Title: Gone With the Slayer
Disclaimer: These characters are the property of Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy wound around a plot devised by Margaret O' Mitchell in her novel Gone With the Wind. Warped huh?
Sharing: If you would like to share this feel free to do so however just let me know where it's headed.
How to do that? Email me at elizard100@yahoo.ca
Spoilers: Set during Season 6 after "As You Were" but before "Hell's Bells".
This fanfic arose from a posting on the Buffy Cross and Stake Spoiler Message Board. One of the posters said she thought there were a lot of similarities between Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gone With the Wind so I thought I'd explore the concept. Most of my ideas for fanfics come from inspiration on the board.
Summary: Buffy falls asleep while watching Gone With the Wind and has an interesting dream in which she is Scarlett O'Hara.
Part IV
"First things first Buffy," Colonel Jeffries pointed out. "You have to agree to do what we tell you to do. We're running this assault and we have to maintain control. Do you agree?"
Buffy nodded.
"Do you have anyone inside who would be able to help fight?" Riley wanted to know.
"Yes, a couple of my friends are very good fighters," Buffy offered. "One of them is hurt badly but he heals quickly he's a va…." She paused realizing what she was saying. "Va-ery quick healer so he should be able to help us."
"Good," Colonel Jeffries encouraged her. "You need to sneak back inside now and get the men to help us when we attack."
"I can help too," Buffy suggested.
"Oh sure you will Buffy," Riley was humouring her. "You're helping us lots by going back inside and warning the others. You're very brave."
Buffy decided she wouldn't try to explain her Slayer strength to these two and made her way back towards the house. As she stood behind a tree looking around for guards a figure emerged from the shadows, Spike.
"Where did you come from?" Buffy asked, startled.
"England originally," he quipped. "But I've visited all around."
"I mean how did you escape?" Buffy elaborated in a frustrated tone.
"Oh that," Spike took a drag from his cigarette casually. "Well, when you and the soldier boys were taking out the demons I took advantage and snuck out. The demons put new guards on my shed without actually checking to see if I was still in it. Bloody idiots."
"Since you're out you can help us fight the Summoners," Buffy asked hopefully.
"Not bloody likely," Spike spurted. "Me? Join up with Jeffries men? They'd stake me before I got a chance to explain that I was trying to help out. No, I've got other plans." He kicked at a rock on the ground. "Besides, I saw the way that pillock was looking at you. Tell me, Buffy, do you never shrink from making googly eyes at any man who isn't the worst possible choice for you? Oh, how fickle is woman!"
"What are you talking about?" Buffy argued. "He's just a nice guy. I really don't have time for this. I have to get back and let Angel and the others know what's going on."
"So, you've got the great Angel helping you out as well. I'm sure you've got him wrapped around your little finger by now," Spike was stinging her with his words. "You still think you're the Belle of the county don't you? That you're the cutest little trick in shoe leather and that every man you meet is dying of love for you. Well some of them will die if you don't stop playing these little games with all of them. I suggest you choose who you want to be with and set all the others free Buffy."
Buffy huffed and stormed off.
"What a woman!" Spike exclaimed as he watched her head towards the house.
Buffy made a beeline for her bedroom where she removed a few small hand weapons from her hope chest and hid them on her person before making her way back down the laundry chute.
"Buffy?" Angel responded in surprise when she slid out. "What are you doing back here?"
"We've got reinforcements coming," she explained. "But they needed help from the inside as well."
"Kind of like the Trojan Horse," Giles suggested stepping forward. "Quite clever."
"The Trojan what?" Buffy asked. "Sometimes I have no idea what you're talking about. There's no horses in here. But anyway, Colonel Jeffries and his men will be staging their assault shortly. When they do we're going to help them."
"Colonel Jeffries is a fair man," Angel explained. "But some of the people working with him have a very black and white idea about vampires and demons. Not all of us are evil. But they can't see past the fangs."
"I know it's not an ideal situation Angel," Buffy argued. "But if we're going to get out and save everyone you're going to have to put your pride behind you and learn to work with them. Right now we need them so if you're if you're not willing to work with Colonel Jeffries' men then you're not willing to work with me."
"I can't fight you both," Angel conceded giving in.
"Buffy," Giles interrupted. "I have a question. How are we going to help fight when we're locked in this room?"
"I have a cunning plan," Buffy revealed.
Moments later Buffy had succeeded in luring Ethan Wilkinson over to the doorway with the ruse that Willow had come around. Once he had been tricked into opening the doorway Buffy hit him over the head with a mallet.
Giles offered a final blow and a kick to the ribcage. "There's payback with interest from your dear old Mammy," Giles bitterly added with a flourish.
As Buffy and her friends, newly armed, emerged from the room they were met with four armed guards who they quickly overthrew. Buffy looked around them to find the Summoners had departed. While she had been gone the Summoners had left Ethan to watch over them while taking Dawn and Tara elsewhere.
"Where's Dawn?" Buffy asked desperately.
"And Tara?" Xander questioned looking down at the still unconscious form of Willow. Looking back at Ethan, Xander got an idea. Checking his pockets Xander found the glowing orb he had used on Willow. Xander smashed it on the ground. Willow shook her head a little starting to come around.
"Tara?" she mumbled.
Helping the confused witch to her feet the friends tried to figure out where the Summoners might have gone.
"This is the only spot in all of Sunnydale where they can raise Sherman and perform their ritual," Giles explained. "I don't understand why they would have left."
The sounds of crashing could be heard from above. "Maybe they haven't gone far," Buffy suggested. Let's go see."
Once upstairs the friends found the Sunnydale troops engaged in fighting with Sherman's demon soldiers. They were losing badly. Buffy rushed into the thick of it and began attacking one of the demons. "Where's my sister," she yelled at him. "What did you do with her you creep?"
Alarmed by her presence Riley rushed over to protect her, unaware that it was unnecessary.
"Buffy," he cautioned. "You shouldn't be here. It's too dangerous."
"What? Did you think I was going to sit around reading David Copperfield and knitting socks for Spike?" Buffy angrily retorted while thrusting her dagger towards the demon once again.
"But you shouldn't be here Sugar," Riley was being distracted by his concern for Buffy. "It's too dangerous."
"Don't call me Sugar," Buffy shouted at him as she struck a final blow to the demon. Surprised by what he had just seen her do Riley stood and stared at the fallen demon in shock and amazement. As it fell to the ground a demon soldier leapt up behind it and plunged it's sword into Riley's midsection.
"Riley," Buffy called out feeling responsible for this man's plight. She managed to pull him over to the side of the fray
Riley assured her that he would be ok but it was obvious that he didn't want to be around her. "I guess I won't be calling you Sugar anymore, Killer would seem to be more appropriate."
Buffy flinched at the harshness of his words and at the truth in them.
Seeing so many of their fellow demons fallen, the rest fled outside with the Sunnydale troops in pursuit. Buffy attempted to treat Riley's wound but he avoided her glance stung by her rejection and by his carelessness in front of her. One of Colonel Jeffries men came in to help Riley outside while Buffy searched around desperately for some sign of Dawn and Tara but could find none.
A knock at the door brought Buffy back to her senses. Opening it she saw a blanket covered Spike holding up a wounded Angel.
"Invite us in already," Spike urged.
"You've already been inside," Buffy pointed out.
"Right," Spike acknowledged. "I forgot. Out of my way then, we're burning up." Throwing Angel down onto the floor Spike removed the blanket from his head. "I found this sorry sight on the front lawn starting to sizzle. Seems he had chased one of those demons outside but then got trapped in front of Colonel Jeffries' men who weren't going to let a vampire back inside. I talked a little sense into them." Spike revealed a large crossbow he had been carrying.
"Oh, it's all my fault," Buffy lamented.
"Here," Spike offered Buffy his flask. "Have a drink of this. It'll give you your courage back."
Taking it quickly she took a deep drink from it. "Bleh," she spit out.
"Buffy?" Xander asked cautiously. "Was that blood?"
"Worse," she confessed. "Whiskey." Turning to Spike she criticized, "What? You couldn't at least stick to the theme and have gotten some Southern Comfort?"
"Fine, whatever," Spike shrugged, taking back his flask he picked up his blanket to leave.
"Wait, don't go," Buffy pleaded. "I need you. I'm so afraid Spike. They still have Dawn and Tara, which means they can do the ritual and summon Sherman. I'm so afraid now. I'm afraid of dying and going to hell."
"Why would you go to hell?" Spike asked.
"I'm a Slayer," she explained. "We kill. That's in our nature. Hence the name. If my purpose is to kill then can there be any good in me?"
"Dry your eyes," Spike tried to comfort Buffy. "You're nothing but good. It's disgusting. Besides, you're not going to die any time soon."
Looking at Giles, Buffy turned to go upstairs. Spike followed after her.
"What was that all about?" Xander asked.
