Room 627--part 24 of The Island of Galleno (Only a man who has felt ultimate despair is capable of feeling ultimate bliss.)

by Isabelle

Rating: R (for cursing, mild nudity, adult situations and violence)

Disclaimers: BTVS belong to Joss Whedon, ME, and UPN they are being used for entertainment, I don't own them. The Count of Monte Cristo belongs to Alexandre Dumas--Spike's journey was taken from the idea of the book and is used in the skeleton of the Series. Lyrics in this chapter are the Series' Song- Bryan Adams' All for Love.

Summary: The moment that Spike finally has Buffy he is vamp-napped by Riley and a new officer, Jack Marshall and sent to the Island of Galleno off the Moroccan coast where all the leftovers of the Initiative are being placed. Buffy frantically looks for Spike but gets news that he was 'accidentally killed' by Jack, who decides to make Sunnydale his residence. The whole thing is Spike trying to get back to Sunnydale and Buffy thinking he's dead. It's filled with exotic places, tons of Original Characters, mysticism, enchantment, magic and love. It takes him years to find out who he is before he can find the one he loves.

Spoilers: Set after Normal Again, Season 6

Feedback: bih80reviews@yahoo.com

Archiving: Carnal Sins, DeathMarkedLove, and Only Time--all others please ask.

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

When it's love you give
(I'll be a man of good faith.)
Then in love you live.
I'll make a stand. I won't break.

"Why do we have to go see him before we leave?" William asked, tugging his turtle neck.

"Because," she said patiently. "...and you don't have to see him if you don't want to."

William studied his reflection in the mirror. "I don't want to ever see him, mommy."

Buffy smiled. "Ok, you really don't want to."

He smiled a bit and tugged his neckline once more. "Leave it alone." Buffy told him, slapping his little hand away.

"It's hot!" he protested.

"It's cold in the plane."

"We're not in the plane now!" he insisted.

She sighed, counting her blessings. "We'll soon be."

Her son frowned. "Is daddy going to come?"

Buffy laughed. "Of course."

He looked down at his shoes and kicked at a fallen pillow.

"Ok, what's eating you up?" she asked, sitting on the bed and pulling him on her lap. He rested his combed head on her shoulder.

"He hardly speaks anymore..."

Buffy kissed the top of his head. "We have to give him time, my love. Getting humanity and a soul at the same time is really hard for him."

"I know, you told me, uncle Xander told me, Aunt Willow and Aunt Tara told me, Aunt Dawn told me, and Grandpa Giles told also."

"Then there you have it," she told him softly, rocking him back and forth.

"I wish he would feel better already, I wanted to show him my drawing the other day but he was asleep... again..."

"Why don't you go check if he's ready, huh?" she asked him.

William sighed and got off her lap, tugging his turtle neck and huffing.

He walked down the large hall and stood in front of the large door. Taking a deep breath he reached up and turned the large gold knob.

The room inside the was dark but the bathroom light was on, he could feel his father in there.

He walked quietly to the door frame and looked up at him.

Spike was dressed just like him with a hellish gray turtleneck and black slacks.

"Daddy? Mommy wants to know if you're ready." he asked softly.

Spike stopped staring at himself in the mirror and looked down at his son. The little boy was still tugging his neck line and looking around nervously.

"Yeah, I am."

"Okay," William said softly then turned to tell his mom.

Spike watched his slumped shoulders as he walked away and guilt stabbed him once more. He was rejecting and ignoring his son once more.

I'll be the rock you can build on,
be there when you're old, to have and to hold.
When there's love inside I swear
I'll always be strong. then there's a reason why.

"William!"

The boy stopped and turned to look at him, a little hope in those blue eyes. "Yes, Daddy?"

Spike gulped loudly and took a deep breath. "C'mere."

He looked confused but took little steps towards him, until he was standing in front of him. Spike bent down to be eye to eye with the blond.

"Listen..." God this was hard. "I know I haven't been..."

"Happy?" William helped after there was an awkward silence between them.

"Yeah..."

"If you're not happy with us here..." William started.

"No--no!!" Spike shook his head and placed his hand on the little boys shoulders. But when he looked at William there were large tears building up in his eyes.

"What's this?" Spike asked him.

The little bottom lip trembled. Then the water works broke. "You don't love us anymore!!"

Spike was struck still as he watched his son sob, hiding his face in his little hands which did nothing to hide the tears that were sparkling in the air.

