"Damn it is hot!"

"Bloody Hell, figures even at night, it is a pain in the ass. And my luck all I packed is black."

"Well not exactly."

"What do you mean Slayer?"

"Well while you were busy I kinda bought you some white shirts and blue jeans and new socks and packed them instead."

"Damn Slayer.thanks, I think I would have dusted myself if I had to go 3 weeks like this."

"No prob. Spike But it is getting close to dawn we should really hurry up and set up the tents."

"Yeah ok."

They set up the tent in a place they thought would be shaded from the sun to keep them coolest and so then Spike could see some of the sunrise. And after they both changed into lighter clothes and had a meal that's just what they did. Spike sat back against the tent with Buffy in his arms and watched the most beautiful sunrise he could ever remember, although it was one of the few he had been able to enjoy in his unlife and he didn't remember any before that, and probably didn't even see any when he was human, he was a awful human he thought, but decided he wasn't going to make that mistake again, if he had the chance he was going to enjoy every moment he had with Buffy. Buffy leaned against Spike as he held her close, she watched the tears go slowly down his cheeks as he watched the sunrise, and noticed how beautiful he really was, a little pale but his eyes were so perfectly blue and in the sunlight with the tears they were amazing, and she watched the teardrops create little rainbows of fragmented light dance over his smooth skin and she knew right then why she love him, why she craved him even at this moment, because even when he isn't supposed to have any emotions, he feels more then most people will ever feel, he loves stronger than anyone can love and because she could see it in his eyes he was willing to die to try to make her happy. And she prayed that he would never have to, and wished and hoped with everything she could that this lamp they were chasing would grant her heart's desire, because she knew with everything in her that for him to be human was what she wanted more than anything, but she wouldn't say anything to him because she didn't want him to do something he didn't want to, but she felt like that was what they both wanted, but wouldn't bring it up until she had to and until she knew it could be done She looked at him one more time then at the sunrise and wiped his tears away and kissed him, deep and long, a kiss that said simply I love you.

Part 4

"Slayer.Slayer.hey Buffy, time to wake up, we need to do this ritual and get going."

"Huh? Ok.let me get dressed, where did my bra go?"

"Uhm.I think its over there luv.

"Thanks Spike."

"Welcome Luv."

"Alright have everything?"

"Yeah everything Watcher put on the damn list."

"Alright now it says to remain silent until the ritual is done."

"Ok, so just read this list and do everything that you do?"

"Yeah I guess."

"Ok"

(The ritual Giles gave them read like this: First draw a circle in the sand large enough for you both to sit Then you light the bundle of sage and clear out the circle. Then you hold hands and meditate together and if you do it right and you are as in-tuned as you think you two are you should, as Buffy would say, float about 2 feet above the ground. Then you join both hands and carefully lay side by side and Buffy will need to ask the spirit guide to show you where the Lamp of Onariasis is and the spirit guide should take you there in your minds and show you how to get there as well as making a map in the sand underneath your bodies.)

Spike is the first to break the silence after a few moments back on the ground.

"Holy Shit! That was a rush!"

"Wow! That was so cool. Ok where is this map? Ah ok got it, Spike draw this for me please on the back of your intsructions."

As Spike drew the map to the lamp Buffy packed everything up and got out the satellite phone Xander gave her.

"Hello?!"

"B-Buffy?!"

"Giles yeah its me, but I can barely hear you just wanted to let you know that 2 weeks into this and we did the ritual and know that the lamp is not far away, and should have it in a couple days ok? How's everyone doing?"

"Good that's good to hear! Everyone is fine. How is are you two holding up?"

"We are fine Giles but better go so the batteries don't die ok? Bye Giles!"

"Bye Buffy! We all wish you both the best of luck."

"Who was that Slayer?"

"Oh Giles, I was just letting him know how we are doing and that we should be home in a few days."

"Oh alright then."

"OK Spike lets get going the faster this is done the faster we can go home and I can shower!"

"OK vision I didn't need right now Slayer thank you."

"Oh and why is that? And please don't call me slayer my name is Buffy."

"OH ok Buffy."

"Speaking of names, I really don't like "spike" can I call you William?"

"Not if you want to live long enough to save the world again," spike gives her a soft, loving smile.

"Oh ok touchy.Lets just get going, so we can get home and sleep in a bed." Buffy gives a laugh and begins to walk.

"Now you're talking."

