Buffy looked incredulously at her friend's face; still a little thrown by her appearance, not to mention who she said she was. "What kind of proposition?"

The Powers made Willow's face smile once more, "Your work is not done. We want to give you the chance to go back to your world, to go back to your life."

Instantly, Buffy was overjoyed. To actually see Willow again, and Dawn, and everyone else in the gang would be even more of a heaven. She opened her mouth to ask what she had to do, when she had another thought. "Why me?"

Willow's forced smile faltered a little, and the blankness in her eyes became confusion. "We do not understand your question."

"Why me? Why wasn't my mother given this chance? Why wasn't Kendra? Or Jenny Calendar? They touched people's lives too, they were important to the world. Why can't they go back?"

"You are the Chosen One. You are needed."

"Kendra was a Chosen One, too. She was just starting out, she could have used this second chance more than me." Buffy was beginning to be a little angry with the Powers. She had just begun to get used to the whole being dead thing and they want her to go back? There were so many lives that she didn't save that could have used this chance. "Besides, I gave my life trying to stop the world from ending. Doesn't it kind of take the sacrifice out of it if you just give me what I sacrificed back? Why don't you go find JFK and tell him his second chance has arrived?" She turned her back to Willow's body, having to remind herself it wasn't really her friend.

After a moment, she felt a hand on her shoulder and she turned to see the figure had changed into Giles. "Come now, Buffy, you must understand. The world has changed since you were taken from it, and that balance must be restored." He cupped his hands between them and images began to show there, as if the space were a movie screen. "Look at how your death has affected everyone you know, as well as the world beyond Sunnydale."

The first image she saw was of all of her friends standing around her body at the scaffold where they fought Glory. Dawn sat on the stairs behind everyone, crying quietly to herself and unable to tear her eyes from her last true relative's unmoving body. Anya was resting her wounded head on Xander's shoulder, silent tears making tracks in the dust that covered her face. Xander held his lover tight to his body, a look of devastation marring his face. Giles was looking down at his hands, the pain of seeing her lifeless body evident on his tearless face. Tara seemed only to care about Willow's state of mind, comforting her with caresses and calming words, also shedding no tears. Willow seemed to be the most affected, unable to form sentences, shaking from the disbelief and the pain. The tears that ran unchecked down her cheeks and her mouth screwed up in incomprehension spoke for her. Her head shook almost imperceptibly, as if she refused to believe her friend lay dead before her.

Buffy shook her head, trying to block out the images, but then the picture focused on another figure, further back, hidden in shadows. It was Spike and he was crying, it seemed, for her. His entire body shook with the intensity of his weeping, and the look of utter loss on his face was shocking.

Before she had time to think about this, the picture changed once again, this time showing her funeral, where all the same faces appeared, though this time there was hardly a dry eye present. She saw how many of her friends from college showed up, and even some she knew from high school. She looked around for her father, and finally saw him standing apart from the rest of the gang, Dawn obviously ignoring his presence. Next, she looked for Angel, even though it was a daytime ceremony. Eventually she found him, standing underneath a tree nearby, holding an umbrella over himself and someone else. Again, the figure in the shadows was Spike, only this time; he was one of the only ones not crying, instead of one of the only two crying.

Next came several images of the Scoobies patrolling, fighting, staking, and more often than not, getting whipped pretty badly. She watched helplessly as her friends were thrown into trees, punched in the face, and kicked in the stomach. It was painful to see these images and Buffy found herself wishing the Powers would move on already. But the pictures kept coming; every one of them showing another injury that could have been prevented if she'd been there.

The following depiction confused Buffy at first. It simply showed her friends gathered around a table at the Bronze, looking glum. She was still unsure why this image would inspire her to return to her life when she saw Spike walk in, looking all too happy. She watched as Dawn, looking like she thought he was dead, threw her arms around the vampire and hugged him tightly. Then, she became confused, as he turned to no one and began to speak. The scene went on for a few moments, and by the time Spike left the Bronze, she was very worried about him.

"This one, the vampire, he intrigues us. He has drawn into his own world where you are apparently back from death. He allows no one into his crypt and he sleeps almost non-stop to indulge in dreams of your return. He is just one of the many who are affected so drastically by your death." Using Giles' 'father tone' and making his gaze soften, the Powers continued. "We respect your sacrifice and we do not mean to disregard it by asking you to return. And it is true that the others you have mentioned have touched other lives. But you have altered prophecies, you have saved the world countless times, and you have not only touched lives, but also changed them forever. Your work is not done. Your friends need you. The world needs you."

