Ch.1 Remember Me

He could feel the music pulsating as he approached the only nightclub in the small town of Sunnydale, California. The Bronze attracted customers of all ages, though non-Sunnydale natives might find that strange. For most clubs you had to be either eighteen or twenty-one to get in, but not the Bronze. If you were a paying customer and at least in high school you were welcome. Even on school nights. If you asked him it was a bloody awful idea. Having young jailbait dancing and taking up all the good tables. That was always his opinion, although he was fairly young himself having just turned twenty-one. That was always his opinion, until he saw her.

She was on the dance floor rocking her body to the beat. She was oblivious to the swarm of guys, boys and men alike, wishing they could just get close enough. Have just one dance. She was beautiful, radiant even. She couldn’t be no more than seventeen, he thought as he watched her from the bar throwing back a shot of Jack and feeling it burn down his throat. He watched her dance to a few more songs.

She had long blond hair that was tossed side to side by her movement, which belonged to a gorgeous face on a petite form. He thought she looked like a forest nymph or a fairy. He could write verses of poetry on just her looks alone, if he still did that sort of thing. He couldn’t understand why he was so drawn to her. It wasn’t like he hadn’t seen a pretty young thing dancing before. The whole time he watched her he kept having this feeling that he knew her, but he couldn’t remember.

He let out a sigh and ran his hand through his short platinum blond curls as he turned back to the bartender to order another drink. When he turned back around his body collided with another. It was her.

“Sorry Pet!” He shouted over the music.

“Sorry!” She yelled at the same time. “It’s okay!” She replied giggling.

Their eyes met. It was only for a moment, but her emerald green locked on his baby blue and they were both completely lost.

“Buffy! Come on let’s go!” He turned his head to see a tall brunette cheerleader type hanging over what looked like a dumb football player. ‘Perfect couple,’ he mused.

She shook her head as if to clear it. “Coming Cordy!” She looked back at him with an apology written on her face. “Sorry. I got to go.”

“Buffy!”

“What Cordy!” She yelled as she walked towards her friend.

‘Wait…Buffy…Cordy.’ Then he remembered.



They were in the ladies room arguing.

“But Cordy I’m supposed to be staying with you tonight remember?”

“Yeah, and I’m supposed to be staying with you.” Cordy said slowly as if she was talking to a small child.

Buffy rolled her eyes. “No, I mean I’m really supposed to be staying with you. I can’t go home tonight.”

“Look Buffy, Scott’s parents are out of town for the weekend and you’re going to cover for me. Got it.”

“You know what Cordy? I am so tired of your B.S. You were never a friend to me. I don’t know why I thought otherwise. All you care about is yourself.”

“I don’t know why you don’t want to go home. You have a pretty sweet setup if you ask me.”

“And that is why you were never really my friend.” Buffy stormed out of the bathroom feeling tears form in her eyes, but no she wouldn’t cry. She couldn’t allow it.



Spike stood outside of the club. He had run after her so he could talk to her some more. Now that he remembered it was more important than ever that he talked to her. Saw her again. He searched among the parked cars until his eyes fell on a convertible complete with a license plate reading “Queen C”. He recognized the car as the cheerleader’s and was relieved to see they hadn’t left yet. He reentered the Bronze to continue his search.

A few minutes later as Spike stood near the club’s exit he thought he saw a flash of blond hair run out the door. He tried to follow, but his path was blocked by a group of teenagers talking and carrying on loudly. He pushed through them and ignored the curses and insults they threw his way.

“Bloody teenagers,” he snarled angrily. He made it outside, but she was nowhere to be found. He scanned the parking lot once again. “Queen C” was gone.



Buffy made a swift exit from the club and continued walking down the alley. Her car was parked around the corner. She was almost out in the open when she heard a deep male voice.

“There she is. That’s our girl.”

“About time,” another added.

Her heart began to race. She started to run, but it did her no good. The first man grabbed her around the waist and slammed her against the brick wall. “Uh, uh, uh. You’re not getting away.”

She struggled against the man, but it was no use. The second man approached them with a wicked smile.

“Boss is gonna be happy we’re finally bringing you in. You’re a pretty one. He might keep you around for awhile.”

“Help!”

“Shut up!” The man holding her exploded as he backhanded her across the face leaving her lip split and bleeding.

Spike was about to give up and go home when he heard a faint scream through the haze of music still playing in the club. He ran towards the alley pulling out his cell phone to call the police. Nothing could’ve prepared him for the sight of Buffy being held against a wall by two men. She was crying, scared, and hurt.

“Please let me go.” He heard her sob.