They packed up their gear and began the night's walk to the hidden lamp. Side by side for one goal through the sand, and heat walked the two moral enemies. The Slayer and the Vampire, underneath the moonlight, talking, laughing, together as one, exactly as they were meant to be. As he watched the moonlight dance across her figure, her blonde hair hidden and accented all in the same by the gentle beams fell across her body, her skin illuminated like a shimmer of hope in the darkest moment, and her bright green eyes some how seemed brighter and more beautiful, "I didn't think that was possible," he thought to himself. She looked like an angel, sent to him, what he did to deserve her he could not remember, for all he knew of life was death and the many ways he brought that to people.

Suddenly Buffy became aware that she was being watched, and very closely. She noticed Spike out of the corner of her eye and saw that it was him, he was watching her. He didn't have a look of hate or anger, it was a look of admiration and love. When the honesty and soul in his eyes hit her, she stopped dead in her tracks, Spike also stopped thinking something was wrong, "You ok Slayer?"

"Huh, uhm, Yeah I'm fine just wanted to have a drink of water because we are getting close and I have a feeling we aren't going to be doing much stopping until morning."

"Oh ok. Well then I'm going to uh, eat ok?"

"Oh yeah there should still be some blood in my sack on the top of my bag."

Spike reached over her shoulder and into her bag, as he did he could smell her, as he dug in her bag he breathed her in deeply. As her scent flowed into his dead lungs he smiled and felt the hole in his being become smaller.

"Find it?"

Spike was suddenly jerked back to reality, "huh? Oh Yeah here it is," he quickly drank the blood and tossed the bag aside, and the two walked on.

Part 5

As the two made their way through the desert night, Spike told Buffy about the things he had seen in his 200 something years. She listened intently as he spoke of the clothes and people and of all the things he had witnessed, "Of all the time I've seen go by I think I liked the 90's the most."

"Why? Nothing happened except a dumb ass war and decent fashion."

"Because I came back to Sunnydale."

"And that's good how?"

"Well if my bloody Sire hadn't drug me there in the first place I would have never met you."

"Awww.you know Spike every now and then you do something that makes me forget that you are suppose to be a demon."

"Uh.I think that was a compliment, Thanks Slayer."

"No problem, I guess I have my moments."

"That you do.That you do."

The pair stop walking and Look at each other as they reach the top of a hill. They stare in awe at the scene laid out before them, the sand is snow white and shimmers like a plain of diamonds with a small pyramid about 100 yards from them. Spike's first thought is that the pyramid is a mirage because it is very blurry, like looking over a flame, he looks at Buffy for approval that she sees it as well.

"Do you see that Spike?"

"The Pyramid? I thought it was a mirage."

"No its no Mirage, and it's perfectly clear to me, so I think the only reason you can see it is because you performed the ritual with me. Other wise you would just see a normal desert."

"Oh so I'm not seeing things?"

Buffy Laughs, "No Spike you're not seeing things."

"Well can't blame a bloke for checking."

"Ok well it's almost dawn so we should get some sleep, and tomorrow we have to go get this lamp because after tomorrow the pyramid will disappear."

As the dawn broke and lit the desert up the temperature began to fall, strangely and by mid morning it was pouring rain yet the sky was a brilliant clear blue. Buffy was shivering from the cold and damp underneath all her clothes and she felt it through to her bones. She could hear spike gently moving around in his tent, and got up and left her cold bed. In Spike's tent he didn't notice the temperature, a benefit of being dead he thought, weather didn't really matter. Suddenly he heard a noise, very close, someone was coming into his tent, he woke up quickly and saw it was Buffy and relaxed, he figured she was just cold so he moved over and made space for her under his blankets, she slipped off her shoes and crawled in with him, and snuggled up next to his bare chest and felt his cold skin against her cheek, she softly kissed his chest and looked up at him, with longing eyes. He kissed her forehead and smiled and held her closer to his body. She looked at him through wet eyes and softly said," Make love to me Spike," and then pressed her face into his chest.

"Not now Buffy, when the time is right I will, and it will be a beautiful thing but not now, I love you too much to do that."

Buffy smiled and laid her head down on him and fell into a state of calm she could not explain. It was like nothing she had ever felt on earth, it reminded her of her time spent in Heaven, before Willow brought her back. Spike just stared at her fragile body in amazement that that small frail little thing was going to save the world, yet again. He kissed her head and fell asleep, with Buffy in his arms, and hoped that this lamp would help him, that the next night they spent together they would be sleeping and dreaming of the morning and days to come.

