Author's Note: I continued! Yay! I know its been a long time, again, but I was seriously trying to work on it but I kept getting distracted by real life and then April 27th rolled around which is a special day for 2 reasons. First it's my three year anniversary writing stories on ff.net (I used to write for the music section) and two it was my 21st b-day. I'm officially old! Go me! So yeah, that was completely unrelated. I just felt like sharing. On with the story! But before you go to read. I just have to say the following:

This chapter is dedicated to Jenna, aka Golden Eyed Vamp (who's story 'Forever Young' in the Angel section is amazing to anyone who hasn't read it yet, go, read it… after this one of course, hehe). Her idea helped me out sooo much. So thank you, thank you, thank you!

Twenty Nine

Buffy sighed as she passed through yet another empty graveyard. Her left hand held a stake that was carelessly being twirled between her fingers. Her right hand was currently digging through her pockets for her cell phone which was vibrating. Finally she pulled it out and grinned at the Caller ID.

"Bored too?"

"Is it just because I miss him, or the minute my brother left town so did all the evil?"

"I know exactly what you mean!" Buffy agreed with the younger slayer.

"Dad would so kill me if he caught me on a phone during a patrol but honestly I'm so bored, I think I might stake myself for fun!"

Buffy laughed softly. "Where is Xander? I thought he was patrolling with you this summer." She paused as she caught sight of something moving out the corner of her eye. "Hold that thought." She kicked her leg out and connected with the unfortunate vampire trying to sneak up on her. He was dust seconds later. "Too easy. So as you were saying?"

"He is supposed to be, but not tonight, kinda obviously. He's out with the others shopping for dorm stuff."

Buffy groaned. "Again? This is like the fifth time this week! They're really getting into this," Buffy muttered. "Maybe I shouldn't have left all the details of room decoration to my fashion and appearance obsessed roommate."

"You think? Although watching Cordy and Tara bicker over what the ideal color an area rug should be is highly entertaining. Or so I've been told, since I've never been invited to go dorm shopping."

"Bitter much?"

"Very," Faith sighed heavily. "Don't get me wrong, B. I'm proud of you all and I'm really happy that you're all going to college and stuff. But I'm also a little jealous."

"And that's totally understandable, honey. But we're only a bus ride away from you. And you'll be seeing Anya like everyday since she's going to be working at the Magic Box."

"Yeah I know. It's just lonely. Plus I'm starting a new school and all that, since a certain senior class blew up the old one."

"Hey," Buffy protested, giggling slightly. "That was your brother, your boyfriend and their pet vampire."

"And this is true," Faith laughed. "Just promise me that you won't forget me while you're all off living your collegiate lives."

Buffy stifled a laugh at her friend's melodramatic attitude. "I'm sure somehow we'll manage to fit you in our busy schedules. It's always nice to remember the little people we knew on the way up the ladder of life."

"You know I don't have to see you to know you're grinning, right? How close to being done are you?"

"I'm on Fifth and Vine, so I'm almost done. Where are you?"

"Like a block over."

"Well wait there for like another couple of minutes. I think should," she trailed off as she again heard something. Her eyes widened in almost predatory glee as she sensed not one but several vampires and demons. "Faith, I think I just found a nest. You better get over here fast if you want a piece of this."

"You so better save some for me, B!"

"Ciao!" Buffy flipped the phone shut and pocketed it safely. She crept along the gated cemetery wall out of sight of her prey. A group of at least five vampires and assorted demons sat clustered together. She groaned as she saw a pack of cards in the center of the table. "Not evil. Just poker buddies!" she huffed and started to tell Faith not to bother when a group of people wearing camouflage and fatigues burst on the scene.

Buffy quickly concealed herself behind a well placed bush and watched as the demons instantly went on the attack. They were each cut down by the strange electromagnetic guns that the soldiers were carrying. "Who are those guys?" Buffy mumbled to herself. "And where did they get cool guns like those!"

Her head whipped to the side as she saw a familiar head of brown hair walk by. Her hand shot out from the safety of the bush pulling her friend into the safety of her hiding spot. Faith started to protest until Buffy pointed out the commandoes that were dragging the former poker buddies off into the night. The younger slayer's eyes were wide as she turned to regard her friend.

