CHAPTER ONE


“...Six thoughts at once I can’t focus on one/Seven days a week/Find my life has just begun/So caught in emotion that I’m overcome/As I’m falling down I come undone.../Sometimes I feel like I’m alone/Sometimes I feel like I’m not that strong/Sometimes I feel so frail/So small/Sometimes I feel vulnerable/Sometimes I feel... A little fragile...” Delta Goodrem~ ‘Fragile’




Buffy stalked cautiously through the cemetery, stake raised in a defensive manor; ready to strike- should something unpleasant jump out at her. It was the third night in a row that she had felt weary on patrol. There was a kind of presence she couldn’t quite define; but somehow she knew she wasn’t alone.


A shadow passed across one of the gravestones and Buffy whipped around, Slayer senses working double the speed.


“Don’t bother running,” she called out, “Cos whatever you are- I’m still gonna stake your ass big time.”


She heard chuckles escape from behind one of the graves. A sort of low rumbling that cut through her like thunder.


Then it hit her. Or they hit her. About seven of them, surrounding her, swiping at her, throwing punches her way. She managed to dodge the first few but once they had hit her once or twice all her defences fell and she was forced to the ground as the beasts continued their attack.


The creatures were huge and their bodies were armoured with a slick layer of scales that managed to protect them from any of the feeble blows Buffy attempted to pelt them with.


She was tiring quickly; they knew it; she knew it; her saviour knew it.


The presence Buffy had felt immediately flew into action; just as she knew he would do. Three days she had felt him there, and each day he had saved her from near death. His face was shrouded in shadow as he tore the beasts off of her and; one by one; snapped their necks.


Buffy remained on the floor, watching as the stranger destroyed her attackers with an ease that made her heart pound.


When he was done he turned to walk away again.


“Wait!” Buffy called, “Please... Who are you?”


She thought she saw white teeth flash into a smile as he turned back briefly.


.....................................................................


Buffy slept uneasily that night. The only thoughts that crossed through her mind were of her saviour. Who is he? She asked herself.


But her thoughts were broken as her bedroom window shattered.


“Wha?” she asked wearily, groaning to her feet. She looked down at the little stone that has shattered her bedroom window. Must have taken some force to break glass with a stone that small.


She bent down, turning briefly away from the broken window, to pick the stone up. There was a small note of paper attached to it with a rubber band.


Turn around.
It said.


Slowly Buffy rose back to her feet, feeling a presence behind her. It wasn’t her saviour though. The presence she felt now was dangerous.


“Turn around?” Buffy said, “That a request or a demand.”


“Does it matter?” asked a cold voice.


Buffy turned to glare at the platinum blonde vampire.


“What are you doing here Spike?” she demanded, “I thought we had a deal.”


“Hey- I held up the deal.” he replied. “Got Drusilla outta the country. Nothing in the ‘deal’ saying I couldn’t come back.”


“So she dumped you then?” Buffy asked, throwing the stone back out of the window.


“Thought it was time to move on to pastures new.” he replied, “Or old. I was considering scooting back to England but then I thought, no, I have friends in Sunnydale.”


“Who were you trying to kid?” Buffy mocked. Spike smirked.


“Thought I would leave my old Scooby friends a present, a kinda ‘glad I’m back?’ present.” he continued.


“Oh yeah?” Buffy asked, “Bet I can guess what you had in mind.”


“I thought finding the body of their best friend would really get ‘em worked up.” he said with a chuckle. “Curled up, bloody and-”


Buffy threw her fist into the vampire’s face. Spike caught her wrist with a new found strength that seemed to catch her off guard.


“Now now Love,” he said, “There’ll be none of that.”


Buffy slammed her head forward into his and he released her wrists as he stumbled backward clutching his forehead.


“So- you wanna fight?” she asked cocking her head to one side.


“ARRGHH!” Spike roared, slamming into her, thrashing her body to the ground. They rolled across her carpet, both struggling to pin the other down. But they were perfectly matched, both in strength and agility.


Buffy swung a fist toward his face which he ducked under, her arm whistling without liberation past his ear.


He leapt back to his feet and aimed a kick at her. Buffy cried out in pain as it came in hard to her side. She curled over.


“That all you got Slayer?” Spike taunted. Buffy closed her eyes. So she was weak- what did it matter? Nothing had mattered since Angel had been taken. Since she had taken his life.


She hunched over and waited like a coward for the next blow.


But it didn’t come. Instead the light snapped off and they were plunged into an intense darkness.


“What the?” Buffy heard Spike say. She heard the sound of some strong punches then a thud as Spike landed on the flower bed beneath her window.


