Okay, please be kind...or at least don't rip me too bad. This is my first ever attempt at fanfic - just a story I couldn't get out of my head. Enjoy!

England, the New Watcher’s Council Headquarters
Giles pored over the prophecy late into the night, the misty sunrise finally shaking him from his work. Dear God he thought, this is undoubtedly the most disturbing prophecy I’ve ever read.

At the same time, Wolfram and Hart, Los Angeles, CA
“Cordy, are you okay?” Angel whispered, knowing she had just had an upsetting vision. He had been overprotective of Cordelia since her sudden awakening from her coma three months prior.

“Angel, I’m not sure you want to hear about this one,” Cordy replied, still shaken from the terrible vision she had just had, “it involves Buffy. Maybe I should just call Giles….”

“What is it? Is she in trouble?” Angel quickly worried. Despite the distance physical distance between himself and Buffy, the two remained good friends. Angel and Cordelia had been seriously involved since she awoke from her coma and Angel had been completely upfront with Buffy about their relationship. But Angel was keeping a secret from his ex-girlfriend – a secret that stood about 5’ 10” and had platinum hair. Buffy had not found out that Spike had returned.

Angel refused to believe that she would ever care about the bleached vampire as more than a convenient ally. He saw Spike as a potential problem for the already emotionally weakened Slayer and had done everything in his power to keep her from finding out about his resurrection. Angel did not want anything to interfere with the work that the New Council was doing, and who knew how Buffy would react to Spike’s return? No amount of begging and pleading on Spike’s part would convince Angel that he and Buffy cared for one another, and that she would want to know of his return. Angel worried not only for Buffy’s safety, but also for his own if she found out about the secret he had kept.

“She was being drained by a vamp. I don’t know which one, only that they had a familiar ‘feel’ about them, and the vamp didn’t stop until she was dead. Oh Angel, I saw her body hit the floor.” Cordy shuddered with the horror of seeing her old friend slump to the ground lifelessly.

“I’ll call Giles immediately. We’ll stop this from happening Cordy, don’t worry.”

Watcher’s Council
“Hello, Watcher’s Council, Rupert Giles speaking,” Giles answered the phone wearily, rubbing a hand over his face. He had just given up on reinterpreting the prophecy and was going to wake Buffy to talk to her when the phone rang.

“Giles, its Angel,” came the reply. *Oh dear lord, not an emergency in LA. This prophecy is all I can handle* Giles mused. “Angel, what can I do for you?” asked Giles gritting his teeth.

“Cordy had a vision…it’s Buffy…she’s going to be drained by a vamp.”

“So, the prophecy is true. Damn, I thought I could have just misinterpreted it.”

“Giles, what prophecy?” Angel interrupted.

“I came across a prophecy yesterday afternoon. I tried every interpretation of the text I could find, and can find no variation. Buffy is to be drained and killed by a member of the Line of Aurelius. You must locate any other members of the line to protect her. Since Darla has been dusted, and Spike died in the battle, that leaves you and Drusilla, correct?” Giles heard grumbling on the other line. A hand over the receiver, then arguing between Angel and a female.

“Angel…..ANGEL!!!” Giles yelled into the phone

“I’m sorry, what?”

“This is bloody well important. Now if you and Cordelia could perhaps stop bickering like stupid little children and tell me whatever it is regarding your line that has you so upset, I think I can refrain from coming to the States and staking you myself,” Giles fumed. Where the Slayer was concerned, he was still extremely protective.

“Um.....ahhhh, you see,” Angel muttered, “Spike’s alive.” Dead silence followed for at least thirty seconds.

“WHAT THE BLOODY HELL DO YOU MEAN ‘SPIKE’S ALIVE’?!?” Giles screamed loud enough to wake the rest of the people sleeping in the council’s living quarters. Buffy had been in mourning for the past three months over the vampire, and he was alive? “Buffy is going to kill you, you know that right?” Giles had calmed a bit.

“I know, I know,” came the muttered reply, “short version - a few weeks after your final battle, the amulet arrived in the mail here at Wolfram & Hart, and Spike rematerialized as a ghost. About two months ago, another strange package arrived and when it was opened, he became corporeal. Same annoying, ensouled, bleached wonder we all remember.”

“And you didn’t see fit to inform Buffy or any of the rest of us because…..” Giles prompted.

“Why should I have told her?” came the childish retort “it’s not like she loved him or anything.”

“You should be very careful Angel. You are talking about things that you don’t understand. Buffy has been in complete mourning for Spike ever since the battle. She has been inconsolable. You think that because you are friends now that you understand her feelings, but Spike is a part of her. Have you not noticed how sad and distant she has been since his death? I am surprised that he hasn’t been tearing down the building trying to get to her.”

“He was, at first. But I told him she didn’t want to talk to him, and he finally gave up,” Angel replied, still muttering, “I didn’t think she would care one way or the other if Spike was alive, so I told him that I spoke to her about him and she didn’t want to see him. He believed me.”

“I take it that Cordelia did not approve of this course of action?” suddenly Giles understood that the hushed argument had concerned Spike, and whether Angel should mention his return. “No, she’s been on my case since she came out of the coma to tell Buffy. Said it’s not fair for me to still make decisions for her.”

“Coredelia is quite right. I must go, it appears I woke up the entire household screaming, and I am sure there will be questions. Please plan to have yourself, Spike and Cordelia if she wishes to come, on a flight to England immediately. I will arrange for you to be picked up at London-Heathrow and brought to the Council’s grounds. Oh and Angel, Buffy probably will kill you. Just so you’re aware,” *click*

*Sigh* Angel rolled his eyes, “Get the Great Annoying One and pack your bags Cordy, we’re going to England.”

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“Giles,” came a sleep rumpled Slayer wandering out of the living quarters, “I think I was dreaming about you…you were yelling that Spike was alive. It seemed so real,” Buffy trailed off.

“Buffy, I think this may come as quite a shock to you but Spike IS alive. He is at Wolfram &Hart in LA. Angel has been keeping him from you.” The only response Giles received was a loud thud, as Buffy fainted to the ground.

One by one the band of Scoobies drifted out into the den, having the same general reaction to the news. Willow muttered, “Oh Goddess,” and promptly passed out. Dawn squealed and jumped up and down, pulling her sister into an impromptu jig/happy Snoopy dance hybrid. Xander simply rolled his eyes, “Why am I not surprised? No one ever stays dead. Except Anya.” With a sniffle, the carpenter turned to Buffy, “I’m happy for you Buff. Not that Undead Boy could ever deserve you.”

And through it all sat one shell-shocked Slayer with the widest grin she could manage stuck firmly on her face. Spike’s alive she thought, I’m going to see him tonight. MMMMMM Spike. Ohmygod, what should I wear?? And I am SO going to kill Angel. In a panic she ran into her room to prepare. Only sixteen hours until their flight arrived…hardly enough time to be ready for the love of her life to come back from the dead.


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Like it? Hate it? The next chapter is coming up soon. Smoochies are a given, and you get into the actual plot a little. Please review. :)