Chapter Twenty

Buffy screamed in echo with Spike's pain as the sword pierced his shoulder blade and hit his ribs. He coughed up blood and looked towards his family as the First looked on in smug content. He met Buffy's eyes and smiled faintly at her. She closed her eyes and focused on their bond and tried to make him stronger. He looked up at the First and started laughing maniacally. The First looked at him, scowling.

'What?' It snapped, in his voice.

'I'm just thinking how stupid you are.' He struggled to his feet. 'I'm William the Bloody. I always find a way.' He stumbled forward, pulling the sword from his chest with a snarl. He dropped it to the floor then reached inside his coat and withdrew a small dagger. The First's eyes widened as it recognised the weapon.

'The Blade of Ruin.' It whispered. Then it looked him in the eyes. 'You're going to Hell Spike.'

'I made an appointment.' He said and fell into the First, shoving the dagger through its heart. Spike held on, sensing the demon stumbled up behind him. The skewer went straight through his heart and into the First's stomach but it didn't matter. He could still drag the fucker with him.

Buffy slammed her fists against the barrier, and Willow let it down. Buffy ran to Spike, dropping to her knees in front of him. He began to fall and turn to dust, pulling the First with him, screaming. The blonde vampire's last look to his Slayer and daughter was one of pure love.

And then it was all quiet.

Gunn had died on the way to the hospital. Angel was dead. Spike was gone again. Shannon was recuperating from the skewering. Ryan was still in plaster. And Buffy sat staring at the three new graves in the cemetery. Two empty and one full. The first read "Liam Angelus, Whilst We Stray From The Path, Our Love Is Always There". The second read "Charles Gunn, Loving Husband, Father and Friend" and the third simply said "William Summers, Father, Husband and Saviour". Buffy looked at each in turn, her eyes finally resting on the third. Spike was gone.

This time he wasn't coming back.

Willow approached and Buffy looked up at her old friend. She handed the Slayer a letter.

'Spike asked me to give this to you.' Buffy took it and opened it as Willow walked away.

"Buffy,

I love you so much. And I will apologise deeply for what I have done again but I have very good reasons this time. You and Shannon were my reasons. You have to carry on now for something you will understand. I heard something yesterday and I need you to go to the doctors. And Shannon…she's my baby and I need her to survive, become what she was destined to be. You all deserve to be happy now. And I know where I am heading but I'm not afraid. Because I'm doing it for you. You don't need to worry about anything. I left everything to you.

All my love, baby

William"

Buffy frowned and put the letter in her pocket. She looked up and saw Willow standing at the exit to the cemetery.

'When did you know he was going to… ?'

'When the First made an appearance. Spike told me to get the dagger for him. He knew it would work. The Blade of Ruin was the weapon used to smite Lucifer down from heaven and create all evil, and the First Evil. So it was the only thing that could destroy it. Or at least kill it on this plane. It is trapped in hell now, forever. The gates won't ever open again.'

'Doesn't mean that evil is gone forever. Someone always finds a way.'

'I know, but it lightens the load a little.' Willow managed a feeble smile. Buffy walked past her and headed back to the house.

'But it won't ever be gone.' She whispered.