Disclaimer:            I'm just playing; Saint Joss owns it all.  Except Simon and Jessica.

Maybe I got a little bit emotional about SMG leaving Buffy.  I know she'll be there for at least another series, but it still means that Buffy and Spike will never have the happy ever after I wanted.  Being the romantic that I am, it hurts.

So let's put it all right in fan fiction.

Please keep reviewing – it keeps me enthusiastic.

Preparation

Buffy lay next to Dawn, staring up at the ceiling.  Her sister was asleep, exhausted from the previous night.  The sun had come up about an hour before and was now shining through the flimsy curtains onto the bed, giving the room a cheerful, rosy glow.  But Buffy's mood was far from cheerful.  After Spike left, she'd tossed and turned all night, the terror in his eyes haunting her dreams when she'd managed to sleep.  She'd been lying like this for a couple of hours now.  Making a decision, Buffy slipped softly out of bed and pulled on her robe.

She opened the door to her room as quietly as she could.

"Giles!" she whispered, stifling a giggle.  The Watcher was sprawled over her bed on his back, fully dressed, his mouth slightly open and his glasses crooked across his face.  He'd fallen asleep whilst reading and the book lay across his chest, rising and falling with his gentle snoring.  Buffy sat on the edge of the bed and touched his shoulder.  He sprang upright, his glasses and the book falling to the floor.

"What!"

"It's okay, it's only me," Buffy tried not to laugh again; she'd never see Giles looking so scruffy.

"Oh, Buffy.  What time is it?"

She glanced at the clock, "It's about seven."

Giles scratched his head and picked up his glasses, "What can I do for you?"

"What about we go downstairs and I make us both some tea?  I need to talk to you."

Giles nodded and stood up, straightening his shirt.  They crept downstairs and past Xander, who was half-off the couch and snoring with abandon.  Giles settled down on one of the stools while Buffy put the kettle on.  Once she had done so, she sat down opposite him and told him what had happened between her and Spike the night before, leaving out some of the more personal details.  When she had finished, Giles was polishing his glasses vigorously.  He didn't say anything for a moment.

"Well?" prompted Buffy.

"I don't really know what you want me to say.  Your personal relationships are your own concern, despite what any of us like to think."

"I'm worried about him, Giles.  If he disappears now, he won't come back and we need him," Buffy explained.  She went to the kettle and started to make the tea.  Giles waited until she had put the mugs down and went around the island to sit next to her.

"We need him?" he asked, studying her face.

Buffy smiled, "All right, I need him.  You were right."

"Well, things have changed around here.  If you can actually say that I'm right, then anything's possible," he returned the smile.

"The problem is, now that I've come to my senses, Spike won't let me touch him.  He's terrified," Buffy sipped her tea, frowning slightly as it almost burnt her tongue.

Giles cleared his throat, "Do you want me to talk to him?"

"No.  Not standing on my own two feet was what put me in this mess in the first place.  I can handle it; I just needed to talk to someone," she looked down at her hands, "I needed to know that you were okay with this."

"Buffy, I will always be here for you, no matter what you do.  Even if I'm not on the same continent, you can always turn to me."

"'Sometimes the most adult thing you can do is to ask for help when you need it.'  I know.  And I won't forget," she took his hand, "Thank you."

Giles looked embarrassed, as he always did at displays of emotion, but he squeezed her hand before taking a sip of his tea.

"Hey guys, what's up?" Xander stood in the doorway, the blanket still wrapped around him.

"I'm just gonna make some breakfast.  Want some?" Buffy knew it was a silly question.  Xander practically fell over in his eagerness to take a seat.

"Did I hear someone say 'breakfast'?" Willow wandered into the room, "Shall I go and wake Dawnie?"

"No, let her sleep.  We've got a tough night ahead of us," Giles told her, "We have to be ready at the graveyard as soon as it's dark and we may be patrolling all night."

Buffy was digging around in the refrigerator for some bacon, "In that case, I say we all have a lazy day in front of the TV."

