DAY 1.
Right before the sunrise, a man was walking through the cemetery. He looked tired, and instinctively walked to Spike's old crypt, taking a look inside and going downstairs. He laid down on the bed absentmindedly and felt asleep almost immediately.
He slept through the whole day and, at the end of the night the next morning, a floppy eared demon came in the crypt and, as usual, switched the TV on. When Clem walked downstairs and saw the man laying on the bed, he approached slowly and then...
Clem: SPIKE!!!! IT'S YOU!!!
Surprised, Spike woke up with a start and fell off the bed, landing loudly on an old and *almost* empty pizza box.
Clem: Hum... Sorry for the pizza.
Spike: Never mind.
Clem: Hey! It's you!
Spike: Looks like it.
Clem: You're back.
While Spike was rubbing his clothes, Clem put some order in the room.
Clem: I knew you'd come back!
Spike: That's what I see...
The floor was covered with pizza boxes and empty crisps bags.
Clem: Hum... I kept your place. A lot of demons came to take it, but I was keeping an eye on it! (a pause -Spike was clearly not interested by his prattle) So... How do you feel?
Spike: Heavy.
Clem: Oh. May I know why?
Spike (whispering): Can you just keep your mouth closed...?
Clem: Yeah! I mean... Hmm.
Clem tried not to speak. But obviously every thing Spike lifted or just looked at deserved a detailed historic. Finally Spike sat down, and Clem came next to him. Even if he had had the mouth sewed, Clem would have told him what his life had been since he left, thought Spike. At least, this would change his mind.
After a moment...
Spike: That's all?
Clem: I told you everything you missed.
Spike: A terrible and powerful angry Wiccan stopped by the love attitude of Harris? Great...
Clem: You don't seem to be the same. Did you get the chip off?
Spike: I'm not the same, that's for sure. And I don't have any idea whether this bloody chip is still in my head or not. Actually, I don't even care.
Clem: What are you going to do?
Spike: The only thing I never did in my whole life. I mean, un-life. Apologize.
* * * * * * * * * *
At the Summers' house, a few hours later, soon before dawn...
Spike was on the doorstep, ready to knock, but froze when he heard laughs coming from inside. Buffy was in the living room, he could have felt her presence if he had wanted to. But instead he just took a quick look inside trough the window. The Summers sisters were sitting on the couch, while Xander was telling them a joke.
Spike backed off a moment. But at his first step on the street he felt this stifling feeling, a feeling he was beginning to be familiar with. It felt as if something would kill him if he didn't apologize immediately. He walked back to the door, and right when he was about to knock it opened.
Xander: Hey, goodnight ladies, or should I say, good morning! And don't forget to...
His voice trailed off when he turned round and saw Spike, standing right in front of him and looking as startled as he was.
Buffy and Dawn saw him too, as they were standing right behind Xander. Buffy couldn't say a word but she opened her mouth and closed it repeatedly as if she was trying to.
Xander: What are you doing here? Forgot to rape the little sister?
Buffy: Xander!!!
She looked at her friend, outraged. Xander immediately regretted saying what he had just said. Not for saying it, but for saying it in front of Dawn. He sighed.
Xander: I had hoped you would have left this town and *never* come back.
Spike was looking at Buffy desperately, but she was staring fixedly at the ground. Spike tried to step in but Xander gave him a punch that sent him down the porch's stairs. Dawn and Buffy immediately got back into the house.
Xander: She should have killed you when she had the chance.
Spike was on the ground, but didn't even try to stand up. Xander kicked him, then caught him and pinned him roughly to a tree.
Xander: Buffy didn't, but *I* will kill you.
Spike: Yeah. I heard you saved the world. Congratulations.
Xander released him, looking disappointed.
Spike: Easier to kill someone when he wants to kill you too, right?
Xander (sighing): What the hell are you doing here?
Spike: I... I just wanted to talk to...
Xander: No! You won't talk to Buffy and you won't see her either. You're not even allowed to breath the same air than...
Spike: Hey. I'm still dead. I don't breath, remember?
Xander (determined): Do you think you will disconcert me that easily?
