Spell Checked.

****One, omg how cool are those reviews. Thanks everyone so much. It warms my evil soul to see you are enjoying this story. I think it's going to be a little longer than I thought it would be, simply because I'm having fun with this. OK, now I have a request. I would like to know from any one who has any idea, where are good places to submit a story for an award. I have no idea how this works, so any information is helpful. I'm thinking of submitting Akoshta. If anyone knows, or if you think that is a rotten idea, please e-mail me. Thanks.



Title: Deserving

Author: Kaylorin

Beta read by: LdyEmma425

Synopsis: Begins directly after Grave. My season 7. Loosely based on spoilers and speculation. Buffy has begun her life after the events of Tara's death. Spike has changed for her. There is a new BB that brings Buffy back to her roots as The Slayer.

Rating: R (for now)

Distribution: Fine with me, make sure it's the final edited copy (indicated by 5 * after spell checked), and let me know where it's going. My e-mail is kaylorin90@yahoo.com

Disclaimer: I own this story, but not Buffy, Angel, or anything Joss does.

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Homecoming

The confused man looked down at the fainted Slayer, then to a perplexed

Willow, and to an apologetic Anyanka.

"Bloody perfect."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Willow sat in her seat, not sure if she was really seeing what she saw.

There stood, who appeared to be, Spike. Of course he looked different.

His hair was a natural dark blonde, with sun streaks, and a vampire

with a tan was not a normal occurrence. Not even in Sunnydale, the land of

the strange. "Spike?"

"Yeah, Red. It's me."

An almost inaudible voice came from his arms. "Spike?"

Spike looked into her hazel eyes. "Buffy. You alright now, love?"

"Spike?" She repeated as he brought her back to her seat at the table.

Anya stepped forward. "I'm sorry. She made the wish, and I didn't

even know you were in town until she said the 'W' word."

After he had settled a still dazed Slayer into her seat, he turned to

speak with Anya, who had changed back to her human form. "What

happened?"

"Well, she wished you were here."

Spike's face contorted as confusion, then happiness filled him. It

Didn't last long. Part of him wondered exactly why she would wish he

was back. After all, Anyanka handled vengeance. "I'm in it deep. Up to

my knees."

All Spike could think as Buffy stared at him, was everything he wanted

to tell her, but had no idea how to start.

Willow stared at him, and was attacked with his thoughts. They were all

things he wanted to say. She stared wide-eyed at the man. Then she

realized the finer of the details. Spike was a man, but not just human.

"Uh…Buffy?"

Anya watched Willow's face. "What's happening Willow. Are you

reading something?"

Willow didn't hear her. "Spike?"

"Yeah. It's me. We covered that, Red"

Buffy, now more composed, looked at the arm that had been wrapped

around the former vampire a moment ago. He had been warm. Buffy looked back

up at him, and honed her senses trying to detect the vampire. She

couldn't. "Spike?"

"Yes, for anyone else who asking, I am Spike." He shook his head at the

Slayer.

Buffy pushed back her seat and stood face to face with him, then

motioned at him. "You're human."

"Uh, Buffy?" Willow pleaded.

"You're human?" Anya asked, smiling.

Buffy stared at him. She was most definitely confused, but curiosity

and some anger were beginning to come to the forefront of her mind.

Anya looked back at Willow as the empath continued reading Spike's

surface thoughts. The red head still looked dazed and confused. "It's

okay, Willow. He just told us."

Willow shook her head. "He didn't tell us everything."

Spike looked at the recovering witch. "What's that mean? You

Readin' minds now?"

"Yes. She does, Spike. So whatever you have to tell us, you better just

get on with it or I'll just ask Willow." Buffy crossed her arms.

"I'm serious."

"You think she can 'andle it?" he asked Willow.

"No. But you better tell her or I will."

Spike pulled out the vacant seat next to Buffy's empty seat. "You

better be sitting for this one."

Without any further prompting, Buffy sat back down. Spike looked at her

hands placed in her lap and took one in his. "Right then, After..after

I left, I went to see a shaman. He told me about a place in Africa that

might grant my wish if I passed the trials. I passed and was given back

my soul. One of the tribesmen in the village that watched over the cave

told me that my soul, William's soul, had been strong and that, even

though I was no longer a demon, my soul retained all memory of my

past."

Buffy blinked a few times, but didn't say a word. The other two

ladies listened intently to the story being retold for the second time that

day.

"Jumar, that's the name of the fellow who explained this to me, also

told me I was not the first one to go through the trials." Spike

continued, and told the room how the first Slayer came to be. Although Willow

already knew from what she had read in Spike's mind, she was no less

fascinated.

For Anya, it was a new revelation. Something most demons didn't know.

Buffy was having trouble registering any of it. Spike. Human. Slayer.

