Year 163, Meonik time, hours later
At the edge of the forest enshrouded in night, Jenn is pacing back and forth nervously as I approach her. When she discerns my arrival, she studies me with both trepidation and relief in her eyes.
Skin tingling and nerves on edge at what I'm about to ask, I swallow my fears and murmur, "Hey."
Her cheek healing nicely, Jenn's eyes widen at my casual demeanor, and she shoves her hands in her pockets as if unsure how to react. "How is he?"
How is he? I'm not sure. He might never recover from what Drusilla did to him. . . pulling out his intestines, half-blinding him. I'm so scared. What will I do without him. . . my constant companion, my unwavering source of support? Even in Drusilla's prison, I knew that he was there. . . alive. . . now. . .
Despite the lack of breeze, I shiver and rub my arms without thinking. "They've put him in a tank similar to the one I found him in. They're trying to use his soul's essence to reconstruct the damage."
Thankfully, I don't have to explain much; I had fifteen years to share my life with Jenn, Aimée, Aydin, and Rhonda. Even now, my stomach lurches with the cold realization of Aydin's death.
Jenn rushes to conclusions, "So, he'll be okay?"
"Thayne isn't sure if he will be able to reconstruct everything exactly." At this moment, I'm dead tired from the fight and our dimensional shift, and I haven't taken the time to fathom what he meant. Plus, I have more pressing matters with which to deal.
"How long did he say it would take for his recovery?"
I shrug, half out of irritation with the situation and half out of disappointment in myself for letting Spike get hurt and Aydin die. "I don't know," I snap.
Jenn stiffens at my tone but then makes a conscious shift and relaxes. She places her arm around me in understanding and answers her own question, "Spike'll be okay. We'll be okay." She changes the subject, "Aimée and Rhonda made it safely back to Earth. Theos and Thalia were really helpful."
"I'm glad Rhonda has Aimée. She'll need the support to deal with the loss."
Removing her arm from my shoulders and sitting on the ground next to me, Jenn nods. "I can't believe that even though we only spent fifteen years in that cage, one hundred and sixty years passed here, and two hundred sixty-six passed on Earth."
After living over a thousand years, the passage of time seems less drastic to me, but I acknowledge Jenn's perspective, "Yeah. When we return, the world will likely be pretty different."
Brow creasing in worry, Jenn sighs, picks up a loose stick, and begins tracing designs in the dirt. "Everyone we know will probably be dead. That's kind of a scary proposition."
I imitate her movements, using my finger to form little hills in the sediment. "Trust me. You'll get used to it."
We're silent for a while, lost in our own thoughts.
Then, I gather the courage to ask her what I've wanted to ask her since I found out the extent of Spike's injuries. I maintain a steady, even tone. "There's a reason I asked you to stay behind, Jenn."
She doesn't seem as surprised as I expect. "I know. Are you going to tell me now?"
"Well, the dimensional separation of evil and good has almost completely broken down, allowing even more demons onto Earth than were present when I was the slayer. We're gonna have to fight, Spike and I. In order to do that. . ."
The weight of what I'm asking dawns on the young vampire beside me, and Jenn jumps to her feet, not even bothering to dust off her hands. "No! I'm not doing that! I-I won't!"
More deliberately, I rise to face her. "Jenn, it's the only way we can help."
Jenn's glare is fierce as her fists ball at her sides. "No! You won't help, then! There have been enough deaths! We can handle things ourselves! You don't know what you're asking me to do! It'll never work anyway. . . not the way you want!" Before I can protest, she storms off into the forest.
I let her go. There will be time to convince her later. First, I have to be with Spike.
* * *
Year 163, Meonik time, two months later
He mutters something incomprehensible and shifts his weight to one side, his right hand finding a place beneath his head. The light snoring diminishes but doesn't completely dissipate when he changes position. His left hand feels the bed sheet in front of him as if he's half-searching for something. . . or someone. His forehead wrinkles when his senses deny him the satisfaction of finding their goal.
I marvel at the smooth, whole plane of the muscles in his abdomen, which are seemingly unblemished, unscarred by Drusilla's last minute gutting. Unable to resist, I run my fingertips over his muscles, relishing the warm heat rising from his flesh and smiling at the evidence of his instinctual arousal.