Spike: Look, I'm sorry for the magic shop and for Tara. She was fine. She always treated me decently.
Xander: Now you disconcert me.
Spike: Is Anya still in town?
Xander punched him once more.
Xander: This time I *will* kill you!
Spike: Go ahead.
Xander (hesitating): Is that what you're waiting for? You came here to be killed?
Spike (snorting): Maybe it's the best thing to do.
Xander: No. The best would be to let your chip melt and shake your sick brain.
Spike: But the chip didn't work with Buffy...
Spike saw Dawn at the window for one second before Buffy pulled her back.
Spike: I really wanted to... When I left Sunnydale.
Xander: You really wanted to what?
Spike: Kill you.
Xander (exasperated): And what? You changed your plans? Thought you might have a coffee with Buffy? (looking disgusted) It will never happen again. Do you understand? Never. Is that a word you know?
They both heard the sound of the door. When Buffy stepped out, Xander immediately walked to her.
Xander: Buffy, it's ok. I can take care of him.
Buffy: Thanks Xander. But I have to face it myself.
They both walked towards him, shortly followed by Dawn who sneaked out of the house despite Buffy's order to stay inside.
Buffy: So you're back?
Spike : Yeah. I wanted to talk to you.
Buffy: Why? Is that one of your new plans to get rid of the Slayer?
Spike: I don't want to talk to the Slayer but to Buffy. (pause) I... (tears were welling up in his eyes) I want to... (he swallowed hard) I'm sorry Buffy. For everything that I've done and all the pain you've been through because of me. I'm really...
Buffy (indifferent): So that's it? You disappear for months and you come back just to give us the big regret refrain? Didn't get the chip off, did you?
Dawn seemed to be afraid of the answer. Spike looked at her and said:
Spike: I didn't.
Dawn: What do you really want?
Spike: Dawn I...
Dawn (interrupting him): DON'T. Don't say my name. You're...
Buffy: Xander. Bring her back.
Xander took Dawn by her shoulders. She had tears in her eyes but her look was awfully dark. As she and Xander were going back in, Spike screamed.
Spike: I APOLOGIZE!! (he began to cry) I swear it's true...
He let himself sink down on his knees next to the tree. Buffy turned around to look at Dawn and Xander. They were on the doorstep, Dawn looking at Spike.
Dawn: He is so weird. Look at his hair... The roots are showing, and his face is so white and thin... I mean, more than usual... As if...
Xander (realizing): As if he hadn't eaten anything for a while...
Buffy (speaking slowly and with a determined look): One last time. What do you want? Money? Blood? You won't get that here. Go away.
Spike: I don't want anything from you. I just wanted to tell you... To tell all of you that I'm really sorry for what I've done.
Dawn (calling): Buffy, he seems to...
Buffy (getting irritated): What is that? A new game?
Xander looked at the skyline. The sun should rise in a few minutes...
Xander: Buffy. Let him go, the sun is rising.
Buffy made a few steps towards her house before turning around. Spike hadn't moved, and was still on his knees near the tree.
Buffy: Go away.
Spike: I can't.
Buffy: But you will.
Spike: You don't understand. I have to apologize!
Buffy: What is that? The second step of your treatment for hurting addiction?
Spike: My chip won't work anymore.
Dawn and Xander were approaching as the sun was rising, while Spike was still crying on the grass.
Xander: What have you done? You tried to get your chip off to kill us? But it failed?
Spike: I had what I wanted to. I got exactly what I asked for.
Spike rose his face and looked defiantly at Buffy. His eyes were wet. At the same time, the sunrays were shining down on the beginning of the garden.
Spike: A soul.
Buffy just realized what he had said when the sunrays hit him. In one second he burnt to ashes. The three of them stayed there for a while, watching the dust being blown away by the wind.
* * * * * * * * * *
Somewhere, a man shook his head and looked at his watch. The hour and minute hands began to turn backwards until...
* * * * * * * * * *
DAY2.
Clem: SPIKE!!!! IT'S YOU!!!
Surprised, Spike woke up with a start and fell off the bed, landing loudly on an old and almost empty pizza box.
Clem: Hum... Sorry for the pizza.
