Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me except the storyline...don't sue! I only have 6 cents to my name and I need a new car!

A/N: If you are offended by the thought of two women in love, then why are you reading stories is this freakin' category? Anyway, if that is the case, turn back now before it's too late...bwahahahaha!!!

Spoilers: The Sixth Season

Summary: Willow enlists Spike's help to bring back her beloved Tara.

And now, on with the show!

Chapter 2: Soulless Demon

            Willow's heels clicked against the pavement as she trod down the well-worn path to the Magic Box. Shivering, she pulled her hoodie closer around her as she approached her favorite store. She paused, staring at the entrance, remembering the happy times she had once spent there with Tara and the rest of the Scoobs. She shuddered as the painful memory of the day she had tried to destroy the world came flooding back to her, quickly erasing any happy memory that she might have been experiencing. Still, she slowly approached the window near the entrance to peer inside the place that she had nearly put in ruins.

            Wow, she breathed, Anya and Giles really did do an incredible job restoring this place, silently observing to herself. It looked good as new, even better in fact. The new Victorian- style furniture was elegantly crafted cherry wood polished to a beautiful reflective shine. The chairs, not to be outdone, had embroidered seats with a rose design on a cream-colored background that accented the rich-toned wood beautifully. In the center of every table was a lamp with rounded cream-colored fringed lampshades on stems that matched the wood. It was from one of these lamps that light softly spilled adding even more to the elegant atmosphere. It looked warm and inviting, too inviting, in fact.

            Willow…Willow…

            She could almost hear the volumes of magickal texts calling to her, asking her to once more indulge herself in the pages and words and spells that could make any (even her darkest) wishes come true. She placed her trembling fingers to the windowpanes, as a child might to the windows of a toy store.

            Willow shook her head and quickly removed her fingers from the planes of glass, as if she'd been burned. She then quickly stepped backwards away from the window, still staring at the elegance and warmth from which she knew she must never approach alone again.

            However, in her haste to remove herself from temptation, she was surprised to find that she had backed right into another insomniac out in the cold Sunnydale night.

            "Ooof!" Willow exclaimed as she landed hard on her buttocks on the chilly sidewalk.

            "Watch where you're bloody going!" a familiar voice growled at her as the red-headed witch bowled over the bleached-blonde vampire.

            "Sorry, Spike, "she softly apologized, eyes wide with embarrassment.

            "Just don't do it again." He paused a moment, and then extended his right hand to her. "Hand up?" he asked.

            What in the hell? Willow thought as she took advantage of the unusually kind gesture, especially for who was offering it. She had always thought of Spike as someone who would rather knock someone over than help them up.

            "Thanks," she replied, averting her eyes the way she usually did in an uncomfortable situation. She let go of his hand and removed herself a couple of paces (this time watching behind her), brushing the dirt off the seat of her pants.

            "So Red, what're you doing out here in the dead of the night without your slayer friends to protect you? Shouldn't you be at home with your little girlfriend?" Spike asked in his usual sarcastic, blunt way.

            Willow's body stiffened, her face contorting from one of discomfort to a blend of hurt and anger. Her hands became clenched fists at her sides, carefully putting her thoughts together to tell Spike off.

            Uh oh…was the only thought that Spike clearly had before Willow's mouth opened.

            "Great idea, Spike! I'd love to be at home with her, if she weren't dead! But you don't care, do you? Of course you don't! Probably just wanted me to come up with some kind of spell to get rid of your chip thingy! Never mind poor Willow, who can't even do magic without killing someone, although in your case, I might just take that chance!" came flying out of Willow's mouth as tears began forming in her eyes.

            Shit, Spike thought. Haven't even been back in Sunnydale for one day and already I've got the Slayer's best friend ready to kill me.

            "Whoa, what happened?" Spike asked, hoping that she wouldn't kill him if he showed some concern…the crazy thing was, he really was concerned. Damn soul.

            "Why? So you can laugh? 'Oh, poor Willow, boo-hoo-hoo!' Like you would know anything at all about love, or being in love! Look at Drusilla, for Goddess' sake!" She began to pace as the volume of her voice increased. "You even tried to rape my best friend, and now…" she trailed off and paused, catching her breath. She took a deep breath and was off again. "Now you come along all and you're all nicey-nice and all "hand up" and all concerned over Tara's death. It's not like you really care or anything, probably just want to pretend to be my friend so you can get to Buffy. But that's not going to happen!" Tears were clearly streaming down her face now, showing all the hurt and anger that she still held inside.

            Spike's eyes widened, clearly taken aback by Willow's outburst.

            "No, Red, I swear it isn't like that. I was seriously just asking…" Spike began, but was cut short by Willow.

            "Then what is it like, huh? WHAT? You could never know love, you soulless demon! Only lust, rape, and sex for you!" Her green eyes were shimmering from the tears that flowed freely from them, tears that were now turning to blood.

            "Red! Oh God! You must stop crying! Your tears…" Spike reached out his hand and caught a bloody tear on his fingertip. "See…they're turning to blood…that can't be good."

            Willow calmed down at the sight of her bloody tears. Spike resisted the temptation to lick up her tears, although it was quite trying. He placed an arm around her shoulders, and she did not resist, much to his surprise. He led her to a nearby park bench and sat her down, ready to set the record straight. Ready to trust this girl that he barely knew with his biggest secret.

            "Red, I can understand love. Vampires, with or without souls, can and do know love. As for me being a soulless demon, not anymore."

            "What?" Willow asked. Spike, with a soul…that would be way too weird. Willow thought to herself.

            "That's where I've been for the past three months…off in Africa getting a soul. Actually, it began as a quest to get rid of this bloody chip, but I got a soul instead." Spike watched Willow's jaw drop as he revealed his secret.

            "How? Why? What? Where? Well, where in Africa, I mean." Willow started babbling.

            "Be glad you're sitting down, cause this is going to take a while." Spike said, the street lamp harshly illuminating their faces in this memorable night.