Author: flippinada
Rating: PG-13
Summary: What if Willow was responsible for Spike's return?
Spoilers: Buffy Season 7
Author's Note: I've yet to see Angel Season 5, so I'm just making it up as I go.
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Prologue
With a dopey smile, Willow lay limp on the floor. She was floating in ecstasy, buoyed by the thousands of tendrils connecting her to burgeoning slayers around the world. Whoa. If this is what it feels like to be high, I'm gonna have to rethink my anti-drugs stance.
She wondered vaguely how the battle was going but wasn't particularly worried. Feeling their power as it surged through her link to all the slayers, she felt complete confidence in Buffy, Faith, Kennedy...
Beside her, a stream of golden energy blasted through the floor to the ceiling, continuing until it reached open sky. Willow stared in amazement. She hadn't done that, had she? Her leg moved, only an inch, but enough to touch the light.
Suddenly Willow's perspective shifted. In her mind's eye, she was looking at a dark cavern. She was bathed in light, her body heating rapidly. Buffy was staring at her, wide eyes brimming with tears.
Willow was jerked back to her body when Kennedy grabbed her. The slayer hauled Willow to her feet and almost carryed her to the exit. Disoriented and exhausted, Willow allowed her lover to guide her as she heard Xander shouting for Anya. Something told her Anya was dead and her heart ached for him.
The survivors crowded onto the bus. As the vehicle careened away from the high school, Willow clung to Kennedy, taking comfort in the slayer's solid warmth. She was weary, but every molecule in her body seemed to hum in tune with the world. If she cared to, Willow imagined she could touch anything or anyone she chose.
She closed her eyes and found herself back in the cavern. This time she was in pain, burning pain that enveloped her entire body. In agony, she opened her mouth to scream, but a calm resolve crept over her, somehow dampening the pain. Panting a little, Willow tracked the peaceful sensation to its source--Spike's soul. His strength and goodness overwhelmed her, moving her to tears.
Rocks rained down on her as the cavern collapsed. She felt her body--no, his body--begin to disintegrate and in that moment wished she could save him. Something shifted, a subconscious transfer of energy--
"Willow!"
Her eyelids flew open. Kennedy was shaking her, dark eyes filled with worry.
"Kennedy? Wha-"
"You were completely out of it. I thought you were dying." Kennedy hugged her tightly.
Willow stroked her hair, soothing her. "Oh no, baby. I'm not dying. I'm okay. We're okay."
The bus screeched to a halt and everyone began scrambling out the doors. Willow gently withdrew from Kennedy. "We're okay," she repeated. Kennedy gave her a shaky smile and nodded. Hand in hand, they got off the bus and joined the others.
The crater that was Sunnydale stretched for miles. Willow blinked against the sun, sensing the energy recede until only the slayers made their presence felt, but distantly, like stars in the night sky. She mingled with her friends, trading quips and relieved smiles.
They had won.
***