Good morning, sleepyhead. You've been asleep an awfully long time, you know? I missed you, but I haven't left your side, just as I know you'd never leave me. I was really worried about you. . . for a while there. They just took you out of the tank yesterday. Now, if only you'd open your eyes, so I can tell if. . .
"See anything you like, pet?"
My eyes meet two perfect, shining blue ones. Scarlet flames tinge my cheeks as I realize he's caught me staring. "How long have you been awake?"
He grins at me, eyes sparkling. "What? You think you touching me won't wake me up after all this time? You should know better."
"Look who's feeling healthy." I raise both eyebrows at him.
"Much. Thanks for asking." He runs a hand over his belly and his previously damaged eye. "And intact, it appears. Without residual soreness. And ready for action."
A matching flash of teeth fills my own face, and I leap on him from where I'm kneeling. Pinning him beneath me, I taunt, "Are you ticklish?"
"Now, hey, that's not what I meant by action," he mock-protests.
"Too bad," I taunt, bringing my fingers over his stomach and eliciting pure laughter that's like music to my ears.
Once he reaches the out-of-breath point, I pause, giving him just enough time to flip me over, roll on top of me, and kiss me tenderly. I nuzzle my nose against his and smile against his lips. His eyes are wide with the wildness of fresh life.
"I love you, Buffy," he states clearly as if he wants everyone to hear his declaration.
Brandishing my weapons again, I tease, "That's nice, Spike. Glad to know that," before tickling his ribs thoroughly and slipping out from under him.
"Bloody hell, wench!"
Bounding from the bed, I giggle and race across the room with Spike in hot pursuit. He catches me before I can dart into the bathroom, and he slams me against the wall, careful to cushion me from being hurt.
"Looks like the ghosties have let us stay in your quarters," he whispers, dangerously close to kissing me. Goosebumps dance over my arms, and my breaths come short and deep.
"Yep. You've been in the tank for a couple of months. I guess they thought they'd give you a reprieve." I twist my wrists in his gentle grip.
"And let you play with me?"
I rub my thigh against him so that he groans. "Yeah. They said you might be good for me."
"Hmmm. Wonder why." He blows puffs of air against my closed eyelids. "You never replied, Miss Summers."
"Replied to what?" I ask innocently.
He pouts, a look I've seen countless times previously. "You know very well what." He pulls me close so that I feel his heart pounding in time with mine.
"Oh, that." I inhale his scent as if I might drown in the smell of his life. "Hmmm. Maybe I love you, too."
Letting go of my arms, he pulls his hips flush with mine. "Maybe?"
He's definitely not in any pain. "I *was* worried about you."
Nipping my neck and sending shudders of desire over me, he demands, "Just a little?"
I cup his face in both my hands so that our hungry eyes are directly aligned. "*A lot* worried. And yes, Spike, you are loved. I love you. Always will."
* * *
Year 163, Meonik time, two hours later
"I can't do it, and I *won't*!" Jenn insists from where she's wading in the water of the stream on what's become her usual midnight stroll. "No matter how many times you ask me."
Spike is with me this time and comprehends the gravity of our situation. We're preparing to return to Earth, and decisions need to be made here, in this dimension. "Buffy and I agree on this one, pet. You are the only one who can do what we need. We only trust you to do it."
"And what? Allow you guys to lose your souls? Add two powerful and evil vamps to what the world's already got? Do you think I'm crazy?" Jenn splashes water at us with her foot. "No."
"We've talked with Thayne. He thinks he, Theos, and Thalia have a way to ensure that we keep our souls on the turning," I explain, trying to fight the annoyance I'm feeling at being completely drenched. . . one of the hazards of being short in a water fight.
"Yeah, he *thinks*. That's the key word here," Jenn asserts, staring at me. "Why *do* you trust them so much anyway? I don't get it."
I have no response to the trust part. . . I simply do. "They know what they're doing. They're doing blood and DNA scans on us right now to determine our level of health."
"And if something goes wrong? What then?"
Spike nears her, touching her shoulder. "You stake us, pure and simple. We'll be strapped down, and you'll know if it doesn't take. Vampires can sense souls."
