A/N: Thanks to Allison and Klemptor for the wonderful beta job.

“So, what’s the what? And is there any food around here? I’m starving.”

Dawn looked at Buffy and said, “Well, it’s about time you came out of there. I made you a sandwich about an hour ago and put it in the fridge. Why don’t you get it and come sit by me? I’ll let you know what I found.”

Buffy plopped down next to her sister with a sandwich and a soda. Man, was she hungry. She hadn’t felt this hungry since before the fight with the First. She knew she was losing weight, but it hadn’t mattered before. Now she would take better care of herself.

“OK, here is what I found. Some of it is good, and some is not so great. Your tears falling on the stone caused your wish to come true, hence the return of Spike. That’s the good. Now, here is the not so great. If Spike leaves this island, he will disappear again. The magic only works where it was created. So, if you want Spike back for good, you will have to live here. Buffy, did you hear what I said?”

Buffy was just sitting there with her mouth open. Spike would disappear if he left the island. ‘I guess there are worse things that could happen,’ she thought. She wondered if her dad would let them stay at his house. How was she going to explain Spike coming back? She just told her dad she was a Slayer six months ago and that she had been in love with two vampires. Thoughts kept bombarding her head. What was she going to do?

Buffy noticed Dawn’s mouth moving but was not hearing what she was saying. “Huh, did you say something?”

“I asked you what you planned on doing. I mean, Hawaii is great but not exactly vampire-friendly. Maybe we should talk to Ka’ne and see if he knows more on the Menehune myth.”

“Yeah, that would be good. Do you think you could call him and ask him a few questions?”

“I’ll check in with him now. Do you think I should mention Spike or that he is a vampire? I don’t even think there is a Hawaiian word for vampire. I didn’t see any in the myths section.”

“I’d leave out the part about vampire for now. Maybe you can tell him that I wished for someone who was killed to come back to me. He seems to know a lot about the mythology, and maybe if he can’t help us, he might know someone who can.”

Dawn called down to Ka’ne and explained the situation, using as little detail as possible. Ka’ne did not sound too surprised hearing Dawn’s story. He agreed with her findings that if Spike left the island, he would cease to exist - there was no way around that, the magic stays on the island. He did want to meet this Spike that came back from the dead, though. Dawn agreed to let him come to the house since he said he was able to collect some of the blood and would have it for them by eight that night.

Spike awoke from a sound sleep to soft lips brushing against his cheek. He opened one eye to see his Goldilocks peppering his cheek with kisses, trying to wake him up. “Are you trying to get me up, luv? I thought we were going to spend the whole day in bed, catching up?”

“Oh, Spike, you know I would love to do that, but Dawnie has been researching your return and we found out some things. Plus, Ka’ne is coming over in a few minutes with some blood for you and wants to meet you. By the way, he doesn’t know you are a vampire, only that you were dead and gone and now have returned.”

“Ok, what’s the news? Is it bad? ’Cause then I don’t want to hear it,” a dejected Spike replied.

“It’s not all bad. Yes, you are here because my tears fell on the stone. That is the good news, but the bad is that you’re bound to this island. If you leave, you won’t exist. If you can manage to stay here, I will have all my things sent from Rome and move in with you. Our main problem is that this is a sunlighty type of place. How would you feel about that?”

“Oh, thank the gods. I thought you were going to tell me I was going to disappear in a week or something. I can handle anything if you’re by my side. We can manage with the sunlight, but do you think your father will let us stay in his house?”

“I’m gonna wait until we talk to Ka’ne before I call my dad. Why don’t you get up and shower and come out to the great room? You’ll be able to see the sunset if we put you in one of the chairs closer to the front door.”

“I’ll be out in a few,” Spike said as he got out of bed and strolled to the shower.

Around eight, the doorbell rang and Dawn got up to let Ka’ne inside. He came with a shopping bag with several quarts of blood and some books.

Dawn thanked him and placed the blood in the fridge. She didn’t want him to see her heating it up for Spike.

Buffy stood up to introduce Ka’ne to Spike. Before pleasantries could be exchanged, Ka’ne put his hand out and touched Spike’s arm.

“He is a vampire. Was he a vampire before he was dead?” replied the shocked but calm Ka’ne.

