A/N: Final chapter, sorry for the single use of the F-word in this chapter.

The ball of light was wizzing through the streets of downtown Sunnydale, even Slayer speed was being tested as Buffy rocketed through the darkened roads. It was getting late...or rather early. The sun would be up in a couple of hours, maybe less which meant Spike had to act fast. Which meant Buffy had to act even quicker.

"I suppose seeing me alive though should do the trick." Buffy panted.

Suddenly, the light stopped. Her feet skidded across the pavement, halting just before it. The ball slowed down, almost creeping, entering an alley that Buffy was sure led nearly directly out of Sunnydale.

"You killed her. The best person I ever knew. The best person any of us ever knew. And you murdered her. What the fuck gave you the right? You-you-...Nothing." Spike spat.

"Spike!!!" Buffy hollered at the top of her lungs, hurtling down the alley.

"Wha-?" The vampire turned around. "Slayer?"

"I'm here. I'm okay." Buffy bent at the waist catching her breath.

"You? I-" Spike rushed to her side, scooping her into his embrace. "Oh my God. I love you so bloody much, Buffy."

"I love you too." Buffy breathed.

"How? How are you here? I-I saw you. And Tara. Lying there." Spike shuddered.

"The magic of science." Buffy grinned. "Rushed to surgery and bullet removed. Then the magic of..well actual magic so I could come and stop you from killing Warren."

Warren gulped, clearly hoping the attention had been taken off of him so he could slip away. Spike snarled and pressed him against a grimy brick wall.

"Please. She's alive. No harm done." Warren begged.

"No harm done? You shot her you insignificant bastard." Spike growled.

"Spike. Let him go." Buffy placed a hand on his bicep.

"He tried to kill you. And now I'm gonna do the same to him."

"Don't. That's not the way we do it." Buffy urged.

"No? Well I'm not one of you white hats. Right, Warren?" Spike loomed over him.

"I-I...but you are. You work with the Slayer." Warren threw a glance at Buffy.

"The Slayer you tried to murder?" Spike's fingers travelled from Warren's shoulders to his throat.

"But I didn't. I didn't. And I'll get outta town. Go to the police. Help you guys. I'll do whatever you want just please don't kill me."

"Spike let him go." Buffy shouted.

"Say sorry to the lady." Spike pressed his fingers slightly into Warren's gullet.

"Sorry." Warren choked out.

"Good. Those'll be your last words." Spike tightened his grip. The pain in his head had become excruciating, his eye was even twitching from it, his toes dancing in his boots. But he had to end this.

"Spike! Stop!" Buffy pulled on his arms.

"When I'm finished."

Warren's whole face was darkening, his cheeks had gone a deep scarlet while his lips looked like they were getting bluer by the second. His eyes pleaded with Buffy to help. So she did, grabbing Spike in a headlock from behind and yanking him away from Warren.

The villain fell to the ground, gasping and rubbing his throat. While Spike stumbled backwards and Buffy released him.

"What the hell was that?" Buffy demanded.

Spike froze, his vampire features melting away. "I dunno. I got...God I got so angry, Buffy. That he tried to kill you that he...well when I thought he did. I tracked him here. Went to Willy's and Rack's. Even followed his scent for miles."

"He's the cops' problem now." Buffy reminded him, kicking Warren hard in the face, knocking him unconscious.

"What do we do with him?" Spike wondered.

"Leave him here. Anonymous tip. I've done it before, Sunnydale hardly question stuff like that. Besides they already have his lackeys." Buffy shrugged.

"I'm sorry. I...I don't know what came over me." Spike mumbled.

Buffy placed a hand on his cheek. "We'll talk about it later. Right now, we have to get home. Sun's coming up soon."

"Yeah...okay."

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The door to Revello Drive creaked open just as the sun was casting its first rays across the horizon. The couple slammed the door shut behind them and slunk into the living room.

"Did you get him? I...you did. Hey, Spike." Willow leapt up from her seat on the couch.

"Red." He nodded to her. "Paid a visit to your old friend, Rack."

"You did?"

"While I was hunting for the boy. Kicked him in the balls for you." Spike shrugged.

