DISCLAIMER: All characters of the Buffy Universe belong to Joss Whedon.
TIME: An Alternate Version of the aftermath of Season 6, Episode - "ENTROPY"
RATING: PG-13
PAIRING: Spike/Anya

COME WHAT MAY

A Fanfic by Jasmine Cora

3 TWO PLACES AT ONCE

Willow lead Anya to the livingroom and had her sit down. Willow sat beside her and handed her a tissue and slowly rubbed her shoulder. Anya took a small sigh as she attempted to recollect her thoughts. "Are you home alone?" Anya mangaged to question. Willow nodded slightly. "Dawnie left to go hang with a friend ... Buffy is sleeping upstairs. She ... kind of doesn't want to be bothered." Anya turned away once Willow finished, placing her hands firmly in her lap. "I shouldn't feel guilty."

"No ... no, you shouldn't Anya. Its just ... all very complicated."

"That's not my fault. If Zander hadn't left me at the alter, none of this would have happened ..."

"No one is saying Zander is not at fault, Anya. Emotions ... kind of get the better of us. And ... maybe ... you and Spike shouldn't of ... done what you did -"

"Do you have a problem saying 'sex'?"

Willow blushed a bit and licked her lips as she cleared her throat. "Okay .. okay then, sex! You and Spike having sex ... it doesn't make the pain go away. You don't do that with just anybody just to forget about your depression or your torn love life. It makes Zander feel as if he were nothing to you ..."

"Oh, and I felt like something to him when he decided ON MY WEDDING DAY not to show up or marry me?"

Willow sighed. She knew where Anya was coming from, and it was hard for her to even swallow what she was saying. "Listen, why don't I ... go into the kitchen and brew you up some nice hot chocolate, hm?" Willow exclaimed, patting Anya's knee. Anya sniffled and nodded her head. "Yea ... that would be nice. With marshmellows please ... and a little gin i-if you have it ..." Anya remarked. Willow simply stared at Anya as Anya rolled her eyes. "Alright alright ... just the hot chocolate with marshmellows then!" Anya replied. "That a girl!" Willow remarked back, making her way into the kitchen. Anya resorted to the television until Willow returned.

Using Dawn's instant Nesquick hot chocolate mix, Willow tried her best to make hot chocolate for her and Anya, in hopes that it would cool her down. This would be so much easier if I used magic, Willow thought to herself again. But as her thoughts retreated back to Tara, she stopped her thoughts of using magic immediatly, as she continued preparing their drinks.

"Hey Red ..."

Willow jumped in fright, as she turned towards the back door. Standing there in the doorway with a smoking blanket was Spike. Willow sighed loudly to herself. "We REALLY should start locking that door!" she replied. Spike was breathing heavily, the heat of the sun was getting to him. "Red, please ... I need to talk to you." he replied. Willow looked at Spike for a moment, and didn't have the heart to watch him burn. "Come in, Spike." Without hesitation, Spike ran inside and threw the blanket to the side. Willow walked over and shut the door behind him. She then turned towards Spike, hers arms crossed as she stared at the bleached blonde vamp. "What exactly do you think we need to talk about?" Willow questioned. Spike sighed heavily. "I know ... you want to drive a stake in my heart too. Join the bloody parade."

Spike took a seat on the island of the kitchen and noticed the hot chocolate cups. Without asking, Spike helped himself to one. Willow ignored it, knowing the certain situation taking place, it wasn't time to dwell on petty things. Willow walked back over and began making more hot chocolate. "How is she?" Spike asked. Willow took a deep breath before she answered. "She's spending the day sleeping."

"Hmph ... avoiding things. What a surprise." He takes a long swig of his hot chocolate.

"Why, Spike? Why did you do that to Buffy? I thought you loved her?"

"I DO! She's the one using me as a way to remind herself she's really alive! I'm the one getting step on and used, where's my bloody sympathy?"

Feeling a bit remorseful, Willow realized she never really thought of the situation in Spike's perspective. Even though he was ... well, Spike ... it didn't mean he didn't have feelings. Surprisingly, Willow realized just how much Spike and Anya had in common, and she started to understand why they did what they did. It started to all make sense. Spike was pretty much the same as Anya and - Oh crap! Anya! Willow thought to herself. With Spike around she completley forgot that Anya was waiting for her in the livingroom. She knew she would just make things more akward and worse if Anya and Spike both knew the other was here.

