Sydney followed Spike out the door and downstairs leaving everyone else in the master bedroom to discuss everything she had told them. Once in the basement, Sydney put Sally down so she could explore and sat on the steps. Spike was resting on his cot again. They stayed like that for a while. Sally had decided that there wasn't anything terribly interesting there so she hopped up on the cot with Spike and curled up to go to sleep. They were enjoying the quite until Sydney broke it.
She was looking at Sally when she said, "It's always amazed me how she can sleep anywhere at anytime. It doesn't matter what's going on around her. Honestly, I don't think I've really slept in years."
"Believe me pet, I know the feeling."
"I guess they're up there deciding whether to go with my plan or not. Do you think they will?"
"Don't fret. I'm sure they will. The demon girl has probably told some of the stories about you and that should be good enough. You do have quite a reputation among the older orders and Red seemed impressed with the spell."
She smiled at that. "So, how much have you heard of me?"
"A bit, but I was like Anya. I never believed a human was capable of all the feats that have been credited to you. I still don't know exactly what to believe but I can guarantee I don't fancy having you brassed off at me anytime soon."
"Well, don't believe everything you've heard." She smiled and added, "Just most of it. I've always found it amusing when I hear some of the exaggerations that have been made."
The door to the basement opened to reveal Buffy standing at the top of the stairs. She made her way past Sydney and to the middle of the basement before she turned and spoke to Sydney.
"Well, Willow has vouched for your spell and Anya and Angel have vouched for your character." Buffy was then interrupted and Spike said, "I'll also vouch for her character. I've heard enough stories to know that she's a white hat."
"Then, Spike Anya and Angel vouch for your character. We've also discussed your plan and we've decided that it is a wise course of action. Come tomorrow morning we're going into the hell mouth. Right now, some of the others have gone to prepare the battlefield."
Sydney simply nodded and knew there was something else that Buffy wanted to say to her before she left. Buffy said, "I also want to thank you for telling Dawn more about her origins. I've always thought it was important that she know more about being the key and I...just...well...Thank you.
Sydney nodded her thanks and said, "I know you two need to have a discussion. I'll go wait outside." Sydney left them to talk things out. She made her out to the back porch and enjoyed the peace of the night until she heard Buffy leave the basement. She then made her way inside and downstairs.
Sydney found Spike sitting on his cot looking very distraught. As he looked up at Sydney the tears began to fall. She quickly went to him and gathered him in her arms. Then the sobs began. He was able to choke out, "She loves me. She really does. But not like I want her to. Not like I love her."
Sydney was quite sure how to respond to that so she tried to give him reassurance. "I know baby, I know. Don't worry. You will be loved. I promise you will be loved more than you can ever comprehend. I know it hurts but just wait. It'll all get better. I promise."
She continued to hold and rock him until the sobs quieted to whimpers and those eventually died out as he resigned himself to sleep. He awoke later to find Sydney engaged in a conversation with a beautiful, tall brunette woman. As soon as he sat up and tried to overhear what was being said the woman disappeared. Sydney turned and saw him awake. He patted the cot next to him as an invitation to sit down and she did.
After a few moments he asked, "So that is what the bit has to look forward to in a few years?"
Sydney replied, "Yeah, isn't she beautiful."
"She is." Then Spike got a strange look on his face and said, "I'm always supposed to look after her aren't I? I mean after Buffy."
Sydney nodded and said, "Yes, you're the Protector. That's what you do."
Spike agreed to this and they sat in a companionable silence for a while before Spike had to break it. She could tell that something had been bothering him and would answer any questions she could.
"Why is it I feel like I know you?" he asked.
"That's all. That's what you've brooding about this whole time."
She was interrupted with an indignant 'I don't brood' but she continued on. "God, I'm glad that's all that bothering you. I just hate it when people want information I don't know or can't tell. Anyway, continuing on. You do know me." Before he could interrupt her again she clarified. "Not in this form. We've run into each other several different times over the years but I've always been in disguise. I learned from the best and only my family has been able to recognize me in disguise."
Spike seemed to think about that for a moment before he asked "Where and when? Would I even remember it?"
Sydney smiled to herself, thinking about all the time she had spent watching him from afar. "You might and you might not. In fact, the most time I ever spent with you weren't even in this world."
