A/N: Hey I fixed the formatting a little to make it easier to read. Thanks
to my reviewers for telling me to change it a little. Also before I forget
I own none of this. It was all thought up by a brilliant man named Joss. I
did however change the events of the story so I can take credit on that! :
) okay well enjoy this chapter and please review. As I have stated before I
LOVE reviews.
Chapter 3:
Buffy was sitting in the Magic Box. She was waiting for a reaction from her friends. She had just finished telling them about her dream and they all seemed stumped. Giles cleaned his glasses and Anya opened her mouth like she wanted to say something, but closed it again. Xander was the one to finally say something.
"What does it mean?" "I don't know. All I know is that it means something big. I mean it has to be a slayer dream right?"
"Most definitely sounds like one. What I can't comprehend is the figures in which it speaks of." Giles said as he carefully placed his glasses back on.
"Yeah. I've been a vengeance demon for over a thousand years now and I've never heard of the 'savior'. Maybe it refers to some ancient prophecy, but I don't see how I could have never heard about it. Vengeance demons usual hear about all the apocalyptic prophecies."
"Maybe the dream was referring to a prophecy which involves what is going on right now. Maybe it's a way to save Willow." Xander said hopefully.
"Could be. I mean I don't see any other big thing going on in Sunnydale right now. I have to protect this savior person and I don't even know who it is. He or she could already be dead." Buffy said.
"No I think that if that person died then it would already be over. What puzzles me isn't the savior part. It's the reference to the wind and tree. I've never heard of a prophecy that used those terms before." Giles said as he picked up a very large book and started to flip the pages.
"I don't know what to make of it. We can't look up that many prophecies because Willow performed extensive damage on my store. That includes the books that used to be up there on the balcony. Not to mention the sucking out all the knowledge thing she did before ruining my store." Anya said.
"That does present a problem. Those books could have presented some very valuable insight," Giles said. "Do we know anyone who can help us in that department. Give us some information?" Buffy said. "No I don't think we know anyone with that kind of knowledge."
"We could have the information right here. We'll just have to look. If it's something that will help save Willow then we have to try. We've been looking for months for something and here is clue. We just have to find the answer." Xander said. He knew in his gut that this had to have something to do with Willow. He had to try and save her.
"Okay well Giles can't you ask the Coven if they could look for a prophecy like the one talked about in my dream. I'm sure that they have just been looking aimlessly and now they have some direction to go in. Anya maybe you could talk to some of your demon friends. See if they know anything about this prophecy? Xander why don't you go check things out at Willy's. Maybe they might have heard something to do with Willow and her little gang. I know that she has raided Willy's once already. Everything should be pretty safe there."
"Can do, Buff."
"Yes you're right Buffy. I think it might be helpful to the Coven to have some direction to go in." the group looked at Anya who hadn't answered. "Anya it's okay if you can't do that. It was just a suggestion."
"No, it's okay. I would have to ask D'Hoffran, but I think that he would allow us access to the vengeance reports." "There are vengeance demon reports?" Xander asked Anya with a shocked look on his face.
"Yeah. They're kind of like the Watcher's diaries or police reports. It's just so D'Hoffran can keep track what demon does what." "Do you think that your boss would let look at them?" "Sure. Without the world vengeance demons don't have anyone to exact vengeance on. We don't want the world to end just as much as you guys don't." "Good so we have a game plan. Why doesn't everyone go do their tasks now and we'll meet up her in a little bit." "Okay." The three people said in unisons and then went to do their assigned jobs.
Spike looked outside of the ship he was sailing. He had found a ship that would take him to San Francisco. It was the closest to Sunnydale as it got. Spike was lucky to find one that was going anywhere near California. It would take him three days to get to San Francisco. Three long days on a ship with people he didn't know. He was sort of glad, for the first time in his undead life, that the chip was in his head. He couldn't hurt anyone that way. He was indeed very hungry, starving practically. He needed to get to Sunnydale as soon as possible. He had to safe Buffy. Spike had kept Buffy on his mind this whole time. Thinking of her would stop the memories for a short period of time and even though they would come back it still made things a little easier.
Spike took his cigarette pack out of a pocket in his duster. He had made sure to buy to buy a lot of cigarettes before he got on the ship. He took out his lighter and lit the cigarette that he was holding in his mouth. He was still a little shaky, but his nerves were getting a little better as the days passed. Maybe it was because now her had something to do and looked forward to or maybe it was because things get easier with time, he didn't know. He welcomed the steadiness with open arms and wished it could stay more often. He would needed to remain calm if he wanted to hide on this ship. He couldn't be seen. Not after what Buffy had told him in his dream. Someone or something was looking to get rid of vampires and other things that go bump in the night. He had to hide from anyone who would show the lightest interest in him. He didn't want to get caught and then not be able to help fight the bad guys.
Spike threw his cigarette on the ground and smashed the butt with his he boot that was covered in dirt. First thing he would do when he got to Sunnydale after he got some blood would be to go to his crypt and clean himself up. Of course he would have to wait to dye his hair again. After changing he would go straight to Buffy's and figure out what the hell was going on and why she was making appearances in his dreams. He would just change into cleaner clothes and then be on his way. That was if he wasn't going all crazy at the time. He was able to fool the people in London, but that was because to him he was just another guy who was passing on the street. Now he was going back to Sunnydale where he would surely be monitored all day and night by the slayer. She would see that something was up with him. Anyone who wanted to looked close enough could see that there was definitely something wrong with him. He was sickly looking and he didn't need a mirror to tell him that. He just knew. If he were able to look in a mirror what he saw would scare even him. It was just on more reason to get back to the Hellmouth.
