“I’m gonna die, we’re all gonna die, he’s gonna kill us.” Xander announced as he let his head hit the musky text that he was cataloging, a job he had been assigned and had been doing for six hours straight.

“Yes, he is gonna kill us,” Willow who was sitting at the table helping Xander stated. “But he wants to torture us first.” She whined and then pouts before allowing her head to hit the table too.

“Oh you two are being bloody ridiculous, no one’s gonna get killed, a little work has never killed anyone.” Giles stated from behind the stacks of scroll lining the counter.

“Oh I don’t know Watcher, I’m feeling murderous at the moment.” Spike said from a spot at another table where he and Buffy had been translating old books, Spike doing the reading and Buffy writing whatever he said down. Giles’ nervous stare met Spike’s glare, and Buffy giggled a bit at them.

“Hey Buffy, what’s with you anyway, we’ve all been here for hours cataloging, translated, packing, unpacking this new shipment Giles got from India, but you’re the only…chipper one here.” Willow said looking at her friend. “And I’m usually chipper gal.”

“Yeah, chipper…that’s Willow’s job.” Xander agreed.

“It’s nothing, I just had a good night’s sleep.” Buffy said and Spike threw a look, arching his brow. “After a long night of hot and heavy sex.” She said mumbling the latter mainly to her self, but knowing that Spike could hear her.

“What was that?” Xander asked.

“Nothing,” Buffy said sweetly. “So what does that say again?” She posed to Spike who was chuckling at her. She leaned into him and pointed to a phrase in the book. Spike’s eyes remained locked on to her and she focused back to the notebook she held, waiting to write down his words.

“It says, if you go down in the basement with me I’ll shag your brains out.” Spike said softly as so no one else could hear him. Buffy immediately wrote what he said down, and then read it back to herself to make sure she had gotten it right. Her eyes shot up to his, and she grinned slyly at him.

“It doesn’t say that.” She said in a whisper, grinning slightly. Spike simply wiggled his brow at her and her grin widened. “Well, we’ve got this book mostly translated, so can we take a break from this, my eyes are beginning to burn, trying to read this small print.” Buffy asked never taking her eyes from Spike, who too was staring back, entranced.

“Ah, yes I suppose, but we do have a lot of unpacking to do still.” Giles said.

“How bout the basement?” Spike spoke out and Buffy’s eyes widened, warningly.

“The basement, well yes there are crates down there that I need…” Giles began but Spike cut him off.

“We’ll do it.” Spike quickly volunteered. At that moment Dawn entered.

“Hey guys…whoa.” She said losing her enthusiasm as she looked around the now cluttered shop.

“Hey Dawnie, you’re just in time to enjoy the torture with the rest of us.” Xander said, with a smile.

“Oh…kay.” Dawn said as she dropped her backpack to the floor. “What would you like for me to do?” Dawn asked as she picked up a near by book and leafed through it.

“You can go help, Willow, and Spike,” Giles said causing Spike, Willow, Dawn, and Buffy to look up at him confused. “They were just going to basement to start unpacking the crates down there.”

“I was?” Spike questioned not having that in mind when he offered his services.

“Yes, thanks for volunteering, there are some very delicate items down there in those boxes which is why I’m enlisting Willow to itemize them, you can help her with that Dawn, and Spike you can be the muscle, those crates are very heavy as are some of the art pieces, and statues.” Willow stood as Dawn walked over to her with a smile, eager to help out. Spike however didn’t budge.

“Spike you coming, thought you wanted to help out in the basement.” Willow said as she looked back at him.

“No, I wanted to shag in the basement.” Spike said under his breath but Buffy still heard him and swiftly kicked him under the table. “Awww!” Buffy shot daggers at him and he stood. “Fine, I’m coming...just not the bloody way I had wanted too.” He mumbled as he swaggered off after Dawn and Willow.

~~~~

“Hey look, it’s Coco Pellie’s twin.” Dawn exclaimed joyfully, holding up the little statue. Spike just shook his head at her as he opened another crate for Willow, who was dutifully writing down every item she touched. Dawn moved beside Spike, reaching into the crate he had just opened and taking out a gold music box. “Wow, shiny.”

“Yeah be careful bit.” Spike warned.
“I’m not a child Spike, I’m not gonna drop it or anything.” Dawn said rolling her eyes. “It’s so pretty. It has a broken heart on the top.” She said turning the box around in her hands to examine it better. “Oh it has names on the sides, Zarah, and Caan.” Willow then moved to where Dawn stood.

“Let me see,” Willow asked as she gripped one side of the box, while Dawn held the other securely. “Oh it is beautiful.”

“That’s nice, now where do you want this thing, its’ damn heavy. And we’ve been down here for hours, I do have a life you know, and I’d like to get back to it.” Spike stated as he held a crated box on his shoulder.

“Oh there’s a latch…”Willow said as she placed her hands over it.

“Ok Red, not such a good idea to op…” Spike didn’t finish the sentence before a white flash of lightning fill the basement.

“Whoa…what was that?” Dawn asked as she looked around, clutching her hand to her chest. Willow who still stood beside her, holding the box, looked at her strangely and then at her surrounding in wonderment. “Spike, are you ok?” Dawn questioned the vamp, who too turned around, looking about the basement as if he didn’t know where he was.

“Where...” He began as his eyes fell to her and Willow, and then they grew wide as they rest on the red haired woman. The Wicca smiled knowingly as she lifted the box a little. Spike nodded his understandings.

“Uhm, are you guys ok, and what was that light?” Dawn asked.

“Yes we’re perfect.” Willow stated as she smiled at the child beside her, and then reaching out to pat her head.

“Ok…well we better go tell Giles that we did a bad, and probably released some hellish creatures upon the earth.” Dawn said as she took the box and headed towards the stairs. Willow and Spike stood in they’re spots watching as the girl walked out the door at the top. Once she was out they then turned to each other.

“Are you ok?” Spike asked Willow and she simply nodded.

“I am now.” She spoke softly as she moved to him. He matched her steps, as he walked to her with an animalistic grace. They stopped in front of each other, and Willow reached up and traced her fingers over Spike’s lips, opening them slightly, enough to where he could stick his tongue out and run it across her fingers. Spike snaked his arms around Willow’s waist, lifting her as so they were eye to eye, and then covered her mouth with his own.

~~~~

“And then there was a flash you say?” Giles asked as he stood at the counter examining the box. “Dawn you should know better then to open things that…”



“I know, already got that lecture from Spike.” Dawn said folding her arms across her chest.

“Yeah, before or after you opened the box?” Buffy inquired.

“Before.” Dawn mumbled.

“Mmmhmmm.” Buffy said.

“I’ll need to do more research on these words they look very ancient. I’ll get Willow….Ah where is Willow?” Giles looked up to the blank faces, and all looked as if they were wondering the same thing.

“I left her and Spike in the basement.” Dawn announced. “I’ll go get them.” She spoke as she moved back to the basement door. “SPIKE! WILLOW! Giles wants you guys!” Dawn yelled and then moved back to her spot near the counter.