"What do you mean?"
Sydney got a sad little smile on her face as if she was remembering some happy time that was too far-gone. "Well, once I was certain you were the Protector, I went and spent some time where your soul was resting. I knew it would eventually been returned to you and I wanted it to be familiar with my presence. I knew it would make my job easier in the long run if you knew in your soul I should be trusted."
Spike's only response to that was a soft "Oh".
The minutes ticked by as they waited for the new day to begin. Sally had woken up and was busy giving herself a through cleaning. Sydney always found highly amusing that Sally was such a finicky eater and yet she would lick her own butt. She only managed to stifle her giggles when Sally sent a death glare her way.
Spike turned to see what was so funny and at his perplexed look Sydney merely shrugged. Spike finally decided that he wanted to know all he could about the Prophecy and his role in it. Sydney explained that she would tell him all she could but not to press for more than that. He agreed.
"Well, let's start at the beginning shall we. In this case it's when you were turned. As you know the Order of Aurelius is a powerful and elite order. The demons it produces are very strong and you are no exception. Your exception has always been William's soul. You and I both know that there was a lot more William in Spike than you let on." At Spike's nod, she continued. "When your demon invaded your body, your soul didn't leave without a fight and left bits and pieces of itself behind. That's why you have always been different. There were quiet a few heated discussions in my family about who the Protector was going to be. We didn't know everything about him and even what we did know we couldn't be absolutely sure about. We knew he would be a vampire. He would be loyal and have a great desire to protect that which is most important."
Sydney pulled out her cigarettes and lit one up before continuing with her story. "After seeing how you cared for Drusilla, fought to save the world and took care of Dawn, all before you got your soul I might add, it was finally agreed that you were the Protector spoke about in the Prophecy. Now, that is all the past and there is very little I tell you of the future for two reasons. First off, it's never good to know too much about the path you're heading down because if you do then it changes the path. And second, I honestly don't know. As I told you the only seer I have left isn't always forthcoming when she has a vision. We know that you have already played a pivotal role in this Event and that will continue to tomorrow as well. You are the reason the First will not succeed. Beyond that, I can't say. It's all about the choices we make."
Sydney snuffed out her smoke and thought to herself in a Forrest Gump voice, 'and that's all I have to say about that.' That seemed to pacify Spike's curiosity. The rest of the night pasted in silence. Neither slept and neither spoke. The sun had been up for less than an hour when Dawn called them up for breakfast. Spike went on up but Sydney stayed in the basement and Sally stayed with her.
Once breakfast was in full swing and there was plenty of noise in the house. Sydney spoke up. "Mother?" She waiting and there was no response so she tried a little louder. "Mother?" This time a voice echoed through the empty basement. "Yes, dear?"
Hearing her mother's voice was the last straw for Sydney. She broke down. She fell to her knees and through sobs she choked out "Momma, oh Momma. I so scared. What if I fail? What if I just can't do it? If I fail, I will lose everything. I can't lose anything else. How much do I have to sacrifice? I can't lose anything else. Momma, please tell me what else I can do? There has to be another option. I can't do it."
The voice said understandingly, "Sydney, I know you're scared but you can do this. In fact, you're the only one that can. You know that neither I nor the twins nor father have the will to end it the way you do. As for alternatives, there is one and you know it. But, as you have said you can't lose another one. It would surely destroy you."
Sydney got back on her feet and composed herself and admitted her mother was right. She was going to do this. Just as she bade her good bye the basement door opened and Dawn was standing there leaning against the doorway. Sydney made her way up stairs and Dawn asked what she had been doing.
"I just needed to speak with Aunt Pol for a bit and make plans for later. Sorry if it bothered you."
Dawn dismissed that with "It felt a little funny but I think I'm starting to get used to it. It wasn't nearly as strong as last night."
"I know. It's because we weren't in the same room. The more distance between us the less you hear and speaking to my family isn't as strong as turning on all the lights in the house."
Dawn seemed to accept this explanation. By this time, everyone had finished eating and was armed. They were just waiting for Robin to get there with the school bus they commandeered. Once he arrived everyone loaded on and rode to the school in silence.