"Oh. Well...thanks. I'm assuming you didn't kill Warren though?"

"No. He's still alive. Police picked him up." Buffy revealed.

"Another crisis averted. Good job Team Scooby." Xander announced. "I knew he wouldn't kill him."

"Liar." Dawn sniggered.

"And on that note, I should go back to the hospital." Willow headed for her handbag.

"Is Tara awake?" Buffy asked.

"Nah..it's just...I hate the thought of her being alone." Willow admitted.

"Say Hello from me." Buffy pulled Willow into a hug.

"And me. Glad she's okay." Spike added.

"Buffy I'm inclined to agree with Xander on this one. A job well done for everyone involved." Giles said.

"Go team." Buffy replied monotonously.

"The Watcher returns." Spike noted. "Planning on staying?"

"I believe that's a conversation for another time."

"I'll say. I'm up for going home and getting some much deserved rest. Waiting here for you two was stressful and tiring." Anya decided.

"See you guys later." Buffy called as her and Xander headed out the door, followed by Giles.

"Dawnie. Wanna head to bed?"

"Mm-hmm. I'm nearly asleep." Dawn stumbled out of the room with her eyes half-closed. "Good job not killing anyone, Spike."

"Thanks, Niblet." He replied absent-mindedly.

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A few days later...

"Spike? What are you doing? What's wrong?" Buffy tentatively stepped into the darkened basement.

Spike was sitting cross-legged on the cold stone floor, his head in his hands. "I screwed up, Buffy."

"What? Spike, what are you talking about?" Buffy sat down opposite him, switching the lights on as she went.

"I was gonna kill that kid." Spike admitted.

Buffy reached for his hand. "Yeah...but you didn't."

Spike scoffed. "Not through lack of trying. You pulled me off of him, Slayer."

"I know but...He was a bad guy. Besides nobody knows a thing. I didn't tell the Scoobies, I swear. He tried to kill me and Tara. You freaked. But you didn't kill him, it's okay." Buffy assured him.

"It's not bloody okay! Do you know how close I was? I coulda killed him and I don't even care! Even standing here, telling you right now that I nearly murdered someone, I don't give a damn!" Spike burst out, jumping to his feet.

"Spike..."

"What does that make me? What does that mean for me? For us? What if I feel that about you one day? What if I hurt you, Buffy?" Spike babbled.

"You could never." Buffy shook her head furiously.

"Not now. But what's stopping me one day? This soddin' chip means I can't be a vamp. But I sure as hell can't be a man either."

"That's not true."

"I need my soul, Buffy."

"What?" Buffy was startled. "Spike, you're not getting cursed like that! Forget it!"

"Not like that. I've heard...stories about a demon in Africa. You can win your soul from him."

"No, Spike. It's too dangerous! You can't go halfway across the world following a fairytale!" Buffy yelled.

"There's no other way, luv." Spike insisted.

"No, I won't let you."

"It's not your choice. I have to do this. Just like Red got her redemption on, I have to as well."

"Spike.." Tears started to well in Buffy's eyes.

"Gotta do what I gotta do."

"But...I love you." Buffy gulped.

"Oh pet." Spike melted, cradling her head in his hands, gently wiping away her tears. "I love you too. That's why I have to do this. For you. For us."

"Now? Do you have to do this now?"

"I have to go as soon as possible. Sooner I leave the sooner I'm back." Spike pulled her in a bit closer.

"Tonight?" Buffy worried for the answer.

"Looks like." Spike whispered.

Their lips met in a chaste but loving kiss, salty tears pouring down both of their cheeks and mingling together.

"I'll be back to you. I promise."

THE END

A/N: And that's a wrap! I'm not been as consistent as I normally am with uploads for this story so sorry about that. Huge thanks to everyone who favourited or followed and all my reviewers: mother wilson, Gothic-Angel342, TeatimeTurbulence, David Fishwick, creativebug1988 and spike'smate! I've had a bit of a love/hate relationship with this story so am unsure whether to continue it. If anyone would be interested in a continuation for an AU S7, let me know. Hope you all enjoyed reading. ~BB x