Spike: What?
Clem: You know, I kept the place, a lot of demons wanted to...
Spike (not listening to Clem): A nightmare. It was just a nightmare...
Clem: What, you had a nightmare?
Spike quickly got up and rubbed his clothes.
Spike: I knew this thing about Red going all crazy and trying to end the world because of Tara's death couldn't be true.
Clem: Oh, so you heard about it. Is that why you're back? But that doesn't matter. Because you're back!!!
Spike: I'm... (then realizing) What? The whole end of the world thing really happened?
Clem began to clean up the room a bit while explaining everything Spike had missed over the summer. A coincidence, Spike thought, a mere coincidence... He suddenly noticed Clem staring at him strangely.
Spike: What?
Clem: You don't seem to be different. Did you get the chip off?
Spike: I... No. But I'm not sure whether it still works or not. And actually, I don't even care.
Spike mentally repeated his last words. Hadn't he already said that before?
Clem: So, what are you going to do?
Spike: I guess I have some apologies to offer...
* * * * * * * * * *
Spike paused in front of the Summers house. It hadn't changed a single bit since the last time he came. He suddenly thought about his nightmare. He wouldn't be that pathetic. Or would he?
About to knock on the door, he stopped when he heard laughs coming from inside. A feeling of déjà vu overwhelmed him as he saw both Buffy and Dawn sitting on the couch in the living room, and Xander standing in front of them and telling them a joke. The thought that maybe coming there wasn't such a good idea crossed his mind. He shook his head. No. He couldn't get away with that, he just had to do it.
Right when he eventually made up his mind, the door opened.
Xander: Hey, good night ladies, or should I say, good morning! And don't forget to...
His voice trailed off when he turned round and saw Spike, standing right in front of him and looking almost as startled as he was. Buffy and Dawn were standing behind Xander, and were gaping at the sight of the vampire.
Xander: What are you doing here? Forgot to rape the little sister?
Buffy: Xander!!!
Buffy looked at her friend, outraged. Spike was beginning to be unusually disconcerted by the whole situation.
Xander: I had hoped you would have left this town and *never* come back.
Spike: Look, I'm...
Xander didn't let him finish and punched him square on the jaw, sending him down the porch's stairs. When he looked up, Spike saw the two sisters walking back in, and Xander rushing toward him angrily.
Xander: She should have killed you when she had the chance.
Unconsciously anticipating Xander's actions, Spike quickly stood up to prevent him from kicking him.
Spike: Harris, don't...
Xander punched him again, before catching him and pinning him roughly to a tree.
Xander: Don't what? Buffy didn't, but *I* will kill you.
Spike: I heard you did great during my absence, stopping Willow from ending the world and all. I heard about Tara too, and I'm sorry about what happened to her, it's truly horrible.
Xander eventually realeased him, looking slightly surprised.
Xander: What the hell are you doing here?
Spike: I just want to talk to Buffy. (seeing Xander about to protest) I know you don't want me to talk to her, or just to see her. And you're right, I probably don't deserve that. But I need to talk to her.
Xander (snorting): You...
They both heard the sound of the door. When Buffy stepped out, Xander immediately walked to her.
Xander: Buffy, it's ok, I can take care of him.
Buffy: Thanks Xander. But I have to face it myself.
Spike shivered at those words from his position near the tree. This was so totally weird. Could he have had some kind of prescient dream? Could it have happened because of his "new" soul?
Meanwhile, Buffy and Xander had walked towards him, shortly followed by Dawn.
Buffy: So you're back?
Spike: Yeah. We have to talk.
Buffy: Why? Talking has never been our strong point, don't you remember? Or is that one of your new plans to get rid of the Slayer?
Spike: I don't want to talk to the S-...
Spike brutally broke off, mentally ending the sentence he had been about to say. Bloody hell. Could this get any weirder?
Buffy (impatient): I guess you left to get the chip removed, didn't you?
Dawn seemed to be afraid of the answer. Again, Spike thought.
Spike: I didn't. Last I heard, the chip was still there. But we can check. (then looking at Xander with a smirk) I know a great way to check...
Dawn: What do you really want?