Spike had said before that the Hellmouth was no good, but now he was willing to go back there. It was his home and he missed the things that were there. Namely one blonde slayer who he loved more then anything. Everything he had was there. His heart was there and he had to go back. He had argued with himself on the reasons why he shouldn't go back. The big one being that he sometimes started to act like a loony-toon. He had made a decision to go back and now he was going back. It would only be three more days until he stepped on American soil and only a little while after that when he got to see that stupid 'Welcome to Sunnydale' sign that he had plowed over many times on his way into Sunnydale. It wouldn't be long now. He just had to be careful of the danger that was looming over him.
The gang was sitting in chairs looking for anything that pertained to a tree, or the wind or anything that even remotely resembled the things in Buffy's dream. So far nothing had come up. Xander had went to Willy's and found out where Willow and her gang of witches were held up. Giles had called the Coven and told them what they were looking for. Anya had gone to speak with D'Hoffran and he had granted her full access to the vengeance demon reports. He had told Anya to tell everyone to hurry and find something before the world ended. They had all come back to the Magic Box and decided that they would look in the books before looking at the reports. They had been looking for stuff for hours and still hadn't found a prophecy that had anything to do with the dream. They were all to busy to notice that Dawn had walked into the shop and was staring at them intently.
Dawn had been inside the store for a couple minutes now and the group didn't even notice she was there. She would have felt bad, but she knew that they were researching Buffy's dream. She decided that she should start working at let them research in peace. She went behind the counter and grabbed the feather duster. She had been so happy when Buffy had explained her dream. Spike was coming back soon. Even though Spike had done some bad things like having sex with Anya, but she forgave him for that. She didn't see it as Buffy's fault or anything like that, but Dawn was sure it wouldn't have happened if Buffy hadn't hurt him. Besides Anya and Spike weren't involved with anyone at the time. Still people placed the blame on Spike. Like he had forced Anya to have sex with him when really it was consensual on both parties. It was about fixing pain and Dawn knew that. That was why she couldn't blame Spike. It was bad for all people involved and everyone's fault. It was Buffy and Xander's fault for walking out on the people that they cared about, but Dawn couldn't blame them either. They were scared and didn't want to do something stupid.
Dawn knew that Buffy loved Spike or at least cared a lot about him. Buffy considered Spike a friend and Dawn knew that much. He had been there for her when everyone else wanted her to get over it and be the superhero. Spike also loved Buffy. Dawn also knew that. When Buffy had died, he cried so hard. It was painful to look at. Everyone else was crying, but he was really crying. Wailing and sobbing his lungs out. The sound was almost deafening. Nobody heard it, but Dawn. Sure they had heard it, but not really. They might have thought that he was crying because of pain, but Dawn thought that he didn't even notice that he was injured. Dawn had gotten to say goodbye and that made things a little easier. No one else had gotten to do that. So as everyone cried, Dawn looked at her group of friends that would now become her family. She saw the pain in their faces, but none of their looks looked like Spike's. That was when Dawn knew for sure that Spike loved Buffy. She had known that he cared about her a lot, but she never really believed that he loved her.
Dawn went on with her dusting as she continued to watch the group. There were only four of them. There used to be six, seven when Spike pitched in to help research. They all looked so absorbed in their work. Trying to save the world was what they did the best. It was like they were destined to meet each other and work together to stop the forces of evil. Dawn wasn't allowed to do much research, but she did help out on occasion. Buffy treated her like a little kid even though she was really thousands of years old. To Buffy Dawn was still her kid sister and Dawn actually liked it better that way. Sure being nurtured all the time could get annoying, but it made Dawn feel loved. Dawn continued to stare at them when a loud thump noise woke her out of her trance and she jumped knocking over a statue.
Xander had just shut one of the most boring books he had ever read in his life. When he did he heard a little shocked gasp and then something fell. He looked over to see Dawn standing with a feather duster in hand. The rest of the group looked over at her. "Sorry Anya. The book shutting so loudly scared me a little." "Oh it's okay Dawn. How long have you been here?" "Just a couple of minutes. I didn't want to disturb you guys so I just went straight to work."
"Well we could have used a little distraction. I know I could have. These books are worse then trying to figure out what my dream was about." Buffy said also shutting her book. "So you didn't get anywhere?"
"No I wouldn't say that. I found out where Willow's lair is. Giles got the Coven looking for a prophecy that had to do with Buffy's dream. Anya got her boss to give us access to some files that the vengeance demons filed over the years. They are supposed to have all sorts of indications to prophecies. So we're doing okay."
"Still wish we knew when this whole 'day of light and dark' was going to happen. At least we would know what kind of time schedule we would be working with." Buffy said. That was one of the many things bothering her about the lack of information.
"Well as Xander has stated before we are lucky to have something to go on. We should be happy that we have this information and work with it at a fast pace. As if the apocalypse was coming tomorrow," Giles said.
"Great knowing our luck it will come tomorrow. Couldn't you just say that we have to work really fast." Buffy said.
Anya was still flipping through the book that she was reading and then looked up when she heard Buffy's sarcastic comment. "Somehow I doubt that. The Powers wouldn't have sent you that dream so late. Also I think that this whole 'day of light and dark' thing is going to happen after Spike gets back from wherever the hell he is."
"Why do you think this involves Spike?" Xander asked. He didn't like that Anya was even thinking about Spike after what had happened. Some part of his mind was telling him that it wasn't Spike's fault, that it was no ones fault, but Xander always had to blame someone else for his problems and he hasn't just going to stop one day.
"Well because of the obvious use of Spike in Buffy's dream. This has to have something to do with him. Maybe he's the savior or maybe he's supposed to help protect the savior. We won't know until he comes back. Which will obviously be soon considering the fact that he said it in Buffy's dream. That clear up everything for you Xander?" Xander mumbled what sounded like yeah and went back to looking for information.
