There was a blinding light. She blinked a few times trying to get used to the normal light and the
feeling of having a physical body. The first thing she saw was the current Slayer. She smiled.
"Well that's a turn up, isn't it?"
The room was full of people, all staring at her.
"Hi, I'm Buffy."
"I know who you are. You're making a lot of waves up there, you know?"
She ran her hand through her hair. "Mind if I sit?"
"Oh yeah, sure." She sat on a chair. The rest of the group gathered round the outskirts of the room.
"So you need my help. What can I do?"
"Well you seem to know who I am, but, well, I don't mean to be rude, but who are you?"
"Goodness I'm sorry. I'm Natalie. I'm a past slayer, and current helper of you, it seems."
The young red haired witch eyed her with concern "Are you sure we can trust her Buffy?"
"I think so, but there's one way to find out for sure. I'll call Giles."
"That's your watcher, right? Sounds good. I want you to trust me, so anything you want to ask, go ahead."
"Who was the girl before you, and after, then?" a young guy chirped up. He seemed very defensive.
"Well, after, I don't know. Before, a girl from China, killed by William the Bloody, who you probably don't know."
The whole group looked at each other.
"Or I could be wrong?"
"You know of Spike?" Buffy asked.
"Well, he did try and kill me for a while so, yeah, kind of."
"Well, I think you should know, he's here."
Panic set in as Natalie jumped up "Where? Is he the one after you?"
Buffy put her hand on Natalie's shoulder. "I guess we should fill her in before dark."
Natalie sat on the couch, the group now dispersed. Willow sat beside her. It had turned dark, and Buffy had gone to
meet Spike before he saw Natalie. "You ok now?"
"I'm not sure, I can't believe he's still around. And good?" she raised her eyebrow and bit her lip. She really didn't
want to see him yet, but if Buffy wanted her to, she had to.
The front door opened and Buffy came in. Spike was behind her. He looked just the same, apart from the up-to-date clothes.
She looked at him.
"Oh that one. Yeah I remember her, but I didn't kill her." Spike scoffed.
"I never said you did." She stood ready for an attack that wasn't coming "I said you tried to, but you killed my watcher.
That's was as close as you got, and to be honest, you did me a favour with him."
Everyone was shocked at the change in her, apart from Spike. "Feisty one, isn't she now. I remember why I stayed after
you for so long."
"Spike, enough. Natalie, can I talk to you ALONE?"
She followed Buffy into the kitchen
"Is this gonna be a problem, you and Spike. 'Cos if so, I can get him to stay out the way."
A flutter in her stomach told Natalie that that was not a good plan. She'd come down, hoping to see him again.
There was no way she was going to agree to that. "No, it's ok, I just have to deal with it. I'll be fine, promise."
"Ok, I'm going on patrol. You wanna come with? Spike will probably tag along as well."
"Ok, I could use the exercise. Got to get used to having a body again."
She walked slightly behind Spike and Buffy. Spike kept looking back to check on her, but she didn't know if it was to
check she was still there, or that she wasn't going to stick the stake in his back. She smiled to herself. Maybe she'd
do that later. She thought about everything they had told her, the chip, him being in love with Buffy, and Dru gone.
It was a lot to take in. She wouldn't have thought they would separate like that. They seemed to be made for each other.
And in love with a slayer, that was a good one. She laughed to herself, and Buffy and Spike turned round and looked at her.
"Sorry," she apologised.
Buffy carried on. Spike dropped back and walked with her. "So did you tell them how you died then?"
"No, and you're not going to either. I'm sure it's not in the diaries."
"That's for sure. One of the first things I looked for, the one that got away. You know," there was an awkward pause,
"so why you do it?"
"None of your business really, is it?"
She walked faster to catch up with Buffy and out of nowhere a vamp flew at her. She automatically ducked, and he flew over
her at Spike They both fell to the ground.
"Duck!" she said lamely
The vamp got up quickly and went to attack again. Quick as
him, Natalie held a stake out and the vamp ran into it.
"Ok that was to easy. What happened? The vampires lose more brain cells during the years? I didn't think that was possible."
"Hey, we're not all like that," Spike said as he dusted himself off.
"Sorry Spike, I agree. That was a bit easy, nice fighting though."
"Not my usual weapon, but it worked."
"What's your usual weapon then?" Buffy asked.
"Staff," Spike and Natalie answered at the same time.
"Ok, didn't need it in stereo, but ok."
Buffy moved on. Natalie looked at Spike "what's stereo?"
The rest of the patrol was quiet, but it gave Natalie a chance to have a look round Sunnydale. It was a nice little town.
Buffy and she spoke about dying and heaven, not that there was much to discuss, but Buffy was happier that she had someone
to confide in.
When they got back to the house, Buffy went to bed, but Natalie couldn't sleep. She read a bit, catching up on what had
happened in the world. She got bored after a while, so she left a note with an amazing pen that didn't need ink.
Willow had shown it to her earlier, but she still found it amazing.
She wandered to the cemetery that was nearest to the house and walked around. she was uncertain if she wanted a vamp to
attack or not. She heard a noise behind her, and back-flipped so she was behind the guy following her, and pinned him to
the ground. It was when she was on top of him that she realised it was Spike.
"You shouldn't sneak up on a slayer. You'll get yourself killed."
"Yeah, well lesson learnt. Mind getting off me love?"
Natalie got up, and felt herself going red. Dammit, she knew this would happen if she got close to him. She looked back
at Spike. He had a big grin on his face and was getting a cigarette out of his jacket.
"What's wrong? Not used to pinning guys to the floor?"
"No, I mean, God. I forgot how annoying you are." She started to walk away from him.
"Hold up, what you doing by yourself anyway? Buffy let you out?"
"I was going to ask the same thing. Won't you get in trouble, being out by yourself. Buffy won't be happy."
"I'm not bothered."
She realised that she had touched a nerve and decided to back off.
"So," Spike looked at her.
"What? I have no idea what to say."
He smiled. "Well pet, you don't need to speak. Just stand there looking pretty." She went red again and quickly turned
her back to him. She was going to have to get her body to stop doing that.
"I've figured it out."
She spun round to face him again.
"You've figured out what?" She was really hoping he hadn't.
"You have a thing for me, don't you?"
"No, why would I? That's just silly. I mean you're a vamp. I'm a slayer. You tried to kill me. Why would I have a thing
for you?"
"That sounded a bit too well rehearsed love, also you're rambling. Seen Willow do that with Tara, so I'm guessing you
have a crush."
She took a sharp breath in. There was no way she was going to get out of this lightly. She started to walk away.
"Oh, my God, you do. This is classic. Wait till I tell Buffy."
"NO, don't you dare tell her. This is a bad thing, ok?"
"You sound like her. What is this? A slayer thing? 'Cos if it is, I'm going to avoid Faith."
"Fine, you tell her. I don't care."
She was about to walk away when she had an idea. "Or, I could kill you. You know, dark night, attacked by vamp. How was
I to know it was you?"
The smile disappeared from his face. "You wouldn't."
"Try me."
He lunged at her and she side stepped him. "You couldn't kill me then, and you can't kill me now."
He hit her, and the chip didn't go off. He looked surprised.
"Why didn't the damn chip go off?"
"Come on, you didn't think I could come back and be all human, did you? Part magick, don't hold back mate," Natalie mocked.
He hit out at her again, and she took his punch and channelled the pain in to a powerful throw. She pinned him again.
"You're dead now." She lifted the stake but couldn't do it. She really wanted to, but couldn't. "Just, I could if I
wanted to."
She got up and started to walk away. He jumped her from behind and now had her pinned, holding her hands above her head.
"Never turn you back, slayer, that's the first rule. Remember, I could have killed you now, so truth, or I kill you.
Do you have a thing for me?"
She swallowed, she looked into his eyes. He was serious. "No I don't have a thing, but I may, and I stress may, be in
love with you."
He looked really shocked and she could have taken advantage of his distraction but, was enjoying his body on top of hers
too much to cut it short. He recovered and was focused on her again. "You better not be messing with me."
"No, not messing. You want to know why I killed myself? Because, .." she couldn't believe she was about to tell him.
"I thought you stopped hunting me. I thought you had stopped caring."
He sat up, letting go of her and she sat up so that they were facing each other.
"You're not kidding, are you?" He swallowed. "I never knew, I mean, I didn't give up on you. Dru got bored so we went to
the next town, but we were back within the week. By then you were well, .." he paused.
"Dead, you can say it."
He looked at her for a while.
She didn't know what to do. "I'm sorry, I'll just go. They'll be worried about me."