“Thank you.” Giles said as he rung his finger in his ear.

~~~~

The two bodies reluctantly broke apart at hearing the yelling that seemed directed at them. “I think they are calling us.” Willow said.

“I certainly hope not. Spike and Willow, God what awful names, which one of us is Willow and which is Spike do you suppose?”

“Well, Willow is somewhat feminine, I think.” Willow stated. “Not at all like Zarah, Now that’s a lady’s name.”

“Yes it is,” Spike said as he moved to pull her into another kiss that she pushed off.

“We should go up, they are expecting us.”

“No, they are expecting their Willow and Spike, which we are not, remember?” Spike said.

“So what do we do?”

“Well, that child didn’t seem to notice any change in us, that we aren’t her….Spike and Willow.” Spike said frown a bit by the names. “So we should play along, at least long enough to find out where we are, how we got into these bodies.”

“I really don’t care how we got here, I’m just happy to be out of that awful, box.” Spike just stared at her as if now seeing her for the first time. “What?” She asked noticing his stare.

“You have an accent. It’s still very soft and sweet, not very sophisticated mind you and definitely not native tongue.”

“What!” Willow said with wide eyes. “Wait, you too have an accent, and it sounds funny.”

“Hey you two.” Xander spoke from the top of the stairs, causing both of them to jump, startled. “Didn’t you hear us calling ya, Giles needs you upstairs, so come on, I think this box thing has peeked his interest and he’s gonna let us all leave. And the Xan Man here sure could use some grubb.” Xander said, rubbing his stomach. The two below stared up at the strange man in confusion.

“Shall we go then?” Spike said, as he grasped Willow’s hand, and lead her to the stairs.

“What’s with the hand holding.” Xander asked confused, as he looked from one to the other. Willow and Spike quickly released hands.

“He…Spike,” Willow said more as a question still not sure if that was her name or not, Xander’s quietness let her know she had guessed right. “Was helping me, I felt a little faint, he was simply being a gentleman.” Willow said as she made her way up and out of the basement.

“Dead boy Jr., a gentleman, ah I think whatever happened down there effected you brains Will.” Xander said jokingly.

“No, Xan Man, I’m very well, thank you.” Willow announced as she moved by Xander, who in turned eyed her in confusion

“There you are,” Tara said as she moved in front of Willow and tenderly grasped her hands. Willow looked at her awkwardly.

“Ah,” Willow pulled her hands from Tara’s and stepped back. “Yes here I am.” Willow smiled and looked around. Spike can and stood just behind her.

“Oh…uhm…good,” Tara said, hurt by Willow’s sudden cold behavior. “We were worried, Dawn told us about the flash of light…I’m glad you’re ok.”

“Yeah, Tara loves you and doesn’t want you getting hurt.” Dawn interjected quickly, hoping to get the estranged lovers back together soon. Tara threw the girl a sweet knowing smile, which Dawn returned with a shrug.

“Ah, well thank you...Tara,” Willow said repeating the name Dawn had given. “For your concern but really, I’m fine, we’re both fine.” Willow said looking back to Spike who nodded his head in agreement.

“So, any ideas?” Buffy asked, directing to Willow, who stared wide-eyed at all the eyes that were now on her.

“About?”

“The lightning, you know what may have caused it.” Buffy continued.

“Ahh, no. I haven’t the foggiest idea.” Willow answered. Buffy wriggled her nose a little to her friend’s reply, ‘the foggiest’ Buffy repeated in her mind, but then brushed it off as she turned her attention to Spike.

“How bout you Spike, do you remember anything odd, before the flash?”

“No.” Spike quickly spoke.

“Ok,” Buffy said shaking her head. “Well you guys keep working on that, Spike and I are gonna go train a little.” Buffy said as she began removing her jacket.

“Is that what you kids call it now a days?” Dawn threw out and got a smirk from Buffy.

“Come on Spike,” Buffy said as she grasped his hand and lead him towards the training room. He looked back towards Willow with wide eyes.

“Hey!” Willow yelped and all eyes fell to her in surprised. She instantly calmed her jealous heart and voice, not wanting the others to suspect that she wasn’t their friend. “Maybe Spike, should help in the research, I mean after all we were down there, so maybe we can come across something in these books that will jog our memories.”

“Yes that seems reasonable, Buffy.” Giles agreed, removing his glasses to clean. Though his real reason for not wanting Buffy and Spike going into the room alone, had a great deal to do with the image Dawn had put into his head with her remark.

“Yes, I think I should stay and help out, Buffy?” Spike replied finding her name to be quite odd.

“Fine, we’ll just do a quick workout then, and then we’ll both come help you out.” Buffy said rolling her eyes as she then pulled a hesitant spike into the room, closing the door behind them. Willow glared after them with immense hatred and jealousy.

“Ah, Will, are you ok?” Tara called out to her as she reached out a grasped her hand again, only to jump back due to the shock to her hands. Tara instantly began rubbing her hands as she stared at Willow hurt and confused. Willow turned to her, her eyes now black. “Willow, what’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing I’m fine.”

“No you’re not fine, you’re eyes….a..and you just shocked me.” Tara said as everyone else in the room now looked to Willow in worry.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Willow said closing her eyes and calming herself a bit. When she opened her eyes they were once again their greenish blue color.

“What’s gotten into you?” Tara asked as she moved and grabbed her coat from the chair she had been sitting at, and then walked out of the shop. Unsure eyes fell to Willow.

“Ok, Willow, what was that all about?” Xander asked.

~~~~

“So, what do you want to do first?” Spike asked somewhat relieved to actually see that they were in fact in a training room. Caan had been a great warrior in his day, and was use to battling and heavy training.

“Oh, I don’t know.” Buffy said and then leaped onto him, knocking him to the ground. “I was thinking we’d start here.” She leaned in and placed a soft kiss on his lips, as Spike’s eyes grew wide in shock and horror. Spike instinctively pushed her off him and wiped at his mouth.

“No! Ah…Buffy,” Spike said scrambling to his feet, as Buffy looked at him baffled. “We can do this, and here, what about your friends?”

“Huh? I thought you wanted to do this, and my friends being in the next room never stopped you before, you get of on it in fact.” Buffy said with her hands on her hips, a little irritated.

“Really?” Spike asked his brow scrunched in a frown. “Ah, well I think we should be more careful, after all there is a child in there.”

“Who, huh? Dawn? Spike you’re the one always defending the fact that she’s not a child anymore, and that we should stop sheltering her so much. Ok what the hell has gotten into you all of a sudden?”