She kept her eyes closed. She knew he was here. She’d be okay now.


Gently he lifted her from the ground and placed her back onto her bed. She opened her eyes, but through the darkness, couldn’t see him. Softly, he leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips. It was a kiss that seemed almost familiar.


Angel...
Her heart whispered.


With a sad touch of his cold hand, he swept from her room, leaving a lonely feeling of finality in her heart.


.............................................................


“Spike’s back.” Buffy said half heartedly as she entered the school library. The present librarian, her Watcher and friend, looked up with mild concern.


“Back?” Giles repeated. “But the deal-”


“The guy’s vermin.” Buffy replied, “Of course he found a way out of it.”


Buffy’s body was bruised and broken from the two fights she’d fallen into the night before.


“Looks like he got you pretty beat up,” said Xander with a slight frown, “What happened?”


“Oh...” said Buffy, “Before I saw Spike... Fight, there was a fight at the cemetery.”


“You okay?” Willow asked.


Buffy raised a hand to her forehead and held the palm out flat, flinching slightly. “Yeah- I just...” She turned to Giles, “About seven of them,” she said, “Big things with scales or something.” she touched her head again, “I don’t really remember much.”


“At the cemetery?” Giles repeated.


Buffy nodded. Giles looked at her with some concern.


“Buffy, maybe you shouldn’t be patrolling alone- at least for a short while- perhaps until you are feeling more... yourself?” Giles looked at the girl cautiously. His Slayer hadn’t been particularly predictable of late and it probably wasn’t the best time to go head to head in a full on argument.


Buffy surprised him, however, by nodding meekly.


“Maybe it is for the best.” she said. “For a little while, right. Get my strength back up.”
Giles smiled, nodding.


“So these demons,” Xander piped up, “Slayed yeah?”


“Slayed.” Buffy agreed. She turned to Giles, “But not by me.”


“Not by you?”


Buffy shook her head, “No,” she said. “There’s a guy. He’s been following me around- last couple-a-days. Kinda getting me out of some sticky situations.”


“Someone’s been helping you slay?” Giles asked.


“Looks that way,” Buffy agreed. “Thing is, it’s kinda a Spiderman deal. He sorta stays in the shadows- I haven’t seen his face. But it was him who saved me from Spike last night.”


“So we’re talking- good guy?” Xander asked.


“Far as I can tell.” Buffy agreed. “All he’s done is save me. Patrol.” she said suddenly.


“What about it?” Giles asked.


“Whose going to come with me?” She asked. Xander and Willow looked down; there was no one left now that Angel was gone. Buffy felt tears rise in her eyes and Giles noticed them; his heart going out to the girl.


“I’ll go with you.” he said, to Buffy’s surprise. “I have some defence and if worse comes to; it sounds as if this stranger could help.”


Buffy nodded wordlessly.


No, she hadn’t been herself lately.


................................................................


Giles was having trouble keeping up. He was having to run just to stay level with the young Slayer.


“And we have to move at this pace?” he inquired.


“Part of the gig.” Buffy replied, keeping her eyes averted.


Suddenly two demons cut across their path. Buffy recognised them immediately. They were the same breed as those that had attacked her the night before.


She leapt forward immediately; her fists falling on their hard bodies with no effect.


“Christ...” whispered Giles as he backed away. “Crowan demons...”


Buffy swiped for the demon’s jaw but its hands shot out and grabbed her wrists, grunting into her fearful face.


Her Saviour stood unsure in his place. He needed to help the girl but he couldn’t risk Giles seeing him. Slowly, regretfully, he picked up a small stone and aimed it at the back of the old man’s head.


It whistled through the air and Giles heard a small crack before the comforting black engulfed him.


As soon as Giles was out, The Saviour rushed forwards. He cracked his fist over the head of the demon holding Buffy and it let out a small gurgle. Buffy’s eyes were closed but she felt the demon fall.


She opened her eyes in time to see her Saviour retreat back into the shadows. But she felt him continue to watch her and for some reason she wanted to do him proud.


She took on the remaining demon alone, raining her fists down mercilessly until the creature was nothing but a bloody pulp.


From where he hid; her Saviour smiled, glowing with pride.


..............................................................


“They’re Crowan demons,” said Giles over his steaming cup of tea the following morning.


They were in the library, as usual, listening to Giles’ latest demon low down. The old man looked particularly concerned today as he paced, holding the cup of tea close to his chin.


“Crowan?” repeated Xander, “Sounds pretty docile.”


“Don’t be fooled by a name Xander,” said Giles, “These creatures are violent, ruthless. Buffy and I were extremely lucky to escape with our lives.”