Part 6

The day went slowly for Spike, but all in all that wasn't too much of a bad thing, he was unable to sleep, but he just watched Buffy sleep, he chest rising and falling in a rhythmic beat, with her heart pulsating in his ears, he felt so at peace, and so, happy. Spike couldn't believe he was actually saying it, but he was happy, and very much in love, so much that he was willing to give up everything he knew to be with her, to be with the Slayer. He wondered for a split moment what it was about her that made him want her so much; what made him feel this way and feed out of bags, even after he secretly had the chip removed from his skull, long ago. Why her, why this woman, why the slayer? Deep down it didn't matter why, and he knew that, he was happy and he knew that he made her happy that's what mattered, and if he was going to be with someone, then it couldn't have been a more perfect creature. "The Slayer, the one chosen to kill demons, has a vampire chasing her to the ends of the earth to get some bloody magical lamp to save the world, and turn him human. Well I guess you did your job, maybe the demon in me isn't dead, but between us it will never exist again," he said, then softly kissed her on the head, and brushed her hair aside, "I love you Buffy Summers."

When the night finally fell Buffy awoke alone in Spike's tent, She noticed he had built a fire and wondered why, when she tossed her covers off she realized why, it was cold, which surprised her even more than the rainy day had, "At least it stopped raining," she said. Buffy gathered her things and walked outside, to see Spike cooking something over the flame, it was meat, she knew that, and it smelled good, since they brought no meat with them her stomach grumbled when she caught the scent of the cooking flesh, she didn't care what it was at that point, she just wanted to have it in her stomach.

"Oh Morning luv!"

"Hi Spike. What you cooking? Ya know what I really don't care what it is can I have some?"

"Of course luv, not like I am going to bloody eat it, I found it running around and thought you could use some real food, so I bled it and cooked it for you."

"Awww.thanks, see that's one of those moments."

"ok Buffy hurry up and eat and I'll pack our gear up and stash it in a cave back a bit and then we are going to have to head out because you look like you really need a shower, and I am personally kinda sick of all this sand."

"Sounds good," she said. Then walked up behind Spike and kissed him on the neck, and spun his head around to kiss him full on the lips.

Spike was surprised by this but went along, hey why fight a good thing? He pulled her onto his lap and they stayed that way, kissing and touching, until Spike pulled back and picked her up off his lap, " ok Buffy we need to get going, you eat, I'll pack. I'll be back in a bit."

"Spike is something wrong? You seem like you are somewhere else, like anti- Buffy land, you don't touch me like you used to."

"Buffy," he said as he held her waist against him and brush her hair aside with his other hand, "I love you, and there is nothing more I would rather do than touch you and hug you and make love to you all day and night but this lamp is important, and it could change everything, I really want to get it and go home."

"OK, I was just making sure you hadn't gone all Angel like on me."

"Never, I would never do that, I promise you."

They kissed again and Spike left.

Part 7

As they entered the pyramid their lungs filled with putrid air, Spike silently thanked God he didn't have to breathe. They lit a torch and made their way down the long corridor, and came to a fork, and Buffy began to chat the works Giles and told her to say, the whole pyramid lit up like a road flare, so they could see, and darkened the part where they were not to venture.

"Well this is gonna be easy so follow the light and find the lamp?"

"Not exactly Spike, it will take us to the lamp, but we have to get past the guards to get to the lamp."

"Ah Bloody hell, I thought we were gonna get off easy on this damn thing."

"When is anything ever easy with me?"

"OK true slayer very true."

They walked for what seemed for hours, then they came to the emperial room, with guards inside, tall dog headed man looking things 4 of them, they seem to be made of stone, but then one of them shifted on his feet.

"Ok so what's the plan Slayer?"

"We walk in and tell them who we are and hope we get the lamp, if not then we fight them and get it, but once they are dead we both have to take the lamp off at the same time, so we kill them all and run to the lamp, both get it and run back following the light before the whole thing falls in and traps us forever."

"OK.could we get any bloody more Disney movie like here?

"Sorry I don't write the prophesies I just follow them."

"OK ready let's go."

They calmly walk in, "Hello," the creatures stand straight up, the one in the front speaks first.

"Who are you?"

"I am the Slayer, and I have come for the lamp of Onariasis. To stop the death of many people."

"Very well Slayer you may have the Lamp of Onariasis, but you and the vampire must defeat my warriors to prove your worth."

"Oh come on.I'm the slayer how much more worthy can I get?"

"If you decline we will leave you and your people will suffer."

"OK ok we'll fight you then you will step aside and let us go?"

"Yes, as I said that is what I shall do."

"ok Spike you ready?"

"Alright Slayer, lets kick some dog-man ass!"

