Chapter 2

All of the color fled from Buffy's face. It was almost as if her heart had ceased beating. William looked at the younger girl in confusion. Giles let out a sigh as Buffy leaned back against the counter.

"I'm sorry, do I know you?" William asked.

Dawn studied William for a second. He looked so much like Spike. The only thing that was different was that he wore glasses and he had brown hair.

"William, please excuse my sister. She is still mourning over the death of my husband," Buffy said awkwardly.

William looked over at Giles.

"Your Husbands name was Spike?" William asked stunned and little amused.

That a beautiful woman could be married to someone who sounded like a biker was very amusing to him.

"Actually, his name was…. William," Buffy answered softly.

Buffy felt herself dying inside all over again as she looked at the stranger. He was like looking at a ghost. She was afraid. Spike had died in that explosion five years ago, and no amount of dreaming was ever going to bring him back, she told herself firmly.

William looked at her confused.

"You don't have to tell me about him. It's quite all right," William offered.

He could see by her face that it was still a very painful subject even after all this time. Buffy stared at him blankly.

"William, my sons name was William," Giles explained.

"Wait a minute. His name is William," Dawn said, jumping into the conversation.

"Dawn, that's rude," Buffy whispered harshly.

Williams head was starting to hurt. It always happened when he tried to remember. He walked over to the table and sat down.

Amber walked up to William and stared at him intently with her big blue eyes. She climbed up on to the bench and sat next William.

"William, Where are your mommy and daddy?" Amber asked softly.

"I don't know exactly," William answered.

He smiled at the little girl.

"Dawn, what makes you so sure its Spike?" Buffy asked softly.

Giles shook his head thinking of everything.

"Buffy, think about it. Spike has been gone for five years. This guy hasn't remembered things for five years. Buffy…" Dawn began.

"No, Dawn stop! It can't be Spike," Buffy said firmly.

Giles looked over at William, who was talking to Amber.

"Why can't it be?" Dawn asked in a whining voice.

"Because if it was, then William would be able to hear our whole conversation right now," Buffy answered.

As if on cue, William got up and walked over to the rest of group with Amber in his arms. He dunked her and she squealed with delight. Buffy smiled watching William with her. Too many what ifs were raising their ugly heads in her mind, as she watched William play with her daughter.

"Rupert, I'm going to head home. Thanks for the coffee. I hope we can talk again soon," William said as he put down Amber.

"Ok, William. It was a pleasure meeting you. Let's talk tomorrow," Giles said a little stunned.

He understood that the other man was feeling uncomfortable and out of place.

"William, would you at least like to come over to my house for dinner… well unless you have other plans," Buffy offered.

William smiled.

"Actually I don't know any one here so I wouldn't make plans. Rupert, I take it you going?" William asked, taking the offer.

"I will be there," Giles answered.

William nodded, satisfied.

"Then count me in," William agreed.

Buffy smiled back at the new man.

"Would you like to come with us to the park?" Buffy asked.

Dawn looked over at her stunned. This was so unlike Buffy to show interest in any of the opposite sex since Spike had died. Maybe she finally decided to move on with her life, thought Dawn.

"Consider us the welcome wagon." Dawn tried not to smile.

"I would like that," William agreed.

"I'll be outside while you finish things up." He turned and walked out of the shop, needing a few minutes alone to think.

"Over welcome much?" Dawn asked.

Buffy rolled her eyes and turned towards Giles.

"I do have something to ask you," Buffy began.

Amber tugged on her shirt.

"Mommy lets go. I want to play with Willie," Amber whined.

Buffy looked down and got to her daughters eye length.

"Sweetie, what did I say about patience? Besides, we don't know him well enough yet. You'll have to wait a moment," said Buffy.

"That you will get what you wanted sooner, when you wait," Amber said half-heartedly.

Buffy smiled ran her fingers through her daughter's hair.

