Title: Sweet William
Author: Kelley (beanyb1999@hotmail.com)
Rating: How does PG-13 sound?
Distribution: You want it? Really? Let me know first.
Feedback: Please send feedback! I LIKE feedback!
Summary: Spike and Tara figured out what was wrong with Buffy. Spike is trying to fix it. No spoilers really.
Disclaimer: They all belong to Joss…except for Spike. He will be mine. SOON.
Dedication: For Christy, who helped me fix this chapter. For Shelley, fellow actress and fanfiction writing friend. For everyone who has reviewed and said nice things (which is really everyone), thank you so much!
A/N: We just had auditions for "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and we're supposed to find out tomorrow who got cast as whom. I read for Helena three times, Hippolyta twice, and Hermia once. Wish me luck, or that I break a leg, or something. Whatever! Hehe.
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The man jumped back. "I don't have it," he repeated.
"I heard you!" Spike began to pace. "So, where is it?"
"The Slayer has it," came an entirely different voice, or set of voices.
Spike stopped pacing. Three new figures entered the picture.
"The Slayer has it?" Spike asked in shock.
Spike eyed the three forms carefully. They stood in a triangular form. The point of the triangle was a female with bright red, curly hair. To her left stood another woman with long brown, straight hair, but she had the same face as the other. To her right was a girl with bright blonde hair, her face also the same as the other two. They spoke in unison.
"The Slayer is in possession of her soul again."
"What? When? What?" Spike mentally slapped himself for the loss of any coherent thought.
"Wonderful questions," William whispered to Spike uneasily.
"We understand your surprise."
"Ah, well I'm glad to know that," Spike muttered sarcastically.
"When did she get her soul back?" William asked.
"The moment the test was passed."
Spike rolled his eyes and William frowned.
"So what just happened here?" Spike asked.
The three women smiled. "Spike was sent to retrieve the soul of one Buffy Summers. William was sent as a guide. You began the test…"
"Yeah, yeah. I got all that," Spike said with a wave of his hand. "The whole point was for me to retrieve her soul and take it back to her. I'm not seeing any soul here or any taking back of the soul to her. Why this particular test?"
"To test your strength and weaknesses, Vampire. The last vampire who wanted to retrieve a soul ended up quitting because she was too weak, and we didn't even test her in the same manner."
"Will you bloody quit talkin' like that?" Spike asked impatiently.
"Like what?" they chorused.
"Like that! At the same time! It's bloody irritatin'!" Spike hollered. Worry was working its way into his head and he couldn't quite figure out why.
The three women looked at Spike, undaunted by his attitude.
"So, let me get this straight. I took this test to get her soul back, but in a way I was proving myself to her? Is it not enough that I love her and would do anything for her?"
"Quitting would have made you pathetic," they replied.
Spike snorted. "Wow, it's not as though I haven't heard that enough lately."
"She quit?" William asked quietly. "What happened?"
Spike looked at William and blinked, forgetting what William was talking about. Then he remembered.
"She couldn't handle the outcome."
"What was the outcome?" Spike asked.
"Eternal hell."
Both Spike and William remained silent for a moment. They looked at each other, both expressing confusion and not knowing what was really happening.
"So, I passed the test. That's good. I'm not weak. Right?"
"No, Vampire. You're not weak."
Spike sighed in relief.
"The Slayer is waking up now. We must work fast," the women said with urgency in their voices.
Spike rubbed his hands together. "Now you're talkin'."
"William?" the three women called out.
Spike looked at William. William stepped up next to Spike.
"It's time to send you back," they said.
"It's 'bout damn time," Spike said loudly.
"You misunderstand us, Vampire. We're not sending you back. We're sending William back."
"What?" Vampire and Human asked in unison.
"We're giving William a second chance at life. He's going back to his former body."
"Excuse me," William said, stepping forward.
"You're sending HIM back?" Spike asked incredulously.
"Yes. He's getting another chance."
"Well, where am I going then?"
"To hell," they replied simply.
"But I passed the bloody test!" Spike hollered. "Remember? I'm not weak! I continued onwards even though you tempted me with foul words and awful memories to see if I could keep on going." Spike stopped talking. He'd just channeled his inner poet…well almost. His poetry was still no good.
"You aren't weak. We cannot simply let a vampire come here and let him go back to a realm where he is considered the enemy."
"Then why did you make me take the test anyway? I mean, if you had planned all along to send me to hell, why didn't you just zap me there right away and send William in my place instead?"
"Vampire, you have proved yourself strong. You work with those who kill your kind day in and day out. We believe that the strength you possess now will help you while you're in hell. One day you may even be able to find your way out and back to Earth. You must go where you belong."
"What good will that do?" Spike asked.
"We'll be sending a demon to hell and a human back to the body he was robbed of."
Spike looked over at William and glared.
"I'd much rather stay here," William replied. "I'm happy here."
"We must send you back, William. The Slayer deserves your goodness."
"But I'm not in love with her. Spike is," William said, pointing his thumb towards Spike.
"Why do you get to decide anyway?" Spike spat. "Who are you?"
"We are the Powers That Be," they answered.
For some reason, Spike had always thought they looked different. Oh well. He still hated them. "Well, ain't that grand?"
William sighed. Thoughts began pouring through Spike's head.
"We must work now. William, you're going to live again while the evil demon that has been inhabiting your body will be sent straight to hell."
"I," he said, emphasizing the word I, "passed the test!" he reminded them.
"Yes, you did. With William's help. William is now getting his second chance."
"Second chance, eh?" Spike said, turning to William.
"I had no clue this was to happen. I can't say I'm exactly thrilled about it," William said softly.
"There should have been a warning label on this bloody spell," Spike muttered, angry about the entire mess this had caused. He knew this could have somehow been avoided. He turned his head to the Powers That Be. "You birds are really screwed up."
"We don't have much time. William, you must get ready."
For the first time since Spike had arrived up there, William began to look worried.
"It's time to begin . . ." they began in unison.
Spike quickly glanced at William before snapping his head back towards the Powers That Be. His patience was gone and he was quickly becoming outraged. He just hoped that he could come up with a plan before it was too late.