"Well, it's a bit complicated really Xander," Giles removed his spectacles and began polishing them. "There is a prophecy that Buffy will face Sherman and that he will kill her."
"Well that's just nonsense," Xander reasoned. "You can't trust prophecies ever. They're so vague you can't even tell what they apply to until after they've been fulfilled. So what does this one say specifically?"
Giles returned his spectacles and put away his handkerchief reciting the words he had memorized from so much contemplation the last few weeks, "During the great battle of the South in the land of the sun, a new Slayer will face the demon of five lives. On the Feast of St. Haumia the Slayer will die at the hands of the great demon warrior."
"Oh," Xander gulped. "That's pretty specific. But what's this demon of five lives business?"
"Sherman is virtually unstoppable," Giles explained. "He is incredibly strong and commands magical forces. He has performed a spell on himself that allows him to be killed and to rise again five times. Therefore even if Buffy manages to kill him it may not stop him. He has been killed twice before by mighty forces, but he has risen again. Today I fear him more than ever before."
"What do you mean?" Xander asked.
"Today is the last day of the festivities of St. Haumia meaning that today must be the actual Feast Day," Giles paused for effect. "Today is the day that Buffy is supposed to die."
* * *
Buffy sat at her dressing table brushing her hair. One hundred strokes every day had given her a glossy mane of hair that any woman would be proud to own. What Buffy wouldn't have given to be any other girl this day. As she sat gazing at her reflection Buffy heard footsteps behind her. Turning she was surprised to find Spike right behind her.
"No reflection," she realized. "I forgot."
"Buffy," he said tenderly getting down on his knees in front of her. "Let me help you."
"How can you help?" she asked through teary eyes. "What can you do to save me?"
"Look," Spike straightened up. "I think I know what they've done with your sister and the witch. Come with me and we'll try to rescue them. You know, the big heroes of the day and all."
"Why are you doing this?" Buffy demanded. "You know I can never really love you. Don't you know I'll always be in love with someone else?"
Spike shook his head then smiled. "It must be my good nature getting the better of me," he explained as he stood up. "I guess I'm not in love with you any more than you are with me. Heaven help the man who ever really loves you. Will you trust me on this one?"
Buffy stood up taking Spike's outstretched hand. "Ok, I'll trust you."
"Who knows?" he pondered for a moment. "You might even like having me around."
"But when I asked you to help earlier you said you had something better to do," Buffy halted.
"I did," Spike responded holding up a small amulet with a large letter "K" on the front of it. "For you my dear."
"Can we go now?" Buffy was anxious.
"You'd best take a nap first," Spike suggested. "I'm not much good roaming the streets in broad daylight and they can't start their ritual without this gaudy little bauble."
Buffy agreed and after Spike left to go downstairs she stretched out on her bed. At least the demons had left it intact she thought. Less than an hour later she appeared at the bottom of the stairs. Spike lifted up his head at her descent.
"I thought you were taking a nap," he pointed out.
"I was," Buffy admitted. "But I had the strangest dream. I was lost in the mist and I was all alone."
"You're not alone," Spike went to her side putting a comforting arm around her. Buffy leaned her head against his shoulder strangely feeling warmer while being held against his cold body.
At that moment Angel appeared from the kitchen. Buffy immediately pulled back shrugging off Spike's arm.
"Oh, it's like that then is it?" Spike recognized. "Well, the world is full of many things and many people. And I shan't be lonely. I will find comfort elsewhere."
"Spike," Buffy admonished him. "You know I don't feel that way about you."
"I know," he acknowledged, looking out the window at the approaching sunset while changing the subject. "It'll be dark soon, we should get ready." Spike retreated into the study to determine a plan of action for surprising Sherman's men.
Giles turned to look at Buffy disapprovingly, "You know, there must be an awful lot of good in a man who can love so absolutely without ever any hope of having it returned." Giles turned and followed Spike into the study to see if he could help. Xander and Willow followed after him.
"What was that all about Buffy?" Angel asked.
"Oh nothing," Buffy dismissed it, turning to look around at what had been her lavish family home. All that was left were the burnt out ruins of a life that didn't exist anymore. "How did we get to where we are now Angel? It used to be so simple but now everything is hard and bright and violent."
Angel nodded in agreement. "Yes, we've traveled a long road since the old days, haven't we Buffy?..the golden warmth and security of those days. I can hardly bear to think about it." Angel bowed his head in despair.
"Those days are gone," Buffy reminded him. "Don't look back, Angel, don't look back. It'll drag at your heart until you can't do anything but look back."
In his sadness Angel reached out and embraced Buffy compassionately. A polite cough alerted them to the fact that they were not alone. Buffy was alarmed to see that Spike stood in the doorway with a disgusted sneer on his face.
"Sorry to interrupt," he spat out bitterly. "But it's time for us to go." He spun on his heels and headed for the front door.
"Spike," Buffy tried to explain. "It's not what it looks like."
Looking sheepishly at her friends who stood there staring at her, Buffy followed him out the door.
* * *
As the group approached the darkened mansion Buffy grew suspicious. "Are you sure this is the place?" she asked.
"As sure as I am of anything," Spike said bitterly. "I saw a couple of their soldiers on guard here earlier today when I was heading back to your house. But then why should you trust me? I'm just an evil vampire."
"Cut it out," Xander ordered. "This isn't getting us anywhere. I feel like we're going into the arena and the lions are hungry and all you two can do is fight with each other."
"Sorry Xander," Buffy conceded. "We're just nervous."
"Let's split up and scope out the grounds," Angel suggested. "They may be using one of the side buildings."
Buffy wandered around to the back of the house trying to peer inside the darkened windows for some sign of activity. As she rounded the corner she ran into Spike.
"Fancy meeting you here," he joked, the pain evident in his voice.
"Spike," Buffy tried to explain. "About earlier…"
Spike interrupted her before she could go any further. "Tut, tut, my dear. I get it. You don't love me. I know that. Of course the comic figure in this is the long-suffering Angel! He won't give you up but he won't take you for himself. Why doesn't he make up his bloody mind?"
"You don't understand," Buffy criticized.
"Then why don't you explain it to me," Spike demanded getting angry with her. "God, this is insane."
Spike shifted to his game face. "Observe my hands, my dear. I could tear you to pieces with them, and I'd do it if it would take Angel out of your mind forever. But it wouldn't. So I'll remove him from your mind forever this way." Spike put his powerful hands on both sides of her head as if between a vise. I'll put my hands so – one on each side of your head – and I'll smash your skull between them like a walnut, and that'll block him out."
"Get real," Buffy spurted in disbelief.
"That's what this is," Spike explained. "This thing between us. It may not be pretty but it's real. Not like what you think you have with Angel."
"You'll never understand what Angel and I have had Spike," Buffy looked at him disdainfully. "You've lived in dirt so long you can't understand anything else and you're jealous of something you can't understand."
"Jealous, am I?" Spike queried. "Yes, I suppose I am – even though I know you've never really been able to get together with Angel. How do I know? Because I know Angel and his honourable breed. He's a gentleman! That's more than I can say for you or for me. We're not gentlemen, and we have no honour, have we?"
Impulsively grabbing her, Spike kissed Buffy passionately. She fought him at first before giving in to his embrace. After a few moments she changed her mind and shoved him away from her. He fell against a hidden door in the side of the house.
"Hey," the vampire sputtered. "I think I've found something."
The others gathered around as they inspected the doorway. It showed signs of recent usage. Spike kicked it open. "At least someone's not shutting me out tonight," he snarled looking in Buffy's direction.
Once inside they discovered that the doorway led down a set of steps that continued down into the darkness.
"It goes into the sewers," he observed crinkling his nose. "They must be below ground."
The group followed the steps down to the bottom and then continued along the path which led east.
"I think I know where this is heading," Giles realized. "It goes back to Buffy's house. Over the Hellmouth."
They quickened their pace. At one point in the long trek Buffy fell into step beside Spike looking like she wanted to tell him something.
"I'm sorry about my outburst back there Buffy," Spike conceded. "There's no point in me trying to make you love me when you've made it very clear that it will never happen."
"But Spike," she interrupted.
"No, let me finish," Spike continued. "Even if there wasn't Angel standing between us it would never work. We're both too fiercely independent. Love will never be easy for either of us but with someone else we might stand a chance at happiness. Together the future would only hold misery. I see that now."
Hurt by his harsh words Buffy fought back, "Well, I wouldn't choose to be in love with anyone like you anyway," she retorted. "I'd rather be in love with anyone else but you. I'd rather be dead."
Spike looked at her pursing his lips. "Cheer up," he quipped. "Maybe you'll have an accident." He stalked off ahead of her.
* * *
The group continued along the dark pathway as quickly as they could, considering the darkness that surrounded them. It felt like forever before they came upon a section that turned sharply to the right. Turning the corner they could make out a light in the distance.
"That must be them," Buffy observed. "Everyone keep quiet."
