Disclaimer – I do not in any way own anything that you already know was created by the brilliant Joss Whedon. I am merely a crazed, obsessed fan who isn't absolutely sure that she spelled the afore-mentioned genius's name correctly...

Summary - When the Wolfram & Hart team is informed that another Hellmouth is about to eat Europe, Spike and Angel are sent to save the world. Will they be able to fly across the Atlantic w/o killing each other? What will Buffy say when she sees Spike? Better yet, who's going to have to burn and die this time?..

-15 Reasons to Stay in America-

Chapter 1 - Omen-Bringing Dead Men

"I love you..."

"No you don't, but thanks for saying it.."

The smell of pancakes filled the damp morning air. It filled the small house, wafting up the stairs and into the bedrooms.
But it wasn't enough to wake Buffy.
She was tossing and turning under her covers, her body covered in sweat.
"Buffy!" a voice called up the steps, "Buffy!"
Dawn stood at the bottom of the steps, pacing impatiently.
Willow came around the corner holding a plate of pancakes, "Is she up yet?" she asked as she shoved a forkful in her mouth.
Dawn sighed, "No!" she said irritated, "How am I supposed to get to school if she doesn't get up? It's Buffy's day to drive and Xander's working!"
Willow rolled her eyes, "I'll go get her," she said, shoving the plate of pancakes into Dawn's hands, "Eat something while you're waiting."
Willow disappeared up the stairs, leaving Dawn with the pancakes. She looked down at them and then shrugged, stabbing a piece and putting it in her mouth.
Meanwhile, Willow had reached the top of the stairs and made it into Buffy's room where she was still tossing and turning in her nightmare.
Willow rushed to her bedside and gently shook her shoulder, "Buffy! Wake up! You're dreaming again! It's just a dream!"
Buffy sat bolt upright with a loud gasp. Her brow was covered it sweat and the sheets were tangled around her legs. She looked around with wide eyes before she moaned and fell back on the pillows, covering her head with the sheets.
Willow sighed, "Bad night?" she asked.
Buffy nodded and pulled the sheet down, "You have no idea."
Willow raised the corner of her mouth, "Slayer dreams?" she asked.
Buffy sighed, "Yea...slayer dreams," she lied and sat up.
She yawned and stretched her arms over her head, "What time is it?" she asked trough her yawn.
"Eight o'clock," Willow answered.
"What!?" Buffy's eyes widened and she jumped out of bed, "I have to get Dawn to school! Why didn't anyone wake me up! She's going to be late again!" she ran around her room picking up random articles of clothing and pulling them on.
So far she had managed to pull on a pair of navy blue sweat pants, a hot pink T-shirt, two different colored socks, and a sneaker.
Willow cringed and rushed to her. She grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her lightly, "Buffy! Calm down!" she said.
Buffy looked at her blankly.
"Look, I'll get Dawn to school, okay?" she started.
"No, no, you don't have to do that," Buffy said, looking around for a scrunchie.
"Yes I do," Willow said.
Buffy looked back at her. Willow sighed.
"Listen, Buffy, don't take this personally, but you're a wreck, "Willow said, "You've been working so hard to train these slayers, I really think it's starting to take a toll on your health! I mean, it's all you do!"
Buffy huffed, "That's not all I do. And for your information, I am perfectly healthy," she said matter-of-factly.
"Really?" Willow said, crossing her arms, "When was the last time you went shopping?"
Buffy opened her mouth to answer, and then realized she didn't have one.
Willow nodded, "See! The only thing you've done since Sunnydale became crater-ville is work."
Buffy shrugged, "So?" she asked quietly, "I'm just very focused. I mean, I don't mean to flatter myself, but my job is pretty important to the existence of Earth," she pulled her other sneaker on.
Willow sighed, "But that doesn't mean you have to give up everything."
"Guys! It's ten after!" Dawn called up the stairs eagerly.
Buffy sighed and walked past Willow.
"No," Willow caught her arm.
Buffy looked at her confused.
"Listen," Willow said, "Here's what we're going to do. I'm going to take Dawn to school and while I'm gone I want you to shower and get yourself all made up. When I get back we're going to go out to...anywhere. Shopping, the movies, anything. We're just going to get you out of this house, do you understand?" she asked, pointing a finger at her warningly.
"But the slay--," Buffy started.