“The Saviour...” Buffy whispered, “He was there again last night. He took out the first demon and I got the second.”


“Extremely lucky,” added Giles with a touch of sarcasm as he rubbed the back of his head where the stone had hit. “Could’ve been much worse.”


“Giles is grouchy,” Buffy told the others, “Someone threw a stone at him.”


Willow stifled a laugh and Xander held up his hand.


“Does that mean you slept through- another fight?” he asked. Giles waved his hand in a dismissive manor.


“Meaningless,” he said, “The fact of the matter is- we will have an incredible fight on our hands if the demons we faced last night really were Crowan demons.”


Buffy sighed, leaning back in her chair.


“Incredible fight.” she repeated, “I’m still all wrung out from the last one.”


“I know Buffy,” Giles said sadly, “But unfortunately we don’t get to choose.”


..............................................


Buffy sat in her history lesson; her eyes glazed as she stared disconcertedly out of the nearby window. Her thoughts, as usual, were with Angel.


Like a muffled background noise, she was vaguely listening to the disgruntled looking history teacher, droning on about the founders of Sunnydale; a tragic story that practically had Buffy’s eyelids drooping.


“The Lord and Lady returned in the fall,” he said, his voice rising a little and breaking into Buffy’s daydream of a heart stopping kiss with Angel, “And Lady Elizabeth was laid to rest just a few days later. She died on October 3rd, from a very advanced case of flu.”


Buffy sighed into her hand.


Typical. She told herself bitterly. Every story ends with death. Typical.


Just as her thoughts were about to take an even more morbid turn, she noticed a little movement by the window; looking up in time to see Xander waving his arms emphatically; pointing to his watch then signalling a big ‘G’ with his hands.


Again, Buffy sighed.


So this was Giles’ new idea of communication huh?


................................................


“Well G-Man, what’s the what?” asked Xander as Giles entered the library.


“Yeah Giles,” added Cordelia, “You got us all here and prepped then arrive unfashionably late. I had a hair appointment I had to reschedule.”


Xander laughed nervously; “I think what Cordy is trying to say is ‘Where you been at?’” he supplied.


“Something like that,” she agreed quietly, fingering her near-perfect hair.


“Yes, well...” Giles said, “I had some business to attend... Is Buffy here?”


“Here.” Buffy agreed, strolling through the doorway. “Fresh from history and ready to slay.”


Giles looked around; placing the books he was holding down on the table. There were three thick, peeling volumes titled ‘The Fabric of Time’ ‘Back then’ and ‘The old ones’. Buffy regarded the books with her usual look of distaste.


“Ready to... Read?” she corrected herself.


“No, the reading is done.” said Giles, “These contain a collection of spells that Willow and I will be requiring.”


“Oh!” exclaimed the redhead in question, “I don’t like the sound of that!”


“Spells,” agreed Xander, remembering a certain love spell cast the year before. “Never lead to the goods.”


Cordelia flicked him and he smiled meekly at her but she turned away, evidently annoyed.


“Indeed.” said Giles, “Unfortunately we don’t have a lot of choice in this matter. Buffy-” he said, turning to the girl. “A lot... Well, all of this, is on your shoulders actually. Tell me right now if you don’t think you’re up to it.”


Buffy stared at him, a little annoyed. It’s not like she was horribly weak or anything. She raised an eyebrow.


“Whatever you got- I’m pretty sure I can handle it.” she told him in a firm voice.


Giles nodded, casting a glance to his books.


“Well, if my spell works correctly, then I shall be sending you back in time.”


Buffy’s eyes widened momentarily; then a determined look settled on her face.


“How far back in time?” she asked.


“Uh, um, oh...” Giles said, “Only about a hundred years or so.” he said.


“A hundred years?” piped up Xander, “No way- that sounds pretty dangerous.”


“Actually it’s fairly straight forward.” replied the Watcher. “It’s really just a case of reintegrating your formula matter further down the timeline. A lot further...”


“But it’s the only way to stop these... Crowy demons right?” she asked. Giles nodded, not bothering to correct her mispronunciation. “Then I’ll do it.”


“Hmm...” said Giles a little hesitantly as he gazed at his determined Slayer, “I’m afraid there’s another aspect which you mightn’t be too pleased about...”


“Because the prospect of time-travel already has me positively ecstatic.” she mumbled sarcastically. “Okay- hit me with it.”


“Well,” said Giles, “It seems that you can’t travel back alone; you’ll require an equally powerful partner-”


“To help me fight the Crowy demons?” Buffy interrupted, raising an eyebrow, “Giles, I’m not weak; I’ve faced far worse alone.” her eyes glazed slightly at her own indirect reference to her past love.


