DISCLAIMER: Whedon's characters, any recognizable dialogue, and the canon events of their storyline are not mine.

A/N:

Many thanks to those who reviewed and followed.

CHAPTER 2

love, Glory, death & life

Looking Buffy in the eye and trying to read her thoughts, Spike said, "If you're gonna laugh at me or hit me or something worse, just get it over with already. We've got to go save the world. No time to waste. We're late. We're late. And all that rot."

She had stopped a few steps above him, wanting badly to touch him, but also not wanting to startle him. She began hesitantly, "You probably won't believe me right at the start of this, but please just trust me or at least humor me for a minute."

"Go ahead. You've got my attention, luv."

"When you began your little speech and I was up there on the stairs, I was exactly who you'd expect me to be. But about two minutes ago, that changed. Now I can see by the look on your face, you're trying to figure out what that means – and let me assure you that I'm still me. I'm still Buffy. This is not a repeat of the body swapping incident, I swear. Well, hmm, that's another story. Never mind. Anyway," she took a deep breath and looked him straight in the eye, "I'm Buffy from about three years in the future."

"Are you off your bird? We've got some serious stuff coming down tonight and you want to have an evening of improv or some such nonsense."

Buffy gestured that he should look behind him as she said, "It appears that the Powers That Be have given me two hours for this task. And as you can see, time's a wastin'. So if you could just take my word for it, we can get down to business." She tapped him on the shoulder, as he was still staring at the clock.

"Right, then. That wasn't there a few minutes ago. Would you care to explain?"

Looking out the window at a car in the street that appeared to be frozen in time, she began her explanation. "I think the Powers That Be have hit the pause button on this moment – well, for the next hour and fifty-six minutes, anyway. I have lots to tell you, but I want to make sure that you won't forget any of the important details." She walked into the living room, opened the right-hand desk drawer, and pulled out a small tape recorder. "Good, it's a new cassette." She hit the record button and walked back to the stairs as she said, "Why don't we sit down and I'll tell you why I'm here." She sat a few steps above him, making sure that she had a clear view of the clock.

As he sat down, he said apprehensively, "Alright. What's so bloody important that you traveled three years to say it?"

Buffy began, "Let's start with this: at this moment in time, your time, your present Buffy … I'm not in love with you. Wait – don't interrupt me. Let me get this out." She rambled, and the more she rambled, the more gobsmacked Spike became. "But in the future, I do grow to love you. I can't tell you precisely when it happened. Honestly, I'm not sure, but at some point in the next couple years of my timeline, I do … I mean, I did fall in love with you. The problem is that along the way we both did some awful things. Treated each other in ways that were hurtful, things we couldn't take back. We did get past them, but not without a cost. And where – or rather when – I just came from, we are not together ... for a variety of reasons, most of which are not important right this minute. Anyway, I went to the Powers and asked if they could give me a second chance with you. I guess this is it. They really didn't explain. One minute they gave me a green light. The next, I'm walking up this very set of stairs, hearing your voice behind me."

She reached out and stroked the side of his face. They leaned toward one another. Just as Spike was about to hesitate for fear this was all a bad joke, Buffy simultaneously closed her eyes and the distance between them. The kiss was warm and tender; longer than either of them planned, shorter than they wanted it to be.

Spike took her hands in his. At first staring down at their hands, trying to process this recent and unexpected development, he finally looked up at her and asked, "How precisely do you propose that we fix three years in less than two hours?"

"I think I can pinpoint some key moments and events – that if we had handled them differently – would change what it looks like where I'm from. The thing is, I think that when I go back at the end of the two hours, I will find out whether it worked or not. But you have to live through those years, patiently dealing with the Buffy that isn't this future version of me yet."

"Well, if patience and perseverance means that the girl I love will one day love me back, then tell me what you think I need to do and I'll bloody well do it. I am man enough to admit that I'm love's bitch. You own me – my unbeating heart, all that I am." Spike bowed his head to kiss the back of each of her hands. "What would you have me do, m'lady? If it is within my power to do so, I will gladly oblige."

