Title: Revenant, Ch. 5

Authors Notes: My apologies to the readers, real life got to hectic to continue posting for a while (Loss of internet access, etc.) Things seem to be looking up, however, despite FF.Net's insistance on deleting any and ALL forms of separators I try and use to divide the various sections of these chapters! GRRRRR.

Buffy, Wesley, Spike, Gunn, Dawn, Lorne, Giles, and Fred stood behind Willow and Xander as they dedicated the memorial at the courtyard of the Hyperion. Willow held the plaque bearing Kennedy's name in place as Xander affixed it to the pillar, alongside the names of Doyle, Joyce, Jessie, Tara, Jonathan, Jenny, Kendra, Anya, the Potential Slayers who died before Willow had cast the 'Chosen' spell, and the Slayers who died in the closing of Sunnydale's Hellmouth.

No words were spoken as Willow stood and leaned into Xander. The two then walked into the Hyperion.

"Are they gonna be okay?" Dawn asked Lorne.

"I'd need to hear them sing to know for sure, sweet-cheeks. As it is, that's up to them." The green-skinned demon replied. "Regardless, there's something lurking deep down in those two, something dark and something light, both. Both are going to come out, and it's up to them which forces gain ascendance."

Buffy pounded the punching bag in the Hyperion's training room, her fists a blur as she smashed the reinforced leather.

"Pet, I think it's already dead."

Buffy spun and had to fight the urge to throw a punch at Spike. 'Never again,' she reminded herself as she stared at the blond ex-vampire, 'Sparring aside, I'm not going to strike out at him in anger ever again, no matter how convenient it would be.'

"It's my fault." The words fell dead, lifeless into the room.

"Codswallop!"

"First Tara, now Kennedy, both of my best friends lovers are dead because some asshole wanted to hurt me by hurting Willow."

"That's grade-A shite, and you know it, Buffy. Yes, they're dead, and yes, someone did it to hurt you and Willow both. But blaming yourself for that? That's the biggest load of tripe I've heard since you and Peaches tried to run the whole 'Just Friends' garbage past me three years ago. The only way that'd be your fault in ANY way, shape or form is if that stupid Cordelia bint finally gave Peaches a happy and Angelus decided to restart his hobby of stalking you again. And he's more likely to go after her or Faith, these days."

"Quit trying to make me feel better."

"Is it working, Luv?" Spike asked, arching an eyebrow hopefully.

"Weirdly, yes, which is why I want you to stop." The faint smirk on Buffy's face betrayed the scowl she was trying to maintain. Then both faded, and she slumped against the wall.

Spike leaned next to her, brushing the hair out of her face with the tips of his fingers. "Look, Buffy, I know I'm no good at this, former Big Bad and all, but it's true. You are in no way, shape or form responsible for what happened to Kennedy, or Xander, or Glinda, or Mum, Warren's girlfriend, or any of the Potentials who died before Red cast her spell. People die, either by accident, or disease, or murder. So, someone wanted to send us a little message, and Kennedy died for it. At least she died with the power to fight back. If Red hadn't cast her little spell, the brat would've have died back in Sunnyhell, when we faced down the First." He paused. "All we can do now, is be there for Red, let her know she's family, and she's still loved, and not as alone as she must feel right now."

"How much of that is Spike, and how much is William?"

"All Spike here, Pet. Red's family. You, Joyce, the Bit, Red, Glinda, Demon-Girl, hell, even the Whelp, you're all part of my pack, whether or not any of you're comfortable with that. William, he'd've used long, flowery language, Victorian git that he is. Me? Vampire here, or ex- vampire, anyway. A little more primal. We're pack creatures, and as much as I despised the lot of you for the longest time, the Scoobies became my pack."

"When did that happen, Spike?"

"Dunno about that. First happened when Red cast her 'Will' spell, and got us engaged. Tried to forget that, then around the time Glory came along, it sort of snuck up on me. Red an' your Mum, they got stones. Would never have turned Joyce, but Red? She'd have made one hell of a vamp. Tara? Glinda always treated me with respect, even when the rest of you didn't. Anya was one in a million, she knew what it was like trying to fit in with humans, we had a lot in common. And the Bit, she's the little sister I never had."

"I remember you trying to help Giles during the engagement spell. How come he's not on that list?"

"Ripper? Still a tad pissed about him trying to have me killed. Still, he's more your father than that git Hank Summers, so give it time, Pet."

"He IS sorry he did that, Spike. He just couldn't see past the past."

"Couldn't see past Angelus, you mean. I know, which is why I didn't blame him all that much. Still hurt a bit, after all the time I'd spent helping the Scoobies. Give it time, Buffy."

T.B.C.