“Of course; I know you’re strength Buffy,” Giles’ voice was gently reassuring. “But that’s not what I meant. Two people will be sent back in time, but only one can return.” Buffy’s eyes narrowed slightly. “The spell you see,” Giles said, taking on his role as grand informant. “It can only be cast at one end as we will have no idea when you have succeeded in your fight. Therefore, there has to be a trigger that will send you back to the correct time.” Giles could see the confusion already creeping into his charge’s face. “The spell I have found voices death as the trigger. Which is why you need to take someone back with you; as the only way you can return is by killing your companion.”


Eyebrows shot through the roof all around the room.


“Okay-” said Xander, “I think I’m gonna put my hand down and say I won’t be going with ya Buff.”


“Giles said someone as powerful as Buffy- doofus.” his girlfriend insulted without a second thought, “Even if she was just choosing from this room alone; you’d probably be about fourth on the strength scale.”


She didn’t see the hurt look that Xander hid behind her hair.


“Like you’d be a better choice.” he grumbled.


“Actually, I’ve already thought of this.” said Giles, returning everyone’s attention to himself.


“I hope you’re not thinking about me.” Willow said in a small voice. Giles offered her a kind smile as he shook his head.


“No.” he said, “Think about it children. Buffy has a powerful enemy back in town. One we know can be easily bought with cash; or stupid enough to be tricked. He’s the perfect choice; as Buffy will have no hang-ups about staking him to return to our time.”


“Spike?” asked Buffy; eyebrow quirked questioningly.


“Exactly.” said Giles. “He’s helped save the world before; he might even do it for free if we tell him the cause.”


“Doubt it.” said Buffy. “And you really think he’ll be as compliant when we tell him that it all ends with me staking him?”


“Of course not.” said Giles. “Which is why we won’t be telling him that particular clause. We’ll tell him that you know how to transport the both of you back to the present time, but you won’t be telling him until all of the Crowan demon are dead. That way he’ll be compelled to help, and won’t attempt to kill you in the process; if he believes you to be his only way to get back to the present he’ll more than likely do everything in his power to keep you alive.”


“Sounds good to me.” said Xander, “Keeps you safe and pretty much ensures your return; if you get all fighty then he’s gonna be holding back so he doesn’t kill you- meaning- he’ll be even easier to kill.”


“But how are you planning on getting him to agree in the first place?” Willow asked; the concern evident in both her eyes and her voice, “I mean, sure, he helped before; but those were very different circumstances. I’m not so sure-”


“So we’ll have to trick him.” Buffy interrupted; eyes gleaming at the prospect of exerting her power. “Any ideas Watcher?”


“Oh, I don’t know,” Giles replies, “Use one of the girls as bait; lure him into the middle of our spell. Shouldn’t be too difficult; he’s hardly likely to expect anything of the sort is he.”


“I guess,” agreed Buffy, “Just seems like the wishy washy variety of plan. I think I’d feel better if there was a big net of sorts involved.”


“What do we tell him once we’ve got him?” Willow added, “Or do we just do the spell and leave Buffy with the explanations as the two of them settle into life in the late eighteen hundreds?”


Giles looked slightly guilty.


“I think it would be best if Buffy explain once they’ve completed their journey back in time...” he paused slightly, giving Buffy an apologetic look, “It reduces the risks of the spell going awry.”


“Fine.” said Buffy with a sigh. “I guess it’s my job. At least I don’t have to be bait too.”


Willow and Cordelia both squeaked; looking at each other.


“Wait a minute,” said Buffy suddenly, “Giles- you haven’t even told me WHY I need to go back in time,” she turned her questioning eyes on him, “Lets not be hasty- I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do when I get there yet.”


“Of course.” said Giles, looking slightly embarrassed at having forgotten his all important explanation. “Well, it would seem the Crowan demons have raised numbers to an epidemic level and are planning what looks like a full scale massacre.” he paused dramatic, taking in reactions. “The idea is to send you back to a time when numbers were far fewer; if you can destroy the roots you solve the problem as such. You need to kill the ancestors of these demons so the numbers can’t multiply and there will never be enough Crowans to carry out their plans.”


“Smart.” said Xander appreciatively.


“Not as smart as the spell itself,” Giles added, “Part of the glamour includes a fabricated identity for both Buffy and Spike; memories will be altered to allow for the idea that the two were simply there all along. It allows an easier operation and means the whole attack will follow through much more smoothly.”


“Smart.” Xander repeated.


“You can do it Buffy.” added Willow.


