Buffy Goes to Stars Hollow

Chapter Eleven I Will Remember You

A/N: If you have the song Hurt by Christina Aguilera you should listen to it on repeat when you read this chapter. That or I will remember you by Sarah McLaughlin

Italics indicate flashbacks.

The gang gathered back at the house to attend to the wounded. No one was talking about the huge bomb that had been dropped, but there was definitely an elephant in the room, as they went through the movements.

Buffy's scratches were already starting to heal, and her ankle was a dull throb by the time they reached home. Willow and Dawn were treated for their face wounds, which didn't appear as deep as Buffy had feared. She figured they were merely a warning, but that was something else she didn't have the answers for at this time.

Kate was awake and paler than any vampire, Buffy had ever seen. She was wrapped in a blanket and cuddled on the end of the couch, furthest away from Spike. Every once and awhile she cast a furtive glance over at him, before looking quickly away. Spike, who didn't worry about comfort, was staring at her with an unreadable expression.

Normally, after a fight, they would see what the injuries were and treat them accordingly before getting a good night's sleep. But there were still unanswered questions and Buffy figured it would be a long night.

After treating injuries, Buffy and Willow sat on the couch with Kate. Spike sat in the armchair, leg crossed so that his ankle rested on his knee and his arms crossed over his chest. He was the essence of defensiveness.

" Ok, scoobies will come to a meeting," Buffy said dramatically, in hopes to lighten the mood.

"Case of "what the hell?" to commence," Dawn added in, as she stared between Kate and Spike.

"That's a question I have been asking myself for the past hour nibblet," Spike said. He addressed the comment to Dawn, but his eyes never left Kate. Kate felt the weight of his cool blues on her face, and felt herself flush under the intensity of it.

"How do you know Spike?" Buffy asked Kate.

Kate shrugged. "I don't know him."

"You said his name," Buffy said," well, his mortal name."

Kate looked between Buffy and Spike. " I know that I said William. And for a brief moment things became clear, but after I blacked out I didn't remember anything. It was only for a moment and then it was gone."

"Convenient," Spike said under his breath. Buffy glared at him, before turning back to Kate.

Kate picked at the lint of the blanket, wishing she were anywhere but here. Then a thought occurred to her and she looked at Buffy. " Did you say mortal?"

Buffy's eyes widened. " You got that eh? Well, there are some things we need to explain. Don't wig out, but things aren't always what they seem."

"Those things you thought existed under your bed but knew couldn't be there in daylight….well, they are real. Vampires, demons, witches, dimensions and everything. Totally real." Xander said.

"Well that was summed it up," Buffy said, rolling her eyes. "Remember my idea of easing her into all that Xand? We don't want to freak you out Kate."

Kate shook her head. " It doesn't freak me out at all," Kate said. And then she smiled. "Actually it is starting to make a weird kind of sense."

Buffy smiled. " I remember that feeling. It's scary as hell and yet comforting to finally know you aren't completely insane."

Kate smiled. Then she turned to look at Spike. "So you aren't William?"

"I was. When I was human." Spike said.

"What are you now?" Kate asked.

Xander laughed. " Excellent question. The jury is still out on that one."

"A vampire luv," Spike said.

Kate snorted a laugh of shock. " A…a vampire? A vampire."

"Grade A, no pulse, stake through the heart blood sucker," Xander replied.

"I think she knows what a vampire is mate," Spike muttered.

Kate stared between the two of them as if they were crazy. " Vampire. Aren't vampires evil?" she said.

"Well, yes. Normally." Willow said.

"But Spike is…not evil. Anymore, anyway," Dawn said. " He's a good guy now. He's family." Dawn smiled at Spike at the last part.

Spike smiled in return. " Thanks nibblet."

"What are you Kate?" Dawn asked.

Kate looked offended at first, and then searched the room as if it would offer up answers. " I'm… human."

"Then how?" Willow started.

"The robed thing did tell me that he knew me," Kate began, " He said that I had left an impression on him in Ireland. He also said that it was over a hundred years ago."

"And you don't remember anything?" Buffy asked. " Like, oh I don't know, walking around the earth for over a hundred years?!"

"Look, it's crazy ok?" Kate said defensively. " Why would I lie about this? It doesn't exactly make me look sane."

