Title: Been There, Done That
(You have no idea how much I wanted to name this 'Once More With Feeling!)
Author: Joyce Renee
Rating: Pg-13 (for now)
Summary: AU Spuffy series/ Buffy and Spike have to
relive the last six years, and change things for the better.
Disclaimer: I own none of this, not even the original idea! I have read so many fics, if you see something familiar it is not intentional infringement. Let me know and I'll change it or give you credit.
*Prologue takes place during the 7th Season Episode, 'Touched'. Buffy and Spike have settled down for the night after she was kicked out of her own house. While away, the bringers and ubervamps destroy Buffy's house killing everyone inside…
**Please read the Author's Note before starting this. It will probably answer any questions you might have.
Prologue
He was dreaming. He had to be. How else would he be able to hold her like this? Spike prayed that if it were a dream, he would never wake up.
Buffy sighed and snuggled closer to him. Nights of broken sleep riddled with nightmares had taken their toll. Only in Spike's arms could she find relief from the terrible visions, blocked by the pure, unconditional love he surrounded her with.
He kissed her hair, and reluctantly allowed himself to fall asleep.
A few hours later:
"Buffy?"
An echoing voice startled the sleepers awake.
Buffy rubbed her eyes, blinking in disbelief at the glowing woman standing in front of her.
"Mom?"
"Careful Buffy, it could be the first." Spike cautioned.
Joyce Summers held her arms open, with a small smile. Buffy cautiously got to her feet.
"Hurry honey, there's not much time." Joyce urged her.
The slayer soon found herself in the warm embrace of the mother she had not seen in two years. Tears of joy and shock were streaming down her face. Buffy clutched her mother and sobbed.
Joyce's eyes were glistening as she lovingly stroked her daughter's hair. Then she lifted a pleading gaze to a stunned Spike.
He shook himself, and carefully extracted Buffy from her mother.
"Mom, I missed you so much! I…"
"I know, sweetheart. I've been keeping a close watch over you. And I am so proud of you." Joyce interrupted.
"Honey, I wish I had more time spend with you, but the world is ending and we're running out of time."
Buffy felt the bitterness rising in her. It wasn't fair! Why did she always have to sacrifice something to save the world? Why did she always have to hand her life over to fate?
"So, what do I have to give up this time?" she asked, scornfully.
"What do you mean?" Joyce questioned, confused at her daughter's abrupt change in attitude.
"Well let's see, first I gave up my life, then Angel, then my graduation, then my mother, then my life again, then my death. Why can't everyone just leave me alone! Haven't I saved the world enough? Isn't it someone else's turn?!" she shouted through more sobs.
"Oh, honey! I know it's been tough, but The Powers That Be are going to give you the chance to do it all over again."
"What do you mean?" Spike demanded, upset that Buffy was upset.
"Buffy will be sent back in time six years. It's up to her to change things for the better." Joyce explained.
Buffy sobs had now turned into hysterical laughter. After everything she'd done. All the things she'd suffered through, her reward was to do it all over again?
"That's not fair, and you know it." Spike said.
"What do you mean?"
"Look at her! She'll go mad if you make her do this alone!"
"Then we'll send you with her."
"No! I'm not doing it this time! I'd rather die!" Buffy shrieked.
"But what about Dawn? And Xander, Willow, and Giles?" Joyce asked, "They're all dead now."
"What? If that's true, then why aren't they with you?" Spike demanded.
Joyce's eyes filled with pain as she said, "They're stuck in limbo. Each of them had certain tasks that they were supposed to do before they died. And they're not the only ones. Several people from all over the world have died before their time. The First has messed everything up. So, we are being given the chance to go back and try again. But only you two will have memories of the way it was."
Spike nodded, ready to do what was required of him. Buffy's shoulders drooped, and her chin went to her chest.
"Okay, I'll do it. What other choice do I have?"
She looked pitiful and defeated.
"That's the spirit!" Spike teased her.
Buffy's head snapped up she pinned Spike with a glare.
"Oh, shut-up! You're only happy about this because you get the chance to make amends! What about me? I have to relive high school! There is nothing worse than that!" she snapped.
Spike just grinned at her. He was pleased to see the fire back in her eyes. It had been gone far too long.
"Okay, take my hands. I'm sending you back to the day you met." Joyce said.
Buffy put one hand in Joyce's the other in Spike's.
Everything went black and she felt as if she had jumped out of an airplane without a parachute. Down she went, trying to hold back a scream as she felt her mother's hand slip away from her.
"Spike!" she cried, tightening her grip on his hand.
"Don't worry, Buffy! I'll find you!" he yelled as they were torn apart.
End Prologue.
*Okay, I know it was a little corny, and had too many adjectives, but I had to come up with a reason for this Alternate Universe I'm creating. The next installment is much more interesting, and much longer! It will be up by this time, 7:30pm EST, tomorrow night.
Ta!