Demon Fighting
Natalie tossed in her sleep and every so often she would reach out for him. The ache inside hurting again when she found only bed sheets. She finally gave up and started to pack her things.
She jumped when her mobile phone rang. Natalie had gotten it to keep in touch with Buffy, just in case. It had taken her a month to figure it out and she still found it strange.
"Hello?"
"Nat? It's Willow, I have some information for you."
"Willow! Hi! Go ahead."
"You're right about your Watcher. He was brought back by the residual demon, the magick we used to bring you back must have been more powerful than I thought"
"Yes but, how did you figure it out?"
"We had the same problem when Buffy came back. I should have realised sooner, sorry!"
"It's fine Willow really. So, I have to find and get rid of this demon then, since it's my fault."
"Way ahead of you, I did a locator spell, it's in LA. I can give you an address of people who can help you there."
"Thanks that would help! How are you?"
"Coping. Giles and the coven are helping a lot. I would love to see you over here after you finish the demon hunt."
"Okay! Might take you up on that, now what's that address?"
~~~~~~
Natalie approached the hotel nervously. They knew she was coming, Willow said she had phoned ahead and they were researching the demon she was hunting. Still it made her nervous.
She pushed open the door, the lobby was huge and the lack of people meant she had the right place. A young girl about Nat's age was reading behind the counter. Not my age, she corrected herself, I'm over a hundred. She walked down the steps, the girl looked up, taking off her glasses.
"Can I help you?" she asked softly.
"I hope so. I'm Nat, erm, Natalie." She held out her hand.
"Oh! The Slayer, I'm Fred!" They shook hands. "The others are about somewhere."
As if on cue a man appeared from the office.
"This is Gunn."
"Hey."
"Hello!" Nat said, she was never going to remember all the names.
"Old Slayer chick I guess?"
"Charles!" Fred scorned.
"It's alright, I've been called worse."
"Oh, here's Angel." Fred said quickly trying to change the subject.
Natalie turned to see Angel and nearly burst when she saw him.
"You!" she shouted.
"Yeah, me."
"You know each other then?" Fred was trying to calm down Nat, Angel as always didn't seem fazed by the reaction.
"Willow sent me to you? Well that's great, as if my life wasn't complicated enough I have to deal with another life wrecking vampire! You don't have a chip as well do you?" Nat's voice echoed around the lobby making it sound even louder.
"No, a soul." Angel replied joining Fred behind the counter.
"This gets better and better!" Nat threw her hands up and slumped onto the settee, putting her head in her hands.
"I can explain if you'll let me." Angel sat next to her.
"Go ahead, your excuses can't be any better than William's!"
Suddenly, Fred and Gunn became more interested in the exchange. Angel shot them a look as if to tell them to stay out of it.
"I did think he was dust but, I didn't think you'd kill yourself. If I knew, I wouldn't have told you. I'm sorry."
"It wasn't you, it was him." She sighed. "It's always been him." She said in a whisper. Natalie's mobile went off making her jump.
"Hello?" "Hey baby!" It was Spike. "How did you.?" "I'm evil remember. I stole your number from Red."
She could tell from his voice something was wrong.
"Where are you, are you okay?"
"I needed to say sorry. For everything. I do love you but, you were right. It's her I fight for and look what that's got me!"
"Spike, I don't blame you. I love you and always will. As for Buffy, that's why I left, you had to sort it out."
She was pacing the lobby, Angel was watching her, probably able to hear Spike's side of the conversation.
"I have to go pet, I just needed to say that."
"Spike, where are you? I'll come see you and we can talk."
"Maybe later, you have your stuff to sort out." He hung up.
"Bye." She said to the dialling tone. She sat down.
"You okay?" Angel asked.
"I just need to clean up a bit." She said staring at the wall.
"I'll show you to a room." Fred picked up Nat's bag and led her up the stairs. Tear's filled Nat's eyes as she followed.
She was shaking, he had only said a few words to her and this was her reaction. She splashed water onto her face, her hands still shaking. A quiet knock at the door made her pull herself together.
"Yes?"
"Hi, Nat? It's Cordelia." A dark haired girl breezed into the room. She had a tray of food. "Thought you might be hungry."
"Oh, thanks. I've heard a lot about you."
"Well I'm not as bad as I was in high school, are you alright?"
Nat realised she was still crying. She wiped her eyes.
"Man problems."
"You want to talk about it?" Cordelia sat on the edge of the bed placing the tray beside her. Nat joined her and started to pick food off the tray.
"Where do I start?"
"How about the beginning?"
~~~~~~
Fred knocked on the door hearing Cordelia's voice inside.
"Come in as long as you're female!" Cordy shouted. Nat giggled and Fred stuck her head around the door.
"I think I qualify, just checking Nat's okay after the whole Angel thing."