" It's just that something bad is going on, and for all we know you are in on it," Buffy said. "How do we know that you didn't plan all this to get back here with us?"

"Wait a minute. Spike, you said you knew her right? When you were William?" Willow asked.

"That's right Red. Only I knew her when I was a vampire, not human. And she was called Katya."

"Then why did she call you William?" Willow asked. "I always thought you took the name Spike when you were a vampire?"

"Because that's what I told her my name was," Spike answered, his eyes still lingering on Kate.

"Ok let's stop this game of beating around the bush," Buffy said. "How about you just come out and tell us what you did to her, what was she to you?"

The corner of Spike's mouth turned up in a sexy grin, as he toyed with the lighter between his fingers. " An obsession."

"What?!" Everyone chorused.

"Like stalking her and her friends, like a big undead thing?" Xander asked.

"Who am I?" Kate asked.

Spike looked at her, and for the first time Kate was looking him straight in the eyes. " I met you in Romania luv. You were a gypsy."

"A gypsy?" Buffy asked, her voice giving away her thoughts of Angel.

Spike smiled at her. " That's right goldilocks. She was a member of the clan that cursed your dear Angel."

He had watched her from his hiding spot in the bushes behind the caravan. She had fascinated him immediately, her face unable to hide the raw emotion she felt. Pain and sorrow was etched into every feature on her beautiful face.

She wasn't what many would call beautiful; she was too exotic for that. He could chalk that up to her Romanian heritage. Her hair was a black as a raven's feathers that shone with a bluish tint under the moonlight. It cascaded down past her shoulders in an endless ripple of waves.

Her almond shaped eyes were an, impossibly, light green (he'd noticed them when the flames of the fire had caught her face in the light) under a thick layer of black lashes. Her full, strawberry colored, lips were turned down at the sides in sorrow.

Tears streaked the planes of her high cheekbones and olive skin. She looked like she belonged in a Greek myth. As beautiful as she was, it wasn't her beauty that called to him. It was the pain and vulnerability that ebbed off her in waves. He remembered, clearly, that feeling which had inspired his poetry not too long ago.

His carnal hunger began to turn into a need to possess this rare beauty first, before killing her. The source of her pain was his sire, Angelus. Angelus had killed a member of her clan. More than that, the victim had been her sister.

Right now, Darla was planning an attack on the caravan to make them take the curse that had left Angelus a whimpering baby. As soft as peaches, Spike thought to himself.

Spike had gone along hoping for a buffet of the gypsy variety. And yet, as he watched this girl, an idea began to form.

Angelus had accused him of acting like a young pup; acting without thought. This way of acting had led them to seek refuge in the sewers many times. Angelus never wasted an opportunity to point out of Spike that he lacked the finesse of a good kill. He lacked the patience of hunting his prey, driving them to the point of breaking before killing them.

Spike clenched his teeth until his jaw ached. He'd show Angelus he was better than him, by doing something Angelus had never been able to do. To kill this girl, he thought wickedly, he'd have to love her.

" To kill her, you'd have to love her?" Buffy repeated. " Just when I thought vampires couldn't get any creepier."

"Do you have selective memory?" Xander said, " He's a vampire! And his sire was Angelus was the ultimate creep. Why am I the only one not surprised here?"

Willow looked at Kate who was paler than before. "Are you ok?"

Kate shrugged. "No more than I was before."

Willow smiled. "You'll learn to take that as a good thing."

Kate smiled weakly. "Yay."

"Does any of this sound familiar?" Dawn asked.

"More like a story I feel I've heard before," Kate answered after a moment. " But nothing other than that."

"May I?" Spike asked.

"Yes continue," Buffy said.

People ran like chickens with their heads cut off. In their terror they didn't have the sense to run away, they just ran around in circles screaming into the night air.

Darla was ' coaxing' the leader into changing Angelus back with empty promises. Spike couldn't have that because it would ruin his plans. He jumped into the nearest caravan and feasted on the nearest person. He didn't have time to enjoy his kill, but time would make up for it.

He stumbled, drunk on blood, outside. He belched loudly to draw Darla and the gypsy's attention. Darla rolled her eyes, before killing the leader before he could scream.

