A/N: Ack, this is SO late it's not even funny, I know. But finally an update. You probably can't remember a damn thing about this story and neither could I, I had to re-read! Sorry!

"Can't you go any faster?"

Gunn cut off a tart retort and continued to drive like a maniac down the road leading towards the waterfront. Buffy knew she was being annoying as hell but couldn't stop herself. As soon as Willow had told her that it seemed as though The First had a hand in Spike's kidnapping, she'd gone into Super Slayer mode.

Buffy had memorised the address the witch had gave her and then she and Gunn, Oz and Illyria had jumped into the lawyer's car and sped off to save the day. At least, that's what she hoped they were doing. And not just going to collect a body.

She shuddered.

Oz shifted in his seat in the back besides the ex-god. "Are we sure it's this First?"

"No," she replied, eyes glued to the road ahead, "but it's possible. And if it is…then we're in trouble."

Illyria made a snorting sound. "The First Evil is nothing."

"The First Evil made you, lady." Buffy replied.

"Nothing made me. I simply became."

"Uh huh. The old chicken and the egg argument." Gunn added.

Illyria tilted her head. "Are you associating me with livestock, mortal?"

Gunn grinned and even Buffy gave a little smile.

---------------

Spike looked at the vampire "I hate to tell you this, love, but I'm an only child. Case of mistaken identity here."

"No," she shook her head gently. "That is simply what you were led to believe. I suppose a more accurate account of our blood ties is that I am your…step sister, that is what it is called these days?"

He opened and closed his mouth not sure whether he wanted to slap her or just run. If she really thought this kind of trick was going to work on him then she had another thing coming. He took a couple of steps back away from her and she just watched him.

He chuckled harshly. "My mum would never have had a bastard child. Never."

"I never said the bond was on your mother's side."

Spike frowned. She was saying his dad was also her dad? That made no sense. And why had he thought she sounded like his mother? Could it simply have been the soft English accent, kind sounding and not abrasive in the least? He had no idea. He also knew that he had to get the hell out of here, short-sightedness and throbbing head pain be damned.

"Sorry, I never knew my dad. And, uh, if he owes you child benefit payments then I hate to tell you that he died almost two-hundred years ago."

The woman laughed. "Quite the sense of humour. I did not know our father, either. I only have my mother's account of their tryst. You see, she worked for your parents. Keeping house. Attending to them. Your mother never knew about her husband's infidelity and he passed away shortly after I was born."

"That's a really interesting story but –"

"You called her Maggie. She was your nanny," she added. "And we were playmates. You called me –"

"Jane."

She nodded, a slight smile upon her lips. Spike felt like he had had the wind knocked out of him. It had been nearly two hundred years but he remembered a great deal of his life as a human, and he certainly remembered his kindly nanny and her pretty daughter. They had played together up until they were both approaching double figures. At which point, Spike's mum had decided he was old enough to be without a nanny. It had been a sad day when Maggie and Jane had left.

Jane, or the thing pretending to be her, took a step towards him. "Of course, I did not find out about our relation until I was approaching twenty three. It came as quite a shock. What came as even more of a shock was when I returned to London and found out you were feared dead."

"But…" Spike paused, trying to think straight. "…you're a vampire. How…?"

"The traditional way." She smiled. "I made it my mission to track you down – either dead or alive. When I eventually found you, I came to realise you were both. Both dead and yet alive. I saw what you had become…from being a shy, bookish boy to a powerful and sensual man. I wanted that for myself."

Spike's mouth went dry but he managed to croak, "So, you went out and got bit."

"I found a vampire only too willing to do the deed. Especially when he found out it came with extra…perks." Jane murmured, a slight frown appearing on her face.

"Why? Why would you…?"

"Come now, Spike. You know why. I can feel your misery at your newly reacquired humanity. Being a vampire is enriching in so many ways. Stronger, faster, immortal…there is no downside."

He shook his head. "Killing people."

"A pastime you used to revel in."

"Things change."

"Yes, they do. You used to be strong, now you're just one of them. An ant. Lesser."

Spike's jaw tightened. "What do you want? Why am I here?"

"I've been monitoring you for some time. Your exploits make for quite the story." Jane smiled broadly and walked around him in a circle. "When I heard of this latest setback I thought I would offer my assistance."

"By having a demon punch the crap out of me and drag me here?"

"Would you have come any other way?"

He snorted. "Not a chance."

"As I thought. I'm offering you a way out. Or, rather, a way in. Back in. I could make you a vampire, again," she said with a dramatic pause.

Spike sighed and rubbed his head. "Lord, save me from crazy vampire bints."

Jane's face turned comically confused "What?"

"You're right. I don't want to be human. I'd rather be a vampire. And you're probably right, I am an ant. I'm sure you could cut me down to size right quick. I'd be an idiot to pass up your offer. But, thing is? There's this girl. A girl I happen to love. And she's happy. She's happy that I'm human. So, I've got to do right by her. I have to give this human thing a chance. I owe her that and more." Spike replied, honestly, looking her in the eyes.

Jane did not answer for a few moments. "The Slayer, I presume?"

Spike nodded. The vampire walked around him slowly and lithely a few more times before she sighed with annoyance and glided towards and into a dark patch of shadows. A moment later and he heard the sound of a door creaking open, light spilling into the room.

He frowned. "You're letting me go?"

Jane emerged implausibly from the other side of the room, far away from the sun light. "I have no desire to take you unwillingly, William. Just know that if you change your mind I will oblige."

Spike looked at her for a few seconds and she smiled warmly. It reminded him of times gone past, of his childhood, and of picnics in the park. He nodded and darted out of the door moments later. As he found himself looking out upon a large body of water he heard a squeal of tires as Buffy and her troops arrived on the scene.

As Buffy jumped out of the car he waved cheerfully at her.