"Anya's most likely right. The image was Spike for a reason and he was to have something to do with stopping Willow." Giles said. Anya smiled proudly and continued to search.
Buffy had listened to the conversation and wondered exactly what Spike's role in this whole thing was. He hadn't made it clear in the dream; but then again he hadn't made anything clear in the dream.
"Well I guess we'll just have to wait until he comes back." "I have a question." Dawn had been dusting in the background, but had been listening to the conversation with interest.
"Yes, Dawn." Giles said. "If Spike is meant to help could he be having dreams to? I mean if the Powers wanted him to get back to Sunnydale could they be sending him dreams?"
"Well I honestly never thought about that. Yes I suppose that could be the case. When he gets back we should ask him. They might have given him more information then they did you Buffy. Something that we might be missing. Good thinking Dawn." It was Dawn's turn to smile proudly.
"So the Powers could be telling him the missing links?" Buffy asked. "Yes they very well could be. Things that would keep him safe on his journey back to Sunnydale. We have no idea where his quest lead him."
"Giles is right. We have to assume that Spike has some valuable information that the Powers gave him. He has to have something valuable to add. If not information then muscle." Anya said.
"Yeah well we can't really be picky on the matter. Whichever they send us will be greatly appreciated." Giles said and grabbed another book.
"Dawn would you like to help us." Buffy said. She knew her sister was interested in this topic and it would go faster if they had help. "Really?" Dawn was shocked that Buffy was going to allow her to research. "Yeah it would go faster with an extra pair of eyes to help."
"Okay." Dawn put down the feather duster and took a seat next to Buffy and picked up one of the really heavy books in front of her. They sat in silence as they looked for any information on what was going on.
The research had ended way after the sun had gone down. Buffy had stopped it saying that her and Dawn had to go home and have dinner. Buffy and Dawn were now sitting in their living room watching some t.v. before going to bed. Both were trying to ignore each other and watch the television, but Dawn couldn't help herself.
"So when do you think Spike is coming back?" She asked and didn't look up at Buffy. It was a good thing because Buffy was giving her that look that said 'am I talking to a child' with a hint of anger. "I don't know Dawn. Soon probably."
"Don't you care?" "Yes. he is going to help us save Willow from herself. Of course I care." "I mean care about him. As in care that he is coming back and not in a work related way."
Buffy remained quite. She didn't really know what to say. Did she care that Spike was coming back? Of course! He was the only person that she felt she could talk to when she came back and that hadn't changed.
"Well I think that you do. I think that you care about him more then you let on." "Who made you the expert?" "I can see it. I know that you have strong feelings for him." "Spike is good to have around as a fighter." "Buffy we can't just gloss over the fact that you and him 'did it' for months. You and him were close."
"Close in a way that we did it. Dawn just because to people do it doesn't mean that they have any feelings for each other. It wasn't like it was any kind of relationship."
"He has feelings for you. He loves you. How can you say that there were no feelings? There had to be something to start the initial doing it. You couldn't have just said one day 'hey why don't I have sex with Spike'. There had to be a reason."
"He was there for me and things went a little to far. That's all."
"So you have no feelings for him?" "I never said that. I care about him in a friendship way. Nothing more. I think that we need to even work on our friendship before I can even call us friends."
"Then why were you screaming for him to come back last night?"
Buffy looked down into her hands. Dawn had caught her a very awful position. The truth was Buffy didn't know what she felt for Spike. Ever since that night where he puzzled her with his gentle demeanor she didn't know what to think. Then he left and she was even more confused.
"Dawn it was a dream. A slayer dream at that and those dreams always get me a little jumpy. I couldn't tell you why I was yelling or why it was Spike in my dream. There are tons of reasons that anyone could think up if they had enough time. I just think that it was the dream that was making me do that. Spike could just be a symbol of something."
Dawn sighed. Buffy had always been very stubborn and this was definitely one of those times.
"Fine Miss Queen of Denial. Just remember that one day you'll figure out just exactly what is going through that heart of yours and it might be too late. Spike isn't a dog that will stick around forever. Just take now for example. He leaves and you can't even function."
Buffy cut in. "I can function."
"You haven't exactly been Miss tell her friends everything girl lately. You've been exactly like you were when you came back. Only this time there isn't a Spike to talk things out with. Just imagine how it would feel if he never came back. You wouldn't have anyone to listen to you talk about how crappy your life is until you meet some new guy who will take off just like the rest of them. Then you'll wonder what ever happened to Spike. The guy who actually listened to you and actual took the time to care even without a soul. By then of course it would be too late. So you just think about what Buffy wants. It's a good thing that Spike cares so much that he'll probably never leave you even if you tell him to." Dawn got up and went to her room to get some sleep.
Buffy sat on the couch listening to Dawn's words play over and over again in her head. Maybe she was in denial or maybe she really didn't love Spike. Buffy was just too confused to figure that out. It was just another part of the big puzzle that well puzzled her. She decided not to dwell on it too much and go to sleep. She made her way upstairs and plopped her head on the pillow. At least one thing would never change. Her room would stay the same forever and it would never puzzle her. Sleep would stay the same. She would always need to sleep. She wished that everything else was that simple as she fell into a deep sleep.
Buffy wasn't sure where she was, but one thing was for sure. She was definitely dreaming. She looked around to try and figure out where this dream had taken her. it looked like she was on a ship or something like that. She could feel the waves crashing against the sides. Buffy wondered why on earth she was here in her dream. She looked around for any sign of someone or something that she knew. Then she saw him. He was scrunched in a corner surrounded by cigarette butts. He looked even less healthy then last night. Buffy made her way towards him. He appeared to be sleeping and not very soundly. She had never seen a person sleeping in a dream and it was fairly weird. Then he opened his eyes to look at her.