She got up to leave and he pulled her back down "You're not gonna dump this on me then leave."
She sat looking at him. "Well, what do you want me to say?"
He stood up, walked to a tree and punched it. He left a big dent in it. "Dammit, why me? I always end up with the screwed
up love life. Why is that?" He turned and looked at her.
She had started to cry. This was not how she had expected him to react.
"God pet, don't cry. I didn't mean .., you are just .., I can't explain."
Natalie stood up wiped her eyes and looked him in the eyes. "I take it back then. If it hurts you that much, then I take
it back."
He walked towards her. "You're one hell of a girl. No one has cared about me like this. I mean killing yourself because
I didn't want to kill you? Kinda twisted."
She laughed. "I didn't say I was normal."
He laughed. She was glad he could see the funny side. She was about to say goodbye when he grabbed her and kissed her.
She melted into his arms. She had pictured this moment forever, but this was far better than she could have imagined.
He pulled away from her, "Sorry, just the moment, and, better go, sun's coming."
He walked away and Natalie just stood there in a half daze. She couldn't move even if she wanted to.
Natalie spent the next day training. It felt good to beat up a punching bag. She hardly spoke to anyone except to exchange
niceties. They all could feel the coldness emitting from her, but no one dared ask her what was going on. She wasn't going
to tell them even if they asked.
She walked into the garden. Everyone had gone to the Magick Box to
research and train. There was more room there and more of Giles' books. She was starting to fight an imaginary opponent
with her staff. Suddenly the imaginary opponent took the form of Spike. She attacked him repeatedly, but he just smiled
at her. It was scary. He seemed so real, but she knew he wasn't there. "You just walked away," she shouted at him.
"Couldn't even face me."
She attacked again, then fell into a crumple in the middle of the garden and sobbed. It was exhaustion and emotion all
mixed in. "You messed up my life the first time, and you're doing it again," she sobbed.
"Sorry about that, pet."
She jumped up in fighting stance to see Spike staring at her from the shadows.
"How long have you been there?"
"Since you came out. Sorry I didn't know, I.."
"Save it, just walk away. You seem to be good at that."
She walked into the house angry with herself for letting him affect her again. Soon he was behind her again.
"I'm messed up, kid. This whole thing has come out of nowhere. Falling in love with Buffy. It wasn't supposed to happen."
He turned away to hide the emotions he was feeling from her.
"Just leave me out of it. I was better when you wanted to kill me, at least then I knew where I stood. Now you kiss me,
then take off."
"The sun was coming up."
"And you're using it as an excuse. You just left me." She raised her arm as if to hit him. "You're not worth fighting for
any more. I should've done this before. I give up, Spike."
He looked shocked, he'd expected a fight, or at least more abuse than this. It was what Buffy would have done. He looked
at her, but she wasn't Buffy.
He grabbed her and leaned in to kiss her. She backed off. "If you're just going to leave again, don't bother."
"I didn't leave you pet. It was Buffy I was walking away from. I was a coward last night."
He kissed her. This time she pulled away. She was crying. "It's because I'm leaving isn't it? I'm a short term solution
to Buffy. I go then Buffy falls into your arms."
"That's really what you think? Ok we'll fix that."
He dragged her out of the house. "Where are we going?"
"To see Buffy."
"Ok so we have nothing, no reason why she was chosen to help me and not one of the others."
Buffy stood before her friends. She wanted to work this out but she couldn't take advice from a slayer until she was
sure that this girl was who she said she was. Suddenly the door burst in and Spike came in with Natalie in tow. It was
obvious that she didn't want to be there.
"What's she done?"
"Nothing. It's something that I have done, slayer."
Buffy was confused. There was something going on and she wasn't sure she wanted to know.
"Buffy, I told you I loved you." She winced, every time he said that, she wanted to stake him.
"Well, I take it back." Suddenly, the whole room was transfixed on Spike and for once he seemed uncomfortable with it.
"It wasn't you I was in love with, pet. You were right, it was the pain, it was the
fact you were the slayer. I couldn't kill you, so it turned into love."
Buffy was stunned. Ok so she wasn't thrilled that he loved her, but for some reason it hurt her to hear this from him.
"Ok, Spike I'll play along. What's brought this on then?"
"Her." He pointed at Natalie who seemed to cower behind him. She looked like a small child, not a slayer. It brought home
to Buffy how strong she was with her friends behind her. This girl had nothing but her watcher. No wonder she died so young,
after 2 years of being a slayer.
"It was with her it all started. She's the one that got away. I hunted her for a year, but it wasn't me who killed her."
"Ok, enlighten me. Who beat you to it?"
"I did." A tiny voice emitted from Natalie. "It's ok, I'll tell them."
Spike went to put his hand on her shoulder but she shrugged him off. She had to do this on her own. "I'm in love with Spike.
I always have been, even when he was trying to kill me. Mainly because he killed my watcher. You see when I was a slayer,
watchers could get away with things. No heavy handed council then. My watcher took advantage in more ways than I'd like to
recall."
There was a sharp intake of breath from Willow.
"Spike killed him after 3 months of hunting me and I was grateful. Unfortunately, I was by myself then, so I fled from him,
but half of me wished for him the catch me. After a year he stopped. 2 weeks and I heard nothing, no vamp activity.
I thought he'd given up on me, so I gave up as well."
"You didn't?" Willow had tears in her eyes. Tara was at her side trying to comfort her.
"I killed myself. That's why I'm here, but the difference is Buffy sacrificed herself to save the world. I did it to end
mine."
Silence engulfed the room. Natalie felt faint, and felt Spike grab her to stop her from falling.
"You ok?"
"I need some air." He led her out to the back of the shop.
"I did the right thing. I mean they would have found out eventually, right?" she recovered herself and started to pace the
alley.
"Buffy needed to know. What about you? It was for your benefit as well."
She stopped pacing and faced him, he automatically wrapped his arms around her. She leaned into his shoulder. He put his
arm round her and pulled her into him.
"I'm sorry." she looked into his eyes.
"How about we start over? Does that sound good? We could be a normal. Well maybe not normal, but a couple, until you
finish your business."
She smiled and buried her head into his chest. He kissed the top of her head and felt happy for the first time in a long
while.
In the doorway of the shop Buffy watched them, trying hard to fight back the tears. She closed her eyes and thought,
"Way to go, Buffy. Now you figure out you're in love with him."
Natalie wandered about the house from room to room. She couldn't sleep and didn't know why. She felt something deep down
inside herself. She knew it was something bad, but couldn't quite figure what. She finally sat in the kitchen. A small
tap came on the back door. She knew it was Spike. She sensed he was on his way, and was glad. She opened the door and sat
back at the counter.
"What's wrong?" asked Spike.
She looked towards the door. He came in, closing it behind him, then stood in front of her, wrapping his arms around her
shoulders.
"I don't know, a feeling that doesn't sit right."
"Something bad?" Spike crumpled up his forehead, it made Natalie smile for a moment.
"Slayers don't usually get feelings when a parade's coming, well unless it's a demon one" she laughed nervously.
Spike could sense she didn't want to talk about it.
"So Buffy feeling it as well?"
"No idea. Guess not, she's asleep."
As if by magic, Buffy appeared at the kitchen door.
"Guess again. You feel it too, then?" Buffy asked.
"Yep."
"Have an idea what it is?" Buffy got herself some milk and leaned on the other side of the counter.
"Bad, don't think it's a vamp." She closed her eyes and went into the feeling. She was always good at this. "Coming to town,
is vamp but not regular vamp." She shook her head. "I can't see him can you?"
Buffy looked wide eyed at her "How the hell did you do that?"
Natalie smiled, "You get dreams, don't you? It's different for some."
Buffy nodded "Of course to get the dreams you have to be asleep. I think I'll try again. Maybe it's a two slayer thing."
She put the glass in the sink and started to leave.
"Buffy, two seconds." Natalie went after her, leaving Spike in the kitchen. "Are you ok, about ..?" She looked back at the
kitchen.
"I know it's ok and I don't see why I shouldn't be. It's a bad decision on your part, but I know from experience that we
each have to make our own bad decisions." She smiled.
"Thanks. I don't think the others will quite agree."
"They will, they just, well they are protective of me, that's all. Once they realise I'm fine, they will be as well."
Buffy hugged her "It's nice to have a sister slayer around that's not trying to kill me."
"No, that's my boyfriend's job." They both giggled.
Spike appeared from the kitchen.
"You gossiping about me?"
"Slayer stuff, top secret, now I have to sleep." She looked at Natalie again.