The first creature attacks Buffy and the second goes at Spike. He throws the dog-man against a far wall and begins to choke it, but it kicks free and pins the vampire on the floor and pulls out a stake and thrusts it at Spike's heart, Buffy sees the Steak and back flips over her dog-man and kicks the steak out of his hand just before it hits his heart. Buffy takes a hard hit to the head and falls on the floor stunned, she shakes it off and moves just before an ax comes flying down next to her head, she kicks up and knocks the dog-man on his back, picks up the ax and cut his head of, then as Spike kicked the second one against the wall Buffy cuts his head off, both of the dog-men melt into a bluish-green goo, and then the two fighters take their stance in front of the last 2 dog-men. "There we beat your bloody warriors can we have the lamp now?"

"Spike! Shut up!"

"What? We did what he said now its his turn."

"OK we have proven worthy may we please pass?"

"One more challenge and you may pass, thought I must warn you, not one Slayer has succeeded in defeating my last warrior."

"Come on Buffy can't we just steal the damn thing and run?"

"NO Spike we have to do it their way or the lamp wont work."

"Oh Hell fine! Lets get this damn thing over with."

"I accept your final challenge."

"You are very strong Slayer, but you must be stronger if you wish to gain what you desire."

The third creature jumps out at Buffy and picks her up by the throat, Spike comes out from behind him and slices his head off just like the other two, Buffy falls to the floor coughing and hacking, she stands up in shock, "Well that was way too easy."

"Congratulations Slayer, you have succeeded and now you may pass."

"Dude are you serious? That guy was way to easy!"

"OK Slayer but you are the first to bring a partner and also the first to defeat my first warriors, let alone the second one, so give me a break."

Buffy laughs, "ok an ancient guard with an attitude, that's a first, uhm.ok thanks we will take our prize and go. Ready Spike?"

"Huh? Yeah ok."

Both Buffy and Spike reach for the Lamp and pick it up, and the walls begin to rumble, once out of the room, Buffy lets go and they both sprint for the exit, following the last bit of light to safety as the pyramid falls down around them. As they reach the outside they can see the dawn breaking, Spike falls right before he reached the entrance, "BUFFY!" he screams she stops and grabs his arm and pulls him out just as the last bit if building falls, "Run Buffy find shelter or I am dust!" They both run and find a cave about 100 yards from the fallen Pyramid, Spike falls into the cave, his clothes smoking from the sun.

"Spike are you ok? You aren't gonna go all poofy on me are you?"

"I'm fine Buffy," he picks the Lamp out of his pocket and thinks to himself, " I'll be better when we find out if this thing works or not, all I want is to be human again with you and happy."

The Cave fills with a bright light illuminating Spike picking him up off the floor and carrying him out into the sunlight. "Spike! NO!" The light grows brighter until she can no longer look, she turns away thinking that Spike has turned to dust, and begins to cry. The light turns to fire, and then fades away carrying Spike back into the cave, dropping him on the floor like a bag of rocks, a voice echos throughout the cave, "If it is your will, so be it."

"Spike...Spike are you ok? Please wake up," She slams her fists at his chest, spike sits up coughing and hacking.

Spike blinks his eyes and feels his face, it's warm, and he is breathing, he stops breathing and then realizes he has to breathe, "Holy shit," Buffy hears him speak and runs to him, smiling, "Spike I thought you were dead, well I mean, I thought you were dust."

"Nope I'm ok, and I feel Bloody Fantastic!"

"Ok, well when night falls we will go to our stuff I'll call Giles and he will send someone to get us."

"Alright Slayer, let's get some sleep what do you say."

"Alright Spike, you sure you are ok? You look kinda funny kinda not pale."

"Probably from that flash of light, might have done something to me."

"Well I'll have Giles check you out when we get back ok?"

"Yeah sure what ever Slayer, just go to sleep."

Buffy laid her head next to Spike's and began to think, about the lamp, and if it really did grant wishes, she held it tight and hoped it did because she knew what she was going to wish for. With a soft smile the Slayer fell into a peaceful slumber, and dreamt about the days to follow. As soon as Buffy fell asleep, Spike slowly stepped out into the sunlight, watched it light up his skin and felt it warm him to the bones, he felt like he had been given a second chance to prove he was worthy of loving Buffy. He looked up into the sky and did something he hadn't done in over 200 years, he thanked God for giving him life, and for giving him Buffy. Then Spike cried, he sat there on his knees and cried, for all the things he did in his unlife, for all the people he hurt and all the victims he killed, he felt Guilty and ashamed for the first time ever, and it wasn't particularly a feeling he wanted to feel again. Then he remembered the gear, he had to go get it before Buffy woke up, the sooner they got home the sooner they could start their new life together. When Spike reached the gear, he realized that he had probably lost his strength when he became human again, but then again, maybe not so he bent down and picked one sack up with no problem, and then the second and realized he still had his strength, "I'm like superman," he laughed, and thanked God again.