"What the hell was that?"

"That," Buffy sighed, "was the end of our boring summer!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spike groaned as the sun finally set leaving behind the chilly night air. He pulled his sleeves down as far as they would go and continued to trudge painfully along. He cast a quick glance at his unfortunate choice in traveling companions before averting his eyes to the horizon.

"If we keep moving, we'll be back in," the glasses wearing slightly older boy paused, looking thoughtfully at their desired location that was little more than a dot on the horizon before them. "Two days."

"Two days?" Spike repeated incredulously. "Bugger that!" he plopped down where he stood.

"You know there really is a fascinating lesson that can be learned here."

"Yeah I know, not to piss off a big, purple demon named Bob!"

"Hardly, William," the older boy sniffed and pushed up his glasses. "The lesson is that you should have just listened to me in the first place. If you hadn't been so busy trying to fight with me then you would have seen the threat coming and we wouldn't be stuck out here in the middle of nowhere!"

Spike's eyes widened as he sprang to his feet. "This is my fault? If you hadn't been so busy trying to always prove me wrong, I wouldn't be stuck out here in the middle of the woods with a pansy, washed up good for nothing Watcher's Council reject!"

Cold blue eyes glared down on him from behind the wire rims but did nothing to dissuade the younger man. "I'll have you know that I graduated at the top of the class at the Watcher's Academy. I was Head Boy."

Spike snickered. "I wonder what you had to do to earn that."

"I worked very hard I'll have you know. Spent maybe long hours in the library." Spike bit on his bottom lip in a vain attempt to not laugh in his face. He failed miserably. "I despise you."

"Ok you think I'm that fond of you, Percy?"

"The name isn't Percy, William. It's…."

"Wesley Wyndham-Pryce," Spike finished rolling his eyes. He met Wesley's gaze evenly and his own eyes eclipsed momentarily. "And the name isn't William. He's dead." Spike gave him one last glare before stalking off in the direction of the compound.

"This is what I get for trusting Angelus," Spike muttered.  He continued to tug at the sleeves of his shirt that weren't providing any further warmth with an annoyed frown. It would figure, the one day he decided not to wear his duster to meditation was the day that Bob would get tired of his and Wesley's lack of cooperation. But honestly, knocking them out and dropping them into the middle of nowhere was a bit of an extreme reaction!

He slowed down his pace and waited for Wesley to catch up. Somehow he didn't think that Bob would be very proud of his leaving Wesley alone. In fact he was sure of it, as it was something that he had tried time after time and had yet to succeed in doing. The older boy panted and tired in vain to cover it up.

"Well then we should keep moving," Spike motioned with his head. "Hopefully we can find some kinda shelter around here. There is no way you're going to be able to keep going much longer."

"I'm in peak physical form. And what about you? You can't tell me that you're not in the least bit tired."

"I'm a demonic hybrid here," Spike explained slowly. "Breathing, sleep and food not exactly as necessary for me as for you."

"Demonic hybrid or not, you're injured. You need to rest and regain your strength."

Spike glanced down at the gash in his side. That little beauty was courtesy of his own stubborn pride as he was determined to make it back without Wesley's help. He only succeeded in falling down a rather steep cliff and being saved only by the former watcher-in-training. He sighed and pressed his hand down over the makeshift bandage they had covering it.

"I'm fine, Wesley," he replied with the first hint of civility he had ever used around the other boy. They nodded in understanding and started off again on their trek back to the place they were calling home for now.

The two continued to walk in a tense silence, trying to forget the other one was there and also to ignore the sense of comfort the mere presence of the other was giving. Spike wrapped an arm tighter around his waist as the wound started to make itself known and the loss of blood and lack of food started to make his head feel lighter. But he trudged on. He refused to show weakness. Too bad his body didn't agree with him.

He stumbled slightly and managed to grab a hold of a branch to keep him steady. Wesley saw him out the corner of his eye and moved over to help the teenager. "That's it. We're finding a place now. Even if it is out in the middle of nowhere. You need to rest. You're doing yourself no good wandering around like this."

