Disclaimer: Nope, zilch, nada, not a thing…

A/N: Aww was that too much of a cliff-hanger for you? Well never fear I'm back again! Oh and I have to say - 100 REVIEWS!!!!! *Does insane happy dance* Love you all!!! Just to warn you this chapter is kinda surreal because I'm just in that kind of mood!

Chapter 16: Changing history

Buffy looked around, surprised to find herself no longer in Snyder's office…nor was she in the hall where the memory he had invoked had ended. Instead she found herself sitting on the bed in her old basement bedroom, as it had been just before she had escaped. Something about this seemed fundamentally wrong. Whenever she had dreams or remembered previous incidents, she always felt somewhat detached from the events taking place. Now she actually felt as if she really were in her dark, damp basement with nothing to look at but the cracks on the wall and no sound but the dripping of the faucet in the corner.

She began to panic when she considered the possibility that she had somehow been taken back to the place and people who had caused her so much pain. Since she had no idea how much time had passed she wondered if it was possible that Snyder had followed through on his threat to call Drusilla and she and Liam had come and taken her away from the life she was beginning to love…the people she was falling in love with. Dru would love that. It used to be a favourite game of hers to make Buffy happy, to make her believe that things were finally going to be better, only to snatch it away cruelly when she let her guard down. This would be the ultimate victory to her!

The tears fell freely from her eyes as she thought of Spike and the fact she had been unable to say goodbye. She felt her heart twist at the thought that he never knew how much she cared, how grateful she was he had come back into her life…oh the list of things she wished she could have told him were endless…

It was only when Buffy moved to put her head in her hands that she realised that perhaps everything wasn't as it seemed. It was the first time she actually noticed that she was still wearing the black blouse that she had worn to school – she knew Spike thought she looked pretty in that one, even if she couldn't see it herself. If she had been out long enough for Dru and Liam to have collected her and brought her back to this hell she surely would have changed clothes before now. There was no way they would let her wear something such as this.

Who are you trying to impress? Pretty clothes are for pretty people – not ugly tramps like you!

Nope. Definitely not something that would have been in her old wardrobe. Then there was the fact that she seemed to have just…appeared here. She didn't remember falling asleep…she didn't remember much of anything after Snyder had brought up those horrible memories…

Taking all of this into account didn't however make Buffy anymore relaxed. This didn't feel like a dream, and if it was a memory it was one she wasn't immediately familiar with, but it didn't seem possible for it to be real either. She was very confused and scared and she wanted Spike to come and tell her what was going on…hell, right now she'd settle for Dru or Liam showing up to at least confirm her worst fears. At least then she would know what was going on! As heavy footsteps could be heard coming down the steps however, Buffy almost rolled her eyes  - be careful what you wish for and all that bollocks as Spike would say!

When Liam appeared in the doorway, usual sneer firmly in place; Buffy felt the knot of fear in her stomach that had slowly been loosening over the last few weeks grow tighter than ever. Returning to this hell now, when she had tasted freedom, made everything so much worse. Now she knew what existed outside of this life and she didn't want to let it go. Liam however, obviously had other ideas…

"Wondered how long it would take." He said almost casually as he stalked towards her, stopping only about a foot away.

Buffy instantly stood and looked down at her feet, assuming the submissive stance that had been ingrained in her for years. She didn't answer Liam – she hadn't been told to speak yet.

"Knew you'd break eventually." Liam was saying now. "You knew you didn't belong there, with them." As Liam began to pace Buffy chanced a glance in his direction. What was he talking about? She hadn't broken anything had she? "You can't deal with being happy. You know it's not going to last so you lock yourself up in here to save yourself the pain! Smartest thing you've ever done I say!"

What the hell is he talking about? Buffy thought to herself. Why would I want to be here, with them, when I could be happy with Spike?

"Buffy!"

Buffy's head snapped up at the unexpected sound of her name, unsure if she had actually heard anything since the room now seemed deathly silent. She looked towards Liam to see that he was still ranting and pacing. That is to say his lips were still moving, but she couldn't hear anything…not from him anyway…

"I'm so sorry Baby."

Okay she had definitely heard it that time!

"Please come back."

It was Spike! But why could she hear Spike in her basement? And what was he talking about? Why didn't anyone make sense? But he sounded so sad, so lost. Buffy's heart twisted at the pain she heard in his voice, so unlike the Spike she knew! He was so strong, so confident…he was always there to make her smile and bring that warm feeling to her heart…he had always been there for her…

As that thought passed through her mind, Buffy caught movement from the corner of her eye and turned to look at the bed. Her eyes widened almost comically when she saw Spike…or William actually, as he once was. The wanna-be-bad nine year old who had rescued her form the bully. Blood was pouring from the fresh gash above his left eye and he was curled around Mr Gordo as tears lined his cheeks. Instinctively, Buffy reached out to touch him, to comfort him…just to help him in someway, like he had helped her so many times.

"Oh God Buffy, please forgive me."

Buffy looked around frantically for the source of the voice filled with pain and tears. The small boy on the bed continued to whimper and Liam continued to pace but none of it mattered.

"Forgive you for what Spike?" Buffy shouted, not noticing the fact she was speaking out loud. "Where are you?" She felt frantic at being able to hear his pain but not see him, to help him. What could he possibly have done to need her forgiveness?

"I love you so much Buffy! Please forgive me…please forgive me…"

As the disembodied voice trailed off into heart wrenching sobs, Buffy felt her own tears burning her eyes. Spike loved her…she could not doubt the sincerity and conviction in his voice, despite the fact it was laced with grief. Spike had never lied to her. And she knew, that no matter what Spike thought he had done, whatever he thought he needed forgiveness for she would give it to him. He had done more than anyone could have asked to help her, and now it was time for her to return the favour!

"Are you listening to me?"

Buffy spun around to face an enraged Drusilla. Where had Liam gone? Spike's sobs had faded away, the young William's whimper's had stopped, and an eternity seemed to pass as Buffy stared into the hateful face of her deranged aunt.

"I said are you listening to me?" Dru screamed, but for the first time in her life Buffy didn't flinch away from the ear splitting sound.

"No." She replied calmly, and Dru's face contorted with rage.

"What did you say to me girl?" Dru spoke in a low, dangerous voice.

"I said," Buffy continued, her voice not wavering, filled with a new sense of purpose "I'm not listening to you. Not anymore. Spike needs me now."

"You little brat!" Dru screeched, but as she swung her hand to slap Buffy across the face, Buffy caught her wrist and pushed her away. Dru staggered back several steps with the force and looked at her niece, as much surprise evident on her face as Buffy felt at her own actions. Never, in the near ten years she had been with Dru had she ever fought back or defended herself…but Spike needed her now…and Buffy was willing to do whatever it took to get back to him!

Suddenly a high-pitched ringing filled the air…

Buffy blinked several times, her eyes were dry and very sore. The ringing continued and it took her several seconds to realise that it was in fact the phone. But as soon as she realised what it was, it went quiet again, thus removing the problem.  She looked around, only mildly surprised to find herself in her room at Spike's house. She moved to roll over but found her movements restricted. It was then that she noticed she was not alone as she lay on her bed. Spike had wrapped himself around her and was hanging on for dear life.  

A bright smile lit up as she studied his sleeping face. Carefully she lifted a hand bringing it to rest on his cheek. He leaned into it, mumbling a quiet "Buffy" in his sleep. Unable to resist, Buffy leaned forward, and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. It was the briefest of contact but still it sent shivers down her spine. As she pulled back, she found herself looking into beautiful, swirling blue…and very surprised eyes…

A/N: Was that weird? I think it was weird…let me know what you think. Love you all!!!