"Oh, William, isn't this exciting? Your brother is finally coming home!"

William wrapped a supportive arm around his mother's frail shoulders, "Indeed it is, Mother," smiling softly as his gaze traveled over the busy port to a ship anchored at the dock.

"I do hope his new wife can help persuade him to take to a position at the company that is more domestic," his mother replied softly.

"Oh, you know John. He loves the sea, and if he married he must have found someone he loves more. We can only hope," he offered encouragingly. His mother grasped his hand on her shoulder.

"Well, this is certainly a sight to behold!" A tall man with gold-colored hair and blue eyes burst forth from the bustling port crowed, opening his arms wide as if to embrace the whole world.

"John!" William let his mother go as his older brother embraced their mother lovingly.

William cleared his throat, somewhat awkwardly. "Ah, Will! Serious as always are we?" John glanced at his younger brother's offered hand, grinned, and opted instead with giving the younger man a bear hug, causing William to sputter with embarrassment. John had always picked up such strange behavior overseas.

"Will, Mother, this is my darling dearest, Wa'ao Laite!" He motioned forward a slight young woman with long, ebony hair and pale skin. She looked just like a china doll William had once seen, he face flawless.

She curtsied gracefully, and straightening, "Pleased to meet you both, John has spoken so much about you both. I hope it is not forward of me to feel like I already know you," he dark eyes met William's briefly, "Please, call me Violet."


"Spike? Spike!"

His eyes flew but he didn't move. For a brief moment of panic, he didn't know where he was, but then a face was hovering over his. A familiar face with an unfamiliar expression.

"Harris?" he voice broke and he tried to sit up. Why did his throat hurt?

"Jesus, Spike. You were having a nightmare or something! Scared the shit out of me!" Xander back up, as Spike struggled to sit up, rubbing his eyes. Why were they wet? He glanced at the boy, who appeared to be hesitating.

"What?" he croaked.

"You... you were screaming someone's name," Spike raised a scarred brow, and Xander pressed on, "who's John?"

Spike stiffed and his eyes went wide. His dream... no, William's memory came back to him in a rush. He began to growl.

Xander took a step back, shaking his head, "fine, whatever. Just as long as you're not screaming anymore," he started drifting back towards the chair.

"'M not growling at you, whelp," he said softly, as he shifted into a more comfortable position on the couch.

Xander gave a yeah whatever look, but didn't say anything for a few moments, "So, who is he?"

Spike didn't say anything for several long moments. Xander just stared at him. Spike sighed, "He was m-... William's older brother," he mumbled, wiping his face, what was with the wetness around his eyes?

Xander peered at him curiously, his head slightly tilted. Spike glanced over at his direction. It was certainly different than the way the boy normally looked at him. It made him want a cigarette. "What happened to him?"

Spike shrugged, looking away, "He died. Mortals have a nasty habit of that," he tried for nonchalant, but even to him it sounded anything but. He really wanted to smoke.

Xander's head tilted the other way, his expression unreadable to Spike. He really, really wanted a cigarette.