As they approached they could make out a section of the tunnel that had been dug out. There were several guards standing near the entrance.
"How do we get past them?" Buffy wondered aloud. "If we start a fight the others inside will be alerted and will come out. We need stealth."
"I think I can help," Willow offered. "I can do a spell. Just a little one. I'm weak still but I can throw a noise into the far end of the tunnel. That way, hopefully, they'll go off in the other direction to see what it is."
"Good idea," Giles encouraged her.
"Here goes nothing," Willow began, "Insono ablegare." She pointed off into the distance and a flash of light emanated from her fingertips.
A loud sound could be heard from the far end of the tunnel, almost like someone was trying to break through a wall. The guards responded immediately, leaving the entrance unguarded. The friends hurried over and slipped inside the opening. The pathway they found themselves on continued downward at a steep angle. An opening at the end revealed a large cavern cut into the rock. The ground seemed to be warmer here and strange lights flickered on the walls.
"They've started bleeding the witch," Spike announced.
"How do you know?" Xander asked.
"We can smell the blood," Angel explained embarrassed by this evidence of his true nature.
"Tara," Willow whispered breathlessly. A short distance away Tara could be seen in a cage held up by restraints that forced her arms above her head. She looked extremely pale and weak. There were cut marks on her arms and legs as blood was dripping slowly down and into a shallow well below her.
"I'm going to see if she's still alive," Buffy suggested.
"I'm going with you," Willow asserted.
The two girls crept over to the end of the cavern where Tara was being held. Climbing up a natural rock formation they were able to come up to the same height as Tara. The blonde girl's breathing was shallow and she had lost a considerable amount of blood.
"Hang on Tara," Buffy encouraged her. "We're here now. We're going to save you." Buffy tried breaking the lock on the cage but it held fast against her strength.
"It's held by magic," Willow explained through tears. She tried to do a spell to release Tara but a barrier held her in place. Tara was fading fast. "Maybe if I try harder, concentrate, I can do this," Willow reasoned.
"Willow," Buffy cautioned. "Their magic is too strong for us. We have to find another way to save Tara."
Buffy and Willow made their way back down to join their friends. They watched in silence as the Summoners formed a circle and began chanting aloud. Dawn was being held by two guards behind them, still struggling to get away. In the middle of the circle a blaze of fire appeared and a large figure could be seen within it. Stepping out of the blaze Sherman surveyed the scene around him. He was seven feet tall with large horns on top of his head. The skin of his face seemed to be bolted on and his hands were massive. He exuded power and strength. His eyes came to rest on the spot where Buffy and her friends were hiding.
"Get them," he commanded pointing right at them. Turning to one of the Summoners he demanded, "Isn't that witch dead yet?"
A Summoner appeared and offered Sherman a small bowl. Willow whimpered in realization of what this meant. Looking up to the cage where the fallen body of Tara lay Willow's eyes turned dark with rage, fighting back the tears.
Immediately the demon soldiers came at them, swords flying. The group stepped up to fight, dispatching the first demons who challenged them. Willow stepped off to the one side muttering some words under her breath.
"Divisum," she uttered aloud. She stumbled from the force of the surge of energy.
Giles watched in amazement at the power this girl wielded as the soldiers in front of them separated to leave a clear path to the circle where Sherman stood.
Two demons dragged Dawn to where Sherman was standing. "Buffy?" she cried out desperately.
The others concentrated on disarming the demon soldiers as Buffy ran by them through the pathway Willow had created, with no thought for her own safety.
You've sent a girl to fight me?" Sherman laughed incredulously. "Armies have challenged me and lost and the best you have to offer is a little girl."
Buffy smiled sweetly. "Well, looks can be deceiving," she pointed out pummeling Sherman's chest with her fists. He was thrown off balance by her assault.
Grabbing a sword from one of the demon soldiers Buffy sliced Sherman's head clean from his body. The head fell to the ground followed by the large body.
Dusting her hands off Buffy seemed satisfied with herself. "Well, I guess that prophecy was wrong." Buffy was so pleased with this turn of events that she didn't see Sherman rise up again from behind her, picking his head up and reattaching it to his neck.
"Guess again," his voice boomed across the cavern.
Angry now Sherman swiped at her with one of his mighty fists sending her flying backwards into a wall. Picking herself up off the ground she returned with a kick to his midsection knocking him to the ground. Annoyed at her attacks, Sherman smacked Buffy across the head causing her to become disoriented. He then lifted her and raised her up over his head preparing to throw her down into a deep dark pit.
"Stop," Spike cried out desperately as he rushed up to Sherman. "Let her go. I've got what you really want." He held the Kronestar amulet over the pit. "If she goes in, so does this little trinket."
Sherman halted. It was obvious that he wanted the amulet. He smiled. "I knew you would bring it to me Spike. The Summoners told me you had it. Alright, give me the amulet and I won't throw her into the pit."
"Do I have your word on that?" Spike demanded. "The legends say that you are incapable of lying."
"The legends are true. May I never kill another living human being if I go back on this," Sherman vowed.
"Alright," Spike agreed, tossing the amulet to one side. "Go get it."
One of the Summoners flew forward scooping up the amulet. Sherman raised Buffy up again.
"But you promised," Spike cried out. "You're incapable of breaking your word."
"I promised I wouldn't throw her into this pit," Sherman admitted. "But I didn't say anything about smashing her head in against this wall." Sherman forcefully threw Buffy against the wall directly behind Spike. When her skull made contact with the hard surface it made an awful cracking sound as her neck snapped. Her broken body fell to the ground in a heap. It was over so suddenly. Spike fell to his knees in disbelief.
Stunned by Buffy's death Angel flew forward to attack her killer. Sherman tossed him to one side where two Summoners held him under their control. A third held Spike down with a cross in his face. Willow, Xander and Giles crouched out of sight behind some nearby rocks.
"I raised the bar too high for her," Giles criticized himself. "I didn't prepare her properly for this and it's all my fault that she's dead."
"It's not your fault Giles," Xander attempted to comfort the distraught Watcher. "It was her fate to die. I just hope we don't all go with her."
Sherman performed some incantations over the blood while holding the amulet over it. Once he had finished he sat the amulet down on a nearby table. "Bring the supplicant here now."
Dawn called out to her sister again but there was no life in the tiny form that lay there broken on the ground. Her head was tilted at an unnatural angle.
A group of Summoners held the bowl of blood above Dawn's head. Passing it between them they each took a drink from the vessel. They began chanting in tones that alternated between hisses and sighs. The very air around them seemed to be churning.
The Summoners were wailing, their black tongues lashing about. They surrounded Dawn and commenced wiping their tongues on her face. Dawn was crying, terrified and frozen to the spot. Willow was shaking with anger and the need for revenge. She moved as though to storm the troops but Xander and Giles held her back.
"Willow," they reminded her. "You're still weak. You're no match for them. We have to find something else."
Willow saw their chance. "I know. The amulet," she pointed. "I have a plan."
Will all the attention focused on the spell being performed the demons had completely forgotten the amulet that sat on the table. Willow crept up and snatched it. Putting it around her neck she stood up to her full height and began to walk towards Sherman. He turned to see her but before he could do anything Willow plunged a dagger into his chest causing blood to course forward over her hand, power emanating from her in sparks of lightening. Startled by this new development the Summoners halted in their ministrations.
Sherman fell backwards as Willow pulled her hand away from him. She stumbled, weakened by the effort. Bolts of light flew from Willow striking Tara and then Buffy.
"You haven't stopped me yet," Sherman announced as he grabbed Willow. "You forget that I'm a vampire and a simple little stab wound like that won't kill me." Sherman raised a dagger to her throat. "However, it will do you in quite nicely. You may have been able to save your friends but you can't save yourself." Sherman raised a powerful hand up to plunge the dagger into Willow's throat but paused before he could finish, allowing her to push away from him.
Falling to his knees Buffy could be seen standing behind him with the stake that Spike had given her in her hand.
"*I* certainly didn't forget that you're a vampire," she quipped as Sherman burst into ashes before her.
The Summoners wailed in distress as the demon soldiers began to flee. Buffy rushed over to the Summoner who was holding Dawn and deftly snapped his neck. "There, let's see how you like it." Buffy hugged her sister close to her, "Dawnie are you ok?" she asked, still worried. "I'm so sorry I let this happen to you."
"I'll be ok," Dawn reassured her. "I'm just so glad you're here. I was so scared."
"Buffy," Xander called out in surprise. "I thought you were dead."
"Yeah," she agreed. "Me too. But I changed my mind. Dawn, stay with Giles, I'm not finished here yet." Buffy whirled into action taking on the remaining demons. Spike, upon seeing Buffy's resurrection raised his head in fury and knocked out the demon who held him down, joining her in the battle. He relished every moment of it. They easily had the few remaining demons fighting for their lives as without their leader or the Summoners they were disorganized and without any real battle plan.
