Chapter Two

1999

"1999!" Buffy raged. "how the hell? Please explain to me Spike, because I so don't get it!"

"You and me both love," he stated with a sigh.

"I have too much to worry about all ready without this!" Buffy continued.

"Calm down," Spike ordered. "You want the whole neighbourhood to hear you?"

"Not the whole neighbourhood. Just us," replied a voice from the shadows. "Mayor Wilkins will be pleased to hear of your death Slayer. The Ascension will be a lot…."

"Not now," Buffy ordered. She and Spike quickly took care of the vampire and his friends. It was only afterwards that Buffy realised what the vamp had said. "1999!" she said in a whisper. "Oh my god Spike! The Mayor - the Ascension - we're really back in time!" The full horror of this struck her.

"Yep," he answered softly.

"Oh, man, I can't deal with this. I already lived it. I can't go through it again!" she said, beginning to panic. "I can't handle this, understand?"

Spike nodded. "Sure I understand. But this time you don't have to go through it alone. I'l be here with you, ok? We just have to find help. We need to ask…."

"No!" said Buffy suddenly. "I know what you're going to say. We need to see Giles, right? Well, no way!"

"But…" started Spike in protest.

"What are we gonna say? That we somehow managed to get here from the year 2003? Even Giles will have a hard time with that one. He nearly didn't believe that I could hear thoughts! Wow - it seems like it was just yesterday!" her voice trailed off.

"It was just yesterday," said Spike with a grin. "Or, you know, tomorrow, depending on when we are."

Buffy shook her head. "This is crazy. But whatever happens, we can't let anyone know we're here. Especially you. You're evil now, remember? And you're supposed to be out of town. If the Scooby gang find you - or me- or - oh god, Angel!" she put her head in her hands and groaned.

"Our other selves," put in Spike.

She glanced up at him. "What?" she asked blankly.

"The correct term. Our other selves. There are two of you here - and another me somewhere out there. The consequences of us meeting could have disastrous effects on the future!"

Buffy sighed. "Now you're a definite shoe in for Michael J Fox. Except with really different hair!"

"Actually, it was…."

"I don't care!"

………………………………...

The corridors of the old high school were empty and filled with shadows. Buffy and Spike crept along, their footsteps echoing into the night. "Man that was close," breathed Buffy. "I thought we were gonna run into Angel!"

"That so wouldn't have been fun," Spike muttered. He had no idea how much Buffy agreed. The last thing she wanted to do was relive the pain and knowledge that Angel was going leave her. She had only just managed to push those memories to the back of her mind where they belonged. But Spike didn't need to know that!

Buffy creaked open the door to the library. "Damn," she whispered. "Full blown research mode."

"You don't seem to be there. Neither does Angel," said Spike darkly.

She slapped him playfully on the arm. "Don't get all jealous. I'm supposed to be with Angel in this time - remember? He's still my boyfriend - but don't worry. He leaves me soon." They looked back at the group.

"Pizza's here," said Xander - a much younger looking Xander.

"Great, finally." That was Cordelia.

"I wonder what's keeping Buffy?" That was Willow - holding Oz's hand.

"She should be here any minute," answered Giles. "She's out on patrol with Angel".

"Ok," said Buffy. "It's too dangerous for you here. You need to go - I know - the factory. Wait for me there".

"But how long …"

"They'll probably be here all night," said Buffy. "So we don't have any choice. I can just - I don't know. Either sneak in or - pretend to be the other me. Past Buffy."

Spike raised his eyebrows. "Kind of risky ain't it?"

Buffy shrugged. "Back when Glory was around? These guys thought I was a robot. Same dif I guess. Now, get out of here before they see you!" Spike reluctantly agreed.

Here goes, thought Buffy and she pushed open the library doors. The entire group - Xander, Cordelia, Willow, Oz, Giles and Wesley looked up startled. "Buffy?" asked Willow in surprise.

"Hey guys. What's up?" she answered them with a fake smile.

………………………………...

The plan was insane, thought Spike. It'd never work. He'd still be waiting at the factory until graduation day, because Giles wasn't stupid. He'd figure out that something was strange about his slayer. But we need to get those books of his to get home, Spike thought frustrated.

He was so lost in thought that he didn't notice the footsteps behind him. The blow to the head left him winded on the floor.

"SPIKE? What the hell are you doing back here?"

When he looked up, he sighed. Angel. And past buffy. Man I'm in trouble, he thought, closing his eyes.