Thanks to iluvglorfindel, Sway1984, and Spuffyluvr. How come only three people reviewed this time?? I'm depressed.

Chapter 6



There were no words said on the way home.

Everything was a blur. Nothing had processed in my mind yet, as we walked home. I took her hand in mine, but she seemed so cold. She seemed so stiff and so far away. I didn't understand it, and it didn't look like she wanted to talk. She looked so frail and thin...so tired. I couldn't put her to blame, but it just felt so bad...for her not to even look at me. She just stared straight in front of her, as though in some other world of her own, and dragged her bare feet along the sidewalk.

I let go of her hand after a minute or so and looked over to my other side, where he was. I looked at him, adoring him. He was staring at her, with such devotion...such pure love...and concern. His love for her was radiating off of him like the sun's heat waves do in the daytime. How could Buffy be so oblivious to all of his care for her?

I moved closer to him as we walked and gave his hand a tight squeeze. He looked at me after feeling my hand interlocked with his. Unshed tears were evident in his eyes and held my hand even tighter. There was fear in his eyes...the cause for that fear was unknown to me, but I didn't question it right now.

She was looking at us. I could feel her eyes boring into my hands. I didn't care. She was probably disgusted, and I didn't care.

My head was spinning. As she watched us, I felt sickened by my own actions. Definitely not about the holding hands with Spike thing. But, I mean, my sister, who I thought was dead...gone...and now she was here standing before me, and what was I doing...or rather not doing?

I was not with her right now! I mean, she had come straight out of wherever she had been...and I was here with Spike...who was always here...who had always been here. She needed me now more than ever, and I wasn't even doing my job of being there for her!

I turned my head to look at her, and her eyes shot up at me...almost questioning me like I was crazy.

I read those eyes, questioning me as to why I was holding hands...with this...thing.

It stung me real bad, that she didn't understand how much of a man Spike really was.

I moved closer to her, not letting go of his hand, and I grasped hers with mine. She would understand in time. I gave her a small smile, and she returned it with a stiff one of her own.

"Home sweet home," he said as we came upon our house on Rovello Drive.

He let go of my hand and went to unlock the door.

Barely above a whisper, Buffy questioned, "You have a key to our house?"

I opened my mouth to defend him, but he spoke before I could. His words weren't harsh, and if he was hurt by her words he didn't show it.

He told her with comfort in his tone, "Yeah. Umm, I promised you I'd take care of Niblet here, and she figured...well we figured it would be easier for me to check up on her if I had a key...and umm...if I needed to come over to get something, I could get it...myself."

"Oh," was all she said in return.

"Right then," I said quietly to break the silence. "Let's get you cleaned up inside."

I opened the door widely, and then cursed myself forgetting something huge. The gang. They were all there in the living room. Oh shit.

I looked at Spike wide-eyed and I heard him curse. "Oh, bloody hell."

"Dawn?...Dawn? Spike? Is that you two?" Willow asked while running over to the door.

She came in front of the door and stopped.

She plastered on a fake smile, although she was really in pain.

"Hey!....Okay...," she started tentatively. She was just starting to rebuild her relationship with me, and didn't want to screw it up now...especially because there was no chance of Buffy being back.

"As much as it's great that that you're starting to get out Dawn, I really wish you wouldn't scare me like- Oh do we have company?"

Willow craned her neck to look at who the visitor was, but couldn't quite see. Spike was standing in the way and the look on his face was priceless.

Buffy was doing everything she could, to not be seen. She knew that Willow would be totally shocked and then everyone else would come and she would be bombarded with questions. And that was the Last thing she wanted right now.

She clung on to the back of Spike's coat, like a baby to her daddy.

Spike felt her at his back, holding him, and he was trying his best to keep himself calm. He felt his whole body shudder under her touch.

"So aren't you going to let...her...in....guys?" Willow inquired.

I figured it would be best to kind of prepare her for this, so I gave it my best shot.

"You see. Umm Willow. I don't know how this happened. I didn't do anything...I mean the thing with my mom was different...but this time..."

Willows eyes grew wide and her mouth turned into a huge grin.

I wasn't sure if she got it...I hadn't even told her the news yet.

She shrieked, while Buffy cringed. I saw Spike reach behind and give her hands a squeeze. Realizing who she was grabbing on to Buffy immediately let go.

"Oh my god!! Guys!! It worked!!!!!"

Willow shoved past me and Spike with teary eyes and gave Buffy a big bear hug. Meanwhile the rest of them had gathered around. Anya and Tara had the dear-caught-in-headlights look, while Xander's jaw had dropped down to the floor.

"Merciful Zeus," Xander stated, lamely.

"Oh my god Buff! It worked!!" Willow said, happily. "We did a spell to bring you back, and now..."

I saw Spike fuming.

His jaw was locked and when he spoke, I could tell that he was holding back so much anger that it scared me.

"You. You soddin' ....YOU all did a SPELL?"

Xander stepped up.

"Yeah. So what's your point peroxide-boy?"

"You pathetic little monkey. You lot didn't even bother to tell me! I stood by you all through the summer...and you repay me by doing a spell that has changed me forever...and doing it behind my back??"

He had a point. It had been behind my back too. But what I didn't understand was why he was so angry besides that. I mean sure, they hadn't told us...but there must've been a legitimate reason. And plus...it's not like the spell hadn't worked or anything...It had worked...so then what was the matter?

