A/N: This is the end guys. Hope you have enjoyed reading the story as much as I have enjoyed writing it. I'm planning a sequel, which I'll proably write some when I'm on vacation in Spain, where I'm going on Monday.
Thanks to my great betas, LisFayte and DreamsofSpike. You guys are the best!
And as always, remember to review.



Spike frowned and nearly pouted, cerulean eyes opening reluctantly. He'd been having a very interesting dream about Buffy, and he was disinclined to leave it. Then his mind caught up with his most recent memories, and his eyes snapped open.

Reality with Buffy was better than his dreams.

He got out of bed and stretched with cat-like grace before going into the bathroom and getting into the shower, the warm water heating his body and successfully waking him. He soaped himself up, taking his time and ignoring his surroundings. He stretched out through the claim, seeking Buffy, and finding her presence.

He hummed a tune as he dried himself and pulled on a pair of jeans. He was walking out of the bathroom, toweling his curls when a sharp ‘twang’ interrupted his thoughts. Sharp pain seared through his abdomen and he looked down.

A crossbow bolt protruded from his stomach, and blood was streaming down his clean pair of jeans. He looked up and saw a team of black-clad men standing there with various weapons. He snarled and threw himself back into the bathroom, closing and locking the door behind him.

“Bloody hell,” he swore, throwing the towel into a corner. He grabbed the bolt with both hands and gave it a sharp tug. It came out along with a lot more blood, and he groaned, half in pain and half in anger.

The tossers owed him a new pair of pants.

He got up and looked around, trying to find something to staunch the blood flow. He couldn't see anything useful, except maybe the towel, and he grabbed it. He held it in front of the bleeding wound, and tried to reach Buffy through the claim.

‘You okay, luv?’ he sent, looking around the room to see if there were any possible weapons. He frowned when Buffy didn't answer, and he sent the message again. He didn't get a reply and he swore, banging his fist on the counter, rattling the soap dispenser.

He felt slightly dizzy and guessed it was because of the blood loss. He snarled wordlessly and walked toward the door, ready to face the assailants with only fists and fangs, which were the only weapons he had at his disposal at the moment.

After all, they were his *best* weapons.

He unlocked the door and jumped from the doorway, mowing down one of the men clustered in front of the door. Five threw themselves at him, while three retreated backward, trying to aim crossbows and guns at him. The one he had run over struggled to get to his feet.

Spike lashed out with a fist and felt it impact with something soft. He barely noticed the second of the men go down, already attacking the next. One received a palm to his nose, dropping him instantly, blood pouring from his nose. Another one tried to kick Spike, but he caught the man’s foot and twisted, grinning when he heard a snap. Three down, five to go.

He had changed into game face as soon as he had exited the bathroom, and now he used it. He lunged forward, burying his fangs in the throat of one of the men. He swallowed down the blood he had in his mouth, and moved on to the next one.

Spike ducked a blow from the man, snarling when the hilt of a gun impacted with the back of his head. He sprang forward, grabbed the man in front of him and threw in aside. He hit the wall with a ‘thud’ and Spike spun around, facing the man who had hit him with the gun.

“So what are you after, mate?” Spike asked the man, punching him in the gut. He doubled over and Spike brought up his knee, hitting the man in the face. He collapsed and Spike turned so that he was facing the three men still standing. Around him lay six men, all of them injured.

“Back, you abomination,” one of the men said, shakily pointing his gun at Spike.

Spike laughed and began walking toward them. Another man shot a crossbow bolt at him, but he jumped away from it. Wankers had probably never faced a real vampire before.

“Talk, and I might let you live,” Spike said, not slowing down, slowly advancing on them.

One of the men pointed his gun toward Spike, but he shook too much and his shots went wild. Spike jumped forward, bringing the man to the floor and banged hi head on the floor, making him black out. The two remaining men glanced wide-eyed between him and their fallen comrade.

“Silencer?”Spike asked them, standing slowly up and glaring at them with rage-filled eyes. The pair quickly glanced at each other, then back at him. He could smell how frightened they were, and it filled him with some joy, but at the same time it filled him with some guilt.

They still hadn't said more, and Spike got tired of waiting. He threw himself forward, claws making bloody trails on one of the men’s faces, and fangs buried in the last man’s neck. He drank down deeply, knowing Buffy would disapprove, but also knowing that he needed it. He knew something was up and he guessed it was bad.

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Spike was driving toward Sunnydale High, his mind on overdrive. He had left the injured men alive, but they hadn't said anything other than calling him an abomination and other rude things. After the fight he had hastily packed his things and left the hotel room, hoping that the ignorant people of Sunnydale wouldn't dig too much into it.

