Something Wicked This Way Comes

Chapter 1: The Secrets Out

By: Rogue-Slayer13

Disclaimer: The characters of Btvs and Ats belong to Joss Whedon, not myself.

Summary: Angel stays in LA with Gunn and Wesley, while Spike takes Illyria to Willow to see if she can bring back Fred. At the same time, a new evil is on the rise.

Note: I know Wesley died on the show, but in this fic Illyria got there sooner and he was hurt, but not killed.

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Willow was awakened to a rude jab in the ribs and a muffled order that wasn't recognizable as any human or demon language.

"What?"

"I said, go answer the door," replied Kennedy pulling her head out from under the pillow.

It was then that Willow realized that someone was knocking on the door. She glanced at the clock and saw that it was a little bit before five o'clock. She got out of bed and headed to the living room, so she could answer the door.

"Who is it?"

"Open up Red."

Willow's eyes went wide as she practically threw the door open.

"What in the name of Hera!?"

"Long time no see." Spike smiled at the red head.

"It can't be. You're dead Spike."

"Always have been."

Willow gently reached out a hand and poked Spike in the shoulder before quickly pulling back her hand.

"What happened?"

"Let us in and I'll tell ya all about it."

"Us?"

Illyria chose that moment to step out from behind Spike.

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"So let me get this straight. You popped up in Angel's office from the amulet as a ghost, became corporeal again thanks to a mysterious box, Fred got hollowed out by Illyria, you helped Angel take out the Senior Partners demon horde, and now Illyria wants out of Fred's body?"

"Pretty much," replied Spike.

The three of them had been sitting in Willow's living room for the last two hours talking about everything that had happened after Sunnydale was destroyed.

"Well, I think I might be able to help you."

"Really?"

"Yeah, it's impossible to completely destroy something, so Fred's soul is still floating around somewhere. A restoration spell should bring her back, but I'll need Illyria cooperation." Willow looked over at god-king.

"Will I become noncorporeal?"

"You'll be a bodiless entity capable of effecting the world around you."

"That's better then being trapped inside this suffocating shell. I will assist you."

"Great, I'll go see what I can dig up spell wise." Willow got up and headed into the other room.

"I'll give you a hand Red." Spike followed Willow out of the room.

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"Okay, I've got the spell and the ingredients set up. All I need is for Illyria to come over here and sit inside this circle of candles."

Illyria joined Willow in the circle.

"Oh great goddess, we gather here to request your guidance. Help us fix what is broken, help us find what is lost. Bring back to us what was taken. Let my will be done, so moot it be."

As Willow finished the incantation, Illyria fainted and fell back onto the floor. Spike picked her up and carried her over to the couch and set her down.

"How do we know if it worked or not?" asked Spike.

"We just have to wait and see," replied Willow as Illyria began to twitch slightly.

"Is that a good sign or a bad one?" asked Spike.

"It could be Fred fighting her way back into her body . . . or it could be an adverse reaction to the spell."

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Fred slowly opened her eyes to find herself lying alone in a strange and dark room on a strange bed. She began to panic slightly and sat bolt upright in the bed and frantically looked around the room for anything familiar, but she found nothing. It was that moment that the door opened and in walked Spike.

"Fred?"

Fred nodded as Spike came to sit beside her on the bed.

"How ya doing?" asked Spike gently.

Fred was silent for a moment before she looked up at Spike.

"Where am I?"

"We are at Willow's place in Rio."

"Willow from Sunnydale?"

"That'd be the one."

"Where's everyone else?"

"Angel's in LA with Percy and Charlie Boy and we're not quite sure where Lorne is . . ."

"He left, just like he said he would."

"How'd you know?" asked Spike.

"I saw it," replied Fred.

"Did you see everything?"

"No, just bits and pieces of things."

"Why don't you come down stairs and I'll fill you in."

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Later that night after everyone else was asleep, Fred had finally gotten up enough courage to look in the mirror.

"Oh my god!"

Spike had said she looked different, but she never thought she'd look this different. Fred was so busy starring at her reflection she didn't hear the door open and nearly had a heat attack when she turned around and saw Spike standing in the doorway.

"You snuck up on me," replied a slightly out of breath Fred.

"Sorry Luv, heard you in 'ere and just came to see if you were okay."

"I'm fine, just a little shocked is all. I never expected there to be this much blue."

"Red said it'll go away, you just have to wait it out."

"I can deal with the hair, but the eyes and skin are way too freaky."

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"So, you two are heading back to LA?" asked Kennedy.

"Yeah, we should probably get back before anything happens to Peaches or the others."

"Wow, Spike actually caring about the well being of someone else."

Willow shot Kennedy a warning glare before she turned back to Spike and Fred.

"It was great seeing you guys again, especially since I though you were y'know . . . dead."

"Nice seeing you too Red."

"I'll call you." Fred gave Willow a hug before following Spike out of the apartment.

"We need to call Buffy," said Kennedy as soon as the two were gone.

"Why?"

"She deserves to know."

"But Spike doesn't want her to know, otherwise he would've told her himself."

"She needs to know."

"Kennedy, stay out of it." Willow turned and headed upstairs.

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"Hello?" Buffy looked over at the clock which said it was just a little past three.

"Buffy, it's me Kennedy."

"Hey Kennedy, what's up?"

"You'll never believe who was just here."

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To Be Continued . . .