“Nothing, ah, you’re right let’s just…” Spike moved to her awkwardly, gripping her arms and then kissing her chastely. Buffy didn’t move as she now watched the vamp who was holding her and kissing her with no passion. Spike pulled back and looked at her. “What’s wrong, I thought you wanted…”

“What I want is to make love to my boyfriend. A very passionate man, who with a simple look and make me weak in the knees. When you find him let me know.” With that Buffy stalked from the room slamming it behind her. Spike stared after in confused.

~~~~

“The nerve...” Buffy huffed under her breath as she made her way to where her friends were. Buffy looked up to the stunned faces that now surrounded her. “What’s wrong, what happened?”

“That’s what we are trying to figure out.” Xander said as his eyes fell back to Willow. “Willow went all magic girl and juiced Tara.” Buffy’s eye grew wide as did Willow’s

“Magics?” Willow said in a near whisper as her eyes lit up. Zarah had been a powerful sorceress.

“What! Willow, I thought we agreed no more magic.” Buffy said as she moved in front of her friend.

“I…” Willow tried to think of something to say when Dawn interjected.

“It’s not her fault, I don’t even think she realized what she was doing, maybe it was the flash down in the basement, maybe it turned on the magic or something.” Dawn defended, and Willow smiled slight, it was a good enough excuse.

“Yes, I think that must be it.” Willow agreed.

“It is plausible.” Giles agreed.

“Sorry Will, for you know doubting you.” Xander apologized, and Willow just nodded her head.

“Me too.” Buffy said now hugging her best friend. Willow tensed as she caught a familiar scent.

“Caa…Spike.” Willow said through gritted teeth. Buffy pulled back and looked at her questioning. “Where did Spike go?” Willow covered with a fake smile.

“Oh,” Buffy said relaxing. “Oh him, I left him in the train room.” Buffy announced in an irritated tone.

“What did you guys have another fight? Dawn asked.

“Yeah,” Buffy huffed. “We get in there and then he doesn’t even want to…” her eye snapped up as her mouth quickly snapped shut. “Train.” She said after a moment to think.

“Well just the same, we really need to research this music box, and find out what was inside of it.” Giles stated. “And we need Spike.”

“I’ll get him.” Willow said quickly as she turned and moved towards the door.

“Ok is it me or is she acting a little off?” Xander asked as everyone else just nodded their heads and then went about their research, each grabbing a book

~~~~

Willow entered the training room to find Spike pacing about He instantly looked up at her entrance.

“Zarah.” He spoke moving to her, dropping to her feet and wrapping his arms around her waist, as he buried his face into her middle. “I think that Buffy girl suspects something.”

“I think they all do, now.” She replied and she hugged him to her. “I think it’s time we should leave.”

“How, we don’t even know where we are, and if we leave together they will definitely know something’s wrong. I think that this Spike person and Buffy are a couple.”

“Yes and I think that I’m involved with a woman named Tara.” She responded with a disgusted frown on her face.

“So what do you suggest we do?”

“The window.” Willow finally spoke after a few seconds of thinking.

~~~~

“I think I have something.” Giles called out as the others looked up at him. “Oh dear.”

“What?” Buffy asked as she now moved to the counter, with the other two right behind her.

“The box comes from the middle-east, not sure where exactly.” Giles began. “And it’s very old.”



“Whoa.” Dawn said.

“Yes, well it seemed that it was a prison of sort, for two spirits, I’d guess the names on the sides, Zarah and Caan.”

“A prison, as in locked inside that closed box, the one that, ah we opened.” Dawn asked with a nervous smile.

“It would seem so, yes.” Giles replied.

“So, when they opened it, the spirits got out?” Xander asked.

“Yes,” Giles answered still reading.

“Ok, but where did they go?” Buffy asked.

“Oh dear.” Giles said again.

“What?” Dawn asked as she leaned into read over his shoulder, even though none of the words made any sense to her.

“According to this, the spirits need bodies to survive on this plane. So they probably went into someone close to them when they got out.” Giles stated and all eyes fell on Dawn.

“Dawnie?” Buffy called skeptically.

“What? Whoa, they’re not in me. Besides I wasn’t the only ones down there remember. Spike and Willow,” Dawn’s eye grew wide as did everyone else’s. “Spike and Willow.” Buffy turned and charged towards the training room door, the others close behind her. She shoved the door open abruptly.

“Willow, Spike?!” Buffy called as they all filed into the empty room. Buffy quickly spotted the open window above the couch. “Damn.”

~~~~

“So where do we go?” Willow asked as Spike led her down the alleyways.

“I have no idea, but as far from the others would be ideal.”

“What about that place?” Willow asked pointing to what looked to be some sort of Tavern. They quickly moved into the line that was beginning to form. Upon entering, they were honed in on.

“Man you really are gagging for a stake through the heart, aren’t you Spike?” A scarred vamp asked as he and three others approached, blocking the entrance.

“Excuse me?” Spike asked looking puzzled.

“You’ve got balls showing your face on this side of town. Don’t get me wrong you have quite a reputation for being a big bad ass, but I think me and my boys can handle you.” The vamp sneered at Spike. “Everyone knows you’re snogging the slayer and helping her kill your own kind, and here on the Hell mouth, that just aint appreciated, at least not in the demon community.” The vamp and his friends began to move in on Spike. At that moment Willow appeared at Spike’s side, and the vamp’s deadly glares turned to fearful stares, as they now gawked at the red head.

“Hey you’re that powerful wicca friend of the slayers. Uh, we didn’t know Spike was a friend of yours.” The vamp said throwing his hands up as he and the other vamp began backing up. “Hey were just kidding about before, we don’t want any trouble.” With that the vamps hurriedly left.

“It would seem that you have somewhat of a reputation, my love.” Spike said as they moved to a booth in the far corner, facing the door as so they could keep an eye out for the others.

“Yes, and you are dead, or undead to be more precise.” Willow said smiling at her beloved. “And unless vampires have changed since our day, it means that you are very strong and fast. Also that the only things that can kill you are, a stake through the heart, fire, sunlight, and decapitation.”

“Yes, but you forget the most important part, I need blood to live.” Spike interjected as he lifted her hands and gently kissed her wrist. He licked it for a few seconds and then without really trying he vamped out and stank his teeth into her wrist, and sucked earnestly. Both closed their eyes to the sensations now coursing through their bodies.

“I’m now beginning to understand why our spirits choose these bodies.” Willow gasped in pleasure. Spike lifted his head and licked at lips and said with a smile.

“It is almost too perfect.”

~~~~

“So it wasn’t Willow?” Tara asked from her spot at the table. He others had called her back for help, after their discovery of the truth.

“No, it seems that her and Spike both are possessed by some spirits.” Buffy answered as she now paced the floor.

“So are these spirits good or…”

“Bad! Very bad.” Giles cried out as he descended the stairs carrying an old text. “I’ve found more info on Zarah and Caan. They lived circa 980 B.C. Zarah was a great sorceress, and Caan her lover a great warrior. Together they killed millions in an attempt to rule the world, before they were imprisoned in that music box.”

“So how were they stopped, I mean if they killed millions before they could be stopped they must have been very powerful.” Tara asked.

“Their love.” Giles said simply.

“Huh?” Xander said, speaking what was on the other’s mind.

“Their weakness it would appear was their devotion and love for each other. It was used against them in the end.”

“Awww.” Tara and Dawn sigh in unison as Giles, Xander, and Buffy looked at them strangely. “Well it’s kind of romantic, don’t ya think?” Dawn asked with a goofy smile as Tara nodded her head.

“No, it really isn’t.” Buffy said.

“Yeah they’re probably off right now having hot monkey love as we speak.” Xander added as Both Buffy and Tara’s eyes grew wide with horror.

“We have to find them…NOW!!” Buffy exclaimed, the idea of Spike making love to another woman, especially her best friend, was unsettling.

“Yes, before Willow and Spike….”Tara spoke up not able to finish the sentence.

“Uh, right. Well the solution is actually quite simple.” Giles said removing his glasses and placing the tip in his mouth. “The spell that placed the two spirit in the box in the first place, is right here.” He tapped the text he held. “I can read it and return the spirits back with in the box.”

“God, why didn’t you say that before Giles?” Buffy asked a bit irritated.

“Hold on there Buffster, I feel a but coming on.” Xander said and all eyes fell to Giles.

“Uh….However, the spirits have to be back in the exact spot they were released from, that being the basement.”

“Ummmm.” Buffy groaned and pouted. “Why is it never easy?” She asked as she looked upward. “So we have to find them and bring them back here. Great, a very strong and fast vampire and a powerful wicca, neither might I add even knows us right now. What am I suppose to do go up to them and say, please come with me so I can put you back into the music box, and get my friend and lover back?”

“Well you could do that.” Giles offered supportively.

“Yeah, and most likely get my ass royally kicked.”

“I..I could put a binding spell on Willow, so she can’t do any magic. But there’s nothing I can really do to Spike. I have found that enchanting vampires, can backfire.” Tara said as they looked to her confused. “Tends to make them giddy.”

“Ahhh,” Both Xander and Giles said, remembering what happened during the summer, while Buffy was gone, and they had to slay the vampires. Buffy and Dawn simply shook their heads, neither getting it.

“You just handle Willow, I can take care of Spike.” Buffy said and Tara nodded. “Now all we have to do is find them, before they can stir up any real trouble.”