"We're ok now, yeah?"
Natalie nodded.
"Cool, 'night. Don't stay up too early. Don't want Spike here in the morning." She disappeared upstairs.
Natalie sighed and felt Spike hug her from behind. "You feel better about the Buffy situation then?"
"A bit. I still think she's holding something back, but I guess she doesn't want to share."
She turned and faced him.
"She doesn't like me. I've told you, should have seen the faces she pulled when I told her how I felt."
Natalie smiled. "Ok, so what do you want to do?"
Spike raised an eyebrow. "I have a few ideas."
Natalie was awoken by a loud crash. She had fallen asleep in Spike's crypt. She reached out for Spike but he was already up.
She quickly threw on some clothes and ran upstairs, to find Buffy pinning Spike to the wall.
"What the hell is going on?" she yelled.
"Just heard a rumour that Spike is up to his old tricks again." Buffy said and pushed Spike against the wall harder.
"I told you it wasn't me. I was here all night. Tell her, pet."
"I can honestly say he was here, Buffy." She smiled at Spike who beamed back at her.
Buffy dropped him to the floor. "Well, I didn't want that image in my head. Ok, fine. It wasn't you, but it was a vamp
trashing bars that fits your description, so someone wants to frame you."
Natalie crossed the room and crouched next to Spike who was still sitting in a pile on the floor.
"You ok?"
"I'll live."
She looked at Buffy. "You want me to see if I can find out anything?"
"I've asked all the people I can think of. Here was my last resort, trust me."
"No, I don't mean that way." She sat, crossed her legs and closed her eyes. A glowing ball appeared in her hands.
She opened her eyes and looked into it. "It's our bad-feeling vamp. I'm afraid, and he's looking for me." She looked up at
Buffy who was gawking at her. "You didn't know I was a witch as well then?" She looked at Spike who had the same expression
on his face.
"Do you people not research when a strange slayer turns up on your doorstep?" She looked into the ball again.
"He knows a lot about me, more than you, he.." The glowing ball exploded. Natalie's eyes went wide.
"We have to kill him."
Spike put his arm around her. "Who was it pet? You know him?"
She looked up at Buffy. She had tears in her eyes and she was shaking with fear. "It was my watcher."
By nightfall, Natalie still hadn't calmed down, Buffy had seen some scared people in her life, including herself, but
they were nothing compared to this. Spike had stayed with her the majority of the time. Natalie was like a scared child.
Every noise made her jump a mile, and now that it was nightfall it was getting worse.
"I'm gonna have to sort this. She can't go on like this much longer."
Willow nodded. "Buffy, I've never seen anything like this before. What he did to her must have been .."
"a living nightmare." Natalie was standing behind them.
"Natalie, are you ..?"
"Call me Nat, but Ok, no. I'm scared stiff, but .." She hung her head. "I need to face him. I've got friends now.
It's different from before."
Willow hugged her. "We'll help all we can."
Natalie smiled weakly.
"You should get some sleep."
"I don't think I can. I need to find him, Willow. Do you think you'll have enough things for a locator spell?"
"Yes, but to locate one person. I don't know if I could do that."
"I can."
Buffy knew that look. Nat meant business
Everyone was ready to go. Spike wouldn't let Natalie out of his sight. Buffy was jealous. She had never had that since Angel.
She felt a pain when she thought about how near he was but how far away.
"Ready, Buffy?" Xander appeared behind her.
"Yeah, lets kick some watcher butt."
They walked through the streets in silence. Buffy followed close behind Nat and Spike. Suddenly Nat stopped outside a
warehouse.
"He's in here. You guys stay here. I'll lure him out." Spike was about to protest but a look from Nat, and he decided
against it.
Natalie disappeared inside, and nearly as soon as she disappeared through the door she was flying back out, hitting the
opposite wall with a painful thump. Spike quickly was at her side.
"What the hell happened?" Spike put his arm around her and she flinched.
"How long was I gone?" Nat was shaking all over.
"A few seconds at the most." Buffy said as she appeared the near the door. She looked through the doorway.
"Time trap. He knew I was coming."
Buffy looked back at Nat. She was close to tears. "A what?" Buffy said with a puzzled look on her face.
"A simple spell, set for one person. Only I can go in, and can spend years in there, but only seconds pass out here.
Lucky for me I left the door open. I got him the throw me out." She was going to cry at any moment.
"How long were you really in there?" Spike was close to flying through the door and ripping this guy apart.
"I don't know, an hour, maybe more. I .." She passed out. Spike scooped her up.
"She not facing him again."
"But, Spike, that's up to .."
"Sorry Buffy, but he nearly killed her, and I know what he's doing. He wants her to suffer. This is just the start.
She's not fighting him. We find another way." He walked away.
Buffy looked towards her friends. "We find a way in, and fast, before Spike does."
Nat woke up and Spike was leaning over her. She was back in his crypt. "You ok?"
"No, I'm not dreaming any more."
Spike smiled.
"He didn't do anything else? I mean .."
"You don't want to know what happened, Spike."
"Like hell I do. Did he say anything to you? Did he .." Spike turned away.
Nat tried to sit up but she hurt all over, her quick healing wasn't quick enough. "We fought. He said all the things that
made me, .." She swallowed. "That make me squirm inside. He knows how to get inside me. He knows how to hurt me without
touching me. He .." She closed her eyes. "He's gonna kill you Spike, or he's gonna try. I won't let that happen. I'll die
before he'll do that."
"You're not facing him again. I've already told Buffy that we need to find another way." He turned to face her but she was
gone.
"Dammit, why do I always fall for the headstrong ones?"
Nat stood before the door. With a wave of her hand, the door flew off its hinges. She could tell that Willow had tried to
get inside. She was powerful but Nat didn't think she could handle this.
"Come out here. I'm not coming in there again. I'm not a stupid little girl any more."
She stood back and he came out.
"No backup? Come on, princess, you can't handle me alone, never could."
She stood with her back to the wall.
"I haven't come to kill you. I've come with a message."
He smiled. She hated that smile. It plagued her nightmares. "I won't let you kill him, I'll kill myself before you hurt him."
His eyes went wide. "Not again, you wouldn't. So close to what you want? I don't think you would."
Nat pulled a gun out of her pocket and put it to her head.
"Try me. I've loved him all my life. I'm not letting you hurt him. Kill me, beat me up, torture me, I don't care, but hurt
him and, I'll kill myself."
He looked at her, as if he was seeing her for the first time. "No deal."
Nat closed her eyes and pictured Spike. "I did it for him before, I can do it again." she thought. She opened her eyes to
see her watcher fly across the alley. She looked to her left and there were Willow, Buffy and Spike.
"Hey, dumbass,, try picking on someone else for a change. You like slayers. Come and play with me." Buffy shouted.
Spike looked at Nat. She lowered the gun from her head and walked towards her watcher.
"I'm not the only one. As you see, once I'm gone there are others who will defend him."
"Why are you here? Why did they send you?"
"They didn't. I skipped the queue, and I didn't know you were here. Now I do, I'm glad. You going to fight my friends or
run, because I'm sure they would love to rip you apart?"
"I'll go, but I'll be back, not for him, for you." He disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
She turned to Buffy. "Thanks." She started to walk away.
"Nat!" Spike ran after her. "What was that about? Why didn't you get help?"
"Spike I have to fight this alone. I can't put you or the others in danger. It's my fault he's here. I have to deal with him."
"And the gun?"
"Had to get him to back off from you, didn't I? I told you I'm not going to let him hurt you."
"I can fight him. I killed him before didn't I?"
"And yet he's here. Doesn't that strike you as odd? Someone brought him back. Why don't you get Buffy to find out who, and
I'll deal with him."
Nat walked away. Spike cursed. Buffy appeared next to him "Well?"
"Looks like you are researching again."
"Oh, my favourite part, with all the musty books. Be still my beating heart."
They whole gang was on research. Buffy was out patrolling because she got bored with the books, and Spike spent most of the
night looking out the window. Now the sun was up he was staring at the door.
Buffy came in. "Heard that she was about, but haven't seen her. A few demon corpses wish they hadn't, I bet." She slumped
on the sofa. "Spike, you still with us?"
"Huh, yeah. I'm worried that's all. Wish it was dark so I could go find her myself."
Dawn appeared from the kitchen, "Can I help? I'm all caught up school-wise so I have an entire free weekend."
"Research is the best thing you can do right now," Nat said, appearing behind her. Spike jumped off the chair and nearly
threw himself at her. "Where the hell have you been?"