Part 8

When Buffy awoke it was still day, and she wasn't in the cave anymore, but their gear was. She frantically looked for Spike and immediately thought he was dusted, then he came out from around a rock, and into the sunshine. She sat there with her jaw open for what seemed like an eternity, just staring at Spike. Then everything went dark. When she woke again, she was back in the cave, with all the gear, it was night and from what she could tell it had just turned dark because there were small clouds on the horizon that were a pale pink.

"It was a dream, I think.Spike!"

"Yeah luv?" he poked his head in the cave from around the corner, "I'm cooking dinner you hungry?"

"Yeah I'm famished you are just what the doctor ordered."

"Yeah I know, now eat up Slayer, and I'll call Watcher and let him know you are up and to send the helicopter."

"Helicopter?"

"Oh Yeah, I called watcher and he thought I bled you then I explained you were asleep and I'd call when you woke up so some one could come get us out of this giant bleedin' litter box."

"How did you get the gear?"

"I walked while you were asleep."

"In the light?"

"Yeah."

"So it wasn't a dream? I did faint?"

"Uh.Yeah Sorry about the Buffy I meant to surprise you but not make you pass out."

"How did you carry it all back? How are you Human? How? Why? Help me here! Explain it to the blonde!"

Spike laughed, " OK calm down here you eat and I'll call Giles, Ok?"

Buffy nodded and began to eat her meal of what looked like jerky and some of the vegetables they brought with them. Not long after he left spike came back and told her that the Calvary was coming. She was happy but the fact that Spike was standing there in front of her breathing and eating, and not sucking the blood out of some poor animal.

"OK now explain."

Spike sat down and explained about the lamp and how somehow it read his thoughts and granted his wish. "You see I got what I wanted because in my heart of hearts I really wanted it to happen," he took her hand and placed it on his chest over his heart, "feel it Buffy, my heart is beating, all because of my love for you, you are the reason that I have blood flowing through me and I am breathing and living, because I love you and want to live and die with you." She began to cry, "You are the reason I have the pain I have in my heart, because even though all my dreams have come true I am human and I have you, I feel all the guilt and pain for the things I did in the past, and you are what is going to pull me through that, you are my heartbeat," he lifts her hand to his lips, "and you are my breath, until the day I die."

"Oh my God Spike, wow, you, really? You are really human? You're not going to pull an Angel on me are you? Please tell me you are permanent."

"Yes Buffy I am as permanent as you are, I won't loose this if I have a moment of pure happiness or anything else, I promise. Now if you are done we should get dressed in to clean clothes so we don't stink up the plane too bad." He gives her a soft smile and they head off to the cave.

The whole way home Buffy rested her head on Spike's chest and just listened to his heart beating under all that flowing blood and living tissue and all the human stuff. She was amazed and thankful but afraid at the same time. The heart she heard beating was real and the soul inside Spike was real, and she knew his love for her was real, something that could keep a demon from being a demon was more real than anything she had known in her life, she was totally sure that if he said he wasn't going to loose this like angel lost his soul then he was right, Spike wouldn't lie to her, even when they were trying to kill each other he never lied to her and never would, she trusted him. And at that moment, all her fears melted away, "I trust him," she whispered.

"What's that Luv?"

"I trust you."

"I know you do Luv, but what are you talking about?"

"Nothing Spike, nothing," Buffy said, then kissed him and rested her head on his shoulder and fell asleep and dreamt about what Giles and everyone was going to say, and slept with a smile on her face and in her heart.

Spike pulled the lamp out of his bag and held it close, smiled and said, " Thank you," to what ever granted his wish and kept this angel in his arms and gave him a second chance, as he looked out the window at the sun filled clouds he cried again and squeezed Buffy's hand in his, as he apologized for all the wrong he did in his time, and prayed that he would be able to make it up in some small degree of what he did, by stopping evil with Buffy. For the rest of the flight home that is what he did, cried and watched as his past played over and over again in his mind, he saw all those people die all the people he tortured and he felt their pain, over and over again, and he did nothing to stop it for he knew he deserved all this and far more for the crimes he committed, and was more than willing to pay the price for Buffy's happiness.

"I love you Slayer." He said then fell asleep along with her, with her head on his shoulder and her hand in his, they slept, and dreamed, The Slayer and ex-Vampire, as one, just as they should be.