The Slayer looked at the confident faces of her friends, feeling more than a little uncertain. So she was supposed to go back in time, end a massacre before its even started, then make her way back again; all the while having to deal with the constant annoyance that was of course, the vampire Spike; her only consolation being the look on his face when she staked him; realising she had well and truly played him all along.


“That’ll teach him for leaving me to face Angelous alone.” she muttered to herself, “Could have saved me a whole lot of heart ache; selfish bastard.”


And just like that, the plan was settled.

.....................................................................


Her shiny red hair caught his attention as he stalked past the school that evening. Shiny... and red... and appetizing. So she was a friend of the Slayer? He could hardly say no when a meal was offered to him so deliciously on a plate.


His speed picked up as he saw the girl enter through the school’s double doors. Probably on her way to the library; game for a little after-hours study. Spike smirked. He’d give her friends something to study. Yeah. When they found her body the next morning.


“Hey Red.” he called, watching her disappear into one of the far classrooms. “Wait up,” he muttered. “We’re having a party.”


He kicked the door open; perfectly prepared to see Red’s shocked little expression. Not at all prepared for the net that dropped down from the ceiling, trapping him; or the vehement push he received from behind, sending him sprawling into the centre of what appeared to be a rather hastily painted pentagon.


“Got him.” said an elderly male voice. “Buffy. Into position.”


Slayer Bitch. Of- bloody- course.


And then the ugly chanting began. Some language that seemed vaguely familiar, but one that a slightly dazed Spike couldn’t really be bothered to decipher. Probably ancient Samarian, or some other long-forgotten twaddle.


He did catch the odd word however, such as ‘time’ and ‘fabrication’, ‘lives’ and ‘death’.


The last thing he saw, however, before blacking out into the darkness, were the bright and confident eyes of a bitch about to meet death-by-Spike.


About time he added a third notch to his belt.



........................................................................................
A/N: Wow- starting a long fic sure feels liberating. Hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it. Please leave a review!! Thank you. wall*flower xxx
.........................................................................................

CHAPTER TWO


“...You say it was like this/I was torn between two worlds/One full of promise and the truth I knew would hurt/You say I’m no angel/Try to put the past behind/So now I try to find/A place to leave all/Memories in my mind/We try our lives away/And stumble to the gave/We cry and still they say/Past won’t go away/Story of my life...” Kristian Leontiou~ ‘Story of my life’


He woke, flat on his back and staring up at a damp ceiling. In the dim light offered by what appeared to be a few scattered candles, Spike could just about make out the four walls surrounding him; as well as the door and various pieces of furniture.

He sat up quickly; pleased to find himself net-less again.

“Damn Slayer and her damn crafty friends.” he said; rubbing his head as he got to his feet. “Always happy to bollocks up a perfectly good evening.”

After soothing away the pain currently residing in his forehead, Spike made the all too horrifying mistake of glancing down at himself, and groaned in sheer agony as he encountered the glad rags he was now sporting.

“Bloody Hell.” he moaned; glaring down at his tweed clad body, “I look like the bloody Watcher. What have those wankers done to me?”

“Quit moaning.” said an all too familiar voice. “It could be a Hell of a lot worse. Believe me.”

Spike span around to witness the Slayer, dressed in what could only be described as a Victorian style evening gown; complete with corset, petticoats and, yes; the girl had every right to shudder; ribbons.

Before she could even bat a pretty little eye-lid however, he had her pinned up against one of the dank walls; clawed hand clasped around her soft neck as the other wrenched her chin around; forcing her to look up into his golden eyes.

“Tell me what you did.” he hissed into her face; watching her chestnut eyes cloud over slightly with the pain he was inflicting.

“First..ly...” she managed; her own hands fluttering up to batter at his, “I don’t like th... this anymore than you do.” he released his grip; slamming his hands down onto her shoulders; trapping her against the cold wall. Her head lolled forward in instant relief. “But,” she said, hands attempting to rub her neck, “I’m the only one here who knows how to get us home, so, unless you want to spend the rest of your un-life here, then I suggest you don’t try anything else.”

“Why the Hell are we here?” he asked, the pressure on her shoulders increasing slightly.

“Demons planning a massacre in our time,” she explained softly, “We’re supposed to destroy them before they have a chance to form their numbers.”

“Why me?” he asked; his face so close to hers by now that he could feel her worried breath against his cheek.

“Giles said... Said you’re the only one strong enough to help me,” she lied quickly, unable to meet his eyes. “We tricked you here, so you’d have to help me; or else face the prospect of never getting home.”

“And the nancy boy clothes?”

“Fabricated identities.” she explained. “Some aspect of the spell; it means people here think that we’ve existed here all along.”