Cordy looked puzzled then her eyes widened when she realised "It was Angel who told you about Spike."
Nat nodded. "Yeah, but I don't blame him."
"Well I do, we will have words."
Fred stood in the doorway not sure whether she was wanted or not.
"Come on Nat, we'll sort him out. You with us Fred?"
"Do we get to tell Angel off then?"
"Yes!"
"I like watching that, count me in!"
Cordy linked arms with Fred and Nat and pulled them down the corridor.
~~~~~~~~~~
"She doesn't look like much of a fighter!" Gunn said leaning on the counter.
"She's a good fighter, don't worry." Angel was reading, his feet on the desk.
Gunn turned. "And you know this how?"
"She beat me up once, nearly killed me."
"And this was because of Spike?"
Angel winced slightly at the sound of his name. "Yeah."
Talking and giggling was heard from the balcony. Gunn turned and saw Cordy, Fred and Nat chatting and walking down the stairs. Nat's eyes were red, there had been a crying session, he thought.
"So, girls what's the plan?"
Cordy gave Angel a look. "We need to talk later!"
Angel not looking up from his book mumbled. "Mm hmm."
"Okay Nat. What're we doing then?" Cordy looked at her.
"Um, locator spell would work I suppose."
"Okay, what do you need?" Angel said finally putting down his book.
"A map, and." Nat dug around in her pockets. "I have my own pendulum."
"I like a girl who's organised." Cordy beamed.
"I learnt from Willow!"
Natalie spread out the map in front of her. Gunn and Fred watched her with amazement. She clapped her hands together and rubbed them.
"What does that do?" Fred asked.
"Nothing, my hands were cold." Nat giggled.
"I think you should let her get on with it." Cordy told them. They slowly moved away. Nat held the pendulum above the map. It went straight off. "Have you got a globe?"
Angel placed the globe in front of her. The pendulum stopped over Mexico. Nats eyes went wide.
"The demon is in Mexico?"
Angel shook his head, "No but, I bet Spike is there!"
"My concentration can't be that off!"
"It's inside you Natalie, can't you see? You brought your watcher back as punishment!" Angel insisted.
"Yes, I've read that somewhere!" Fred grabbed a book and flicked through the pages. "Here!"
She handed the book to Nat who sat staring at the page not really taking in the words. They seemed to merge into each other.
"It makes sense. So, you were here in LA when Willow did the locator spell." Angel held Nat steady and placed her down on the couch.
"I didn't think!" Nat barely whispered.
"You need to go to him." Angel looked at this small girl. She looked younger than Buffy ever did. He wished he could take the responsibility off her, but she was a Slayer. He knew she wouldn't let him.
"I don't know if I can."
"I don't think you have a choice!"
~~~~~~~~~~~
The phone rang for what seemed like forever. It was Dawn who picked it up.
"Hello? Summers residence."
"Hi Dawn! It's Nat. Your sister around?" Nat was still shaking but her voice seemed steady and calm.
"Yeah, two secs." She heard the receiver placed on the counter. "Buffy, phone!" Dawn yelled in the background.
"Hello?"
"Buffy, its Nat."
"Oh hi! You okay?"
"Yeah," She paused, not sure how to tell her. "I found him."
She heard Buffy swallow hard. "Where?"
"Mexico. I have to go to him."
"So why are you telling me?" Buffy said coldly.
"Should I bring him back to Sunnydale?"
"Do what you think is right. But don't expect a warm welcome."
"Okay, Buffy.I."
"Don't say it." Buffy's voice softened. "You didn't know, couldn't know."
"Yeah" Nat sighed. "I hope I see you soon."
"Yeah, bye." There was a pause. "And Nat?"
"Yes?"
"Good luck." Buffy said in a whisper, she hung up.
"I'll need it." Nat said to the dialling tone.
~~~~~~~~
The journey was a pain. Nat always hated travelling even back when traffic jams were non-existent. Now it was worse.
Mexico was hot, stuffy and she hated it. She had done the locator spell a few times and had pin pointed him to a house. She had tried to get up the courage to go up and knock on the door for two days now.
"He must know I'm here!" She said staring at the door again. "Does he really want me to show up?"
She was about to turn to leave when the door opened. Spike nearly running into her.
"Sorry." He bowed his head and tried to duck past her.
"Spike!" She said with concern. He looked up, tears filled his eyes when he saw who it was. "Nat, I."
"You want to do this inside?" He nodded.
Inside was very basic. A bed, a chair and a few books. Spike sat on the bed, Nat dumped her bag near the door and looked at him. His hair was a mess, he looked different, human.
"What's wrong?" Nat knelt in front of him and looked into his blue eyes.
"I did something really dumb!" He smiled. "But, I feel better now you're here."
He cupped her face in his hands, she closed her eyes savouring his touch. She opened her eyes trying to push back in her head all the thoughts she now had.
