Disclaimer: I don't own anything of BTVS, Joss, and Mutant Enemy, Fox and other people and companies do. Therefore I will take no credit for the characters except for my own characters that I've added. I also don't take credit for anything else that I could possibly be sued for.

Authors note: Lert, this is a special message for you. I was a little put off by your first review, but I really am thankful that you left a second one to clarify exactly why you were telling me why you hated my story. I know how it is to loose someone, I've just lost someone myself and I hope that you feel better soon about it. I know you will get over him, everyone always does. My support and thanks to you for liking most of my story except for the love part, review again if you feel the need. Also thanks to my other readers, and please review, my goal is to get at least one new review with each chapter I post. Thanks all -Grace

I couldn't have possibly left before the sun came up could I? Just missed running through the streets and sewers with a blanket way too much I guess. Wouldn't be happy in my life if I wasn't teetering on the edge of un- life/death. I clutch the thick wool blanket tighter, it seems to be beginning to slip a bit, and finally dart through the doorway of my crypt, throwing the smoking blanket to the floor and stomping on it. Never quite figured out why the blankets I use insist on setting themselves on fire, I guess it can only have something to do with my potentially bursting into flame. And as Buffy's said in the past at one point or another, 'Vampires, sun, bad." Well I'd have to quite agree with that. Not that I wasn't aware of the fact of it before my Slayer pointed it out at all. For some reason I'm sure I'd have gotten along without her observations.

I'm currently stomping angrily on the blanket, trying to extinguish what seems to be a very determined little flame when I sense her presence. Not that I wasn't expecting a visit from her at some point, I'm just so glad that Laurea chose to stay behind and help the Scoobies in their research. It certainly wouldn't be a good thing for her to see the two of us together, suddenly knowing that her seer has turned to the Slayers friends for help.

"Alethea," I straighten myself, turning to face her just slightly "I'd say good to see you, except for that I'm not."

"Spike, it's been a hell of a long time hasn't it? What, almost a hundred years I'd say? Miss me?"

"Yeah, I've been incredibly heartbroken over the fact that I haven't been abused by you in a century. I know what brings you back so we don't need to have that conversation. Question I guess would be why you've taken on the challenge of this particular prophecy, and what your plans are."

"Sorry that you haven't been able to find much in the texts and chronicles, but you know me, once I get my hands on something good, I just have to destroy it."

"Guess that would explain why we're not finding anything then wouldn't it? You've taken it upon yourself to relieve us of the opportunity."

"I am very disappointed in you Spike, what ever happened to you? What happened to the monster in the man? What ever happened to your love of the hunt? A Vampire that doesn't kill is sort of like a car that doesn't run. It's become trash and I'd have to say the same for you."

"That's not very nice now is it?"

I sit down in my chair, not taking my eyes off of her. We may both be Vampires, and both have certain codes of conduct, but I wouldn't doubt that she would break those codes in a second. After all, I did drain her minion, my fault entirely and do admit that I broke a big rule on that one.

"He wasn't my minion Spike, he was my Childe"

"What in the hell are you talking about?"

"What you just said, Kendall wasn't my minion, and yes, you did break a rule. You'll be punished for that in the end."

"So, still reading minds are you?"

"Only yours. I've got a nice little seat right up there settled in your brain, I've been watching everything that you've been doing for the last few weeks. Firstly, I really am quite disappointed that you took it upon yourself to steal my seer, you do know how much I needed her, and it is not kind" she adds with a bitter look in my direction "to steal things that belong to others."

"You were going to kill her Alethea,"

"Formalities, formalities. Secondly, I feel quite bad for you, falling in love with a Slayer? You do know that she is in London negotiating with the council for your soul don't you? Of course, our dear soon to be departed Laurea let you in on that little bit of information. Bitch. Are you really that in love? So much so that after a day you can not be without her?" She cocks her head and puts a pout on her lips, imitating my voice as best she can. "She sounds exactly as I remember her, the sun and the moon, fire and rain all in one. God." Returning to her usual self quickly "makes me want to choke. I knew you in your prime Spike, what happened to you? Half a day has got you love sick over a Vampire Slayer, hanging on her like a lost puppy."