Willow shook her head, "The slayers will be fine. They're big girls! They can take care of themselves for a few hours."
"But I--"
"Look, if it bothers you that much, I promise to have you home by dinner. Okay?"
Buffy shook her head.
Willow sighed, "Buffy, I'm only doing this because I'm worried about you. You've been different since Spi--" Willow caught the words in her throat, "Well, I mean since what happened in Sunnydale with the whole 'Spike burning to save the world' and you know...."
Buffy sighed, "Will, I'm fine okay? That was a long time ago. And if it'll make you feel better we'll go out this afternoon okay? But we have to be back by dinner. I can't risk leaving these girls alone long. We don't know what could happen."
Willow put her hands up defensively, "That's fine with me. I just want to go out and have some fun with my best friend again, that's all."
Buffy couldn't help but smile, "Alright. Are you sure you'll be okay getting Dawn to school?"
Willow nodded, "I think I can manage."
Buffy smiled, "Okay, I'll be ready by the time you're back."
"You'd better be!" Willow called as she walked out of the room and back down the stairs.
Dawn was leaning against the door with her arms crossed, looking very impatient.
"About time!" she said as Willow came down the stairs, "Where's Buffy?"
"Change of plans," Willow said, "I'm going to take you too school!" she forced the cheerful-ness.
"Oh...Buffy had a nightmare again?" Dawn said, seeing right through her act.
Willow sighed, "Yea..." her shoulders fell.
Dawn nodded and turned around, opening the door, "That's okay!" she said, trying to make Willow feel better, "I like when you take me anyway. Buffy acts all mother-ish if she takes me. You know... 'Do you have all your books? Did you get your lunch money? Remember to say no to smoking!' It gets annoying."
Willow smiled and shut the door behind her, pulling the keys to the SUV in the driveway out of her pocket, "Yea, well she only does that because she cares," she said as they climbed in it.
"Yea yea," Dawn said, rolling her eyes, but smiling at Willow.
Willow started the car and they backed out, turning in the direction of Dawn's high school.
The ride was silent for the first few minutes, but Dawn's curiosity broke it, "Do you really think that they're all slayer dreams?" the words spilled from her mouth before she could stop them.
Willow slowed before the stop light and sighed, "No," she said, leaning back and tapping her fingernails on the steering wheel. She turned to Dawn, "I used to, but then I heard her muttering one night and some of the stuff...it had nothing to do with slayers. Well, nothing I've heard of. I don't think slayers whisper 'I love you' in their dreams," her voice trailed off and she turned right as the light changed.
Dawn was staring at the floor playing with the corner of her shirt nervously, "Well, what do you think they're about?" she asked cautiously.
Willow shook her head, "I don't know. I mean, at first I thought..." she stopped herself.
Dawn finished for her though, "Spike."
"No! No. I mean...well, that's possible. But it could be anyone! Maybe Angel or...or Riley even. Not necessarily Spike!" she said, sounding as if she was still trying to convince herself.
Dawn didn't buy it though, and Willow sighed when she saw her glaring at her for trying to lie.
She sighed, "Yea. Spike's the most likely explanation," she leaned back in the seat as they pulled up in front of the school.
Dawn nodded as she reached for the door handle, "I know Willow. I'm not as naive as you guys think. I can figure things out, I'm not a kid anymore."
"I know," Willow said, tapping nervously on the steering wheel again, "It's just, I mean it's not the fact that it's Spike that bothers me. He saved the world and all, and really he wasn't that bad of a person...thing. And unlike Xander, I'll admit that maybe I had the wrong idea of him. But that's not why I'm worried. It's not good for her Dawn," she looked up at her, "It's been eight months. She's become like...this obsessive- compulsive, work-a-holic. I'm worried about her."
Dawn nodded and pushed the door open, "I know," she said. She leaned in and gave Willow a hug, "Stop worrying though, okay? Things will get better. I can feel it," she smiled weakly, even though she wasn't lying. She really did feel like things were going to change in Rome. Though she wasn't exactly sure if it was for the better.
Willow hugged her back and as Dawn shut the door and walked into the ageing stone building she sat up and sighed again, "I hope you're right, Dawnie."

