This was supposed to be up a week ago, but I got sick. Sorry it's late, but I still hope you like it.
~Ally



Title: Find Your Way Home (6/?)
Author: Ally
Email: thequietone225@aol.com (slaygal doesn't work)
Disclaimer: With the exception of my own creations, no Buffy or Angel
characters belong to me. They belong to Joss Whedon, Fox and UPN.
Rating: G to R
Category: Story/Romance/Angst
Keywords: Alternate Universe/Futurefic
Pairings:
Main: D/X, B/S
Others: A/Fr, W/O, Fa/T, C/D,G/A,J/G, W/V
Distribution: You want this? Take it; just tell me where it's going.
Summary: 10 years after the events of Becoming, Buffy comes back to a very different Sunnydale.
Author's Notes: Did you ever have a story you can't get out of your head? Well, this is mine. Hope you like it.
Author's Notes 2: Again, I apologize if this sucks. My works been crazy lately and it hasn't left me much time to write. It's not much of a plot, but it furthurs the story along. Expect the next part after the New Year.
Dedications: To those kind souls who gave me feedback. I appreciate it so much.
Feedback: Always appreciated.




Later that night, Joyce was preparing Buffy's birthday dinner. A small pile of presents were by the fireplace. Buffy kept insisting that she didn't deserve it, didn't want it, but Joyce was adamant. She had been gone for almost ten years and that was a lot of birthdays to make up for.

So, they dutifully dressed up, on Joyce's insistance. Buffy and Justin were downstairs, watching tv. Dawn was still upstairs, getting ready. She was having a hard time mustering up any enthusiasm for tdhe night, but was trying her best.

She had just put the finishing touches on her outfit and plastering on her now familiar fake smile, bounded down the stairs. At that moment, there was a knock on the door. For a moment, her heart was in her throat. *Oh, god, Xander's back early* she thought.

Before she opened the door, she looked out the window. She breathed a sigh of relief and opened the door. "Spike. What are you doing here?"

"Mum invited me. How could I say no."

"Oh. Does Xander.."

"No. She phoned my cell. Just said I had to leave. Not that anyone cared."

She decided to ignore that remark and sighed. "Well, come on in."

He walked inside as Joyce was coming out of the kitchen.

"Spike, so glad you could make it" she said, smiling.

"How could I resist" he said, giving her a smile.

"Well, dinner's ready, so why don't we eat?"

"Great!"

So they filed into the dining room, Buffy glaring at Spike out of the corner of her eye.

This continued throughout the duration of dinner, while they tried to make awkard conversation. Dawn wished that the whole day could be over, but it seemed to be moving excrusiating slow.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About an hour later, Joyce was clearing the table. As she entered the kitchen, Buffy turned angrily towards Dawn.

"What is he doing here?!"

"You know, you could speak directly to me, pet" he said, with a smirk.

She just glared at him. " You have no right to talk to me, let alone be in the same room with me" she hissed.

"Listen, I didn't want this anymore than you do, but I'm here, so just deal with it."

"Guys, please. None of us wants this, but it's only for another hour, so can you guys be civil til then" Dawn pleaded.

They remained silent, so she added " You are two of Justin's favorite people. Do you really want to disappoint him?"

They both looked at his face, looking ready to cry.

"Fine, fine" they said.

Justin smiled. "Thank you vedy much."

Dawn smiled and ruffled his hair as Joyce came in then, carrying a large birthday cake. After a chrous of "Happy Birthday," she doled out the cake.

They ate pretty much is silence, the only sound was the clinking of forks to plate. Buffy felt like crawling out of her skin. She hated being here and she hated the whole situtation.

"Justin, you're getting cake all over yourself" Dawn said, wiping his face.

"Mooom" she whined.

"Don't mom me."

Buffy smiled at the display, wishing she had what Dawn did. For some reason, she glanced over at Spike. He was looking at Dawn the way Angel used to look at her. She felt a bubble of jealousy starting to rise in her stomach, but she tapped it back down.

"Buffy. Buffy?"

"Hmm" she said, turning to her mother.

"Do you want to open your presents now?"

Sure" she said, smiling.

As she opened each present, she felt warm all over. She couldn't believe the presents they had bought her. The thought that went into each one. True, it was mostly clothes, but she hadn't had any new clothes in years. Dawn bought her a journal and some pens. Justin even "bought"her some toy cars.

