"But, honey, do you have to do this right away," Joyce began, sounding very concerned for her daughter. "I mean, you just woke up. Couldn't you wait until tomorrow?"
"Mom, the whole reason I was asleep was so that I could go after her as soon as I woke up. I have to go."
"If it makes you feel any better, me and Tara will be going with her," Willow stated, trying to make her feel better. She stood up from where she had been seated on the living room couch next to Tara.
"Yeah, and don't forget me," Xander chimed in from the kitchen.
"Crea t...taught us a spell to use on her," Tara stammered. "It temporarily takes away her ability to cast spells."
"That should help a lot," Buffy replied, wrapping her arms around herself. "Thanks, everyone. I'm really glad that you are helping me with this, and Spike."
"Oh, right," Xander said, suddenly appearing in the doorway. "Remind me again why we're helping the evil undead one? I mean, helping defeat a mean old witch, no offence you two," Xander said to the two girls. "You are very not mean or old, but why risk Buffy's life and ours to save this guy? He may be defanged, but he's still at the very least, very annoying."
"The only one risking my life is me, Xander," Buffy stated, not sure if she wanted to go into details on why she wasn't going to let him die. "I haven't exactly talked about it much, if at all, but he's saved my life a few times now. I can't just sit by and wait, knowing that he could die. Not after what he's done." I can't let him die because I love him. "I didn't ask any of you to risk your lives for him or anyone else, it's your own choice."
Giles began to speak, interrupting the following silence. "Well if we are going to do this, we should be leaving now. Anya, can you stay with Joyce so that she won't be alone here while we're gone?" When she nodded her head in reply, he added, "Buffy, you do remember where this building is, right?"
"Yeah," she replied hollowly, her mind briefly wandering back into the dreamworld she had left. She couldn't think of that now. She quickly reached towards the coffee table and grabbed the crossbow that had been resting on it. "Let's go."
...................................................................
"There's the liqueur store," Buffy informed everyone as they walked down the seemingly deserted street.
"Which means that the building we're looking for is...," started Xander.
"This one."
Buffy stopped in front of the narrow, two story apartment as she pointed, "there's the window I looked out of."
"Why can't they choose bright, happy buildings for once?" Willow commented, sounding a little annoyed. "They always manage to find the darkest, scariest places."
In the darkness, they could barely make out the crudely patched-up window. No one was quite ready to make a move yet. Surprisingly, Xander was the one who first spoke up.
"So, lets go in already and do some damage."
He walked to the door, followed by the others, and slowly turned the knob. As it began to open, something pulled him in. There wasn't anything there, but he found himself being lifted off the ground.
"Xander!" Buffy and Willow called out, trying to get a hold of him, but before they could do anything, he was thrown into the darkness. They heard the thud as he hit the wall and fell to the floor.
Willow uttered a word and a dim light illuminated the small room. With the light, they were able to see the staircase in front of them and the shadow that quickly passed into a doorway, shutting it behind her.
"Giles," Buffy called to the watcher. "Make sure Xander's okay. I'm going after her."
Without waiting for a response, the slayer dashed up the stairs and followed the shadow into the room. Willow and Tara quickly went after her, ready for what they were expected to do.
As they entered the room, they instantly realized that the room was empty.
"Where'd they go?" Willow asked as she looked around the barren room. She walked a little farther in and saw a door off to the side.
"Maybe they w...went in there," Tara assumed when she noticed the room as well.
Willow went over to the doorway and looked in, but couldn't see anyone in it.
"They have to be here, they couldn't just vanish," she said uncertainly. She turned to look at the other witch for reassurance. "Tara?"
Where she had been standing was only an open space.
"Uh oh,"
..................................................................
Buffy walked into what should have been a darkened room, but instead was met with a sweet breeze and bright sunlight. She looked around and found herself standing in the dreamworld she had been almost reluctant to leave.
"Buffy?"
She quickly turned at the sound of the familiar voice.
"Spike?"
He stood there, looking as he had when she last had seen him in there. Covered in the warm sunlight, a large smile glided over his face. She ran over to him, throwing her arms around her love. When he wrapped his around her body, she felt as though she never wanted to let go.
