A/N : Seems we have major mixed reactions about whether Buffy should be in the Sunnydale world or the LA world, and also mixed opinions on which is really real! I couldn't possible give away those kinda secrets right now, but here's a new chapter for you all!
(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)

Chapter 8

"How is she?" Spike asked from Buffy's bedroom doorway. Willow glanced up from the book in her lap and shook her head sadly at the bleached blond.

"No change" she confirmed, "I tried talking to her for a while but... it's not easy"

Spike nodded absently his eyes fixed on the Slayer as she stared straight ahead, almost looking right through him. A lesser man might've been disturbed, repelled even, but all Spike felt was love and loss. Every day since Buffy had lapsed into her unconscious state, the vampire had arrived at Revello Drive just before sun-up to sit at the Slayer's side, watching and waiting and wishing she'd come back to reality.

When darkness fell again, he headed back to his crypt and the Scoobies took their turn at watching over their friend, having spent their day at school and work as well as researching possible theories and ways of helping Buffy out of her current situation, and catching up on some much needed sleep. Everything from tracking down another Glarkh-guhl kashmanik, to Dawn's suggestion of Willow walking within Buffy's mind as she had once before, every option carefully thought over and disscussed and so far to no avail.

"You need anything?" Willow asked as she picked up her books and vacated the chair at Buffy's bedside. Spike shook his head in the negative as he came forward, still staring at his precious Slayer. Willow didn't know just how sensitive he could be til now. Though Spike had never been an average vampire in more than one way, he was proving now just how much he cared for Buffy. Even Xander had to admit the he felt real emotions and all those connected to love he kept especially for Buffy, and also Dawn in a different kind of way.

It was almost two weeks now since she'd lost her best friend into a hallucinated world, and Willow prayed every day they'd find a cure. Still, the gang were getting into a routine of patrolling and researching and watching over Buffy. It was strange but Spike had become a part of that routine. Blood was kept in the refrigerator as a matter of course, blankets were on standby in case his journey to and from the crypt ran too close to sun rise, and the cot had been set up in the basement after one occasion when he'd got stuck in the house by the daylight. The poor guy was just as exhausted as the rest of the Scoobies, putting in time even though no one ever asked him too.

Willow sighed as she left the bedroom, pulling the door almost closed behind her. Checking her watch she realised she just had time for breakfast and a few hours sleep before she had another lecture to attend at the college. Then it was back to research and another attempt to contact Giles who was still unreachable as yet. Possibly the only person who might have bigger and better ideas than the rest of them and they couldn't get a hold of him.

Willow only hoped that something good would happen soon, that Buffy could come back to them. There was no way to know what life was like in the world she'd been sucked into, but she was probably desperately unhappy there.

"I feel so stupidly happy" Buffy giggled like a teen as she got ready for her date with William.

After promising to be there for her and help her through everything he'd asked if she would like to go out with him sometime and she had agreed immediately. That was five days ago and here she was on Saturday night, her mother helping her to style her hair as she debated whether she was actually wearing the most perfect outfit or whether she should change again.

"All I ever want is your happiness, sweetheart" Joyce smiled at her daughter's reflection in the mirror as she finished pinning up her hair for her, "That okay?"

"Perfect" Buffy smiled, turning to look at her mother, "Thanks Mom.You really think this outfit is okay?" she checked and Joyce rolled her eyes.

"Really, Buffy, you look beautiful" she told her, "Just like you did in the last five dresses, three skirts and four shirts you tried"

"Sorry" the younger blonde blushed, "I guess I'm being a little overly much about this but... this is the first proper date I've had in years, all the others..." she shook her head, "There were no others" she told herself firmly aloud, "This is my first date in years and I'm going to enjoy it"

"I hope you do, sweetie" Joyce smiled, so proud of her daughters determination to beat her condition.

The doctors had told them she might need drugs for a while to stabilise her moods and so forth, but such pills were only to be administered if absolutely necessary and Buffy had been just fine since she arrived back home.

Buffy herself found she didn't have to try too hard to forget Sunnydale, though she knew it'd never leave her mind completely. It was a pleasure to know she didn't have to slay vampires and demons anymore, and having her parents back in her life and together was a dream come true.

She did miss Dawnie, and Willow, and Xander, though she never mentioned it to anybody. She told herself they were only good friends to her because she made them be that way. They were figments of her imagination and now they were gone, dead, finished. As for Spike, well she still had him here, only better than ever. He was human and she should feel no shame for liking him, maybe even loving him. He seemed to like her a whole lot already and Buffy hoped the feelings between them would grow.

The doorbell and Hank yelling to them from the bottom of the stairs alerted the two women to the fact William had arrived. Buffy checked her appearance one more time in the mirror and deciding she looked okay ventured out of her room.

As she descended the stairs, William's mouth dropped open, almost hitting the floor in cartoon fashion. He knew she was beautiful, he'd always seen it, but dressed up to go out she was more breath-taking than even he could ever have imagined.