"Buffy explained why I left didn't she?" Nat asked, he pulled back from her.
"Don't mention her, she has nothing to do with us!" He lay on the bed like a spoilt child. She got up and sat beside him.
"Sorry, I didn't mean." Something wasn't right with him, not just the way he acted, the way she felt when she was with him. Something so very wrong. "What did you do?"
She pushed a stray hair behind his ear and Spike caught hold of her wrist and stared straight into her eyes.
"I got me a soul." Nat closed her eyes and shook her head.
"Oh baby." She wanted to take away the pain he was feeling in that moment. Take back what was done so she could have him back the way he was. "Why did you do that?"
"I had become a monster, I." He had started to pace the room.
"I love you, all of you. That monster was part of you and I loved it too!" He stopped and sat next to her, she touched his face. He turned, kissing the palm of her hand. She felt electricity through her body at the touch of his lips.
"I missed you!" She whispered. He let his hand fall on her back, bringing her closer to him.
"I wish you were around a month ago."
She rested her head on his shoulder. "So do I!"
"Stay?" He asked, getting hold of her hand and kissing the top of her head.
"For now." He lay her on the bed and held her close, their legs entwining, Nat closed her eyes and wanted the world to stop at that moment so she could stay forever.
~~~~~~~~
She woke to find Spike lying in her arms, purring softly like a kitten. Nat smiled. She loved him so much, she didn't know if she could let him go back to her. Deep inside she knew he hadn't fulfilled his destiny.
A light filled the room.
"You must let him go. Face your demon and let him go."
"Why do you always do this?" She screamed tears running down her face. "You give him to me, then pull him away! I can't keep doing this! Damn, I won't keep doing this, I need him."
"Get rid of your demon, that is the key." The room came into sharp focus again and Nat found herself crying and lying again next to Spike who was still asleep.
"Son of a." She stopped herself. She picked up bad habits from the demons she fought, swearing being one of them.
Spike awoke suddenly then relaxed when he remembered who was with him. "You okay babe?" Nat said trying to hide the fact she had just been crying.
"You have to leave again don't you?"
"Not yet, need to sort some things out first. You being one of them." He started to purr again. He was like a small child, holding on to her for safety. She felt a sharp pain in her stomach at the thought of this change, she wanted the old Spike back.
She read while Spike slept, she needed to talk to the demon that she brought back within her, but she couldn't find a spell to do that. She slammed the book shut, waking Spike up as she did so.
"Sorry."
"It's okay, not really sleeping. What you looking for?" Spike asked, gesturing at the books that surrounded her.
"Spell to talk to my inner demon!" He closed his eyes.
"Don't need any spells for that luv. Always talking, just need to listen right." He opened his eyes. "My inner demon wants to do all sorts of bad things to you."
Nat smiled sexily, "I expect my inner demon would want you to!"
He smiled.
"Sorry for everything."
"You keep saying that!" She knelt beside the bed so she was face to face with him. "You were and still are the only good thing in my life. John screwed me up."
She bowed her head.
"He did things that made torture look like a tea party." She looked deep into his eyes. "The thought of you pulled me through that. Your deep blue eyes." She stroked his cheek.
"That was the evil you, so now I love you deeper than I thought possible. You are my strength, my love, my everything and you have nothing to be sorry about."
A single tear rolled down Spikes cheek.
"I didn't know, I thought I wrecked your life."
"I should have told you sooner but, there's been things standing in the way." A sudden pain in her chest broke the spell between them. Spike grabbed her to stop her falling. It passed and Nat took deep breaths to calm down.
"Looks like my inner demon wants to talk!"
~~~~~~~~
Nat sat, eyes closed, trying to sense the demon that was invading her body.
"Damn this is too hard!" She opened her eyes and saw Spike smiling. "What?"
"When you swear, I find it funny. Why don't I help?"
"Okay, what are you.?" Spike kissed her before she had a chance to finish. It felt different than before, more calm, more romantic.
"Evil, back stabbing scum!"
Nat pulled away. "What the hell was that?" Nat asked.
Spike smiled. "A kiss."
She rolled her eyes, "No, that voice!"
"I guess it was your inner demon?" He leant back still smirking and looked like his old self.
Nat closed her eyes, Spike was way too distracting and cute.
"What do you want from me?" Nat said to the voice.
"To be let out!" It screamed Nat covered her ears.
"It nearly burst my ear drums!" She put energy into her inner slayer using that to confine the demon.
"You okay?" Spike was leaning forward again, back to his soulful state.
"Yeah, I need to go somewhere." Panic filled his eyes "I'll be back, unless you want to come?"
Her insides were screaming that this was a bad idea but her heart couldn't leave him like this.
"What do I do?" Spike was nervous, it scared Nat a little to see him like this, she was being the strong one and she had never had to be like this before.