"Getting info, and some things." She dumped her bag on the sofa. "Willow about?"
"Dining room."
Nat disappeared into the dining room.
"Ok, weird much. There's something wrong with her and I wish I knew what." Spike said with a painful expression.
"So do I. She's been like a whole new person since her watcher showed up."
Dawn leaned in the doorway, listening to the exchange. "Probably a spell. It usually is."
Spike and Buffy looked at each other. "Dawn, you have your uses, you know that?"
"So you and Tara will help?"
"I don't know. It's kinda verging on dark magick, Nat. I'm not sure I want to delve into that."
"I understand. It's a last resort, but I want it to be ready if we need it."
"Need what?"
"A spell. It'll help defeat my watcher, John or whatever he calls himself now." Nat sighed. "If you really don't want to
do it, I can try myself. It'll just take more out of me, that's all. Of course there is a less dangerous spell we could
use, but no guarantee he'll go to .."
"We're not sending you back." Spike stood between Nat and Buffy.
"Buffy, it's up to you." Nat had a serious expression on her face.
"We need your help. You know him, and another witch would not hinder."
Spike visibly relaxed.
"Ok, I'm staying for now. Right you mull it over, Willow and I'll be back before night."
"You're leaving again."
"Yep, can't fight sitting around." She left them all standing in the dining room. Spike went after her.
"What the hell is up with you."
"I need to get rid of this guy, Spike. He's dangerous. He knows a lot and he's a sick-minded man, and that was before he
became a vamp. Do you know what he'll be like now?"
"I understand, but we'll fight him together."
"I don't want to hurt anyone, especially you." He hugged her and she buried her head in his chest.
"I've taken this long to let you know how I feel. I don't want to lose that."
"I'll always be here pet, and I just found you. My screwed up life is starting to make more sense. I want to fight for that
as well."
She kissed him. "Let me fight, please. I have to do this."
"On one condition. When night comes you let me fight with you, ok?"
"Ok, I'll be back." She turned to leave. "If I'm not back by nightfall, he's got me." She turned and looked at him.
"Don't come after me, ok?"
She quickly left, tears flooding down her face.
Night was coming and Spike started to get churned up inside. He knew that there was no way in hell he wasn't going after her.
The rest of the group was looking for spells that could beat back Nat's watcher, but he knew that she wouldn't let them help,
even if they found anything. Suddenly there was a thud against the door.
"You son of a bitch, you're gonna pay for that." It was Nat's voice.
Buffy ran to the door. The sun was still up so it couldn't be the watcher. Buffy flew out the door then stood still and
laughed. "You don't need help then?"
Nat came in through the door, covered in blood. "No, pain in the ass demon scum, hang on." She waved her hand. Buffy looked
out the door and the demon blood and corpse disappeared from the front lawn. "Saves you having to clean up. Shame I can't
do that on my clothes," she laughed.
"Glad you're not all moody like before. What happened?" Buffy asked.
"I found out info. Call everyone together while I clean up. You mind if I borrow some clothes?"
"No that's fine. Probably have to burn those."
Nat ran up the stairs. Spike followed. Buffy raised an eyebrow. "Ah, young love." she shook her head as if to shake the
image out. "Ok guys, meeting." she yelled.
Nat brushed her hair and tied it back. She had found some black trousers and a red top, and threw them on. She hadn't
noticed Spike watching her from the doorway. She turned to leave the room and almost died from shock. "Goodness, Spike,
you enjoy sneaking up on people don't you?"
"I'm glad you're ok. You had me worried for a while there."
"Like I was going to leave you." She threaded her arms around his waist. "I found out that I can stay. I don't need to go
back."
Spike picked her up and swung her round.
"You sure? I mean no mistake?"
"No mistake, and warn me next time you're gonna do that. I found a link to up there, and once you've been here 24 hrs,
that's it, you're stuck. The bad side is, so is he."
"You just made me very happy, so why don't we tell them the good news and kick some former watcher butt?"
"Sounds like a plan."
She went downstairs and was confronted by her friends tied up.
"What the hell?"
Two guys jumped her from behind. Another one grabbed Spike.
"So glad you've joined us, princess."
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"Surprise, I thought I'd come and see how you were getting on without me."
The two thugs threw her on to a chair and Spike was put with the others.
"Watch that one closely, he's the evil monster that's taken my princess away."
"I'm not yours any more."
He bent down and kissed her forehead, and Spike nearly exploded.
"You'll always be mine, and soon we'll be spending eternity together."
Nat closed her eyes and started chanting.
"What are you doing? You know nothing magick could hurt me."
Suddenly he caught on fire and disappeared from the room. The three thugs looked at each other and fled. Nat waved her
hand and everyone became untied. She tried to stand and fell back on the chair again.
"Is he ..?"
"No, teleported out but he'll be back."
Spike crouched next to her.
"What did you do?"
"Fire glamour for the thugs, but transported him into space. He'll find a way back soon enough. I had to get you free."
"How do we fight him Nat?"
"We don't. I do. Sorry guys, but I need to kill him. I'm the only one who can, and believe it or not, a simple stake
will do but it needs to be me. Whoever brought him banked on me being too scared to kill him. That's the spell, they
pick one person that is the weakness. They were wrong to pick me."
"That's my girl. So we find him, you stake him, all done, right?"
"I hope so"
She walked around the cemetery. She knew Buffy, Spike and everyone were around but she still felt all alone. She was
about to give up when she heard a voice.
"Come on princess, you never fought back before." Suddenly she felt him with his arms around her. He materialised.
"You were always so good. This Spike fellow has changed you. He'll pay for that."
He kissed her neck and she found she couldn't move. She wanted to scream, to fight back, but she couldn't. Inside she
knew it was fear and that he could get inside her just as much now as he ever could.
"Why don't you tell me what you are feeling right now, baby?"
"I'm not scared of you any more."
"Then fight back, kill me." She tried to move again, but she couldn't. Suddenly she heard Willow's voice in her head.
"We're all still here. We are with you. We know you can do it."
She elbowed him in the groin, and turned in battle stance to face him.
"Ok, I'm fighting back."
"Stupid bitch, I could have given you everything, things could have been like they were."
"News flash." She kicked him in the stomach. "I hated things before." She kicked him again. "Ever wondered why I didn't
save you?" She kicked him again and he fell to the floor. "Because you were one of the bad guys. I should have killed you
then." She sat on him. "Instead I let Spike do it. This time, it's my turn." She staked him and he turned to dust beneath
her. She sat in the dust, hardly believing that she'd killed him. She stood slowly, still looking at the dust.
Buffy and the others started to appear from their hiding places. Nat fell backwards. Spike caught her.
"I did it." She was shaking.
"Yep, all by yourself." Buffy beamed at her.
"No, not by myself. Knowing you were all there helped me." She looked at Willow.
"You're welcome. I thought you needed the push."
She blinked a few times and looked at the dust again.
"I can't shake the feeling that it's not over. Suddenly Nat disappeared in a blinking light. Spike nearly fell over.
"Where the hell did she go?"
Nat was surrounded by white, and knew she was back in heaven. "What gives? You said I could stay."
"We have a condition, Natalie." The voice seemed around her and in her head at the same time. She hated that.
"What?"
"Leave Sunnydale. You are changing the future."
"But Spike, he's the reason why I want to stay."
"You're changing his destiny. You must leave him to save him." She felt images bombard her. She knew why.
"I'll leave, but I have to say good bye to Buffy."
"Understood."
Another blinding light and it was day, she was standing on Buffy's front porch.
She knocked on the door Buffy answered.
"Nat, thank God!" She threw her arms around her.
"It's a quick goodbye, Buffy."
"But Spike, he's so worried. You're gonna say goodbye to him?"
"He'll get over me, I know it's not me he loves. I'm not stupid."
"But Nat, all the things he said?"
"Sorry Buffy, he loves you he just hides it well. He changed his mind too quickly. Didn't you see it?"
"You still have to say goodbye."
"No, too hard. I have to leave. It's the only way I can stay, if you understand."
"Sort of, yes."
"Here." She handed a piece of paper to Buffy. Write your number and I'll let you know where I am, so If anything comes up .."
she paused.
"I'll let you know that he's alright."
"Thanks."
She hugged Buffy. "See you, sister."
"What do I tell Spike?"
"Nothing, you haven't seen me. My time was up." Buffy handed back the paper.
"Where will you go?"
"I have to find out who sent John, who wants to hurt me. That's a start."
"This really is bye then."
Nat nodded. She turned and walked out of Sunnydale. She couldn't stop the tears anymore. She let them flow.