"I know." Tears fill her eyes, and she bows her head. "I-I just don't think handing out immortality should be taken lightly."
I take Spike's hand as I stand next to him. "Trust me, Jenn. We believe this is the only way we can restore proper balance after what Prenwick. . .what we did. We feel responsible, and what we do. . . what we've always done is help. We can only fight the good fight if we have our strength and our immortality."
Spike squeezes my hand when we exchange glances. "And our souls, love."
"And our souls," I add. "Thinking time is over. We need to do this soon."
Jenn's reluctance still shines on her face, but she caves, "All right. When do we do this?"
Impulsively, I hug Jenn. "Tonight. Everything's set up in the lab."
"Not tonight," Thalia's voice melts out of the trees, and I belatedly detect her signature sugary smell. "You have to wait."
I turn toward her voice, letting Spike's hand loose. "Why do we have to wait?"
"Well, you actually might be waiting a while."
"How long's a while, pet?" Spike wonders, crossing his arms but moving aside so Jenn can peer between the two of us. . . not that she can see anything but the forest.
Thalia chuckles, and I can't tell if her mirth is based in joy or irony. "See, there's a little something wrong with Buffy's blood."
My eyes become saucers, and a thousand thoughts race through my mind. . . me coming back from heaven with "wrong" DNA, me having leukemia, me being a slayer turned vampire. I feel a bit faint at the thought of something else going wrong. Unconsciously, I link arms with Spike.
Spike finds his voice first, "Um, what did you find wrong exactly? Is it going to interfere with the change?"
"Well, um, you, or rather Buffy, can't exactly be vamped until after the baby's born."
TBC. . . Whoa! After all these years of wanting a child, Buffy and Spike become human, and oops, there's now a baby on the way! Just when they need to save the world again! What will Buffy and Spike do? Will they remain human, be revamped, stay in the other dimension? Stay tuned. . . more surprises await! ;o) Hope you're not too bored, yet!
Thanks for the great reviews! They truly help me keep writing this. . . knowing that you're reading and enjoying!
Next up, part 5 of "Three Wishes!"
Take care, Sandy
http://www.secretloft.com/ed/
At the edge of the forest enshrouded in night, Jenn is pacing back and forth nervously as I approach her. When she discerns my arrival, she studies me with both trepidation and relief in her eyes.
Skin tingling and nerves on edge at what I'm about to ask, I swallow my fears and murmur, "Hey."
Her cheek healing nicely, Jenn's eyes widen at my casual demeanor, and she shoves her hands in her pockets as if unsure how to react. "How is he?"
How is he? I'm not sure. He might never recover from what Drusilla did to him. . . pulling out his intestines, half-blinding him. I'm so scared. What will I do without him. . . my constant companion, my unwavering source of support? Even in Drusilla's prison, I knew that he was there. . . alive. . . now. . .
Despite the lack of breeze, I shiver and rub my arms without thinking. "They've put him in a tank similar to the one I found him in. They're trying to use his soul's essence to reconstruct the damage."
Thankfully, I don't have to explain much; I had fifteen years to share my life with Jenn, Aimée, Aydin, and Rhonda. Even now, my stomach lurches with the cold realization of Aydin's death.
Jenn rushes to conclusions, "So, he'll be okay?"
"Thayne isn't sure if he will be able to reconstruct everything exactly." At this moment, I'm dead tired from the fight and our dimensional shift, and I haven't taken the time to fathom what he meant. Plus, I have more pressing matters with which to deal.
"How long did he say it would take for his recovery?"
I shrug, half out of irritation with the situation and half out of disappointment in myself for letting Spike get hurt and Aydin die. "I don't know," I snap.
Jenn stiffens at my tone but then makes a conscious shift and relaxes. She places her arm around me in understanding and answers her own question, "Spike'll be okay. We'll be okay." She changes the subject, "Aimée and Rhonda made it safely back to Earth. Theos and Thalia were really helpful."
"I'm glad Rhonda has Aimée. She'll need the support to deal with the loss."
Removing her arm from my shoulders and sitting on the ground next to me, Jenn nods. "I can't believe that even though we only spent fifteen years in that cage, one hundred and sixty years passed here, and two hundred sixty-six passed on Earth."