Watching the two of them fighting side by side Angel could see that he was not needed. He turned to leave.
Buffy noticed this. "Angel," she called out as she rushed over to him. "Where are you going?"
"You don't need me anymore Buffy," he pointed out. "I'm going to L.A. like I planned. This time for good."
"But now that this is over we can finally be together," Buffy attempted to convince him. "I don't care if you're a vampire."
"Buffy, it's more than that," Angel tried to explain. "I can never give you the kind of life you deserve. Everything we thought we could have had together was just a dream, a beautiful dream. It was never real. The life we lived is gone."
Buffy stood there staring at him. "Why didn't you ever tell me this," she demanded. "I've lived my life pining for you hoping against hope that if I could just convince you then we could be together. But you had already made up your mind that it wouldn't work. You've been in love with your noble sentiments more than you could have ever loved me. Angel, you should have told me years ago that you felt this way and not left me dangling with your talk of honour. But you had to wait till now, now that I've died and come back to show me that I can never be any more to you than a dream…..And I've loved something that doesn't really exist. But somehow, I don't care. Somehow, it doesn't matter one bit." Buffy realized that she was finally over Angel.
Buffy hugged Angel goodbye. On the other side of the cavern Spike had just brought a death blow down on the last of the demons as he saw their embrace. Hacking the demon's head off he left abruptly through the tunnel.
Willow and Xander appeared by Buffy's side supporting Tara in their arms. "Buffy," she announced joyfully. "We saved Tara."
Buffy smiled for the first time in a long while. "You really came through when we needed you Willow."
Giles and Dawn joined the group.
"Willow?" Dawn asked in amazement. "How did you do that?"
Willow looked up from Tara's face. "It's simple. The Kronestar amulet transforms blood to take on the properties of the person whose blood it is. That's why they use it to steal a witch's magical essence. Giles told us about Sherman's spell to give himself five lives so that gave me an idea. When I spilled his blood while I was wearing the amulet and it came in contact with my hand I was able to steal his essence and channel it into my hand. The Kronestar amulet requires the blood to be of someone who is dead but since Sherman was a vampire he was already dead so we did a little fakeout on the amulet. Once I took on his essence I was able to direct his regenerative energy to Tara and Buffy. I didn't have to do the spell myself. I borrowed some of Sherman's powers. So, actually he brought Buffy and Tara back to life."
"Hey, where did Spike go?" Dawn asked. "He should be here with us."
"I think he left," Xander answered. "He saw Buffy and Angel making with the big reunion and hightailed it out of here."
"Well good riddance," Buffy sighed.
"What are you talking about?" Giles was confused. "He's never done anything except try to help you."
"He gave Sherman the amulet to start the ritual," Buffy pointed out. "He's responsible for almost ending the world."
"But he did it out of love for you," Giles recognized. "Granted not the best way to prove his love. But he was willing to give up everything in a desperate act to try to save you."
Buffy's heart sank realizing that this was true. "Where did Spike go?" she demanded.
Xander pointed to the right side of the tunnel. Buffy ran towards the tunnel entrance and followed it to where Xander had indicated. There was a ladder leading up and she could Spike climbing up above her. "Spike," she called out to him. But there was no answer. "Wait for me."
The tunnel opened up to a manhole outside of the cemetery near where Spike's crypt was. Running to find him she flung open the door and found him packing a bag.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"I'm leaving, my dear," he explained. "Now that the big demon threat is over you and Angel can finally be together. I won't bother you any longer."
"Please stop Spike," Buffy pleaded. "Listen to me. I never really loved Angel."
"You certainly gave a good imitation of it up to this morning," Spike retaliated. "No, Buffy. I've tried everything. If you'd only met me halfway but there was always Angel standing between us."
"But that wasn't real," Buffy pointed out. "It was just a fantasy. I can see that now. What you and I have is real. Just like you said."
"I think I was wrong about that," Spike had given up on her. "It seems we've been at cross purposes all this time. But it's no good now.
"Spike," Buffy was ready to bare her soul. "I've finally figured out what I want."
* * *
"Buffy, wake up," Dawn's voice was annoying her. "Wake up Buffy."
"Dawn?" Buffy scrunched up her face, waking up. "What happened?"
"You slept through the movie," Dawn explained.
"What were you dreaming about Buffy?" Willow asked. "It sounded pretty intense."
"I was dreaming about Gone with the Wind," Buffy explained. "I was Scarlett O'Hara and all of you were there." Looking around at her friends Buffy was still feeling like the dream had been real. "You were there," she pointed to Willow. "And you and you," she pointed to Dawn and Xander.
"What about me?" Anya asked enjoying the joke. "How did I look in one of those big skirts? I'm considering one for my wedding dress."
Buffy shifted a little uncomfortably. "Actually Anya," she admitted. "You weren't in the dream."
"Oh," Anya was obviously offended. "I see."
Willow sat down beside Buffy in a giddy mood. "So Buffy, who was Rhett Butler? It was Angel wasn't it?"
"Actually it wasn't," Buffy seemed surprised to admit it. "Angel was Ashley Wilkes."
"Oh, that explains it then," Willow grinned. "About five minutes before you woke up you called out Angel's name. We just figured you were dreaming about him."
Xander nodded. "Yeah, bleach boy got all jealous and left before the movie ended."
Buffy looked around and for the first time realized that Spike wasn't there anymore. "Spike left?" she was surprised.
"Yep," Xander explained. "He said something about needing to catch a train or something. I never know what he's talking about."
Buffy jumped up and grabbed her coat and ran out the front door.
"But Buffy," Xander called out after her. "You're going to miss the end of the movie. "It's the best part."
* * *
Inside Spike's crypt the vampire was busy packing a bag. The door flew open and Buffy stalked in. "Just what the hell do you think you're doing?" she demanded looking down at the valise he had half packed in front of him.
"I'm bloody well leaving town," Spike explained slowly to her. "That should finally make you happy."
Feeling a sense of déjà vu Buffy interrupted his packing "What makes you think that?"
"I heard you calling out to him," Spike acknowledged. "You're still in love with Angel. Until you get over him, not me nor anyone else will ever be able to find a place in your heart."
"But Spike," Buffy tried to explain. "I've figured it out. It's like in the movie, I'm Scarlett, Angel is Ashley and you're Rhett."
Spike just stared at Buffy like she was crazy.
"Ashley was just a fantasy for Scarlett but Rhett was real," Buffy was trying to make sense of it all. "What I'm trying to say is that I'm sorry for how I've treated you. You were more real than anything else and I treated you like you didn't matter. I'm sorry Spike."
Spike studied her face for a moment. "Sorry isn't good enough Buffy," he finally decided. "You think that by saying 'I'm sorry', all the past can be corrected. But you still haven't told your friends about us and you still haven't figured out how I fit into your life. We're just not good for each other Buffy. You said I'm killing you, well you're killing me too. I need to go away and find out who I am after all this. Am I still the badass vampire I used to be or am I a good guy type now? I've always defined myself by the women I've been with. Drusilla liked the bad guy so I became that for her. You on the other hand wanted me to be good so I became good. I have to figure out who I want me to be."
"But Spike," Buffy was beginning to get tears in her eyes realizing that he was really leaving. "Where will you go?"
"I'm going to get this sodding chip out of my head," he decided. "That's the only way I'll ever know for sure."
"But Spike you can't do that," Buffy cautioned him. "You'll go back to the way you were. Evil."
"Maybe I will and maybe I won't," he responded. "I won't know until I try. But what I do know is that I'm through with who I've become around here. I want peace. I want to see if there isn't something left in life that that has some kind of meaning for me. Do you know what I'm talking about?"
Buffy shook her head. "No. I only know that I don't want you to leave. I care about you Spike and I don't want you to go away," she finally admitted.
Spike zipped up his valise. "That's your misfortune," he said coldly brushing past her and walking out the door of his crypt.
Buffy ran after him calling out to him, "But Spike, if you go, what will happen to me?"
Spike turned back to face Buffy annoyed that she could still be so selfish. "Get a life of your own," he called back to her. "Go back to school. Get a job you actually like. Frankly Buffy, I don't give a bloody damn!"
Spike walked off into the darkness as Buffy sat down hard on the cold step of the crypt feeling empty and alone.
* * *
Xander, Willow and the others were still watching Gone With the Wind and on screen Scarlett had just watched Rhett walk off into the mist. Realizing that she can't just give up Scarlett finally realizes what she's lost and decides what she is going to do. "I'll think of some way to get him back! After all, tomorrow is another day!" she tells herself.
The closing strains of music were finishing as Buffy walked in the door to see the camera close-up of Scarlett's tear-stained face that slowly dissolves into an earlier shot from the movie. The movie ended with a long view of Scarlett standing alone under the gnarled tree with Tara in the background, a heroic silhouette not willing to admit defeat.