~~~~

“Let me get this straight, you want to open the hell mouth completely, ruling over it, and then proceed to world domination?”

“Yes, that’s it exactly.” Spike said with a grin.

“Great, but there’s a problem with that plan.” The vamp sitting across from Spike said, as he and a dozen others listened to Spike and Willow’s plan for taking over Sunnydale, and then the world.

“Such as?” Willow asked from her spot on Spike’s lap, where she sat twirling her fingers in his soft curl.

“Well, it’s a hell mouth, and there aint no controlling it. When you open that baby all kinds of uglies are gonna come out, not to mention the fact that opening it will make the population of Sunnydale skyrocket, the demon population that is. Now those you maybe able to control, but not the nasties coming out of the mouth.”

“No worries, my lady will take of the nasties.”

“Oh really, I don’t think so.” The vamp contended.

“So you’re not for this plan I take it.” Spike asked as Willow narrowed her eyes at the vamp.

“No way man.” The vamp said with a chuckled, which didn’t last long on his lips before he crumbled into ashes. The other vamps looked on stunned by what had happened being that no one had touched the vampire, yet is got dusted. They then looked to Spike and Willow, who eyes were now black as night.

“Like I said, my lady an take care of any nasties that are against us, with a simple thought.” Spike said smiling with pride at his Beloved. “Now who’s with us?” He smiled looking around the table.

~~~~
“It’s like a needle in a haystack,” Xander said frustrated. “For all we know that have left town already.”

“No, we live on the hell mouth, most demons and witches come to town, not leave it.” Buffy said as they walk through the dark, desolate cemetery. “If this Spirits, Zarah and Caan, are anything like Giles said, they’re probably gonna pick up right where they left off.”

“Man, those two are crazy.” A voice said in the distant as it approached Buffy and Xander’s position. Buffy and Xander quickly hid themselves behind a near by crypt. “And did you see the girl, with the black eyes.” Buffy and Xander looked at each other knowingly.

“Yeah she was scary, and poor Jake she dusted him with a simple bat of her lashes.” The other vamp replied. “She pretty powerful.”

“Yeah but I gotta agree with Jake, I don’t think she’s powerful enough to control whatever comes out of the hell mouth, after they open it.” Buffy’s eyes grew wide at this news.

“Why didn’t you say something before?”

“And have her dust me like she did Jake, no thanks. Come on, let’s go find ourselves a virginal sacrifice and then head get over to the rubble of SD High so they can start the ceremony.”

“What ceremony?” Buffy asked as she and Xander stepped out in front of the two startled vamps. “Are you two getting married? Hey where’s my invitation?” Buffy asked with mock hurt look on her face. The Vamp closet to her didn’t get a chance to respond before crumbling to dust at her feet. The other vamp turned to run, but Xander knocked him to the ground, and held a stake mere inches above his heart. “OK tells us all you know about whoever it is trying to open the hell mouth.” Buffy demanded.

“Oh no way man, he’s gonna kill me the second I do.” The frightened vamp said.

“No he’s not.” Buffy assured.

“He’s not?”

“No,” Buffy answered folding her arms across her chest, stake still in hand.

“You promise?” The vamp pleaded and Buffy rolled her eyes in annoyance.

“Yes I promise he won’t stake you if you tell us ‘everything’ you know.”

“OK, well Spike and his mega witch girlfriend,” The vamp began but Buffy quickly interjected.

“She’s not his girlfriend.” She defended.

“Oh, really well the way they were carrying on, what with the hands and tongues…” Buffy with her eyes closed cut him off again, not wanting to hear anymore.

“Just go on with the story, Spike and the Witch….”

“Yeah, well they’re gonna open the hell mouth, and than take over the world.”

“Well, that’s stupid, don’t they know what will come out of the mouth if they open it?” Xander asked as he now stood up off the vamp, who too slowly began getting up. “They won’t be able to control it.”

“Yeah that’s what my friend Jake told them and then got dusted for his troubles.” The vamp added.

“And that’s all of it? That and they need a virgin sacrifice?” Buffy asked the vamp, who nodded. “OK then.”

“Great, well glad I could help you out there,” The vamp said as he began backing up in the opposite I direction. “And slayer you’re not half ba….” Dust then filled the air as Buffy walked through it headed to the charred remains of her old high school. Xander looked after her for a moment, and then followed her.

“Hey thought you we’re going to kill him.”

“No, I said ‘you’ were going to kill him, didn’t say anything about me.” Buffy said as Xander smiled at her.

~~~~

“Ah, what’s she doing?” Dawn asked as she watched Tara on the floor of the basement, surrounded by candles.

“Shh…She’s doing a binding spell, and she needs complete silence as so she can concentrate.” Giles whispered.

“It’s not gonna hurt her is it?” Dawn whispered back in a worried tone.

“No, she knows what she doing, so now let’s just let her do it.” They both grew silent as Tara began to chant and then rock back and forth.

~~~~

“Where are those imbeciles with my virgin?” Spike growled as she paced the burnt floor that use to be the library, it had faired better then the rest of the school. Willow looked to him, smiling sweetly. She then moved to him seductively.

“You worry too much my love. They haven’t been gone that long.” She spoke as she now stood before him, running her fingers up his arm and he closed his eyes to the charge it sent through him.

“Do you know how much I have missed you? Being trapped in that box with you for eons, and never being able to really touch you.” He spoke in a husky tone as he now stroked her fiery red hair. His hand fell to her neck and then his thumb trail down to her cleavage.

“I want you.” She said softly, racking her nails down his back, through his shirt. A deep growl escaped his lips as they covered hers. They pulled at each other neither feeling as if the other were close enough, after a long moment they pulled apart for breath, never breaking eye contact.

“All of you,” Spike said to the other vamp that were in the room with them. “Go out and set up a perimeter, make sure no unwelcome guests get in, this is private ceremony.” He announced. Before the other vamp had completely left, Spike had Willow pinned to the only remaining piece of furniture in the room, a badly singed table. They both tore at the other’s clothes. Spike vamped out and swiftly sank his teeth into Willow’s beast, eliciting a scream of pleasure from her, as she threw her head back and arched her body up off the table. He retraced his fangs and began suckling her bloody breast, causing her to moan loudly and buck on the table.

“Oh…Caan!!” She gasped as a climatic wave poured over her.

