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 3: What the Slayer Deserves

            "There's a place in Africa where one can go through trials of all sorts. I told the demon guy that I wanted that bloody chip out of my head and to give the slayer what she deserves. Let me tell you what, a boxing match with a guy with fire fists is no fun for a vampire."

            Willow winced at this statement, but silently allowed Spike to continue.

            "Well, after all the bloody trials were through, I told the demon that I wanted to, and I quote, 'Give the slayer what she deserves.' Then he grabbed my head and there was a flash of white light, and all of a sudden, I had my soul."

            Willow stared at Spike, trying to absorb everything that had fallen upon her ears.  A soul, she thought to herself. Well that kinda explains everything, now doesn't it?

            "Your soul," she said softly.

            "Yeah, my bloody soul! Now how am I supposed to give the slayer what she deserves? Now I'll feel all sorry about anything I do to her. Or have done to her." Spike said, he as bewildered as she.

            Spike's soul…what the slayer deserves…Willow's thoughts trailed off as she tried to make sense of how the two could possibly be related.

            "I'm not quite sure how it makes sense, either. The demon guy thought that your soul was what Buffy deserved? How odd." Willow replied.

            "Well, he seemed to think so. I personally have no idea what is…or isn't…going on in that bugger's head." Spike shrugged his shoulders as he continued. "Then he sent me off to some shaman, a little old African bloke who acted as a sort of, well, therapist you could say, to help me adjust to this business of having a soul. Kept me from going crazy and such, and to deal with the remorse of my 'demonic' past." Spike chuckled. "This bloke would be great for Angel, maybe he wouldn't be so bloody moody all the time."

            Willow chuckled at the mental image of Angel lying on therapist's couch pouring out his heart and soul to Sigmund Freud.

            Spike was then silent, wishing he had a cigarette. Telling someone about his soul was quite stressful in and of itself. Telling the slayer's best friend, however, was above and beyond the stress one would feel in a million lifetimes, at least at that moment.

            "Well, um, basically," Willow said, carefully choosing her words, "you went to Africa, got a soul, went to therapy, and are now back in Sunnydale to give Buffy what she deserves."

            "You got it," Spike said. "Ten points for our lovely Red," he could help but to sarcastically add.

            However, the friendly barb just made Willow smile. Maybe Spike-with-a-soul wasn't so bad after all.

            "It's almost sunrise," Willow said, seeing the very beginnings of dawn in the sky. "Better get inside before you turn all dusty," she said to her newfound friend.

            "Best idea I've heard in a long time. Well, guess I'll see you around." Spike said as he stood up and headed off in the direction of his crypt.

            "Spike, wait!" Willow shouted at Spike, and he turned around.

            "If you can get a soul, do you think I could get Tara back?" she asked, hoping the answer would be yes.