The end.
Disclaimer: These characters are the property of Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy wound around a plot devised by Margaret O' Mitchell in her novel Gone With the Wind. Warped huh?
Sharing: If you would like to share this feel free to do so however just let me know where it's headed.
How to do that? Email me at elizard100@yahoo.ca
Spoilers: Set during Season 6 after "As You Were" but before "Hell's Bells".
This fanfic arose from a posting on the Buffy Cross and Stake Spoiler Message Board. One of the posters said she thought there were a lot of similarities between Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Gone With the Wind so I thought I'd explore the concept. Most of my ideas for fanfics come from inspiration on the board.
Summary: Buffy falls asleep while watching Gone With the Wind and has an interesting dream in which she is Scarlett O'Hara.
Part IV
"First things first Buffy," Colonel Jeffries pointed out. "You have to agree to do what we tell you to do. We're running this assault and we have to maintain control. Do you agree?"
Buffy nodded.
"Do you have anyone inside who would be able to help fight?" Riley wanted to know.
"Yes, a couple of my friends are very good fighters," Buffy offered. "One of them is hurt badly but he heals quickly he's a va…." She paused realizing what she was saying. "Va-ery quick healer so he should be able to help us."
"Good," Colonel Jeffries encouraged her. "You need to sneak back inside now and get the men to help us when we attack."
"I can help too," Buffy suggested.
"Oh sure you will Buffy," Riley was humouring her. "You're helping us lots by going back inside and warning the others. You're very brave."
Buffy decided she wouldn't try to explain her Slayer strength to these two and made her way back towards the house. As she stood behind a tree looking around for guards a figure emerged from the shadows, Spike.
"Where did you come from?" Buffy asked, startled.
"England originally," he quipped. "But I've visited all around."
"I mean how did you escape?" Buffy elaborated in a frustrated tone.
"Oh that," Spike took a drag from his cigarette casually. "Well, when you and the soldier boys were taking out the demons I took advantage and snuck out. The demons put new guards on my shed without actually checking to see if I was still in it. Bloody idiots."
"Since you're out you can help us fight the Summoners," Buffy asked hopefully.
"Not bloody likely," Spike spurted. "Me? Join up with Jeffries men? They'd stake me before I got a chance to explain that I was trying to help out. No, I've got other plans." He kicked at a rock on the ground. "Besides, I saw the way that pillock was looking at you. Tell me, Buffy, do you never shrink from making googly eyes at any man who isn't the worst possible choice for you? Oh, how fickle is woman!"
"What are you talking about?" Buffy argued. "He's just a nice guy. I really don't have time for this. I have to get back and let Angel and the others know what's going on."
"So, you've got the great Angel helping you out as well. I'm sure you've got him wrapped around your little finger by now," Spike was stinging her with his words. "You still think you're the Belle of the county don't you? That you're the cutest little trick in shoe leather and that every man you meet is dying of love for you. Well some of them will die if you don't stop playing these little games with all of them. I suggest you choose who you want to be with and set all the others free Buffy."
Buffy huffed and stormed off.
"What a woman!" Spike exclaimed as he watched her head towards the house.
Buffy made a beeline for her bedroom where she removed a few small hand weapons from her hope chest and hid them on her person before making her way back down the laundry chute.
"Buffy?" Angel responded in surprise when she slid out. "What are you doing back here?"
"We've got reinforcements coming," she explained. "But they needed help from the inside as well."
"Kind of like the Trojan Horse," Giles suggested stepping forward. "Quite clever."
"The Trojan what?" Buffy asked. "Sometimes I have no idea what you're talking about. There's no horses in here. But anyway, Colonel Jeffries and his men will be staging their assault shortly. When they do we're going to help them."
"Colonel Jeffries is a fair man," Angel explained. "But some of the people working with him have a very black and white idea about vampires and demons. Not all of us are evil. But they can't see past the fangs."
"I know it's not an ideal situation Angel," Buffy argued. "But if we're going to get out and save everyone you're going to have to put your pride behind you and learn to work with them. Right now we need them so if you're if you're not willing to work with Colonel Jeffries' men then you're not willing to work with me."
"I can't fight you both," Angel conceded giving in.
"Buffy," Giles interrupted. "I have a question. How are we going to help fight when we're locked in this room?"
"I have a cunning plan," Buffy revealed.
Moments later Buffy had succeeded in luring Ethan Wilkinson over to the doorway with the ruse that Willow had come around. Once he had been tricked into opening the doorway Buffy hit him over the head with a mallet.
Giles offered a final blow and a kick to the ribcage. "There's payback with interest from your dear old Mammy," Giles bitterly added with a flourish.
As Buffy and her friends, newly armed, emerged from the room they were met with four armed guards who they quickly overthrew. Buffy looked around them to find the Summoners had departed. While she had been gone the Summoners had left Ethan to watch over them while taking Dawn and Tara elsewhere.
"Where's Dawn?" Buffy asked desperately.
"And Tara?" Xander questioned looking down at the still unconscious form of Willow. Looking back at Ethan, Xander got an idea. Checking his pockets Xander found the glowing orb he had used on Willow. Xander smashed it on the ground. Willow shook her head a little starting to come around.
"Tara?" she mumbled.
Helping the confused witch to her feet the friends tried to figure out where the Summoners might have gone.
"This is the only spot in all of Sunnydale where they can raise Sherman and perform their ritual," Giles explained. "I don't understand why they would have left."
The sounds of crashing could be heard from above. "Maybe they haven't gone far," Buffy suggested. Let's go see."
Once upstairs the friends found the Sunnydale troops engaged in fighting with Sherman's demon soldiers. They were losing badly. Buffy rushed into the thick of it and began attacking one of the demons. "Where's my sister," she yelled at him. "What did you do with her you creep?"
Alarmed by her presence Riley rushed over to protect her, unaware that it was unnecessary.
"Buffy," he cautioned. "You shouldn't be here. It's too dangerous."
"What? Did you think I was going to sit around reading David Copperfield and knitting socks for Spike?" Buffy angrily retorted while thrusting her dagger towards the demon once again.
"But you shouldn't be here Sugar," Riley was being distracted by his concern for Buffy. "It's too dangerous."
"Don't call me Sugar," Buffy shouted at him as she struck a final blow to the demon. Surprised by what he had just seen her do Riley stood and stared at the fallen demon in shock and amazement. As it fell to the ground a demon soldier leapt up behind it and plunged it's sword into Riley's midsection.
"Riley," Buffy called out feeling responsible for this man's plight. She managed to pull him over to the side of the fray
Riley assured her that he would be ok but it was obvious that he didn't want to be around her. "I guess I won't be calling you Sugar anymore, Killer would seem to be more appropriate."
Buffy flinched at the harshness of his words and at the truth in them.
Seeing so many of their fellow demons fallen, the rest fled outside with the Sunnydale troops in pursuit. Buffy attempted to treat Riley's wound but he avoided her glance stung by her rejection and by his carelessness in front of her. One of Colonel Jeffries men came in to help Riley outside while Buffy searched around desperately for some sign of Dawn and Tara but could find none.
A knock at the door brought Buffy back to her senses. Opening it she saw a blanket covered Spike holding up a wounded Angel.
"Invite us in already," Spike urged.
"You've already been inside," Buffy pointed out.
"Right," Spike acknowledged. "I forgot. Out of my way then, we're burning up." Throwing Angel down onto the floor Spike removed the blanket from his head. "I found this sorry sight on the front lawn starting to sizzle. Seems he had chased one of those demons outside but then got trapped in front of Colonel Jeffries' men who weren't going to let a vampire back inside. I talked a little sense into them." Spike revealed a large crossbow he had been carrying.
"Oh, it's all my fault," Buffy lamented.
"Here," Spike offered Buffy his flask. "Have a drink of this. It'll give you your courage back."
Taking it quickly she took a deep drink from it. "Bleh," she spit out.
"Buffy?" Xander asked cautiously. "Was that blood?"
"Worse," she confessed. "Whiskey." Turning to Spike she criticized, "What? You couldn't at least stick to the theme and have gotten some Southern Comfort?"
"Fine, whatever," Spike shrugged, taking back his flask he picked up his blanket to leave.
"Wait, don't go," Buffy pleaded. "I need you. I'm so afraid Spike. They still have Dawn and Tara, which means they can do the ritual and summon Sherman. I'm so afraid now. I'm afraid of dying and going to hell."
"Why would you go to hell?" Spike asked.
"I'm a Slayer," she explained. "We kill. That's in our nature. Hence the name. If my purpose is to kill then can there be any good in me?"
"Dry your eyes," Spike tried to comfort Buffy. "You're nothing but good. It's disgusting. Besides, you're not going to die any time soon."
Looking at Giles, Buffy turned to go upstairs. Spike followed after her.
"What was that all about?" Xander asked.
