Chapter Four

"No," said Buffy. "Don't even think about it Will!"

"But…But Travers said that's what we're looking for. Someone with a soul. White hair….It's the only thing that makes sense!" said her best friend. "Spike," added Oz flatly and that one word seemed to confirm everything.

Buffy looked defeated. "But it can't be," she whispered. "I can't deal with this as well as everything else. How can Spike….how can he help us?" No one could answer because no one could believe that this day had arrived. Could William The Bloody have a soul?

"The council have indeed gone mad," muttered Giles. "Not to be the dumb one here, but - isn't this a good thing?" asked Joyce, who was confused. "I mean - he'll be like Angel…."

"No," snapped Buffy. "Never. He'll never be like Angel. His a monster. This soul…it could be a trick. A spell or something. And I don't generally trust anything unless I see it myself," she added stubbornly.

"No offence Buffy - but Angel was a monster too. Some of the time," pointed out Willow. "But it's different with him. He had time to atone for his - evil. To make amends. If this is true then how do we know it's for real? How can he help us? Who says he'd even want to? After all his done, how can we trust him?"

Xander raised his hand hesitantly. "Same could be said for Angel…"

"Xander, drop it ok? Angel's the good guy. He's proven that by saving our lives a thousand times when he didn't have to. Angel has a destiny to carry out. Spike has yet to prove anything to us so as far as I'm concerned his still very much a bad guy who we're supposed to hate and shouldn't be working with!" She paused and turned to look at Giles. "How is this even possible? How could the council just make this happen?"

Giles shook his head. "I thought that we were the only ones with the spell. I've never given it to the council - I don't know why. I guess I thought even then that they couldn't be trusted. Deep down".

"You know the council. They never keep their word on anything," confirmed oz. "What I want to know is how that video got on the news!" said Xander. Buffy shook her head. "I have no idea. Maybe one of the parents took a video. I'm so stupid I should have thought of that earlier".

"You can't blame yourself sweetheart," said her mother gently. "No matter what that man said".

"Well, I guess my trip around America is off…" said Xander, but he was interrupted by another knock on the door.

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She was beautiful, like an angel with hair made of gold. He couldn't stop watching her. She was dancing with her friends. Why couldn't he remember who she was? He knew she was an important part of his life - that she would always be a part of him. He knew he should hate her…just like he new that it wasn't hate he felt now. What was wrong with him?

He caught her eye from across the dance floor and she smiled. Then to his amazement she started to walk over to him. They started to dance slowly, then she suddenly seemed to freeze in his arms. "Spike?" she whispered. "What's going on?"

"This is wrong," he answered her softly. "I know it's wrong". He reached forwards to brush her hair away from her eyes. "Why am I feeling this way? I should hate you".

"But you don't?" she continued to smile. He shook his head. " No. have I always felt this way?" She didn't answer him. She looked confused and a little scared. He had tightened his grip on her. "Spike you're hurting me," she protested. "I'm supposed to. It's what I'm made for…"

Everything around them seemed blurred. Suddenly - for just an second he was somewhere else. In a cemetery, watching her fight. He was in awe of her. She was strong and brave and seemed not to even falter. But she was fighting him! Then he was back on the dance floor of the Bronze, but he was no longer holding her. She lay on the ground, eyes open. But she wasn't seeing anything. "No…" he murmured, backing away slowly. "No, no, no. Help me please. I didn't mean…."

Spike suddenly woke up from the dream. He knew that's what it had been now, but it had seemed so real. He remembered her name now. Buffy. But it still seemed foreign to him. He needed to find out more. He knew he should be thinking up a way out of wherever he was held prisoner. But all he could think about was Buffy. He needed to know everything. The history they had shared. Why he had been planning her murder. Why he suddenly seemed to think that if he was by her side he would always be safe. Why a part of him felt sick at that thought. Maybe all this was the key to finding out what had happened to him as well.

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When Buffy opened the door, she was shocked by a bright flash of light. She raised her hand to shield her eyes - but when her vision cleared, she saw something she never thought she'd ever see. Cameras. Lots and lots of cameras. Video cameras, normal cameras. Damn it. How did the press find out where I lived so fast? She thought angrily.

Reporters were calling her name over and over. And her friends names. "Miss Summers - can you tell us what really happened?"

"Miss Summers - is it true? Do you have special powers?"

She slammed the door instantly. She looked up to see her friends had gathered by the front door. "What's going on?" asked Xander curiously. "Who's out there Buffy?" continued her mother.

Her back to the door, leaning against it, Buffy sighed. "I don't think we're going anywhere for a while!"

TBC