Title: The shell without Humanity
Rating:PG-13
Disclaimer:Not smart enough, or enough money so it ain't mine. DAMN YOU WHEDON!
Summary: AU on Grave. During, not after so it's more original than most.

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Dark, dark everywhere, can't see. It burns. I can feel it, on my skin, crawling, slithering, everywhere, in me, on me. I can feel it slowly feeding, maggots. It burns. Oh God it BURNS!

Her eyes shot open. Muscles in her stomach contracting she bolted upright. She didn't even realize she was screaming till it reached her own ears. Her scream died into a sob as the tears slid down her cheeks.

Red hair swished as she frantically checked to see there was no darkness. Nothing other than clothes was on her skin. She was sitting in bed, in a room.

Coherence seeped into her foggy mind. She realized that she was in Xander's bedroom. Idly she wondered why she was in there. As soon as the question was asked it was answered with blinding clarity.

The memories that came made her body start to shake as the tears came on in force. Not able to stand it she buried her face into the warm pillow, hoping against hope that maybe it would bury the feelings, memories and pain. Her sobs soon died down. Turning her head she stared blankly at the wall.

Silence filled the room.

But the thoughts in her head screamed. Inside she had given up, let the memories scream, their voices would fill her and shut her down.

Though the screams were loud she knew of the world around her, which only reached to the walls of the room. She could hear the door open or the clock tick. She could see the sunlight or moonlight.

But her body stayed still. Because she feared that if she moved anything there would be pain on the outside as well as in.

She acted like she didn't feel the bed shift when he sat opposite to her, which was odd because she didn't hear the door open. She had her back to him. But she could almost tell that he was sitting against the headboard. She didn't care who it was, she was lost in her own pain. She kept as still as possible, people usually went away if you stayed still long enough.

Her body tensed as she felt his hand come near her head. It was worse when they tried to comfort through touch.

It just reminded her of what she had done. Her muscles seized as the hand began to stroke her hair.

But nothing happened.

Slowly a tune broke through the walls, whoever he was, he was humming. The tune seemed to bring memories and feelings that had no relation. All were of her. Some smiling, some just doing regular things. But all were of her. And with each image was a deep love. All different. Deeper, intense, lazy, all of it different.

Then a memory popped up she recognized. It had been a conversation between her and Buffy in college. Instead she was looking at herself, instead of the slayer.

That's when Willow realized, she was seeing there memories of her. The love that followed made her smile and new tears traced down her face.

The memories played out all from different points of view with different kinds of love. Xander, Giles, Buffy, Dawn, Tara, even Spike and Anya had some kind of affinity for her.

They all loved her. What broke her down was when the love was felt even when she was trying to kill them. She saw herself determined to kill Buffy, and all the slayer felt was love and sorrow.

It was too much.

Turning to the person behind her she buried her head in his chest and sobbed no longer tears of guilt or sadness, but relief. They loved her still.

The memories and feelings slowly faded. Now all she felt were the hands stroking her hair, and circling her back. The witch sniffled and relaxed. Letting the hands slowly calm her heart.

Figuring now was a good time to speak to Xander she looked up into blue eyes.

"Hey red."

Shooting out of his arms and out of the bed. The sheets tangled in her legs causing her to trip and land on her butt. That didn't stop her from kicking them off and scooting frantically into the corner.

He didn't move from the spot. In fact all he did was put his hands behind his head. But Willow didn't dare uncurl herself. Her eyes darted to each of the corners watching for the darkness to start seeping in.

But nothing happened.

Finally her eyes settled on him. Quickly she took in his appearance. Gone was his duster and black clothes. In there place was a white t-shirt and matching slacks. He seemed to radiate warmth.

"You done?"

His voice startled her, and her eyes traveled to his face.

Instead of the bleach blonde or deep Black. His hair was golden brown. It was the same length as she usually saw it but wasn't gelled back allowing it to curl. She also took in the fact he had a tan and no scar cutting his eyebrow. The air around him lacked the danger that usually inhabited it, instead there was a warmth that radiated from him.

Relaxing her tense muscles she decided to take a chance.

"Spike?"

She was surprised at how scratchy her voice was course she only used it for screaming. His laugh instead of making her cringe it actually warmed her.

"No pet."

She flinched a bit, thinking that maybe it could be a hallucination.

"Can't really consider me Spike. Spike is a demon, I'm just his soul."

Her brows knitted together in confusion.

"But I-I saw you before. You were all black and demony. Not a real good sign of having a soul."

He took his hands from behind his head and swung his legs over the side of the bed. His grin faded, but he didn't loose the warm look on his face.

"Well there are three things to know about that. One I'm not in our body, two neither is Spike."

He had stood up while speaking and made his way toward her. Slowly stepping with each word. When he was a foot away from her he paused and kneeled down. Looking directly in her eyes. Confused on how he could be in front of her She asked.

"Then wh..."

"I'm in you."

When he said it her eyes went wide. She began to sputter.

"But y-you can't be in me, I have a soul. I know I went all demony. But I still, don't I?"

Her eyes began to tear up, thoughts raced through her head, fearing that maybe she had lost her soul when she killed Warren. Seeing this he was quick to comfort, but never lost the glow in his face.

"You still have your soul."

The tears fell down her cheeks and her head fell into her hands not wanting him to see. Even if this wasn't Spike she didn't want to show weakness. Which is a bit odd cause she just got done sobbing into his chest.

"Then why?"

He took her shoulders in his hands making her look up at him.

"Because something big is going to happen. And they are going to need you. I'm here because you were lost, and they will need you soon. If you don't help them, she will die. Without you, she will die."

The tears soon stopped.

"I-I don't understand."

Her voice was shaky but gaining in strength.

"Red, when it's time, you will know what to do. Just know that they love you."

With that he leaned forward and kissed her forehead. Her eyes closed at the simple gentleness of it. When she opened them he was gone. But the faint feel of his lips remained and faded away. The redhead didn't notice doorknob turn.

Xander poked his head in part of the hourly check of his best friend. But a rush of panic went through him at the site of the disheveled bed. Following the tangled sheets to see a tired worn out Willow sitting in the corner.

That panic turned to wary excitement. This was good, maybe.

"Willow"

The sound of her name caused her head to turn towards him, her eyes following. With her friends face she remembered the love he and her friends had for her. With that she smiled.

Seeing his friends tentative smile his heart leapt. Immediately he kneeled down beside her and wrapped his arms around her. His own sobs shaking his body.

For the first time in what seemed like ages she felt safe in her friends arms and eagerly hugged back.

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A/N: All right well I'm getting some confidence here from the great responses.

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