"Well, it's a bit complicated really Xander," Giles removed his spectacles and began polishing them. "There is a prophecy that Buffy will face Sherman and that he will kill her."
"Well that's just nonsense," Xander reasoned. "You can't trust prophecies ever. They're so vague you can't even tell what they apply to until after they've been fulfilled. So what does this one say specifically?"
Giles returned his spectacles and put away his handkerchief reciting the words he had memorized from so much contemplation the last few weeks, "During the great battle of the South in the land of the sun, a new Slayer will face the demon of five lives. On the Feast of St. Haumia the Slayer will die at the hands of the great demon warrior."
"Oh," Xander gulped. "That's pretty specific. But what's this demon of five lives business?"
"Sherman is virtually unstoppable," Giles explained. "He is incredibly strong and commands magical forces. He has performed a spell on himself that allows him to be killed and to rise again five times. Therefore even if Buffy manages to kill him it may not stop him. He has been killed twice before by mighty forces, but he has risen again. Today I fear him more than ever before."
"What do you mean?" Xander asked.
"Today is the last day of the festivities of St. Haumia meaning that today must be the actual Feast Day," Giles paused for effect. "Today is the day that Buffy is supposed to die."
* * *
Buffy sat at her dressing table brushing her hair. One hundred strokes every day had given her a glossy mane of hair that any woman would be proud to own. What Buffy wouldn't have given to be any other girl this day. As she sat gazing at her reflection Buffy heard footsteps behind her. Turning she was surprised to find Spike right behind her.
"No reflection," she realized. "I forgot."
"Buffy," he said tenderly getting down on his knees in front of her. "Let me help you."
"How can you help?" she asked through teary eyes. "What can you do to save me?"
"Look," Spike straightened up. "I think I know what they've done with your sister and the witch. Come with me and we'll try to rescue them. You know, the big heroes of the day and all."
"Why are you doing this?" Buffy demanded. "You know I can never really love you. Don't you know I'll always be in love with someone else?"
Spike shook his head then smiled. "It must be my good nature getting the better of me," he explained as he stood up. "I guess I'm not in love with you any more than you are with me. Heaven help the man who ever really loves you. Will you trust me on this one?"
Buffy stood up taking Spike's outstretched hand. "Ok, I'll trust you."
"Who knows?" he pondered for a moment. "You might even like having me around."
"But when I asked you to help earlier you said you had something better to do," Buffy halted.
"I did," Spike responded holding up a small amulet with a large letter "K" on the front of it. "For you my dear."
"Can we go now?" Buffy was anxious.
"You'd best take a nap first," Spike suggested. "I'm not much good roaming the streets in broad daylight and they can't start their ritual without this gaudy little bauble."
Buffy agreed and after Spike left to go downstairs she stretched out on her bed. At least the demons had left it intact she thought. Less than an hour later she appeared at the bottom of the stairs. Spike lifted up his head at her descent.
"I thought you were taking a nap," he pointed out.
"I was," Buffy admitted. "But I had the strangest dream. I was lost in the mist and I was all alone."
"You're not alone," Spike went to her side putting a comforting arm around her. Buffy leaned her head against his shoulder strangely feeling warmer while being held against his cold body.
At that moment Angel appeared from the kitchen. Buffy immediately pulled back shrugging off Spike's arm.
"Oh, it's like that then is it?" Spike recognized. "Well, the world is full of many things and many people. And I shan't be lonely. I will find comfort elsewhere."
"Spike," Buffy admonished him. "You know I don't feel that way about you."
"I know," he acknowledged, looking out the window at the approaching sunset while changing the subject. "It'll be dark soon, we should get ready." Spike retreated into the study to determine a plan of action for surprising Sherman's men.
Giles turned to look at Buffy disapprovingly, "You know, there must be an awful lot of good in a man who can love so absolutely without ever any hope of having it returned." Giles turned and followed Spike into the study to see if he could help. Xander and Willow followed after him.
"What was that all about Buffy?" Angel asked.
"Oh nothing," Buffy dismissed it, turning to look around at what had been her lavish family home. All that was left were the burnt out ruins of a life that didn't exist anymore. "How did we get to where we are now Angel? It used to be so simple but now everything is hard and bright and violent."
Angel nodded in agreement. "Yes, we've traveled a long road since the old days, haven't we Buffy?..the golden warmth and security of those days. I can hardly bear to think about it." Angel bowed his head in despair.
"Those days are gone," Buffy reminded him. "Don't look back, Angel, don't look back. It'll drag at your heart until you can't do anything but look back."
In his sadness Angel reached out and embraced Buffy compassionately. A polite cough alerted them to the fact that they were not alone. Buffy was alarmed to see that Spike stood in the doorway with a disgusted sneer on his face.
"Sorry to interrupt," he spat out bitterly. "But it's time for us to go." He spun on his heels and headed for the front door.
"Spike," Buffy tried to explain. "It's not what it looks like."
Looking sheepishly at her friends who stood there staring at her, Buffy followed him out the door.
* * *
As the group approached the darkened mansion Buffy grew suspicious. "Are you sure this is the place?" she asked.
"As sure as I am of anything," Spike said bitterly. "I saw a couple of their soldiers on guard here earlier today when I was heading back to your house. But then why should you trust me? I'm just an evil vampire."
"Cut it out," Xander ordered. "This isn't getting us anywhere. I feel like we're going into the arena and the lions are hungry and all you two can do is fight with each other."
"Sorry Xander," Buffy conceded. "We're just nervous."
"Let's split up and scope out the grounds," Angel suggested. "They may be using one of the side buildings."
Buffy wandered around to the back of the house trying to peer inside the darkened windows for some sign of activity. As she rounded the corner she ran into Spike.
"Fancy meeting you here," he joked, the pain evident in his voice.
"Spike," Buffy tried to explain. "About earlier…"
Spike interrupted her before she could go any further. "Tut, tut, my dear. I get it. You don't love me. I know that. Of course the comic figure in this is the long-suffering Angel! He won't give you up but he won't take you for himself. Why doesn't he make up his bloody mind?"
"You don't understand," Buffy criticized.
"Then why don't you explain it to me," Spike demanded getting angry with her. "God, this is insane."
Spike shifted to his game face. "Observe my hands, my dear. I could tear you to pieces with them, and I'd do it if it would take Angel out of your mind forever. But it wouldn't. So I'll remove him from your mind forever this way." Spike put his powerful hands on both sides of her head as if between a vise. I'll put my hands so – one on each side of your head – and I'll smash your skull between them like a walnut, and that'll block him out."
"Get real," Buffy spurted in disbelief.
"That's what this is," Spike explained. "This thing between us. It may not be pretty but it's real. Not like what you think you have with Angel."
"You'll never understand what Angel and I have had Spike," Buffy looked at him disdainfully. "You've lived in dirt so long you can't understand anything else and you're jealous of something you can't understand."
"Jealous, am I?" Spike queried. "Yes, I suppose I am – even though I know you've never really been able to get together with Angel. How do I know? Because I know Angel and his honourable breed. He's a gentleman! That's more than I can say for you or for me. We're not gentlemen, and we have no honour, have we?"
Impulsively grabbing her, Spike kissed Buffy passionately. She fought him at first before giving in to his embrace. After a few moments she changed her mind and shoved him away from her. He fell against a hidden door in the side of the house.
"Hey," the vampire sputtered. "I think I've found something."
The others gathered around as they inspected the doorway. It showed signs of recent usage. Spike kicked it open. "At least someone's not shutting me out tonight," he snarled looking in Buffy's direction.
Once inside they discovered that the doorway led down a set of steps that continued down into the darkness.
"It goes into the sewers," he observed crinkling his nose. "They must be below ground."
The group followed the steps down to the bottom and then continued along the path which led east.
"I think I know where this is heading," Giles realized. "It goes back to Buffy's house. Over the Hellmouth."
They quickened their pace. At one point in the long trek Buffy fell into step beside Spike looking like she wanted to tell him something.
"I'm sorry about my outburst back there Buffy," Spike conceded. "There's no point in me trying to make you love me when you've made it very clear that it will never happen."
"But Spike," she interrupted.
"No, let me finish," Spike continued. "Even if there wasn't Angel standing between us it would never work. We're both too fiercely independent. Love will never be easy for either of us but with someone else we might stand a chance at happiness. Together the future would only hold misery. I see that now."
Hurt by his harsh words Buffy fought back, "Well, I wouldn't choose to be in love with anyone like you anyway," she retorted. "I'd rather be in love with anyone else but you. I'd rather be dead."
Spike looked at her pursing his lips. "Cheer up," he quipped. "Maybe you'll have an accident." He stalked off ahead of her.
* * *
The group continued along the dark pathway as quickly as they could, considering the darkness that surrounded them. It felt like forever before they came upon a section that turned sharply to the right. Turning the corner they could make out a light in the distance.
"That must be them," Buffy observed. "Everyone keep quiet."
