When they got to the bottom of the stairs Buffy smiled at Spike.

"Don't worry I won't let them take you away from us ok?" Buffy said softly. Spike nodded.

"Thanks pet. That means a lot."

Buffy walked in the room where Angel and the rest of his gang and the Scooby's were waiting.

"See I told you." Buffy said. Spike hesitated before walking in.

"Hey Peaches, Tall, Dark, and Blue, and Charlie boy." Spike spoke.

" Don't hey me SPIKE, Why haven't you been in touch? Why did you leave without telling us? Now you have mega pissed off goddess and Death itself after you! Do you know that when and if they find you they will make you pay before killing you and now Illyria is a goddess. She has agreed to help us protect you. But she can't hold up for much. After all, death and another goddess will be a handful!" Angel spat.

"So…you came here to tell me that. You're going to bloody well leave now, am I right!" Spike replied in the same tone.

"Wrong foolish half-breed." Illyria spoke walking towards Spike.

"We're here to take you back to LA with us and now you either coming or you die. But if you don't come I will guess Illyria will have to make you tag along." Angel said smirking.

"Over my dead body and the kind that doesn't come back" Buffy said anger growing in her voice.

"That could be arranged pathetic careless Slayer." Illyria said.

"Oh really, what will you do? Turn me blue or make me ware a leather costume? Come on, really?"

"I could kill you in a snap of my fingers Slayer. You maybe be strong but you're still a lower being which I could easily annihilate." Illyria getting more worked up by the moment as was Buffy too.

"Buffy, it's true. We all nearly got killed by her when we first met." Angel spoke.

"Well you can't take Spike."

"But Buffy, you don't understand what we have done to keep Spike safe back in LA. We have got everything he could ever need."

"Look Buffy, if this mean's that I have to go and if I don't there won't even be a world to live in, never mind me being here. I will stay in touch, I promise. I know I said I wouldn't leave but I'd rather have you safe and alive than put you and the little Bit at a risk because of me. I cant let that happen and I'm sorry but I'm going to have to go." Spike said softly as Buffy looked in shock.

"But ….Spike." Buffy said still refusing to let this happen.

"Please Buffy, luv please don't make this harder for me. I have to do what's right for probably the final time in my unlife."

Buffy filled with tears as Dawn ran up to her and they both hugged. Dawn started to cry as well, he had only been there for a few hours and Dawn was just getting adjusted to him.

"Spike, please don't go. You can't go……… you can't come into my life again after months of me waiting for you and then go again." Dawn cried.

"Dawn, look pet, I know the Slayer will look after you. And I'll only be in LA. I promise you I'll call. Anything to try and even begin to make up for having to leave you all over again." Spike said dropping his gaze he couldn't look in Dawn's eyes. It was too hard to see the loss he knew he would see in them.

"Spike you can't go." Buffy said tears welling in her eyes.

"You only just came here and now your going. NO! I won't let you go."

"Too late luv. I have made my mind up." Spike said heading for the door. Dawn and Buffy hugged as they watched him put on his duster.

"Right guess we will be on our way then, Peaches." Spike said.

"Yeah Buffy, we're going." Angel said.

Spike came over to give Buffy a hug but she refused it.

"Buffy am so sorry, but I have to. For you, for the Bit, for the world." Spike said as he could seen the pain in Buffy's eyes.

"Buffy I'm going."

"AND SO AM I!" Buffy said.