One thing he had noticed was that the men all had British accents. It couldn't be a coincidence, and that was what made his mind work overdrive.

He stopped in front of the school and got out of the car. He stood leaning against the big, black car, tapping his fingers on the hood when the bell rang and the students came milling out from the school. Spike frowned, trying and failing to locate Buffy. He felt along the bond and could feel her somewhere inside the building. She was probably just hanging out at the library with her friends and Watcher, Spike tried to reassure himself. But he still couldn't reassure himself completely, and he felt like something was wrong.

“Umm…Spike, is it?” a redheaded girl asked him. Spike recognized her as a friend of Buffy, but he couldn't remember her name.

“Yeah, Red?” Spike asked, looking at her with raised eyebrows. She blushed and began stuttering.

“Isn't Buffy with you?” the boy beside her asked him, and he frowned.

Why would they think she was with him?

“No, she’s in the library,” Spike said. The bad feeling in his gut grew bigger and he frowned.

“We checked there, and there's nobody in the library,” the girl said. She yelped as Spike shot past her and into the school, heading for where the claim was telling him Buffy was.

Xander and Willow entered the library at a run, stopping abruptly when they saw the vampire standing immobile, his nostrils flaring. Xander frowned and was about to speak, but Spike beat him to it.

“Smell fear in here,” he said quietly, before adding “But we're the only ones here. But the bond tells me she’s in here.” He frowned and walked over to the table. His gaze flew over the various books lying on the table, and he saw nothing of interest.

He went further into the library and began rummaging around. A barely closed drawer on an archive cabinet caught his attention, and he opened it. Inside were a book and a black candle burning merrily. He took out the book and scanned the text, roaring at what he found.

“Bloody hell! I'll kill him, I'll fucking kill him!” he roared, throwing the book away. He picked up the candle and tried to blow it out, but it didn't work. He tried to put it out with his fingers, but that only caused him to scorch his fingers. He suddenly noticed a kettle filled with tea and he ran over. He held the flame under the water, finally extinguishing the candle.

At once her presence slammed into the bond, and he felt all the pent up feelings hitting him at once. The power of it nearly drove him to his knees.

‘Giles betrayed me!’ echoed inside his head. Her feelings of shock, hurt and fear only intensified her words. Spike roared and exited the library.

“Watcher took her,” he said furiously, grabbing Willow’s arm, dragging her along. She yelped and he swore.

“Need someone to take care of her while I get her out of there,” he said, and she nodded, trying to keep up as he dragged her. They got into the car and took off, leaving a confused Xander in the library.

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“Ahh, slow down!” Willow squeaked, grabbing hold of whatever she could.

Spike was driving at a breakneck speed and she was seriously scared for her life. If he kept this up there would be no one to rescue Buffy.

“No, gotta find her. She’s unconscious, but I can still feel her,” he said, driving past the sign telling them that they were now leaving Sunnydale. It was pure luck that they had gotten safely through the streets of Sunnydale.

“The only thing in this direction is desert and…Oh God!” Willow said, straightening in her seat. They were driving as fast as the old car could go, and Spike could feel himself nearing his mate.

“What else, Red?” he ground out between clenched teeth, hands gripping the steering wheel hard enough to leave a mark. Right now he didn't care, he had more important things to worry about.

“An old, private airport,” Willow said, swallowing ad the vampire cursed. He tried to make the car go even faster and she could only hope they would make it in one piece.

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The car roared as the vampire drove right into the gate, taking it with them and sliding into the airport. They saw a parked car in front of a hangar, and a plane with an open door beside the hangar. The pair in the car could tell its engines weren't running, and Spike pulled the car to a stop in front of the hanger. They both burst from the black car, Willow hanging slightly back.

Before he made it to the door, five black-clad men exited the hangar. Spike was a white blur as he knocked the men unconscious, snarling the whole time. Before Willow was able to react, he was through the door.

Inside Spike found the Watcher, seven more of the black-clad men and two men dressed in tweed suits. He was on the black-clad men before they even knew what had hit them, knocking four unconscious, and ripping the throats out of the rest.

Giles and the two other men stood staring at him with wide eyes, the blonde slayer lying unconscious on the floor behind them. Spike snarled, and smelled the fear coming off them. Willow gasped as she entered, and Giles looked as if he was about to say something.

“Tie ‘em up, Red,” Spike said icily, motioning towards some rope on one the walls.

Willow went over to get it, and Spike glared at the men with loathing in his eyes.

“You won't get away with this,” one of the tweed-clad men said, and Spike snarled at him.

“Just you watch,” was the answer Spike gave him.

Willow tied the men up, and after some small adjustments Spike approved of the knots. The vampire was quickly at Buffy’s side, lifting her upper body, cradling her to him.