"Hold on to me, I hope this works, if it doesn't I'll just disappear like before okay?" Nat found herself talking to him like a child. Spike nodded and wrapped his arms around her waist.
She closed her eyes and mentally said. 'I want to speak to you, come on!'
"Damn!" She said aloud, starting to give up. Just then, a white light enveloped them and Nat grabbed Spike's hand.
"Still here pet." He whispered in her ear.
"You want to know how to get rid of this demon?" The voice enveloped them.
"Yes!" Nat shouted into the light.
"What the hell?" Spike said
"Just go with it. It's a power thing." Nat replied.
A small girl giggled and stepped out of the white light. "Not power, knowledge."
"Please, help?" Nat begged
The small girl smiled.
"You do not respect me less, even with this appearance."
"No, should I?"
The girl smiled. "I will help you talk to the demon, you will know how to deal with it when the time comes."
"Thank you."
The light and girl faded and they were standing in Spike's room once more.
"That was amazing." Spike said.
Nat nodded. "Yes, we got some straight answers."
~~~~~~~~~~
Spike slept, he seemed to be doing that a lot. It was as if it were the only time he found peace. She never realised how difficult having a soul was but, then she had him to fall back on. She smiled, he doesn't have that. She was having a hard time dealing with his pain, from what little he was willing to say, she didn't know now he coped. She hadn't coped well without him the first time.
He stirred, muttering something in his sleep. It sounded like Buffy, she sighed, it would never be her, she knew that. Just needed to deal with that now.
"I will deal with him for you." Nat jumped, the demon inside her kept saying stuff like that. It didn't like Spike, probably because it was him that kept her grounded and out of the darkness.
"Stop it." She whispered, making sure she didn't wake Spike.
"He causes nothing but pain to you, he'll never love you."
"It's right you know." It was Buffy, standing clear as day right in front of her. "It's me he loves, look what he's going through for me."
"Who are you?" Nat back away from Buffy.
She smiled. "I'm not her, but I know her."
"That doesn't make sense!" Nat concentrated on her Slayer strength.
"Can't fight me!" Buffy stepped forward putting her arm through Nat. "See- through!"
She smiled. "You're in the way and as you can see, I can't move you but it can." She placed her hand over Nat's chest.
Nat's insides lurched at that, she could feel the demon inside her trying to reach out to the impostor. She stepped back from Buffy which calmed the demon for the moment.
"I can control that demon, make it twist and turn." Nat was bent double in pain. "Make it kill everyone you love."
Suddenly the pain stopped and she saw the impostor looking at Spike. "But, I can tell you how to get rid of it as well."
"How?" Nat stood again composing herself.
"It needs you to live. Get rid of you and you drag it back whence it came." Spike stirred in his sleep again. "Time to fly, bye Natalie. Nice to meet you, even if it was short lived!"
She bent close to Spike. "See you later lover!" She blew a kiss towards Spike, he awoke with a start. Nat looked about the room and Buffy had gone.
"You okay? Have you lost something?" Spike asked.
"No, I.oh nothing. Spike, I have to leave." She started to pack her things.
"You can't. You promised you'd stay." He caught hold of her arms to stop her packing.
"I need to." She wanted to get out of the room as fast as she could, she was so close to staying with him.
"Well I'll come too then." She had tears in her eyes.
"No, I need you to go back to Sunnydale." He flew into a rage, letting go of her.
"No way am I going back to that bitch!"
"Spike, something bad is coming, it may be already here."
"What? Like she can't fight it by herself?" She grabbed hold of him stopping him pacing about the room.
"She can't and even with your help she may lose, I don't know how to explain what I felt."
"So come with me. Fight too."
She shook her head, tears rolling down her face. "Can't baby, not going to be around."
"You can't, not again." He held her close.
"That's how I get rid of the demon Spike, there's no way round it."
She pulled back, starting to pack again. "If I can live with my demon, you can live with yours, we'll help each other."
She didn't want to leave him, wished she could fight with him, wished what he was saying was true.
"Tell me why Nat? There's more to this." She looked into his eyes, the fire in his eyes was back, he had something to fight for again.
She swallowed hard. "It's going to kill you, with the power I have it can do it." He stared at her.
"I can't change your mind then can I?" She shook her head, he wrapped his arms around her, grabbing something from her pile of things. "I can't let you do this you do know that!"
"But Spike," Spike pushed a dagger into her back. The pain lasting only a few seconds. He lay her on the bed and for a moment she panicked, then smiled as she felt the demon escape her body.
"My kill remember!" She lay dying in his arms and Spike was crying, holding her close, wishing he didn't have to let her go.
"I love you," She whispered, closing her eyes for the final time. Spike kissed her forehead.
"Love you too, pet."
~~~~~~~
The First appeared next to Nat's roughly dug grave and watched as Spike walked away. With Nat's backpack on his back.
"Good girl! Now he's all mine!"