"That's right. Now I have some things to talk to Grandpa Giles about and need my good girl to wait a little bit," Buffy said with a soothing tone.

Amber looked disappointed and nodded.

"I'll take her outside and we can talk to William," Dawn offered.

Buffy straightened up.

"Thank you," Buffy said with a grateful smile.

Dawn took Amber by the hand and she led her out of the shop. Buffy sighed and turned to Giles.

"It's been hard to raise her alone, having to be the mommy and the daddy," Buffy said, with pain in her eyes.

"Buffy, you aren't alone. You have Angel, Dawn, and me," Giles reminded.

Buffy shook her head.

"I know that, but it still feels like I'm doing it alone. I feel like, if Spike were still around, maybe she wouldn't be such a handful," said Buffy.

Giles nodded and put his hand on her shoulder.

"You're doing a fine job raising her," Giles said with sincerity in his eyes.

"Thanks, that means a lot coming from you. I wanted to ask you something," said Buffy.

"Sure, what's on your mind?" asked Giles.

"Do you think it would be too dramatic to take Amber to her fathers grave?" Buffy asked.

Giles frowned as he considered his answer.

"I don't think it's too much for her," Giles answered. "I think its time for her to see her father's grave."

Buffy hugged, Giles.

"Do you want to come with?" Buffy asked, as she pulled back.

"I think…" Giles began.

"Giles, you're family. I think this counts as a family time," Buffy interrupted.

Giles sighed and nodded.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Buffy pulled Amber close as they neared the cemetery. Giles and Dawn following close behind with flowers. William was lagging behind. He felt uncomfortable, as if he were intruding on this family's grief. Dawn had persuaded him to come with them.

"William, stop being such a slow poke," Dawn, said with a small smile.

William looked up as saw them waiting for him at the entrance. He picked up his pace and raced up to them.

"I don't think I feel right about being here," William said uneasily. "This is a family thing and….well….I'm not family."

Buffy gave him a sad smile.

"Until you get your memory back, you will be considered a part of the group and that means family," Buffy said firmly. "Now stop whining and being all proper."

Buffy turned and headed off to the left. She stopped suddenly.

"Buffy, what is it?" Dawn asked.

Buffy pointed to a crypt. More specifically, Spikes crypt.

"I want to show Amber his crypt," Buffy whispered to her.

Dawn shook her head.

"Not now. Let's wait till she's a little older," Dawn suggested.

Both girls looked at the crypt once more and saw William walking towards at a slow pace.

"William, what is it?" Giles asked following behind.

William kept walking. He opened the crypt door, the hinges protested with a loud squeak.

"I've seen this place before," William whispered.

It was loud enough for Giles to hear.

"How…" Giles began then shut his mouth. The list of coincidences was starting to get long.

"I've seen it in my dreams with my dream girl standing in here," William said slowly.

Giles crossed his arms and shook his head.

"William, could it be possibly that you lived here?" Giles asked.

William turned at him and raised his brow. For the first time ever, Buffy noticed his scarred brow. Her breath caught in her throat. She felt herself grow faint, as she looked William, really looked at him, for the first time since she's met him.

"Mommy, what's wrong? Amber asked as she tugged on Buffy's hand.

Her daughters question brought her back to the present. She was afraid to let herself hope, that maybe it could be her William. There was more at stake than her own feelings. She had her daughters to consider too. Buffy blanked the possibilities out of her mind, refusing to believe anything, than what her mind told her.

"Its…uh…nothing, sweetie," Buffy answered slowly.

William looked at Buffy.

"Am I going into dangerous territory?" William asked.

Buffy shook off her concentration on him.

"No," Buffy answered simply. "Let's get out of here before night fall."

A cold shiver ran down her spine, at the memories of long ago.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Buffy sat on the couch with Angel. Amber was upstairs taking her nap while Dawn finished her homework. Buffy felt uneasy. After all these years, there was a possibility that Spike was back. He wasn't dead and that he only had amnesia.