..................................................................
"Willow?" Tara had suddenly discovered that she was in an empty room. She walked to where Willow had last been standing, but found nothing.
"This is n...not good."
The spell, they had to do the spell. The fairy had told them that she might do something like this. They had to do the spell to stop it. But how could they do the spell if they weren't together?
"I just have to try." Tara told herself. "I hope Willow will know."
She went in front of the window and sat down on one side of it. She felt her body relax and began to chant the words of the ancient fairy.
..................................................................
Buffy forced herself to pull away and looked into the vampire's eyes. There was something different about them that she couldn't quite place. They looked so...cold. Why was she here? She had left. She was supposed to be getting him out of here, not coming back.
"Spike, why am I here again? I was going after that creature, I went into the room, a...and..."
"Shhh..." he whispered, placing a finger against her lips. "There's no need to worry 'bout it now. You're 'ere with me, and that's all that ma'ers."
"Yes," she started. "I mean...no. I have to go back. Willow...and Xander.....Xander" she whispered more to herself than to him.
"You don't need them anymore, luv. In here, nothing out there ma'ers. We can do anything we like, for as long as we want. We can spend eternity in 'ere, jus' you an' me."
He leaned forward, pulling her towards him for a kiss, but she pulled away.
..................................................................
Willow turned her head as she heard the words in the air. Tara. She must still be here. The spell. She closed her eyes, hoping to be able to feel something, anything. The window.
She walked over to just in front of the window and sat down on the opposite side. With her eyes still closed she listened to the words. Once she was sure of what part they were at, she began as well.
The two chanted, facing one another. Although they couldn't see the other, they knew they were together. Unconsciously, they brought their hands up, a faint light beginning to glow.
................................................................
"What are you talking about," Buffy demanded. "We can't just stay in here. It may be wonderful for us for now, but it's not real. It will never be real."
"But it can be. It can be as real as you want i' to be." He lightly brushed her face with his finger, caressing it until it came to rest on her lips. They lingered there for just a moment, his eyes, retracing every movement. "Out there, what kind of future would we 'ave. A vampire and a slayer. It coul' never work, we both know that. But in 'ere, anything is possible."
A tear started to fall down Buffy's face and anger began to fill her being.
"So, that's it then?" she asked, backing away. "You won't even try? Any kind of a future with a slayer is destined to 'not work', but that doesn't mean we can't try. You know, I thought you were different, that...that you wouldn't give up. You never could stay away. You always managed to come back, even if I didn't want you to, and now you're just going to give up, just leave?"
Spike showed no emotion over the anger he was causing her, although inwardly he was practically glowing. Her confusion was causing her pain, and he was loving it. However, he needed her back under control. Just a little bit more.
"I'm not leaving anywhere," he replied, hoping she would respond the way he hoped. "I'm staying right 'ere and I'm asking you to stay with me. I would never go anywhere if I didn't know you would be there."
"You know I can't stay," she said softly, lowering her eyes. "I have to go back...Xander might be hurt...and that creature..." She looked up in panic.
"Spike, why am I here? I was following her into that room...and then I was here."
"Are you sure, luv?"
"Yes, and Crea told me..."
"Wha', wha' did she tell you?" he asked, suddenly interested.
"Nothing," Buffy replied, acting distracted. "It wasn't important."
She looked at him with a forced smile.
"Spike."
"Yeah, pet."
"You remember what I told you before I left, right?"
"Yeah, of course. Why?"
"Well, I meant it, you know. About how I loved you."
Spike smiled coyly. She was giving in.
"I know you did, and so do I"
"I know," she smiled sweetly, "But you didn't."
"Excuse me?"
He knew he had made a big mistake. The smile dropped from her face as she started to back away, cautiously.
"Who are you?"
"Buffy, what are you talking about?" he gave her an innocent, confused look. "It's me, Spike."
"Who are you?!" she demanded harshly. "I never told Spike that I loved him. Who are you?"
The creature cursed herself for falling into the trap so easily. This would make things a bit more difficult. He took a step closer, frustration and anger covered his smooth features.
"Buffy," he started. He was about to say something else when he looked over to a vacant place near a tree. Somehow, Buffy thought it wasn't the tree he was looking at.