Natalie tossed in her sleep and every so often she would reach out for him. The ache inside hurting again when she found only bed sheets. She finally gave up and started to pack her things.
She jumped when her mobile phone rang. Natalie had gotten it to keep in touch with Buffy, just in case. It had taken her a month to figure it out and she still found it strange.
"Hello?"
"Nat? It's Willow, I have some information for you."
"Willow! Hi! Go ahead."
"You're right about your Watcher. He was brought back by the residual demon, the magick we used to bring you back must have been more powerful than I thought"
"Yes but, how did you figure it out?"
"We had the same problem when Buffy came back. I should have realised sooner, sorry!"
"It's fine Willow really. So, I have to find and get rid of this demon then, since it's my fault."
"Way ahead of you, I did a locator spell, it's in LA. I can give you an address of people who can help you there."
"Thanks that would help! How are you?"
"Coping. Giles and the coven are helping a lot. I would love to see you over here after you finish the demon hunt."
"Okay! Might take you up on that, now what's that address?"
~~~~~~
Natalie approached the hotel nervously. They knew she was coming, Willow said she had phoned ahead and they were researching the demon she was hunting. Still it made her nervous.
She pushed open the door, the lobby was huge and the lack of people meant she had the right place. A young girl about Nat's age was reading behind the counter. Not my age, she corrected herself, I'm over a hundred. She walked down the steps, the girl looked up, taking off her glasses.
"Can I help you?" she asked softly.
"I hope so. I'm Nat, erm, Natalie." She held out her hand.
"Oh! The Slayer, I'm Fred!" They shook hands. "The others are about somewhere."
As if on cue a man appeared from the office.
"This is Gunn."
"Hey."
"Hello!" Nat said, she was never going to remember all the names.
"Old Slayer chick I guess?"
"Charles!" Fred scorned.
"It's alright, I've been called worse."
"Oh, here's Angel." Fred said quickly trying to change the subject.
Natalie turned to see Angel and nearly burst when she saw him.
"You!" she shouted.
"Yeah, me."
"You know each other then?" Fred was trying to calm down Nat, Angel as always didn't seem fazed by the reaction.
"Willow sent me to you? Well that's great, as if my life wasn't complicated enough I have to deal with another life wrecking vampire! You don't have a chip as well do you?" Nat's voice echoed around the lobby making it sound even louder.
"No, a soul." Angel replied joining Fred behind the counter.
"This gets better and better!" Nat threw her hands up and slumped onto the settee, putting her head in her hands.
"I can explain if you'll let me." Angel sat next to her.
"Go ahead, your excuses can't be any better than William's!"
Suddenly, Fred and Gunn became more interested in the exchange. Angel shot them a look as if to tell them to stay out of it.
"I did think he was dust but, I didn't think you'd kill yourself. If I knew, I wouldn't have told you. I'm sorry."
"It wasn't you, it was him." She sighed. "It's always been him." She said in a whisper. Natalie's mobile went off making her jump.
"Hello?" "Hey baby!" It was Spike. "How did you.?" "I'm evil remember. I stole your number from Red."
She could tell from his voice something was wrong.
"Where are you, are you okay?"
"I needed to say sorry. For everything. I do love you but, you were right. It's her I fight for and look what that's got me!"
"Spike, I don't blame you. I love you and always will. As for Buffy, that's why I left, you had to sort it out."
She was pacing the lobby, Angel was watching her, probably able to hear Spike's side of the conversation.
"I have to go pet, I just needed to say that."
"Spike, where are you? I'll come see you and we can talk."
"Maybe later, you have your stuff to sort out." He hung up.
"Bye." She said to the dialling tone. She sat down.
"You okay?" Angel asked.
"I just need to clean up a bit." She said staring at the wall.
"I'll show you to a room." Fred picked up Nat's bag and led her up the stairs. Tear's filled Nat's eyes as she followed.
She was shaking, he had only said a few words to her and this was her reaction. She splashed water onto her face, her hands still shaking. A quiet knock at the door made her pull herself together.
"Yes?"
"Hi, Nat? It's Cordelia." A dark haired girl breezed into the room. She had a tray of food. "Thought you might be hungry."
"Oh, thanks. I've heard a lot about you."
"Well I'm not as bad as I was in high school, are you alright?"
Nat realised she was still crying. She wiped her eyes.
"Man problems."
"You want to talk about it?" Cordelia sat on the edge of the bed placing the tray beside her. Nat joined her and started to pick food off the tray.
"Where do I start?"
"How about the beginning?"
~~~~~~
Fred knocked on the door hearing Cordelia's voice inside.
"Come in as long as you're female!" Cordy shouted. Nat giggled and Fred stuck her head around the door.
"I think I qualify, just checking Nat's okay after the whole Angel thing."
Cordy looked puzzled then her eyes widened when she realised "It was Angel who told you about Spike."