Buffy sat down on her bed and mulled over the Powers' proposition. The Slayer in her was ready to go fight the forces of evil like a good little Chosen One. But a big part of her wanted to stay here with her mom, enjoy the peace she had rightfully earned. When she looked up, her mother had re-entered the room, and was sitting on the bed beside her, Giles' figure standing further back, looking out a window, pretending not to listen.

"Its alright, Buffy. I'll still be here when you get back. Months, years, decades, it doesn't matter. I'll be right here waiting, so go ahead and save the world a few more times." She smiled warmly at her daughter, "Give everyone a hug for me, okay? Tell them I said 'hi.'"

Buffy laughed lightly at her mother's words and the two women hugged. "I'll be right back, Mom." The Slayer saw the Powers plaster a grin across Giles' face and she closed her eyes and held her mother tighter. If she had to leave heaven, it would be like this.

***

"It was creepy, Giles. I mean he just kept looking off into space and talking as though she were right there," Xander was trying to explain to the Watcher exactly how much Spike's behaviour an hour earlier had given him the wiggins. "And then he was looking at *us* like we were the ones off the deep end!"

"This is what I was talking about. He has regressed into himself and into these dreams. We have to do something about it, if he goes on like this, it could be very dangerous."

"He looked like he hadn't fed in days." Dawn's small voice caught everyone's attention, even though she was facing away from them. "He looked so tired." She turned to them, "How can he look so tired if all he's done is sleep?" She was so afraid for her bleached friend; he'd been acting so strangely earlier that night.

Giles, for once, had no real answer for her. "The dreams must be very draining for him, I suppose. I think we should come up with a plan. We need to get him here, so we can talk to him, make him see what he's doing to himself." With a look at Dawn, who was again staring absently out the window, he continued. "To us."

"Well, what should we do? We could all just go to his crypt and have an intervention there." Anya supplied, trying to help.

"We could knock him out and bring him here." Xander said, a little too enthusiastically.

"Or, we could just trick him into coming here. Tell him there's a new big bad in town and we need his help." Willow, always the level head, was forming a plan, but Dawn's quiet and distanced voice stopped her.

"He won't fall for it. Or he just won't care. He knows we can handle research on our own. There has to be something at stake." She paused, waiting to see who would get it first. "Something he cares about."

"What are you suggesting, Dawn?" Giles knew what she wanted to do, but he felt bad enough about deceiving the vampire in his altered state.

"It's simple. Xander and Giles, you go to his crypt and tell him I'm in danger and that he's the only one who can help me. Tell him I need him." She stood up and began to walk towards the training room to be alone. "Don't say you can't do it. You know it's the only way to get him here." And then she was gone, closing the door behind her, to wait.

"I guess that's our cue," Xander quipped, standing up and getting his jacket, while Giles stared after the fourteen year old who had just given them orders. He wanted to smile with pride at the woman she was becoming, but as he felt Xander's hand on his shoulder, he snapped out of it. "Just think of it this way," the boy smiled. "If he doesn't fall for it, we can always knock him out."

***

Spike was having a meaningful conversation with Dream Buffy about Passions when the pounding began. "Bloody hell. What do they want now?" His door shook with each knock and he was about to yell at them to go away, when Dream Buffy spoke.

"Go with them."

Spike looked back at her in shock. This was his dream; she was supposed to want him to stay with her. The little voice in the back of his head whispered at him, 'It's not good when your illusions don't even listen anymore…' He shook his head and asked, "What's that, pet?"

"Go with them. It's important. Don't ask questions." And then she was gone.

Very irritated now, because not only had they interrupted his conversation, but they had also forced away his Buffy, Spike stormed over to the door and ripped it open, breaking the lock. "WHAT DO YOU WANT!?!" He didn't care that the anger and the yelling had brought forth his demon visage.

Xander and Giles stood in surprise for a moment, both unable to form words when looking in the face of a very angry, formerly brutal, vampire. Giles was the first to overcome his shock, though his words were overly quiet and a slight stutter impeded the message. "Uh, Spike, we…we need your help - "

"Well I don't want to give it, now piss off." He started to slam the door in their faces when he heard Xander call out, tentatively.