Giles sighed, "I propose we compromise.  We should spend the morning training and working out our plan of action."

"Then TV?" Xander put forward, hope in his eyes.

"Then we can relax until it gets dark.  We will need to be rested, I admit.  And perhaps some of the mindless rubbish they broadcast in this country will serve to take our minds of the night's work," Giles agreed reluctantly.

"Wow, things really have changed," Buffy grinned.

The kick caught Giles off-guard and he staggered backwards into the punch-bag.  Dawn giggled, "Sorry."

Buffy watched from the corner, a towel slung over he shoulders.

"Good.  Your balance is good.  You don't have Buffy's strength, so you're going to have to rely on speed and balance.  I think we should stop there," Giles straightened up, "Before one of you two kills me."

Buffy walked forward, "Wait a minute," she turned to her sister, "You feel ready to take me on?"

Dawn grinned, "All my life."

"Now, be careful.  I don't want either of you hurting yourselves before tonight.  Don't make this personal," Giles warned, stepping back off the mat.

"Now would we?" Buffy smiled, circling around to her left a little.  Dawn just stood ready, waiting for her.  Buffy relaxed her stance for a moment, then went in, fists flying.  Dawn defended well, blocking her sister's blows and giving as little ground as she could.  One of the punches made it through, catching Dawn on the side of the head.  She staggered and allowed herself to fall, bringing a leg round to try and knock Buffy off-balance.  Buffy jumped over her and twisted around, so she landed facing her sister.  Dawn got to her feet quickly and aimed a kick at her stomach.  Buffy grabbed Dawn's foot and twisted it round, throwing her sister to the ground.  She followed her down and pinned her there.  Dawn struggled for a second, then gave up.  She looked pissed.

"Well done, Dawn," Giles was giving her a round of applause.

"What?  Look at me; I'm done," Her sister let her up and Dawn flounced to the side of the room, snatching up her towel and scrubbing at her face.

"You lasted longer against Buffy than a lot of vampires.  Remember, she's the Slayer," Giles walked over to the girl and put an arm around her shoulders, "I'm proud of you, Dawn."

Buffy joined them, grinning, "Me too.  You almost got me with that last kick."

Dawn was starting to look less unhappy, "Yeah, but I didn't."

"Next time, go for the head.  Even if you don't make contact, it could throw your opponent off balance," Buffy told her, "Now let's get home and see how the guys are doing with the plan."

Simon was not happy.  He sat slumped on an old and rather mouldy beanbag in a rotting cellar.  Jessica had found the place last night in an abandoned building.  Simon had argued that the first place the Slayer and her friends might look would be any abandoned buildings in Sunnydale, but his sister had been unimpressed, saying that it would all be done the next night; it would all be over.  She had taken charge, slapping him viciously when he objected; she hadn't even bothered to waste her energy on hitting him properly.  Something wasn't right; she was Jessica any more.  How could you be so stupid? He asked himself, of course she's not; she's a vampire, a killer.  She no longer has a soul.  He dragged himself to his feet, his heart aching for the past, images of his little sister as a laughing child in his mind.  She's not your sister any more.  Moving slowly, he made his way to the door.

"Where do you think you're going, brother?"

He stopped, his back to her.

"Out."

Jessica sidled up behind him, "I asked where?"

He turned to face her, his voice trembling only slightly, "I want to go for a walk."

No, I don't think so." Her hand was on his arm, its grip tightening, "Why would you want to leave me now, Simon; this was your plan."

"I'm not leaving you."

"Yes you are.  I know you; you're walking out just when things are about to happen.  You wanted this.  Why leave now?" Jessica shook him.

Simon slumped, defeated, "I'm leaving because this isn't what I wanted.  I wanted to die when you were turned, but you couldn't kill me; even without a soul, you couldn't do it.  And I couldn't live my life without you.  I loved you, Jessica, my little sister; I tried to protect you.  And I failed.  I wanted to end the world that had brought this on us.  But you wanted something else, didn't you?"