~~~~~

Buffy and Xander’s head popped up from their hiding place in a near by bush. “Was that Willow?” Buffy asked with her brow bunched.

“Yeah I think so and it sounded like…”



“No it didn’t.” Buffy stated as she now rushed to the structure, dispatching several of the vamps on her way, as the remaining fled into the forest.

Buffy and Xander swiftly moved to where they had heard the cries, Xander’s mouth dropped and Buffy’s went dry as they walked into find Spike and Willow entangle in each other’s arms, with Spike on the verge of entrance.

“No!” Buffy yelp, eyes wide.” Both Willow and Spike’s heads shot up, anger on their faces.

“You’re not my virgin.” Spike hissed.

“No, I’m not a virgin, and if you look really hard into Spike’s memories, you’ll see that he’s the main cause of that.” Buffy said.

“You really need to move on, he doesn’t want you anymore, he loves me and wants only me.” Willow hissed. “In case you hadn’t noticed.” She said with a smile making reference to Spike’s long, thick dangling member, that he was now placing back into his pants. Buffy jaw and fists clenched.

“Well, I noticed and let me just say, I think I’m gonna be sick and wow all at once.” Xander said. “God he’s hung like a ho…”

“Xander! Stop the big bad now, and admire Spike’s slong later.” Buffy instructed and an embarrassed Xander nodded.

“And what makes you think you can stop us?” Willow asked with a chuckle as she and Spike now stood side by side. “Your friend here is a very powerful wicca, and I happen to know a lot of spells. Like this one…” Her eyes instantly turned black.

“Goddess of darkness, hear me
Erase thy enemies
Crush their bones, til they bleed
I plead with thee
So mote it be!”

Both Buffy and Xander stood in horror, awaiting the pain to grip them. When nothing happened everyone in the room looked around confused.

“What happened?” Spike asked.

“I do not know.” Willow said as she stared at her hands as if they had offended her.

“Thank you Tara.” Xander said.

**You’re welcome** Tara’s voice said as it filled both Xander and Buffy’s head, causing them to jump.

“Tara?” Buffy asked.

**Yes it’s me, but I can’t do this for long, too busy concentrating on other things. I did the binding spell and Giles has just started the spell to put the spirits back into the box. I have your location and at the right moment, I’m going to teleport Will and Spike here. When I give the word, you and Xander need to grab them so you can come to**

“Right, got it, just say when.” Buffy said.

“Wait is it safe?” Xander asked.

**Yes, you all will be safe**

“Give it up now, it’s over.” Buffy commanded. “We probably would have helped you, if you had just asked, but oh no you had to take my boyfriend and best friend, and try to take over the world, which is so pinky and brainish.” Willow and Spike looked to her with confusion at the last statement. “Our friends are doing a spell as we speak that will put you back in your box, now your last few seconds on this earth can be easy, or it can be hard.” Buffy announced cracking her knuckles.

“I can’t go back Caan, I can’t.” Willow said as she now turned to Spike. He reached out and wiped at the tears now rolling from her eyes.

“Shhh, my love, it’s ok.” Spike said as he leaned into her, pulling her close to him. Buffy and Xander watched on. “I’ll love you forever, Zarah, no matter if we’re in a box or free.” As if understanding completely, Willow nodded her head and sniffed back her tears. Spike slowly kissed her lips deepening it as he ran his fingers through her hair. Buffy swallowed back her own tears, and the growing lump in her throat.

**Buffy, Xander Now** Tara exclaimed and Buffy and Xander quickly moved on the two kissing lovers, grasping their arms. Suddenly a blinding white light engulfed them completely, and as quickly as it had, it dispersed, leaving them in the basement of the Magic Box.

“Buffy,” Tara said excitedly out of breath. “It worked.”

“Yeah, what about the other spell?” Buffy asked to Giles as she still looked at Spike and Willow, who continued to kiss.

“Well…ah…the spirits have...uhm…disappeared, it would seem.” Giles said and then now wide eyes fell onto the kissing duo, who now slowly parted.

“MMmmmm…wow.” Willow stated her eyes still closed.

“Yeah…wow.” Spike repeated his eyes too closed.

“Uhmmmhm.” Buffy said as if clearing her throat. Willow and Spike’s eyes quickly opened, and then grew wide as realization struck them, that they were in each others arms, and had just been kissing each other. They swiftly released each other and stepped back.

“Whoa!” Willow exclaimed.

“Bloody Hell!” Spike agreed. Both looked to their respective lovers for an explanation, but found only down cast eyes.

“Well, looks like everything is back to normal.” Xander said patting Giles’ back. Dawn threw him a hopeful smile. “Now if I can just get over imagery and envy of Spike’s bamboo stick, I’ll be ok.” He said as he now followed Giles out of the basement. Dawn looked to him then, as she too following him and Giles out.

“Spike’s what?”

“I’ll just let big sis explain that one to you.” Xander said, and Dawn simply looked back to her sister and her friends who still stood silently in the basement, looking anywhere but at each other. Dawn then softly began to sing to her self.

“Where do we go from here…”

To Be Continued….

(Next episode: ‘Rebuilding’, part 2 of ‘Changes’)

“She didn’t happen to say when she’d be back?” Spike asked with a sigh.



“No,” Dawn replied as she sat across from him, dealing another hand of rummy. “Sorry, she’s been kind of avoidy girl huh?” Spike simply arched a brow to say yes. “You guys…”Dawn hesitated unsure of how to ask what she feared most. “Uhm, you’re not breaking up are you?



“No, pet.” Spike assured, but then his eyes grew large and locked with hers. “Why did Buffy say something to you?”



“No, No!” Dawn said shaking her head. “She loves you Spike, it’s just…”



“She feels I betrayed her.” Spike finished.



“Yeah.” Dawn agreed as she looked sadly at the vampire across from her. “It’s silly really, I mean it’s not like you or Willow had control over your actions, which is why it’s called possession, duh.” Spike smiled at the teenager sweetly.



“I think big sis, needs a little space.” Spike said as if he had finally accepted it. Dawn’s eyes grew wide.



“And are you gonna give it to her? How…you…you live here now, remember?”



“Yeah I remember, though don’t remember how that happened exactly.” Spike said funneling his brow and thinking on it for a second. “But I might as well be back in my own place, I hardly ever see Buffy anymore, and when I do it’s usually when she’s heading out.”



“So what, you don’t have to leave,” Dawn said with a pleading look on her face. “I’m still here.”



“I know Nibblet, but I think it’s for the best. We’ll still have our Thursday dinner and movie night, like always.” Spike said trying to Aleve the girl’s stress, but failing.



“Oh, great.” Dawn said with no enthusiasm as she stood and made for the stairs.



“Hey we haven’t finished the game yet.”