Spike sighed as he realized arguing would be futile. He leaned on Wesley as the two boys searched for some place relatively out of the way to camp out for the night. "Wait here, I'll find some wood to start a fire." Spike only managed a nod and leaned against the tree Wesley had placed him in front of. He returned a short while later and placed the sticks in a pile before them.

After a few vain attempts at starting a fire, Spike opened one eye and focused on the cursing young man. "You never were much good at that. Even in survival training."

"If you think you can do so much better," Wesley sat back on his heels. "Let's see you try."

Spike arched an eyebrow and flashed a quick smirk in his direction. He then turned back to the fire wood. "Incendio." His eyes sparked for a brief moment and soon the wood was burning. He smiled at the warmth radiating from the fire and moved closer.

"I see you've gotten better with magic," Wesley muttered moving closer as well. Spike only nodded staring into the flames. "Are you alright?"

"I miss them," he said, absently. Wesley looked a little startled at the boy's abrupt mood change but found that Spike wasn't really aware that he was speaking out loud. "I wonder what they're doing right now."

"Your family?"

"And my friends," he added. "Buffy."

"Ah, yes, one of the slayers."

Spike craned his neck to look at Wesley. "She's much more than that. She's a human being with feelings. I know you watchers don't get that but try really hard."

Wesley started to retort when he realized that Spike was opening up to him somewhat. He shifted his position so that he was sitting next to the blonde. "Tell me about her."

Spike gave him a suspicious look before shrugging. "Buffy's the best. She's annoying. She disobeys orders from everyone. She's stubborn, pigheaded and hates being told that she's wrong."

"Um, I thought you liked her."

"I love her," Spike gave him a crooked smile. "Because she completes me."

Wesley smiled at the complete honesty and love tone reflected in the usually acerbic voice. "Must be nice."

"What you're not beating the girls off with a stick?" he asked, in a slightly teasing tone.

"I'll pretend to not notice the sarcasm. But there is hardly time for romance when you're the son of Roger Wyndham-Pryce. You've got to better than even the best of the best." Spike turned his head to completely face Wesley. The older boy smiled grimly. "I guess I've always been a bit jealous of the way you are with your father."

Spike smiled faintly at the mention of his father. Sure his father was a bit preoccupied with work at times but there was never a time that Spike could remember that either he or Tara didn't come first. Any time they needed him, he was there. And for the first time in two months, he felt an intense longing to be home. He hadn't tried to think about them because thinking about them only brought up feelings of hunger and violence but now, now he just really missed them.

He thought back on what Bob had told him when he had first arrived at the monastery. He told him that he had forgotten what it was like to be human. That was why the demon was so strong in him. At first he had shrugged the words off but now as he sat beside his former childhood rival, he had to wonder when he did forget that he wasn't just a hybrid. He was someone's son, brother and friend. He was loved. A slight smile grew across his face.

"Thanks, Wesley."

"For what?"

"Helping me remember who I am," Spike grinned and leaned back once more. He could tell Wesley was shocked and merely continued to smile at the boy's shock. "You never did tell me why you're here. What brings you to a demonic monastery of all places?"

"Last place on earth my father would ever expect me to be," Wesley replied honestly. "There is a growing rift in the council that was started by your grandfather. He never believed that slayers were merely sent to fight the vampires. He thought of them as bridges between the human and demonic worlds. He brought a lot of changes to the council."

Spike brought his knees up to his chest and continued to look at Wesley. "Quentin brought a new school of thought when he took over but there were still some like my father who opposed it. My father despises your grandfather's way of thinking," he smiled grimly. "Of course he would never dare to challenge Quentin's authority but still its there. And the more I trained in that old way of thinking, the more I came to despise it."

"I bet that didn't please old Roger."

Wesley laughed dryly. "You'd be right on that one. He disowned me. Not that it mattered, because I was leaving willingly." He paused as if just remembering something. "It was actually your grandfather that told me about this place. He told me that if I was interested in seeing how demons could be good, I should come here."

Spike rolled his eyes. "Figures," he grinned. "Grandfather was always a meddlesome pain in my ass." Wesley found himself smiling as well. He turned and saw that Spike was falling asleep.