He stared at her a moment. It seemed to be a pretty tight plan, from which he could see no escape route.

“Tell me again why I shouldn’t rip your pathetic little head clean off your body?”

He felt her quiver.

“Because I know how to get both of us home,” she said with a forced conviction. “And I refuse to tell you what I know until all of the Crowan demon are dead.”

“What?” Spike cried suddenly, letting her go out of pure shock. “Crowan demons? Slayer; those things are tough as iron. How many are we supposed to be taking out?”

“I don’t know.” Buffy said, backing away from him further along the wall, “And for you information I know all about how tough they are. I took one out just the other day.”

Spike snorted none too humorously.

“One?” he repeated. “Congratulations Slayer. I saw you yesterday; practically pulp.”

“Then we’re going to have to work together.” she replied defiantly; refusing to let his direct insult to her fighting abilities annoy her. “Obviously I can’t fight this battle alone; and likewise; you can’t get home without me... So you’re just going to have to help.”

He regarded her for a moment or two; unwilling to confirm his intentions either way. He watched her grow increasingly uneasy, before finally saying;

“So it’s another truce?” at Buffy’s slightly confused look he elaborated; “I scratch your back, you scratch mine. I give you want you want and vice versa? I help you hunt and kill in return for an assured safe journey back to old SunnyD, 1999?”

“Assured.” she agreed quietly.

“Then truce it is.” said Spike. “I won’t let you get killed, and you’ll tell me how to get home once we’re done here.”

Buffy wondered why there wasn’t more conviction behind her nod. Perhaps it was the underlying guilt she hadn’t really expected to feel. Guilt at the prospect of inevitably killing the vampire who just promised to protect her, in the belief that they were both in the same boat. She quickly shrugged the feeling off, however, as he stuck out his hand in a gesture of unity.

She took his firmly in her own and shook it powerfully.

The handshake went on a little longer than necessary and both were glaring toward the end of it. Eventually, Buffy broke away, taking a step back.

“So... Where are we?” she asked.

They both took that opportune moment to have a proper look around at their surroundings. Dark and apparently slimy walls seemed to go on forever in both directions, but when Buffy raised her hands she found that the ceiling was actually fairly low. Her little ‘Oh’ of surprise went unnoticed or ignored by Spike however, who was scrutinizing the objects stacked around the room. Pots and pans and obviously unwanted jumble lying in messy piles gave him the first clue as to where exactly they were. And a staircase as slimy as the walls themselves was his second.

“We’re in the cellar.” he told the Slayer, turning back to her with a self satisfied little smirk. “Cellar of what- don’t ask me. Just know that this here is a cellar.”

“Hmmm.” Buffy murmured thoughtfully, “Definitely has that dank quality about the place. Hope we don’t live in this cellar though,” she added, “That doesn’t say much for Giles’ talents for fabricating false backgrounds.”

“Live in the cellar?” Spike repeated, “In outfits like these?”

Buffy had to suppress a laugh as she took in Spike’s appearance properly for the first time. Strong and well muscled arms were disturbingly concealed beneath a white cotton shirt, covered by a thick jacket of tweed. Sturdy legs transformed into two thick trunks of dingy, brown tweed. His eyes cast down at his body in a moment of insecurity, then he quickly glared back up at her.

“Come on then.” he said. “Time to find out who we are.”

She followed him up the slippery stone steps, keeping an eye on the uneven flooring beneath her the entire time; finding it even more difficult than usual to direct her feet beneath her many skirts.

With a hasty tug, Spike pulled the heavy door open and they both stepped, blinking, into a brightly lit corridor.

“Oh- Lord Webster!” cried a voice, quickly followed by a short, plump woman with honey blond hair curling out from beneath the cap she wore, “We had wondered where you’d gotten to.” she shot a sideways glance to Buffy but hurriedly looked away. “I hope you didn’t find yourself lost once again.” When Spike merely stared at her, dumbfounded, she quickly added, “Really My Lord; that inquisitiveness of yours is wholly alarming at times.”

Buffy nudged Spike and he quickly closed his mouth, offering the woman a small nod before asking,

“If you could just show me briefly to my chambers it would be most appreciated.” This time it was Buffy’s mouth that practically hung open in shock. The politeness she’d heard in Spike’s voice had been something she never could have imagined and for a moment she wondered if she had stepped into a parallel dimension and really was just standing beside ‘Lord Webster’, not the usually rude and obnoxious vampire.

