Previously: Buffy and gang have split up. Angel and crew are at Wolfram and Hart.

Disclaimer: Joss owns all.

Thanks to the wonderful spikes petslayer for the beta job!

Saying Goodbye

Chapter 4

(London, England)

Nineteen days. Nineteen days since the Hellmouth had collapsed. Nineteen days since I had told him that I loved him, and then watched him burn. Nineteen days, but it felt like a lifetime.

Standing out on the balcony of my apartment staring at the skyline if the city. A light misting rain had started making the buildings in the distance look like nothing but a hazy outline. He deserves to be remembered, but it hurts so much to think of him, and know that I will never be able to hold him again.

Dawn has been super supporter gal for the last couple of weeks. She seems to be making sure that I'm not alone too much, make sure I eat, get plenty of rest. She had turned into the mom that I had tried to be for her. "Can't let you start brooding like Peaches now can we?" Recalling Dawn's comment from last week brings a smile to my face. I hadn't realized how many of Spike's habits Dawn had picked up until recently. So far she's given me the several cocky smirks, the raised eyebrows more times than I can count, and I'm pretty sure that I heard a "bloody hell" more than once.

Everyone's been busy with restoring the Watchers Council. They have enough jobs for everyone. Already sixteen girls had arrived to learn more about what had happened to them and for proper training. Three had been sent from Faith that she had found traveling across country to Cleveland. Xander had sent six that he had tracked in Africa; apparently they were much more open about demons in their culture. He had found most of them rather easily and was moving on to less populated areas.

Willow and Kennedy had located four, and knew the general areas for about ten more that they had yet to contact. I myself have approached five slayers that the coven had pinpointed in England. One of which had declined the offer to come and join her sisters in learning about their new powers. I had assured her that there would be no pressure, and that she could decide for herself, just left her with the information on how to contact them should she change her mind. Never again would anyone be force to accept a destiny that they didn't want.

I can hear the girls in the rooms above me. The six story apartment that had been owned by the original council was starting to fill up quickly. The brown brick building looks very plain from the outside, but just step into the lobby and you know instantly that this building holds a wealth of power.

The basement had been converted into a gym and training area, far away from prying eyes. The first floor held the newly decorated offices of the council and a small cafeteria. When you had the money you can accomplish much in a small period of time. On the third floor were the apartments for the Scooby gang and the few slayers that had decided to stay with them from the battle in Sunnydale. The remaining floors were taken by the newbie slayers coming in from all corners of the world, with some apartments being used by Giles contacts coming and going for council business.

I can hear the conversation of the girls in the room above mine. Marcie? Mica? No. Mina from Brazil and her roommates Jamie and Becky both from the States. I hear my name, and know immediately what they're talking about. They all look at me like a superhero. They're all afraid to talk to me, but they all talk about me. Rumors of my liaisons with vampires, both deaths, and averted apocalypses have been the topic of most of the girls' conversations. I spend a lot of my time avoiding them, preferring to let the slayers from Sunnydale do most of the training.

I had a long talk with Giles yesterday. Dawn and I will be heading to Rome in two days. Forever the father figure, he already used his contacts and title as the new head of the watchers to get us an apartment and get Dawn into the school system all within just a few hours.

It's time to show Dawn the more of the world. A world that doesn't have monsters around every corner. A world that I pray can help heal old wounds along with the new ones. A world that no matter what my dreams at night tell me, the harsh morning light shows the truth.

He's gone.

At the same time in L.A. (Angel is talking to the gang in his office.)

Angel speaks to his group, trying to assure them that they had not made a mistake. "Yes, we are. We're gonna change things. We came to Wolfram and Hart because it's a powerful weapon. No, sooner or later they'll tip their hand, and we'll find out why they really brought us here, and we'll figure out how to wield it."

"Or kill ourselves with it." Wesley states, his doubts have been growing as the team begins to lose themselves in the everyday drama that the firm seems to be in abundance of. He can't help but feel that they we're being blinded by shiny baubles to distract from the corrupt deals that the Senior Partners didn't want them to know about.

Fred replies flatly, "Yay, team."

"Meanwhile, we do the work...our way, one thing at a time." He picks up the envelope from his desk, rips open the envelope. "We'll deal...," An amulet falls to the floor. "with whatever comes next."

Suddenly, the amulet activates. A black whirlwind erupts from it as something begins to materialize from the dust. A man's form begins to show. When the wind finally dies down, stunned eyes take in the blond vamp in astonishment.

Spike yells. "Aah!"

Wesley softly asks. "Spike?" His eye's widening in disbelief.

Angrily Angel growls. "Spike."

Harmony sticks her head through the office door, smiling. "Blondie bear?"

The blond vampire rushed forward aiming a punch to Angel's head. All eyes in the room widened even more when the blow not only didn't make contact, but seemed to go right through the dark vamp. Spike's eyes revealed his horror as he began to move his hand back and forth his hand disappearing into Angel's chest. "Spike, stop that."

"Bloody hell, Peaches. What did you do to me?" Blue eyes were blazing with anger as they meet brown. "Where's Buffy? Did she make it out of the hell mouth? What about the nibblet? Where are they?"

"Spike calm down. I don't know why you're here, but Buffy and the Scooby's are fine. They stopped here after the battle." Angel turned to his team, who were still standing awestruck around the room. "Guys, do you think you could give us a minute."

Everyone turned to file out the door, leaving the two master vampires alone. The newly resurrected man began to pace in front of the windows. "Look Peaches, you can't keep her from me. You don't know what went on the last few years. Have no idea who she is anymore, who I am." Angel leaned back

"I'm not going to keep her from you, Spike."

The blond continued to his rant not paying attention the elder vamp. "She's changed. Bloody hell, she lost her mum, she died, got brought back, life was a living hell, and who was there with her? Me, that's- What did you say?"

"I said that I'm not going to keep her from you, Spike." He stated calmly as he reached across the desk for a pen and paper. Writing quickly he folded the paper and placed under the dark glass paperweight on the desk. Looking at the paper he crossed his arms. "I'm also not sending you to her not knowing how or why you're here. This is her address. As soon as you can pick it up, it's yours, but until then, you will let Fred run some tests. I want to know who or what brought you back, and what you are now, or if you're even here to stay. I won't send you to her just so she can watch you disappear again."

Spike looked suspiciously at the paper. "What brought on this sudden good will, mate? I don't believe that you just willingly let her go. What's the catch?"

"No catch, Spike. Buffy and I talked after Sunnydale. I know what she told you in the hell mouth, and if being with you will help her stop grieving, then so be it. Just know you screw up and you're dust. Now lets head to the lab so Fred can start testing, the faster your away from me the better I'll feel."

The blond sat staring at the corner of the desk where the paperweight sat. Slowly moving his hand across the top, but not close enough to touch. Suddenly his face became determined. He would get his body solid and return to her. He would find a way to get to her. He spun quickly turning to face Angel, who was waiting by the door. "By the way Peaches, where the hell are we?"

TBC