After living over a thousand years, the passage of time seems less drastic to me, but I acknowledge Jenn's perspective, "Yeah. When we return, the world will likely be pretty different."
Brow creasing in worry, Jenn sighs, picks up a loose stick, and begins tracing designs in the dirt. "Everyone we know will probably be dead. That's kind of a scary proposition."
I imitate her movements, using my finger to form little hills in the sediment. "Trust me. You'll get used to it."
We're silent for a while, lost in our own thoughts.
Then, I gather the courage to ask her what I've wanted to ask her since I found out the extent of Spike's injuries. I maintain a steady, even tone. "There's a reason I asked you to stay behind, Jenn."
She doesn't seem as surprised as I expect. "I know. Are you going to tell me now?"
"Well, the dimensional separation of evil and good has almost completely broken down, allowing even more demons onto Earth than were present when I was the slayer. We're gonna have to fight, Spike and I. In order to do that. . ."
The weight of what I'm asking dawns on the young vampire beside me, and Jenn jumps to her feet, not even bothering to dust off her hands. "No! I'm not doing that! I-I won't!"
More deliberately, I rise to face her. "Jenn, it's the only way we can help."
Jenn's glare is fierce as her fists ball at her sides. "No! You won't help, then! There have been enough deaths! We can handle things ourselves! You don't know what you're asking me to do! It'll never work anyway. . . not the way you want!" Before I can protest, she storms off into the forest.
I let her go. There will be time to convince her later. First, I have to be with Spike.
* * *
Year 163, Meonik time, two months later
He mutters something incomprehensible and shifts his weight to one side, his right hand finding a place beneath his head. The light snoring diminishes but doesn't completely dissipate when he changes position. His left hand feels the bed sheet in front of him as if he's half-searching for something. . . or someone. His forehead wrinkles when his senses deny him the satisfaction of finding their goal.
I marvel at the smooth, whole plane of the muscles in his abdomen, which are seemingly unblemished, unscarred by Drusilla's last minute gutting. Unable to resist, I run my fingertips over his muscles, relishing the warm heat rising from his flesh and smiling at the evidence of his instinctual arousal.
Good morning, sleepyhead. You've been asleep an awfully long time, you know? I missed you, but I haven't left your side, just as I know you'd never leave me. I was really worried about you. . . for a while there. They just took you out of the tank yesterday. Now, if only you'd open your eyes, so I can tell if. . .
"See anything you like, pet?"
My eyes meet two perfect, shining blue ones. Scarlet flames tinge my cheeks as I realize he's caught me staring. "How long have you been awake?"
He grins at me, eyes sparkling. "What? You think you touching me won't wake me up after all this time? You should know better."
"Look who's feeling healthy." I raise both eyebrows at him.
"Much. Thanks for asking." He runs a hand over his belly and his previously damaged eye. "And intact, it appears. Without residual soreness. And ready for action."
A matching flash of teeth fills my own face, and I leap on him from where I'm kneeling. Pinning him beneath me, I taunt, "Are you ticklish?"
"Now, hey, that's not what I meant by action," he mock-protests.
"Too bad," I taunt, bringing my fingers over his stomach and eliciting pure laughter that's like music to my ears.
Once he reaches the out-of-breath point, I pause, giving him just enough time to flip me over, roll on top of me, and kiss me tenderly. I nuzzle my nose against his and smile against his lips. His eyes are wide with the wildness of fresh life.
"I love you, Buffy," he states clearly as if he wants everyone to hear his declaration.
Brandishing my weapons again, I tease, "That's nice, Spike. Glad to know that," before tickling his ribs thoroughly and slipping out from under him.
"Bloody hell, wench!"
Bounding from the bed, I giggle and race across the room with Spike in hot pursuit. He catches me before I can dart into the bathroom, and he slams me against the wall, careful to cushion me from being hurt.
"Looks like the ghosties have let us stay in your quarters," he whispers, dangerously close to kissing me. Goosebumps dance over my arms, and my breaths come short and deep.
"Yep. You've been in the tank for a couple of months. I guess they thought they'd give you a reprieve." I twist my wrists in his gentle grip.
"And let you play with me?"
I rub my thigh against him so that he groans. "Yeah. They said you might be good for me."