"No..." he yelled, but it wasn't his voice. Buffy had heard it before, right when she left with Spike.
As she looked around her, the world she had thought she was in, began to fade in and out. She caught glimpses of the forsaken room that she was supposed to be in. She looked back at whom she thought had been Spike, and saw the old woman looking back at her.
She stood tall for her old age, her white hair giving the appearance of wisdom and dignity. However, Buffy found nothing dignifying about her. The creature's eyes were wide with anger as she looked to where the two witches sat.
Willow and Tara both said the final word of the chant and their eyes too look at each other. Willow gave Tara a quick smile that was returned happily.
"That fairy told it to you, didn't she!"
They both turned to acknowledge the women who brushed past Buffy to move closer to the two.
"How dare you interfere!"
She made a quick movement with her arm, flinging them both into a nearby corner.
"Noo...," Buffy cried out as they fell on top of each other.
The woman spun around to meet the Slayer.
"And you..."she started towards the young woman. "I would have gone on my little way if you hadn't come and taken the child of darkness from me. What should it have mattered to you anyhow? You honestly think that he loves you?"
She let out a small laugh as she got even closer. "How can he love without a soul?"
Buffy tried to ignore the old woman's ravings, she had to stay focused. But the question couldn't help but seem into her head. How could he? Crea had mentioned repeatedly how Spike loved her. Then she remembered something else Crea had told her. 'I speak through your soul' she had said. Spike had mentioned how he had heard her. That couldn't be unless...
Buffy was torn from her thoughts when she felt a pain rip through her stomach. While she was lost in her thoughts, the creature had gotten close enough to use the dagger she had hidden in her clothing. Buffy looked down at the seeping blood for a moment before remembering the crossbow in her hand. She looked back up at the old woman, anger flashing in her eyes. She held the weapon up and let the arrow fly.
With no magic to protect her, the ancient creature fell easily to the ground, the arrow protruding from her forehead.
"That's for Spike," Buffy whispered, slowly lowering the weapon and let it fall casually to the ground. The world seemed to stop as she looked at the body laying on the ground. She didn't notice the man that rushed into the doorway.
"Mom, the whole reason I was asleep was so that I could go after her as soon as I woke up. I have to go."
"If it makes you feel any better, me and Tara will be going with her," Willow stated, trying to make her feel better. She stood up from where she had been seated on the living room couch next to Tara.
"Yeah, and don't forget me," Xander chimed in from the kitchen.
"Crea t...taught us a spell to use on her," Tara stammered. "It temporarily takes away her ability to cast spells."
"That should help a lot," Buffy replied, wrapping her arms around herself. "Thanks, everyone. I'm really glad that you are helping me with this, and Spike."
"Oh, right," Xander said, suddenly appearing in the doorway. "Remind me again why we're helping the evil undead one? I mean, helping defeat a mean old witch, no offence you two," Xander said to the two girls. "You are very not mean or old, but why risk Buffy's life and ours to save this guy? He may be defanged, but he's still at the very least, very annoying."
"The only one risking my life is me, Xander," Buffy stated, not sure if she wanted to go into details on why she wasn't going to let him die. "I haven't exactly talked about it much, if at all, but he's saved my life a few times now. I can't just sit by and wait, knowing that he could die. Not after what he's done." I can't let him die because I love him. "I didn't ask any of you to risk your lives for him or anyone else, it's your own choice."
Giles began to speak, interrupting the following silence. "Well if we are going to do this, we should be leaving now. Anya, can you stay with Joyce so that she won't be alone here while we're gone?" When she nodded her head in reply, he added, "Buffy, you do remember where this building is, right?"
"Yeah," she replied hollowly, her mind briefly wandering back into the dreamworld she had left. She couldn't think of that now. She quickly reached towards the coffee table and grabbed the crossbow that had been resting on it. "Let's go."
...................................................................
"There's the liqueur store," Buffy informed everyone as they walked down the seemingly deserted street.
"Which means that the building we're looking for is...," started Xander.
"This one."
Buffy stopped in front of the narrow, two story apartment as she pointed, "there's the window I looked out of."
