“Okay, you take the 30,000 on the left...” Gun clasping his bleeding side.  

“You're fading. You'll last 10 minutes at best.” Illyria stated bluntly. 

“Then let's make it memorable” giving her a weak smirk as he tried to stay standing.

Spike turned toward Angel “And in terms of a plan?”

“We fight.”

“Bit more specific.”

"Well personally... I kinda want to slay the dragon.” He paused watching the demons continuing their assault. 

“Let’s go to work.” Lifting his long sword and running into the fray. 

The demons charged. The little group was still greatly outnumbered and out sized.

Spike muttered under his breath “Great stupid Poof.”

“Mind if I play?” Spike vaguely heard the voice but was preoccupied with a smaller demon to recognize it. 

Occasionally catching glimpses of demon after demon falling to the ground. A rush of bodies stormed the battlefield helping the warrior on their side.  Maybe just maybe we have a chance now, he thought. 

When the alley filled with a blindingly bright light he could only cover his eyes. The world seemed to still and quiet in a moment. With the light receding he could see every demon was gone. 

“What the bloody hell was that?”

“Spike?”

“Yeah.” He had been too distracted by the fact he wasn’t about to be killed to notice the other players on the field. Until now. It’s her.

“Oh my god, Spike. You’re alive.”

“Buffy.” He whispered. They stood a few feet apart, staring into each others eyes unmoving. 

“Hey, you came for our party.” Angle chided Buffy trying to break the silence. 

Bloody Hell man, Spike thought none too pleased with the interruption of her focus. 

“What? Uh yeah, heard you could use a hand. I’m always up for an apocalypse.”

 She keeps staring at me not him. Spike keenly aware of her.

“Anyone hurt? We should get back to the hotel we’ve got enough room for everyone.”

“He will not make the trip.” Illyria stated nodding in Gunn‘s direction. 

“Xander help me.” A weakened Willow went to Gunn placing her hand on his forehead. She muttered something under her breath and his wounds diminished. 

“Is that everyone?” Buffy called out.

No one answered “Then let’s get out of here.” Angel said leading the way. 

********

Stunned. 

Buffy could not even begin to fathom this night. Spike. He’s alive. A distant memory of Xander standing in Giles’ old apartment faded into her thoughts. “How? What? How?” Buffy smiled to herself at the bittersweet moment from about four years ago when she found herself momentarily engaged to Spike, and strangely happier than she had been since Angel.  Four years. A lifetime ago. So much had happened since then. So much loss. Tara. Anya. 

Spike. 

Buffy kept to her thoughts to process what was going on as quickly as possible. 

Spike is alive. How?

I love Spike. Does he still love me?

What do we do now?

Facts only brought more questions none of which she could answer now. But someone knows about Spike’s reappearance. And I will get answers. 

********

All the living staff of Angel Investigations, and the Scooby’s filled the lobby of the Hyperion. Each group sticking to a side of the room, the only one not choosing a side and lurking in the shadows of the office was the resident bleach blond vampire. This was not going to be a pleasant chat. 

Buffy was flanked by Xander, an energy depleted Willow, and Andrew. 

“So what brought you guys to town?”

“Giles and Willow are friends of a coven,” giving a nod to the red headed witch resting on the couch. “They saw something big going down. So we hopped a planed and here we are.”

 “What was with that light? Not that I’m complaining, but shouldn’t the two vamps be dead along with the demons.” Gunn broke in. 

Willow straightened up a little, “Yes, but I modified the spell not to harm anyone who was on the good side. I asked the coven to put a protection spell over all of you until we could get this sorted out.” 

Annoyed by the interruption at his conversation with Buffy, he interrupted the pair speaking. “You didn’t call. Some warning would have been good.” 

 “You don’t want to start with me on who didn’t call whom.” The tiny blonde’s voice clearly marked with a tone warning of her struggle to control her anger, a struggle which was not on Angel’s side. 

Deciding it was in his best interest to drop it, as he could feel the tension and fury coming off of Buffy. “So you said we need to talk. What can I help you with?”

Buffy raised an eyebrow and Angel knew a little too late that this was not the right thing to say to the obviously furious slayer. “Oh I don’t know. How about you and Spike tell me about what the hell he’s doing here?” Pointing to the office but her angry eyes never leaving Angel’s. “That would be nice to know. Since he died a year ago, imagine that I am a bit surprised that he’s standing over there.” 

“Okay about that-Spike get out here.”

The blond sneered at being ordered. “I am not your servant or crony to be summoned.” He took a cautious step into the main area of the room. Noticing for the first time a few of the group who were not there. His face grew strained in a look of horror he tried to cover but couldn’t. 

“Spike what is it?” Buffy’s demeanor towards him softer and less volatile than it had been towards Angel. 

“Bit. Did- I mean… What happened at the hellmouth?”

“Oh God. NO! No Dawn’s in London. She’s in school and I didn’t want to drag her away for this when she probably wouldn’t be able to do much.” Pausing at his obvious relief. “We lost some of the girls, and Anya, and you. But I guess not you. Robin was hurt pretty badly but he’s alive. He and Faith ended up in Ohio at the new hellmouth.”

“Now,” turning back towards Angel with the anger back in full force. “What happened after the hellmouth?”

“The amulet-“

“The one you gave me.”

“Yeah, well I got it in the mail one day and then Spike just reappeared. There was a spell so he couldn’t leave the building, then he could leave and we had this apocalypse and he stayed to help or die really.” 

“But that was months ago.” Andrew’s meager voice chimed in. 

“What do you mean? Andrew.” 

“Well ah, when uh I was here for the crazy slayer, well Spike was here.” 

“How long after Sunnydale did Spike reappear as you put it?”

“I don’t really remember exactly.”

Illira offered the information. “From my memory of the other’s life, it was less than one month’s time.”

Buffy turned to Illyria “Thank you.” She stared at the ground for a minute, then standing up “Angel. Office NOW!” She stormed towards the room. 

“Buffy I am not the one you’re angry with.”

“At the moment you are.”She paused before continuing to the office. 

“You better go man. If you make her wait no telling how much worse it’s going to be.” Gunn offered honestly. 

The dark vampire followed after her, not looking forward to being locked in a room with a vengeful slayer. Even if she was his ex. That may not work in my favor tonight. She slammed the door behind him. 

“Hell hath no fury. Thank god I’m not one of you three losers.” Gunn laughed.

“Come again? She’s mad at him.” Spike said. 

“Only at the moment. When she’s done tearing into him who do you think she’s going to go after next? You probably for not calling and little pipsqueak there for knowing and not saying.” 

You are so buggered mate. Thinking it best not to press his luck Spike started upstairs to avoid what confrontation may come to him. Not that she can’t very well find you in here if she wants too. “If she wants too. That’s the whole point isn’t it?”

“Spike.” Willow’s soft voice halting his escape. 

“Yeah Red.” 

Joining him on the stairs. “It’s probably not my place but Buffy-she’s had a really hard time since you,” pausing to think over her words. “Since you disappeared. For what it’s worth, we’ve all missed you being around.” 

“All?”

“Okay not so much Xander, but me, Buffy, Dawn. It wasn’t the same without you.” 

Immediately she went back to her seat. 

Spike wasn’t sure what that was about. Doesn’t matter, he decided. Yet he knew it did.