"Spike..."

But he ignored my attempts to calm him down.

After Spike's angry accusations, Xander as well as everyone else were quiet. They had suddenly found the threshold quite interesting, like an excuse to explain their actions, but Spike brought them back to reality.

He scoffed and enlightened them. "See, I've got you all figured out...You," he says pointing to Xander, "and Anya. You guys might not have figured it out. But I have. The witches...well, Willow, at least knew there was a chance that she'd come back wrong."

Willow looked downwards as I looked at her. I was thinking...how Buffy was taking all of this. She was standing here listening to everyone talk about her. When I looked over at her though, she was just staring at Spike.

Her face was unreadable. I stepped towards her and whispered. "Do you wanna..umm go upstairs or something?"

She just shook her head saying 'No." and stood where she was. She wanted to listen.

Spike continued his rant. "...That she would come back so wrong that you'd have ... that she would have to get rid of what came back. And I wouldn't let her. If any part of that was Buffy, I wouldn't let her. And that's why she shut me out. You got that monkey boy?"

Spike didn't dare look at Buffy right now. He really wanted to, but he was so frightened that he would soon find her fist in his face that he didn't.

I once again peered over at my sister, but her face hadn't changed at all. Not even after that declaration of his attachment to her. I would have melted for anyone if I had known that they had been so distraught after my passing.

But even after all of this. Xander wouldn't stay silent. He wasn't going to let Spike go on about Willow this way. She was his best friend. And so was Buffy...they wouldn't let there be risks like that and still do the spell. There had to be some explanation.

"What are you talking about? Willow wouldn't do that...right Willow?"

Willow's gaze hadn't moved from the floor. But Tara stepped behind Willow and put a hand on her shoulder.

"I think you guys should back off of Willow for a second. Okay, we did know that there was a chance that...it might not have worked...okay? And we wouldn't have done it if we hadn't been so sure that nothing would go wrong!!"

Spike really liked Tara, but this was just too much.

"Is that so. So umm, okay," he started sarcastically. "So guys, gannngg, how come you guys just left Buffy there to claw her way out of her grave if you knew that you're spell had worked great?...Huh?"

No one answered.

"COME ON! TELL ME! TELL ME WHY YOU SODDIN' LEFT YOUR BEST FRIEND IN HER GRAVE!!!!!"

Everyone was silent, but all of a sudden I heard sobbing coming from someone. I sharply turned my head towards the sound and realized it was...Buffy. She pushed her way through everyone and jet up the stairs to her room.

Spike said in a much softer voice, realizing that he had really frightened Buffy. "I think you all better leave. Dawn and I will take it from here."

But, Xander...he just wouldn't give up. "Look. Who are you to tell me to not see my frien-"

"Don't even say it. You aren't her friends. Not right now."

Willow spoke up for the first time in many minutes.

"So...Dawnie..."

I looked up at her. I had stayed out of this 'conversation' the whole time...and I really didn't want to be caught up in it.

"Yeah?"

"So...do you want us to stay...or should we- "

I didn't want to get caught up in it, but I knew I had to do what was right.

"I think you should leave..."

Spike looked at me with pride.

"...for now. We can take care of ...of Buffy."

They looked so disappointed. And Tara, who had looked after me for two months...

I quickly added in, "But..maybe after I dunno a week or something...maybe you can visit her..."

Their hopeful eyes gave us a small smile and they all got in the car and drove off.

I let out a huge breath I hadn't realize I was holding in, and Spike suddenly pulled me into a hug. As we released he stroked my hair and gave me a kiss on the cheek. We walked up the stairs hand in hand, and I knew he heard me breath faster. I was so nervous. I took a tentative step into Buffy's room and saw her looking around. I figured it to see if anything had been changed.

I was about to speak but she spoke before I did, which startled me. "A lot of things have changed."

Huh? I thought to myself. And then I realized she meant about the house.

"Yeah...well sort of."

"Mom's room..."

"..Yeah...Willow and Tara live here now."

"...are they...?"

"Oh...No...no...I sent them away."

Buffy turned and sat on her bed towards us.

"Thank you," she said with a small smile.

She suddenly got up again, swearing, realizing she had just sat on her bed with her soiled dress.

I realized this too.

"Hey, let's get you cleaned up."

"Umm..yeah. I think..that may be a good idea."

She was always quiet when she spoke. Not like the usual Buffy, I knew. But I mean, no one could have blamed her. I overheard Willow and Tara talking about hells Buffy could have been stuck in. I from hell. Must have been a big shock right now.

Buffy gave an unsure look at Spike as she walked towards the bathroom.

He took that as his cue and spoke soothingly, "I'll just be downstairs then. Dawn, you got it from here." He looked at her specifically and said, "If you need anything...If you want to talk or -"

He didn't finish his sentence and just rushed down the stairs.

I looked at Buffy who was just staring after him...like she was scared that he had found out something....

What was that all about? Was there something...that I had missed out on...that everyone else knew?

Or...it could just be Spike...starting to get broody...I shrugged it off.

I followed Buffy into the bathroom, taking a deep breath, and closed the door behind me.

Unsure of which turns my life would take now...I didn't know...I guess I just had to wait and see...

End of Chapter!!

Please Review!