“I don’t want to play anymore. Besides you need to pack right?” Dawn threw over her shoulder as she headed upstairs. Spike sighed heavily as he watched her.



~~~~



“I’m home!” Buffy called out as she entered the house, dropping the bag of weapons she had taken with her.



“Who cares?!” Came the reply from the kitchen. Wrinkling her brow and poking out her lips, Buffy walked into the kitchen.



“Wow, I’m feeling the sisterly love, what did I do now?” Buffy said as she entered the room. She leaned on the doorframe and watched her sister who sat sulking at the island, eating cereal.



“What you always do,” Dawn said and then she looked up and shot her sister a glare that caused the slayer to feel a little uneasy. “He left.”



“What, who le…” And then realization struck and Buffy swallowed at the lump that was now in her throat. “Oh.” She said feeling numb as she simply stared off.



~~~~



“Well look what we have here.” The vamp said as he appeared from the shadows, running his tongue across his fangs. “Where are you off to little red riding hood?”



“Uh…” She looked around as she began taking steps backward. “I…”



“Off to grandma’s house?” The vamp stated for her. “Well guess what baby, I’m the big bad wolf, and I’m so hungry.”



“Well there’s a Sizzlers just down the road there, or you could try DMP, though I don’t recommend it.” Another voice said from behind the girl. She quickly turned her eyes large with fear, but instantly relaxed as she stared into familiar eyes.



“Hey dude, you really don’t want any of me, so just walk away.” The Vamp said.



“Yes, I can assure you, you’re quite right, I really don’t want ‘any’ part of you, but you see the ladies a friend.” He said and then vamped out himself. “Now we can all just walk away, or I could kill you.” He said with such convictions that the other vamp backed off.



“Hey whatever man, she not much of a treat anyway, too skinny for my taste.” The vamp said as he walked off in the opposite direction.



“Hey!” The girl cried after him. “I am too, tasty.” She declared very offended.



“Yes you are a yummy treat, but you really shouldn’t announce it, especially to those who want to eat you.”



“Oh yeah.” She said suddenly shy. “Uhm, thanks Spike.” She said avoiding his eyes.



“Yeah, so what are you doing out and about, at night, by yourself.” She rolled her eyes at him.



“Oh stop it you’re beginning to sound like Xander.”



“Ok Red, no need for insults.” Spike said causing Willow to giggle.



“I just needed some air, and there just wasn’t enough in my big, lonely dorm room.” Willow said and then looked down at her feet. “Actually I was heading over to Buffy’s but then I remembered we’re not really speaking right now. Actually it’s more like she doesn’t want to see me.” Willow said sadly.



“Yeah, I know the feeling well.” Willow now looked up at him. “I’ve moved out and back into my own place.”



“Oh God!” Willow gasped her face riddled with guilt, shock, and sadness. “All because of what happened. I can’t believe she’d dumped you over that. I mean it’s not like we did any of it on purpose, our bodies got hijacked. Now Tara’s not speaking to me anymore, and we had just begun to work things out. Now were back at square one. Buffy’s not speaking to me either and she kicks you out?” She rambled.



“Actually she didn’t kick me out, I left.” Spike said as he moved to a near by bench and sat down. Willow followed, taking a seat next to him.



“You left?” Willow asked confused. “Why?”



“She needs space, to work it all out, both of them do. Buffy and Tara, and we have to give it to them.”



“This is really hard.” Willow said with a sigh.



“Yeah it is, but we’ll all get through it, and you’ll be back with your bird, and Buffy and I…”



“No that’s not what I meant.” Willow said as she nervously fiddled with her hands.



“Oh…yeah.” Spike said and then they both sat in silence staring up at the stars.



~~~~



“He left me. ‘He’ left me.” Buffy said as she paced about her room. “And now Dawn hates me, and we’ll have to go back on a tight budget, Spike was so good with the bills, and he helped me pay them all. And…and Dawn hates me…”Buffy repeated as she plopped down on her bed and looked at her oldest and dearest friend. “And I really miss him. Oh Mr. Gordo what am I gonna do?” She cried as she grasped the plush toy and held it close to her heart.



~~~~



“God are you gonna be this entertaining the whole day, cause I gotta tell you I won’t be able to contain my glee if you do.” Nicky said sarcastically. Spike simply sighed and kept walking through the murky sewer waters. He and Nicky had been assigned the sewers below ‘Big Al’s’ condos. There were demon activities down there and they were scaring off existing and potential tenants, which was not good for business. “What no wisecrack, or sarcasm? Man ever since you’ve come back from your two month’s vacation, you sure are boring.”



“Sorry.” Spike said as he stepped on a rat, which Nicky frowned at.



“So what’s the deal, what has Buffy done now? She dumped you again?”



“No I left.”



“What?” Nicky stopped in her tracks and stared after him in disbelief. “Why would you do that after finally getting her to admit she has feelings for you and all. Oh God am I gonna have to listen to you whine about the ‘Bitch’ again?”



“No, I don’t know. I mean this time I really didn’t do anything wrong. Red and I got our bodies snatched by a couple of spirits, and well they made us do things to each other that under normal circumstances, would never have happened.”



“Things like what?” Nicky probed further.



“Oh you know, kill vamps, kiss, me feeding on her while nearly having sex, trying to open the hell mouth, things like that…” spike blurted out.



“Whoa…wait a minute. You fed on her during a sexual act. Isn’t that like a mating ritual for vamps?” Spike simply groaned. “Whoa, Willow’s now your mate?”



“NO! We didn’t actually have sex; Buffy and Xander stopped the spirits before they could. So the mating act was never completed. But there’s still a connection.”



“Wow, I bet Buffy’s pissed about it huh?”



“Yeah, and I don’t understand why.” Spike said.



“Well, if you were my man, if I ever liked men that is, and you were as great as you claim you are. I wouldn’t want to share you with anyone, especially not my best friend.” Nicky stated as she began moving through the tunnels again.



“But it didn’t mean anything.” Spike declared as he flung his arms in the air, frustrated.



“It didn’t, then why did ‘you’ leave?”



“Because I knew Buffy was upset, and she needed her space to get over everything.”



“But according to you, there’s nothing to get over, cause it didn’t mean anything. Hmmm…Spike me thinks you protest too much.”



“Ok, if you’re gonna quote Shakespeare, do it right, and I’m not protesting too much of anything.”



“Ok, tell the truth then,” Nicky said turning to face him now. “You don’t remember anything that happened while these spirits had your body? You don’t remember touching Willow, tasting her?”



“Yeah, I remembered all of it.” Spike said with a heavy sigh as he looked down at a rat running through a crack in the wall.