"Another dream?" He seemed just as puzzled as she was.
"Come to tell me some more mumbo jumbo 'bout trees and wind. Seriously 'm going back to Sunnydale what else is there?"
Spike looked up at Buffy or really the dream Buffy. She seemed just as confused as he was. Why would the Powers send him a dream in where the person with the information was just a puzzled as he was. "Luv?"
Buffy found her voice, "Spike it's really me. Well at least a form of me. I don't know what the hell is going on, but it would appear that we are in each other's dreams."
"Oh s'that all?" there was a sarcastic tone in his voice that Buffy didn't miss. "So what now?"
"I'm not sure really. Do you have any information to give me?" "Like what?" "I don't know what did they tell you in your dream?"
"Well you said something 'bout trees and wind and a day with light and dark. There was also something about it not starting until I went back to the land of the Sun. oh and the wind thing hates vampires. Told me to keep an eye out. I also had to help you protect the savior from the wind and the tree was going to sway after I got back."
Buffy had heard most of this before. The hating vamps thing was new, but she had assumed that this wind thing would hate any demon.
"Anything else?" "Well let me think. I know that there is something that I'm missing." Spike went into deep thought for a second and then said,
"Right. You said that I was one of two champions. I don't know what it means, but you might wanna find the other champion."
"Could be useful."
Buffy started to pace around. Spike felt like he was going to be nauseous. Why couldn't she just sit still?
"Look, pet, I know that you are nervous 'bout this whole being each others dreams thing, but could you please sit down." Buffy looked at him and then sat down on the ground.
"So you're coming back to Sunnydale?" "Yes on my way there right now s'matter of fact."
"When will you be back? Dawn has been asking about you." "I should be back in a cuppla days."
"That's good. So are you going to tell me why you left?"
"Soon. I think that we shouldn't be in each other's dreams. More of a face to face kinda guy." "Well I hope that you get back safe."
"Me too. I think that I should be alright."
"Where are you going to right now?"
"Ship takes me to San Francisco." "How are you getting to Sunnydale from there?"
"Don't know yet."
"Why don't we pick you up. I mean you don't look so good. Have you eaten at all today?"
"Today no."
"How long was it been since you drank some blood?"
"Not really sure. Lost count a while back."
"No wonder you look so bad." "I think that I'm holding up considering." "Spike will you let us pick you up."
"Do whatever you want Goldielocks. You never let me stop you from getting what you want. Maybe that's cause I never tried to stop you."
Buffy looked at Spike. For some reason he seemed more broody. It didn't suit him well. Broody was an Angel thing. Spike was Mister Cocky and Confident not Mister Feel Sorry For me. "Spike is everything okay. You seem a little out of it."
"Well I haven't eaten in what seems like forever and I think I'm going crazy. I'll save the why for later, but just believe. I don't know why the Powers think that I would be of any help as a crazy psycho man."
"You'll help lots." Buffy found herself moving closer to him.
"Right. Slayer you don't even know whats happened over the months. Not s'actly Mister Stable lately. Going insane I tell you. No help to no one."
"Spike that isn't true." Buffy was so close to him she was practically sitting on his lap. As if her hand had a mind of it's on it went up to his face and started to caress his cheek.
"Buffy what are you doing?"
"Not sure really. Just acting."
"Well stop it." Spike didn't want her to stop and he knew that his argument was half-cooked.
"Make me stop. You just said that I always get what I want because you give it to me. Prove yourself wrong." Buffy's hand continued to stay at his cheek. She brought his face closer to hers and placed a gentle kiss on his dry lips.
Spike felt like he couldn't move. She had just kissed him. He was dreaming yes, but the Buffy in this dream was dreaming the same thing he was at this very same moment. "Buffy come on you have to stop this. It will get us nowhere."
"What's so bad about me kissing you?"
"It's just what with our history it's all very cloudy. I can't make any sense of it."
"Then don't try."
"But like I said. I want to change everything. I want to make things better. I don't know if we have a chance to be something, but I want to try. On a clean slate."
"I don't love you Spike. I can't and you know why. But I do care."
"I know you do pet. And maybe things will change, but like I said they have to start on a clean slate. Nothing from the bad."
Buffy understood what he was saying. It made perfect sense, but it just wasn't something Spike would say. He would insist that she loved him and pester. That was just Spike. Now it seemed that some foreign alien had taken over Spike's body and was making him say and do weird things.
Buffy looked up into his eyes. Those eyes were still the same. They still glowed with the same intensity and compassion that was only reserved for Buffy.
"You're right Spike. I will see you later then."
"Two days at the loading docks in San Francisco." "Okay." Buffy wanted to move but found that she couldn't. Spike saw that she was moving and wondered what was going on. Then she turned around to face him. Before Spike had any time to react Buffy was kissing him. It was a passionate kiss that was begging to be deepened. Her tongue flickered against his lips as she tried to force her way into his mouth. Spike tried to fight, but it was no use. He didn't have the strength and some part of him wanted to kiss her. It had been such a long time. The kiss lasted for good five minutes before Buffy backed away to breath. Even though she had stopped kissing him her face was still very close to his.
"What was that 'bout?" Spike said when he regained his voice.
"Call it a token of are old ways." Spike laughed and Buffy giggled. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Buffy woke up from her dream with a smile on her face. It had been a very vivid dream complete with color and surround sound. Buffy's fingers went up to her lips. They weren't swollen like they usually were when she kissed someone, but the memory still lingered in the air. Buffy knew that she had to go and get Spike. She would leave tomorrow morning with Giles. Anya and Xander would watch Dawn and keep going with the research. When they got back they would do some research all together and save Willow. Now all Buffy would need to do was wait for morning to come. She drifted of into a sound sleep thinking about what tomorrow would bring. She hoped that it was something good because she had had enough with the bad.
