent when the other wasn’t looking. The way her and Tara had been once. Or Anya and Xander. Even Giles and Ms. Calendar. Maybe they just needed a little something to push them in the right direction.

“I have a better idea Spike. Have you heard of the Pentain Spell?”

“Um, yeah, vampire here. But I'm not seeing where you're going here, Red. It’s a completely useless spell some idiot cooked up to try and de-vamp the wife or something, and it’s not a very effective one at that. Usually works less than a day and the stupid sod who tries to use it, generally gets eaten. Don’t see what good it would do a slayer.” Spike was now staring at Willow. “Unless you know something about it I don’t.”

“No, that’s pretty much it. We researched it pretty heavily when Angel lost his soul.” Willow shrugged.

“Then what are you up to?” He asked, suspicion clear on his face.

“I want to do the spell on you. As a birthday gift for Buffy. You could do all the stuff normal guys would. You know, dinner and some girly movies. Veg out on the couch. Something normal for Buffy.”

“Don’t really think normal’s her shade. GI Joke was pretty normal and we all know how well that ended.” Spike gave Willow a stoney look.

“Spike, if you don’t want to do it, that’s fine. I just thought that you probably could show her how really great life could be with a normal guy who really understands both the Buffy side and the slayer side of her.”

Spike looked to be wavering a little. “Look Red, I’m not holding out anything for us, I just...”

“Oh, I know, and I’m right there with you. I want to give Buffy what she deserves.” Willow noted with intense interest that Spike visibly flinched at her words. “Maybe then she can see what she’s missing with a normal guy and move on. You can’t tell me you don’t think she should? That she doesn’t deserve it?” Willow really hoped she wasn’t pushing him too hard, but she was certain this last reason would get the desired response.

Spike looked really hard at Willow, but finally nodded his assent. “OK. But you better not mess up the mojo... turn me into a Parvo demon or anything like that.”

Willow beamed with her happiness. “OK then! Friday afternoon before she gets home. That way you can surprise her.”

**********

“Bloody hell, do you really have to do all those symbols?” Spike asked as Willow painted a half dozen strange symbols on his back and chest.

“I think that I can stretch the spell out to a full 24 hours or more. You won’t be completely human, but close. And don’t scratch at the paint, I’m almost done.” When she finished the last symbol she handed Spike a jar of natron as she started placing and lighting several candles. “Circle,” she instructed him. He gave her a very annoyed glare and then did as he was told. “Now, sit.” Once again he did as instructed, albeit still glaring at her, and Willow took her seat in front of him.

Willow began chanting in precisely intoned Latin. She said about six lines and then started to take on a strange orange glow as the magic infused with her being began to flow. Spike watched her with growing nervousness. Suddenly all but the candle directly in front of him blew out and the basement filled with vortex of wind that pulled the glowing energy with it, and enveloped Spike's body.

The next thing Willow knew, Spike was screaming and thrashing around on the floor. His back arched and his limbs convulsing. This went on for several seconds after Willow finished the incantation and then with a loud gasp from Spike it was over and he lay there unmoving, unresponsive.

“Spike? SPIKE?” She was shaking him. Suddenly his eyes flew open and he started taking huge gasping breaths of air. Willow quickly felt his wrist for a pulse. It was there, barely. Way too slow to be normal, but it was there. It had worked. He was alive!

“What...did it..” Spike was trying to speak between gasps.

“Spike, it’s OK. Just breath slowly. In and out. In and out. That’s it. How do you feel?” Willow asked cautiously.

“Like I’m bloody dying. God, what’s that pounding?” He asked.

Willow laughed. “It’s your heart beating Spike.”

“Oh. Right then. It worked?” Spike sat up. He felt rather odd, but also pleased. The witch had done it. Spike tried several times to vamp, but the closest he got was a bit of teeth and a strange mixture of gold with the blue of his eyes.

“You should be all non-combusty now, but only an hour or so at a time. You’ll have to breathe and your heart will beat, but not like ours,” Willow explained as she helped Spike to stand.

“Did I ever mention how much I hated it when I was a human?” Spike muttered.

“Well, you’re not exactly human; just not completely undead either. You're kind of a hybrid. You’re almost in a…existential limbo."

"Thought that's what a vampire was?" Spike smirked.

"Remember Spike, we're after normal here."

"Right, what she deserves."

“What she deserves," Willow confirmed. "Now, on to phase two.”