-*Meanwhile, back in L.A.*-

Angel walked through Wolfram and Hart, looking very stressed, "Wesley!" he said relieved, stopping him as he walked by. He handed him a folder, "Take this to Fred will you? Tell her I just need her to do a DNA test on it."
Wesley nodded, "Right," he handed Angel a stack of papers that he had been carrying, "I need you to go through these, and sign it where the little arrow tabs are. It's the paperwork for the Cleveland set-up. Needs to be to the senior partners by six, okay?"
Angel sighed, "Great. More work. Just what I need," he scratched the back of his neck, "Okay, okay" he took the papers from Wesley, "Just, while you're out today, get me one of those little stamps with my signature on it made okay? If I have to sign any more papers, my fingers are going to fall off."
Wesley nodded, "Will do, I'll see you at the meeting this evening?"
Angel cringed, "Right...meeting. Yea."
Wesley chuckled, "See you tonight then."
"Yea," Angel muttered, "If I don't lose it and stake myself first..."
He walked into his office, looking down at the papers Wesley had just handed him. He sighed and dropped them on his desk, looking up only to see Spike sitting his his chair, contently smoking a cigarette.
"Spike," he said irritated, "Get out of my chair."
"Blow me," Spike said rudely, puffing the smoke out into the air.
Angel growled, "Spike, I don't have time for this," he said, reaching for another stack of papers on his desk.
"Hm. That's sad. I don't really give a damn though," he said, sticking the cigarette back in his mouth.
Angel took a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair to calm himself, "Spike, I really don't have time for this. What do you want?" he flipped a paper over and reached into his pocket searching for a pen.
"Oh, must take alot of energy to run the world's most evil law firm," Spike stood up and walked around the desk next to Angel.
Angel found a pen and bent down to sign the paper. When he straightened back up he was glaring at Spike, "If you've come to give me another pep talk about Wolfram and Hart, I don't have time for it," he walked around the desk and sat down in the chair.
Spike turned and leaned on the desk, putting his cigarette out on the it, "No, I personally don't care if you're running this place anymore. I'm here because something's happening."
"Yea," Angel said, "I'm so busy I'm becoming suicidal, that's what's happening," he opened his desk drawer and dug through it.
Spike rolled his eyes, "No, not that the thought of you killing yourself doesn't bring me pleasure, but I'm serious here you poof. Something's happening, something big. Like last time," he said, looking at Angel with an extremely serious expression.
Angel closed the desk drawer and looked back to his papers as if Spike hadn't even spoken.
"Are you listening?" Spike asked, irritated that Angel wasn't taking his concerns seriously.
"Yea, something's happening like last time. I heard you," Angel looked up at him, "And frankly Spike, I don't have time for your overly dramatic accusations."
Spike growled, "You can't feel it you git? It feels just like it did last time. Or are you so busy that you don't have time for the warning signs of the end of the world?"
Angel closed his eyes and quietly began counting backwards form ten.
Spike growled again and then straightened back up, turning toward the door, "Fine, don't listen to me," he said, "But when the Apocalypse comes, don't say I didn't warn you."
When he was gone, Angel gave a huge sigh of relief, "Finally," he muttered, turning back to his papers.
After a few moments he was quickly making his way through the papers, and beginning to feel like he was getting something done, when Harmony stuck her head in.
"Uh...bossy? We've got a problem," she said cautiously.
Angel groaned and laid his head on the desk, "What now..."
Angel slowly got up and headed to the door. As soon as he reached it, he knew that staking himself had become a serious option.
Standing in the lobby was a little, balding old man. He was hunched over on a cane, and looked as if he was about to break. Spike was standing there next to him, and the man was whispering intently to the vampire about something.
When Spike spotted Angel he looked at him with a satisfied, 'told-you- so' grin. Angel inwardly groaned. He could already tell that this was going to be bad.
"Um...I don't know who he is," Harmony started, "But he came in and started mumbling about something. Said he was some kind of prophet? Something about the end of the world too..." she looked at Angel confused.
Angel sighed, "Yea...I know who he is."

