Well I've update! I have a lot more coming up for this story. I'm getting to the uncharted territory. If you read it just post a small review, a couple of words do nicely. I'm hoping that someone reads it and enjoys it at least a little. So be kind review, I won't stop writing if you don't but it gives the writes a little push and a pat on the back.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was like watching ballet. I had forgotten what a pleasure it was to simply watch her move. There was a flow, a rhythm to each movement. She was in control of the fight even when her adversary seemed stronger. She had a small smile on her lips, as if to tease her opponent. She knew she would win. She exuded confidence and power, glowing in the dark underground cellar like a midnight sun. If I really was a Champion, she must be a goddess for I would always be at her feet, in awe.

I still felt a twinge in my heart when she got hit. To see her sailing across the room, hitting the wall hard, made me want to join in and help her. But I didn't. I recognised the lingering remains of what used to be. It had been a long while since I felt a connection, or maybe more like let myself feel the connection. Coming here had rekindled something I thought was long past. Never dead but maybe put to rest.

We could have continued being as we were each on our side with friends and family. We knew we had each other's back if push came to shove. I think it's time now.

They gave me the necklace to bring the power to Buffy. They told me that a Champion would make the difference in this battle. As always, without a thought I left to help her. Well that's not true. I had a thought. If They came to me with this mission then maybe, just maybe it was a push in the direction of the prophecy. Just maybe, I could always pray.

I was still waiting for the fight to end, having no doubt as to the outcome of the battle. I saw her stop, like she was hesitating. She stumbled. The preacher was coming for her; she wouldn't have time to regroup. I jumped in, just stalling to give her the time to recuperate. I teased him, just wanting to do a nya nya nya, told you so at the First Evil's face. It's childish but so pleasing. She was ready, I took a bow. It was her fight to finish.

As quickly as it had started it was over. The preacher lay quartered on the dusty floor, the air shimmering with released magikal energies. And there she was, humanity's protector, with a huge battle axe.

She was still beautiful, more seasoned, less naive. With a little bit more bite. We looked into each other's eyes still feeling a connection. I still wanted to kiss her, still wanted to mean something to her. I leaned forward, all thoughts of everything else fleeing my mind. The human (and demonic) mind finds it easy to shut down in face of some passion.

It was passionate but… But as soon as it had started it was clear that there was nothing there to feed the fire. Maybe no more than some post fighting lust, an adrenaline rush.

We smiled at each other, a little awkwardly, maybe a little bit ashamed. She was blushing. She spoke first.

" What are you doing here?"

To the point, I had to smile.

"Nice to see you too."

She smiled.

"I thought it was implied with the tongue thing and the kissing."

"Well yeah, sorry about that. It's just, I don't know, old habits I guess?"

" Still, timely visit. And again, what are you doing here?"

"Heard you were having yourself an apocalypse again. Do you count them? Do you keep records?"

"I've lost count around the sixth. The first one was like "we are all going to die" now it more like do I have time to go get my hair done before. They seem to be getting stronger and happening more often. They could give us a calendar, it really would be useful, and I could arrange my work schedule around them, less absentee time for Buffy. It's a wonder I have time for anything else."

"Do you, I mean have time?"

"No, not really for the last couple of years. It's more like fanciful delusions. I miss the small time vampire nest, humans with illusions of grandeur and the rest. Now it's more like Gods, prime evils or Dark Willow."

"Dark…?

"You should have been here, that was oodles of fun. But you know it's no big. We've learned a long time ago to have fun when we could."

"I hear you. Now I come to you today bearing gifts"

I took out the necklace from an inside pocket.

"Thank you but you know I have nothing that goes with that."

I had to smile at that, the world might be ending but she'd still quip.

"As a matter of fact, it's not really for you to wear. Someone with deep connections gave it to me. She said that it had the power to help in your fight. It is to replace the power that was offered but denied. That part I didn't understand. "

"I do, never mind that. So I have to wear it and it'll give me strength?"

"Not exactly. The medallion is to be worn by a Champion of Light, not by the Slayer."

"And you're…"

"Yeah, I'm a Champion. From what we've read in the Prophecies, it could explain why I came back from Hell also why I'm the only vampire with a soul."

Buffy cough, turning from me.

"What?"

"Well, you see, you're not the only vampire with a soul anymore."

"What? Who?"

Who could it be, what vampire would have been cursed as I was… Buffy knew the vampire, it was clear. Who could…? No. Not him. Really no fucking way. Now that I thought about it I could smell him around the cave.

"You can't mean Spike? Spike of the bloody bleached hair and the so short attention span?"

"Yes Spike."

"Who did he piss to be cursed that way?"

" He wasn't cursed. Spike earned his soul of his own free will. No one knew about it until he came back from Africa."

"I can't believe it. William the bloody excuse for a grandchilde."

"Could you be anymore childish?"

"You work for years to earn your salvation, you have to sacrifice yourself day in day out and that goofball goes and gets himself one. Why did he do it, to impress you?"

"I don't have to justify him to you. He's earned my respect with his soul, he's earned much more than that without it."

"Just wait till the chip stops functioning, then we'll see his true nature."

"You know for a Champion you are bloody closed minded."

Bloody closed minded? He really had messed Buffy up.

" I saw what he could do without his chip or haven't you been listening. I had the army remove it. I trust him with my sister's and my life."

This was serious. What was happening here? I came in thinking… Well I don't know what I was thinking, maybe I was rushing head first to impress a girl also. But I'm still a Champion; I stick to what I have to do. I can't wrap my mind around the thought of Spike being a Champion. But I could have more problems with the thoughts of the two of them together.

"Are you two…"

"Are we what? Not that it's any of your business."

"Do you love him?"

I dreaded the answer but there was something going on between the two of them and except for Harmony Spike had always been one to get deep into a relationship.

"I haven't told him yet, but I do."

"Since when?"

" Myself for a lot longer then I would confess. Him a couple of years probably. He told me in his special way, shackles and Dru at the end of a stake. I just couldn't believe him then, I hadn't even thought about it."

"But Buffy, you are worth so much more than him, you deserve so much better."

" I knew you'd say that, I used to think that way too. But I'm not so much of a white hat myself anymore. I grew up a lot the last couple of years and you know what? There's a lot more grey and off white areas than there used to be. You have no idea what he went through, with and without his soul. And me, all soul having put him through the worst of it. He is my Champion; I have no doubt about him. But…"

I knew it, she didn't trust him for this fight, or even better, and she needed me because he wasn't enough.

"But what?"

"But it's not his fight. Nor mine for that matter."

"What?"

"I want you to meet us in front of my house tonight. It's Slayer Central now. Every SIT is bunking there so don't try and get in, you could have a nasty surprise. We'll meet you at my house around seven."

Buffy, I don't understand. We're on the verge of an apocalypse and you say it's not your fight, well whose is it?"

" Not now Angel. I only want to tell it once, so meet us there tonight okay? Everything will be revealed."

She held my hand, gave me a small smile and left.