"It's Dawn."

This made him not only stop and turn to them, now fully awake, but forced his demon back. His human mask was marred by worry instantly at the mention of Dawn. "What's happened? Is the nibblet alright?"

Giles took over, trying to lie as little as possible. "She won't be without your help. You need to come with us, now, to the Magic Shop."

Spike thought for a second, Dream Buffy's words resonating in his head. 'Go with them. It's important. Don't ask questions.' He nodded once, grabbed his duster and said, "Right then, let's go." He walked past the two men, who continued to stare after him, surprised even more by his sudden willingness. He turned and urged them on. "Come on. Lil' bit needs me, let's get there."

Xander and Giles looked at each other quickly, and then the three of them headed back towards the shop, walking in silence the entire trip. Spike lead the way, seeming very impatient to get to Dawn, and both the young man and the Watcher were lost in their own thoughts of how quickly the vampire had jumped from irritated to worry when she had been mentioned.

Spike spoke as soon as he entered the shop, with the rest of the gang already there, waiting for them. All except Dawn. "Where is she?"

None of them really knew what to say, and all of them were busy taking in the vampire's haggard appearance. His hair was dishevelled, his normally lived-in looking clothes, appeared even worse, as though they hadn't been washed in decades. His eyes were sunken in and wild, and they could all tell he hadn't fed well.

"Well? Is anyone going to answer me?" He was growing angry again, and his worry over Dawn made it impossible to bear the silence in the room.

"I'm here."

Spike spun around quickly, to see Dawn exiting the training room. He rushed to her, and looked her over, head to foot. Seeing no injuries, he quirked his head at her, "I was told you were in danger, but you're fine. What is this?"

"I need to talk to you. We all need to talk to you." Dawn's calm steady voice took everyone off guard. She had taken charge of the situation, came up with the plan, and was now leading them all in what do to.

"We're worried about you, Spike." Willow followed the girl's lead, trying to make Spike comfortable. "You have to get through this and we want to help you."

"Worried about me. So worried about me that you couldn't bring me here honestly? So worried that you sent them lying to my door?" Spike was looking at Dawn, the anger obvious in his voice and the accusation burning in his eyes. He was mad again; mad that they had interrupted his happy world; mad that they had lied to him; mad that they were right.

"They didn't lie. I do need you." The young girl's voice finally faltered, her words cracking. "I can't continue to watch you do this to yourself." The first tear rolled down her right cheek and Spike felt the first twinge of anything besides anger at the group. "You promised to protect me, remember? How can you do that if you are locked in your crypt? I do need you, Spike. But I need you here, in reality, with me."

Her tears got the best of her and as they coursed down her face, Spike felt his anger melt away completely. He walked over to her and took the girl in his arms, holding her as tightly as she had held him in the Bronze, and whispered into her hair, "I'm sorry, Dawn. I just couldn't give her up."

Everyone stood around with smiles on their faces, glad that their part in the intervention had been minimal. None of them wanted to be in Spike's way when he was angry ever again. They watched the two hug for a moment longer, before the vampire pulled away.

"The dreams," he started softly, trying to figure out where to go from there. "They won't go away on their own, will they?"

Giles took off his glasses and began to wipe them with a handkerchief. "I'm afraid not. We've been researching vampire psychology which seems a great deal like human psychology, only with more anger and less acknowledgement."

Anya translated. "He means that you're twice as mad, but half as good at dealing."

"Yes, thank you Anya," Giles continued, "If you like, you could take a book and help us find the first steps to your…cure."

Spike smiled wanly. "Always about research with you, isn't it, Ripper?"

The group laughed a little too loudly at his words, as the tension in the room slowly dissipated. Dawn could hardly contain herself, being thrilled that her plan had worked. She'd known all they would have to do was make Spike face what he had been doing to himself and to them, and he would come out of it. She looked fondly on the vampire, so relieved that she hadn't lost another person she loved.

Spike looked over at the nibblet, who had a wide grin across her face. He couldn't help but smile back at her, thinking, 'I've had enough fantasy. Let's try reality for a bit.' The bleached blonde could hear the little voice in the back of his mind cheering, and he couldn't help but chuckle at himself.