Thanks for the reviews! FYI Spike does still retain his strength and his ability to vamp out =)
Seeing Angelus standing in the foyer of the home she shared with her loved ones and now, the man she'd spend her life with, shook Buffy to her core. So many thoughts ran through her head all at once, causing her a dizzy spell, before finally seeing black and collapsing in Spike's arms.
Spike carefully carried his love to the couch, placing her down, as Willow held out her hand towards Angelus, casting a spell that made him unable to move, "Be still!"
Trying to wake her, Spike gently ran his fingertips over Buffy's cheek, speaking softly to her, "Love, wake up. Please."
Bending down farther, Spike placed a gentle peck on Buffy's forehead, pleading one more time. "Come back to us, Kitten."
Fluttering her eyes open, Buffy looked up at Spike hovering over her. She smiled at him before realizing what happened as she shot up from the couch. Seeing Angelus under Willow's spell and unable to move made Buffy a little more at ease, at least as much at ease as she could be under the circumstances.
Turning to Giles, Buffy asked for his help.
"Giles, how did this happen? How did he lose his soul? He was just here…" Buffy's voice trailed off before realizing that it had to be Angelus in her home earlier that day. He simply didn't have enough time to have lost his soul.
"He was Angelus the whole time." Buffy looked up at Spike, "Did you know Angel was gone?"
Seeing the sadness and fear in Buffy's facial expression made Spike's now-beating heart hurt.
"No, love. If I'd have known I would have killed him before he could find you. I don't know what I would have done if he'd have hurt you or the Bit…" Spike made eye contact with Buffy as she cupped his cheek, wiping away the single tear that had fallen form his eye.
"We're fine, Spike. Don't worry about what could've happened." Dawn walked over to him, hugging his waist tightly before pulling away to wait for the Scoobies' game plan.
"Whatever we do, Buff, the spell I have holding him there will only last a few more minutes at the most." Willow, still holding her hand in front of her, looked back at her best friend, waiting for her decision.
"I've already killed him once, I guess I can do it again. This time should be easier. I have more at stake. Get it?"
"Really, Buffy? Punning now?" Xander chuckled as he asked his question, happy that she knew what she had to do.
"Dawn," Buffy's attention turning to her little sister, "I want you and Xander upstairs now. No arguments."
Turning back to Xander, "Make sure she stays with you. I know you'll keep her safe."
Xander nodded before taking Dawn's hand, leading her around a still not moving Angelus and heading upstairs.
"Willow, I may need your powers for this. Can you somehow protect us from a distance?"
Smiling at Buffy, Willow nodded her head, "Of course, Buffy."
"Ok then." Buffy let out a loud sigh, walking to the new weapons chest Xander had just finished a few days prior, and pulling out a handful of stakes, an axe, and a few crossbows. With Angelus, you could never be too prepared.
"Spike, Giles, take what you want. Willow, take a stake just in case." Buffy said, arming herself with a stake in her back pocket as well as her hand.
"Be careful, all of you." Buffy was talking to all three of them, but only looking at one.
Spike closed the gap between them, bringing her in for a kiss while they had a chance. As they pulled apart, Buffy cupped Spike's cheek with her free hand, gazing into his eyes and smiling up at him.
"Spike, promise me you'll be careful. If you... If you left me again, I'd die." Buffy spoke only loud enough for Spike to hear, before kissing him one more time.
As they pulled away, Spike winked at her, "Right, then. Gotta do this."
Buffy winced hearing those words. The same words Spike had spoken in the Hellmouth just before she told him she loved him. Before anyone was able to comment on her appearance, Willow's spell ended.
"I hope you all had your fun there for a few minutes." Angelus, walking toward Buffy, smirked as he talked.
"I'll have even more fun once I kill you." Buffy countered, gripping her stake as she raised her arm.
Angelus grabbed Buffy's wrist and stared at her. Smiling slightly, his face turned back to human form.
"You not even going to ask how I lost my soul this time? It's a funny story really."
"Why should I care Angel? We're over, have been for years. And besides, you won't be around much longer anyway."
"Spike." Angelus spoke, no emotion behind the name he said.
Hearing his name made Buffy pause, worried, she had to know what he knew, "What about him?"
"You chose Spike over me, Buff. That hurt. You made Angel want to lose his soul."
Buffy, unable to answer, just looked at him standing in front of her. When he realized she wasn't going to speak, Angelus continued.
"Don't you get it, Buffy? You hurt him. All that time you spent crying over Spike's death. You really think Angel wanted to hear how much you missed him? I mean come on! It's Spike! He's useless. I bet he can't even get you off."
Buffy slapped Angelus as hard as she could with her free hand, causing him to lose his grip on her wrist and stumble backwards a few feet.
"Spike is ANYTHING but useless, he's everything," Buffy said, glancing at Spike before looking back to Angelus.
With an evil sounding laugh, Angelus spoke again. "Still don't get it do you? This is your fault. Angel sought out a warlock to help him lose his soul, so I could kill you for the pain you caused him. But, I think I'll let you watch me kill lover boy here first"
Before anyone could react, Angelus had a death grip around Spike's neck.