-*Rome*-

Buffy was out the door before Willow even blew the horn. She was looking much more presentable this time too. She wore light blue jeans and shin high, black boots. she was also donning a brown, shot-sleeved, peasant top with designs of blue flowers on it. Willow smiled, noticing that she looked much more like the old Buffy now.
"Wow, for someone who was afraid to leave, you sure are eager to get out of that house," Willow said as Buffy climbed into the passenger seat.
"Yea, I'm just trying to get out before I change my mind," she said as she pulled her seat belt on.
Willow shook her head and smiled, backing out of the driveway, "So where are we off too?" she asked Buffy as they drove.
"I don't know," Buffy said, looking out the window curiously, "Ever since you mentioned shopping I've had a strong desire to do so," she smiled at the witch.
"Sounds like a plan to me," Willow smiled and turned off toward the mall.
They rode in silence for awhile as Buffy looked out the window at the city around her with amazement.
"Yea, there's life out there. Amazing," Willow said sarcastically.
Buffy glared at her, "Yea yea, whatever. That's not it though, smart allelic. Everything just seems...different lately," she said, watching the suspicious looking teenage boy cowering in the shadows under store awnings.
"Really?" Willow asked, "How so?"
"I'm not sure," Buffy said as they drove away from he boy, "It just seems, different. That's all," she looked over at Willow.
"Well maybe that's because you haven't seen anything besides the house and the backyard for the past few months," Willow said, watching the road.
Buffy rolled his eyes, "You guys act like I have no life beyond slayer training," she said, crossing her arms and leaning back in the seat to pout.
Willow smiled and looked over at her, "Naw, we know you have a life beyond that," she said, patting her on the shoulder, "sort of...." she added quietly.
"Hey!" Buffy protested, sitting back up, "I heard that!"
Willow smiled, "I'm just kidding!" she said, "But really, I do think you need to get out more," she glanced over at Buffy and then back out the windshield.
"I am out! I'm in the car, on my way to the mall to go shopping with my best friend! How much more 'out' can one get?" she asked, her voice hinting a bit of irritation.
"Well," Willow started as if she was afraid to continue, "You could go out on....you know...a date maybe?" she braced herself for Buffy's reaction.
"What?!" Buffy squealed, "Is that what this is about? Willow, I'm fine, really. You guys really need to stop with all fo this."
Willow sighed, "Well, Kennedy's got this friend from around here. And he's straight, available, and actually really cute. I'd go out with him if I was into men," Willow said.
Buffy rolled her eyes, "Whatever. I refuse to let you and Kennedy set me up on a date with some weird European guy that I've never even met," she crossed her arms and sat back in the seat, staring out the window again.
"You let Xander and Anya invite that one guy to your birthday party a few years back!" Willow protested, refusing to give up.
"Yea!" Buffy turned her head quickly and looked at her with an 'are -you-insane' expression, "and look what happened to him! He almost got killed! I mean was that comment supposed to change my mind or something? Because honestly, all it did was discourage me more."
Willow chuckled a little as she turned into the mall parking lot.
"It's not funny Willow! Every guy I've had a relationship with in the last decade has either almost died or been murdered by me! Call me gun-shy, but I think I have good reasons to steer clear of the dating pool," Buffy yelled as they pulled into the parking lot.
"Okay, okay. I get it," Willow apologized, "But you really should try to put yourself out there. Not every guy you fall for is going to end up dead. And besides, two of them were dead before you even showed interest in them so..."
Buffy glared at her again and pushed the car door open, "I'm not having this conversation with you again," she said, "We do this all the time. Let's just...go shopping and enjoy ourselves for the afternoon without any talk of dating or dead guys, okay?" she was almost pleading.
Willow nodded, "Yea, I'm sorry, I just got carried away."
"It's okay," Buffy said as they got out of the car and headed into the mall to enjoy one of the last normal afternoons they would ever have.

~*~*~*~

A/N - R&R! Suggestions are always welcome! Rating will more than likely go up, and the title is still under construction.