Nat nodded. "Yeah, but I don't blame him."
"Well I do, we will have words."
Fred stood in the doorway not sure whether she was wanted or not.
"Come on Nat, we'll sort him out. You with us Fred?"
"Do we get to tell Angel off then?"
"Yes!"
"I like watching that, count me in!"
Cordy linked arms with Fred and Nat and pulled them down the corridor.
~~~~~~~~~~
"She doesn't look like much of a fighter!" Gunn said leaning on the counter.
"She's a good fighter, don't worry." Angel was reading, his feet on the desk.
Gunn turned. "And you know this how?"
"She beat me up once, nearly killed me."
"And this was because of Spike?"
Angel winced slightly at the sound of his name. "Yeah."
Talking and giggling was heard from the balcony. Gunn turned and saw Cordy, Fred and Nat chatting and walking down the stairs. Nat's eyes were red, there had been a crying session, he thought.
"So, girls what's the plan?"
Cordy gave Angel a look. "We need to talk later!"
Angel not looking up from his book mumbled. "Mm hmm."
"Okay Nat. What're we doing then?" Cordy looked at her.
"Um, locator spell would work I suppose."
"Okay, what do you need?" Angel said finally putting down his book.
"A map, and." Nat dug around in her pockets. "I have my own pendulum."
"I like a girl who's organised." Cordy beamed.
"I learnt from Willow!"
Natalie spread out the map in front of her. Gunn and Fred watched her with amazement. She clapped her hands together and rubbed them.
"What does that do?" Fred asked.
"Nothing, my hands were cold." Nat giggled.
"I think you should let her get on with it." Cordy told them. They slowly moved away. Nat held the pendulum above the map. It went straight off. "Have you got a globe?"
Angel placed the globe in front of her. The pendulum stopped over Mexico. Nats eyes went wide.
"The demon is in Mexico?"
Angel shook his head, "No but, I bet Spike is there!"
"My concentration can't be that off!"
"It's inside you Natalie, can't you see? You brought your watcher back as punishment!" Angel insisted.
"Yes, I've read that somewhere!" Fred grabbed a book and flicked through the pages. "Here!"
She handed the book to Nat who sat staring at the page not really taking in the words. They seemed to merge into each other.
"It makes sense. So, you were here in LA when Willow did the locator spell." Angel held Nat steady and placed her down on the couch.
"I didn't think!" Nat barely whispered.
"You need to go to him." Angel looked at this small girl. She looked younger than Buffy ever did. He wished he could take the responsibility off her, but she was a Slayer. He knew she wouldn't let him.
"I don't know if I can."
"I don't think you have a choice!"
~~~~~~~~~~~
The phone rang for what seemed like forever. It was Dawn who picked it up.
"Hello? Summers residence."
"Hi Dawn! It's Nat. Your sister around?" Nat was still shaking but her voice seemed steady and calm.
"Yeah, two secs." She heard the receiver placed on the counter. "Buffy, phone!" Dawn yelled in the background.
"Hello?"
"Buffy, its Nat."
"Oh hi! You okay?"
"Yeah," She paused, not sure how to tell her. "I found him."
She heard Buffy swallow hard. "Where?"
"Mexico. I have to go to him."
"So why are you telling me?" Buffy said coldly.
"Should I bring him back to Sunnydale?"
"Do what you think is right. But don't expect a warm welcome."
"Okay, Buffy.I."
"Don't say it." Buffy's voice softened. "You didn't know, couldn't know."
"Yeah" Nat sighed. "I hope I see you soon."
"Yeah, bye." There was a pause. "And Nat?"
"Yes?"
"Good luck." Buffy said in a whisper, she hung up.
"I'll need it." Nat said to the dialling tone.
~~~~~~~~
The journey was a pain. Nat always hated travelling even back when traffic jams were non-existent. Now it was worse.
Mexico was hot, stuffy and she hated it. She had done the locator spell a few times and had pin pointed him to a house. She had tried to get up the courage to go up and knock on the door for two days now.
"He must know I'm here!" She said staring at the door again. "Does he really want me to show up?"
She was about to turn to leave when the door opened. Spike nearly running into her.
"Sorry." He bowed his head and tried to duck past her.
"Spike!" She said with concern. He looked up, tears filled his eyes when he saw who it was. "Nat, I."
"You want to do this inside?" He nodded.
Inside was very basic. A bed, a chair and a few books. Spike sat on the bed, Nat dumped her bag near the door and looked at him. His hair was a mess, he looked different, human.
"What's wrong?" Nat knelt in front of him and looked into his blue eyes.
"I did something really dumb!" He smiled. "But, I feel better now you're here."
He cupped her face in his hands, she closed her eyes savouring his touch. She opened her eyes trying to push back in her head all the thoughts she now had.
