Prelude:

Vicious wiped clean his katana of the delicious blood that stained it. A smile curved his lips.

The crimson seeped into the snow and made a ring around her motionless frail body. Her breathing was raspy as she fought to keep her eyes open. Soft white coated the forest and enveloped the sky.

"Do you feel that? It's getting colder. Although the snow is melting from your own blood, everything inside you is getting colder." Vicious' silver eyes blankly stared into her dimly lit eyes.

"Doesn't compare to your heart." She spat.

Vicious chuckled. "You got me there my dear." He crouched down next to her. "My heart froze over a long time ago. And I'm guessing yours has too." She tried to squirm away from him as her ran his fingers over the 3inch slash on her abdomen. Vicious smiled again. "You still think he's going to come for you, don't you?" She took a sharp breath. "Yes, I can see it in your eyes."

She strained to stare up at the pale white sky. "Why are you doing this?" she breathed.

"Why is always the question. Why why why. I'll leave you to ponder that in your last moments in this forsaken planet." She shut her eyes tightly, tears lightly escaped. Vicious brushed away her hair and her tears. "Goodbye, Miss Valentine."

Vicious stood up walking away. He soon blended into the dull colored surroundings.

*** (I can accept this) ***

Faye's whole body shook, every inch ached. She almost welcomed the comforting relief of death.

So this is how it's going to end. She thought. Alright, I went out with a fight. I can accept this. No hero to save me, no happily ever after. Just me and the snow. The soft biting snow. I can accept that.....What else can I do?

She sighed as she closed her heavy eyes.

"Faye?"

I can accept this.

"Faye! My god!"

It's alright Spike, I can accept this.

"Faye? Faye can you hear me? Faye say something!"

I--Spike?

Her emerald eyes were revealed. Hovering above her were two toned brown eyes and green messy hair. "Spike." She breathed in a smile. Her eyes closed again.

Maybe I do get a hero after all. I can accept that. Maybe, just maybe, I could get a happily ever after as well.....

"Faye! Stay with me here." He lightly shook her.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves here though. She inwardly smiled.

"Faye, I'm going to have to carry you to my Swordfish. Hang on." Faye barely caught what Spike had said before she felt a retching pain wreak through her body as she was lifted. She bit down in pain. Faye passed out before they reached the Swordfish.

*** (I just don't know) ***

"JET!!" Spike hollered.

"What?" Jet grumbled coming out of the kitchen. His mouth dropped open when he saw Spike walking down the stairs into the living room with Faye draped in his arms. "What the hell happened?"

"I found her like this in the forest 20 minuets ago." Spike laid Faye on the yellow couch. Jet rushed to get any version of a first aid kit he could find.

"Greetings Spike-person." Edward jumped up on the back of the couch. She looked puzzled at the expression on Spike's face. Ed followed his gaze down to the couch below her. "What happened to Faye-Faye?" She asked innocently.

"You guys'll hafta leave." Jet announced hurriedly as he set the items down on the coffee table.

"Come on Ed." Spike directed her down the hall.

"Will Faye-Faye be alright?" She asked looking up to Spike.

Spike paused looking back to Jet attempting to bandage her, and to Faye, who looked like she was merely sleeping. "I don't know Ed." He admitted turning back to the hall. "I just don't know."

*** (Hope) ***

Edward's golden eyes stared intently at the Sleeping Beauty on the yellow couch. Ed sat with her legs crossed on the coffee table across from Faye.

"She's been like that for the past hour." Jet said to Spike who joined him on the opposite couch.

"You've been sitting here for an hour watching Ed watch Faye?" Spike inquired.

"Well no, I've been on the computer. And Ed hasn't moved in the last hour."

"Well she's a strange kid." Spike shrugged.

"Where have you been?"

"Oh around. Doing my karate."

"Oh."

"Oh? What's that for?"

"Oh means oh, don't need to snap."

"I wasn't snapping don't accuse me."

"What?! I wasn't---"

"Stop it!" Ed suddenly turned around. "Edward is sad enough about Faye. Fighting makes Edward more sad."

The two men sat in silence for a moment. "Faye will be fine Ed. She always is. Right Jet? Jet.....?"

Jet looked away. "Of course she will be." Spike said standing up.

"Spike....Faye had a great amount of blood loss. She might not--"

"She's not going to die!!" Spike yelled before walking out of the room.

Jet leaned back into the couch and sighed. Edward turned back to Faye. "Don't worry, Sleeping Beauty always wakes up." Ed wiped away a silent tear. Jet looked to the back of Ed's red hair and wondered how such a little girl could have so much hope. But there was the answer; she was just a little girl. But maybe even Jet could have some hope if she could.

*** (Sleeping Beauty) ***

Faye's breathing remained steady. Her eyes stayed tightly closed, forbidden to all.

I wander what Spike would look like in tights, if he were to be my Prince Phillip, my hero. No that's just silly. They couldn't make tights long enough to fit him. Besides, guys should stick to wearing the swords. Ah, when had I remembered my favorite movie as a child? Strange. I always dreamed of being Sleeping Beauty, and having a hero and a happily ever after. Well, maybe I just liked the tights. Heh, my dreams have certainly changed since then. Everything feels empty and hallow now. Maybe that's what Spike was talking about when he said that he was living in a dream. Empty and hallow....Where is Spike?