"Angel, I need you to explain one thing to me," Buffy said looking over at him.

Angel looked at her seriously.

"That thing would be what exactly?" Angel asked.

Buffy stayed quiet for a moment, trying to collect her thoughts.

"How did you know Williams was alive?" Buffy asked.

Angel acted surprised, but Buffy didn't buy it.

"What he's..." Angel stopped and looked at Buffy.

Her arms were crossed and she looked annoyed.

"Ok, I was patrolling and I decided to take a walk at the beach. I saw a guy that looked like him sitting on his porch sketching. He looked lost and confused. As I got closer I recognized him. I just thought maybe I was seeing things, but something clicked in my head saying that maybe Spike actually could be alive," Angel explained.

"I would be in denial again, but I think he might be alive," Buffy said softly. "I find there are certain things about him that brings memories of Spike back. There is something about this guy that makes my heart stop."

"Buffy could it be possible that you are falling for this guy?" Angel asked.

Buffy looked wide-eyed at Angel.

"ARE YOU NUTS!" Buffy practically yelled.

Angel rubbed his ears and looked at Buffy seriously.

"Buffy, just breathe. I was only saying. He's coming over tonight right?" Angel asked.

Buffy nodded.

"You invited him over when the whole gang is coming over?" Angel asked. Buffy nodded again, slowly, then gasped.

"Oh, everyone is going to freak when they see him. The poor guy is going to be called Spike all night," Buffy said as her voice became lower.

Angel rubbed her shoulder.

"I have to…." Buffy began, but was cut off by a knock on the door.

She got up and answered the door.

"Too late," Buffy whispered to herself, as she saw William standing at the door.

"Hey," William put up a hand in greeting.

Buffy smiled and moved out of the way.

"I know I'm early, but I wanted to make sure I had plenty of time to get here, incase I couldn't find it."

"It's really no problem," Buffy said with a fake smile.

Someway or another William managed see right through her.

"What's wrong?" William asked.

Buffy stared at him blankly.

"Nothing is wrong," Buffy answered a little stunned. William took off his coat and placed it on the coat rack.

"No, I sense that something is wrong," William said crossing his arms.

His eyes were boring into her. It was like having Spike again. He was being so demanding.

"If there was something, which there isn't, what makes you think I would tell you?" Buffy asked looking at him as demanding.

William shrugged.

"I just figured it's a proper to let a guest know if there was something wrong so they can help," William answered.

He turned and walked into the living room. Buffy stared at him and shook her head. She let out a hard sigh.

"God, you're cocky," Buffy said harshly walking after him.

Her arms were at her sides now. He stared at her.

"I am not cocky, Ms. I-want-to-be-control," William said back.

Buffy glared at him.

"It's my job to be in control. I have to keep this stupid world from caving in."

William smirked and raised his scarred eyebrow.

"Oh yeah, and how can you really protect it, when you are raising the kid and the teeny bopper."

Buffy rolled her eyes.

"Its called multi-tasking, William. I think you need to learn the skill of being a house guest," snapped Buffy.

Dawn and Angel stood in the background, both of them shocked, watching the two squabble. Dawn couldn't fight back a smile and Angel looked stunned. She couldn't figure out if it was because William looked like Spike or because of the connection between William and Buffy.

"Talk about sexual tension," Dawn whispered to Angel.

He smirked and shook his head.

"It's Spike. I can tell you that much," Angel whispered to Dawn.

Dawn looked back at William with her big eyes,

"You think?" Dawn asked trying not to cry.

"Yeah, I have seen him as William. It's Spike. The man is alive," Angel whispered as he had sense of pride knowing his grand childe was alive.

Dawn bit back her tears of happiness. She turned and ran upstairs bursting into tears. Angel followed her.

"Dawn, are you all right?" Angel asked walking into Dawns room. She wiped her face.