Spike saw red. He put his cell back in his pocket and lunged at the man holding her. The surprise attack had the man on the ground and Spike punching him relentlessly. The other man tried to grab Spike off of the first, but Spike was high off adrenaline and rage. He elbowed the other man deep in the gut and he fell to the ground holding his stomach. Spike gave the first man one last punch and turned to the other raining a torrent of punches on him as well.

Buffy moved cautiously to the end of the alley and called after the man who saved her life.

“Hey! Come on. You’ve done enough. Let’s go.”

Spike looked over his shoulder and let the man fall to the ground. He ran up to Buffy and grabbed her hand. He looked back to see the first man slowly rising to his feet.

“You got a car?” He panted. She nodded and handed him the keys.

She trusted this man. She felt like she knew him, but couldn’t put her finger on it. Either way he just saved her and they weren’t in the clear yet.

They got in the car and took off down the street. “Where do you live Luv? I’ll take you home.”

“I can’t go home.” She said as tears ran down her cheeks.

“What happened back there? Who were those guys?”

He breathed heavily coming down from his high.

“I don’t know. I w…w…was walking to my car and they attacked me.” She sobbed. “One said they were taking me to their b…boss.”

He nodded. “What happened to your friend? Cordy right?”

“She ditched me to stay with her boyfriend, and trust me we’re no longer friends.” She lowered her head. “I don’t have anyone.”

He placed his hand on her shoulder and smiled at her reassuringly. “You have me Pet.”

“Thank you. Thank you so much for what you did back there. I don’t understand why, but you saved me. If you hadn’t come along I don’t…” She couldn’t finish the sentence.

“It’s alright Luv.” A pause. “Look I got an apartment a couple of blocks away from here. It has two bedrooms and a parking garage. If they’re still looking for you they won’t find your car. Do you want to stay?”

She was calmer now and could think more clearly. She couldn’t ask him to take her in as well. “Thank you, but you’ve done so much already and you don’t even know me. I couldn’t ask…”

He interrupted. “Well see you didn’t ask. I did. So come on. Make a bloke happy. Help me fix my hands.” He held up a hand and grinned at her sheepishly, looking more like a boy than a man. She winced at the sight of his bruised and bloody hands. “Plus I’d like to know you’re safe.” He added softly.

She glanced at her overnight bag in the back seat. “Okay. Let’s go.” She smiled.

Ch.2 Who Are You

The rest of the short trip to Spike’s apartment was made in a comfortable silence. Each too lost in their thoughts. They parked her car in the garage just like he promised and made their way upstairs to his home.

“Make yourself at home Pet.” Spike told her when she entered the door. “I’ll give you the grand tour.” He chuckled.

It wasn’t a large apartment. The entrance was a small living room with an old couch, wooden coffee table, and a medium sized television. Buffy furrowed her brow when she noticed there were no pictures or keepsakes adorning the plain white walls or available space. Spike picked up on her thoughts and quickly explained.

“Just came back from London. Haven’t really finished unpacking.” He looked around the room. “Don’t rightly think I ever will though.” He said more to himself than out loud.

He led her through a tiny hallway. To her right was a basic kitchen with a bar top and two wooden stools. In front and to the left of her were three closed doors. He indicated the one in front of her as his own bedroom. The door right next to her was the bathroom and after that his spare room.

“I know it’s not much, but right now it’s home. You can use this room here.”

The room consisted of a single bed against one wall, a tall wooden dresser against the opposite wall, and an array of marked boxes.

“It’s a very nice apartment. Thanks for letting me stay here…” Her eyes widened with realization. “Oh my gosh. I don’t know your name.”

Spike’s heart fell at her statement, and he had to remind himself that he looked nothing like the nerdy poetry writing ponce he used to be when he knew her three years prior.

“My name is Spike.”

“Spike? What kind of name is that?” She giggled.

“It’s my name alright.” He said angrily.

He was getting frustrated because he wanted her to remember while at the same time not, lest she remember him and turn away. He wouldn’t be able to stand it if she wasn’t the same girl he remembered. It was a double-edged sword from his point of view.

He put her bag on the bed and led her to the couch. She sat down and watched him disappear into the bathroom and reappear with a first aid kit. She didn’t mean to make him angry. That was the furthest thing from her mind, but she was sure he had been joking about his name.

He returned a few minutes later with a wet washcloth and a bag of ice. When he handed her the ice, their hands touched and she felt as if sparks flew between them.

'Very clichéd Buffy.' She smiled inwardly.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh at your name.” She looked up at him through her lashes. “I’m Buffy Summers.”

He almost said, “I know,” but bit his tongue.

“It’s alright Pet. It is an unusual name, I know.” He smiled then held the washcloth near her split lip. “May I?” He asked her.