To Be Continued.............
feeling of having a physical body. The first thing she saw was the current Slayer. She smiled.
"Well that's a turn up, isn't it?"
The room was full of people, all staring at her.
"Hi, I'm Buffy."
"I know who you are. You're making a lot of waves up there, you know?"
She ran her hand through her hair. "Mind if I sit?"
"Oh yeah, sure." She sat on a chair. The rest of the group gathered round the outskirts of the room.
"So you need my help. What can I do?"
"Well you seem to know who I am, but, well, I don't mean to be rude, but who are you?"
"Goodness I'm sorry. I'm Natalie. I'm a past slayer, and current helper of you, it seems."
The young red haired witch eyed her with concern "Are you sure we can trust her Buffy?"
"I think so, but there's one way to find out for sure. I'll call Giles."
"That's your watcher, right? Sounds good. I want you to trust me, so anything you want to ask, go ahead."
"Who was the girl before you, and after, then?" a young guy chirped up. He seemed very defensive.
"Well, after, I don't know. Before, a girl from China, killed by William the Bloody, who you probably don't know."
The whole group looked at each other.
"Or I could be wrong?"
"You know of Spike?" Buffy asked.
"Well, he did try and kill me for a while so, yeah, kind of."
"Well, I think you should know, he's here."
Panic set in as Natalie jumped up "Where? Is he the one after you?"
Buffy put her hand on Natalie's shoulder. "I guess we should fill her in before dark."
Natalie sat on the couch, the group now dispersed. Willow sat beside her. It had turned dark, and Buffy had gone to
meet Spike before he saw Natalie. "You ok now?"
"I'm not sure, I can't believe he's still around. And good?" she raised her eyebrow and bit her lip. She really didn't
want to see him yet, but if Buffy wanted her to, she had to.
The front door opened and Buffy came in. Spike was behind her. He looked just the same, apart from the up-to-date clothes.
She looked at him.
"Oh that one. Yeah I remember her, but I didn't kill her." Spike scoffed.
"I never said you did." She stood ready for an attack that wasn't coming "I said you tried to, but you killed my watcher.
That's was as close as you got, and to be honest, you did me a favour with him."
Everyone was shocked at the change in her, apart from Spike. "Feisty one, isn't she now. I remember why I stayed after
you for so long."
"Spike, enough. Natalie, can I talk to you ALONE?"
She followed Buffy into the kitchen
"Is this gonna be a problem, you and Spike. 'Cos if so, I can get him to stay out the way."
A flutter in her stomach told Natalie that that was not a good plan. She'd come down, hoping to see him again.
There was no way she was going to agree to that. "No, it's ok, I just have to deal with it. I'll be fine, promise."
"Ok, I'm going on patrol. You wanna come with? Spike will probably tag along as well."
"Ok, I could use the exercise. Got to get used to having a body again."
She walked slightly behind Spike and Buffy. Spike kept looking back to check on her, but she didn't know if it was to
check she was still there, or that she wasn't going to stick the stake in his back. She smiled to herself. Maybe she'd
do that later. She thought about everything they had told her, the chip, him being in love with Buffy, and Dru gone.
It was a lot to take in. She wouldn't have thought they would separate like that. They seemed to be made for each other.
And in love with a slayer, that was a good one. She laughed to herself, and Buffy and Spike turned round and looked at her.
"Sorry," she apologised.
Buffy carried on. Spike dropped back and walked with her. "So did you tell them how you died then?"
"No, and you're not going to either. I'm sure it's not in the diaries."
"That's for sure. One of the first things I looked for, the one that got away. You know," there was an awkward pause,
"so why you do it?"
"None of your business really, is it?"
She walked faster to catch up with Buffy and out of nowhere a vamp flew at her. She automatically ducked, and he flew over
her at Spike They both fell to the ground.
"Duck!" she said lamely
The vamp got up quickly and went to attack again. Quick as
him, Natalie held a stake out and the vamp ran into it.
"Ok that was to easy. What happened? The vampires lose more brain cells during the years? I didn't think that was possible."
"Hey, we're not all like that," Spike said as he dusted himself off.
"Sorry Spike, I agree. That was a bit easy, nice fighting though."
"Not my usual weapon, but it worked."
"What's your usual weapon then?" Buffy asked.
"Staff," Spike and Natalie answered at the same time.
"Ok, didn't need it in stereo, but ok."
Buffy moved on. Natalie looked at Spike "what's stereo?"
The rest of the patrol was quiet, but it gave Natalie a chance to have a look round Sunnydale. It was a nice little town.
Buffy and she spoke about dying and heaven, not that there was much to discuss, but Buffy was happier that she had someone
to confide in.
When they got back to the house, Buffy went to bed, but Natalie couldn't sleep. She read a bit, catching up on what had
happened in the world. She got bored after a while, so she left a note with an amazing pen that didn't need ink.
Willow had shown it to her earlier, but she still found it amazing.
She wandered to the cemetery that was nearest to the house and walked around. she was uncertain if she wanted a vamp to
attack or not. She heard a noise behind her, and back-flipped so she was behind the guy following her, and pinned him to
the ground. It was when she was on top of him that she realised it was Spike.
"You shouldn't sneak up on a slayer. You'll get yourself killed."
"Yeah, well lesson learnt. Mind getting off me love?"
Natalie got up, and felt herself going red. Dammit, she knew this would happen if she got close to him. She looked back
at Spike. He had a big grin on his face and was getting a cigarette out of his jacket.
"What's wrong? Not used to pinning guys to the floor?"
"No, I mean, God. I forgot how annoying you are." She started to walk away from him.
"Hold up, what you doing by yourself anyway? Buffy let you out?"
"I was going to ask the same thing. Won't you get in trouble, being out by yourself. Buffy won't be happy."
"I'm not bothered."
She realised that she had touched a nerve and decided to back off.
"So," Spike looked at her.
"What? I have no idea what to say."
He smiled. "Well pet, you don't need to speak. Just stand there looking pretty." She went red again and quickly turned
her back to him. She was going to have to get her body to stop doing that.
"I've figured it out."
She spun round to face him again.
"You've figured out what?" She was really hoping he hadn't.
"You have a thing for me, don't you?"
"No, why would I? That's just silly. I mean you're a vamp. I'm a slayer. You tried to kill me. Why would I have a thing
for you?"
"That sounded a bit too well rehearsed love, also you're rambling. Seen Willow do that with Tara, so I'm guessing you
have a crush."
She took a sharp breath in. There was no way she was going to get out of this lightly. She started to walk away.
"Oh, my God, you do. This is classic. Wait till I tell Buffy."
"NO, don't you dare tell her. This is a bad thing, ok?"
"You sound like her. What is this? A slayer thing? 'Cos if it is, I'm going to avoid Faith."
"Fine, you tell her. I don't care."
She was about to walk away when she had an idea. "Or, I could kill you. You know, dark night, attacked by vamp. How was
I to know it was you?"
The smile disappeared from his face. "You wouldn't."
"Try me."
He lunged at her and she side stepped him. "You couldn't kill me then, and you can't kill me now."
He hit her, and the chip didn't go off. He looked surprised.
"Why didn't the damn chip go off?"
"Come on, you didn't think I could come back and be all human, did you? Part magick, don't hold back mate," Natalie mocked.
He hit out at her again, and she took his punch and channelled the pain in to a powerful throw. She pinned him again.
"You're dead now." She lifted the stake but couldn't do it. She really wanted to, but couldn't. "Just, I could if I
wanted to."
She got up and started to walk away. He jumped her from behind and now had her pinned, holding her hands above her head.
"Never turn you back, slayer, that's the first rule. Remember, I could have killed you now, so truth, or I kill you.
Do you have a thing for me?"
She swallowed, she looked into his eyes. He was serious. "No I don't have a thing, but I may, and I stress may, be in
love with you."
He looked really shocked and she could have taken advantage of his distraction but, was enjoying his body on top of hers
too much to cut it short. He recovered and was focused on her again. "You better not be messing with me."
"No, not messing. You want to know why I killed myself? Because, .." she couldn't believe she was about to tell him.
"I thought you stopped hunting me. I thought you had stopped caring."
He sat up, letting go of her and she sat up so that they were facing each other.
"You're not kidding, are you?" He swallowed. "I never knew, I mean, I didn't give up on you. Dru got bored so we went to
the next town, but we were back within the week. By then you were well, .." he paused.
"Dead, you can say it."
He looked at her for a while.
She didn't know what to do. "I'm sorry, I'll just go. They'll be worried about me."