She laughed at him, her eyes shining, "Of course I did.  I'm a vampire, a demon.  I want the battle you promised.  Hundreds of years of chaos and bloodshed as the war rages.  It will be beautiful, brother." She spun him around and threw him to the floor, "And you're going to get it for me."

Spike knocked on the door hesitantly.  Xander opened it.

"Oh, it's you," he turned away and went to sit next to Willow who was studying something on her laptop.  Spike closed the door behind him and hung up his duster.  He stood awkwardly at the bottom of the stairs.

"No Buffy, then?"

Willow glanced up, "She's at the Magic Box with Dawn and Giles.  They're training."

"I thought the shop got trashed," Spike said, then flinched as he remembered who had trashed it.  Willow seemed to shrink into herself.

Xander stood up, "Buffy insisted on the training room being the first bit re-built.  Said she'd need it.  Anya's gone on an extended holiday 'til my boys can get the place re-done," he glanced down at Willow, "I'll get some sodas."  He pushed past Spike, glaring at him.

"I'm sorry," Spike told Willow, his voice low.

"It's okay," she smiled sadly, "I guess we've both got some things to sort out."

Spike nodded and took a seat on the other side of her.

"So, what we got here, Red?" He asked as Xander returned and handed them each a can.

"Town plans.  I figure we can cover all the entrances, but that doesn't take into account anyone going over the walls."

"Best we can do is patrol.  Maybe leave someone on the main gates just in case," Spike agreed.

"But it's the biggest graveyard in town.  We'll never be able to cover the whole thing," Xander pointed out.  Spike was about to answer when the door opened and Buffy came in, followed by Dawn and Giles.

"I just think that if hair-pulling was allowed, I would've beaten her, hands down," Dawn was saying, "Hi guys."

Spike stood up as soon as Buffy walked in, trying to get to the kitchen without being noticed.

"Spike.  You're back."

Too late.  Buffy came over to stand by him and the two of them eyed each other uncomfortably.

"We have to talk," she told him.  Spike rolled his eyes.  Still talking, still discussing things.  Even with all the changes in his life, he was still an action kind of guy; not really the sort to sit around an analyse his feelings.  It made him nervous.

"Nothing to talk about, love."

Buffy grabbed his arm and started to drag him through the kitchen, "Fine; you listen, I'll talk." She took him out into the garden and practically shoved him onto the bench. Standing over him, she folded her arms.  Spike slumped in his seat, his eyes lowered.  Buffy sighed and sat down on the grass.

"You've got to get over this."

"Get over what?  The pain?  The guilt?  Or maybe you want me to get over my soul?" he asked bitterly.

"All right, that's it," Buffy got up on her knees in front of him, hauled back and punched him as hard as she could.  Spike's head snapped to the side and he half-rolled, half-fell off the bench.

"What the bloody hell was that for?" he demanded, holding his cheek.

"I thought I might be able to knock some of that self-pity out of you," Buffy was mad now, "Having a soul doesn't mean being a martyr.  Stop feeling sorry for yourself and try and do something about the guilt.  You were never a victim so stop being one now.  Jesus, Spike; get a life."  She left him lying on the grass and went back inside.

"So what's the plan?" she asked as she got back into the lounge.

Giles looked up from the town plans, "I'm afraid St Michael's cemetery has too many gates to try and prevent anyone going in.  And there are at least three entrances to the sewers in there, so it looks as if we're going to have to split up and patrol different sections."

"Sounds good," Buffy nodded, "How can we let the others know if we find anything?"

"God, Slayer; it's a wonder you haven't asked yourself that years ago," Spike came in and threw himself into an armchair, "You know, they have these wonderful inventions called cell phones.  Personally, I don't think they'll ever catch on, but maybe you could give them a try."

"What happened to your face?" asked Dawn.

Spike glanced up at Buffy, "Walked into the back door, bit," he lied.  Giles stifled a smile and turned back to the plans.

"Well, I suggest that someone goes and gets six inexpensive but serviceable cell phones," he said.