"Buffy explained why I left didn't she?" Nat asked, he pulled back from her.
"Don't mention her, she has nothing to do with us!" He lay on the bed like a spoilt child. She got up and sat beside him.
"Sorry, I didn't mean." Something wasn't right with him, not just the way he acted, the way she felt when she was with him. Something so very wrong. "What did you do?"
She pushed a stray hair behind his ear and Spike caught hold of her wrist and stared straight into her eyes.
"I got me a soul." Nat closed her eyes and shook her head.
"Oh baby." She wanted to take away the pain he was feeling in that moment. Take back what was done so she could have him back the way he was. "Why did you do that?"
"I had become a monster, I." He had started to pace the room.
"I love you, all of you. That monster was part of you and I loved it too!" He stopped and sat next to her, she touched his face. He turned, kissing the palm of her hand. She felt electricity through her body at the touch of his lips.
"I missed you!" She whispered. He let his hand fall on her back, bringing her closer to him.
"I wish you were around a month ago."
She rested her head on his shoulder. "So do I!"
"Stay?" He asked, getting hold of her hand and kissing the top of her head.
"For now." He lay her on the bed and held her close, their legs entwining, Nat closed her eyes and wanted the world to stop at that moment so she could stay forever.
~~~~~~~~
She woke to find Spike lying in her arms, purring softly like a kitten. Nat smiled. She loved him so much, she didn't know if she could let him go back to her. Deep inside she knew he hadn't fulfilled his destiny.
A light filled the room.
"You must let him go. Face your demon and let him go."
"Why do you always do this?" She screamed tears running down her face. "You give him to me, then pull him away! I can't keep doing this! Damn, I won't keep doing this, I need him."
"Get rid of your demon, that is the key." The room came into sharp focus again and Nat found herself crying and lying again next to Spike who was still asleep.
"Son of a." She stopped herself. She picked up bad habits from the demons she fought, swearing being one of them.
Spike awoke suddenly then relaxed when he remembered who was with him. "You okay babe?" Nat said trying to hide the fact she had just been crying.
"You have to leave again don't you?"
"Not yet, need to sort some things out first. You being one of them." He started to purr again. He was like a small child, holding on to her for safety. She felt a sharp pain in her stomach at the thought of this change, she wanted the old Spike back.
She read while Spike slept, she needed to talk to the demon that she brought back within her, but she couldn't find a spell to do that. She slammed the book shut, waking Spike up as she did so.
"Sorry."
"It's okay, not really sleeping. What you looking for?" Spike asked, gesturing at the books that surrounded her.
"Spell to talk to my inner demon!" He closed his eyes.
"Don't need any spells for that luv. Always talking, just need to listen right." He opened his eyes. "My inner demon wants to do all sorts of bad things to you."
Nat smiled sexily, "I expect my inner demon would want you to!"
He smiled.
"Sorry for everything."
"You keep saying that!" She knelt beside the bed so she was face to face with him. "You were and still are the only good thing in my life. John screwed me up."
She bowed her head.
"He did things that made torture look like a tea party." She looked deep into his eyes. "The thought of you pulled me through that. Your deep blue eyes." She stroked his cheek.
"That was the evil you, so now I love you deeper than I thought possible. You are my strength, my love, my everything and you have nothing to be sorry about."
A single tear rolled down Spikes cheek.
"I didn't know, I thought I wrecked your life."
"I should have told you sooner but, there's been things standing in the way." A sudden pain in her chest broke the spell between them. Spike grabbed her to stop her falling. It passed and Nat took deep breaths to calm down.
"Looks like my inner demon wants to talk!"
~~~~~~~~
Nat sat, eyes closed, trying to sense the demon that was invading her body.
"Damn this is too hard!" She opened her eyes and saw Spike smiling. "What?"
"When you swear, I find it funny. Why don't I help?"
"Okay, what are you.?" Spike kissed her before she had a chance to finish. It felt different than before, more calm, more romantic.
"Evil, back stabbing scum!"
Nat pulled away. "What the hell was that?" Nat asked.
Spike smiled. "A kiss."
She rolled her eyes, "No, that voice!"
"I guess it was your inner demon?" He leant back still smirking and looked like his old self.
Nat closed her eyes, Spike was way too distracting and cute.
"What do you want from me?" Nat said to the voice.
"To be let out!" It screamed Nat covered her ears.
"It nearly burst my ear drums!" She put energy into her inner slayer using that to confine the demon.
"You okay?" Spike was leaning forward again, back to his soulful state.
"Yeah, I need to go somewhere." Panic filled his eyes "I'll be back, unless you want to come?"
Her insides were screaming that this was a bad idea but her heart couldn't leave him like this.
"What do I do?" Spike was nervous, it scared Nat a little to see him like this, she was being the strong one and she had never had to be like this before.