Spike: Dawn I...
Dawn (interrupting him): DON'T. Don't say my name. You're...
Buffy: Xander. Bring her back.
While Xander was taking Dawn by her shoulders, Spike couldn't help but think it was the second time he was making this error. No, it was the first time, it had to be, it was his first day back to Sunnydale, right? The complete confusion he was in made him even forget the strong emotion of the moment; the Nibblet crying, Buffy looking angrily at him, his contradictory feelings and his urge to apologize... Would anything happen exactly like in his dream?
He looked up, and suddenly realized that the sun would rise in a few minutes. That was also when he remembered it hadn't been a dream, but a nightmare.
Buffy (slowly and determined): One last time. What do you want? Money? Blood? You...
Spike (interrupting): None of the above. Look, we don't have much time, the sun will rise soon, and there are some things I need to tell you, so please let me speak. I want to apologize. For... almost everything I've done around here. For all the trouble and pain I put you in. And I'm not talking only about last year's, even if some things I've done then might have been the worst. I didn't leave Sunnydale to get the chip removed. I wanted... something else. Something that would redeem me in your eyes. Something that would make me worthy of you. And I got it. I got exactly what I wanted. I got a soul.
Buffy stared at Spike blankly for a few seconds. She eventually said coldly:
Buffy: Oh. I see. You know, this might be one of your worst plans ever. Pretending to have a brand new soul and then go all "Hey, look! I have a soul! I'm like Angel now, so I can be your vampire lover again!"
Spike: What? No, it's true! I DO have a soul!
Buffy (sighing): Go away, Spike.
Buffy turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Spike beside the tree, watching her back and completely puzzled. He was not like the bloody Poofter. Well, ok, he was a vampire and now he had a soul as well. And he had been brooding for a while too, but it was over now, well, almost over. He was *not* like Angel!
The sunrays hit him at that moment, while Buffy had joined Xander and Dawn on the doorstep.
************
A/N: Here we are guys...
This is just the beginning. We needed some settling before Spike understood that something was wrong, so now he has...
The next chapter should be up soon.
Anyway, just let us know what you think of this story so far!
Right before the sunrise, a man was walking through the cemetery. He looked tired, and instinctively walked to Spike's old crypt, taking a look inside and going downstairs. He laid down on the bed absentmindedly and felt asleep almost immediately.
He slept through the whole day and, at the end of the night the next morning, a floppy eared demon came in the crypt and, as usual, switched the TV on. When Clem walked downstairs and saw the man laying on the bed, he approached slowly and then...
Clem: SPIKE!!!! IT'S YOU!!!
Surprised, Spike woke up with a start and fell off the bed, landing loudly on an old and *almost* empty pizza box.
Clem: Hum... Sorry for the pizza.
Spike: Never mind.
Clem: Hey! It's you!
Spike: Looks like it.
Clem: You're back.
While Spike was rubbing his clothes, Clem put some order in the room.
Clem: I knew you'd come back!
Spike: That's what I see...
The floor was covered with pizza boxes and empty crisps bags.
Clem: Hum... I kept your place. A lot of demons came to take it, but I was keeping an eye on it! (a pause -Spike was clearly not interested by his prattle) So... How do you feel?
Spike: Heavy.
Clem: Oh. May I know why?
Spike (whispering): Can you just keep your mouth closed...?
Clem: Yeah! I mean... Hmm.
Clem tried not to speak. But obviously every thing Spike lifted or just looked at deserved a detailed historic. Finally Spike sat down, and Clem came next to him. Even if he had had the mouth sewed, Clem would have told him what his life had been since he left, thought Spike. At least, this would change his mind.
After a moment...
Spike: That's all?
Clem: I told you everything you missed.
Spike: A terrible and powerful angry Wiccan stopped by the love attitude of Harris? Great...
Clem: You don't seem to be the same. Did you get the chip off?
Spike: I'm not the same, that's for sure. And I don't have any idea whether this bloody chip is still in my head or not. Actually, I don't even care.
Clem: What are you going to do?
Spike: The only thing I never did in my whole life. I mean, un-life. Apologize.