“And how did it feel?”



~~~~



“It was Great!” Willow exclaimed excitedly. Her face lit up as she talked to Xander.



“What was great?” Buffy asked as she came and stood near the table where Willow and Xander sat chatting.



“Buffy, hey I didn’t know you were here.” Willow said nervously as she acknowledged her.



“Why, am I not supposed to be?” Buffy asked with arched brow, a contrast to Willow’s, which were now bunched up.



“No…no, ah…It’s just…I haven’t seen you in awhile, is all.” Willow quickly said.



“Oh, I’ve been busy, working and trying to get back into the school schedule, I’m a college girl again.” Buffy said.



“Oh yeah, I forgot. And how is that coming.” Xander asked as Willow sat with a saddened look on her face.



“Same as before, you know I’m kind of lost, but Tara is helping me, which is great.”



“I didn’t know you were back in school.” Willow said her face still in a frown.



“Yep, Tara helped me out with the re-admission forms and tests.” Buffy said.



“Oh…that’s wonderful Buffy.” Willow said forcing a smile, which Buffy matched.



“Thanks, so what was so great?”



“Oh Will was just telling me about the new ‘Scooby-Doo’ movie. She saw it last night.” Xander answered.



“Oh, really. Spike was gonna take me and Dawn sometime.” Buffy said and Willow instantly tensed up at hearing the name. “So it was great huh?”



“Uh…well, yeah. They so got Scooby and Shaggy down, but the rest of them were kind of lame. Oh especially Daphne, she was like an airhead in the movie. She did kick a lot of butt, but to be a red head, she acted like a total blonde, uhm no offense.” Willow said.



“None taken. Buffy said smiling a bit.



“Yeah that comment only offends natural blondes, and we all know that Buffy…” Xander didn’t get to finish the comment before getting a smack to the head from Buffy. “Awww!”



“Anyway,” Buffy said shooting Xander a warning glare. “Why did Giles call us all here, we got a new big bad I need to take out?”



“Don’t know, he said he wanted to wait until we all got here, and now that you’re here all we need is Spike, where is he by the way. He’s usually right up your butt.” Xander said getting another smack up side the head. “Awww!”



“I don’t know where Spike is.” Buffy said in a huff as she walked off to the counter.



“Oh he said he’ll be here around 3 today. He said he and Nicky had to work the sewers today.” Willow said without thinking, but the look of interest from Xander, and the death glares from Buffy told her she shouldn’t have said anything.



“When did you see Spike?” Buffy asked crossing her arms across her chest.



“Oh…uhm…Last night…I was walking…Vamps attacked…Spike saved me,”



“And he just happened to throw in between punches that he was gonna be here around 3?” Buffy inquired more.



“Ah, no,” Willow said nervously. “We sort of talked some afterwards, and then we…” At that moment Spike walked though the basement door. He looked about the room and noted the faces staring at him. Xander was a pleased look, while Buffy was one of anger and Willow one of fear.



“What happened is the bit ok?” Spike asked as he rushed into the room.



“Oh yeah Dawn is great, she hates me right now, but she’s all good. Willow was just telling us about your date last night.” Buffy said in a near hiss. Spike eyes grew large at the implication.



“What! It wasn’t a date Buffy, we just went to the movies is all, as friends.” Spike defended, as Buffy’s eyes grew abnormally large, and then became watery.



“Which I hadn’t got around to telling her about yet.” Willow said.



“You took her to the movies,” Buffy asked and then turned to Willow. “You saw Scooby-Doo with him? That’s just great.” Buffy said and then turned and made her way to the door, just as Giles walked in from the back of the store.



“Buffy!” Willow called after her friend feeling the need to explain.



“Oh good you’re all here.” Giles said as Buffy walked out slamming the door. “Or not, where’s Buffy going?” Giles asked as he looked to each of the faces in the room.



“I better go after her.” Willow said as she headed towards the door, but Spike quickly grasped her wrist, which sent a shock through them both.



“No,” Spike said as he began panting. He swiftly released Willow knowing that touching her was having an affect on him. “She’s upset right now, and when she’s like that there’s only two things that can calm her; sex and violence. Preferably at the same time…”



“Ok please no visuals, I just ate.” Xander threw out.



“My point is,” Spike said rolling his eyes at him. “Confronting a brassed off slayer is not a good idea, especially if you’re the one she’s brassed off at, believe I know.”



~~~~



“We’ve found her hang outs, and we can grab her whenever you want.”



“Good. I want you to bring her to me tonight. You can go now.” The other men left the room, leaving the warlock alone in his thoughts. “Yeah I got a craving for some strawberries.” Rack said with a chuckle.



~~~~



“Man look at us. Two good looking people, all alone at the Bronze.” Xander said sadly to his best friend who sat across from him.



“Yeah we are major losers. I mean we both had great people in our lives, who loved us. And what do we do, we let our fear and weakness run them off. Well in your case, run you off.” Willow stated and Xander simply nodded. “I miss Tara.”



“Yeah me too.” Xander said. “I mean I miss Anya.” Willow smiled sweetly at him.



“Have you heard from her lately?”



“Oh yeah I see her all the time at the Magic Box, when she’s there that is. We don’t talk because I’m usually outside staring in on her. She comes to the shop for the evening shift, and closes up. I don’t think she’s ready to face you guys yet.”



“Why not she didn’t do anything wrong, you were the dumb ass who left her at the alter.”



“Thank you for the reminding there Will, you’re a good friend.”



“I’m sorry Xander, but ‘at the alter’.” Willow reiterated



“You’re right.” Xander said as if realization finally struck. He then let his head hit the table. “Oh God she will never forgive me, she’s never coming back.” After a long silence Xander looked up. “That was your cue to pat me on the back, and tell me it’s gonna be ok, Will. Willow?” Xander looked to the empty chair and then scoped the room. He stood hoping to spot where she had gone to, it was not like her to just walk off without saying anything. Suddenly he spotted her with a couple of guys heading out the door. “Willow!” Xander rushed after them, pushing his way through the crowded dance floor. Once he got outside he saw no signs of Willow or her entourage.



~~~~



“Do you have anything yet?” Buffy asked as she and Dawn rushed into the shop to find Xander, Giles, and Tara all sitting about the table.



“Buffy good you’re here, didn’t know if you were going to make it.” Xander said.



“What! Of course I came, Willow’s still my best friend even if I’m kind of mad at her right now, I still love her.”



“Good, glad to know and I hope that applies to Spike, cause I called him, and he’s on his way here too.” Buffy swallowed the lump in her throat.



“That’s fine, he may be able to call in some favors in the demon world and find out something.” Buffy said. “So what do you guys have so far?”



“Well, I tried to do a location spell, but it didn’t work. Someone or something has put a counter spell around Willow.” Tara said.



“So were dealing with witches?” Xander asked.



“Close, but the correct answer is Warlock.” Spike said as he came through the basement door. “One in particular.”



“Rack.” Buffy said knowing. Spike nodded his head.



~~~~



“I thought you’d come back to me on your on. Amy told me you were trying to quit cold Turkey, but still I figured that you’d come back.” Rack said as he reached out and stroked her soft, silky hair.



“I didn’t…I don’t want to use anymore. Please, please don’t make me.” Willow pleaded as her tears streamed down her face. “Please.”



“Shhh…I’m not gonna make you use.” He said as he placed a finger to her lips to silence her. “I just thought since you’re not gonna be using anymore, you wouldn’t mind if I got another taste. It would be a shame to let it go to waste.” His hand shot out to Willow’s chest, and a bright red glowing light emerged there.



“Ahhhhhhh!!!”



~~~~



“Ahgggggrrr.” Spike growled dropping his head into his hand. All eyes fell to him.



“Spike, what’s wrong?” Dawn asked fear and concern in her voice. Spike lifted his head, his face in full vamp mode. Dawn stepped back some.



“He’s hurting her, we need to get to her.” Spike said.



“H…how do you know that?” Tara asked. Spike shook back his demon and his face melted into it’s human façade.



