CHAPTER THREE (To Sleep Perchance to Dream)

CHAPTER THREE (To Sleep Perchance to Dream)

Spike knew he would be dreaming again soon. He'd been having the same sort of dreams since Buffy's death and these were not the run of the mill type dreams. They were a combination of flashbacks of the past and visions of what was yet to be. It was like watching a very cruel television show, you know the kind, where something goes horribly wrong but you are helpless and can only watch the prewritten scene unfold. The dreams could be so heartbreaking yet that gave him a glimmer of hope to continue his search for a way to bring her back. Spike quietly mumbled before he drifted off "To sleep perchance to dream"

. . . . . .

Spike walks up to Buffy as she is sitting on her back porch visibly upset "What's wrong?"

Buffy replied in a sniffly voice "I don't want to talk about it."

"Is there something I can do?"

Buffy just looks away while Spike takes a seat next to her and places the shotgun he was carrying aside, and he reached out to her. He reaches his arm around her and pats her on the shoulder somewhat awkwardly, trying to comfort her. Buffy gives him a look that tells him that she appreciates the gesture and the two of them sit side side-by-side in silence for some time. Then the dream flashes with a blinding light.

WHOMP! - the Quellar demon drops from the ceiling landing soundly on Spike knocking him to the ground right in front of Buffy. Spike let out a scream of surprise and is punching and kicking to free himself from the creature. Unfortunately he kicks the only weapon Buffy has across the room in his attempt. Suddenly the creature is wretched from him and he sees Buffy wrestling it on the ground in the next room. Spike remembers thinking for a brief moment that this is the chance he's been waiting for. He gets to watch the slayer die and with her death it will also be the death of this ridiculous obsession with her. It only takes a split second for him to realize that what he feels isn't an obsession but love and he can't let her die. Spike quickly recovers the knife and yells "Buffy!" while he tosses the knife handle first towards her which she catches easily and kills the worm like creature. Spike then offered her hand to Buffy, which she accepts and he helps her up. They look into each other's eyes while still holding hands. Flash of light.

First Spike sees himself trying to crawl towards the stairs to the tower then he sees Buffy sacrifice herself by plunging off the top of the tower in to the abyss. Flash of light. Spike is now seeing the moment where the Scoobies and himself are gathered around Buffy's body and Spike sees himself breakdown into heart wrenching sobs. Flash of light. Spike is standing at Buffy's grave with his arm around Dawn. She is crying silently into his coat. He still can't believe it's been just over a month since this has happened. The dream makes him feel like he's right in the moment again. Flash of light:

Suddenly Spike is himself not just watching himself, it's an unusually bright night and there is a light layer of fog billowing in. "Well, this is new" Spike says to himself as he begins to look around. He notices motion in front of him. He squints to see who is headed towards him. It's Buffy, she's wearing a long flowing white dress and has never looked more beautiful. Spike is frozen and speechless at the sight of her coming towards him. As she reaches him he falls to knees while silent tears run down his cheeks and he wraps his arms around her waist. Buffy runs her hands through Spike hair hugging him to her.

"Shhh, it's ok Spike" Buffy says as she sinks down to her knees as well.

"Buffy, I've missed you so much, pet, Everyone has and "

Buffy puts her fingers to Spikes lips to silence him, "I know Spike, I've been watching, I don't have much time so you must listen to me. All I can tell you is that you are on the right track and to keep going. The big guys up here have agreed to let me come back if you can figure out how to do it. They say it's your reward for picking the path of light over the path of darkness. Do you know you are the first vampire ever to do that of your own free will with no spells or curses since the beginning of time? You're very special, but you must do a few things before you continue. First you must tell Giles about the Chip, trust me, he does not like people keeping secrets from him. Tell him after patrol tonight. Next you have a pretty big window of time to bring me back in but once the day and time passes the window will be closed forever. You need to get the rest of the guys to help you."

"But, they won't. They say I'm giving Nibblet false hope and I just need to let you go." Spike said flatly.

"Tell them about this dream, Spike, tell Willow that she was my big gun and that I'm proud of her and tell Giles that I'm sorry for losing my faith in my calling but that I truly did figure it out and tell him to check the Prophesy book and don't let him tell you it's about Angel, it's not, it's about you. And tell Dawn that Mom is here and is happy and that she sends her love and Mom has a message for you too She said to tell you that she hid the rest of the little marshmallows for you so Dawn wouldn't eat them all and that they are in the roasting pan in the cupboard with the rest of the pans and she wants to thank you for being there for Dawn. The last thing you need to remember is that even though Dawn isn't the key in a living energy kind of way she is still the key to helping you bring me back." As Buffy finishes talking she suddenly looks up as if she's hearing something and then turns back to face Spike.

"I have to go now Spike," she says and she slowly leans in to place a small kiss on Spikes lips. Their eyes close as their lips meet. Suddenly Spikes eyes fly open and he is awake and he is lying on the couch in the training room. He lets out a loud whoop as he springs off the couch and heads back to front of the store.

TBC