Disclaimer: These characters do not belong to me, but to the amazingly talented Joss Whedon.

AN: Ok, so this is my go at a Buffy fic. I've planned it well so I'm hoping it ends up alright. Praying might be a better word.
AN 2 (2011): This is me years later editing my first ever fanfiction to make it better. Hopefully it goes well :)

Readers are needed, reviewers are wanted.

Chapter One: Cigarettes and Stars

The setting sun threw its dying amber light into the Sunnydale crater, the beams seeping into the crevices of the landmark below. When it rose again, that day would mark exactly one year since it had turned into a crater rather than remaining a quaint little town above a hellmouth. No one exactly knew what had happened - experts had theorised that it was an off-scale, unforeseen earthquake that had occurred across a small faultline that lay under the town. As no survivors came forward to oppose it, the theory was accepted.

Not that anyone really believed it.

It just didn't seem natural, an earthquake creating such destruction in a localised area whilst not affecting any of the surrounding land. No landslides caused, no warning tremors or aftershocks, just the one clean land movement that had made a small town disappear so neatly that it was as if something had scooped it out of the ground. Everyone knew the damage earthquakes could do, but no one thought it could make Sunnydale, and only Sunnydale, disappear.

It was almost as if it had sunk straight into the ground – almost as if there had been something under it which collapsed, causing the town to fall in on itself.

Almost.

The sky was a shade of darkening navy as the last of the sun's light faded into the night. Except as that light disappeared, another began to grow: a beam of pure white light, concentrating itself on the Sunnydale crater and growing brighter and stronger by the second, highlighting every fissure until it was as if the crater itself was glowing. Then as suddenly as it came, it was gone, leaving a stark darkness behind it.

And something else.

A man was lying face down in the centre of the crater. Grasping at the dirt beneath him, he panted desperately for air as he adjusted to the strange feeling of solidity that was once so familiar to him. When he'd calmed his unnecessary breathing to a slower pace he pushed himself up, lifting his head to see where they had returned him to. On seeing his surroundings, he frowned and pushed himself fully onto his knees as he tried to find something familiar that would jog his memory.

He scanned the area above the edge of the huge hole he seemed to be in, eyes finally landing on a very familiar cave. Oh god, no. Anywhere but here, he thought. Though, he had to grudgingly admit, it made a lot of sense. He stood and brushed the dirt off his leather duster whilst searching the pockets to see if they had at least had the decency to leave his stuff there. His hands finally found what they were searching for and a small smile tugged at his mouth as he pulled out the pack of cigarettes. On opening it, the smile turned to an annoyed snarl as he hurled the empty packet aside.

Bloody Powers That Be, he thought as he began to climb the side of the crater, stumbling slightly on the loose debris that skittered down past him to rest at the bottom. Reaching the top within a matter of minutes, he felt that they had at least left him with his full strength – something he felt was much less than he deserved. He deserved to be stronger or, even better, invulnerable, considering what he had agreed to do.

At the edge of a fallen Sunnydale Spike took a moment to stop and gaze at the night sky, realising just how much the poet in him had missed looking at the stars. The way they were so clear reminded him of how things were where he had been and how they would be when he returned.

Because he was going back, no question.

They had given him a choice, of course. Once everything was done and finished, he could stay here on Earth or return. He snorted as he headed towards the cave he had spotted earlier for shelter. Why would he want to stay here? He had asked them that question himself, and the answer was still bugging him now...

Spike was shocked to silence, trying to understand what he had just been told. Could all that they had said really come to pass? He knew he had to try and help – he wasn't the type to stand back – but that wasn't the problem. There was a more pressing issue flashing in his mind: "What'll happen to me after?"

"YOU SHALL HAVE A CHOICE."

His eyes narrowed: "What choice?" These high-beings were really not specific enough for him.

"THE CHOICE TO STAY ON THE EARTHLY PLANE OR RETURN. ONLY WHEN IT IS DONE SHALL YOU CHOOSE, NOT NOW."

Well, they could be specific, but only if they had no other choice. His frown deepened as he thought about his 'choice'. Why would he want to stay there? As if hearing his thoughts, they gave an answer that gave him the mother of all headaches.

"BECAUSE OF HER."

He shook the memory away, trying to avoid going down that mental path – it would be too painful. Nevertheless as he walked he couldn't help but remember what she had said to him the night that was meant to be the last he ever had on this earth.

"I love you."

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

Spike shivered as he remembered the conviction in her voice, the emotion pouring from her eyes and the feel of her hand as they stood burning together. She couldn't have meant it. If she had, she would've said it before he was dying.

Well maybe, said a traitorous voice in his mind, maybe the thought of you being gone made her realise-

He growled angrily, silencing it. All of this thinking was making his head hurt. Besides, he realised as he finally reached the cave, he was going to need to be completely ready for the task ahead. Spike crouched, removed his coat and shifted it around until its shape crudely resembled a pillow. Laying down he placed it under his head, cushioning the hardness of the earth, and yawned widely. This whole trans-dimensional travel thing sure seemed to have messed with his body clock – he was knackered, though maybe it was just the strain of his first hour being corporeal after so long. He had forgotten how it felt to be...well, anything really. Physical feeling wasn't a big thing where he'd spent his after-unlife.

He really wasn't looking forward to this reunion, or rather part of him wasn't. Another part – one that he wasn't willing to admit the existence of yet – was filled with happiness and affection at the thought of seeing them again. Of seeing her again.

Sighing, he closed his eyes and welcomed the comfort of sleep. Just as he dropped off a last thought flitted through his mind that made him smirk: Big Bad was back and he was here to save the world.

Again.

TBC