Chapter 3:
Buffy was sitting in the Magic Box. She was waiting for a reaction from her friends. She had just finished telling them about her dream and they all seemed stumped. Giles cleaned his glasses and Anya opened her mouth like she wanted to say something, but closed it again. Xander was the one to finally say something.
"What does it mean?" "I don't know. All I know is that it means something big. I mean it has to be a slayer dream right?"
"Most definitely sounds like one. What I can't comprehend is the figures in which it speaks of." Giles said as he carefully placed his glasses back on.
"Yeah. I've been a vengeance demon for over a thousand years now and I've never heard of the 'savior'. Maybe it refers to some ancient prophecy, but I don't see how I could have never heard about it. Vengeance demons usual hear about all the apocalyptic prophecies."
"Maybe the dream was referring to a prophecy which involves what is going on right now. Maybe it's a way to save Willow." Xander said hopefully.
"Could be. I mean I don't see any other big thing going on in Sunnydale right now. I have to protect this savior person and I don't even know who it is. He or she could already be dead." Buffy said.
"No I think that if that person died then it would already be over. What puzzles me isn't the savior part. It's the reference to the wind and tree. I've never heard of a prophecy that used those terms before." Giles said as he picked up a very large book and started to flip the pages.
"I don't know what to make of it. We can't look up that many prophecies because Willow performed extensive damage on my store. That includes the books that used to be up there on the balcony. Not to mention the sucking out all the knowledge thing she did before ruining my store." Anya said.
"That does present a problem. Those books could have presented some very valuable insight," Giles said. "Do we know anyone who can help us in that department. Give us some information?" Buffy said. "No I don't think we know anyone with that kind of knowledge."
"We could have the information right here. We'll just have to look. If it's something that will help save Willow then we have to try. We've been looking for months for something and here is clue. We just have to find the answer." Xander said. He knew in his gut that this had to have something to do with Willow. He had to try and save her.
"Okay well Giles can't you ask the Coven if they could look for a prophecy like the one talked about in my dream. I'm sure that they have just been looking aimlessly and now they have some direction to go in. Anya maybe you could talk to some of your demon friends. See if they know anything about this prophecy? Xander why don't you go check things out at Willy's. Maybe they might have heard something to do with Willow and her little gang. I know that she has raided Willy's once already. Everything should be pretty safe there."
"Can do, Buff."
"Yes you're right Buffy. I think it might be helpful to the Coven to have some direction to go in." the group looked at Anya who hadn't answered. "Anya it's okay if you can't do that. It was just a suggestion."
"No, it's okay. I would have to ask D'Hoffran, but I think that he would allow us access to the vengeance reports." "There are vengeance demon reports?" Xander asked Anya with a shocked look on his face.
"Yeah. They're kind of like the Watcher's diaries or police reports. It's just so D'Hoffran can keep track what demon does what." "Do you think that your boss would let look at them?" "Sure. Without the world vengeance demons don't have anyone to exact vengeance on. We don't want the world to end just as much as you guys don't." "Good so we have a game plan. Why doesn't everyone go do their tasks now and we'll meet up her in a little bit." "Okay." The three people said in unisons and then went to do their assigned jobs.
Spike looked outside of the ship he was sailing. He had found a ship that would take him to San Francisco. It was the closest to Sunnydale as it got. Spike was lucky to find one that was going anywhere near California. It would take him three days to get to San Francisco. Three long days on a ship with people he didn't know. He was sort of glad, for the first time in his undead life, that the chip was in his head. He couldn't hurt anyone that way. He was indeed very hungry, starving practically. He needed to get to Sunnydale as soon as possible. He had to safe Buffy. Spike had kept Buffy on his mind this whole time. Thinking of her would stop the memories for a short period of time and even though they would come back it still made things a little easier.
Spike took his cigarette pack out of a pocket in his duster. He had made sure to buy to buy a lot of cigarettes before he got on the ship. He took out his lighter and lit the cigarette that he was holding in his mouth. He was still a little shaky, but his nerves were getting a little better as the days passed. Maybe it was because now her had something to do and looked forward to or maybe it was because things get easier with time, he didn't know. He welcomed the steadiness with open arms and wished it could stay more often. He would needed to remain calm if he wanted to hide on this ship. He couldn't be seen. Not after what Buffy had told him in his dream. Someone or something was looking to get rid of vampires and other things that go bump in the night. He had to hide from anyone who would show the lightest interest in him. He didn't want to get caught and then not be able to help fight the bad guys.
Spike threw his cigarette on the ground and smashed the butt with his he boot that was covered in dirt. First thing he would do when he got to Sunnydale after he got some blood would be to go to his crypt and clean himself up. Of course he would have to wait to dye his hair again. After changing he would go straight to Buffy's and figure out what the hell was going on and why she was making appearances in his dreams. He would just change into cleaner clothes and then be on his way. That was if he wasn't going all crazy at the time. He was able to fool the people in London, but that was because to him he was just another guy who was passing on the street. Now he was going back to Sunnydale where he would surely be monitored all day and night by the slayer. She would see that something was up with him. Anyone who wanted to looked close enough could see that there was definitely something wrong with him. He was sickly looking and he didn't need a mirror to tell him that. He just knew. If he were able to look in a mirror what he saw would scare even him. It was just on more reason to get back to the Hellmouth.