At the Summers' house, a few hours later, soon before dawn...
Spike was on the doorstep, ready to knock, but froze when he heard laughs coming from inside. Buffy was in the living room, he could have felt her presence if he had wanted to. But instead he just took a quick look inside trough the window. The Summers sisters were sitting on the couch, while Xander was telling them a joke.
Spike backed off a moment. But at his first step on the street he felt this stifling feeling, a feeling he was beginning to be familiar with. It felt as if something would kill him if he didn't apologize immediately. He walked back to the door, and right when he was about to knock it opened.
Xander: Hey, goodnight ladies, or should I say, good morning! And don't forget to...
His voice trailed off when he turned round and saw Spike, standing right in front of him and looking as startled as he was.
Buffy and Dawn saw him too, as they were standing right behind Xander. Buffy couldn't say a word but she opened her mouth and closed it repeatedly as if she was trying to.
Xander: What are you doing here? Forgot to rape the little sister?
Buffy: Xander!!!
She looked at her friend, outraged. Xander immediately regretted saying what he had just said. Not for saying it, but for saying it in front of Dawn. He sighed.
Xander: I had hoped you would have left this town and *never* come back.
Spike was looking at Buffy desperately, but she was staring fixedly at the ground. Spike tried to step in but Xander gave him a punch that sent him down the porch's stairs. Dawn and Buffy immediately got back into the house.
Xander: She should have killed you when she had the chance.
Spike was on the ground, but didn't even try to stand up. Xander kicked him, then caught him and pinned him roughly to a tree.
Xander: Buffy didn't, but *I* will kill you.
Spike: Yeah. I heard you saved the world. Congratulations.
Xander released him, looking disappointed.
Spike: Easier to kill someone when he wants to kill you too, right?
Xander (sighing): What the hell are you doing here?
Spike: I... I just wanted to talk to...
Xander: No! You won't talk to Buffy and you won't see her either. You're not even allowed to breath the same air than...
Spike: Hey. I'm still dead. I don't breath, remember?
Xander (determined): Do you think you will disconcert me that easily?
Spike: Look, I'm sorry for the magic shop and for Tara. She was fine. She always treated me decently.
Xander: Now you disconcert me.
Spike: Is Anya still in town?
Xander punched him once more.
Xander: This time I *will* kill you!
Spike: Go ahead.
Xander (hesitating): Is that what you're waiting for? You came here to be killed?
Spike (snorting): Maybe it's the best thing to do.
Xander: No. The best would be to let your chip melt and shake your sick brain.
Spike: But the chip didn't work with Buffy...
Spike saw Dawn at the window for one second before Buffy pulled her back.
Spike: I really wanted to... When I left Sunnydale.
Xander: You really wanted to what?
Spike: Kill you.
Xander (exasperated): And what? You changed your plans? Thought you might have a coffee with Buffy? (looking disgusted) It will never happen again. Do you understand? Never. Is that a word you know?
They both heard the sound of the door. When Buffy stepped out, Xander immediately walked to her.
Xander: Buffy, it's ok. I can take care of him.
Buffy: Thanks Xander. But I have to face it myself.
They both walked towards him, shortly followed by Dawn who sneaked out of the house despite Buffy's order to stay inside.
Buffy: So you're back?
Spike : Yeah. I wanted to talk to you.
Buffy: Why? Is that one of your new plans to get rid of the Slayer?
Spike: I don't want to talk to the Slayer but to Buffy. (pause) I... (tears were welling up in his eyes) I want to... (he swallowed hard) I'm sorry Buffy. For everything that I've done and all the pain you've been through because of me. I'm really...
Buffy (indifferent): So that's it? You disappear for months and you come back just to give us the big regret refrain? Didn't get the chip off, did you?
Dawn seemed to be afraid of the answer. Spike looked at her and said:
Spike: I didn't.
Dawn: What do you really want?
Spike: Dawn I...
Dawn (interrupting him): DON'T. Don't say my name. You're...
Buffy: Xander. Bring her back.
Xander took Dawn by her shoulders. She had tears in her eyes but her look was awfully dark. As she and Xander were going back in, Spike screamed.
