Chapter One

Suddenly knowing with complete certainty that it was what she should do, Buffy kissed her sister goodbye and launched herself out into the opening portal. Instantly she was caught up in light and…

She opened her eyes, but found it hard to focus. Everything was too bright, so she shut them again, and tried to remember what happened. It all hit her at once: the knowledge, and the emotion of it. She was dead, but she'd saved the world. Dawn was safe.

Someone was calling her – speaking her name.

"Buffy, sweetie, I'm so proud of you."

Tentatively she opened her eyes once more, but this time they flooded with tears as she caught sight of what was before her. Of who was before her.

"Mommy!" she sobbed, as an immense awareness of love enveloped her from all sides, and washed her sadness away.

"I'm here, my brave girl," said Joyce.

"Mom, wow, this is amazing, this is…" she looked at her mother in confusion. She couldn't believe it.

"Heaven," Joyce finished for her.

Buffy was speechless. Everything was beautiful. Perfect.

As she looked around another person appeared, beside her mom. She felt like she recognized her, but didn't know how.

"There's someone you should meet," Joyce told her. "This is Anne."

"You're Spike's mom," said Buffy, while shaking her head.

"That's right," Anne confirmed. "In this realm there is no barrier to knowledge. You know all, and you know me, but you do not understand, yet. It will come."

The Slayer was still shaking her head. "But how? Your soul – you were a vampire."

Even as she asked questions, about things she previously had no awareness of, Buffy got the answers. She said them aloud, to herself, in an effort to process them.

"You died, and your soul came here. It was gone, by the time you woke up undead."

Anne nodded and smiled at her, waiting for the next revelation hit.

Again tears fell down Buffy's cheeks, when it did.

"Spike's soul is here."

"To take back with you," Joyce explained.

Buffy nodded. For a second time that day, she had complete certainty about what she must do.

"Thank you," she said, to both Joyce and Anne – kissing each of them on the cheek – before taking the glowing orb of energy in her hand, and walking back through the portal.

Her eyes shot open. She was on the ground, and it hurt. It didn't matter. She pushed the pain aside, and sat up. Around her were her friends. Giles, stood above her. Willow and Tara, leaning on each other. Xander, carrying Anya. Dawn, descending the stairs. Spike, sobbing, on the ground. Buffy was overwhelmed with the love she felt for him, in that moment. She looked away. It wasn't time yet.

They were all completely frozen in shock. No one moved as she hauled herself to her feet, and walked into her watcher's waiting embrace. As they stood there, hugging silently, the others came and joined in. Everyone except the Vampire, of course. The sun was rising, and he had to step back instead of forward - hide himself in the shadows. Buffy could feel his eyes on her, but still she didn't look back at him. She waited, until the situation had calmed a little, and the group broke apart. Once everyone was sure all was well they began to go home, to tend to their wounds. Buffy asked Willow and Tara to take Dawn, and they all looked at her, in confusion and concern, but she said there was a final bit of her mission she must complete, and that everyone should meet at her house later, when they had rested. Eventually they all had walked from the scene, and the Slayer allowed herself to turn back to her Vampire. In silence they locked eyes, and she approached him. Both shaking, she reached out her hand to him, and he stared at it – eyes wide – like it were something special. She supposed the gesture was special, to him. She never would have touched him before. No matter how much she'd always wanted to.

"It's okay," Buffy told him, softly. He gulped, and finally took her hand. She pulled him to his feet, and they made for the tunnels. Once there he stopped, and looked back at her.

"Buffy?"

"Wait," she said.

He nodded, but continued to look troubled. Tightening her hand in his, they walked on.

While looking forward, instead of at her, he said, "I really thought I'd lost you."

"I know," she replied. She wanted to say so much more – desperately – but not in the sewers of the Hellmouth.

Back in her home, it was still obvious how much being invited in meant to Spike. When they were sitting – still with their hands joined – she simply stated, "You got your one good day."

"You-" he began, then shook his head. "You were gone, I knew it. Buffy, I'm sorry!"

"Sshhh," she said. "It's okay."

"No. I could have stopped it," he insisted.

With a small smile she shook her head at him.

"I don't understand."

"I was in heaven," she told him. "I got this."

Holding out her other hand – the one not clasped with his – he could see light streaming from it. He knew, instinctively, what it was.

Buffy continued, "It's yours, if you want it, but you don't have to."

"I don't… Buffy, I don't-"

"The soul will make things easier for you… For us. But I want you to have a choice. I want you to know that I believe you – that you could love completely without it. Be good without it. And-" she looked away, and took a deep breath, to build her courage. "I want you to know that I love you, whether you take it or not."

His eyes grew even wider. They searched hers, for signs of mocking, or evidence that it was all a dream.

"Buffy-" he began again, but was cut off as she pressed her lips to his.

To be continued...