“Certainly My Lord.” she quickly turned back to Buffy; her expression hard as she hissed, “Elizabeth, I’ve told you before about wearing your best clothes; your mother would be spinning in her grave, God rest her soul. Now go and get changed, then get back to work at once.” Then she turned away from Buffy as if she were horrifyingly unimportant, and returned her attention back to Spike, “Apologies my Lord, for the child’s insolence. I’ll make sure personally, that she doesn’t bother you again.”

Buffy looked at Spike, her eyes wide as the scenario just about sunk in. He had a similar expression and for some reason, he didn’t look all the pleased to have been given his beneficial position.

Buffy opened her mouth to speak, when the plump woman turned back to face her; eyes flashing angrily as she indicated with her hands.

“Go!” she hissed; apparently hoping Spike wouldn’t hear. And Buffy had no choice but to scurry away.

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Buffy could feel the tears biting at her eyelids as she ran along the long corridor. She had no idea where she was going, and no hope of knowing. As she rounded the corner she crashed into a young girl carrying a pile of bed sheets and they both fell sprawling to the floor.

Buffy landed with an emphatic ‘ooof’ then waited for the girl beside her to act as angrily as the first woman.

Instead, the girl turned to her and jolted at the sight of her tears.

“Buffy?” she asked, “What’s wrong?”

Buffy was so relieved to hear someone call her by her own name, rather than the ‘Elizabeth’ that hateful woman had labelled her with, she could have hugged the perfect stranger before her. The girl was really quite pretty with wavy brown hair pulled back into a bun and worried green eyes that reminded Buffy instantly of Willow.

“Sorry...” she said eventually, “It’s just... That woman...”

“Mavis?” the girl asked, “Gosh Buffy not again; you said you’d try to keep out of her hair. You know how ratty she gets.”

“I...” Buffy didn’t know what to say, “She told me to get changed.”

The girl looked down at Buffy’s outfit and she couldn’t help the little half smile that appeared upon seeing her friend dressed in her best clothes once again.

“I... wish I had a fraction o’ your nerve.” she whispered eventually, looking up quickly as if checking to be sure that Mavis was listening in, “I dunno’ how you can be so bold in standin’ up to her.” her eyes suddenly grew serious however, and she began folding the bed sheets back into a pile, turning her face away from Buffy. “But it’ll cost you your job if you aint careful,” she said in a warning tone. She turned back briefly before standing and helping Buffy up, “Come on, let’s go find you a clean uniform.”

Buffy followed the girl listlessly down the many corridors, wondering how she had ever managed to memorise the way.

“Here.” the girl announced finally, pushing open a thick door and leading Buffy into a small chamber of rooms, “Mavis will have both of our heads if we’re not back at work soon so you better change fast,” she thrust a light cotton uniform into Buffy’s hands, “Please try not to bother her again today Buffy.” she added in a small voice.

She turned to walk away but Buffy hastily called her back, “Wait!” she cried, “I... I want to tell you something.”

The girl turned around and Buffy regarded her for a moment, wondering whether or not she was as trustworthy as she appeared to be. Her features were open and honest and her whole aura screamed simplicity and an open mind.

“I... I’m from... I’m from the future.”

The girl’s eyes were blank for a moment, then glistened suddenly.

“Oh Buffy...” she said, “I surely do love it when you tell these stories. Where are you from this time?”

Buffy stared at her for a moment then decided that playing along was probably her safest bet.

“The year 1999,” she said, “Sunnydale, California, USA.”

“And what’s your name?” she persisted.

“Buffy Ann Summers.” she replied, then seeing her window opportunity, “What’s yours?”

The girl straightened her back stiffly in a stance that clearly perceived familial pride.

“Sarah Louise Smith.” she said, before smiling warmly, “Sissy to you Miss.”

Buffy smiled warmly back, then nodded at the clothes in her hands. “I’ll be getting changed then.” she said, “See you soon I hope, Sissy.”

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The house was an incredibly beautiful old mansion, as Buffy discovered when she finally got a moment to herself, and was able to trek outdoors and look at it from the outside.


Set back into and surrounded by a thick woodland; the house was both secluded and sophisticated; the highest rooms all but hidden within the treetops.


Buffy found herself struck by the sudden urge to break out into a rendition of Kate Bush’s ‘Wuthering Heights’, remembering the words to the song written for the beautiful nineteenth century novel exactly, and wondering where exactly her Heathcliff had gotten to.


“Oh, that’s right.” She muttered to herself, “I stuck a sword in him.”


She looked back up at the beautiful building, allowing it to take her breath away once again. It really was a sight to behold.

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Buffy blanched when she saw Mavis heading toward her, the look of murder in her eyes.