Spike: I APOLOGIZE!! (he began to cry) I swear it's true...
He let himself sink down on his knees next to the tree. Buffy turned around to look at Dawn and Xander. They were on the doorstep, Dawn looking at Spike.
Dawn: He is so weird. Look at his hair... The roots are showing, and his face is so white and thin... I mean, more than usual... As if...
Xander (realizing): As if he hadn't eaten anything for a while...
Buffy (speaking slowly and with a determined look): One last time. What do you want? Money? Blood? You won't get that here. Go away.
Spike: I don't want anything from you. I just wanted to tell you... To tell all of you that I'm really sorry for what I've done.
Dawn (calling): Buffy, he seems to...
Buffy (getting irritated): What is that? A new game?
Xander looked at the skyline. The sun should rise in a few minutes...
Xander: Buffy. Let him go, the sun is rising.
Buffy made a few steps towards her house before turning around. Spike hadn't moved, and was still on his knees near the tree.
Buffy: Go away.
Spike: I can't.
Buffy: But you will.
Spike: You don't understand. I have to apologize!
Buffy: What is that? The second step of your treatment for hurting addiction?
Spike: My chip won't work anymore.
Dawn and Xander were approaching as the sun was rising, while Spike was still crying on the grass.
Xander: What have you done? You tried to get your chip off to kill us? But it failed?
Spike: I had what I wanted to. I got exactly what I asked for.
Spike rose his face and looked defiantly at Buffy. His eyes were wet. At the same time, the sunrays were shining down on the beginning of the garden.
Spike: A soul.
Buffy just realized what he had said when the sunrays hit him. In one second he burnt to ashes. The three of them stayed there for a while, watching the dust being blown away by the wind.
Somewhere, a man shook his head and looked at his watch. The hour and minute hands began to turn backwards until...
DAY2.
Clem: SPIKE!!!! IT'S YOU!!!
Surprised, Spike woke up with a start and fell off the bed, landing loudly on an old and almost empty pizza box.
Clem: Hum... Sorry for the pizza.
Spike: What?
Clem: You know, I kept the place, a lot of demons wanted to...
Spike (not listening to Clem): A nightmare. It was just a nightmare...
Clem: What, you had a nightmare?
Spike quickly got up and rubbed his clothes.
Spike: I knew this thing about Red going all crazy and trying to end the world because of Tara's death couldn't be true.
Clem: Oh, so you heard about it. Is that why you're back? But that doesn't matter. Because you're back!!!
Spike: I'm... (then realizing) What? The whole end of the world thing really happened?
Clem began to clean up the room a bit while explaining everything Spike had missed over the summer. A coincidence, Spike thought, a mere coincidence... He suddenly noticed Clem staring at him strangely.
Spike: What?
Clem: You don't seem to be different. Did you get the chip off?
Spike: I... No. But I'm not sure whether it still works or not. And actually, I don't even care.
Spike mentally repeated his last words. Hadn't he already said that before?
Clem: So, what are you going to do?
Spike: I guess I have some apologies to offer...
Spike paused in front of the Summers house. It hadn't changed a single bit since the last time he came. He suddenly thought about his nightmare. He wouldn't be that pathetic. Or would he?
About to knock on the door, he stopped when he heard laughs coming from inside. A feeling of déjà vu overwhelmed him as he saw both Buffy and Dawn sitting on the couch in the living room, and Xander standing in front of them and telling them a joke. The thought that maybe coming there wasn't such a good idea crossed his mind. He shook his head. No. He couldn't get away with that, he just had to do it.
Right when he eventually made up his mind, the door opened.
Xander: Hey, good night ladies, or should I say, good morning! And don't forget to...
His voice trailed off when he turned round and saw Spike, standing right in front of him and looking almost as startled as he was. Buffy and Dawn were standing behind Xander, and were gaping at the sight of the vampire.
Xander: What are you doing here? Forgot to rape the little sister?
Buffy: Xander!!!
Buffy looked at her friend, outraged. Spike was beginning to be unusually disconcerted by the whole situation.
Xander: I had hoped you would have left this town and *never* come back.