She got up to leave and he pulled her back down "You're not gonna dump this on me then leave."
She sat looking at him. "Well, what do you want me to say?"
He stood up, walked to a tree and punched it. He left a big dent in it. "Dammit, why me? I always end up with the screwed
up love life. Why is that?" He turned and looked at her.
She had started to cry. This was not how she had expected him to react.
"God pet, don't cry. I didn't mean .., you are just .., I can't explain."
Natalie stood up wiped her eyes and looked him in the eyes. "I take it back then. If it hurts you that much, then I take
it back."
He walked towards her. "You're one hell of a girl. No one has cared about me like this. I mean killing yourself because
I didn't want to kill you? Kinda twisted."
She laughed. "I didn't say I was normal."
He laughed. She was glad he could see the funny side. She was about to say goodbye when he grabbed her and kissed her.
She melted into his arms. She had pictured this moment forever, but this was far better than she could have imagined.
He pulled away from her, "Sorry, just the moment, and, better go, sun's coming."
He walked away and Natalie just stood there in a half daze. She couldn't move even if she wanted to.
Natalie spent the next day training. It felt good to beat up a punching bag. She hardly spoke to anyone except to exchange
niceties. They all could feel the coldness emitting from her, but no one dared ask her what was going on. She wasn't going
to tell them even if they asked.
She walked into the garden. Everyone had gone to the Magick Box to
research and train. There was more room there and more of Giles' books. She was starting to fight an imaginary opponent
with her staff. Suddenly the imaginary opponent took the form of Spike. She attacked him repeatedly, but he just smiled
at her. It was scary. He seemed so real, but she knew he wasn't there. "You just walked away," she shouted at him.
"Couldn't even face me."
She attacked again, then fell into a crumple in the middle of the garden and sobbed. It was exhaustion and emotion all
mixed in. "You messed up my life the first time, and you're doing it again," she sobbed.
"Sorry about that, pet."
She jumped up in fighting stance to see Spike staring at her from the shadows.
"How long have you been there?"
"Since you came out. Sorry I didn't know, I.."
"Save it, just walk away. You seem to be good at that."
She walked into the house angry with herself for letting him affect her again. Soon he was behind her again.
"I'm messed up, kid. This whole thing has come out of nowhere. Falling in love with Buffy. It wasn't supposed to happen."
He turned away to hide the emotions he was feeling from her.
"Just leave me out of it. I was better when you wanted to kill me, at least then I knew where I stood. Now you kiss me,
then take off."
"The sun was coming up."
"And you're using it as an excuse. You just left me." She raised her arm as if to hit him. "You're not worth fighting for
any more. I should've done this before. I give up, Spike."
He looked shocked, he'd expected a fight, or at least more abuse than this. It was what Buffy would have done. He looked
at her, but she wasn't Buffy.
He grabbed her and leaned in to kiss her. She backed off. "If you're just going to leave again, don't bother."
"I didn't leave you pet. It was Buffy I was walking away from. I was a coward last night."
He kissed her. This time she pulled away. She was crying. "It's because I'm leaving isn't it? I'm a short term solution
to Buffy. I go then Buffy falls into your arms."
"That's really what you think? Ok we'll fix that."
He dragged her out of the house. "Where are we going?"
"To see Buffy."
"Ok so we have nothing, no reason why she was chosen to help me and not one of the others."
Buffy stood before her friends. She wanted to work this out but she couldn't take advice from a slayer until she was
sure that this girl was who she said she was. Suddenly the door burst in and Spike came in with Natalie in tow. It was
obvious that she didn't want to be there.
"What's she done?"
"Nothing. It's something that I have done, slayer."
Buffy was confused. There was something going on and she wasn't sure she wanted to know.
"Buffy, I told you I loved you." She winced, every time he said that, she wanted to stake him.
"Well, I take it back." Suddenly, the whole room was transfixed on Spike and for once he seemed uncomfortable with it.
"It wasn't you I was in love with, pet. You were right, it was the pain, it was the
fact you were the slayer. I couldn't kill you, so it turned into love."
Buffy was stunned. Ok so she wasn't thrilled that he loved her, but for some reason it hurt her to hear this from him.
"Ok, Spike I'll play along. What's brought this on then?"
"Her." He pointed at Natalie who seemed to cower behind him. She looked like a small child, not a slayer. It brought home
to Buffy how strong she was with her friends behind her. This girl had nothing but her watcher. No wonder she died so young,
after 2 years of being a slayer.
"It was with her it all started. She's the one that got away. I hunted her for a year, but it wasn't me who killed her."
"Ok, enlighten me. Who beat you to it?"
"I did." A tiny voice emitted from Natalie. "It's ok, I'll tell them."
Spike went to put his hand on her shoulder but she shrugged him off. She had to do this on her own. "I'm in love with Spike.
I always have been, even when he was trying to kill me. Mainly because he killed my watcher. You see when I was a slayer,
watchers could get away with things. No heavy handed council then. My watcher took advantage in more ways than I'd like to
recall."
There was a sharp intake of breath from Willow.
"Spike killed him after 3 months of hunting me and I was grateful. Unfortunately, I was by myself then, so I fled from him,
but half of me wished for him the catch me. After a year he stopped. 2 weeks and I heard nothing, no vamp activity.
I thought he'd given up on me, so I gave up as well."
"You didn't?" Willow had tears in her eyes. Tara was at her side trying to comfort her.
"I killed myself. That's why I'm here, but the difference is Buffy sacrificed herself to save the world. I did it to end
mine."
Silence engulfed the room. Natalie felt faint, and felt Spike grab her to stop her from falling.
"You ok?"
"I need some air." He led her out to the back of the shop.
"I did the right thing. I mean they would have found out eventually, right?" she recovered herself and started to pace the
alley.
"Buffy needed to know. What about you? It was for your benefit as well."
She stopped pacing and faced him, he automatically wrapped his arms around her. She leaned into his shoulder. He put his
arm round her and pulled her into him.
"I'm sorry." she looked into his eyes.
"How about we start over? Does that sound good? We could be a normal. Well maybe not normal, but a couple, until you
finish your business."
She smiled and buried her head into his chest. He kissed the top of her head and felt happy for the first time in a long
while.
In the doorway of the shop Buffy watched them, trying hard to fight back the tears. She closed her eyes and thought,
"Way to go, Buffy. Now you figure out you're in love with him."
Natalie wandered about the house from room to room. She couldn't sleep and didn't know why. She felt something deep down
inside herself. She knew it was something bad, but couldn't quite figure what. She finally sat in the kitchen. A small
tap came on the back door. She knew it was Spike. She sensed he was on his way, and was glad. She opened the door and sat
back at the counter.
"What's wrong?" asked Spike.
She looked towards the door. He came in, closing it behind him, then stood in front of her, wrapping his arms around her
shoulders.
"I don't know, a feeling that doesn't sit right."
"Something bad?" Spike crumpled up his forehead, it made Natalie smile for a moment.
"Slayers don't usually get feelings when a parade's coming, well unless it's a demon one" she laughed nervously.
Spike could sense she didn't want to talk about it.
"So Buffy feeling it as well?"
"No idea. Guess not, she's asleep."
As if by magic, Buffy appeared at the kitchen door.
"Guess again. You feel it too, then?" Buffy asked.
"Yep."
"Have an idea what it is?" Buffy got herself some milk and leaned on the other side of the counter.
"Bad, don't think it's a vamp." She closed her eyes and went into the feeling. She was always good at this. "Coming to town,
is vamp but not regular vamp." She shook her head. "I can't see him can you?"
Buffy looked wide eyed at her "How the hell did you do that?"
Natalie smiled, "You get dreams, don't you? It's different for some."
Buffy nodded "Of course to get the dreams you have to be asleep. I think I'll try again. Maybe it's a two slayer thing."
She put the glass in the sink and started to leave.
"Buffy, two seconds." Natalie went after her, leaving Spike in the kitchen. "Are you ok, about ..?" She looked back at the
kitchen.
"I know it's ok and I don't see why I shouldn't be. It's a bad decision on your part, but I know from experience that we
each have to make our own bad decisions." She smiled.
"Thanks. I don't think the others will quite agree."
"They will, they just, well they are protective of me, that's all. Once they realise I'm fine, they will be as well."
Buffy hugged her "It's nice to have a sister slayer around that's not trying to kill me."
"No, that's my boyfriend's job." They both giggled.
Spike appeared from the kitchen.
"You gossiping about me?"
"Slayer stuff, top secret, now I have to sleep." She looked at Natalie again.
"We're ok now, yeah?"