"Why don't you get some rest, I'll keep watch."

Spike tried, and failed, not to yawn. "You sure?" Wesley nodded. "Wake me if you get tired." He nodded again. Spike settled into a semi comfortable position and gave into his body's demands for sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Angel stacked the last of Cordelia's boxes in the corner and stared at them with a wistful frown on his face. He had known this day was coming ever since he met the teenagers. He knew that one day they would go off to college and even move away. But somehow it had all seemed alright, because he had Doyle with him. And now, now his last remaining tie to Doyle was moving off to college.

"Are you crying?"

"What? No!" Angel wiped discreetly at his eyes to face the former cheerleader. Cordelia bit her lip to smother a laugh. "I was not crying. I don't cry."

"Sure you do," she grinned walking over to him. "And I'm just going to school, you big baby. I'm not moving out of town. It's just across town."

Angel sighed. "I know. It's just that…. I'm going to miss you."

"Well I'm telling you now that you have an open invitation to my dorm room," Cordelia said walking into his arms. Angel held onto her tightly and rested his chin on her head.

"Cordy." She pulled back slightly to look up at him. "You know that I don't actually need an invitation since it's a public place right?"

She narrowed her eyes playfully and swatted at his chest. "Details! Alright, so did you pack up the rest of my stuff?"

"Yeah, I just got this one last box over here," Angel picked it up. As he did so he caught sight of the contents. He placed it down and turned to Cordelia. "You in a lot of pain, Cordy?"

"No, not really," she answered absently sorting through a few boxes. "Why?"

"Because you have a lot of prescription pain killers in here. Cordy, is there something you're not telling me?"

Cordelia paused and stood up straight with her back facing the vampire. When she turned around the smile that had been on her face was gone. "The visions, sometimes, they get a little intense. That's all. I'm fine."

Angel frowned. "You should have told me before."

"So you could what? Worry about me? No thanks. That's not necessary. There's nothing anyone can do about it, Angel. And I think the occasional headache is, in the long run, just the price I have to pay for saving the day."

"You're a hero," Angel said without the faintest trace of sarcasm. Cordelia tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and flushed red.

"You're gonna make me cry," she grinned. "And don't think I don't know what you're doing here." Angel held his hands up in innocence. "I'm not staying. Buffy and I are finally independent and away from parental units and over protective vampires, that'd be you."

"I know, I know." He pulled the girl into his arms. "My little girl is growing up."

"You know that's creepy because you're old enough to be my great-great grandfather."

"I am not," Angel protested. He saw the smile on her face and found himself doing the same. "You know that you can come back anytime you need to, right? This will always be your home."

"You will always be home to me, Angel," Cordelia promised. She kissed him on the cheek and headed into her room to make sure that all her stuff was packed away.

Angel watched her leave and then took one last look at the box of medicine. "I can't loose her too," he sighed and sealed the box up, placing it with the pile that was going.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spike was startled awake by the presence of someone, or something, hovering over him. His eyes flew open and he found himself staring into two glowing red eyes and a third purplish one boring holes into his head. The blue toned demon sat back on his heels and smiled at the young hybrid. Spike cast a glance to the side and saw that Wesley had fallen asleep at some point during the night.

"I told the wanker to wake me," Spike muttered rubbing his eyes. "Wait a second, Bob? What are you doing here?"

"I honestly thought you would be gone much longer than this, William. I do love being surprised," Bob smiled. Spike arched an eyebrow but actually stopped to think about what was being said. He looked around and found that they were no longer in the forest but rather they were sitting side by side on the compound's grounds.

"How did we get back? Did you bring us back?"

"No, you brought you back. I knew that paring you two together would be good for both of you. Although for awhile there things didn't look so good."

Spike let the comments roll of his back as he still continued to wonder how they had gotten back. "What do you mean I brought me back? I don't get it."

Bob smiled again. "It was all in your mind, William. I couldn't get you to see that your problems are a mental one. So I had to make you live it. You were only as far away from the monastery as you were from who you really are. Now you've found your way back to both."