"Hmmm. Wonder why." He blows puffs of air against my closed eyelids. "You never replied, Miss Summers."
"Replied to what?" I ask innocently.
He pouts, a look I've seen countless times previously. "You know very well what." He pulls me close so that I feel his heart pounding in time with mine.
"Oh, that." I inhale his scent as if I might drown in the smell of his life. "Hmmm. Maybe I love you, too."
Letting go of my arms, he pulls his hips flush with mine. "Maybe?"
He's definitely not in any pain. "I *was* worried about you."
Nipping my neck and sending shudders of desire over me, he demands, "Just a little?"
I cup his face in both my hands so that our hungry eyes are directly aligned. "*A lot* worried. And yes, Spike, you are loved. I love you. Always will."
* * *
Year 163, Meonik time, two hours later
"I can't do it, and I *won't*!" Jenn insists from where she's wading in the water of the stream on what's become her usual midnight stroll. "No matter how many times you ask me."
Spike is with me this time and comprehends the gravity of our situation. We're preparing to return to Earth, and decisions need to be made here, in this dimension. "Buffy and I agree on this one, pet. You are the only one who can do what we need. We only trust you to do it."
"And what? Allow you guys to lose your souls? Add two powerful and evil vamps to what the world's already got? Do you think I'm crazy?" Jenn splashes water at us with her foot. "No."
"We've talked with Thayne. He thinks he, Theos, and Thalia have a way to ensure that we keep our souls on the turning," I explain, trying to fight the annoyance I'm feeling at being completely drenched. . . one of the hazards of being short in a water fight.
"Yeah, he *thinks*. That's the key word here," Jenn asserts, staring at me. "Why *do* you trust them so much anyway? I don't get it."
I have no response to the trust part. . . I simply do. "They know what they're doing. They're doing blood and DNA scans on us right now to determine our level of health."
"And if something goes wrong? What then?"
Spike nears her, touching her shoulder. "You stake us, pure and simple. We'll be strapped down, and you'll know if it doesn't take. Vampires can sense souls."
"I know." Tears fill her eyes, and she bows her head. "I-I just don't think handing out immortality should be taken lightly."
I take Spike's hand as I stand next to him. "Trust me, Jenn. We believe this is the only way we can restore proper balance after what Prenwick. . .what we did. We feel responsible, and what we do. . . what we've always done is help. We can only fight the good fight if we have our strength and our immortality."
Spike squeezes my hand when we exchange glances. "And our souls, love."
"And our souls," I add. "Thinking time is over. We need to do this soon."
Jenn's reluctance still shines on her face, but she caves, "All right. When do we do this?"
Impulsively, I hug Jenn. "Tonight. Everything's set up in the lab."
"Not tonight," Thalia's voice melts out of the trees, and I belatedly detect her signature sugary smell. "You have to wait."
I turn toward her voice, letting Spike's hand loose. "Why do we have to wait?"
"Well, you actually might be waiting a while."
"How long's a while, pet?" Spike wonders, crossing his arms but moving aside so Jenn can peer between the two of us. . . not that she can see anything but the forest.
Thalia chuckles, and I can't tell if her mirth is based in joy or irony. "See, there's a little something wrong with Buffy's blood."
My eyes become saucers, and a thousand thoughts race through my mind. . . me coming back from heaven with "wrong" DNA, me having leukemia, me being a slayer turned vampire. I feel a bit faint at the thought of something else going wrong. Unconsciously, I link arms with Spike.
Spike finds his voice first, "Um, what did you find wrong exactly? Is it going to interfere with the change?"
"Well, um, you, or rather Buffy, can't exactly be vamped until after the baby's born."
TBC. . . Whoa! After all these years of wanting a child, Buffy and Spike become human, and oops, there's now a baby on the way! Just when they need to save the world again! What will Buffy and Spike do? Will they remain human, be revamped, stay in the other dimension? Stay tuned. . . more surprises await! ;o) Hope you're not too bored, yet!
Thanks for the great reviews! They truly help me keep writing this. . . knowing that you're reading and enjoying!
Next up, part 5 of "Three Wishes!"
Take care, Sandy
http://www.secretloft.com/ed/