She nodded and he wiped the dried blood from her lip and chin. He took a seat beside her on the couch and began mending his hands. He was curious as to why this young woman who he knew to be so kind and well liked was attacked. He wanted to know why she couldn’t go home. He tossed the idea of asking around for a few minutes until his curiosity got the better of him.

“Luv, if you don’t mind my asking, why can’t you go home tonight?”

Buffy was taken by surprise. She didn’t think he would ask her. If someone else had asked, she would’ve avoided the subject altogether, but she felt a connection with Spike. That maybe he was just as lonely as she was. She started to think it would help to finally talk to someone about her life, and who better than the handsome stranger who saved her.

After a moment of silence he felt like a complete git for asking, and was about to take it back when she spoke.

“Are you sure you want to know? It’s kind of a long story.”

“Only if you want to share Buffy. I’m a really good listener though.” A small smile graced his lips.

She nodded then looked up at him. She studied his features from the scar through his left eyebrow, to the ocean blue of his eyes, his sharp cheekbones, to the curve of his lips. He looked so familiar to her, but at the same time just what he was… somebody she’d only just met.

Buffy sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly.

“When I was twelve my parents died in a car accident.” She could feel the tears coming, but she just wanted to get through this without all the drama. She just wanted to let it out and tell someone.

“I’m sorry Luv. My mum died when I was ten and my dad not to long after that.”

“Wow. I’m sorry. What a coincidence though. I wish we didn’t have that in common.” Buffy felt more comfortable now that she knew he understood the pain of losing a parent, especially both.

Spike had long since let go of the fact that he was left without parents when he was so young, but he truly felt for this girl. He could already tell that her experiences were far worse than his.

“My only surviving relatives are my uncle Luke and his wife, my aunt Lilah. They took me in and that’s when I moved here from L.A.”

“Well we have that in common too Pet. My uncle took me in as well.”

She frowned a bit, but continued. “Things started out okay, but when I reached high school that all changed.” Buffy paused and took another deep breath.
Spike tried to his best to keep a straight face and not let his emotions show. He knew that one of things he hated most was pity. He didn’t want people to feel bad for him; he just wanted somebody to listen. That was part of why he changed who he was. He had a feeling that Buffy was the same way.

“Lilah isn’t as bad as Luke. She talks a lot of crap and tries to bring me down in everything I do, but honestly the worse thing she does is turn the other cheek when it comes to Luke. Isn’t it sad that I’m at my happiest when my only surviving blood relative is away on a business trip? Too bad he doesn’t do that often enough.”

Spike didn’t think she was looking for an answer, so he remained silent tilting his head to the side showing her he was ready to hear more and was interested in what she had to say.

“I’m always on edge when Luke is home. He hates everything about me. If I so much as breathe the wrong way he’s in my face… grabbing my arms. He tries to make me think I deserve his punishments. I don’t know why he hates me so much. I’ve always been good. Done what I was told.” She paused again. “He hasn’t beat me that many times, but once was already too much.”

Spike placed his hand over Buffy’s that was resting on the couch between them.

“But lately… it’s getting worse. He’s been threatening me more. Telling me Lilah’s not enough anymore. It scares me the way he leers at me sometimes. He told… he told me… if I came home tonight I’d regret it. But the way he said it, was like he thought that I would, even if I found a place to stay tonight. Like I want his torture. I would’ve slept in my car if I had to.”
Spike’s anger rose with every word out of her sweet little mouth. He couldn’t believe that this was the life she was living when he thought her to be such a happy girl all this time.

“He’s hasn’t…touched you before, right?” Spike knew he had to help her. He couldn’t know all of these things going on in her life now and be able to sleep at night.

“No. Not yet. But I’m scared that’s it’s going to come to that.”

“Bollocks! I’d rip his bloody hands off before he even got within five feet of you.”

Buffy was happy to hear that someone cared about what happened to her that much to say that, but she didn’t want Spike to get hurt because of her.

“He’s leaving on a business trip tomorrow. Not even Lilah knows where.”

“Have you told anyone about all this? Someone who could help?”

“I tried a couple of times. God forbid the perfect, well-known, and well liked Luke and Lilah Summers ever do such a thing.” She said sarcastically. “No one believed me. They thought I was just looking for attention because of my parents. So I gave up.” She finished dejectedly.

“I’m sorry Luv.” He squeezed her hand, and Buffy felt like she did the right thing by telling him. Like a weight that she’d been carrying was lifted from her shoulders. “No one should have to live through this. You’re very strong Buffy.”

“Thanks Spike. Thank you for listening, I really do feel better now. But I’m getting out of there soon. I’m eighteen now and high school is over. I’ve been working at the Double Meat Palace saving up my money to get out of this godforsaken town. I’m leaving to a place where no one has ever heard of me, or Lilah and Luke Summers.” She said with determination in her voice.