“Hey now, luv, wake up. Rise and shine, kitten,” Spike whispered, softly stroking her hair.

The two men next to Giles stared at the pair with loathing, but the vampire ignored them.

“Uhh…Spike?” Buffy asked him after a while, eyes fluttering open. He sent her soothing thoughts along the bond and she smiled slightly, feeling safe at last. “You're here…” she said in a weak voice, and tried to lift her hand to caress his cheek, eyes widening when it took all her strength.

Spike could feel her fear and worry, and took her into his arms, hear head lolling against his chest. “Come on Red, we're going,” he said, standing up with Buffy in his arms and regarding the men with anger.

Buffy looked about to protest and opened her mouth, but promptly closed it after having a look at her mate’s face. They exited the building and got into the car, Spike sitting in front with Buffy by his side. Willow got into the backseat, eyes wide and fixed on her weak friend.

“Gonna be all right, pet,” Spike whispered, yet it was loud enough that Willow was able to hear and she was reassured that Buffy was in good hands.

‘I'm…I can't….move,’ Buffy sent to Spike, sighing when the sending almost took all her energy. He could feel her exhaustion and held her close, comforting her. She sighed, calmed by his presence.

“You did well, Red,” Spike said quietly, his hand stroking his now sleeping mate.

Willow jumped slightly at his words, then nodded.

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Spike laid Buffy down in her own bed, tucking her in. He heard her soft sigh and kissed her forehead, before sitting down on the bed beside her and taking her into his arms.

He had dropped off Willow outside her home, before heading for Revello Drive. When he showed up with an unconscious Buffy in his arms, Joyce nearly had a heart attack, before ushering them both in. Right now she was downstairs, probably worried about her daughter.

Spike was amazed by the girl who held his heart, the tiny scrap of a girl who had turned his whole world upside down. In just one night she had tamed him, made him promise to be a good, housebroken vamp. And what worried him slightly was that it didn't bother him more.

“Uhh…” the slayer moaned, turning and twisting slightly in Spike’s grip. He held onto her and made soothing noises, urging her towards consciousness.

“Sp…Spike?” she whispered, slowly coming awake and feeling her vampire’s presence beside her. She was confused, her last memories fuzzy and unclear. She remembered Giles betraying her. She remembered Giles and another Brit talking when she'd had a brief moment of wakefulness. She remembered their conversation somewhat.



“You won't hurt her, will you?” Giles said in a worried voice.

“That will depend. I have to make sure she will cooperate,” another voice answered.

“You can do that without hurting her, Travers?” Giles said.

“I will do what I have to,” Travers said. The name sounded familiar, as if she had heard it before, but Buffy couldn't place it.

“Where is her mate?” Travers asked.

“Jackson's team is dealing with him. We'll have him by the end of the day,” a new voice answered. It had a British accent.

“Great. You're a good watcher, Rupert, and your dedication won't be forgotten,” Travers said.

“I'll always be loyal to the council,” Giles said.

“I've always wondered what happens to a mated pair when one part is being tested. I think I'll finally get to see it,” Travers said.

“Mr. Travers, sir, I think she’s coming to,” another voice said, and she heard them walk around.

“Give her another dose of sedatives, then, Mr. Wilson,” Travers said and Buffy felt a small sting in her shoulder. Again pain exploded under her skin, and she drew in a sharp breath, her mind growing heavy.

“Wilson, you fool. Not…at once…” was the last she head before slipping into darkness.



“Spike?” Buffy whispered and she felt him tighten his hold on her. He stroked her shoulders and kissed her hair and she sighed, glad to be near him again.

“I heard some…what they said…” she whispered, then coughed, feeling tired to the bone. Spike reached over to her night stand and took a glass of water. He held it up to her mouth and she drank eagerly, frowning when he took it away from her.

“Slowly now, don't rush,” he said, holding the glass to her lips and letting her drink. She took small sips, careful of not swallowing to fast. After a while he sat down the glass again and she leaned back, trying to catch her breath.

Buffy was about to speak, but was interrupted by her mother checking in on them. Joyce stifled a sob and rushed forward, embracing her daughter. Buffy weakly tried to hug her back, silent tears streaming down her cheeks. Joyce finally let her go, and sat down in a chair in the corner, clearly intent on staying in the room with the pair.

“They were going to take you too. They were going to do…tests…on us,” Buffy whispered, burying her head in his chest, sobbing softly. Spike held her closer and rocked her slowly, letting her cry. He was afraid that if he let her go, or if he closed his eyes, she would disappear.

