Giles and Xander easily carried Spike into the front door of the Summers house while Willow and Tara began to "evil-proof" the doors and windows. Crea as well did a chant of her own, quickly circling the house and surrounding it with her magic.

'It is not permanent,' she informed everyone, 'but it will be enough to help protect us through tonight.'

"Hopefully I'll have this taken care of this thing by then," Buffy said encouragingly, trying to sound stronger than she felt. She felt so weak. All she needed was a little nap, that was all.

'No, you must rest. The spell drained you of your energy and you must regain it before you go against her. When your energy is weak, so is your mind. That is how she will try to defeat you. You must keep your mind strong.'

"I suppose sleep does sound really good for now." As she spoke, a large yawn escaped her mouth.

"Well, before you take a little much-needed beauty sleep, suppose you tell us where to dump him first," Xander said agitated at still helping to support the unconscious vampire. "How about that lovely couch over there? It's really close. Must be pretty uncomfortable too."

"Xander," Willow said accusingly and came briefly away from her casting. "You can't just throw him on the couch, just look at him. After what he has been through we should at least make him comfortable."

"He can go in my room," Dawn came walking down the stairs as she heard the commotion and saw the two men holding Spike. "I wouldn't mind, really. What happened to him? He looks all dead and stuff. Will he be okay?"

"Of course he's dead, he's a vampire, and no, that's out of the question. Where's mom? She might not mind him using her room," Buffy responded.

"She's in bed sleeping," her sister answered sadly. Even though the treatments seemed to have worked, her mom didn't seem to have strength for much any more and was doing that more often.

"H...he could stay in Buffy's room," Willow announced. When everyone turned to look at her, she quickly added, "th...that way Buffy could get some rest too and we would have a smaller space to put extra protection on. And Crea can stay with them in there so nothing bad can happen, although i...it's not like he can do anything to her since he's all...well...you know...drained and everything."

"I think that for now that may be best," Giles put in, although not happy with anything in the situation. "Come on then." Xander helped him carry Spike's body up the stairs and into Buffy's room. Buffy stayed downstairs for a few minutes with the rest of the girls.

"You're sure you don't mind if I crash for a little, I feel really bad for being so useless right now."

"Buffy, you know what Crea said. You'll need your strength," replied Willow, trying to make her feel better. "Besides, all we'll be doing is more spells and potions and things. You don't need any more of them today, well you do, just...well...you know what I mean."

Buffy forced a smile at the red-head and started up the stairs as Xander and Giles were coming back down.

"W...we'll be right here if you need anything," Giles offered.

"Thanks," Buffy responded, "I'll be fine as long as I get some sleep. " Seeing him getting ready to say something else she added, "But if I do need anything, you'll be the first to know."

He seemed accepting and continued on his way.

As Buffy started back up, she heard his voice as he scolded Anya, "No, Anya, that potion doesn't go here, put it on the windowsill over there."

Buffy smiled to herself. Yes they would be fine, at least until after she had a little sleep.

She softly crept into her room and closed the door behind her. Glancing quickly around the room, she was surprised that the fairy hadn't come in yet. No matter, she didn't mind being in her room alone with Spike. It wasn't like it had never happened before. Besides, this was different.

Buffy walked to the side of her bed and sat down for a moment, looking at the unnaturally thin vampire. Her heart broke as her eyes gazed over his pale skin enwrapping his sunken face. He laid stretched out on his back. One of his bony hands rested on his stomach and the other arm was placed at his side. She thought of how muscular his body had been just the night before, and how strong he was.

He didn't deserve this. But looking at him even like this couldn't change how she felt inside. Although she didn't understand it. Why did she feel this way about him? She shouldn't feel something one way or another about this man. He wasn't even a man, he was a vampire. Sure, she had fallen for one before, but that was different. That one had a soul. But this? There was no excuse for what she felt for Spike.

Why couldn't she kill him? Why couldn't she even dislike him anymore let alone hate him? Why couldn't he be all right and make some big-headed comment to piss her off so she could punch him in the nose again, or something, anything? Why...? Now she knew she was really tired. She was starting to ask why again.

Buffy brought her hand to the side of his face and held it there, gently caressing his cheek with her thumb. She leaned over and gently kissed the top of his cool forehead.

"You'll be okay," she whispered softly to him. "I'll fix everything soon."

She pulled her hand away slowly and stood up. Buffy walked to the other side of the large bed and climbed in, laying on top of the neatly-made sheets. She pulled herself closer to the seemingly dead creature and placed her hand on his arm. She wanted to make sure that he was still there while she was sleeping. The moment her eyes closed, sleep engulfed her. Her breathing instantly deepened and her heartbeat slowed to a peaceful steady beat.

Spike lay, listening to the comforting sound. "I know you will, luv," he said softly to the sleeping beauty laying next to him. "You always do." The last words were said with a sadness he rarely expressed. He turned his head towards her and just watched for a while until he drifted back into the darkness.