Spike had said before that the Hellmouth was no good, but now he was willing to go back there. It was his home and he missed the things that were there. Namely one blonde slayer who he loved more then anything. Everything he had was there. His heart was there and he had to go back. He had argued with himself on the reasons why he shouldn't go back. The big one being that he sometimes started to act like a loony-toon. He had made a decision to go back and now he was going back. It would only be three more days until he stepped on American soil and only a little while after that when he got to see that stupid 'Welcome to Sunnydale' sign that he had plowed over many times on his way into Sunnydale. It wouldn't be long now. He just had to be careful of the danger that was looming over him.
The gang was sitting in chairs looking for anything that pertained to a tree, or the wind or anything that even remotely resembled the things in Buffy's dream. So far nothing had come up. Xander had went to Willy's and found out where Willow and her gang of witches were held up. Giles had called the Coven and told them what they were looking for. Anya had gone to speak with D'Hoffran and he had granted her full access to the vengeance demon reports. He had told Anya to tell everyone to hurry and find something before the world ended. They had all come back to the Magic Box and decided that they would look in the books before looking at the reports. They had been looking for stuff for hours and still hadn't found a prophecy that had anything to do with the dream. They were all to busy to notice that Dawn had walked into the shop and was staring at them intently.
Dawn had been inside the store for a couple minutes now and the group didn't even notice she was there. She would have felt bad, but she knew that they were researching Buffy's dream. She decided that she should start working at let them research in peace. She went behind the counter and grabbed the feather duster. She had been so happy when Buffy had explained her dream. Spike was coming back soon. Even though Spike had done some bad things like having sex with Anya, but she forgave him for that. She didn't see it as Buffy's fault or anything like that, but Dawn was sure it wouldn't have happened if Buffy hadn't hurt him. Besides Anya and Spike weren't involved with anyone at the time. Still people placed the blame on Spike. Like he had forced Anya to have sex with him when really it was consensual on both parties. It was about fixing pain and Dawn knew that. That was why she couldn't blame Spike. It was bad for all people involved and everyone's fault. It was Buffy and Xander's fault for walking out on the people that they cared about, but Dawn couldn't blame them either. They were scared and didn't want to do something stupid.
Dawn knew that Buffy loved Spike or at least cared a lot about him. Buffy considered Spike a friend and Dawn knew that much. He had been there for her when everyone else wanted her to get over it and be the superhero. Spike also loved Buffy. Dawn also knew that. When Buffy had died, he cried so hard. It was painful to look at. Everyone else was crying, but he was really crying. Wailing and sobbing his lungs out. The sound was almost deafening. Nobody heard it, but Dawn. Sure they had heard it, but not really. They might have thought that he was crying because of pain, but Dawn thought that he didn't even notice that he was injured. Dawn had gotten to say goodbye and that made things a little easier. No one else had gotten to do that. So as everyone cried, Dawn looked at her group of friends that would now become her family. She saw the pain in their faces, but none of their looks looked like Spike's. That was when Dawn knew for sure that Spike loved Buffy. She had known that he cared about her a lot, but she never really believed that he loved her.
Dawn went on with her dusting as she continued to watch the group. There were only four of them. There used to be six, seven when Spike pitched in to help research. They all looked so absorbed in their work. Trying to save the world was what they did the best. It was like they were destined to meet each other and work together to stop the forces of evil. Dawn wasn't allowed to do much research, but she did help out on occasion. Buffy treated her like a little kid even though she was really thousands of years old. To Buffy Dawn was still her kid sister and Dawn actually liked it better that way. Sure being nurtured all the time could get annoying, but it made Dawn feel loved. Dawn continued to stare at them when a loud thump noise woke her out of her trance and she jumped knocking over a statue.
Xander had just shut one of the most boring books he had ever read in his life. When he did he heard a little shocked gasp and then something fell. He looked over to see Dawn standing with a feather duster in hand. The rest of the group looked over at her. "Sorry Anya. The book shutting so loudly scared me a little." "Oh it's okay Dawn. How long have you been here?" "Just a couple of minutes. I didn't want to disturb you guys so I just went straight to work."
"Well we could have used a little distraction. I know I could have. These books are worse then trying to figure out what my dream was about." Buffy said also shutting her book. "So you didn't get anywhere?"
"No I wouldn't say that. I found out where Willow's lair is. Giles got the Coven looking for a prophecy that had to do with Buffy's dream. Anya got her boss to give us access to some files that the vengeance demons filed over the years. They are supposed to have all sorts of indications to prophecies. So we're doing okay."
"Still wish we knew when this whole 'day of light and dark' was going to happen. At least we would know what kind of time schedule we would be working with." Buffy said. That was one of the many things bothering her about the lack of information.
"Well as Xander has stated before we are lucky to have something to go on. We should be happy that we have this information and work with it at a fast pace. As if the apocalypse was coming tomorrow," Giles said.
"Great knowing our luck it will come tomorrow. Couldn't you just say that we have to work really fast." Buffy said.
Anya was still flipping through the book that she was reading and then looked up when she heard Buffy's sarcastic comment. "Somehow I doubt that. The Powers wouldn't have sent you that dream so late. Also I think that this whole 'day of light and dark' thing is going to happen after Spike gets back from wherever the hell he is."
"Why do you think this involves Spike?" Xander asked. He didn't like that Anya was even thinking about Spike after what had happened. Some part of his mind was telling him that it wasn't Spike's fault, that it was no ones fault, but Xander always had to blame someone else for his problems and he hasn't just going to stop one day.
"Well because of the obvious use of Spike in Buffy's dream. This has to have something to do with him. Maybe he's the savior or maybe he's supposed to help protect the savior. We won't know until he comes back. Which will obviously be soon considering the fact that he said it in Buffy's dream. That clear up everything for you Xander?" Xander mumbled what sounded like yeah and went back to looking for information.
"Anya's most likely right. The image was Spike for a reason and he was to have something to do with stopping Willow." Giles said. Anya smiled proudly and continued to search.