"Inexpensive?" Buffy repeated, "No way.  The Council's paying for this one, so we're getting the best of the best.  Willow, Dawnie," she turned to her sister, "Let's go shopping."

The girls had only been gone half an hour when Giles managed to corner Spike in the kitchen, where he was trying to find some food.

"Walked into the back door?"

Spike sighed, "Best I could do on short notice."

"I take it Buffy has had a word with you?" Giles smirked, much to Spike's annoyance.

"If that's what you'd call it, yeah.  Told me to stop being a martyr, pull myself together, that sort of thing." He sat down, "She's right, o'course."

Giles hesitated, then rested a hand on his shoulder, "You've come a long way already, Spike.  Now you just have to forgive yourself."  Spike looked at the Watcher's hand.  Giles withdrew it hurriedly and they both looked away awkwardly.

"Now, come and have a look at these plans."

Dawn bounced in through the door, holding a phone to her ear; "I'm walking in the door now." 

Willow was behind her with her own cell phone; "Me too."

Buffy followed them in, sighing dramatically.  She looked at the others, "They've been like this all the way home."

"Buffy, what's in that other bag?" Giles pointed with his glasses.

"Um, well, I saw this really cute shirt in a window and I went in a bought it, and while I was there, I saw a pair of trousers that went with the shirt, so I bought them…"

"Show him the boots, Buffy," Dawn told her, "They are sooo cool."

"Boots?" Giles raised an eyebrow.

"The Council are paying the bills for this place, so I thought I'd treat myself.  Y'know – relax before the big night?" Buffy pleaded.

"She does look very cute in the shirt," Willow interjected.

"I'm a girl, Giles.  Need pretty things, must look good."

Giles shook his head, but he let it drop, "Where are the phones, then?"

"Here," Dawn held up her bag, "Will's gonna put all the numbers in the speed dial, so we only have to press a couple of buttons to call each other." She started to take the cells out of her bag.

Buffy looked over at Spike, "Thanks.  It was a good idea."

He smiled, the first real smile she'd seen from him since he got back.  It looked good.

"At least I'm good for something," he replied.

"So much for relaxing in front of the TV for the afternoon," complained Xander.  It was almost dark and they were on their way out of the house.

"Yes, but at least Buffy got her new boots," Giles replied dryly.

Spike leaned over to Buffy as she closed and locked the door, "Willow was right; you do look cute in that shirt," he whispered.  She slapped him on the arm and walked past him.

"Will you lay off hitting me, Slayer!" he called after her.

They reached the cemetery just as the sun was setting and split into their groups.  Giles and Willow were covering the third closest to the main gates, Buffy and Dawn would cover the middle section and Spike and Xander the area furthest from the gates.  Neither of them had been particularly happy about it, but Buffy had threatened to hit them both and they had shut up.

Now it was almost eleven and the boys had stopped for a breather next to a crypt.  They could see most of their section from where they stood.  Spike got out a cigarette and leaned up against a headstone to smoke it.  Xander was pacing.

"Harris, will you just relax."

"It's all right for you; you can still fight.  I never learnt.  I hate this.  The running and hiding and waiting for Buffy to save us I can do, but this … I hate this," Xander carried on pacing.

"I heard you saved the world, mate," Spike walked over to him, "Never did say thanks for that," he offered a hand.  Xander hesitated, then shook it.  "Saving the world – more than I ever did.  I'm impressed," Spike went back to leaning on the headstone, "I just did me level best to cause a bit of havoc.  Thought that was what I should be doing, y'know, being a vampire and all, but now, …"

"Shut up, Spike," Xander interrupted.

"What?  I'm trying to be friendly here …"

"I said, shut up, Spike.  They're here."

Spike whirled around and saw a tall vampire striding towards them, her dark hair flying behind her.  She was followed by at least ten more vamps.

Xander swallowed, "And they brought some friends."

This chapter's a bit shorter than the others because I have only decided what's going to happen up until this point.  As soon as I've worked out the rest, I'll be back with the next bit.