Vamp. Africa. Tests.

Spike finished by telling her that he'd stopped off in England before

coming home to see if Giles could confirm any of what had happened to

him. He'd seen Willow, Giles had given him some start-up money. Just

as he was about to tell her his new career move, Dawn ran in.

She was out of breath, and panted when she dropped her books on the

counter. "Oh good." She walked over to the table and sat next to Willow.

"You found him."

Buffy gaze broke from Spike's eyes. "Found him. You mean you knew he

was here?" She looked back at Spike and took her hand from his. "She

knew you were here?"

"Oh, don't get mad at him, Buff. I only found out last period," Dawn

defended him. Then motioned to him. "Meet my new History teacher."

That tidbit Willow hadn't read. Both she and Buffy gave a resounding.

"Huh?"

Then the facts all registered, and Buffy doubled over laughing.

"Sure," she said between giggles. "Why not?" She stood up and looked at

him. "You lived through most of it."

"Hey, now." He was hurt. "I'll have you know I was educated at some

of the finest universities."

Buffy's face went serious, for almost one full second before she

erupted in another round of laughter. "You'll have me know?"

This time Willow joined in, along with Dawn. Anya wasn't sure what

was funny, but giggled with the infectious laughter.

The Slayer, now red faced, controlled her giggles, and took a few deep

breaths. "Oh. I'm sorry. It's just ..you sound like Giles. All

proper."

Spike smirked at them all, and reverted to his more comfortable speech.

"That's right. A whole new game of ˜kick the Spike". Bloody

chits. Do you have any idea what I went through?"

Willow raised her hand. "I had a clear view from here."

Spike looked across the table. "Yeah. What's up with that?"

"The fates," she answered simply.

Spike nodded as thought that explained everything. "Beginning to know

the feeling."

"Wait a minute," Buffy interrupted "Did you say that the Slayer was a

vampire?"

Spike nodded.

"And she was the only other vampire to pass the trials?"

Spike nodded again.

"So then you're not just human, you're.."

Spike nodded again.

"Oh." She looked at him. Really looked at him again. This was William,

but it was Spike. "So, then, you're a whole new line of Slayer? Or is

it just you? Or am I not the Slayer anymore?"

Spike tried to get her to slow her questions. "One at a time, love. All

I know is what I told you."

"Not true," Dawn threw in. "You forgot to tell her about the new vamp

in town."

"I already know about the vamp, and now I know what his connection is

to the Slayer line."

Spike smiled at her, then became more serious. "Buffy, Dawn said you

thought he was after you and Faith, but he isn't."

"But that vampire told me he was after the two Slay-" She put the

pieces together. "Ohhh. Well then do you know who he is?"

He shook his head. "'Fraid not."

"Buffy. The book?" Anya reminded her.

Buffy grabbed Spikes hand without thinking. "Do you still have the book

you used to heal Dru five years ago?"

"Du Lac?"

Buffy nodded.

"It's at my place."

"And the key?"

He shook his head. "No idea."

"Well. I'll go to the crypt and get the book. Where is it?" Buffy

stood up, and started for the door

"Not at the crypt."

She turned back around. "You just said.."

"I said it was at my place. Didn't say I was staying at the crypt."

"Wait a minute, both of you." Dawn stood up. "He just came back after

being gone for three months, and you're just going off and do Slayer

things?" Dawn looked between both of them.

"Would you rather I punched him?" Buffy asked plainly.

"No need," Spike answered. "Bitty Buffy already covered it."

Buffy looked at her sister, who was blushing.

"Knocked me clean over my desk."

Dawn turned her gaze to the newest Slayer pleading for him to be quiet.

"Even bloodied my nose a bit." Spike grinned back at Dawn.

"Okay. So all bases covered." Buffy surmised. "Where's your place?

I'll get the book."

Spike stood up. "Lemme go get it. Got to go back to the school anyway

An' get my stuff before some kid runs off with it."

Buffy pointed out the window. "It's daylight Spike."

He pointed at himself and reminded her. "All allergies have been cured,

love."

"Right. Sorry."

Spike strode past her and to the door. "S'alright. Took me some

getting used to too." He reached for the door, then yelled back at Buffy,

"You comin'?"

"Go on. I'll help Dawnie with any homework," Willow offered.

"Thanks." Buffy smiled and followed Spike out the door.

After the couple left, Dawn asked Willow, "How long until they're all

over each other?"

"I'd give them a day," Willow answered.

Anya shook her head. "I bet they copulate before they get back with the

book."

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Ok, I have my beta reader back. It seems there was an internet problem.

So hopefully this chapter, and the last will be posted before the end

of the day in archival quality. Thanks for your patients. Please R&R.

Had a few different things to discus in this chapter, and I wanted to

spend a suitable amount of time on each. Spuffy love coming soon.