Natalie nodded.
"Cool, 'night. Don't stay up too early. Don't want Spike here in the morning." She disappeared upstairs.
Natalie sighed and felt Spike hug her from behind. "You feel better about the Buffy situation then?"
"A bit. I still think she's holding something back, but I guess she doesn't want to share."
She turned and faced him.
"She doesn't like me. I've told you, should have seen the faces she pulled when I told her how I felt."
Natalie smiled. "Ok, so what do you want to do?"
Spike raised an eyebrow. "I have a few ideas."
Natalie was awoken by a loud crash. She had fallen asleep in Spike's crypt. She reached out for Spike but he was already up.
She quickly threw on some clothes and ran upstairs, to find Buffy pinning Spike to the wall.
"What the hell is going on?" she yelled.
"Just heard a rumour that Spike is up to his old tricks again." Buffy said and pushed Spike against the wall harder.
"I told you it wasn't me. I was here all night. Tell her, pet."
"I can honestly say he was here, Buffy." She smiled at Spike who beamed back at her.
Buffy dropped him to the floor. "Well, I didn't want that image in my head. Ok, fine. It wasn't you, but it was a vamp
trashing bars that fits your description, so someone wants to frame you."
Natalie crossed the room and crouched next to Spike who was still sitting in a pile on the floor.
"You ok?"
"I'll live."
She looked at Buffy. "You want me to see if I can find out anything?"
"I've asked all the people I can think of. Here was my last resort, trust me."
"No, I don't mean that way." She sat, crossed her legs and closed her eyes. A glowing ball appeared in her hands.
She opened her eyes and looked into it. "It's our bad-feeling vamp. I'm afraid, and he's looking for me." She looked up at
Buffy who was gawking at her. "You didn't know I was a witch as well then?" She looked at Spike who had the same expression
on his face.
"Do you people not research when a strange slayer turns up on your doorstep?" She looked into the ball again.
"He knows a lot about me, more than you, he.." The glowing ball exploded. Natalie's eyes went wide.
"We have to kill him."
Spike put his arm around her. "Who was it pet? You know him?"
She looked up at Buffy. She had tears in her eyes and she was shaking with fear. "It was my watcher."
By nightfall, Natalie still hadn't calmed down, Buffy had seen some scared people in her life, including herself, but
they were nothing compared to this. Spike had stayed with her the majority of the time. Natalie was like a scared child.
Every noise made her jump a mile, and now that it was nightfall it was getting worse.
"I'm gonna have to sort this. She can't go on like this much longer."
Willow nodded. "Buffy, I've never seen anything like this before. What he did to her must have been .."
"a living nightmare." Natalie was standing behind them.
"Natalie, are you ..?"
"Call me Nat, but Ok, no. I'm scared stiff, but .." She hung her head. "I need to face him. I've got friends now.
It's different from before."
Willow hugged her. "We'll help all we can."
Natalie smiled weakly.
"You should get some sleep."
"I don't think I can. I need to find him, Willow. Do you think you'll have enough things for a locator spell?"
"Yes, but to locate one person. I don't know if I could do that."
"I can."
Buffy knew that look. Nat meant business
Everyone was ready to go. Spike wouldn't let Natalie out of his sight. Buffy was jealous. She had never had that since Angel.
She felt a pain when she thought about how near he was but how far away.
"Ready, Buffy?" Xander appeared behind her.
"Yeah, lets kick some watcher butt."
They walked through the streets in silence. Buffy followed close behind Nat and Spike. Suddenly Nat stopped outside a
warehouse.
"He's in here. You guys stay here. I'll lure him out." Spike was about to protest but a look from Nat, and he decided
against it.
Natalie disappeared inside, and nearly as soon as she disappeared through the door she was flying back out, hitting the
opposite wall with a painful thump. Spike quickly was at her side.
"What the hell happened?" Spike put his arm around her and she flinched.
"How long was I gone?" Nat was shaking all over.
"A few seconds at the most." Buffy said as she appeared the near the door. She looked through the doorway.
"Time trap. He knew I was coming."
Buffy looked back at Nat. She was close to tears. "A what?" Buffy said with a puzzled look on her face.
"A simple spell, set for one person. Only I can go in, and can spend years in there, but only seconds pass out here.
Lucky for me I left the door open. I got him the throw me out." She was going to cry at any moment.
"How long were you really in there?" Spike was close to flying through the door and ripping this guy apart.
"I don't know, an hour, maybe more. I .." She passed out. Spike scooped her up.
"She not facing him again."
"But, Spike, that's up to .."
"Sorry Buffy, but he nearly killed her, and I know what he's doing. He wants her to suffer. This is just the start.
She's not fighting him. We find another way." He walked away.
Buffy looked towards her friends. "We find a way in, and fast, before Spike does."
Nat woke up and Spike was leaning over her. She was back in his crypt. "You ok?"
"No, I'm not dreaming any more."
Spike smiled.
"He didn't do anything else? I mean .."
"You don't want to know what happened, Spike."
"Like hell I do. Did he say anything to you? Did he .." Spike turned away.
Nat tried to sit up but she hurt all over, her quick healing wasn't quick enough. "We fought. He said all the things that
made me, .." She swallowed. "That make me squirm inside. He knows how to get inside me. He knows how to hurt me without
touching me. He .." She closed her eyes. "He's gonna kill you Spike, or he's gonna try. I won't let that happen. I'll die
before he'll do that."
"You're not facing him again. I've already told Buffy that we need to find another way." He turned to face her but she was
gone.
"Dammit, why do I always fall for the headstrong ones?"
Nat stood before the door. With a wave of her hand, the door flew off its hinges. She could tell that Willow had tried to
get inside. She was powerful but Nat didn't think she could handle this.
"Come out here. I'm not coming in there again. I'm not a stupid little girl any more."
She stood back and he came out.
"No backup? Come on, princess, you can't handle me alone, never could."
She stood with her back to the wall.
"I haven't come to kill you. I've come with a message."
He smiled. She hated that smile. It plagued her nightmares. "I won't let you kill him, I'll kill myself before you hurt him."
His eyes went wide. "Not again, you wouldn't. So close to what you want? I don't think you would."
Nat pulled a gun out of her pocket and put it to her head.
"Try me. I've loved him all my life. I'm not letting you hurt him. Kill me, beat me up, torture me, I don't care, but hurt
him and, I'll kill myself."
He looked at her, as if he was seeing her for the first time. "No deal."
Nat closed her eyes and pictured Spike. "I did it for him before, I can do it again." she thought. She opened her eyes to
see her watcher fly across the alley. She looked to her left and there were Willow, Buffy and Spike.
"Hey, dumbass,, try picking on someone else for a change. You like slayers. Come and play with me." Buffy shouted.
Spike looked at Nat. She lowered the gun from her head and walked towards her watcher.
"I'm not the only one. As you see, once I'm gone there are others who will defend him."
"Why are you here? Why did they send you?"
"They didn't. I skipped the queue, and I didn't know you were here. Now I do, I'm glad. You going to fight my friends or
run, because I'm sure they would love to rip you apart?"
"I'll go, but I'll be back, not for him, for you." He disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
She turned to Buffy. "Thanks." She started to walk away.
"Nat!" Spike ran after her. "What was that about? Why didn't you get help?"
"Spike I have to fight this alone. I can't put you or the others in danger. It's my fault he's here. I have to deal with him."
"And the gun?"
"Had to get him to back off from you, didn't I? I told you I'm not going to let him hurt you."
"I can fight him. I killed him before didn't I?"
"And yet he's here. Doesn't that strike you as odd? Someone brought him back. Why don't you get Buffy to find out who, and
I'll deal with him."
Nat walked away. Spike cursed. Buffy appeared next to him "Well?"
"Looks like you are researching again."
"Oh, my favourite part, with all the musty books. Be still my beating heart."
They whole gang was on research. Buffy was out patrolling because she got bored with the books, and Spike spent most of the
night looking out the window. Now the sun was up he was staring at the door.
Buffy came in. "Heard that she was about, but haven't seen her. A few demon corpses wish they hadn't, I bet." She slumped
on the sofa. "Spike, you still with us?"
"Huh, yeah. I'm worried that's all. Wish it was dark so I could go find her myself."
Dawn appeared from the kitchen, "Can I help? I'm all caught up school-wise so I have an entire free weekend."
"Research is the best thing you can do right now," Nat said, appearing behind her. Spike jumped off the chair and nearly
threw himself at her. "Where the hell have you been?"
"Getting info, and some things." She dumped her bag on the sofa. "Willow about?"