Holding back the tears, she said "This is all too much. Thanks."

"Happy Birthday, Buffy" was all Dawn said.

They shared a secret smile.

"Well, I think I'll start to clean up" Joyce said, kissing the top of Buffy's head as she went by.

"I'll help" Spike said, jumping up.

"Thank you, Spike."

They went into the kitchen, leaving the girls alone. Justin was playing with the cars, oblivious to everything around him.

"Who is that and what did they do with Spike?" Buffy finally said.

Dawn laughed. "You're not giving him a lot of credit. He's changed a lot since you left.I think you'd be suriprised."

"Yeah, well , I'll believe it when I see it" she said, scoffingly.

Dawn just shrugged. "That's your perogative."

"I have to get some air" she said, quickly.

"Is something wrong?"

"No, I just have to go" she said, the door slamming behind her.

"What was that?" Joyce asked, coming out of the kitchen.

"Buffy. She just needed to get some air" Dawn said, gathering Justin in her arms.

"Is she okay?"

"Yeah, she's fine" Dawn lied.

Joyce seemed a little hesitant, but let it go. She went back into the kitchen and Dawn sighed with relief.

"What's wrong with Aunt Buffy?" Justin asked.

"I'm not sure, honey."

"Will she be okay?"

"She'll be fine" Dawn soothed.

Spike came out then, wiping his hands on his pants.

"Where'd the Slay- er, Buffy go?"

"Out. I don't know where" she sighed.

"Want me to go look for her?"

Dawn smiled. "No, she probably needs to be alone for awhile. Thanks though."

"No problem, pet."

Justin started yawning, so Dawn said "Okay, buddy. It's time for bed."

"I think that's my cue to leave" Spike said, grabbing his jacket.

"Ok, bye Spike" she said, hugging him.

"Night, bit" he said, closing the door behind him.

The night air was cool and caressed his flushed face. He had been human for almost two years and was beginning to hate it. He hated having a conscience. He knew if he wanted to, he could become what he once was, but he didn't.. for her.

He sighed and started to down the sidewalk. He hadn't gone more than two feet when he heard a soft sobbing from the side of the house. He started walking around the house, when he found Buffy. She was slumped over, almost spasming in pain.

He raced over to her side, adreline rushing through his veins. "Buffy, are okay?"

"Spike?! " she said, jerking her head up in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"Heard something suspicious. Wanted to see what it was. Are you okay?" he repeated.

"I'm fine. Just stressed you know."

He nodded and helped her up. She winced as he touched her back. "Something wrong with your back?" he asked suspiciously.

"No. Nothing" she said, jerking away from his touch.

She started walking away, but he grabbed her wrist and twisted her around. "Why are you here?" he asked, almost growling.

"Why do you think?" she shot back, pushing away from him.

"Ok, then if that's question's too hard, how about this. How long has it been since your last fix?"

"What are you talking about?" she asked, not looking directly at him.

"C'mon, pet. I'm not an idiot. The shaking, the pain, the sweating."

She finally looked at him, her eyes huge. "Fine, I used to be on heroin, but I haven't had a fix in over a month" she said, still shaking.

"A month! God, you must have some willpower. Does Dawn know?"

"No and she's not gonna find out either" she said, her voice hard.

"Oh, really," he said, smirking.

She sighed. "Yes. If you really love Dawn, then you won't tell her."

He seemed taken aback, but said " How did.."

"Oh, come on. The way you look at her is a dead giveaway. It was the same way Angel looked at me" she said, sadly.

"Fine. I won't tell her, but she's gonna find out sooner or later."

"I know. I-I just can't do that to her yet."

"You better get inside. Dawn seems worried about you."

She nodded and began walking back towards the house. Spike began to walk home,when he heard "Spike?"

"Yeah" he said, turning around.

"Thanks" she said, smiling.

He just nodded and resumed walking.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Soon, the yard was quiet.

Buffy was safe in the house with her family.

That's when HE came out of the shadows. He had followed for months. Every move she made, he was one step behind. She even lost her trail for awhile, but she was tiring. HE knew it. That's why he had come here, waiting for her. And just like clockwork she showed. She was still the way he remembered her. Still beautiful.

Still, he knew that now was not the time to reveal himself. Not yet. The time was soon though.

"We will be together again my love. Very soon" he said, before going back into the shadows.