"Ok, first you've got to stop that or we'll end up spending this time… oh, what's the word… ah yes, snogging. And as appealing as that is, you wouldn't get the info you need."

"Alright, I'll behave. But talk fast. Let's be sure to leave some extra time on the clock. Pretty please?" he said, raising one eyebrow.

Buffy smiled as she sighed and said, "I'll do my best, but I'm much more concerned with the long-term than the short-term right now." She paused and took a deep breath. "Here goes: So tonight, the battle against Glory. If it goes the way it did before – and I think it needs to go the same way – then you will try to save Dawn, but in the end, I have to jump into the portal to close it. By doing that, I save Dawn and the world, but I die."

"Well, that won't do. There has to be another way, luv."

She sighed before saying, "Spike, I've been over this in my head so many times in the past few years. I don't think there is another way. There are too many variables. I could tell you what went wrong – you might fix that, but something else could go wrong. However, if I tell you how it went down and you know what to expect and you allow those things to happen, then the situation is controllable. And nobody else will die."

In a sober tone, he said, "Alright then. Explain what happened."

After giving him an overview of the evening, she looked him squarely in the eye. "So, you see, there were so many things that were happening, it would be hard to tell you what to do and in which order to make sure it all worked out. If I had time traveled to here earlier in the evening, you could maybe get everyone to the tower soon enough to prevent their preparations for the ritual. But by the time you get there, I'm just not sure it's possible to stop it. Too many other things could go wrong."

"I don't like what you're telling me. But since we are quite literally on the clock and we need to cover more than the events of tonight's battle, I guess I'll follow your lead on this."

"Okay, then. Fight the battle, protect Dawn, but know that I will more than likely need to jump."

"For the record, pet, I'm not at all happy about the prospect of you being dead later this evening. Wait. If you died, then how are you alive three years from now?"

Buffy took a deep breath before saying, "Yeah, so now for the really fun stuff. After tonight, I'll be gone for about five months before I come back. This next part is very important: you can't tell anyone – I mean it, not any of them – that I'm coming back. Not even one person. It could alter that series of events and make it so I don't come back in your timeline like I did in mine. You can't let them hear this tape or let them know what's on it."

She waited for Spike to agree before she continued, "During the time I was gone, you were really wonderful to Dawn – hanging out with her, helping out here at the house and patrolling. I think you felt an obligation because you couldn't get to her in time during the battle with Glory, couldn't prevent the portal from being opened. But you were a true friend and stepped up in my absence – I can't thank you enough for that." She paused, giving him time to absorb.

"So I did, in fact, do some things right." He smiled briefly and then turned serious, "How will I know when to expect your return?"

"I'm not going to tell you precisely when that will be, but if it happens in the same way, then you and Dawn will have some time with me here at the house before the others descend upon me with questions and hugs. I need you to help me during those early hours – and for weeks and months, really. But that first night, I'm gonna need some space. Some peace and quiet to sort out what happened. In my timeline, everyone made the assumption that my shocked state was because I had been in a hell dimension. But I think I was in heaven – I felt loved and at peace. As soon as I came back, I found myself fighting a gang of demons. That was before I ever even got back to the house. Oh yeah, by the way – I know it'll be weird for you, but let Willow fix the Buffy-bot so you guys have help with patrolling during the months I'm gone. Also, so that the demon population thinks I'm still here – helps keep them in check. Anyway, when I first get back, everyone thinks I should be all grateful to be alive and not being tortured in some hell dimension. However, it doesn't immediately feel to me like a good thing to be back. It takes me a little while to realize that some good can come out of the fact that I'm alive again."

A/N:

At this point, I realize it's mostly a rambly rehash - so thanks for your patience as I lay the foundation for later. Another update in a day or two. Reviews and follows appreciated!