"He's alive, Angel. After five long years, we find out he's alive, but he doesn't remember a thing," Dawn said with a sad smile.

"We have to help him, Angel. We just have to."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Buffy stood in front of William. Her eyes were burning into his. He was glaring right back at her. Their faces were merely inches from one another. Both could feel each others breath.

"I think you should back off, Summers," William whispered huskily.

Buffy got closer to him.

"Maybe, I don't want to," Buffy replied.

She meant it to sound threatening, but it sounded weak. Her eyes darted back and forth as she stared into his eyes. God those eyes, Buffy thought. Only one person had those eyes and he was mine.

"You should back off soon or I might do something we both will regret," William whispered.

Buffy licked her lips.

"Yeah and that would be?" Buffy asked, closing the space between them.

"This," William said with his voice barely over a whisper.

He crushed his lips to hers. Buffy instantly felt weak in the knees. William wrapped his arms around her as their lips continued to dance together. Buffy felt the familiar spark between them. She wrapped her arms his neck to pull him closer.

William pulled back and rested his forehead against hers as they both gasped for air. Williams's eyes were still closed as he could still taste her lips.

"Wow," Buffy whispered.

William opened his eyes, greeted by two big green ones staring back at him. They showed lust, surprise, and joy.

"I'm sorry, Buffy, I'm not normally this forward, or at least I don't think I am," William said sincere and a bit surprised.

Buffy reached up and ran her fingers through Williams brown tossed curls.

"William, I wouldn't have done it if I didn't want to," Buffy assured him.

He looked at her and shook his head.

"I just met you. It's not right for me to just kiss you without knowing you," William said walking backwards.

Buffy stared at him stunned.

"William, it isn't like we had sex. It was just a harmless kiss," Buffy said soothingly.

She was a little freaked, but she hadn't expected him to freak out, especially this bad.

"You're the first person I've kissed in five years Buffy," William said seriously. "Do you expect me to be all right with this? Do you expect me to feel all right with these sudden feelings for you? I can't do that. You're beautiful, strong, and sophisticated. I don't know anything about my past. I don't know if I'm married and have a kid out there. I might have loved ones wondering if I'm dead. Let's not add that you are obviously still mourning over your late husband."

Buffy stared at him with tears welling in her eyes. She, suddenly, knew how Spike felt like; when she'd shut him out in the past.

"You lost your memory five years ago. My husband has been gone for five years. They never found his body or the remains of him. They said it was like he just vanished," Buffy began.

She stopped, as the memory of the cops telling her that there was no chance of survivors, five long years ago, as she had silently wept.

"Buffy…" William said weakly.

"Everyone thinks you are my husband. I hate to say that, but it is true. You look identical to him except for the black clothes and the bleached blonde hair. William, please you are my lost hope of thinking that my husband is alive, we have to at least try to discover if it's true," Buffy begged as tears came flowing out of her eyes.

William held his breath.

"I don't think I can do that, Buffy," William said looking down.

Buffy walked over to him and pushed his face up with index finger. Her face was tear-streaked, but she was surprised to see so was his.

"It might actually help your past. What have you got to lose?" Buffy whispered.

His blue eyes filled with more tears. Buffy felt the urge to kiss him, but fought against it.

"I…I need to think this over," William said softly.

He pushed away from her and grabbed his coat.

"I'm sorry I won't be staying for dinner," William put on his coat and left.

Buffy stared at the closed door. Her eyes filled with tears.

"William, come back to me," Buffy whispered to no one.

She fell to her knees crying. She wished she hadn't been so forward.

A/N: Ok so things are running faster then I had intended to be but at least it creates a great dramatic chapter. Stupid joke I know. I'm intending for things to slow down and focus on the whole William and Amber relationship. I figured it's time to take away from the Buffy and William relationship because if I continue in this rate I will probably be done in four more chapters. We don't want a very little sorry now do we?  No. So I will try my hardest the romantic person I am to drag out the relationship.