"Dining room."
Nat disappeared into the dining room.
"Ok, weird much. There's something wrong with her and I wish I knew what." Spike said with a painful expression.
"So do I. She's been like a whole new person since her watcher showed up."
Dawn leaned in the doorway, listening to the exchange. "Probably a spell. It usually is."
Spike and Buffy looked at each other. "Dawn, you have your uses, you know that?"
"So you and Tara will help?"
"I don't know. It's kinda verging on dark magick, Nat. I'm not sure I want to delve into that."
"I understand. It's a last resort, but I want it to be ready if we need it."
"Need what?"
"A spell. It'll help defeat my watcher, John or whatever he calls himself now." Nat sighed. "If you really don't want to
do it, I can try myself. It'll just take more out of me, that's all. Of course there is a less dangerous spell we could
use, but no guarantee he'll go to .."
"We're not sending you back." Spike stood between Nat and Buffy.
"Buffy, it's up to you." Nat had a serious expression on her face.
"We need your help. You know him, and another witch would not hinder."
Spike visibly relaxed.
"Ok, I'm staying for now. Right you mull it over, Willow and I'll be back before night."
"You're leaving again."
"Yep, can't fight sitting around." She left them all standing in the dining room. Spike went after her.
"What the hell is up with you."
"I need to get rid of this guy, Spike. He's dangerous. He knows a lot and he's a sick-minded man, and that was before he
became a vamp. Do you know what he'll be like now?"
"I understand, but we'll fight him together."
"I don't want to hurt anyone, especially you." He hugged her and she buried her head in his chest.
"I've taken this long to let you know how I feel. I don't want to lose that."
"I'll always be here pet, and I just found you. My screwed up life is starting to make more sense. I want to fight for that
as well."
She kissed him. "Let me fight, please. I have to do this."
"On one condition. When night comes you let me fight with you, ok?"
"Ok, I'll be back." She turned to leave. "If I'm not back by nightfall, he's got me." She turned and looked at him.
"Don't come after me, ok?"
She quickly left, tears flooding down her face.
Night was coming and Spike started to get churned up inside. He knew that there was no way in hell he wasn't going after her.
The rest of the group was looking for spells that could beat back Nat's watcher, but he knew that she wouldn't let them help,
even if they found anything. Suddenly there was a thud against the door.
"You son of a bitch, you're gonna pay for that." It was Nat's voice.
Buffy ran to the door. The sun was still up so it couldn't be the watcher. Buffy flew out the door then stood still and
laughed. "You don't need help then?"
Nat came in through the door, covered in blood. "No, pain in the ass demon scum, hang on." She waved her hand. Buffy looked
out the door and the demon blood and corpse disappeared from the front lawn. "Saves you having to clean up. Shame I can't
do that on my clothes," she laughed.
"Glad you're not all moody like before. What happened?" Buffy asked.
"I found out info. Call everyone together while I clean up. You mind if I borrow some clothes?"
"No that's fine. Probably have to burn those."
Nat ran up the stairs. Spike followed. Buffy raised an eyebrow. "Ah, young love." she shook her head as if to shake the
image out. "Ok guys, meeting." she yelled.
Nat brushed her hair and tied it back. She had found some black trousers and a red top, and threw them on. She hadn't
noticed Spike watching her from the doorway. She turned to leave the room and almost died from shock. "Goodness, Spike,
you enjoy sneaking up on people don't you?"
"I'm glad you're ok. You had me worried for a while there."
"Like I was going to leave you." She threaded her arms around his waist. "I found out that I can stay. I don't need to go
back."
Spike picked her up and swung her round.
"You sure? I mean no mistake?"
"No mistake, and warn me next time you're gonna do that. I found a link to up there, and once you've been here 24 hrs,
that's it, you're stuck. The bad side is, so is he."
"You just made me very happy, so why don't we tell them the good news and kick some former watcher butt?"
"Sounds like a plan."
She went downstairs and was confronted by her friends tied up.
"What the hell?"
Two guys jumped her from behind. Another one grabbed Spike.
"So glad you've joined us, princess."
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"Surprise, I thought I'd come and see how you were getting on without me."
The two thugs threw her on to a chair and Spike was put with the others.
"Watch that one closely, he's the evil monster that's taken my princess away."
"I'm not yours any more."
He bent down and kissed her forehead, and Spike nearly exploded.
"You'll always be mine, and soon we'll be spending eternity together."
Nat closed her eyes and started chanting.
"What are you doing? You know nothing magick could hurt me."
Suddenly he caught on fire and disappeared from the room. The three thugs looked at each other and fled. Nat waved her
hand and everyone became untied. She tried to stand and fell back on the chair again.
"Is he ..?"
"No, teleported out but he'll be back."
Spike crouched next to her.
"What did you do?"
"Fire glamour for the thugs, but transported him into space. He'll find a way back soon enough. I had to get you free."
"How do we fight him Nat?"
"We don't. I do. Sorry guys, but I need to kill him. I'm the only one who can, and believe it or not, a simple stake
will do but it needs to be me. Whoever brought him banked on me being too scared to kill him. That's the spell, they
pick one person that is the weakness. They were wrong to pick me."
"That's my girl. So we find him, you stake him, all done, right?"
"I hope so"
She walked around the cemetery. She knew Buffy, Spike and everyone were around but she still felt all alone. She was
about to give up when she heard a voice.
"Come on princess, you never fought back before." Suddenly she felt him with his arms around her. He materialised.
"You were always so good. This Spike fellow has changed you. He'll pay for that."
He kissed her neck and she found she couldn't move. She wanted to scream, to fight back, but she couldn't. Inside she
knew it was fear and that he could get inside her just as much now as he ever could.
"Why don't you tell me what you are feeling right now, baby?"
"I'm not scared of you any more."
"Then fight back, kill me." She tried to move again, but she couldn't. Suddenly she heard Willow's voice in her head.
"We're all still here. We are with you. We know you can do it."
She elbowed him in the groin, and turned in battle stance to face him.
"Ok, I'm fighting back."
"Stupid bitch, I could have given you everything, things could have been like they were."
"News flash." She kicked him in the stomach. "I hated things before." She kicked him again. "Ever wondered why I didn't
save you?" She kicked him again and he fell to the floor. "Because you were one of the bad guys. I should have killed you
then." She sat on him. "Instead I let Spike do it. This time, it's my turn." She staked him and he turned to dust beneath
her. She sat in the dust, hardly believing that she'd killed him. She stood slowly, still looking at the dust.
Buffy and the others started to appear from their hiding places. Nat fell backwards. Spike caught her.
"I did it." She was shaking.
"Yep, all by yourself." Buffy beamed at her.
"No, not by myself. Knowing you were all there helped me." She looked at Willow.
"You're welcome. I thought you needed the push."
She blinked a few times and looked at the dust again.
"I can't shake the feeling that it's not over. Suddenly Nat disappeared in a blinking light. Spike nearly fell over.
"Where the hell did she go?"
Nat was surrounded by white, and knew she was back in heaven. "What gives? You said I could stay."
"We have a condition, Natalie." The voice seemed around her and in her head at the same time. She hated that.
"What?"
"Leave Sunnydale. You are changing the future."
"But Spike, he's the reason why I want to stay."
"You're changing his destiny. You must leave him to save him." She felt images bombard her. She knew why.
"I'll leave, but I have to say good bye to Buffy."
"Understood."
Another blinding light and it was day, she was standing on Buffy's front porch.
She knocked on the door Buffy answered.
"Nat, thank God!" She threw her arms around her.
"It's a quick goodbye, Buffy."
"But Spike, he's so worried. You're gonna say goodbye to him?"
"He'll get over me, I know it's not me he loves. I'm not stupid."
"But Nat, all the things he said?"
"Sorry Buffy, he loves you he just hides it well. He changed his mind too quickly. Didn't you see it?"
"You still have to say goodbye."
"No, too hard. I have to leave. It's the only way I can stay, if you understand."
"Sort of, yes."
"Here." She handed a piece of paper to Buffy. Write your number and I'll let you know where I am, so If anything comes up .."
she paused.
"I'll let you know that he's alright."
"Thanks."
She hugged Buffy. "See you, sister."
"What do I tell Spike?"
"Nothing, you haven't seen me. My time was up." Buffy handed back the paper.
"Where will you go?"
"I have to find out who sent John, who wants to hurt me. That's a start."
"This really is bye then."
Nat nodded. She turned and walked out of Sunnydale. She couldn't stop the tears anymore. She let them flow.
To Be Continued.............