AN: Here's Chapter thirteen... in this Chapter the gang finds out that Uther has risen and they need to find out away to destroy him, Conner and Dawn's relationship blossoms and Spike finally hears the choices that he has to choose from to continue his life or unlife.

Buffy, Willow, Giles and Xander headed towards the factory at dusk, taking Dawn and Anya back to the Summers' house.

Dawn went straight for the phone while Anya turned on the TV. She reached into her pocket and took out the sheet of paper Conner had given her before she left. IT was the hotel's phone number. She dialed, grinning as it rang, Cordelia's friendly voice answered.

"This is Angel Investigations, We help the Helpless, but we are not in right now to help you, please tell us what your problem is after the beep, Bye"

Dawn's face fell when the answering machine picked up. She decided to leave a message.

Dawn: Hey, it's Dawn, I was just calling up to say Hi to everyone and ah, Conner could ya call me back later? Bye!

Before Dawn turned off the cordless phone she heard a voice on the other line. She recognized it as Conner.

Conner: Hello? Hello? Dawn?

Dawn's Face erupted into a smile as she put the phone back up to her ear.

Dawn: Conner?

Conner: Hey Dawn

He seemed a little out of breath.

Dawn: Ran to the phone huh?

Conner: Yes, I was upstairs looking around and I heard the phone

Dawn: Where is everyone else?

Conner: They went to help the helpless as Cordelia says it

Dawn: Cool

They shared an awkward silence.

Dawn: So are things a little better with your dad?

Conner: I think so, he's still a little edgy but I think it will last

Dawn: That's good, it's usually no fun when you are fighting with your authority figures (laughs)

Conner: Thanks for the advice

Dawn: No problem, so what do you want to talk about?

Conner: I want you to tell me more about what your life is like, what it is like living in this world when your our age

Dawn: Ok...

They must have talked for at least an hour and a half. Conner said he had to go because Angel and the rest of the gang had walked in the door. They said their good byes and hung up. Dawn had a big smile on her face and she pulled her newest diary from under her bed and began to write.

***

Buffy opened the door of the factory and did a quick sweep of the pitch black room wit her eyes, she saw no movement and she didn't sense anything, she walked inside followed closely by her friends. Xander and Willow clicked on their flashlights.

Buffy: (softly) Xander, you come with me, Will go with Giles.

They nodded and went in opposite directions. They walked the factory, seeing nothing, which Buffy thought was strange because when they left this place almost six years ago they master's bones littered the floor, but there was nothing.

Xander: Maybe they disappeared

Buffy: I doubt it... Damn I hope they weren't taken

Buffy was wrong, they weren't taken and the situation had gotten worse. Giles called the two of them over to one side of the factory. It was the bodies of the three construction workers that were supposed to tear down the factory. They all had their throats ripped out and they were drained, but they were arranged in an evil arcane way. Their bodies were arranged in a circle and in the middle of them written in blood was...

"Home, sweet home"

They knew no normal vampire could have done this, they all knew Uther had risen.

***

Spike looked at Tara a look of impatience on his face.

Spike: I can't wait any longer, I am going crazy just waiting like this.

He couldn't stand watching Buffy, He hated feeling what she was feeling the inner turmoil, he hated they way her life turned out, that she never would have time to cope with a loss because the Hellmouth would keep throwing big bad after big bad after her.

He looked at Tara, unshed tears in his sapphire eyes.

Spike: Please, I need you to help me, I need to make a difference... in both of our lives.

Tara: (nods) It's time then

***

Buffy and her friends headed back home, defeated, but prepared to do a lot of research on how to a) kill him and b) make sure he stays gone. They walked in Buffy's house to find Anya watching cartoons and Dawn no where in sight.

Buffy: Where's Dawn?

Anya: Upstairs, Xander I still don't under stand why this evil rabbit...

Buffy shook her head, a small smile on her lips as she heard Anya talking about how evil Bugs bunny is. She knocked on Dawn's door.

Buffy: (opens door) Dawn?

She found her sister writing in her diary. Dawn turned and looked at her sister.

Dawn: Hey Buffy, did you find any master bones?

Buffy came and sat down next to her sister.

Buffy: We were too late, we think he's back, you want to join the research party?

Dawn: (shrugs) ok... Buffy?

Buffy: (looks at her sister)

Dawn: Never mind

Buffy shrugged and headed downstairs Dawn right behind her. Dawn was thinking whether or not she should tell Buffy the way she felt about Conner. Then she decided she shouldn't Buffy was going through too much at the moment to worry about her little sister's love life. They joined the scoobies in the living room.

***

Spike paced back and forth, the scenes in front of him had turned white it was just him and Tara.

Tara: Spike You have to understand that what ever you choose, you can't change your mind

Spike: (nods) ok lets get on with it then

Their surroundings changed once more and Spike and Tara were again in the alley were Spike was turned, but Drusilla was no where in sight instead he saw himself, crying running away from the laughing of the upper class. Then he saw his first love, Cicely running towards him.

Cicely: William! Wait please...

Spike saw himself turn and look at the beautiful woman; he quickly rubbed his eyes and straightens himself up

William: Yes my Lady

Cicely: I'm sorry William, we had no right to laugh at you... Your poetry could use a little work... (William looks away) but that doesn't matter... what matter's William is that I do like you, you have a way of growing on people

Spike watched William, who felt like he was in an awkward position, Spike also noticed the figures of Drusilla, Angelus, and Darla walking out of the alley not even giving the pair a second glance.

William: Y-you like me?

Cicely: I've always liked you William... (They kiss)

The image faded away and Spike looked at Tara.

Spike: That was how it was supposed to be if I wasn't a vampire?

Tara: (nods) You would have lived happily with Cicely, grown old together and both of your lives would have been better for it

Spike: As in she wouldn't be a vengeance demon

Tara: Exactly, so do you want to go on?

Spike nodded anxious to see what else he had to choose from.

The surroundings changed again to Spike and Drusilla in the car leaving Sunnydale after He had helped Buffy with her Angelus problem. Nothing looked different to Spike. He looked at Tara.

Spike: There's nothing different it's all the same, she will leave me for a chaos demon at the next rest stop

Tara: yes she will... but the point is you don't go to Sunnydale you just follow Drusilla around but she finally does come back to you

Spike pondered his first two choices, he could go back and live with the first woman he had ever loved or be with his black goddess the one who had given him a actual life, Spike couldn't decide. He could actually have a life with Cicely, but it wasn't Buffy. He looked at Tara.

Spike: What else?

Tara: Another path you could take is to stay here and become a spirit guide for lost souls... like me

Spike: Is there any way I could be with Buffy?

Tara looked away from Spike she knew he wouldn't settle for anything but another chance with Buffy.

Tara: There is another way

Spike looked at Tara his sapphire eyes anxious, he needed to be with Buffy.

Their surroundings changed once again but it wasn't his Beloved Buffy he was holding in his arms.

AN: that's the end of Chapter thirteen, who is this woman who Spike had a chance to share his life with, What is Willow hiding from everyone? Will Dawn Tell Buffy her feelings for Conner? Will the Scooby gang stop Uther Find out next time!!!! PLEASE REVIEW!!!!