"You couldn't wait?" Darla hissed.

Spike shrugged acting as innocently as possible. "We'll have to find another way," Darla said as she gathered up her skirts and drifted back into the woods.

Drusilla wrapped her arms around Spike's waist. " The voices in my head are screaming," she said in her dreamy daze.

"That would be the screaming of the gypsies luv," Spike said, resting his head against hers.

"It fills my head," she said. The tip of her tongue traced the line of her upper lip as she looked demurely up at him.

"Go back to the house pet, and I'll bring you something that will fill your stomach," Spike said, splaying his fingers over the flat plane of her stomach.

Drusilla mimicked biting him, snapping her teeth at the end. "I will go name all the stars while you are gone," she said. " Miss Edith won't be able to watch as she's been naughty." Drusilla pouted.

"I will be home soon my love," Spike said, pressing his lips against hers.

The screaming had died down, now that the threat seemed to be gone. Spike hid from the crowd as he walked towards the woods. The young girl was standing on the outside of the crowd, looking in. A feeling he knew all too well.

"Are you alright?" He asked, as he drew nearer.

She jumped visibly, her hand flying to her throat. " I'm not one of them," Spike said. "I hunt them."

"You are a vampire hunter?" She asked, her voice giving away her uneasiness. Her eyes scanned the length of him.

"Yes," Spike said, searching his mind for a name that she would know. " I work for Holtz."

The name seemed to work. Her eyes widened as she took a deep breathe. "So he's heard then? That Angelus has been cursed? My father said that they were sending one to see."

Spike nodded. This was so easy, he thought. "What is your name?" she asked.

"William," he answered. He couldn't very well tell her his name was Spike. And then he remembered that she had said someone had been sent. Had they given them a name? He should have waited until he could get the name out of her. This was a lot harder than he thought. All he wanted to do was grab her and have her right there in front of her family.

"Katya," she said extending her hand.

Spike took her warm hand in his. His fingertips brushed along her wrist and he felt the steady beats of her pulse as the blood ran through her veins. Blood. He felt his face start to change and looked down at the ground trying to calm himself.

"Are you alright?" She asked.

"Fine," he lied. "Are you alright?"

She smiled. That act lit up her entire face and if he had breath, it would be taken away at the sight of her. " I was told to explain the curse to you," Katya said.

Spike took her hand and led her over to the open meadow. It was dangerous to take her away from her family, but he didn't want to risk them seeing him. A large tree stood over to the side, and they sat under it.

The moon was bright in the sky and their only source of light. Katya settled down and Spike sat beside her, as she began to talk.

"I need some coffee," Willow muttered. "Can we take a small break?"

Buffy nodded and got up to help Willow get some coffee. When they were alone in the kitchen, Willow turned to Buffy.

"Is it difficult?" She asked Buffy. "Hearing about Spike back then?"

"No more than usual," Buffy said. " I mean there are things in his past that I know he did. I'm always aware of it. But actually hearing a story of it just makes me wig a little."

"Makes it harder to remember him as soulful Spike," Willow agreed.

"There must have been a happy ending though," Buffy said. " I mean she's alive."

Willow poured the coffee. "True. Which brings up another question."

"What?" Buffy asked.

"Did he turn her?" Willow asked.

"She's been out in the daylight," Buffy said. "There's no way she's a vampire."

Willow nodded. "Then what?"

"That is the question," Buffy said. " Come on, I hear chapter two about to start."

"We kept our meetings a secret," Spike began again," her elders knew that she was meeting with a vampire hunter, but I never met with any of them, under the delusion that I didn't want to be well known in case word spread to the vampires. The less they knew of me, the better. It wasn't the best excuse, but they seemed to stay away…for awhile."

"We spent every night together, which was easy enough to get away with as I was acting as their protector. It was easy to get away with it," Spike explained. "Sometimes too easy."

"They never suspected anything?" Dawn said.

"No nibblet, not once. The fear that another would be killed made them keep to themselves. They were still in mourning for their daughter." Spike answered.

Kate sat, unblinking, as she listened to the story. Every once and awhile she would close her eyes as if trying to remember it for herself.

