Part Four
Buffy opened the front door and the two entered. She turned to face Will. She tried to say something, but he beat her to it.
"I know," he said in a quiet voice, "Lil' Bit's asleep upstairs."
"How did you-" she nodded, deciding not to question it, "Y-yeah."
She led him into the living room, "Uh, take a seat and I'll be right back."
He nodded and sat on the couch, watching her quietly go up the stairs. This gave him a chance to look around. Everything looked vaguely familiar, but that didn't necessarily mean anything.
Buffy returned quickly with a first aid kit. She took a seat on the coffee table in front of him.
"You were amazing out there," she said, rubbing the wound clean with alcohol.
He winced at the contact, "Yeah, I bet I looked bloody amazing getting my skull bashed in."
She smiled slightly. Will had no idea why, but he suddenly remembered an experience not all unlike this one. Except he wasn't the one who was injured. She was. She had cuts on her hands, the result of digging herself out of her own grave. He also remembered his grief and guilt over her death. He remembered making a promise to a lady. Protecting Dawn.
"One hundred and forty-seven days," he said, suddenly.
"Huh?" she asked as she placed the last butterfly stitch on his gash.
"You were gone a hundred and forty-seven days. You....died, didn't you?" he looked at her.
She answered quietly, "Yeah."
"And on the night you died, I made a promise. To protect her. Till the end of the world."
She didn't say anything, just let him speak.
His eyes became wet with tears, as if he was reliving the memories, "And you died. Jumped through that bloody portal. I felt so guilty. I kept telling my self that if I had kept my promise, you wouldn't of had to jump. And I counted the days. One hundred and forty-seven. And I remember when I say you for the first time in those 147 days, I felt as if my prayers had been answered."
He looked into her eyes, "I loved you, didn't I?"
She nodded, moving off the table and to her knees in front of him. She had to get closer.
"And," he paused, thinking. "And we had something. I told you once that what we had wasn't pretty, but it was real."
She nodded, leaning her forehead against his.
"Buffy, I don't understand this. If I am your Spike, then what about my memories of growing up in England and moving here. What about the people I've met? What about my parents? Are they even real?"
Buffy placed a finger against his lips, "Shh...We'll figure this out. You and me. Okay?'
"And the Scoobies," he smiled.
She smiled, too, "And the Scoobies."
"I want to remember. Make me remember. Help me remember."
"I will. I promise."
He nodded and felt her lips move to his. He let his greet hers. Gentle. Loving. That was the way he'd describe it. He moved his hands to frame her face.
It had been so long since she felt his lips on hers. She knew he had to be Spike. No one kissed like him. No one.
His hands left her face to move to her back, pulling her closer. Her arms encircled his neck, her fingers playing with the hairs on the back of his neck.
They broke apart, resting foreheads against each other.
"I want to say 'I love you,' but-" Will said huskily.
She interrupted him, "Then don't say anything." She kissed him again.
The sun peeking through the curtain woke him up. He groaned and sat up. For a moment, Will was confused. Looking around the room, he slowly remembered last night. He got in a fight with...vampires? He was now at Buffy's house. They ended up making out, but that was as far as it went. Since it was late, she offered to let him stay the night. And he did. On the couch.
He heard feminine laughter coming from the kitchen. He followed it. Inside, he found Buffy, Red, and his Lil' Bit. Upon his entrance, the laughter stopped and he saw three pairs of eyes move to look at him. He wouldn't say it, but it made him slightly uncomfortable.
Buffy was the first to speak, "Hey, Will. How'd you sleep?"
He cleared his throat as he took a seat next to her, "It was good. Had a strange dream though. Some tap-dancing, Broadway-singing demon came to town, making everyone's life a living musical. Ended good though."
The trio of ladies laughed and he could swear he saw Buffy blush at his last statement.
"That was another...memory, wasn't it?" he asked.
"Yep," Dawn said, "Xander accidentally summoned the demon and he, the demon, tried to make me his queen."
"Xander?"
"No memories of him?" Willow asked.
He shook his head, "Nope."
Buffy spoke, "Well, let me check out that wound."
"Sure thing, Slayer."
She smiled, "It's been so long since I heard you call me that. Never thought I'd miss it."
She peeled the butterfly stitches off.
"What? 'Slayer?'"
She nodded, then returned her attention to the wound, "Well, seems that not only did you keep your strength, you apparently also keep your accelerated healing powers. It's already healed."
"Really?"
"Yep."
Will reached up to touch it. She was right; there was no gash. Nothing.
"Imagine that."
"Now, I called the Scoobies currently not present and this afternoon, Scooby meeting at the Magic Shop," Willow said.
He nodded.
Buffy entered the shop, followed by Dawn, Willow, and lastly, Will.
"Hey, Anya, Xander," Buffy said as she took a seat.
"Oh! Why didn't you just ask if I remembered 'the Whelp?'" Will said, smiling as he took a seat across Xander.
"Yep, that's Spike, alright," Xander quipped, "No doubt about it."
Will grinned but slowly that grin faded.
*****
He sat on a bale of hay, tears flowing, ripping up his poems. He seemed to be wearing a suit from the late nineteenth century, though he was uncertain why. He was interrupted by a voice.
"And I wonder what possible catastrophe came crashing down from heaven and brought this dashing stranger to tears."
He looked at her, "Nothing. I wish to be alone."
The woman made no move to abide his wishes. "Oh, I see you. A man surrounded by fools who cannot see his strength. His vision. His glory." She moved closer, motioning with her hand, making a circular motion, "That and baby burning fish swimming around your head."
Startled, he got up and moved away, "That's quite close enough. I've heard tales of London pickpockets. You won't be getting my purse, I tell you."
She bent forward, looking up at him as if what he said was amusing, "Don't need a purse."
She moved closer still and he found himself staying put, entranced, mesmerized by her.
"Your wealth lies here," she placed her hand over his heart, "And here," she moved her hand to his forehead. "In the spirit-" she leaned closer, whispering in his ear, "-and imagination." She moved her head side to side, "You walk in worlds the others can't begin to imagine."
"Yes." He shook his head slightly, "Uh, I mean no." He started to back away, trying to break away from her trance, "I mean, Mother's expecting me."
She pushed forward, "I know what you want. Something glowing, glistening. Something...effulgent."
He found himself drawn back in. "E-Effulgent?" he repeated, barely a whisper.
"Do you want it?"
He placed a hand over her unbeating heart, "Yes. God, yes."
She looked at his hand, studying it. When she returned her eyes to his, her face had changed. Vampire. He was startled but made no move as she peeled back his collar, exposing the vulnerable flesh. Slowly, she bit down.
He cried out, collapsing to his knees as she drank. He felt his left slowly drain away. He made no argument as she offered him her blood. He drank it greedily.
*****
Will was shocked. No, it couldn't be. "I was...I was a vampire?" he found himself asking in a small voice.
The Scoobies were startled by his question. Buffy answered slowly, "Yes."
He took a sharp breath. He suspected it. But...hearing her say it... It suddenly became too much. He didn't know if he wanted...could do this anymore. Find out more about himself.
"I need to go," he said. He left before they could protest.
End Part Four
