Hope stood hidden in the shadows within the halls of her apartment building. She could feel Illyria's presents in her room.
How was that possible? How could she still be here? Hope wondered.
She heard someone walking towards her. It was Illyria. Not knowing what to do, Hope stayed where she was, but Illyria knew she was there.
Illyria grabbed Hope by the throat, pushing her toward the only light source in the hallway.
"You are responsible for this. Did you think that you could prevent me from living again? My return had been preordained centuries ago."
Gazing into Hope's wide eyes, Illyria's head twitched to the side. "My existence was not your objective." she stated, releasing her grip around Hope's neck.
Illyria observed the young woman standing in front of her. Hope was dirty and dressed in shabby clothing. Her shoulder length hair was snarled and unkept.
"You are repugnant," She told Hope, "It is no wonder I was not able to distinguish you from the rest of the vile beings in this city."
Hope gave Illyria a wry smile. "So I have been told."
"The vortex. Explain yourself," Illyria demanded, "The alteration of the previous time line could have serious repercussions."
"I did what I needed to do in order to restore the time line. An entire series of events were allowed to happen because of a manipulation somewhere within it. Events that might never had even taken place if time was allowed to unfold on its own, occurred as a result." Hope tried to explain.
"You are arrogant to assume such a thing, Some circumstances are predestine. Nothing can change what is to be," Illyria retorted.
"And you are arrogant to assume the other time line is the correct one." Hope replied angrily. " You yourself altered the coarse of time by murdering the woman whose body you inhibit. What if she was to have made a difference in this world?"
"My return was foreordained. The shell was the vessel in which my return would be complete. She existed only so that I may live."
"You bitch," Hope sputtered, staring into the ancient one's unemotional face.
Through her anger, she knew that the other woman still existed within Illyria. The "shell" had not existed in order to be replaced by Illyria.
Her life would make a difference.....
Someday....
Spike waited outside Buffy's room, pacing. He could not bring himself to knock. Hearing a noise, he looked up and was surprised to see Buffy walking towards him.
"Buffy?"
As she got closer, he noticed she had a odd look on her face. Without saying a word, she opened the door, leading him inside. Buffy turned around, wrapping her arms around him, and started kissing him urgently. Spike moaned with pleasure. Scooping her up into his arms, he carried her over to the bed. Setting her gently down on it, he backed away to undress. The only sound that could be heard in the darken room, was that of Buffy and Spike's lovemaking.
As Buffy lay in Spikes arms, he savored the feel of her breasts on his chest, the beating of her heart against his still one, and the tickling of her hair on his neck. He felt so content at that moment, and wished the night would never end.
Buffy stirred.
"Spike...."
"Hmmm?"
"I am going to have to leave here soon."
Spike stiffened. He felt all of his elate start to drain away.
"Leave? Why?"
"I need to go to Rome, to establish some Slayers there. I could be gone a while," Buffy explained. "I need you to stay here and train with Giles."
Spike clenched his jaw, and swallowed hard. He didn't understand. Things had been going so well for them. They were finally about to be together, to have a real relationship.
Buffy could see the pain flickering in his face.
"I do not want to go, but I have to. I need to."
"I know you do, luv," he sighed. "Lets not talk about this anymore. I just want to be with you now, bugger everything else."
Buffy smiled and rolled on top of him.
TBC