"Katya was a strong woman," Spike said, " She liked being the leader and so she never doubted anything either. She had no reason to believe I was anything than what I said I was."

"So you acted like you loved her?" Xander said with disgust.

"Yes," Spike said. "And she believed me."

Kate closed her eyes; a feeling of unrequited love began to wash over her. Her heart felt like it was being squeezed and the feeling of loneliness was starting to wash over her.

"Do you remember?" Buffy asked.

Kate shook her head. "Not completely."

"We talked about vampires and my made up adventures at first," Spike continued, smiling now as he remembered. "And then she began to open up. She told me about her sister, about how she was always second best. How her she felt that her family had wished it were her that died, and not their beloved daughter."

"Are you alright?" Buffy asked Kate, resting her hand on Kate's forearm. Kate didn't realize until she looked at Buffy's concerned face that her cheeks were damp with tears.

Kate nodded her head. "I'm ok."

"Do you want me to stop luv?" Spike asked, the concern evident in his face as well.

"Maybe we should continue this tomorrow…or later today," Buffy suggested as she glanced at the clock. "The sun will be coming up soon anyway."

Kate nodded slowly. " Do you want to stay here?" Buffy asked.

Kate nodded; too tired to attempt going home. "Thank you."

Everyone got to their feet. Buffy led Kate to the bottom of the stairs. Kate turned and looked over her shoulder. " Spike?" She said quietly. Spike looked up at her, his expression unreadable. "Did I love you?"

The pain from that question ebbed off her in waves, and everyone in the room felt the weight of that question. Spike nodded. " Yes," he said. " At least you told me you did."

Kate nodded once, before allowing Buffy to lead her up the stairs.

Spike searched the woods for a sign of her. She had told him to meet her here. His eyes searched the darkness of the meadow, where they'd first met almost a month ago now. There was no sign of her.

A weird feeling seemed to take over him. Was it concern? Fear? He pushed them aside. Hanging around a human for so long must have rubbed off on him. Tonight was the night.

Tonight he would kill her. She loved him, which he could feel. From the way her eyes burned into his, how her cheeks would flush when he'd touch her face, or the way her heart would beat faster every time he would get close to her. Everything screamed out to him, but still he wouldn't give in. He wouldn't kill her, not until she was in love with him. And now she was.

She reminded him of a doe, her eyes wide and curious. The way she would move towards something, but then jump back fearful. She'd never been with a man; he could almost taste the innocence around her. When they were together, however, her curiosity would excite him.

Finally a flicker of light called to him from the thicket of trees to the right of him. He moved towards them. Behind the thicket there was a large opening of a cave. Spike stepped through the opening and his mouth dropped in surprise.

Hundreds of white candles were spread throughout the small cave, making the rocks seem soft with its glow. The biggest surprise was what he found in the center of them. Surrounded by hundreds of petals, laying on a fur draping was Katya.

She was wearing a white dress that clung to every delicious curve. A corset bounded in her stomach and made her breasts swell over the top. The dress was cut in layers around her legs, so that one leg was completely bare, giving him an ample view of thigh.

Her hair was loose and in waves around her almost bared breasts. Her eyes were wide and her lips lifted in a smile when his eyes drifted over her. She was breathtaking. The glow of the candles seemed to illuminate her and she glowed like a goddess.

She couldn't have set the scene more perfectly. Spike felt the hunger begin to grow. Her family would find her like this tomorrow morning, thinking he'd gone to the trouble of laying out the scene. He'd have to thank her for this the moment before her heart stopped.

"William?" Her voice seemed to come from far away. It sounded small in this place.

"Katya? What is this?" Spike asked as he looked around.

Slowly, she got to her feet and walked towards him. She rested her hands on his chest, and tilted her head to look up at him. "I have to tell you something."

Spike nodded. "What's that luv?"

Katya drew a shaky breath. " I love you."

He had known this, and yet the words on her lips did something to him. But, he thought to himself, she loved a lie. She loved William, not Spike. It should have been an empty sentiment, and for a fleeting second, he found himself wishing he were William. The vampire hunter. Her protector.

Spike cursed himself for thinking these useless feelings. Katya lips started to tremble.

"Why won't you kiss me William?" She whispered against his lips.