..............................................................

Crea waited until the two had both fallen asleep before she removed her magic covering. She sat on the now familiar dresser next to the bed and watched the two carefully. Each a hunter and at the same time the other's prey, yet they slept peacefully side by side, heads drawn close. She would have been reprimanded for sure by the others if they had known she was in the presence of a dark one and had helped to save him. But he had heard her, which was thought to be impossible. He also had the ability to love, which was rare in his kind. Of all of those he could have chosen to love, he had chosen her, or was it a choice? Perhaps it was not something he had planned, it just was.

She had already used her magic on the house and another spell on this room. With all that the others were doing downstairs, there would be nothing to fear until the next day. These two would rest until then. She would make sure of that. Crea closed her small crystalline eyes briefly and spoke some unheard words softly to herself. A silver light formed in the palm of her hand. She opened her eyes and her palm, releasing the light. It rose above her and floated above the two figures, growing in size until it was large enough to cover them. It gently rested on them, blanketing them in a light that slowly faded moments later.

Crea closed her eyes gently and whispered again, putting herself in a trace.

..................................................................

Buffy felt herself floating, to where, she didn't know. When her eyes finally began to focus, she found herself standing next to a small stream. Sunlight was flowing in through the trees which were surrounding her. There were various kinds, some of ordinary pine and oak, others were unknown to her and enwrapped in every color one could imagine. Beyond a few of the trees she could see the outline of green mountains. Everything seemed so crisp and the colors were so bright, almost too perfect to be real. It couldn't be real. Spike? He had been on the bed next to her. She couldn't have left him. Where was she? Was this some sort of dream?

"Yes, it is a dream."

Buffy heard the words distinctly come from behind her. She swirled around to see Crea standing behind her, a little taller than Buffy herself.

"You spoke, " Buffy commented, overwhelmed by where she was and the figure standing before her. "I thought you didn't speak like we did? Where am I? Where's Spike?"

"You can see and hear me as you please when we are here. Now you must come with me," Crea said as she motioned for Buffy to follow. She began to move almost like a phantom through the trees and Buffy could do nothing but obey.

They hadn't gone far when Buffy saw him standing there, facing away slightly. He looked as he had before she found him that day, although a little different under the sunlight. She only had a chance to see him in it once before and at the time she didn't have long to think about it. It was strange, how it glided over his face and contradicted his dark clothing. He was looking up at it, then his attention went down to his hands. He brought them up to his face and seemed to examine them closely in the light. She saw him smile at the sight. It was really nice to see him smile. Not an evil smile, or a sarcastic smile, but a normal, happy smile. Buffy couldn't help but be caught breathless at how wonderful he looked.

Then he saw them. His smile slowly fell as he looked at Buffy. The happiness turned into confusion.

He began walking closer and looked questioningly at Crea.

"Who are you?" He asked as he approached.

"I am called, Crea. I am the one who tried to warn you," Crea replied as she lowered her head in remorse. "But I was too late."

"It was you, then, when tha' girl...?" He winced at the memory.

"Yes, and as you now know, that was no girl."

Spike looked down at the ground, remembering all that had happened. Remembering how weak he had become, how he still was.

"What'll 'appen to me?" he asked nervously.

"She must be destroyed. When she is, your magic will be returned to you."

"Magic?"

"She means life, or unlife in your case," Buffy explained to him. "That creature drains whatever supernatural thing allows you to exist."

'I hope that doesn't mean you' he thought to himself.

'The bitch,' Buffy thought to herself at the same time.

Crea chuckled, as she heard their thoughts.

"What?" they both asked together.

"I just thought you two should know that because I created this," she motioned to everything around them, "I also have the ability to hear your thoughts while in here."

They both stared blankly at her, wondering what exactly she had heard.

"Don't worry though, I will leave you two soon enough. I put a small spell on both of you. Do not be upset with me now," she said quickly, noticing their glaring. "It is nothing serious or anything that will affect you physically, well, just the resting part. It will keep you both asleep until tomorrow night. You will need it. Because you are both under the same spell, it allows you to share the dreamworld together. I, however, took the liberty to create a specific place and intercede to ensure that you did not go separate ways. The dreamworld is so large that you could spend eternity and never learn of the other's presence, unless you know who and where to look of course."

"Why?" questioned Buffy. "Why would you do this for us?"

"It would be a great gift to my people if the Evil One is no longer a threat. Also there are other reasons of which I believe that you both know." The fairy smiled as Buffy and Spike looked at each other briefly. "I must go now. I must make sure that you are safe."

"Wait," Spike called, stopping her. "How 'll we know when to go back? And just 'ow do we go about doin' that?"

"I will come back, you mustn't worry about it yet. You will know."

Suddenly, she vanished, leaving Buffy and Spike alone.