Spike: Look, I'm...
Xander didn't let him finish and punched him square on the jaw, sending him down the porch's stairs. When he looked up, Spike saw the two sisters walking back in, and Xander rushing toward him angrily.
Xander: She should have killed you when she had the chance.
Unconsciously anticipating Xander's actions, Spike quickly stood up to prevent him from kicking him.
Spike: Harris, don't...
Xander punched him again, before catching him and pinning him roughly to a tree.
Xander: Don't what? Buffy didn't, but *I* will kill you.
Spike: I heard you did great during my absence, stopping Willow from ending the world and all. I heard about Tara too, and I'm sorry about what happened to her, it's truly horrible.
Xander eventually realeased him, looking slightly surprised.
Xander: What the hell are you doing here?
Spike: I just want to talk to Buffy. (seeing Xander about to protest) I know you don't want me to talk to her, or just to see her. And you're right, I probably don't deserve that. But I need to talk to her.
Xander (snorting): You...
They both heard the sound of the door. When Buffy stepped out, Xander immediately walked to her.
Xander: Buffy, it's ok, I can take care of him.
Buffy: Thanks Xander. But I have to face it myself.
Spike shivered at those words from his position near the tree. This was so totally weird. Could he have had some kind of prescient dream? Could it have happened because of his "new" soul?
Meanwhile, Buffy and Xander had walked towards him, shortly followed by Dawn.
Buffy: So you're back?
Spike: Yeah. We have to talk.
Buffy: Why? Talking has never been our strong point, don't you remember? Or is that one of your new plans to get rid of the Slayer?
Spike: I don't want to talk to the S-...
Spike brutally broke off, mentally ending the sentence he had been about to say. Bloody hell. Could this get any weirder?
Buffy (impatient): I guess you left to get the chip removed, didn't you?
Dawn seemed to be afraid of the answer. Again, Spike thought.
Spike: I didn't. Last I heard, the chip was still there. But we can check. (then looking at Xander with a smirk) I know a great way to check...
Dawn: What do you really want?
Spike: Dawn I...
Dawn (interrupting him): DON'T. Don't say my name. You're...
Buffy: Xander. Bring her back.
While Xander was taking Dawn by her shoulders, Spike couldn't help but think it was the second time he was making this error. No, it was the first time, it had to be, it was his first day back to Sunnydale, right? The complete confusion he was in made him even forget the strong emotion of the moment; the Nibblet crying, Buffy looking angrily at him, his contradictory feelings and his urge to apologize... Would anything happen exactly like in his dream?
He looked up, and suddenly realized that the sun would rise in a few minutes. That was also when he remembered it hadn't been a dream, but a nightmare.
Buffy (slowly and determined): One last time. What do you want? Money? Blood? You...
Spike (interrupting): None of the above. Look, we don't have much time, the sun will rise soon, and there are some things I need to tell you, so please let me speak. I want to apologize. For... almost everything I've done around here. For all the trouble and pain I put you in. And I'm not talking only about last year's, even if some things I've done then might have been the worst. I didn't leave Sunnydale to get the chip removed. I wanted... something else. Something that would redeem me in your eyes. Something that would make me worthy of you. And I got it. I got exactly what I wanted. I got a soul.
Buffy stared at Spike blankly for a few seconds. She eventually said coldly:
Buffy: Oh. I see. You know, this might be one of your worst plans ever. Pretending to have a brand new soul and then go all "Hey, look! I have a soul! I'm like Angel now, so I can be your vampire lover again!"
Spike: What? No, it's true! I DO have a soul!
Buffy (sighing): Go away, Spike.
Buffy turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Spike beside the tree, watching her back and completely puzzled. He was not like the bloody Poofter. Well, ok, he was a vampire and now he had a soul as well. And he had been brooding for a while too, but it was over now, well, almost over. He was *not* like Angel!
The sunrays hit him at that moment, while Buffy had joined Xander and Dawn on the doorstep.
************
A/N: Here we are guys...
This is just the beginning. We needed some settling before Spike understood that something was wrong, so now he has...
The next chapter should be up soon.
Anyway, just let us know what you think of this story so far!