“How did you know? Are you some kind of mystic?” asked Dawn. “Spike was a vampire who got his soul when we knew him in California but died twice, trying to save the world. My sister really loved and missed him and wished for him to be back, and here he is.”

“This is the Menehune at work. They brought him back to you because they must have felt you were worthy of their magic. I have studied all my books, and there is no way around this, but he cannot leave the island.”

“Spike and I have talked about it, and if that is the only way to be together, then I will move here to be with him. Maybe we can set up some kind of training center here for Slayers.” Buffy gasped as she realized she let out more information than she wanted.

“Slayers? Are you both Slayers? We know of the Chosen One - we just have never seen one. How can you both be Slayers if there is only one Chosen One?” Ka’ne asked.

“Yes, I am the Slayer. I was the last Chosen One, but we did a spell that brought forth all the potential Slayers and made them full-fledged ones instead. We belong to an organization that is trying to round them all up and train them to fight evil. Maybe we could set up a training center here, and Slayers could come to me and Spike for training. It could be like a Slayer retreat.”

“The islands of Hawaii have many mystical and rejuvenating powers. This would be a perfect place for retreats and meditation. If your father would be willing, this property is large and a retreat center could be built here. We already know it is a magical place.”

“Yeah, I am going to need to call Dad and Giles in England to see if we should proceed on this. It would be great to be able to do it all here.”

“I will come back tomorrow with more blood for the vampire, and you can let me know what you have decided. I bid you all good night.” Ka’ne walked back to his car and drove away.

“Well, let’s call Giles and see what he says. We can call Dad tomorrow morning and ask him if we can stay. I don’t know how he will handle the retreat building part of it. Maybe we can ask Giles if there is money to help build it.” Buffy’s mind was going a mile a minute with all the details.

“Buffy, slow down. We don’t have to do it all tonight, luv. Why don’t you call Giles first, and we can take it from there? I’d love to see the Watcher’s face when you tell him I’m back.”

Giles could be heard cleaning his glasses as Buffy relayed the news to him. He kept saying, “I bloody don’t believe it.” When Buffy asked if he had money to build a retreat, he mentioned that the Council still had a bank account with plenty of funds and that it wouldn’t be a problem. He seemed quite taken with a Slayer retreat and training center in Hawaii, too. Promises were made to keep each other up-to-date, and then Buffy put down the phone.

“OK, guys, here is the big question - how is Spike gonna live on a tropical island? He’s here, and you have a job for him with the training of the Slayers, but what kind of life is he gonna have here, not being able to enjoy paradise? Did you think about that?” Dawn asked in hushed tone.

“Yeah, luv. I am happy to be back, but what kind of a life is this gonna be for you? Work at night, sleep during the day? You won’t be happy. You need to be out in the sunshine, and I can’t be there. Maybe I can just stay here, and you can come for a week or two when you can.”

“I will not hear any of that. I just got you back, and we mated, Spike. How do you think I can go away from you now? There has to be something that will help you. If we only had the Gem of Amara, then you could go out in the sunshine with me.” Buffy put her arms around Spike and gave him a tight hug.

“Dawnie, get into research mode. See if there is anything that can let Spike walk in the sunshine and not go poof. Maybe we need to call in some of the Native Hawaiians and their wise people. What were they called?”

“Kapuna. That is the name of the wise ones. I will look and see if there are any still on this island. If I find them, what kind of things are we looking for here? Do you want a spell or charm or what?” Dawn asked as she was pulling open her laptop.

“At this point, I will take anything. Spike, why don’t you heat up some of that blood? I think it is gonna be a researchy type of night.”

After several hours, Spike, who had gone out and taken a swim, came back in and saw Dawn asleep at the laptop while Buffy was reading some books on the Hawaiian islands. “Any luck?” he asked.

“Well, there are a few Kapuna on this island, but they are located on the other side, near the volcano. I guess we can travel to see them at night and find a place to stay until we can meet up with them. I want Dawn to call Ka’ne tomorrow and see if he knows of anyone closer. She’s beat. Would you mind helping me get her to bed?”

“Sure, luv. Then you should get to bed, too. You look tired, and you have your work cut out for you over the next few weeks.”

“Okay. Plus, I want to call my dad in the morning and get his approval on the plans.”