As they approached they could make out a section of the tunnel that had been dug out. There were several guards standing near the entrance.
"How do we get past them?" Buffy wondered aloud. "If we start a fight the others inside will be alerted and will come out. We need stealth."
"I think I can help," Willow offered. "I can do a spell. Just a little one. I'm weak still but I can throw a noise into the far end of the tunnel. That way, hopefully, they'll go off in the other direction to see what it is."
"Good idea," Giles encouraged her.
"Here goes nothing," Willow began, "Insono ablegare." She pointed off into the distance and a flash of light emanated from her fingertips.
A loud sound could be heard from the far end of the tunnel, almost like someone was trying to break through a wall. The guards responded immediately, leaving the entrance unguarded. The friends hurried over and slipped inside the opening. The pathway they found themselves on continued downward at a steep angle. An opening at the end revealed a large cavern cut into the rock. The ground seemed to be warmer here and strange lights flickered on the walls.
"They've started bleeding the witch," Spike announced.
"How do you know?" Xander asked.
"We can smell the blood," Angel explained embarrassed by this evidence of his true nature.
"Tara," Willow whispered breathlessly. A short distance away Tara could be seen in a cage held up by restraints that forced her arms above her head. She looked extremely pale and weak. There were cut marks on her arms and legs as blood was dripping slowly down and into a shallow well below her.
"I'm going to see if she's still alive," Buffy suggested.
"I'm going with you," Willow asserted.
The two girls crept over to the end of the cavern where Tara was being held. Climbing up a natural rock formation they were able to come up to the same height as Tara. The blonde girl's breathing was shallow and she had lost a considerable amount of blood.
"Hang on Tara," Buffy encouraged her. "We're here now. We're going to save you." Buffy tried breaking the lock on the cage but it held fast against her strength.
"It's held by magic," Willow explained through tears. She tried to do a spell to release Tara but a barrier held her in place. Tara was fading fast. "Maybe if I try harder, concentrate, I can do this," Willow reasoned.
"Willow," Buffy cautioned. "Their magic is too strong for us. We have to find another way to save Tara."
Buffy and Willow made their way back down to join their friends. They watched in silence as the Summoners formed a circle and began chanting aloud. Dawn was being held by two guards behind them, still struggling to get away. In the middle of the circle a blaze of fire appeared and a large figure could be seen within it. Stepping out of the blaze Sherman surveyed the scene around him. He was seven feet tall with large horns on top of his head. The skin of his face seemed to be bolted on and his hands were massive. He exuded power and strength. His eyes came to rest on the spot where Buffy and her friends were hiding.
"Get them," he commanded pointing right at them. Turning to one of the Summoners he demanded, "Isn't that witch dead yet?"
A Summoner appeared and offered Sherman a small bowl. Willow whimpered in realization of what this meant. Looking up to the cage where the fallen body of Tara lay Willow's eyes turned dark with rage, fighting back the tears.
Immediately the demon soldiers came at them, swords flying. The group stepped up to fight, dispatching the first demons who challenged them. Willow stepped off to the one side muttering some words under her breath.
"Divisum," she uttered aloud. She stumbled from the force of the surge of energy.
Giles watched in amazement at the power this girl wielded as the soldiers in front of them separated to leave a clear path to the circle where Sherman stood.
Two demons dragged Dawn to where Sherman was standing. "Buffy?" she cried out desperately.
The others concentrated on disarming the demon soldiers as Buffy ran by them through the pathway Willow had created, with no thought for her own safety.
You've sent a girl to fight me?" Sherman laughed incredulously. "Armies have challenged me and lost and the best you have to offer is a little girl."
Buffy smiled sweetly. "Well, looks can be deceiving," she pointed out pummeling Sherman's chest with her fists. He was thrown off balance by her assault.
Grabbing a sword from one of the demon soldiers Buffy sliced Sherman's head clean from his body. The head fell to the ground followed by the large body.
Dusting her hands off Buffy seemed satisfied with herself. "Well, I guess that prophecy was wrong." Buffy was so pleased with this turn of events that she didn't see Sherman rise up again from behind her, picking his head up and reattaching it to his neck.
"Guess again," his voice boomed across the cavern.
Angry now Sherman swiped at her with one of his mighty fists sending her flying backwards into a wall. Picking herself up off the ground she returned with a kick to his midsection knocking him to the ground. Annoyed at her attacks, Sherman smacked Buffy across the head causing her to become disoriented. He then lifted her and raised her up over his head preparing to throw her down into a deep dark pit.
"Stop," Spike cried out desperately as he rushed up to Sherman. "Let her go. I've got what you really want." He held the Kronestar amulet over the pit. "If she goes in, so does this little trinket."
Sherman halted. It was obvious that he wanted the amulet. He smiled. "I knew you would bring it to me Spike. The Summoners told me you had it. Alright, give me the amulet and I won't throw her into the pit."
"Do I have your word on that?" Spike demanded. "The legends say that you are incapable of lying."
"The legends are true. May I never kill another living human being if I go back on this," Sherman vowed.
"Alright," Spike agreed, tossing the amulet to one side. "Go get it."
One of the Summoners flew forward scooping up the amulet. Sherman raised Buffy up again.
"But you promised," Spike cried out. "You're incapable of breaking your word."
"I promised I wouldn't throw her into this pit," Sherman admitted. "But I didn't say anything about smashing her head in against this wall." Sherman forcefully threw Buffy against the wall directly behind Spike. When her skull made contact with the hard surface it made an awful cracking sound as her neck snapped. Her broken body fell to the ground in a heap. It was over so suddenly. Spike fell to his knees in disbelief.
Stunned by Buffy's death Angel flew forward to attack her killer. Sherman tossed him to one side where two Summoners held him under their control. A third held Spike down with a cross in his face. Willow, Xander and Giles crouched out of sight behind some nearby rocks.
"I raised the bar too high for her," Giles criticized himself. "I didn't prepare her properly for this and it's all my fault that she's dead."
"It's not your fault Giles," Xander attempted to comfort the distraught Watcher. "It was her fate to die. I just hope we don't all go with her."
Sherman performed some incantations over the blood while holding the amulet over it. Once he had finished he sat the amulet down on a nearby table. "Bring the supplicant here now."
Dawn called out to her sister again but there was no life in the tiny form that lay there broken on the ground. Her head was tilted at an unnatural angle.
A group of Summoners held the bowl of blood above Dawn's head. Passing it between them they each took a drink from the vessel. They began chanting in tones that alternated between hisses and sighs. The very air around them seemed to be churning.
The Summoners were wailing, their black tongues lashing about. They surrounded Dawn and commenced wiping their tongues on her face. Dawn was crying, terrified and frozen to the spot. Willow was shaking with anger and the need for revenge. She moved as though to storm the troops but Xander and Giles held her back.
"Willow," they reminded her. "You're still weak. You're no match for them. We have to find something else."
Willow saw their chance. "I know. The amulet," she pointed. "I have a plan."
Will all the attention focused on the spell being performed the demons had completely forgotten the amulet that sat on the table. Willow crept up and snatched it. Putting it around her neck she stood up to her full height and began to walk towards Sherman. He turned to see her but before he could do anything Willow plunged a dagger into his chest causing blood to course forward over her hand, power emanating from her in sparks of lightening. Startled by this new development the Summoners halted in their ministrations.
Sherman fell backwards as Willow pulled her hand away from him. She stumbled, weakened by the effort. Bolts of light flew from Willow striking Tara and then Buffy.
"You haven't stopped me yet," Sherman announced as he grabbed Willow. "You forget that I'm a vampire and a simple little stab wound like that won't kill me." Sherman raised a dagger to her throat. "However, it will do you in quite nicely. You may have been able to save your friends but you can't save yourself." Sherman raised a powerful hand up to plunge the dagger into Willow's throat but paused before he could finish, allowing her to push away from him.
Falling to his knees Buffy could be seen standing behind him with the stake that Spike had given her in her hand.
"*I* certainly didn't forget that you're a vampire," she quipped as Sherman burst into ashes before her.
The Summoners wailed in distress as the demon soldiers began to flee. Buffy rushed over to the Summoner who was holding Dawn and deftly snapped his neck. "There, let's see how you like it." Buffy hugged her sister close to her, "Dawnie are you ok?" she asked, still worried. "I'm so sorry I let this happen to you."
"I'll be ok," Dawn reassured her. "I'm just so glad you're here. I was so scared."
"Buffy," Xander called out in surprise. "I thought you were dead."
"Yeah," she agreed. "Me too. But I changed my mind. Dawn, stay with Giles, I'm not finished here yet." Buffy whirled into action taking on the remaining demons. Spike, upon seeing Buffy's resurrection raised his head in fury and knocked out the demon who held him down, joining her in the battle. He relished every moment of it. They easily had the few remaining demons fighting for their lives as without their leader or the Summoners they were disorganized and without any real battle plan.
