Chapter One


"Pick a hand."
"What?" Willow turned to see Dawn standing in front of her, her hands pulled behind her back. "What kind of game is this?"
Dawn stood patiently. "The kind of game where you choose a hand."
Willow rolled her eyes and stared down at the red book she was reading. "The left."
Dawn pulled out her left hand and opened it. Nothing.
"The right?" Tara asked from across the room. Dawn opened her right hand and again nothing.
Willow stared at Dawn, confused. "You say this is a game yet you have nothing to show for it?"
Dawn grinned as she clapped her hands together, a small blue marble appearing between both hands. "Ta da!"
Willow was even more confused as she set the book aside. "Now I'm confused."
Tara stood up and approached them. "It's quite easy. She's using magic."
Willow nodded, her brow furrowed. "Obviously. But there's no purpose, no meaning."
Dawn sat down on the other side of Willow, patting her shoulder. "There is. You'll see."


****

Spike was growing weary of watching Buffy pace back and forth, cross in hand. "So when are we going back?" he asked.
Buffy was quiet, counting her steps. Twenty six in one direction, twenty seven in the other. "As soon as the waking undead decide that the dearly departed isn't their realm."
"That could take days," Spike complained, leaning against a gravestone. "And it's getting close to dawn."
Buffy didn't answer him.
"The least you could do is smile," Spike said, frowning. "You look all serious. It adds years on."
She finally stopped pacing. "What am I doing here? Nothing. We've been here for at least four hours. Nothing."
"If he was to rise, he should have done so hours ago," Spike said, playing into her little game. She was trying to force an argument from him. He wouldn't let her. Not now.
She frowned, disappointed he wasn't yelling at her. Or was she? Her own feelings were so raw and confused she could barely tell what she was thinking. "If you don't like it here, just leave."
"Oh, I like the scenery more than I like the dead, thank you very much," Spike replied, eyeing her purposefully.
Buffy glared at him for a moment before sitting down, reaching for the heavy black bag donated to her by Giles. "Get your eyes on something you're better at."
"You know what I'm good at," he said evenly.
Slowly, Buffy raised her gaze to meet his. "Do you now?"
Spike nodded, very seriously. "I think we both do."
Buffy was quiet again as she zipped the bag and rose to her feet. "I'm leaving now," she announced, walking away.
"Not so fast," Spike called, catching her arm with a quick run. "We haven't finished 'talking'."
"Two nights ago," Buffy replied, trying to move around him. "Is that what you called talking?"
Spike smirked, tightening his grip on her arm. "Yes."
Buffy struggled to free herself, the bag slipping from her fingers. "You want to know what I think?"
Spike's face grew closer to hers, his breath warming her cheek. "I know what you're thinking, love. I don't need to ask you."
Buffy's forehead fell against his, her resolve slipping away. "I know you do," she said softly as his fingers reached up, tracing her jawline. His lips reached for hers and met them before she kissed him back, her own trembling hand touching his face gently.
Spike broke it off first, letting Buffy catch her breath as he reached down and picked up the bag. "Sun's comin' up in less than an hour," he said as he moved around her and continued on his way out of the cemetery. "I suggest we hurry back to your house."
Buffy stood for a long moment, her mind frozen, her knees weak, her thoughts jarred. All she could remember was the feeling of being in his arms.

****

A single candle flame lit the way as a single figure moved into the night. Soon hundreds of candles were lit in small circles. The figure stepped back. "Finished."
"You've barely begun." The voice seemed to come from the shadows as the body that belonged to the second voice surveyed the images and symbols imprinted onto the cold cement beneath their feet. Their eyes surveyed the cold room, their breath breathing blue in the early pre-dawn. "Bring the others. We'll begin tonight."
"The slayer?" the first voice intoned, sounding slightly confused.
"We'll ignore her for now."