“Elizabeth!” her voice was so course and Buffy had the desire to shield her ears, “What in Heavens name did you think you were doing, following Mr Webster around like a lost child again. It’s sickening and highly embarrassing. I tell you, if I hadn’t loved your Mother so very dearly, you would have been gone from this house hold a good long time ago.” her eyes narrowed, “You bring a lot of disrespect to your family name young lady.”

Buffy chose that moment to hang her head, hoping that she looked guilty or at least a little ashamed.

“Sorry.” she said, to which Mavis only grunted.

“You will be.” she replied. “Lord Webster has requested to see you in his office.” she crossed her arms, a little self-satisfied look playing on her face. “We’ve had words and I do believe he’s finally seen the light in your case. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if you were packing your bags by the end of the day.”

Buffy looked up defiantly.

“Care to escort me to his office?” she asked more than a little snidely.

“Would be my pleasure.” Mavis replied, wholly truthfully. “Follow me Elizabeth.”

Buffy trailed behind the plump woman up a different set of corridors to the ones Sissy had taken her down. She took this alarmingly long journey to properly take in her surroundings. Rich corridors decorated with red and gold; fineries hanging from the walls. Skirting boards coated with gold leaf and light fixtures adorned with candles and glass shaped like droplets of rain. Rich. Spike, or ‘Lord Webster’ must be rich; very very rich.

And Mavis and Sissy, the only two servants she had met so far; both English, although Sissy perhaps a little more common.

The idea that she and Spike had not only travelled time, but also countries, was more than a little unnerving.

Mavis stopped abruptly and knocked on a tall maple door, not bothering to look back at Buffy as she awaited a reply from within.

“Enter!” called a deep and hatefully recognisable voice.

Mavis swung the door open and cleared her voice from the threshold; “Miss Summers for you, my Lord.” she said, sinking herself into a little curtsy, “Do you wish for me to wait.”

“No.” Spike replied with a flick of his hands, “I require to see Miss Summers alone please.”

Buffy saw Mavis’ face brighten with something that looked like excitement; she obviously fully expected Spike to sack ‘Elizabeth’.

“Certainly.” she said, turning curtly and giving Buffy a superior nod, before hurriedly walking away and getting back to work.

“Close the door.” Spike said quietly and Buffy did so immediately without question, almost hesitating before turning back to him; perhaps a little afraid of what she would find.

“You... Okay?” his hesitant question caught her entirely by surprise and she couldn’t suppress the tears as they spilled back to the surface. “Slayer?”

“Sorry.” she said, swiping uselessly at the tears that were coursing down her cheeks, “I guess I’m just in shock. I suppose the sooner we can get this over with the better... Home is looking pretty appealing right about now.”

Spike indicated a chair and she fell into it with a sigh; noticing for the first time that his hair wasn’t its usual platinum blond; still blond but somehow more natural looking.

“Are you still a vampire?” she asked.

He vamped out to answer her question.

“I don’t get why you got the rich story line and I ended up as your servant.” she said, a little calmer now, “That’s hardly justice to the whole good/evil thing.”

“If it makes you feel any better Slayer, this is far from fun for me.” he admitted, at her annoyed expression he hastily continued; “Knowing that I’m supposed to be bossing you around; I’m EXPECTED to boss you around; but at the same time, knowing you’ll well and truly kick my ass for it when we get home.”

Buffy’s eyes narrowed to a glare as she watched him ‘Oh, I’ll do much worse than that’ she told herself, ‘I’m glad this plan really does end with me staking this jerk.’

“And that bitch, Mavis,” he added, “She thinks I called you here to sack you, or at least show you whose boss with my belt...” he noticed Buffy tense slightly at the suggestion, “But actually I wanted to talk about patrolling.” he said hastily.

“Patrolling?” Buffy asked.

“Yeah,” he said, “Well, if we want to sort this problem out and get home as quickly as possible, we’re going to have to be out there every night hunting these things down.”

“You’re right,” Buffy said, sitting forward slightly in her chair, “I hadn’t even thought about patrolling yet to be honest. I suppose the spell would have taken us to about the right location but it could take days, even weeks to track the demons down. Do you know where we are, by the way?”

“Hmmm...” he said, “Somewhere in the South West of England, far as I can gather. Circa 1899.”

“See- that was a bit of a shock to the system.” Buffy said, “I was fully expecting to wake up in the old US of A. I don’t know if I’ll be so strong here; familiar ground; familiar demons and all that.”

“Bollocks.” said Spike. “You’ll be fine. And we’re going hunting tonight.”

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A/N: Please tell me what you think!! All reviews welcomed, and a big thank you to everyone who reviewed on chapter one! All comments were greatly appreciated!
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