Disclaimer - For Disclaimer see chapter 1.
A/N: Hi guys, sorry it took so long to update, still in the middle of exams. I've had enough of trying to remember who Catherine McKinnon and John Rawls are and the principles they advocate blah blah (I'm studying law at uni) though, so I'm taking a break to write Buffy so nyah to mean mean lecturers!
I guess I'm going to adopt a new approach from here, and hopefully you'll get the gist. I think reviewers are right and I'm a) using too much script and b) jumping back and forth a bit like a madwoman, so what we're doing from here is, I'm just going to tell you which episode I'm starting at each chapter and you can figure it out from there hopefully. I might still use important snippets of script, but sparingly don't worry. The last chapter was "Beneath You". The wish referred to by Xander was the wish Nancy made to Anya for her boyfriend to be a worm. This one starts at "Same time, same place". Let me know if this format is any better please!
Also, thanks to wonderful reviewers of the last chapter - Anyanka0705, lilmisscookiemonster, jenekle, the shadower, and ainon and mirrorkills who emailed me with reviews and comments. You guys are legends. You rock!
On with the story!
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Spike's eyes snapped open with a start the next morning. He was in the basement of the Summers house, but couldn't remember getting there. He tried to sit up, but cried out and winced then flopped back down as he felt the burns on his chest flare at the sudden movement. The events of the night before came flooding back to him, and he began to weep with regret as he remembered the man he had run through. He suddenly remembered what had come after that, telling Buffy about his soul. Buffy - she must have brought him here.
He heard a noise on the stairs and knew from the intoxicating scent that made its way down to him that it was her. He roughly wiped away the tears so that she wouldn't know he had been crying again. She'd seen him at his weakest last night, and he had to make sure it wasn't a regular occurrence.
Buffy was in the kitchen when she heard the short cry of pain signalling Spike had woken up, and began to make her way down to him with a mug of warm blood. She could hear him softly weeping, and tried to walk a little slower and make some noise to allow him time to compose himself. She knew how proud he was.
"Mornin' pet" Spike said when she finally came into view.
"Morning. Here" she said, handing him the mug "I thought you might be hungry. You look like you haven't eaten for a while."
"Actually, you're right love. Haven't exactly felt sociable-like since... Well, for a while" he replied, looking down into the mug and avoiding her eyes. He didn't feel like telling her that the only things he'd been able to bring himself to eat for the last four months were rats and mice.
Buffy was feeling awkward, and searched her mind for something to say. "Umm... Willow's coming back today. We were going to head to the airport soon. Do you... I mean... Would you like to come?"
"Don't think so, pet. Red was always good to me, but" he looked at the basement window which was covered in dark plastic but had the occasional pinprick hole in it, showing that the sun was out in full force today "I don't think it's really a good time."
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Later that morning, Xander and Dawn waited at a table in the airport food court for Buffy, who had gone to call Giles and make sure they had Willow's arrival time right.
"What if she just didn't come home?" Dawn worried aloud. "She might be anywhere Xander.. she's definitely not here, that's for sure anyway... Unless she is, but she's hiding and now she's testing us to see if we still love her and... We still love you Willow! We still..." She trailed off. She was rambling, and she knew it, but she knew Xander would understand.
As if on cue, Xander patted her fraternally on the shoulder. "It'll be ok Dawn, we just have to stay positive. Roll with the punches. Go with the.. ooh! Sandwiches!"
Dawn watched him engage in an intricate discussion with the sandwich boy over which is better, egg salad or PB and J, and knew he was a lost cause. She caught sight of Buffy coming toward them with a grim expression on her face. "Bad news then?" she thought sacrastically. She grabbed Xander by the arm and dragged him toward Buffy and the exit.
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That night, as Anya flung herself down on her plush white duvet, she thought about the events of the day. It had felt good to be a part of the 'Scooby gang' for a while again. She'd missed it a lot. It had been nice to talk to Willow and feel needed as a friend again, and she was touched that Willow had come to her. Perhaps they could still be the chums they once were. She smiled softly as she remembered how long it had taken for her to trust Willow around Xander.
"Xander..." She sighed and looked wistfully into the ether. He'd barely spoken a word to her today, and after their discussion the evening before last, when he had shown he still cared for her, this perplexed her.
She didn't like confusion much. It hurt her head and made it hard for her to concentrate on the task at hand - the wish.
The past week the wish Halfrek had offered her had been playing heavily on her mind, so she had decided earlier to start a list of the things she could wish for. It was starting to get long.
Of course, there were the usual things - money, a prettier vengeance face, fame and, of course, money. But she had also added some more important things such as making the weekends a day longer, and money. Smiting all men had been scrapped a long time ago, after she had realised this would in effect put her out of a job. One must always protect one's own financial interests, after all.
Anya thought carefully about what to add next. Looking down at the pen in her hand, pink and fluffy with a butterfly on a spring bouncing at the top end, she carefully wrote one last entry for the night:
'Xander back.'
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Willow sat patiently waiting for Buffy. They were still trying to heal the wounds Gnarl had inflicted that afternoon, but Buffy had gone downstairs a moment ago to check on Spike. Buffy had explained about him soon after they'd gotten home.
Now, alone and quiet in her room, she couldn't help but think of the last time she'd been there, holding the woman she loved in her arms as she slipped away.
As the tears began to fall down her cheeks at the memory, she watched as the raindrops started to shower down outside.
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A/N 2: Did I trick you with the title? hehehe!
Anyway, hopefully you are all still liking this story. I realise there wasn't a lot of action in this chapter.. in fact it was all rather depressing... but I promise to make the next chapter more exciting! I just had to get some of the story out of the way. Let me know what you think of the new format too.. I'm nervous on it.
By the way - guesses for the wish are welcome!! Though I already know what it is, I'm interested to know what you all think it will be! Also, make suggestions for things you'd like to see happen inupcoming chaptersif you like too... all are welcome.