Disclaimer: I do not own anything; Characters belong to Joss Whedon & Mutant Enemy. However this story is my own.
A/N: As always reviews are greatly appreciated. Also I'm looking for a beta for this story so if you're interested please PM me - Loverswalk89 x
'Good Will Hunting"
CHAPTER THREE
"You're her" the small voice came from nowhere "I've been waiting..."
"Waiting for what exactly?" Buffy stood her ground.
*Okay looks like I'm drafting in Willow to do some witchy mojo... What was that spell she did on that demony ghost thingy that hitched a ride with me from beyond the grave*
A small figure appeared in the corner of the room, dressed in a pink frilly dress she was completely translucent
"Don't be afraid" she smiled at her
Buffy recognised the small child from the painting in the library although he wasn't certain of who the girl was "You're William's...?"
"His sister" she smiled
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"Is it far from here?" Dawn asked
"I don't think so... About an hour or so" Willow replied
"It's gunna be weird for her... I mean seeing the house where Spike grew up" Dawn looked concerned
"I know what you're thinking and don't... Buffy is gunna be okay, I know she's had a hard time with Spike's death but I really think she's turned a corner" Willow said with a brief smile.
"Yeah because seeing the house where your vampire lover grew up, and looking through all his history... Yeah that's not gunna mess anybody up" Dawn rolled her eyes
"Maybe you're right Dawnie, but we'll resort to damage control when we know that there's some damage to control"
XXXXX
"His sister?"
"Emily Pratt... Nice to meet you" the little girl smiled
"He never mentioned you before" Buffy frowned
"I expect that's because he was sad... I've waited a hundred and thirty years for this" she smiled
"A hundred and thirty years for what?" Buffy asked
"To meet you... The woman that stole my dear brother's heart"
"I don't know about that..." Buffy blushed
"He must love you... To give you this house, our home"
"I... Uh" Buffy stuttered
Emily smiled broadly "I know this must be weird for you miss"
"Uh Buffy... My name is Buffy" she told her
Emily giggled "Funny name... Well Miss Buffy I half expected you to run away"
"Why's that?" Buffy asked sitting on the bed
"Well in case you haven't noticed I'm a ghost" snarked Emily
"You really do have your brother's mouth" Buffy giggled
"William would never speak in such a way" Emily told her
"Your brother... Y'know he's not who he used to be right?" Buffy asked
"I do... He became... Oh how did he describe it? Ah yes a creature of the night... Then he bit mother" Emily remembered painfully
"And you?" Buffy asked softly
"He never hurt me... I was gone long before he was turned" Emily smiled
"What happened? Why didn't Sp-William mention you?" Buffy asked
Emily had a sad look on her face as she say beside Buffy on the bed. "I was soon to be ten years of age, William, Mother and I went for a picnic down by the river. It was a glorious day as English weather goes, William was to teach me how to swim... I grew impatient taking matters into my own hands, Mother always did say I was a handful" she smiled
"I went to the edge of the riverbank and I lost my footing... I fell in, William tried his best to save me but it was too late" she told her
"Oh my..."
"Please do not feel sorry for me, it happened so long ago now. I suspect my dear older brother blamed himself for my demise"
Something twigged to Buffy like a switch ha been flipped on in her head "That's why he protected Dawn" she whispered
"Dawn?" She asked
"My sister... He always... He's saved her more than once. And now I know why... She reminded him of you"
"Perhaps" Emily smiled "But like I said I've been waiting for you, I didn't think you'd be so long but there's still time"
"Time for what?" Buffy asked
"To save him of course"
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Buffy rushed through the doors of Slayer Central, immediately stomping up the stairs towards her room.
Willow, Xander and Dawn noted her presence and followed her upstairs, they got to the doorway of her room as she scrambled to her closet throwing the door open, sending various items of clothing flying
"Uh Buff?" Xander spoke first "Whatcha doing?"
"Did something happen at the house?" Asked Dawn
Buffy didn't reply to either of them and carried on emptying her closet
"Buffy just stop!" Willow yelled
She paused for a moment "I can't! I have to help him"
"Who? Buffy what's going on? Talk to us!" Dawn begged.
"There's no time, I've already wasted enough. He needs me! He's counting on me!" Buffy cried going back to emptying her closet
"Spike..." Dawn whispered
"Buffy what happened?" Xander asked
"His sister... She's a ghost she's waited all this time, she told me he needs me. He's trapped there isn't a lot of time left" Buffy paused as she found what she was looking for. The scythe
"Whoa" Xander stammered "And what are you planning to do with that?!" He asked
"Kill anything that stands in my way" she told him
"Buffy just hold on a sec?" Willow pleaded "The ghost of Spike's sister came to you and told that Spike was trapped somewhere and you believe her because?"
"I have to!" Buffy yelled
"Are you completely crazy?" Asked Xander.
Buffy gave him a death look and he backed up a few paces "Okay, Buffy I get that you wanna help him, you wanna save him because y'know he saved the world"
"No not because he saved the world! Because... Because I love him!" She shouted back
"This could be a trap Buffy..." Said Xander
"He's right... How do you know it was a real ghost? How do you know it wasn't The First?" Asked Dawn
Buffy's face dropped "Guh" was all she could muster. How could she have been so foolish? How could she have not of thought of this before? Her tears fell freely.
"It's okay Buffy" Xander placed his arms around her as she sobbed.
"Yeah... It might not be The First, we'll check it out Buffy. We need to make sure this is real before you go off saving somebody that may not need saving" Willow told her.
"I guess I just got caught up..." Buffy sniffled.
"It's okay" Xander soothed "We'll get to the bottom of this"
"Yeah I'll go back there with you tomorrow, see if I can do some sort of spell?" Willow offered
"Yeah... But nothing that might send her spirit away, this could be important" Buffy ordered
"It's a little weird Spike never mentioned a sister" said Xander
"Yes he did..." Dawn spoke up "I guess I was the only one he told?"
"When did he?" Asked Buffy cautiously
"That summer he looked after me, when you... When you weren't here. He told me about his younger sister Emily, she died when she was ten. He seemed to think that it was his fault, just like..."
"Like?" Asked Buffy
"You, he babbled on about how he couldn't save her and he couldn't save you" said Dawn sadly
Buffy's tears came again, she threw herself onto the bed and gave in on her grief for the man... Manpire that had left her alone when she really needed him and the strength he brought her. Willow and Xander left the room and Dawn lay with her sister, playing with her hair and comforting her until she feel into a deep sleep.
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The next morning Willow packed up her supplies to take to the house, Dawn loitered in the doorway of Willow's room.
"I still think I should go with you guys" Dawn complained
"I know sweetie, but it could be dangerous" Willow told her
Dawn played with her hands "I know but I can handle dangerous, Hello? Battle with the first? Those skeleton guys that came out of the dirt? Glory?... Okay so Glory was a bad example but I can do this"
Willow rested her hands both of Dawn's shoulders "I know Dawnie but I want to check this place out first and I'm sure Buffy doesn't want to endanger you either..." She put on her best resolve face "Spike would want you to be safe"
"Oh no you can't resolve face me and Spike me at the same time!" Dawn whined
"Worked though didn't it" Willow gave her a cheeky grin.
Dawn sighed and gave in, Buffy walked into Willow's room "Are you ready to go?" Buffy asked
"Yeah" smiled Willow picking up her bag "All set"
"Let's go"