Watching the two of them fighting side by side Angel could see that he was not needed. He turned to leave.
Buffy noticed this. "Angel," she called out as she rushed over to him. "Where are you going?"
"You don't need me anymore Buffy," he pointed out. "I'm going to L.A. like I planned. This time for good."
"But now that this is over we can finally be together," Buffy attempted to convince him. "I don't care if you're a vampire."
"Buffy, it's more than that," Angel tried to explain. "I can never give you the kind of life you deserve. Everything we thought we could have had together was just a dream, a beautiful dream. It was never real. The life we lived is gone."
Buffy stood there staring at him. "Why didn't you ever tell me this," she demanded. "I've lived my life pining for you hoping against hope that if I could just convince you then we could be together. But you had already made up your mind that it wouldn't work. You've been in love with your noble sentiments more than you could have ever loved me. Angel, you should have told me years ago that you felt this way and not left me dangling with your talk of honour. But you had to wait till now, now that I've died and come back to show me that I can never be any more to you than a dream…..And I've loved something that doesn't really exist. But somehow, I don't care. Somehow, it doesn't matter one bit." Buffy realized that she was finally over Angel.
Buffy hugged Angel goodbye. On the other side of the cavern Spike had just brought a death blow down on the last of the demons as he saw their embrace. Hacking the demon's head off he left abruptly through the tunnel.
Willow and Xander appeared by Buffy's side supporting Tara in their arms. "Buffy," she announced joyfully. "We saved Tara."
Buffy smiled for the first time in a long while. "You really came through when we needed you Willow."
Giles and Dawn joined the group.
"Willow?" Dawn asked in amazement. "How did you do that?"
Willow looked up from Tara's face. "It's simple. The Kronestar amulet transforms blood to take on the properties of the person whose blood it is. That's why they use it to steal a witch's magical essence. Giles told us about Sherman's spell to give himself five lives so that gave me an idea. When I spilled his blood while I was wearing the amulet and it came in contact with my hand I was able to steal his essence and channel it into my hand. The Kronestar amulet requires the blood to be of someone who is dead but since Sherman was a vampire he was already dead so we did a little fakeout on the amulet. Once I took on his essence I was able to direct his regenerative energy to Tara and Buffy. I didn't have to do the spell myself. I borrowed some of Sherman's powers. So, actually he brought Buffy and Tara back to life."
"Hey, where did Spike go?" Dawn asked. "He should be here with us."
"I think he left," Xander answered. "He saw Buffy and Angel making with the big reunion and hightailed it out of here."
"Well good riddance," Buffy sighed.
"What are you talking about?" Giles was confused. "He's never done anything except try to help you."
"He gave Sherman the amulet to start the ritual," Buffy pointed out. "He's responsible for almost ending the world."
"But he did it out of love for you," Giles recognized. "Granted not the best way to prove his love. But he was willing to give up everything in a desperate act to try to save you."
Buffy's heart sank realizing that this was true. "Where did Spike go?" she demanded.
Xander pointed to the right side of the tunnel. Buffy ran towards the tunnel entrance and followed it to where Xander had indicated. There was a ladder leading up and she could Spike climbing up above her. "Spike," she called out to him. But there was no answer. "Wait for me."
The tunnel opened up to a manhole outside of the cemetery near where Spike's crypt was. Running to find him she flung open the door and found him packing a bag.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"I'm leaving, my dear," he explained. "Now that the big demon threat is over you and Angel can finally be together. I won't bother you any longer."
"Please stop Spike," Buffy pleaded. "Listen to me. I never really loved Angel."
"You certainly gave a good imitation of it up to this morning," Spike retaliated. "No, Buffy. I've tried everything. If you'd only met me halfway but there was always Angel standing between us."
"But that wasn't real," Buffy pointed out. "It was just a fantasy. I can see that now. What you and I have is real. Just like you said."
"I think I was wrong about that," Spike had given up on her. "It seems we've been at cross purposes all this time. But it's no good now.
"Spike," Buffy was ready to bare her soul. "I've finally figured out what I want."
* * *
"Buffy, wake up," Dawn's voice was annoying her. "Wake up Buffy."
"Dawn?" Buffy scrunched up her face, waking up. "What happened?"
"You slept through the movie," Dawn explained.
"What were you dreaming about Buffy?" Willow asked. "It sounded pretty intense."
"I was dreaming about Gone with the Wind," Buffy explained. "I was Scarlett O'Hara and all of you were there." Looking around at her friends Buffy was still feeling like the dream had been real. "You were there," she pointed to Willow. "And you and you," she pointed to Dawn and Xander.
"What about me?" Anya asked enjoying the joke. "How did I look in one of those big skirts? I'm considering one for my wedding dress."
Buffy shifted a little uncomfortably. "Actually Anya," she admitted. "You weren't in the dream."
"Oh," Anya was obviously offended. "I see."
Willow sat down beside Buffy in a giddy mood. "So Buffy, who was Rhett Butler? It was Angel wasn't it?"
"Actually it wasn't," Buffy seemed surprised to admit it. "Angel was Ashley Wilkes."
"Oh, that explains it then," Willow grinned. "About five minutes before you woke up you called out Angel's name. We just figured you were dreaming about him."
Xander nodded. "Yeah, bleach boy got all jealous and left before the movie ended."
Buffy looked around and for the first time realized that Spike wasn't there anymore. "Spike left?" she was surprised.
"Yep," Xander explained. "He said something about needing to catch a train or something. I never know what he's talking about."
Buffy jumped up and grabbed her coat and ran out the front door.
"But Buffy," Xander called out after her. "You're going to miss the end of the movie. "It's the best part."
* * *
Inside Spike's crypt the vampire was busy packing a bag. The door flew open and Buffy stalked in. "Just what the hell do you think you're doing?" she demanded looking down at the valise he had half packed in front of him.
"I'm bloody well leaving town," Spike explained slowly to her. "That should finally make you happy."
Feeling a sense of déjà vu Buffy interrupted his packing "What makes you think that?"
"I heard you calling out to him," Spike acknowledged. "You're still in love with Angel. Until you get over him, not me nor anyone else will ever be able to find a place in your heart."
"But Spike," Buffy tried to explain. "I've figured it out. It's like in the movie, I'm Scarlett, Angel is Ashley and you're Rhett."
Spike just stared at Buffy like she was crazy.
"Ashley was just a fantasy for Scarlett but Rhett was real," Buffy was trying to make sense of it all. "What I'm trying to say is that I'm sorry for how I've treated you. You were more real than anything else and I treated you like you didn't matter. I'm sorry Spike."
Spike studied her face for a moment. "Sorry isn't good enough Buffy," he finally decided. "You think that by saying 'I'm sorry', all the past can be corrected. But you still haven't told your friends about us and you still haven't figured out how I fit into your life. We're just not good for each other Buffy. You said I'm killing you, well you're killing me too. I need to go away and find out who I am after all this. Am I still the badass vampire I used to be or am I a good guy type now? I've always defined myself by the women I've been with. Drusilla liked the bad guy so I became that for her. You on the other hand wanted me to be good so I became good. I have to figure out who I want me to be."
"But Spike," Buffy was beginning to get tears in her eyes realizing that he was really leaving. "Where will you go?"
"I'm going to get this sodding chip out of my head," he decided. "That's the only way I'll ever know for sure."
"But Spike you can't do that," Buffy cautioned him. "You'll go back to the way you were. Evil."
"Maybe I will and maybe I won't," he responded. "I won't know until I try. But what I do know is that I'm through with who I've become around here. I want peace. I want to see if there isn't something left in life that that has some kind of meaning for me. Do you know what I'm talking about?"
Buffy shook her head. "No. I only know that I don't want you to leave. I care about you Spike and I don't want you to go away," she finally admitted.
Spike zipped up his valise. "That's your misfortune," he said coldly brushing past her and walking out the door of his crypt.
Buffy ran after him calling out to him, "But Spike, if you go, what will happen to me?"
Spike turned back to face Buffy annoyed that she could still be so selfish. "Get a life of your own," he called back to her. "Go back to school. Get a job you actually like. Frankly Buffy, I don't give a bloody damn!"
Spike walked off into the darkness as Buffy sat down hard on the cold step of the crypt feeling empty and alone.
* * *
Xander, Willow and the others were still watching Gone With the Wind and on screen Scarlett had just watched Rhett walk off into the mist. Realizing that she can't just give up Scarlett finally realizes what she's lost and decides what she is going to do. "I'll think of some way to get him back! After all, tomorrow is another day!" she tells herself.
The closing strains of music were finishing as Buffy walked in the door to see the camera close-up of Scarlett's tear-stained face that slowly dissolves into an earlier shot from the movie. The movie ended with a long view of Scarlett standing alone under the gnarled tree with Tara in the background, a heroic silhouette not willing to admit defeat.
The end.