"Hold on to me, I hope this works, if it doesn't I'll just disappear like before okay?" Nat found herself talking to him like a child. Spike nodded and wrapped his arms around her waist.
She closed her eyes and mentally said. 'I want to speak to you, come on!'
"Damn!" She said aloud, starting to give up. Just then, a white light enveloped them and Nat grabbed Spike's hand.
"Still here pet." He whispered in her ear.
"You want to know how to get rid of this demon?" The voice enveloped them.
"Yes!" Nat shouted into the light.
"What the hell?" Spike said
"Just go with it. It's a power thing." Nat replied.
A small girl giggled and stepped out of the white light. "Not power, knowledge."
"Please, help?" Nat begged
The small girl smiled.
"You do not respect me less, even with this appearance."
"No, should I?"
The girl smiled. "I will help you talk to the demon, you will know how to deal with it when the time comes."
"Thank you."
The light and girl faded and they were standing in Spike's room once more.
"That was amazing." Spike said.
Nat nodded. "Yes, we got some straight answers."
~~~~~~~~~~
Spike slept, he seemed to be doing that a lot. It was as if it were the only time he found peace. She never realised how difficult having a soul was but, then she had him to fall back on. She smiled, he doesn't have that. She was having a hard time dealing with his pain, from what little he was willing to say, she didn't know now he coped. She hadn't coped well without him the first time.
He stirred, muttering something in his sleep. It sounded like Buffy, she sighed, it would never be her, she knew that. Just needed to deal with that now.
"I will deal with him for you." Nat jumped, the demon inside her kept saying stuff like that. It didn't like Spike, probably because it was him that kept her grounded and out of the darkness.
"Stop it." She whispered, making sure she didn't wake Spike.
"He causes nothing but pain to you, he'll never love you."
"It's right you know." It was Buffy, standing clear as day right in front of her. "It's me he loves, look what he's going through for me."
"Who are you?" Nat back away from Buffy.
She smiled. "I'm not her, but I know her."
"That doesn't make sense!" Nat concentrated on her Slayer strength.
"Can't fight me!" Buffy stepped forward putting her arm through Nat. "See- through!"
She smiled. "You're in the way and as you can see, I can't move you but it can." She placed her hand over Nat's chest.
Nat's insides lurched at that, she could feel the demon inside her trying to reach out to the impostor. She stepped back from Buffy which calmed the demon for the moment.
"I can control that demon, make it twist and turn." Nat was bent double in pain. "Make it kill everyone you love."
Suddenly the pain stopped and she saw the impostor looking at Spike. "But, I can tell you how to get rid of it as well."
"How?" Nat stood again composing herself.
"It needs you to live. Get rid of you and you drag it back whence it came." Spike stirred in his sleep again. "Time to fly, bye Natalie. Nice to meet you, even if it was short lived!"
She bent close to Spike. "See you later lover!" She blew a kiss towards Spike, he awoke with a start. Nat looked about the room and Buffy had gone.
"You okay? Have you lost something?" Spike asked.
"No, I.oh nothing. Spike, I have to leave." She started to pack her things.
"You can't. You promised you'd stay." He caught hold of her arms to stop her packing.
"I need to." She wanted to get out of the room as fast as she could, she was so close to staying with him.
"Well I'll come too then." She had tears in her eyes.
"No, I need you to go back to Sunnydale." He flew into a rage, letting go of her.
"No way am I going back to that bitch!"
"Spike, something bad is coming, it may be already here."
"What? Like she can't fight it by herself?" She grabbed hold of him stopping him pacing about the room.
"She can't and even with your help she may lose, I don't know how to explain what I felt."
"So come with me. Fight too."
She shook her head, tears rolling down her face. "Can't baby, not going to be around."
"You can't, not again." He held her close.
"That's how I get rid of the demon Spike, there's no way round it."
She pulled back, starting to pack again. "If I can live with my demon, you can live with yours, we'll help each other."
She didn't want to leave him, wished she could fight with him, wished what he was saying was true.
"Tell me why Nat? There's more to this." She looked into his eyes, the fire in his eyes was back, he had something to fight for again.
She swallowed hard. "It's going to kill you, with the power I have it can do it." He stared at her.
"I can't change your mind then can I?" She shook her head, he wrapped his arms around her, grabbing something from her pile of things. "I can't let you do this you do know that!"
"But Spike," Spike pushed a dagger into her back. The pain lasting only a few seconds. He lay her on the bed and for a moment she panicked, then smiled as she felt the demon escape her body.
"My kill remember!" She lay dying in his arms and Spike was crying, holding her close, wishing he didn't have to let her go.
"I love you," She whispered, closing her eyes for the final time. Spike kissed her forehead.
"Love you too, pet."
~~~~~~~
The First appeared next to Nat's roughly dug grave and watched as Spike walked away. With Nat's backpack on his back.
"Good girl! Now he's all mine!"