So he did what any father would do, he scooped him up in his strong arms and hugged him against he chest. William hiccupped and grabbed his neck, holding on to dear life, burying his head in his dad's shoulder.

"I love you," he whispered softly against the shaking head.

He turned when he heard his bedroom door opened, Buffy came in, dressed in a white pant suit, her short hair beautifully and classically styled.

I'll prove to you we belong.
I'll be the wal that protects you
From the wind and the rain,
From the hurt and pain.

She watched the scene and smiled, walking up to them.

"We'll talk later," she told him. "The limo is waiting."

Spike nodded and followed her out of the room. By the time they had walked downstairs, greeted Giles, and loaded themselves into the car William was sound asleep in his father's arms.

And so was Giles, snoring loudly on their trip to San Jose.

Spike cradled William in his arms, kissing his forehead once in a while.

Buffy had taken off his little glasses and had cuddled up to Spike.

"You see, the thing is that he's been waiting for you all his life. I know you're having a hard time adjusting that's why I haven't mentioned it to you."

"But Buffy, he's really 'urt."

She smiled up at him and kissed him lightly in the lips. "Just be there for him, it'll all turn out okay."

"Yeah?" he asked smiling a bit.

"Yeah," she whispered and kissed him once more.

In his arms William stirred and yawned. "Are we there yet?"

"Nope," Spike told him, helping him sit up and pressing him against his chest.

Buffy took his small glasses from her purse and perched them on his nose.

"Almost there, though," she told him.

William snuggled further into Spike's chest, listening to how his heart beat against his ear. "Tell me a story."

Spike took a deep. "A story?"

"And without a happy ending!"

"You wanna cry?" Buffy asked, smirking.

"A scary story!" he insisted.

"Oh no!" she put in.

"There was once a vampire--" Spike started, smirking at Buffy.

"Yeah!!" William encouraged.

"No! Then he'll come crawling to our bed, scared." she reminded him.

Spike was about to continue when he got an image of him and Buffy going at it in their bed when a knock would make them take deep breath and console a crying William.

"Change of plans--Once upon a time..."

"No!!"

Buffy grinned.

From across the limo Giles pretended to be asleep, looking from under half closed eye lids as the small family argued good naturedly but then proceeded and cuddled when Spike began the story of a princess who was chosen to protect her people from the evil monsters... until a monster won her heart becoming human in the process... and they? They lived happily ever after.

Let's make it all for one and all for love.
Let the one you hold be the one you want, the one you need,
'cause when it's all for one it's one for all.
When there's someone that should know
Then just let your feelings show and
Make it all for one and all for love.

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

He looked down at his shoes and then back up at her.

"So..."

She sighed. "Ricardo, just..."

"Go?"

Dawn nodded, looking down herself.

Lugo nodded and bit his lip. "Do you want me to write?"

"No..." she looked back up at him. "It's better this way."

"Right..."

The last flight call caught his attention.

"I have to go," he said softly.

Dawn nodded.

When it's love you make
I'll be the fire in your night.
Then it's love you take.
I will defend, I will fight.

He was going to walk away but then turned and pulled her into his arms. She sagged against his chest and smelled him in.

"Tell me to stay," he whispered against her hair.

"I can't... it's not right."

He pulled back and kissed her forehead. "I love you."

But she couldn't say it back, she simply pulled back and waved.

He gave her a last sad smile and away.

She watched until he boarded the planw, until the plane took off then sagged against one of the airport chairs.

She was doing the right thing--they were doing the right thing, she cursed. This right thing was a hard thing to do.

Without further thought she pulled the phone from her coat pocket and dialed the familiar number.

A groggy voice answered the phone.

"Hey! it's me," she smiled.

"Well... I though you had forgotten about me," he smiled.

"Nahhh... listen, do you mind me coming over with some ice cream and girly movies?"

"Break up?" he asked.

"More like left up...he was married, it's a long story."

Connor laughed. "Bring 3 films, this might take all night."

"I'll be there in a few."

I'll be there when you need me.
When honor's at stake, this vow I will make:
that it's all for one and all for love.

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

In San Diego, California a small blonde nodded her head as the doctor explained the situation to her.

"I'm sorry you can't see him, Ms. Summers, but today has not been a good day."

The blonde nodded and put on her sunglasses. "I'll be reaching Delhi tonight and don't expect to return--you understand if I never come back to see him?"

"Of course, and you said Mr. Angel would come once in a while to 'privately' meet with him once a year?" the doctor asked her.