"Listen, Spike ... why don't we talk about this later! With Buffy upstairs, she could walk down at any minute and-"

"Let her! I'm not running like a dog with my tail between my legs! She's just as much to blame as I am!"

"True ...o-okay ... but ... perhaps now isn't the right time -"

"Will ... please, just talk with me awhile. I need something."

She could hear how Spike choked on his words, as if he were ready to cry. Willow surprisingly didn't have the heart to turn him away. She picked up the hot chocolate glasses and tried to ease her way into the livingroom. "Alright ... um, stay here. I'm gonna head over to the livingroom and ah - give Dawnie, her drink! Stay here and I'll be right back!" she lied, as she started speed walking towards Anya.

When Willow returned Anya was sobbing to a soap opera which was focusing on a wedding. Perfect show to be watching, Willow thought. "It could of been like this! No! NO! Even better ... my bridesmaids dresses were much better then those laffodil crap colored ones!" she remarked. Willow laughed nervously, getting the awful green mess of a dress she, Buffy and the others had to wear for Anya's supposed wedding. Willow turned the television off and gave Anya her drink.

"Don't let it get to you, sweetie. Those shows are meant to get to you."

Anya quickly snatched her hot chocolate from Willow and began gulping it down madly. Willow watched with wide eyes and decided to try and ease Anya into trying to talk it out with Zander ... anything just to get her out of the house before she noticed Spike was also present in the house. "Anya, I think its best if you and Zander were the ones to really sit and -"

"Nuh uh! Its best we don't!"

"Why not?"

"For ... health reasons."

Willow sighed. "You mean ... because your back to ... getting your ... vengence on?" she shlyly replied. Anya remained quiet, as if she was humiliated almost. She surprisingly didn't answer. "You ... you wouldn't happen to want to ... you know, wish Zander to burst into flames or have his penis fall off would you?" Anya replied with a hopeful smile reach her lips. Willow's eyes widened. "NO!" she replied harshly. Anya shrugged. "Worth a shot."

Suddenly a loud sound of glass breaking from the kitchen. Willow was then reminded of Spike. "What was that? Its not Zander is it?" Anya frightenly replied, clutching the tissue to her chest. Willow patted Anya's shoulder. "Um ... no ... no, I'm just gonna check to see ... what that was. You stay here." the witch quickly replied. Running quickly to the kitchen, Willow was surprised to see Spike sitting in the place she left him, and traces of hot chocolate trickling from Spike's hand. In a fitted rage and emotional outburst of pain, Spike had shattered the mug of hot chocolate in his hand.

"Spike?" Willow softly replied.

Spike sniffled and sighed deeply. "Sorry ... don't know my own strength sometimes." He replied driftly. He seemed to be so emotionally numb at this point, and Willow couldn't help but feel sorry. "Spike ... I'm sure-"

"You can't help can you? You and I ... we can't talk. We're completly different. You couldn't possibly understand." Spike bitterly replied. Yet again, Anya appeared in his mind. She would understand. Willow sighed slowly as she began to approach Spike. "I do understand. I mean, look at me and Oz ..."

"Bollocks! Dog boy was crazy about you ... he just had a handicap that kept him from truly being with you! That's nothing compared to this! Not what Anya and I have gone through. You forget Red ... you had someone who loved you back ... that's a rarity ... especially on the Hellmouth."

Willow stopped in her tracks. She was surprised how Spike's words got to her. She could feel her vision blur as she was tearing, but trying her best to hide it from Spike. She didn't know what to say. "What ... surprised? Is the book nook for once speechless? Is it that unbelievable that a vampire ... even a souless one ... could know what the power of love can do ... what it can mean?" Willow continued to tear, as she casted her eyes down. Spike scoffed angriley to himself as he stood from his seat and began to walk to the back door. He picked up his brown blanket from the floor and reached for the door handle. "Forget it. I was a bloody fool for coming here." Spike replied.

"Aren't we all?"

Spike paused suddenly at the soft and yet grieve stricken voice he knew all too well. Willow grew frightened for a moment as she turned to the doorway of the kitchen, and stared at Anya who stood there after hearing everything. Spike slowly turned towards the blonde he could identify with besides the slayer that only grew to know the darkness through death. Spike was surprised to find himself smiling at seeing Anya again. Anya was too. Willow stayed stagnent standing there, feeling akward. Spike softly laughed, breaking the silence.

"Yea ... aren't we all ..." he repeated.