Spike stared into her eyes. He cupped her cheek with the palm of his hand, running his thumb over her lips. He leaned in closer and brushed her lips softly with his own. His lips molded over hers, deepening the kiss. Kate tensed for a brief moment, and then adjusted to the rhythm. Spike pulled away, the lust for the kill was starting to excite him.

"Why won't you hold me?" She asked, stepping in closer.

Because I'd kill you in a heartbeat, he thought. He put his arms around her waist and pulled her roughly against him, making her cry out in surprise. He brought one hand up and tilted her head to the side, and ran his lips along the side of her neck. Katya moaned softly, as her hands dug into the fabric of his shirt.

He felt his face change as he began to nibble. She was ready for it. He had done it; he'd show Angelus that he wasn't a young pup anymore. " I love you," she moaned against his collar. Why did she keep saying that?

Spike felt every muscle in his body tense. Suddenly his face changed back to human as he turned to look at her. She was so innocent, so pure. Maybe he'd have her first. It would be a waste to kill her now.

Spike cupped her face in his hands as he brushed his lips over hers, softly at first. The tip of his tongue came out and ran along her lower lip. Her lips parted under his as his tongue slipped inside. He caressed her tongue with his and then darted around every inch of her mouth, tasting her.

Katya clutched onto his collar, fearing that her knees would buckle under her. Spike broke the kiss and Katya cried out at the loss. He turned her around gently and began to work the laces of her corset, while his lips kissed and nibbled her shoulders. He threw the corset down to the ground.

His fingers slipped under the straps of her dress and he pulled them up and down the curve of each shoulder, kissing the bare skin as he went. He pushed the dress down and it floated in white layers to the ground at her feet.

She stood completely naked in front of him now. He kissed down along her spine, his hands around her front, fingers splayed across her flat stomach. Kate felt her skin grow hot with each intimate touch.

Katya gasped as she jumped away. Spike got back to his feet, and pulled her back against him. "I won't hurt you," he promised.

Weird sensations began to grow in her lower stomach; it felt like a knot was building. She had never felt this way in her entire life.

Spike scooped her up in his arms and held her firmly against his chest, and carried her to the fur that she had laid down. Gently, he set her down on the fur and then stood at her feet. His fingers worked the buttons on his shirt and tossed that to the ground as well. He slid his pants off next. Katya rested on her elbows; her eyes scanning ever inch of bared flesh.

A momentary fear seemed to cross over her face, before lust took over. This was all so overwhelming, Kate thought. It felt like it was happening so fast. It felt right and wrong at the same time.

Spike had never had a women look at him this way and it was almost unnerving. He laid along side her. He kissed her again, rougher this time. Katya turned towards him, her hand resting on his bare chest. The heat of her hand seemed to scold him. He rested his hand along the curve of her hip and caressed the smooth skin there.

"Are you sure?" He asked, unsure of why he did. He was evil; he could have anything and anyone he wanted. He'd never asked for permission before.

She nodded, her teeth biting her lower lip. "Yes."

Afterwards, as they lay wrapped in each other's arms, Katya peeked up at him beneath her lashes. "Thank you."

Spike chuckled. "Your welcome luv."

"No," she said seriously now, "thank you for loving me."

Spike was about to correct her, but looking into her eyes, he found he couldn't. He just nodded.

After, when Katya had fallen asleep in his arms, Spike raised himself up on one elbow and watched her sleep. She was so peaceful, so beautiful. She had given herself over so completely.

Spike's fingers traced the curve of her jaw, as he pushed the hair away from her neck. Now it was time. He felt the bones shift in his face as the change came over him. Tomorrow the gypsies would find their daughter naked and the blood drained from her. He had done everything he said he would, and now it was time.

Kate sat up in bed, sweat drenching her clothes. Her eyes searched the darkness around her. She was in Dawn's room. She was safe. It was a nightmare. She buried her head between her hands, pressing the palms into her eyes in attempts to wipe out the imagery that still lingered.

With deep breathes, her heart hammering against her ribcage she stared into the darkness. She had only been asleep a couple of hours.

Then, with frightening clarity, she realized that her nightmare wasn't a nightmare. It was a memory.

"I remember," she whispered in the darkness.

To Be Continued.