Buffy had listened to the conversation and wondered exactly what Spike's role in this whole thing was. He hadn't made it clear in the dream; but then again he hadn't made anything clear in the dream.
"Well I guess we'll just have to wait until he comes back." "I have a question." Dawn had been dusting in the background, but had been listening to the conversation with interest.
"Yes, Dawn." Giles said. "If Spike is meant to help could he be having dreams to? I mean if the Powers wanted him to get back to Sunnydale could they be sending him dreams?"
"Well I honestly never thought about that. Yes I suppose that could be the case. When he gets back we should ask him. They might have given him more information then they did you Buffy. Something that we might be missing. Good thinking Dawn." It was Dawn's turn to smile proudly.
"So the Powers could be telling him the missing links?" Buffy asked. "Yes they very well could be. Things that would keep him safe on his journey back to Sunnydale. We have no idea where his quest lead him."
"Giles is right. We have to assume that Spike has some valuable information that the Powers gave him. He has to have something valuable to add. If not information then muscle." Anya said.
"Yeah well we can't really be picky on the matter. Whichever they send us will be greatly appreciated." Giles said and grabbed another book.
"Dawn would you like to help us." Buffy said. She knew her sister was interested in this topic and it would go faster if they had help. "Really?" Dawn was shocked that Buffy was going to allow her to research. "Yeah it would go faster with an extra pair of eyes to help."
"Okay." Dawn put down the feather duster and took a seat next to Buffy and picked up one of the really heavy books in front of her. They sat in silence as they looked for any information on what was going on.
The research had ended way after the sun had gone down. Buffy had stopped it saying that her and Dawn had to go home and have dinner. Buffy and Dawn were now sitting in their living room watching some t.v. before going to bed. Both were trying to ignore each other and watch the television, but Dawn couldn't help herself.
"So when do you think Spike is coming back?" She asked and didn't look up at Buffy. It was a good thing because Buffy was giving her that look that said 'am I talking to a child' with a hint of anger. "I don't know Dawn. Soon probably."
"Don't you care?" "Yes. he is going to help us save Willow from herself. Of course I care." "I mean care about him. As in care that he is coming back and not in a work related way."
Buffy remained quite. She didn't really know what to say. Did she care that Spike was coming back? Of course! He was the only person that she felt she could talk to when she came back and that hadn't changed.
"Well I think that you do. I think that you care about him more then you let on." "Who made you the expert?" "I can see it. I know that you have strong feelings for him." "Spike is good to have around as a fighter." "Buffy we can't just gloss over the fact that you and him 'did it' for months. You and him were close."
"Close in a way that we did it. Dawn just because to people do it doesn't mean that they have any feelings for each other. It wasn't like it was any kind of relationship."
"He has feelings for you. He loves you. How can you say that there were no feelings? There had to be something to start the initial doing it. You couldn't have just said one day 'hey why don't I have sex with Spike'. There had to be a reason."
"He was there for me and things went a little to far. That's all."
"So you have no feelings for him?" "I never said that. I care about him in a friendship way. Nothing more. I think that we need to even work on our friendship before I can even call us friends."
"Then why were you screaming for him to come back last night?"
Buffy looked down into her hands. Dawn had caught her a very awful position. The truth was Buffy didn't know what she felt for Spike. Ever since that night where he puzzled her with his gentle demeanor she didn't know what to think. Then he left and she was even more confused.
"Dawn it was a dream. A slayer dream at that and those dreams always get me a little jumpy. I couldn't tell you why I was yelling or why it was Spike in my dream. There are tons of reasons that anyone could think up if they had enough time. I just think that it was the dream that was making me do that. Spike could just be a symbol of something."
Dawn sighed. Buffy had always been very stubborn and this was definitely one of those times.
"Fine Miss Queen of Denial. Just remember that one day you'll figure out just exactly what is going through that heart of yours and it might be too late. Spike isn't a dog that will stick around forever. Just take now for example. He leaves and you can't even function."
Buffy cut in. "I can function."
"You haven't exactly been Miss tell her friends everything girl lately. You've been exactly like you were when you came back. Only this time there isn't a Spike to talk things out with. Just imagine how it would feel if he never came back. You wouldn't have anyone to listen to you talk about how crappy your life is until you meet some new guy who will take off just like the rest of them. Then you'll wonder what ever happened to Spike. The guy who actually listened to you and actual took the time to care even without a soul. By then of course it would be too late. So you just think about what Buffy wants. It's a good thing that Spike cares so much that he'll probably never leave you even if you tell him to." Dawn got up and went to her room to get some sleep.
Buffy sat on the couch listening to Dawn's words play over and over again in her head. Maybe she was in denial or maybe she really didn't love Spike. Buffy was just too confused to figure that out. It was just another part of the big puzzle that well puzzled her. She decided not to dwell on it too much and go to sleep. She made her way upstairs and plopped her head on the pillow. At least one thing would never change. Her room would stay the same forever and it would never puzzle her. Sleep would stay the same. She would always need to sleep. She wished that everything else was that simple as she fell into a deep sleep.
Buffy wasn't sure where she was, but one thing was for sure. She was definitely dreaming. She looked around to try and figure out where this dream had taken her. it looked like she was on a ship or something like that. She could feel the waves crashing against the sides. Buffy wondered why on earth she was here in her dream. She looked around for any sign of someone or something that she knew. Then she saw him. He was scrunched in a corner surrounded by cigarette butts. He looked even less healthy then last night. Buffy made her way towards him. He appeared to be sleeping and not very soundly. She had never seen a person sleeping in a dream and it was fairly weird. Then he opened his eyes to look at her.
"Another dream?" He seemed just as puzzled as she was.
