Chapter Seven

2003

The Slayerettes found themselves huddled in the basement, armed with whatever they had been able to find. An axe, a sword and several stakes. They hadn't been able to get to the main weapons case upstairs and Buffy had taken the rest with her on patrol.

They heard the Turuk-Han crashing through the house. "What are we going to do?" whispered Vi in horror.

"Just stay calm," said Kennedy, who had taken the role of leader. She'll make a good slayer if she gets the chance, thought Willow, who was standing beside Xander and Dawn.

"Where's Buffy," Dawn asked softly, trying not to show how scared she was.

"It'll be ok," said Willow, although she had no idea how.

That was when they heard the sounds of breaking windows - again! Willow felt so helpless. Back in her stronger days, she would have been able to help. She would have created a barrier to block them or something! But since she was barely in control of her powers and The First could turn up at any minute and manipulate her, that wasn't an option.

"Here they come!" yelled Rona in panic. Xander, Willow and Dawn all looked at each other. They had managed to block the door with whatever they could find down here, but it wasn't nearly enough. They were doomed. Where were Buffy and Spike?

1999

Buffy stood in front of her home. It looked so familiar, and yet so strange to her. I can do this, she thought as she slowly raised her hand to knock. I have to do this. I have to!

"Buffy!" that was Spike. The sound of his voice startled her so much that she jumped. But it was Angel's voice that made her whirl round in shock.

"Buffy - you can't do this," said Angel. Buffy shook her head in denial. "Why? You can't tell me what to do anymore. Neither of you can. You never could."

Angel stepped forward hesitantly. "Buffy, just listen to me ok? I know that I don't know you anymore. Not like I used - like I do in this time. I wish that I did know you." Spike narrowed his eyes.

"But Spike started to tell me something," Angel continued, ignoring him. "And I didn't listen because, well, it's Spike. I never listen to him. But he said that maybe you need to go through all the pain and suffering you've been through. Maybe its going through all that that makes you stronger. That makes you able to survive - and be the person you are in the future. The way I hear it, you're in some pretty deep trouble in 2003. Trouble I wish I could help you with - but apparently I can't. But you're friends are going to need you to be you when you go back. And if you save your mum or change anything that's supposed to happen, maybe you'll be different."

There was a silence. Buffy looked back at the front door. "How can this be a bad thing?" she whispered.

"We're not saying it is ," said Spike. "We just don't want to chance it, that's all."

Buffy finally sighed and nodded, stepping away from the door. Then she smiled through her tears. "One good thing did come out of all this. You two working together!"

"We are not," muttered Spike.

"Yeah. Believe me, when this is all over? I go back to hating him!" said Angel darkly.

The trio started to walk back to the high school.

"I hope the gang have some answers. Maybe the sooner I get out of here the better right? Who ever invented time travel will be so dead if they ever run into me," then she glanced over at Angel. "What exactly did he tell you about 2003?"

………………………………...

As they neared the library, Spike stopped, pulling Buffy to one side.

"What is it?" said Angel suspiciously.

"I just need to talk to her a second," said Spike, not looking at him.

"It's ok Angel," said Buffy wearily. "Tell the other's we'll be in in a second."

Angel had no choice but to do as she asked.

"What is it Spike?" she asked, turning to face him.

"I just….are you ok?" he finished lamely.

Buffy smiled. "Not really. But I guess I'll have to be won't I?"

Spike looked away. "Somehow I feel this is my fault. I know that's crazy but……."

"Totally crazy!" she exclaimed in surprise. "Why would you even think that? It was an accident that we're here…."

"I didn't mean that. I meant….I just want to see you happy now and when ever I'm around…."

"Spike, there's something between us, I admit that now. But I don't know what it is. I don't hate you ok? You've changed so much that I don't think I could hate or kill you if I tried. Sure….you piss me off…..but you're such a big part of my life now. I think you always will be."

They shared a moments silence. Before Buffy knew what was happening, Spike leaned closer and wrapped his arms around her - and she let him. She didn't know how long they both stood there, but it felt right. She kept telling herself it was just a hug, that it didn't mean much. That she would regret it the moment they got home. But right now, she didn't care.

"Ok guys, we're ready to do the spell……" Xander's voice trailed off as he saw what was happening. "Ok…have I walked into a different reality?"

Buffy pulled away from Spike quickly. "Oh god…Xander!" she whispered.

"Seriously," he went on. "We've got time travel, why not different realities? It's not like it's never happened before!"

"Xander please…let me explain…" said Buffy frantically.

"No Buff. There's nothing to explain. There's a perfectly logical explanation for all this. Want to know what it is? I was never here, I never saw this, so it didn't happen. It was a trick of the light…my overactive imagination or something. Or I've gone crazy…that would make more sense!"

"Xander…" this time Spike tried to reason with him.

"No let's just forget it!" Xander snapped. "Because it's too ….. I can't even think of a word. I don't want to know about this". With that he turned round and walked back into the library with out another word.

Spike looked at Buffy and rolled his eyes. "Funny thing? Not so different to how he reacted the first time he found out about us. Didn't want to know us then either."

"That's so not funny!" said Buffy with a sigh. "We'd better get in there. There must be some way to fix this. Too many people know way to much. It's getting out of hand!"

"Ladies first….." said Spike, stepping out of her way.

To be concluded……