:~:London, The Far Future:~:

"Hello, Red. I thought we'd see you. You look good."

"I look old. But thanks for trying." Willow moved to hug Ivy, and noticed her ankle. "Were you attacked?" Ivy shook her head.

"No, I just landed wrong. Blaine isn't back yet, I take it?" Ivy's voice had a hint of worry but Spike could tell she was far more concerned than she was letting on. Willow shook her head.

"I'm afraid not. It might not mean anything has happened, though. Mirabella is in contact with Althenea right now, and if something did go wrong, Althenea would know." Ivy nodded but didn't look too convinced. While they had been talking, Spike had moved back to the bookshelf. He felt a strange sort of pull, almost like the books were trying to tell him something

He cursed inwardly, knowing this wasn't exactly the time to, give in to a strange curiosity he couldn't understand, but being held at its mercy nonetheless.

Willow and Ivy spoke in hushed tones as Spike studied the books. Curious, he lifted the copy of Pride and Prejudice off the shelf. Gently, he opened it. A scrap of paper slipped out of it and fluttered to the ground. Spike bent to retrieve it. Shock filled him when he turned it over to examine it. The scrap of paper was a photograph, and Spike's hand shook slightly. Buffy stood at the entrance of a room filled with flowers. She was very clearly wearing a wedding dress, her face lit up with such utter joy that it made his heart leap.

Why would Ivy have a photograph of Buffy in a wedding dress? Spike could only think of one explanation. It also explained Willow's obvious compassion for the young girl. Spike turned and caught sight of Willow and Ivy. They had seen him bend down for the photograph, and knew what would come next.

Before Willow and the Coven he sent Blaine and Ivy to the past, they had made it clear that telling Spike would cause changes in the future. He could not know the full truth. But he could know part of it at least. Especially if it meant they would have a better shot at saving Buffy.

"So Buffy...She has children in the future?" Spike asked, his voice soft. Ivy nodded.

"My mother was the Slayer known as Buffy Summers. She raised my brother and I with the abilities to fight off the demons that she had been called to fight as a teenager. When Irinia attacked, my father sent my brother and I away. But because Irinia was responsible for my mother's death, aunt Willow and the Coven believe it is actually reversible. Only if we can defeat her, though." Ivy met Spike's eyes.

"So who did Buffy marry?" Spike wasn't sure he was prepared for the answer, so he was relieved when Willow shook her head.

"If we tell you much more, it will change the way things happen. Saving Buffy and anyone else that Irinia is responsible for killing is one thing. Those deaths were not originally meant to happen. All we are doing is repairing the damage she has caused. The Coven has assured me that fixing the things she has done won't change things." Spike nodded.

"So what's our next move?" Spike placed the book back on its shelf. He moved back toward the couch where Willow and Ivy sat.

"Well, first things first. I need to heal Ivy's ankle. It might very well come down to a fight here, and we'll need her to be in the best shape possible." Ivy nodded and unwrapped her ankle so that Willow could see it. Willow did a small healing spell. Relief was almost instantly obvious on Ivy's face. She grinned up at Willow.

"Much better. Thanks Aunt Will." She hugged Willow and stood up.

"You're very welcome, Ivy. Let's go meet the others." Willow also stood up, and she led the way to the door. Spike and Ivy followed her. Spike was unaware that Ivy watched him as they left the house.

:~:London, Far Past:~:

Althenea explained to the group that the witches that had been attacked had been necessary for the spell. Therefore, they would need to recover a bit more before the Coven was ready to send Buffy and the others back. Buffy and Xander helped clean up the destruction caused by Irinia's attack.

"Buffy, can I talk to you for a bit? In…" Xander glanced around, "private?" Buffy knew he meant specifically away from Blaine. She sighed and nodded. They stepped outside of the small cottage.

"What's up, Xan?" He looked at her, and hesitated for a moment. When he spoke, his voice was heavy.

"I don't think we should trust Blaine. It's possible he's been working with Irinia." Buffy fought the urge to yell at Xander. Her voice was much calmer than she thought possible.

"What makes you say that? He has been nothing but helpful to us." Buffy glanced back at the door of the cottage. She knew she couldn't reveal Blaine's true identity to Xander. "I trust him. That should be enough."

"No offence Buffy, but you haven't exactly always had the best sense of who to trust. Look at what happened with Spike." Buffy crossed her arms, afraid he would see just how much the mention of Spike's name affected her. She looked past Xander, reigning in her emotions.

"Do not bring that up again, Xander." Her voice was forceful, but strong. He looked taken aback by it. "You don't understand any of it."

"I understand that he hurt you. That's enough for me to know he wasn't a good guy, Buffy. Not for you."

"Xander, enough. I am well aware of how you feel about Spike. Not that it matters at all, now. What does matter is that, once again, you have chosen to fight against me instead of with me. How many times do I have to prove myself, Xander?" She turned away from him. Xander moved to her, and put a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry. You're right. Fighting against you has never gotten us anywhere in the past. And I shouldn't have brought Spike up." She turned around to face him. "I still don't think trusting Blaine is a good idea. It feels strange to me that he showed up right after Giles was killed and right after Irinia attacked here." Buffy couldn't help but admit that she saw where his thinking was, and it wasn't completely unfounded. What Xander did next shocked Buffy, though.

He leaned down, until his face was even with hers, and gently kissed Buffy. Buffy's body went tense for a moment. She gave in and let herself get lost in the kiss, forgetting for a moment that it was Xander she was kissing. The moment she remembered, she pulled away and blinked up at him.

"I shouldn't have done that." He pulled away from her.

"No, no. Xander, it's just…" She touched his arm. "I didn't expect it. I thought…I thought you were involved with someone."

Xander cleared his throat and looked away from Buffy. It was true. There was someone he had been interested in. But she had quickly picked up on his feelings for Buffy. The feelings Xander had hadn't just vanished. Now, though, Xander knew they had most definitely changed.

"I am. Well, sort of. Look, can we forget this happened? It shouldn't have happened."

"Sure. No one else needs to know." Buffy felt a sense of awkwardness. Had the kiss been bad? Is that why he was acting so cool now? Buffy decided to let it go and headed back into the cottage.

"Buffy, wait." Xander called to her. Buffy stopped, one foot on the threshold. She turned and looked at him. "Are we good?"

"Of course we are, Xan. We're perfect." She forced a smile. Disbelief was clear on his face. "Really. Look, I'm not going to lie. That kiss caught me off guard, but I'm not going to say it was bad." She shrugged. "But you're right, too. It shouldn't have happened. What we have, our friendship, is one of the most important things to me. Let's not change it." She turned way and walked into the house. She was sure it was just the mention of Spike that had her feeling shaky.