"Come to tell me some more mumbo jumbo 'bout trees and wind. Seriously 'm going back to Sunnydale what else is there?"
Spike looked up at Buffy or really the dream Buffy. She seemed just as confused as he was. Why would the Powers send him a dream in where the person with the information was just a puzzled as he was. "Luv?"
Buffy found her voice, "Spike it's really me. Well at least a form of me. I don't know what the hell is going on, but it would appear that we are in each other's dreams."
"Oh s'that all?" there was a sarcastic tone in his voice that Buffy didn't miss. "So what now?"
"I'm not sure really. Do you have any information to give me?" "Like what?" "I don't know what did they tell you in your dream?"
"Well you said something 'bout trees and wind and a day with light and dark. There was also something about it not starting until I went back to the land of the Sun. oh and the wind thing hates vampires. Told me to keep an eye out. I also had to help you protect the savior from the wind and the tree was going to sway after I got back."
Buffy had heard most of this before. The hating vamps thing was new, but she had assumed that this wind thing would hate any demon.
"Anything else?" "Well let me think. I know that there is something that I'm missing." Spike went into deep thought for a second and then said,
"Right. You said that I was one of two champions. I don't know what it means, but you might wanna find the other champion."
"Could be useful."
Buffy started to pace around. Spike felt like he was going to be nauseous. Why couldn't she just sit still?
"Look, pet, I know that you are nervous 'bout this whole being each others dreams thing, but could you please sit down." Buffy looked at him and then sat down on the ground.
"So you're coming back to Sunnydale?" "Yes on my way there right now s'matter of fact."
"When will you be back? Dawn has been asking about you." "I should be back in a cuppla days."
"That's good. So are you going to tell me why you left?"
"Soon. I think that we shouldn't be in each other's dreams. More of a face to face kinda guy." "Well I hope that you get back safe."
"Me too. I think that I should be alright."
"Where are you going to right now?"
"Ship takes me to San Francisco." "How are you getting to Sunnydale from there?"
"Don't know yet."
"Why don't we pick you up. I mean you don't look so good. Have you eaten at all today?"
"Today no."
"How long was it been since you drank some blood?"
"Not really sure. Lost count a while back."
"No wonder you look so bad." "I think that I'm holding up considering." "Spike will you let us pick you up."
"Do whatever you want Goldielocks. You never let me stop you from getting what you want. Maybe that's cause I never tried to stop you."
Buffy looked at Spike. For some reason he seemed more broody. It didn't suit him well. Broody was an Angel thing. Spike was Mister Cocky and Confident not Mister Feel Sorry For me. "Spike is everything okay. You seem a little out of it."
"Well I haven't eaten in what seems like forever and I think I'm going crazy. I'll save the why for later, but just believe. I don't know why the Powers think that I would be of any help as a crazy psycho man."
"You'll help lots." Buffy found herself moving closer to him.
"Right. Slayer you don't even know whats happened over the months. Not s'actly Mister Stable lately. Going insane I tell you. No help to no one."
"Spike that isn't true." Buffy was so close to him she was practically sitting on his lap. As if her hand had a mind of it's on it went up to his face and started to caress his cheek.
"Buffy what are you doing?"
"Not sure really. Just acting."
"Well stop it." Spike didn't want her to stop and he knew that his argument was half-cooked.
"Make me stop. You just said that I always get what I want because you give it to me. Prove yourself wrong." Buffy's hand continued to stay at his cheek. She brought his face closer to hers and placed a gentle kiss on his dry lips.
Spike felt like he couldn't move. She had just kissed him. He was dreaming yes, but the Buffy in this dream was dreaming the same thing he was at this very same moment. "Buffy come on you have to stop this. It will get us nowhere."
"What's so bad about me kissing you?"
"It's just what with our history it's all very cloudy. I can't make any sense of it."
"Then don't try."
"But like I said. I want to change everything. I want to make things better. I don't know if we have a chance to be something, but I want to try. On a clean slate."
"I don't love you Spike. I can't and you know why. But I do care."
"I know you do pet. And maybe things will change, but like I said they have to start on a clean slate. Nothing from the bad."
Buffy understood what he was saying. It made perfect sense, but it just wasn't something Spike would say. He would insist that she loved him and pester. That was just Spike. Now it seemed that some foreign alien had taken over Spike's body and was making him say and do weird things.
Buffy looked up into his eyes. Those eyes were still the same. They still glowed with the same intensity and compassion that was only reserved for Buffy.
"You're right Spike. I will see you later then."
"Two days at the loading docks in San Francisco." "Okay." Buffy wanted to move but found that she couldn't. Spike saw that she was moving and wondered what was going on. Then she turned around to face him. Before Spike had any time to react Buffy was kissing him. It was a passionate kiss that was begging to be deepened. Her tongue flickered against his lips as she tried to force her way into his mouth. Spike tried to fight, but it was no use. He didn't have the strength and some part of him wanted to kiss her. It had been such a long time. The kiss lasted for good five minutes before Buffy backed away to breath. Even though she had stopped kissing him her face was still very close to his.
"What was that 'bout?" Spike said when he regained his voice.
"Call it a token of are old ways." Spike laughed and Buffy giggled. *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** Buffy woke up from her dream with a smile on her face. It had been a very vivid dream complete with color and surround sound. Buffy's fingers went up to her lips. They weren't swollen like they usually were when she kissed someone, but the memory still lingered in the air. Buffy knew that she had to go and get Spike. She would leave tomorrow morning with Giles. Anya and Xander would watch Dawn and keep going with the research. When they got back they would do some research all together and save Willow. Now all Buffy would need to do was wait for morning to come. She drifted of into a sound sleep thinking about what tomorrow would bring. She hoped that it was something good because she had had enough with the bad.
