Chapter Twelve

It was the next morning. The gang had been up all night researching. Xander was now flicking through the TV channels. Buffy's fight with the vampires outside the magic box the night before was now being shown on every channel. There was growing chaos among the residents of Sunnydale. Not just her neighbours, but perfect strangers. She could hear the noise they were making - no longer singular voices or shouts, but just a dull roar. She could hear things crashing outside as objects were thrown at the house. The police were outside, as well as yet more news vans.

"Have you seen it out there?" gasped Joyce. "It's like a nightmare or something!"

"Yes. That's the way it goes I guess," sighed Buffy. "I spend most of my waking hours saving them from the forces of darkness and they throw it back in my face by claiming that I'm the bad guy".

"Way of the world," said Oz. "They'd rather get rid of the problem, pretend it doesn't exist, then find out the facts".

"How's the research going people?" asked Spike, who had woken up at last. They all turned to look at him warily. "I'm…I'm finally getting somewhere. I think," Willow muttered. Spike and Buffy glanced at each other. "It's ok Willow. I'm not going to bite".

"Sorry if I seem a little on edge Spike, it's just the last time we met, you did kind of kidnap me and threaten to…do all kinds of things to me and kill Xander".

"Ok, we knew this would be a problem didn't we? But we just have to deal with it. Like the council said - it's the only way to get that problem out there to go away," said Buffy. Xander raised his eyebrows. "Excuse me? What happened to the - his a monster and we shouldn't have to work with him attitude?"

"Xander please….." Buffy desperately tried to cover up what Xander had said, but it was too late. "You said that huh?" said Spike, narrowing his eyes dangerously. "Let's feel the trust in this room!"

"Look. Let's just calm down. Fine, I did say that but - it was before I actually believed that any of this was happening. And well - Spike - you surprised me. I wasn't expecting you to act the way you have been," she turned to look at her friends. "He saved my life last night. He was stabbed through the chest by one of those vamps while he was fighting with me. Then, as I was in a sword fight, even though he was badly wounded, he got up and caught the vamp unawares and staked it. He didn't have to do any of that. He could have run away, ignored me or something. But he didn't. He stuck around. That proves change right?"

"Buffy," said Giles. "You can't expect us to just accept this. Just because his changed doesn't mean that we're ready for him to. His done a lot of damage in his day …"

"So did Angel," interrupted Buffy. "I know it was only yesterday that I was proving Angel was different - but a lot's changed in the past 24 hours. We've called a truce. Now, I want you guys to be grown up about this and do the same".

"I agree with Buffy," said Oz. Spike looked at him in amazement. "It's the only way we're going to get anything done".

There was a silence. Then Willow opened one of the old books that lay across the coffee table. "There is a way to get the information we're looking for. But as usual it's very advanced and…..anyway…..it's a past life spell".

"A what now?" asked Spike. "It's not exactly travelling through time," continued Willow. "You'd still be here. But a part of you would be somewhere else. You'd travel back through your memories to the place that has the relevant information. No one has ever proven that past lives are real - not for humans. And since it's technically still the same life or un life as you have now - but it's the only spell I could find that might work".

"I'm not sure about this," said Spike hesitantly. "What if I get stuck there or something?" Willow nodded. "It's a possibility. You'd need someone to help you. To keep you in this plain of existence. I'll…."

"I'll do it," volunteered Buffy. Now Spike was more then amazed. "It makes sense doesn't it?" asked the slayer.

"I'll get the ingredients ready," said Willow. "But Giles will have to do the spell. I'll help, but I'm not up to that level yet". Joyce was looking concerned. "Are you sure it's a good idea to do the spell here? What if someone sees?" she asked. Buffy looked at the window. "Then they see. They've already got enough footage of me fighting evil. And hopefully this spell will erase what's happened. That's what I'm guessing anyway". Buffy paused. "What about the Queen of the Dead? Any news on what she is yet?"

Xander shook his head. "No. There's no mention of her at all. There's been Kings of the dead, Masters of the dead. Queen of Zombies and a Queen of witches but apart from that…."

"Right. Of course. Nothing," Buffy sighed. "That's probably a bad thing". Oz frowned in concentration. "It could be. It could mean that this is a brand new thing that's only just risen or something". Buffy shook her head. "That can't be right. This thing knows all about me. The vamps that work for her knew my name. They knew all about you guys and about what I've done since I came to Sunnydale. It doesn't make any sense. But maybe that threat will go away once we say the spell as well. She was mad that I'd exposed their world".

After several minutes of preparation, Willow nodded. "The spells ready," she told them. Buffy went to sit by Spike who was looking unusually nervous. "This is going to be bad isn't it?" he asked her softly. "I'll see me as I was back then. I'm not sure if I'm ready for that yet". Buffy looked at him in sympathy. "You're just going to have to be. By helping us you'll prove to them that you've changed". He nodded. "Are we ready to start?" asked Giles

Buffy nodded and then she took Spike's hand.