“We're forever,” Buffy whispered, almost too low for his vampire hearing to pick up. He stroked her arms, thinking about what they should do now. Joyce looked away from the pair, feeling that she was watching something private between them and stood up. She silently exited the room and went downstairs.

“I don't think we can stay,” Spike said quietly, sighing. Buffy leaned back and looked at him, hazel eyes showing nothing but love.

“I know…” she said, agreeing with him. It was the right thing to do.

“I'll miss Mom, Willow and Xander,” she said, tears slowly making their way down her cheeks again at the prospect of leaving her friends.

“I'm sorry that I have to take you away from them, luv. Never wanted to do that,” Spike said, kissing her on the top of her head. He meant what he said, he felt bad for making her leave her friends and making her watcher betray her.

“Don't be. It’s not your fault. If it wasn't for you I'd be dead by now, so don't be sorry,” she said, smiling up at him. She could feel her energy returning, which meant the sedatives were slowly wearing off.

“We've got to move soon. They'll be coming around soon, and then they'll head back for more,” Spike said, stroking her arm and waiting for her to begin moving again.

She smiled at him and slowly began moving, her muscles protesting against the sudden movement. She groaned as she swung her legs off the bed. Spike got to his feet and extended a hand towards her, to help her stand up.

“I want to see the others before I leave. Xander and Willow,” Buffy said as she stood on trembling legs. Spike held around her, helping her to stand. He nodded, before helping her pack a bag.

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“Are you feeling any better, dear?” Joyce asked her daughter as she and Spike stepped off the stairs. Buffy heard the concern in her voice and nodded. She smiled at her mother, who smiled tearfully back at her.

“Can you call Xander and Willow, Mom?” Buffy asked Joyce, who nodded. She went into the kitchen to make the call, and the blonde pair moved into the living room. They sat down and Buffy leaned back, resting her head against Spike’s chest.

Joyce came back some minutes later with tea for them all, and both Buffy and Spike gratefully drank it. Ten minutes later the doorbell rang and Joyce went to open the door.

“Buffy, are you okay?” Willow asked as she entered the living room, eyes anxiously scanning her friend. Buffy smiled at her and nodded.

“Yeah, Willow, I'm fine. I called you and Xander here because I have something important to say to you both,” Buffy said, smiling at her friends. She still felt a little faint after being drugged, but she didn't show it.

“Where is Giles?” Xander asked bluntly, staring at the blonde pair in confusion. Spike growled and Buffy swallowed hard.

“Was the Watcher who took Buffy. They were planning to ship her to Merry Ol’ England,” Spike said through clenched teeth. Joyce gasped, even though Spike had told it to her earlier. Willow looked disappointed, while Xander looked as if he might not believe him.

“That brings us to what we're going to say,” Buffy said, looking at the floor. She sighed and looked up at her friends again.

“We're leaving, me and Spike. We can't stay here, it’s not safe for us. We don't know where we'll go, but we'll be back some day,” hazel eyes pleading her friends to understand.

“But Buffy, you belong here,” Xander said, looking at his friend. He remembered the girl who had arrived at their school, saved his life and become his best friend. She was the girl he had a major crush on and that he hoped would one day realize that it was Xander she loved.

But when he looked at her now, he saw that she was different.

“You have to do what’s best for you, Buffy,” Willow said, smiling sadly at her best friend. To her Buffy had been great, a girl to share everything with. She had saved her life from evil many nights and Willow was glad she had met her.

“You can't, Buffy. You're 16 years old, and you're still living under my roof,” Joyce said, reluctant to really see how experienced her daughter was. Even if Buffy was the slayer, she was still Joyce’s little girl.

“Don't worry, Mom, we'll come back and we'll stay in touch. And you can always come visit us,” Buffy said, trying to reason with her mother. She sighed at the stubborn look on her mothers face, before continuing. “If we stay, Spike and I, we might end up dead. Or worse, prisoners of the Council,” she said, fear in her voice.

Joyce looked shocked, but after an internal debate, she sighed heavily. She nodded before hugging the blonde duo. Spike looked surprised to be included, but embraced her back.

“Take care of my daughter,” Joyce said to him as she drew back and he nodded.

“I'll protect her with my life,” he said, earning himself an approving nod from Joyce.

Buffy left his side and walked over to her friends, hugging them both tight. She hugged her mother again, murmuring against her neck how much she would miss her, told her she loved her and that they would see each other soon.

“Bye,” Buffy said, taking Spike’s hand and exiting into the night. He threw her bag into the car and got in. Buffy entered on the other side and looked with sadness at the life she was leaving behind.

“Don't worry, we'll be back before you know it,” Spike said, kissing her hand. She sighed and nodded. She was sad that she had to leave them behind, but she knew she would never regret her decision.


The End