"What do you think?" she asked as she reached the bottom of the steps and did a little twirl.

"You look stunning, pet" he smiled, "Absolutely stunning"

Buffy had noticed he'd started calling her 'luv' and 'pet' since she'd left the hospital, though she was fairly certain he hadn't done it before. It was a little confusing for him to have yet another attribute that Spike had, but she liked it anyway. She guessed at the hospital it might've been unprofessional for him to use such terms of endearment for a patient, but now she could be anything he wanted to call her, and Buffy found she loved it.

"So, where are you taking our 'stunning' daughter?" Hank was interested to know, ever the over-protective father.

"Dad" Buffy rolled her eyes at how embarrassing he was being. She was over twenty-one, and as such pretty much legal for anything, still it was sweet that her father still cared. In her delusion he'd just left and never come back...

"Er, to dinner, sir" William told Hank, shifting nervously, "She won't be late home, I assure you"

"Don't worry about it, William" Joyce told him, shooting her husband a hostile look, "You two kids just have fun"

"We will, Mom" Buffy grinned as they disappeared out of the front door, "God, my Dad can be so embarrassing" she exclaimed a moment later, "I'm so sorry"

"I think it's charming that he cares so much about you" the young man at her side commented, and Buffy almost physically winced. Did he have to be quite so nice about everybody, and oh my God did he call her Dad 'sir' in there? She mentally chastised herself for being unfair. Surely it was a good thing that her potential boyfriend was sweet and considerate and liked by her parents. Spike was an evil demon she had made up in her head and the fact he looked a little, okay a lot, like William did not make him any more real.

"Buffy?" William prompted when she didn't respond to his question and she shook her head, glancing up at his overly-worried expression.

"Sorry" she said shyly, "But y'know Will, you don't need to panic every time I zone out" she told him, "I'm not going back to that place" she promised him, slipping her hand into his as they walked along, "I want to stay here, with you"

"And I want you to stay" he smiled at her, bright blue eyes full of adoration as they stopped walking and faced each other, "Buffy, I've never felt like this about anybody before, I can't tell you how wonderful it is that I finally got a chance to tell you, that you finally came back to the world where you belong" he said gently pushing loose strands of hair behind her ear, "I waited a long time for you"

"I'm here now" she told him just as softly, "and in some weird way I... I think I was waiting for you too"
William smiled at that, even if what she said had not made total sense to him, he liked the sentiment of it at least.

Buffy would have sworn he was going to kiss her then, the look in his eyes was so intense it froze her to the spot and she waited for the touch of his lips on hers, but it never came.

"Come on" he said, squeezing her hand as he resumed walking and she was forced to do the same, "We don't want to be late for our reservations"

"No" Buffy said, quite disappointed, "Wouldn't want to do that"

"Hello, luv" Spike forced a smile as he sat down on the edge of the bed beside her, "Bet you're getting sick of the sound of my voice by now, going on at you every day, same old rubbish you don't wanna hear" he joked, but he was forcing the humour. It didn't come naturally in such a dire situation.

"Y'know you could do somethin' about it, Slayer" he continued, "Come out of that damn trance of yours and deal with this annoying bloody vamp that won't leave you be" he tempted her, "Come on, Buffy, luv, wake up. Don't care if you just do it so you can smack me in the mouth. Anything'd be better than nothing"

Her lack of words and movement were terribly frustrating and Spike just didn't know what to do anymore.

"Oh luv" he sighed, stretching out beside her on the bed and picking up her hand in his, "You don't know how you're making us suffer, me and the Bit, and your mates" he told her, "I know you don't mean it, probably not havin' much in the way of fun yourself wherever the bloody hell it is your head got dragged by that demon juice... but I need you back, we all do. Unlife's not worth havin' without you here, even if all you were doin' of late was telling me to piss off" he smiled sadly.

"I love you, Buffy" he whispered, pushing stray hair from her face, "If that doesn't get a bleedin' reaction from you I wonder if anything will... but it won't stop me tryin' pet, nothing is ever gonna stop me trying to help you. I can keep talking, a bloody sight longer than you can sit there staring I'd wager" he told her, "So you just hold on, find a way to fight your way back to us, please" Spike was almost begging now, not knowing what else to do as he held the Slayer's hand tightly in his.

"I know life isn't perfect" he admitted, "Bloody hard most of the time, especially for you bein' the Slayer torn from Heaven and all but it's still worth fighting for" he assured her.

It was so painful to get no reaction at all, not even a shift of her eyes, like he hadn't even spoken, like she wasn't even alive. In a last ditch attempt, Spike leaned over the comatose girl and put his lips to hers just briefly. She didn't even flinch.

With a heavy sigh, Spike moved from the bed to the chair and picked up one of Willow's abandoned books. He'd read for a few hours, venture downstairs for some blood later, making sure he wasn't gone long, then he'd come back and talk to the Slayer some more til sun down when he could make it home for sleep that didn't come easily. Such was his unlife set to be, until Buffy returned.

To Be Continued...