Spike knew he’d only spent a couple of hours with Buffy, but he could already tell he was falling for her. Fast.

“Sounds like a plan.” He glanced over at the time on his cable box and decided the long night had to come to an end, even though he wanted nothing more than to sit and talk with Buffy and find out more about the girl she had become.

”Well Pet, if it’s okay with you I’m ready to get some kip.” When Buffy just stared at him he explained.

“Sleep.” He chuckled.

“Oh.” She giggled. “Yeah, that’s fine. I’m pretty tired myself.”

“I’ll make breaky in the morning.” He continued before she had a chance to protest. “Please let me. I love to cook.”

“Okay if you insist. ‘Cause me and cooking are un-mixy things.” They stood up, said their goodnights with a quick hug, and made their way to their respective bedrooms.


Spike had gotten changed and sat up in his bed against the headboard. He found his old notebook in which he used to write his poetry. Feeling nostalgic, even though he thought his work was awful; he decided to look through it. He placed his glasses upon his face now that his contacts were put away, and began to read.

As he was reminded of the person he used to be, Spike started to think about the first time he truly noticed Buffy and what a beautiful person she was. It was three years ago. He was eighteen and graduation was around the corner.

'The final bell had rung indicating the end of the school day. He was at his locker putting his book away when another teenaged boy called out to him.

“Hey Taylor! You ready for some more fun.” The big dumb jock laughed. “Well, maybe more fun for me.”

Next thing he knew he was being pushed head first into the locker almost breaking his glasses. Again.

“Oh come on you retarded loser. Fight back!” The boy said while pushing him repeatedly into the locker. He balled his fists, and was just about to fight back for once, when he was spun around and almost in slow motion watched a fist coming at his face.

“Larry! No! Stop!” A tiny blond girl ran in front of him, and the big jock dropped his fist.

“Buffy, what are you doing? Are you crazy?” Cordy asked her, mouth agape. “Come on Larry.”

Larry followed his girlfriend Cordelia Chase down the hall to her locker.

Buffy turned around to find William with his head ducked down, glasses askew, and his unruly long brown curls falling over his forehead.

“Hey, are you okay?” She asked softly. He nodded. His cheeks were flushed with embarrassment and he couldn’t bring himself to say anything. “Hey, they’re a bunch of idiots you know. Don’t let them get to you. Besides you’re the lucky one.”

His eyes shot up to hers at her declaration. He cocked his head to the side, his brow furrowed in question.

“You’re almost out of here. I still have three more years.” There was pure sadness in her eyes.

He was about to ask her for her name, when someone shouted to her from down the hall.

“Buffy! Come on let’s go!” He turned his head to see Cordy with Larry’s arm around her waiting for their friend.

“Coming Cordy!” She looked back at him with an apology written on her face. “Sorry, I got to go.”

“Buffy!”

“What Cordy!” She yelled as she ran towards her friend.

William stood in the Sunnydale High School hallway and he couldn’t take his eyes off the spot that the girl who just saved him vacated.

“William?”

“Uncle Giles.” He said in a refined British accent. He turned to see his uncle, the school librarian, coming towards him.

“Are you alright?” His uncle asked upon seeing him up close. “Good lord, what happened?”

“Nothing” He replied to quickly.

Giles was a very intelligent and perceptive man in his late forties. He had a feeling he knew what had just transpired, but wasn’t going to keep questioning his late sister’s son.

“Was that Buffy Summers?” He paused and continued when William didn’t answer. “It’s a shame such a sweet and bright girl associates herself with such an indecent sort. Oh well,” he sighed. “Come along then William. Time to go.”

William just rolled his eyes and followed his uncle out of the school.’

Spike turned off his beside lamp and let sleep claim him. He was a different person now, and he would help Buffy. Maybe she would learn to like him just as much as he liked her.



Buffy sat on the end of the bed staring at the boxes on the floor. She had been thinking about everything that happened that day, and felt a surge of hope that things would change for the better now that she made a new friend as nice as Spike.

She was just about to get under the covers when a diploma sticking out of one of the boxes caught her eye. She knew she shouldn’t be nosy, but she really wanted to know his real name.

She reached over and picked it up. She was surprised to see it was from Sunnydale High School. She quickly opened it to reveal a name she never would have imagined to see. A small gasp escaped her lips, and she had to say the name out loud to truly believe it.

“William Taylor.” She smiled wide, and placed it back in the box, then got into bed. The last thing she thought of before she drifted off to sleep was that her life was definitely changing and for the better. She couldn’t be more excited for morning to come.