Spike sat up slightly and found that the wound on his side was healed, probably courtesy of Bob. If it was even there to begin with. Like he said the night before, messing with a psychic demon named Bob was not the smartest move in the world. Something he would bear in mind for the future.

"So what does this mean for me?"

Bob helped him to his feet and the two began to walk around the grounds. It was located in the mountains and outside gave the appearance of peace and calm while inside was the complete opposite. Bob ran a halfway house for anyone who was touched by the supernatural and needed an escape or a way back to their true path in life. Spike stretched his muscles and looked up at the morning sky.

"How do you feel?"

"Good," he replied honestly. "Whole."

"Excellent. Then I think that you've achieved what you've come here for," Bob nodded slowly. "And just in time for the fall semester, if I'm not confused."

Spike gave him a slightly scared look. "You really think I'm ready to go back to them? Like you really believe that I'm not going to hurt them?"

"It doesn't matter what I believe, William. Only you can decide what you are going to do. Only you, not the demon inside you or anyone else around you. Only you." They stopped in the mediation gardens. "Why don't you think on it for a little while? I'm going to wake Wesley before the others see him and well…."

"I don't know, I think it was rather nice of them to give him that early morning wake up call," Spike smirked, remembering the day some of the more jovial demons had decided that Wesley was wound too tight and woke him up with an early morning swim in the lake. Something told him that the other human didn't find it as amusing as he did. He smiled as he realized he referred to himself as human.

He sat down on a bench letting the sun's rays warm his skin. "You really think that the sun here is any better than back at home?"

His head whipped around at the sound of the too familiar voice. "Buffy? What the?"

Buffy rolled her eyes and held out a hand to him. He reached for it and his hand passed right through her. "I'm not really here, Blondie. I'm a projection of your subconscious."

"My subconscious is my girlfriend?" Spike muttered. "There is some Freudian lesson to be learned here I'm sure."

Buffy stood in front of him with the same beautiful green eyes that he had loved staring into. "I'm only here because you're finally letting me back in. you forgot who you were for so long that you were distancing yourself from me, from everyone. But now you're finally letting me back in. But now you have to make that final step."

"What do I have to do?"

She smiled and ghosted the planes of his face with her hand. He felt a warm breeze blow over his skin where her hand would have touched. He leaned into the invisible touch and raised a hand to do the same to her. "You have to come home. Come home to me, Spike. I miss you."

"I miss you too, Buffy."

"Then come back. Come back to us. To me."

He looked down at his hands and then finally up to this apparition of his girlfriend. "Okay." She smiled before fading out of sight. He heard footsteps behind him and turned to see Wesley and Bob approaching. His smile grew wider.

"I see you've reached a decision, William."

"Yeah, I'm going home." He then looked over at Wesley. Though they had bonded the night before, saying they were friends would be a slight bit of an overstatement. Still, he wondered what he was going to do now. And managed to say this much aloud.

"Well I really don't know," Wesley shrugged. "I was thinking of traveling around. Hitting the open road and taking whatever life has to throw at me."

"Or," Spike paused. "I have a suggestion."

Wesley narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "What is it?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, halfway across the world, Buffy Summers sat up in her bed. Her hands flew to her face as she touched her cheek. It was the most realistic dream she had ever had that didn't involve an impending apocalypse. But something told her that it wasn't a dream. Something told her that she really had seen Spike, really had talked to him and that he was coming home.

"He's coming home."

*Okay, so I know that wasn't the absolute best but I couldn't leave you all hanging much longer. Besides I just really wanted to get him back in Sunnydale with the others. I've got some stuff planned for them and he definitely needed to be back where he belongs. Also, one guess as to where Wes is gonna wind up, hehe. 

**Review Time:

Imzadi: I'm glad you like Quentin. I knew people were going to be a bit surprised by his behavior. Honestly, I don't know why I'm so nice to him in my story. I hate him on the show, lol. As for Giles and Jenny, there is no particular reason that they didn't get married at this point. It was really just a matter of timing. Every time they think about it, something happens to set them back. I don't know if I'm going to write the whole wedding in or just have it happen in the background, but there was no real reason. As for Ethan, he'll be back eventually. And so will Lindsey, just gotta make his appearance worthwhile, lol. As for Fred, that's going to be awhile from now but I definitely think you'll like the approach I'm planning on. Okay, I hope I've answered any questions you might have had before this chapter. Ciao!