"For your information, Buffy hasn't been exactly cordial to me this whole time I've been here in Sunnydale, actually up until three days ago, I couldn't get a decent word out of her. Of course I miss her, I've only just gotten the crumb I've always been waiting for and she takes off for London? She's always been the sun and the moon, fire and rain to me. I've just never been able to admit it up until.bloody hell, why am I explaining this to you? And I'd appreciate you getting out of my head, I really don't appreciate you crawling around in there."

"Slim chance that's going to happen"

"I guess I'll just have to take you out of there then won't I? I kill you, and the prophecy; as they say, goes to hell in a hand basket."

I jump from my chair taking a step in her direction, stake in hand from who knows where. Must have been shoved down into between the cushion and the frame of the chair for some reason. I wonder if Buffy put it there. She raises her hand lightly, and I know that she is unafraid of me. Nearly three hundred years older than I am, yet I maintain my threat. I won't back down and she of all people should know that. That's one thing that hasn't changed from the old to the new me. I never backed down in the past, and I certainly won't start now. Woman thinks she can come into my home, into my head, without any consequences? I stand my ground, waiting for some sign of a fight but she stands there stiff faced, completely emotionless. Oh well, the more willing the opponent the better but doesn't matter in the least to me. I lunge forward, when suddenly I'm hit by a bright spray of sparks erupting from her palm, setting tiny fires on my shirt. I tear it off, throwing it to the floor, in a moment it combusts, leaving nothing but ash lying on my floor.

"That's a warning William, next time it will be more than your shirt that goes up in flames. I'm going to give you a choice, join us and live after we complete the prophecy, or stay with your Slayer and die."

"No decision there, I'd choose Buffy every time."

"Thought you would, it only makes it more interesting you know. I never did like Angelus as much as I liked you. It's a pity that you don't feel the same way about my clan."

I drop the stake, realizing that if I can't get past her magic mojo, neither will the group. And If I don't get her out of my head, the group won't get anywhere without her knowing what we're planning to do. I have to say, I really hadn't thought of the Orobas clan in a long time before all of this came up. Last time I'd even seen any of them was Vera in New York, maybe that's why Alethea has warm feelings towards me after all these years. Because back then, I saved Vera a lot of times, we were pals the two of us, never sexually involved, just sort of partners in crime. She never really was cautious concerning anything, just went straight out and did things without thinking of the outcome. Strong girl she was, like a sister to me, there were good times back then. Perhaps I'd never have even killed that Slayer in New York had she not killed Vera first; maybe I was just trying to avenge the one person that meant something to me back then.

"You know Spike, Vera would have been one of the first ones to begin this prophecy. You know that right? She would have done a hell of a job at it too."

Is that a small tinge of sadness in her voice that I hear? Could be, but I'm not going to let it get to me, Vera's gone, and it's probably for the best. I'd have never met Buffy and fallen in love with her if Vera were alive. I wouldn't be the man that I am today because Sunnydale wasn't even a dot on the horizon back then. I don't think I'd have ever come here to begin with. I smile at the thought of Buffy and know that everything has turned out the way that it's supposed to.

"Get out Alethea, I've got things to do," I tap the side of my head with my finger "people to get rid of."

"As you wish, just don't forget that I gave you the choice, and that you refused to take it."

She disappears in a flash of light and smoke and I stare at where she stood, wondering if Vera was around if Alethea would be doing this. After all, I'm 100% sure now that part of the reason for opening up the hell dimensions is to try and find which one Vera is stuck in. I think back over our conversation, really she didn't reveal too much about her plans and I'm a little disappointed about that. I did however get two things out of it that may help us; first, she destroyed most of the information on what we're dealing with so it really won't help to look for anything else. Second, that she's still reading minds; more importantly mine, and we're going to have to figure something out to get her out of there. She never was able to read the thoughts of humans in the past, I wonder if she's picked that up somewhere along the way. I'm so absorbed in my thoughts that I don't even notice Dawn as she enters the room, not until she's beside me tugging weakly on my shirt, drawing me from my thoughts. I lift me head and immediately see the tears rolling down her cheeks, I pull her into my arms, trying to comfort her from whatever it is that is on her mind. Whatever has sent her into the cemetery in search of me.

"Quiet now pet, what's wrong, please stop crying, you can tell me can't you?"

"I..it..home.."

She breaks in to sobs once more and this time it is minutes before she is finally able to speak.

"Buffy..Buffy's home and..and..S..Something's wrong with her."