Chapter Four – A New Life

Buffy looked at the clock and sighed; still 9.02. She was dying to go see Spike, to see if the spell had worked. She knew she didn't usually patrol tonight and was trying to think up a reasonable excuse when Willow walked in.

"Buffy, I'm really worried about Tara; she said she was going to the library after class, but that was 3 hours ago. Is there any chance you could go check on her?"

Bingo! "Of course, Will."

Tara and Spike had reached his new apartment a little after 7.30pm. After almost half an hour of shivering inside his crypt, Tara had finally suggested that they go take a look and look through the rest of the paper work there.

They took a tour of the apartment. Each room was big and elegantly furnished. There was food in the kitchen cupboards, towels in the bathroom, and even some new clothes hanging in the wardrobe. There was a widescreen TV with DVD player and Xbox, there was a huge CD hifi system with CD racks full of CDs. In short, the place was ready to be lived in.

Tara had flushed at the naughty thoughts about Willow that entered her head on seeing the huge circular bed that was in the bedroom.

"Wow, it's quite the bachelor pad you've got here."

Spike smiled a small, sad smile in response as he fixed them some coffee. Although he tried, he couldn't hold in the tears for long. As soon as he sat down with the 2 mugs of coffee he began shaking with tears that fell unchecked down his face.

"What am I going to do? What on earth am I going to do? I used to be immortal, but now… I'm human again. My God, it's so awful…"

Tara immediately hugged him, holding him close as she whispered soothingly in his ear.

"It's ok, we're gonna work this out, I'm here for you, I'm not going anywhere."

Finally her reassurances calmed him and Tara was able to begin looking at the paper work.

Spike watched as she worked through the pile of letters and documents, inspecting them all closely. He kept quiet until she'd finally finished.

"Everything seems to be in order."

"What?"

"These are all legal contracts and documents. It seems that for some reason you've been given a proper human existence complete with 9-5 job, apartment, car, passport and green card."

"But why?" Tara was stuck for an answer, and was glad to be interrupted by her phone. She looked at the caller ID. Willow. Again. She drew a deep breath and hit 'answer'.

"Hey sweetie, I was just gonna call you… Yeh I know and I'm sorry…I didn't realise how long this research would take me…I'm really sorry…I'll be home soon."

"Trouble in paradise?" Spike asked gently as she hung up the phone.

"What? No. I mean, it's just… kinda hard right now."

"It's the magic, isn't it?"

"It's more than that…" Tears welled up of their own accord in Tara's eyes. Instinctively Spike pulled her into a tight hug. Kissing her forehead he said;

"You can tell me."

"It's nothing, really."

"Nuh-uh, not buying."

"It was just… Willow… She kinda did a spell on me."

"What kind of spell?" Spike's voice tightened in anger.

"She made me forget an argument we had." She barely whispered it but Spike heard it all.

"What? That girl doesn't know a good thing when she's got it." It slightly threw Spike that he hadn't used any expletives despite his rage. Shrugging it off, he figured he was just keeping it clean for the lady present.

Tara's tears were falling fast now, and Spike was at a loss to stop them.

"I really cannot begin to understand why she would do that to you. What are you going to do about it?"

"What do you mean 'do'?"

"Tara, you can't stay with her if she feels free to violate you like that whenever things aren't going her way."

"B-but she's my everything, we were so perfect." At this Tara broke down again, clinging to Spike as if he gave her the strength to keep living.

Finally the tears subsided and Tara stood up and reached for her jacket. As she slipped it on, her face became so much like Willow's resolve face that it made Spike smile.

"You know what, Spike? I think the answer to both our problems is the same. I don't have my old relationship with Willow anymore, it's gone, I can't go back. My only option is to go forward, to live with and make my decisions by the one we have now… And you, you may not like your new human life, but it seems as though you're stuck with it, no going back. You have no choice to live it, at least until we can get the others to research a way back for you."

Spike tensed at the thought of telling the others. He walked her to the front door in silence, and thrust a note for a taxi in her hand before she could argue.

"Spike, you're gonna have to tell the others about this, but I'll be there for you."

"Tomorrow then." He agreed, and as she turned to go he added;

"And if you ever need to talk , or just fancy stopping by, all three of us will be waiting for you."

"All three of you?"

"Yep, me, Ben and Jerry." Spike grinned and Tara couldn't help but reciprocate. As she walked down the steps from his apartment, she suddenly felt that everything was going to be alright.

Slamming the door to her bedroom, Buffy changed for bed. Tara had already arrived back home by the time she'd gotten back. Unable to relax, her thoughts kept returning to the empty crypt she'd visited. Why wasn't Spike there? Surely he'd want to come and find her, to show her his new place, if he's even moved in yet.

Frustrated, Buffy got into bed, willing her body to sleep.