"Why can't they choose bright, happy buildings for once?" Willow commented, sounding a little annoyed. "They always manage to find the darkest, scariest places."
In the darkness, they could barely make out the crudely patched-up window. No one was quite ready to make a move yet. Surprisingly, Xander was the one who first spoke up.
"So, lets go in already and do some damage."
He walked to the door, followed by the others, and slowly turned the knob. As it began to open, something pulled him in. There wasn't anything there, but he found himself being lifted off the ground.
"Xander!" Buffy and Willow called out, trying to get a hold of him, but before they could do anything, he was thrown into the darkness. They heard the thud as he hit the wall and fell to the floor.
Willow uttered a word and a dim light illuminated the small room. With the light, they were able to see the staircase in front of them and the shadow that quickly passed into a doorway, shutting it behind her.
"Giles," Buffy called to the watcher. "Make sure Xander's okay. I'm going after her."
Without waiting for a response, the slayer dashed up the stairs and followed the shadow into the room. Willow and Tara quickly went after her, ready for what they were expected to do.
As they entered the room, they instantly realized that the room was empty.
"Where'd they go?" Willow asked as she looked around the barren room. She walked a little farther in and saw a door off to the side.
"Maybe they w...went in there," Tara assumed when she noticed the room as well.
Willow went over to the doorway and looked in, but couldn't see anyone in it.
"They have to be here, they couldn't just vanish," she said uncertainly. She turned to look at the other witch for reassurance. "Tara?"
Where she had been standing was only an open space.
"Uh oh,"
..................................................................
Buffy walked into what should have been a darkened room, but instead was met with a sweet breeze and bright sunlight. She looked around and found herself standing in the dreamworld she had been almost reluctant to leave.
"Buffy?"
She quickly turned at the sound of the familiar voice.
"Spike?"
He stood there, looking as he had when she last had seen him in there. Covered in the warm sunlight, a large smile glided over his face. She ran over to him, throwing her arms around her love. When he wrapped his around her body, she felt as though she never wanted to let go.
..................................................................
"Willow?" Tara had suddenly discovered that she was in an empty room. She walked to where Willow had last been standing, but found nothing.
"This is n...not good."
The spell, they had to do the spell. The fairy had told them that she might do something like this. They had to do the spell to stop it. But how could they do the spell if they weren't together?
"I just have to try." Tara told herself. "I hope Willow will know."
She went in front of the window and sat down on one side of it. She felt her body relax and began to chant the words of the ancient fairy.
..................................................................
Buffy forced herself to pull away and looked into the vampire's eyes. There was something different about them that she couldn't quite place. They looked so...cold. Why was she here? She had left. She was supposed to be getting him out of here, not coming back.
"Spike, why am I here again? I was going after that creature, I went into the room, a...and..."
"Shhh..." he whispered, placing a finger against her lips. "There's no need to worry 'bout it now. You're 'ere with me, and that's all that ma'ers."
"Yes," she started. "I mean...no. I have to go back. Willow...and Xander.....Xander" she whispered more to herself than to him.
"You don't need them anymore, luv. In here, nothing out there ma'ers. We can do anything we like, for as long as we want. We can spend eternity in 'ere, jus' you an' me."
He leaned forward, pulling her towards him for a kiss, but she pulled away.
..................................................................
Willow turned her head as she heard the words in the air. Tara. She must still be here. The spell. She closed her eyes, hoping to be able to feel something, anything. The window.
She walked over to just in front of the window and sat down on the opposite side. With her eyes still closed she listened to the words. Once she was sure of what part they were at, she began as well.
The two chanted, facing one another. Although they couldn't see the other, they knew they were together. Unconsciously, they brought their hands up, a faint light beginning to glow.
................................................................
"What are you talking about," Buffy demanded. "We can't just stay in here. It may be wonderful for us for now, but it's not real. It will never be real."
"But it can be. It can be as real as you want i' to be." He lightly brushed her face with his finger, caressing it until it came to rest on her lips. They lingered there for just a moment, his eyes, retracing every movement. "Out there, what kind of future would we 'ave. A vampire and a slayer. It coul' never work, we both know that. But in 'ere, anything is possible."
