Disclaimer: I don't own them

Summary: AU after Chosen. Spike gets a chance at something he thought he could never have.

Spike moaned, curling up into a ball, wrapping his leather jacket around himself against the outside air. "William?" He whispered, grabbing the sides of his head. "William?" He whispered again, urgently. "No, no way!" He shook his head. "You cheating git!" He yelled.

"Keep it down." Rasped a low voice beside him.

Spike whirled, swinging to his feet. As he did his feet slid on the grass, flying out from under him. With unnatural vampire strength he threw himself to the side, twisting like a cat in midair and landing on his feet.

"William?" He asked, surprised.

William pulled his leather jacket, identical to Spike's, closer around his shoulders. "Well, good work, we're back." He said cheerily with a fake smile.

Spike sniffed deeply. "You're human." He noted.

"Yes indeed." Said William. "Which means we split apart."

"I don't have a soul again? Bollocks!" Snapped Spike. "I paid good money for that soul! How come they think they can just take it away?"

"I'm not gone. I'm right here." Said William.

"Your hair sucks." Said Spike.

"Oh? You know, that peroxide went out in the eighties." Said William.

"How would you know? You died in the eighteen eighties!" Snarled Spike.

"I did a quick makeup when you brought me back to life last year. Now, where are we?" Asked William.

Spike spun around in circles. "Uh, a city." He said, taking in the grimy street. "New York, by the smell."

William touched his nose. "I don't have enhanced senses." He said woefully.

"Don't start." Snarled Spike. "Think she's near?"

"Why else send us here?" Asked William sarcastically. "Oh, sorry, you wouldn't know about that, would you? After all, you couldn't even get us back in one piece!"

"What, don't like having to do your work movin` about?" Growled Spike, his eyes flashing golden. "Tough. Come on, let's get on the trail."

"What trail? There is no trail!" Snarled William back.

"Stop!" Yelled Spike loudly. "Stop borrowing my mannerisms!"

"What, I'm s-supposed to be m-mousy stuttering William?" Protested William sarcastically. "No thanks! I've spent years in limbo, only to discover you took my body and made it a punk rocker!"

"Punk rocker?" Protested Spike. "I invented the look!"

"Get over the nostalgia trip, Spike. The seventies and eighties are over." Said William.

"There is a trail." Said Spike, turning away. "We just have to find it."

"What, is your favorite delusion gone? Sorry you don't look cool any more?"

"Best bloody years of my life."

"No, those were the Buffy years." Corrected William. "Now, come on, let's find that trail." He danced up and down on his toes. "Let's go find a fight."

"Hey!" Said Spike. "I told you, you're not me!"

"Listen to my voice." Taunted William. "I am too."

"Are not!"

"Am too."

"Are not!"

"Am too." Said William. He was now smiling smugly.

"Cut that out!" Spluttered Spike. "This is my body, my life, my mannerisms!"

"My body, my life." Corrected William. "Your mannerisms." He conceded after a moment's thoughts.

"Exactly!" Growled Spike. "I'm me. Don't try to take that away from me."

"Wouldn't dream of it. But I'm part of you, and as such, am like you." Said William. "Don't you forget that. Although, color me stupid, aren't I human now? Isn't this shanshu city for me?"

"Maybe." Said Spike. "Don't forget we have to pay the piper later."

"I'm ready for that." Said William. "Let's just get the girl, shall we?"

"Can't believe we're doing this." Muttered Spike.

"Who would you like to do this?" Asked William, baring his teeth. "Hm. That's different."

"What?"

"Usually when I do that, it's all bumps and ridges."

"What?!" Demanded Spike.

"Hey, I just got used to being you! Now you want me to be me again?" William shook his head. "I've been waiting in limbo for you to die, you call me back to my old body, what do you expect?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Asked Spike angrily. He took a deep breath, and slowly replied. "This is pointless. Let's get out there and get the job done before anything else goes wrong."

"You call this going wrong?! I have my own freaking body!" Snarled William.

"Yeah, and I don't have a soulless! I'm back to being a soulless thing! A thing!" Snarled Spike.

"Oh, get over yourself. Come on, let's go do it."

"Hang on." Said Spike. "No chip, no soul. You're a human. I'm a vampire. Why don't I just kill you?"

"Because I'm your sodding conscience!" Said William. "Can we focus, here?" He glanced around. "Shall we make a plan?"

"You know that doesn't turn out well. I get bored and attack before it's ready."

"Right." Said William, throwing up his hands. "All right, oh wise one. What now?"

Spike inhaled deeply. "I smell blood." He said.

"Of course, you idiot. I'm chock full of it."

"No, not yours!" Snapped Spike. "Open blood."

"She's here." Said William.

"Let's go." Said Spike, turning. William hesitated, reaching into an inner pocket on his coat. He pulled a stake out, turning it over in his hand.

"Wonder who that's supposed to be for." He said darkly.

"Come to daddy, little girl." Said Spike. "What's that? What'd you say?"

"Doesn't matter." Said William. "Daddy? How incestuous. Aren't you the Childe?"

"Yeah, but she always like Daddy better." Said Spike, flashing a grin. "Let's go pay off an unpaid debt, shall we?"

William nodded, putting his hand, stake still curled in his fist, back in his pocket. "Let's see: I'm pretty sure she's not ready for us. Seeing as she must know we're dead and all."

"All the better." Said Spike.

They strode into the midnight mist, their strides quick and strong, mirror images of death.

// Just some more teasing, a bit of sketching out characters.next time I promise more.