Jenna: Hey! Thanks so much for your awesome idea. I only I did it justice. I've been living off Pepsi and like 3 hours of sleep for the past two months, so it might be a bit crappy, sorry. But thanks for helping me get over that roadblock I was having with the story. Your advice has been sooo important to me, you don't even know! Talk to ya later!

Ms Trick: *hands you a tissue box* Hope you're not too disappointed that I decided to just continue it. I think deep down inside that I really wanted to. I was going to post this as a sequel but I decided against it. I'm happy that you enjoyed the chapter so much. I didn't realize I made it that sad, but then I read it back to myself later and found myself tearing up too, lol. So I was right there with ya! Thanks for reviewing!

Angel Girl 69: Thanks for the review! I'm trying to write more Buffy stories but this one has me like blocked up! Hopefully one day though! Thanks again.

The Fiction Spider: Glad you loved it so much! And puppy eyes always get me, so here is your continuation. By the way, I love your user name! Thanks for reviewing. Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Little Drusilla: Spike will be back where he belongs next chapter. Hope you had fun watching your cousin's kids. I know how much of a pain that can be, I have way too many cousins myself. Thanks for taking the time out to review though!

Z: Yeah, it is a shame that they didn't get to do their speeches. And you will get to see the gang at college starting next chapter. So hope you enjoy and read then! Ciao.

IceBlueRose: Thanks so much for the awesome review. And no more bugging me, here's a new chapter that is the start of, hopefully, many more to come. The story just wouldn't leave me alone, lol. Thanks again.

SweetBitter: There was a little about Spike and the monastery. I didn't go into too much detail but I hope it was enough to make you happy. And as you can see I decided to continue. I think this is my outlet now that Angel is going off the air too! Sheesh, no more Buffyverse! Whatever shall I do! Oh I know, keep writing this story! Laterz!

Iceydeath: Thanks for the review. I like the name. Thanks again.

Reina: Hey! When I get a chance I will definitely send you what I have so far in one big zip file. Just bear with me, I'm a bit slow sometimes and free time isn't exactly something I have a lot of lately. But I would love to send you the story! And thanks so much for the compliments. They go to feed my massively absorbing ego, lol.

Karmawiccan: Well I updated, I don't know about the soon part, but I did it! I think I deserve a lil something for that much at least. One day I'll work on the soon part. Lol. Thanks for the review and the support. Later.

Sport: When I saw the first review telling me how happy you were that Doyle was included, I was like, uh oh, she's gonna see that I killed him and hate me. Glad you don't hate me. Trust me, killing Doyle was like a life struggle. Ask my sister, I called her everyday making her tell me it would be alright. I'm glad you still enjoyed the story even though he's dead. Just remember he's dead, but most likely not gone. He'll pop up every now and then. Unlike the show, I'm not going to just forget him. Thanks for reviewing though, and adding me to your favs! Laterz.

Thorn: As I don't think death would be a good thing for me at this point, I've decided to continue the story! So here ya go! Thanks for the death threat though, really it was the kick in the rear that I needed to get on writing this chapter.

Courtney37: It's not exactly a sequel so much as it's a continuation. I know it doesn't really matter but yeah. Thanks for all your reviews. They mean a lot to me. Ciao for now.

Vampgrlwicca: Sorry about the Ethan. Maybe he'll redeem himself slightly later. I don't really see that happening, but eh…. And of course there is going to be extreme Riley bashing. What else could be expected from me? And I think that I've finally settled the issue of Xander/Faith/Wesley. I think that it's gonna remain F/X and maybe I'll give Anya/Wes a try or even Gunn/Anya. Wait, you didn't know Gunn was coming up… *whistles nervously* I didn't say anything about Gunn, lol. And I don't know, I was thinking of posting this as a whole new story, but that required coming up with a new title and new summary and I'm sooo brain dead now! My life is so beyond not interesting, as a matter of fact its so boring its causing the aforementioned brain death, lol. Ciao for now.