“I can feel it.” He said point blank.



“How?” Xander asked still unclear.



“When we were possessed by the spirits, the one in my body, he fed on her.”



“Oh God.” Buffy said as she plopped down in a nearby seat.



“What? What does that mean?” Dawn asked.



“Nothing, it’s just that…for vampires when we find someone we want to be with forever, eternally, we can calm them as a mate.”



“Oh dear lord.” Giles said as he began to understand.



“There’s a mating ritual, it involve the drinking of blood and sex.”



“Oh.” Tara stated realization dawning.



“Great Jabba the hut!” Xander exclaimed. “Please don’t tell me you made Willow your mate.”



“No…’I’ didn’t do anything, first of all. Secondly the ritual was never completed, remember you two barged in.”



“You sound disappointed.” Buffy said.



“Buffy, that not…” Spike pursed his lips and sighed deeply in order to keep his temper in check. “I didn’t want that to happen, neither did Willow, I was aware that it was happening, but I couldn’t do anything, I couldn’t move, all I could do, all we could do was feel. Like I said before the ritual wasn’t completed, but there’s still a link between us now. Probably due to the fact that there was drinking of blood, and heavy sexual arousal. I do know that because it was an incomplete mating this link won’t last long, but while it’s here, it’s the only way we’re gonna find Willow.”



“Fine,” Buffy said coldly. “We’ll split up, we already know that only witches, vamps, and other demons can find Rack’s place, and that it moves around a lot. So, Xander you and Tara head up town, and Spike and I will go down town. Dawn you stay here with Giles.”



“And what are we looking for exactly?” Xander asked. “I mean how will we know if we find it, and what do we do when we find it?”



“It a hot spot, literally. Tara you’ll feel it. When you do call us, I have my cell. You wait on us to get there ok.” Spike said and both Tara and Xander nodded.



~~~~



“Are you gonna give me the silent treatment forever love?” Spike asked as he and Buffy walked the darkened streets. Buffy simply kept walking beside him silently. “I love you.” He said more softly and Buffy shut her eyes, forcing back her tears, which threatened to fall.



“Do you love her too?” Buffy finally asked.



“Who? Willow?” Spike stopped in his tracks, and then grasped Buffy by the arms and turned her to face him. “Baby no, I don’t love her. I’m not gonna lie and say that there’s no attraction, but it’s due to the mating process, when our link dissolve so will the attraction, and the want. But I only love you, always.”



“Then why the hell didn’t you want to mate with me?” Buffy asked in a near yell as her tears now poured from her eyes. Spike stood for a moment shocked.



“What? Buffy, you wanted me to bite you?” Spike smiled a bit, touched by the revelation.



“Yeah, I mean is that so disgusting a thought for you?”



“No, not at all love. It’s just…” He paused looking for the right words. “Mating is a way to ensure that you’ll want, desire your mate forever. Once you’re mated you belong to that person forever and vice versa, you do understand?”



“Oh I see and the thought of being mated to me that long is so horrible.”



“No love,” Spike spoke more softly. “With you the mating ritual would be simply pointless. I always desire you, and will always want to be with you, forever. Mating with you will only ensure that ‘you’ feel the same about me, forever. Are you sure that’s something that you’d want, to be linked to me forever?” Buffy looked to him, smiling a bit now. She began to speak but was cut off. “Ahhhggggrr!” Spike yelled as he fell to the ground.



“Spike what is it?” Buffy asked kneeling beside him.



“Willow! She’s near, oh God he’s taking too much, he’s going to kill her.” He said as he got to his feet again, his demon resurfaced. He walked a few steps forward, reaching out his hand, which disappeared suddenly. “Here.” Buffy watched wide-eyed as Spike completely disappeared. After a few seconds his head and hand re-emerged. “Come on love.”



~~~~~



“Oh strawberry, you taste so good.” Rack said as he lay back, looking up at the girl who dangled, seemingly lifeless, in the air.



“Well, I hope you got as good taste, cause it’s gonna be your last.” Buffy said as she and Spike rushed into the room.



“Oh it’s the Slayer and…Spike,” Rack said with a chuckle as he slowly began to stand. “Damn, looks like we’re gonna have to cut this short strawberry, and you’re sooo ripe too.” He said with a pout.



“So you’re the one that got Willow all doped up causing her to nearly kill herself, and ‘my sister’? Oh I’m gonna enjoy kicking your ass.” Buffy declared as she moved to him.



“Oh but I think not today.” Rack said as he and the room they stood in began to fade. Willow suddenly began to fall, but Spike easily caught her. Both Buffy and Spike looked around the empty back alley they now stood in.



~~~~~



I Remember you

Do you remember me too

Born on the 14th of July

The smell of Roses made her cry



Cause I would give everything that I own

I’d give you my heart, and this skin, and these bones

The sun, the moon, the earth, the sky

And never even stop to wonder why



I would do anything

I would give everything

To be your everything



(Tara sat on the hospital bed with Willow, they talked and laughed. They told each other all that they had missed while they were apart. After an awkward moment of silence, Tara reached out and gently tucked a stray hair behind Willow’s ear. Willow gave her a weak, yet sweet smile, and then Tara leaned in and kisses her. The kiss quickly deepened)



Seems like such a long, long time

Since your body crossed my mind

But I think that you should know

It wasn’t I who had to go



Cause I would give everything that I own

I’d give you my love and this heart made of stone

The sun, the moon, the earth, the sky

The motorcycle that I‘d like to ride



I would do anything

I would give everything

To be your everything



(Buffy sat astride Spike both glistened with her sweat, both moaned and gasped in pleasure, and both locked on to each other’s gaze, as she slowly moved up and down upon him. They had been entangled in each other’s arms since arriving home from the hospital. They both began to feel the waves crashing around them began to build, and they knew soon it would over take them. Spike’s grip on Buffy’s hip tightened, as her bucking became more fevered and wild. Buffy leaned in a kissed him softly, never taking her eyes from his. She then moved back and reached up and moved her wet tresses from her shoulder, exposing her neck. Spike, without protest, vamped out and swiftly sank his fangs into the soft, tender flesh, which sent them both over the cliff of complete ecstasy.)



But if ever you should stray

Just sing along and I will play

Or look into your hands

I’m slipping through them

Like a tiny grain of sand



I remember you

Do you remember me too

Since like such along, long time

Since I held you near

And called you mine



Cause I would give everything that I own

Give you my heart, and this skin, and these bones

The sun, the moon, the earth, the sky

A brand new car you and I can drive



I would do anything

I would give everything

To be your everything



(Xander sadly watched Anya through the window of the Magic Box. He took a deep breath as if obtaining courage, he then moved to the door, and entered the shop. For what seemed like endless seconds they both stood, simply staring at the other, speechless. Xander made the first move, quickly he moved o her, and grasped her into his arms. He kissed her deeply, passionately, and poured all of his emotions into. After a weak attempt to struggle, Anya returned the kissed. As the Kiss deepened, so did their hands grope and pull, and they sank to the floor.)



I would do anything

I would give everything

To be your everything…



~~Song: ‘Everything’~~

~~Sung by: ‘StereoFuse’~~





Fin



(On to the next story: ‘Your Worst Nightmare’)