A tear started to fall down Buffy's face and anger began to fill her being.
"So, that's it then?" she asked, backing away. "You won't even try? Any kind of a future with a slayer is destined to 'not work', but that doesn't mean we can't try. You know, I thought you were different, that...that you wouldn't give up. You never could stay away. You always managed to come back, even if I didn't want you to, and now you're just going to give up, just leave?"
Spike showed no emotion over the anger he was causing her, although inwardly he was practically glowing. Her confusion was causing her pain, and he was loving it. However, he needed her back under control. Just a little bit more.
"I'm not leaving anywhere," he replied, hoping she would respond the way he hoped. "I'm staying right 'ere and I'm asking you to stay with me. I would never go anywhere if I didn't know you would be there."
"You know I can't stay," she said softly, lowering her eyes. "I have to go back...Xander might be hurt...and that creature..." She looked up in panic.
"Spike, why am I here? I was following her into that room...and then I was here."
"Are you sure, luv?"
"Yes, and Crea told me..."
"Wha', wha' did she tell you?" he asked, suddenly interested.
"Nothing," Buffy replied, acting distracted. "It wasn't important."
She looked at him with a forced smile.
"Spike."
"Yeah, pet."
"You remember what I told you before I left, right?"
"Yeah, of course. Why?"
"Well, I meant it, you know. About how I loved you."
Spike smiled coyly. She was giving in.
"I know you did, and so do I"
"I know," she smiled sweetly, "But you didn't."
"Excuse me?"
He knew he had made a big mistake. The smile dropped from her face as she started to back away, cautiously.
"Who are you?"
"Buffy, what are you talking about?" he gave her an innocent, confused look. "It's me, Spike."
"Who are you?!" she demanded harshly. "I never told Spike that I loved him. Who are you?"
The creature cursed herself for falling into the trap so easily. This would make things a bit more difficult. He took a step closer, frustration and anger covered his smooth features.
"Buffy," he started. He was about to say something else when he looked over to a vacant place near a tree. Somehow, Buffy thought it wasn't the tree he was looking at.
"No..." he yelled, but it wasn't his voice. Buffy had heard it before, right when she left with Spike.
As she looked around her, the world she had thought she was in, began to fade in and out. She caught glimpses of the forsaken room that she was supposed to be in. She looked back at whom she thought had been Spike, and saw the old woman looking back at her.
She stood tall for her old age, her white hair giving the appearance of wisdom and dignity. However, Buffy found nothing dignifying about her. The creature's eyes were wide with anger as she looked to where the two witches sat.
Willow and Tara both said the final word of the chant and their eyes too look at each other. Willow gave Tara a quick smile that was returned happily.
"That fairy told it to you, didn't she!"
They both turned to acknowledge the women who brushed past Buffy to move closer to the two.
"How dare you interfere!"
She made a quick movement with her arm, flinging them both into a nearby corner.
"Noo...," Buffy cried out as they fell on top of each other.
The woman spun around to meet the Slayer.
"And you..."she started towards the young woman. "I would have gone on my little way if you hadn't come and taken the child of darkness from me. What should it have mattered to you anyhow? You honestly think that he loves you?"
She let out a small laugh as she got even closer. "How can he love without a soul?"
Buffy tried to ignore the old woman's ravings, she had to stay focused. But the question couldn't help but seem into her head. How could he? Crea had mentioned repeatedly how Spike loved her. Then she remembered something else Crea had told her. 'I speak through your soul' she had said. Spike had mentioned how he had heard her. That couldn't be unless...
Buffy was torn from her thoughts when she felt a pain rip through her stomach. While she was lost in her thoughts, the creature had gotten close enough to use the dagger she had hidden in her clothing. Buffy looked down at the seeping blood for a moment before remembering the crossbow in her hand. She looked back up at the old woman, anger flashing in her eyes. She held the weapon up and let the arrow fly.
With no magic to protect her, the ancient creature fell easily to the ground, the arrow protruding from her forehead.
"That's for Spike," Buffy whispered, slowly lowering the weapon and let it fall casually to the ground. The world seemed to stop as she looked at the body laying on the ground. She didn't notice the man that rushed into the doorway.