"Yes, and make sure he's well drugged. We don't want Mr. Angel being hurt while visiting him, would we?"

"As you wish, Ms. Summers."

The blonde smiled and walked out of his office, out of the building and into the waiting limo.

Seven stories up, in Room 627 a man in a straight jacket looked at the wall and thumped his head once more.

"Jack, why don't we start from the beginning?"

He turned from the wall and looked at the spectacles before him.

"I've told you everything!"

"Tell me once more, Jack," the man coaxed softly.

Jack sighed and threw his head back. "I am Jack Marshall, I work for a government secret branch. They were once called the Initiative."

"And your marriage, tell me about your marriage."

"Buffy Summers is the vampire slayer--a girl chosen from her generation to fight against the forces of darkness."

"So your.. ex-wife is a ... vampire slayer?"

"That's what I've been telling you!" he cried.

"And she left you for a ..."

"A vampire, William the Bloody, I've said this already."

"I see," the doctor noted and scribbled in his paper.

"And William..."

"William is their damn spawn." Jack said, bored out of his mind.

"The son you tried to kill?"

"I was going to kill my wife when the brat came running up to me!" Jack cried and started banging his head against the wall once more.

The doctor watched patiently as his tantrum continued.

"There are vampires and demons and hell gods and all types of creatures out there!" he cried as he thumped his head.

"No, Mr. Marshall--there are no vampires and your wife is not a vampire slayer, you understand?" the doctor said softly, leaning forward.

Jack's eyes narrowed. "I am not crazy!"

"Of course, not, Mr. Marshall," the doctor stood up and smiled down at Jack, watching him as he scratched the completely healed scar on his cheek with his shoulder.

The doctor walked out, the head banging began once more, the iron door closing behind the man.

"Anything new, Doctor Wyndham-Pryce?"

He shook his head. "I shall be leaving now, thank you for the opportunity to examine the patient. And the newest story is that Mr. Angel is also a vampire."

The other man snorted. "Still highly delusional I see..." he looked back to where Jack was now trying to get out of his straight jacket. "Such a sad case... schizophrenia is never something easy to deal with... I'll inform the Senator of his progress.

"Very well, have a nice day Dr. Minko."

Wesley watched as the other man walked away and smiled, looked back at Jack and let the guard escort him out of the building.

~~~~~~~

Don't lay our love to rest 'cause
We could stand up to you test.
We got everything and more than
We had planned, more than the rivers that run the land.
We've got it all in our hands.

The air was chilly down here--25 feet under the ground. Twenty five feet under the flat ground that was all that was left of the small island that had been his home.

"Twenty five," he whispered to himself, then drew out the shovel from the bag he was carrying. he started digging in, taking earth from where it was, tossing it behind him.

Until he hit something hard and hollow--like a wooden box.

He hit it with his shovel once more and smirked when it responded with it's presence.

He bent down and reached through the dirt for the box. Holding on to one of the edges and started pulling at it.

After some struggle he pulled it out completely. The small wooden box was about twelve inches wide and five inches thick. There was a lock in the front of it. Spike took his hammer and brought it down, smartly--letting the lock clank on the floor.

He sat back down and slowly opened the box. Inside was a letter, folded neatly.

Spike turned on his flashlight, missing for the first time his vampiric night vision.

William,

Of all the things I've told you, remember this the most. Live life, live it to the fullest because before you know it'll be gone.

By the way--how is that blood pressure working for you?

Love, Archibald

Spike chuckled and cursed the old vampire under his breath. He put the note aside and pulled out the other object from the box.

He looked down at the thick and heavy book. It was titled.

The Watcher Diaries of Archibald DeLuca (1645-2002)

When there's someone that should know
Then just let your feelings show.
When there's someone that you want,
When there's someone that you need
Let's make it all, all for one and all for love.

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

THE END

Author's Note: Ok, I have a long list of people to thank so bear with me. The first thanks goes to my Beta, Heller who is completely awesome and deserves so much credit for working her butt off with the fic *xoxox* Another hug to Hilary who always encouraged me in the writing--she's an angel. My posters at Crumbling Walls for their feedback and keeping my mood high enough to write something a bit different. All those people who faithfully tell me they enjoyed the fiction, I always enjoy chatting with you guys, thanks :o) And last but not least to the ladies of BBB for making me promise to make a happy ending--you see, Niteall, I can do it *g* Thanks guy--there will be no sequel, I think I like it when you guys think of the endless possibilities of our little family.