A\N I initially was going to make each chapter about twice as long, so sorry to anyone who gets annoyed by short chapters (?) but somehow they all seem to be turning out this length. Oh well, I shall try to continue to update often! Thankyou soooo much to everyone who has reviewed :D Hope you continue to enjoy, here is the next chapter…

Chapter 6

Xander, Giles and Willow leapt to their feet simultaneously as Drusilla glided into the library, Buffy barging in behind her.

"Wha-whats she doing here?" Xander stuttered.

Buffy explained.

"You cant do that!"

"It's too dangerous!"

"Buffy you can't trust her, it could be a trap –"

Buffy held up a hand. "First of all, Giles and I did most of the research already. Secondly, Drusilla wants Spike back as much as I do, otherwise this whole fuss wouldn't have started in the first place."

Buffy turned to Drusilla who had been swaying slightly and humming to herself.

"When can we do this thing?"

"I'll need time to raise another Erimoir demon. Should be ready by tomorrow night, dearie."

Buffy nodded. "Okay, tomorrow night, back here. Bring the amulet and the demon, Drusilla. And remember if anything goes wrong, you wont get your Spike back."

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The next day was agony for Buffy. She had hardly been able to sleep all night, and that little time she did manage to was filled with nightmarish dreams about Spike being tortured, his screams echoing into an eternity of hell.

Now that morning had finally arrived, she got up, going through all her normal routines, and went to school, thinking it might help distract her and make the time till nightfall pass by quicker.

It turned out to be a huge mistake.

"Why…." Buffy thought, tapping her pen impatiently against the desk and staring at the clock, willing the hands to move faster, why do I have to sit here and listen to this stupid lecture while my boyfriend is suffering?

"You got somewhere you need to be, Ms Summers?" The teacher snapped, interrupting her thoughts.

Yeah, a trip to hell is waiting for me…

"Actually, I do."

Buffy stood and walked out of the classroom, ignoring the teachers call to "get back here this instance!"

She kept walking and walking, trying to clear her head. How long has it been? One…two days? Only one night since I last saw Spike, and yet it's the longest we've been apart since we became lovers. If I miss him so much after just one day, how could I bear the rest of my life like this? What if I can't manage to bring him back? What if it doesn't work? What if –." Her thoughts became more and more panicked. Stop Buffy! You can't let yourself think these things…you have to forget them, because if you just keep thinking them you'll weaken yourself, you'll work yourself up into such a mess you wont even have a chance…

Still, needing at least a little bit of comfort, Buffy headed towards Spike's crypt. I just want to be somewhere that feels like him…

When she got there she froze, staring at the sight before her. Why does it seem lately every time I come here there's something new to be shocked about?

It was Drusilla. She lay on Spike's bed, fast asleep, one hand delicately curled in a childlike manner under her chin. She was so motionless she looked like a doll… Miss Edith lay next to her on the pillow.

How DARE she! Buffy's mind screamed, outraged. It looked like Drusilla had already settled herself into Spike's crypt, waiting for him to return, like a wife waiting to welcome their husband home from work. All she needs now is a white picket fence…

The temptation to just rush in there and stake Drusilla was so strong Buffy had to turn and get away quickly before she acted on it.

"Once Spike has returned, you will tell him that you don't love him anymore…"

The vampiress's voice rang in her mind. How can I do that? How can I possibly break the one I love's heart?

Who cares what you promised her? She's a vampire! You don't bargain with the undead! They are untrustworthy and below you (unless they happen to be your boyfriend)! Part of her, mainly the slayer part screamed. Forget what she said, when you return with Spike, explain that it was all her fault in the first place and surely then he won't mind if you kill the bitch!

But…

Deep inside Buffy knew it wasn't just the threat of Drusilla raising more Erimoirs or coming up with another extravagant way to eliminate her rivals if Buffy went against her word. Sure, she was certainly aware that Drusilla was powerful, but things like that had never stopped the slayer before.

This time though… it was different…because…. because I love him. Buffy still wasn't quite sure how it had come about, but she loved Spike with the kind of intensity that made her want the best for him, even if it meant denying or scarifying part of herself.

Ever since that first night Drusilla had said those things to her… I couldn't get the thought out of my mind that maybe she was right…maybe it would be better to stop things now, than to cause more heartache later…it's selfish to keep Spike for myself when I can't always be there for him…

So she had decided, she would sacrifice her love, to let Spike return to where he belonged…even though it went against everything she believed in, everything she stood for as a slayer…. but she would do it…. she would do it for love.

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"Where is she? I think I'm going to go insane if I have to wait any longer to do this thing!"

Night had finally fell, and Buffy had gone through every 'nervous habit' Willow could think of, from biting her nails, tugging her hair, and pacing the room, to chewing her lip, grinding her teeth and clenching her fists.

"I think your really brave Buffy." Willow said, trying not to show how scared she was for her friend.

"I think she's really stupid." Xander blurted before he could stop himself. Feeing bad, he added, "It's just I'm so scared what might happen."

Once he had voiced Willow's fears, she couldn't stop herself admitting them too. "I'm really worried Buffy!" She hugged her friend.

"Guys, don't make this harder. I know what I have to do." Buffy smiled weakly.

Drusilla chose that moment to come bursting through the doors. "How are we dearies?" Faithfully holding her hand was an Erimoir demon. Buffy's own hand tightened instinctively around her stake, though she knew it would be no use against this particular demon.

It was so strange seeing an Erimoir demon that had no interest in the slayer. It just stood there, motionless except for its eye, swirling with colours. Drusilla slipped the gleaming amulet around Buffy's neck.

"Right then." she pulled Buffy over to the demon and said some words to him that Buffy didn't understand. Then the Erimoir raised its large, long hands and placed them on either side of her head, forcing her to look at him.

Buffy was suddenly stricken by a fear so strong she wasn't sure if it was this emotion or the fact that she was staring into Erimoir eye that paralysed her, but she couldn't move her arms or legs. The panic began building up inside, telling her to run, to fight, and her mouth fell open in a silent scream as her blood began to boil.

Burning, boiling, bubbling, that's what it felt like her insides were doing. I must be strong, I must not be scared…I have to do this…Spike…please be okay… Spike.

"Is she…is this supposed to happen?" Xander gasped. "Maybe we should stop her!"

"She looks like she's in so much pain." Willow cringed, not wanting to look but unable to tear her eyes away. Giles held them back, forcing himself as well not to run forward and put a stop to it.

She could hear it. The screams…she could feel it…the torment…the agony, the pain…the sorrow of being nowhere, being nothing…being trapped for eternity…

"She's fading…she's disappearing!"

Drusilla laughed. "Do not worry. No harm can come to her body as long as she's wearing the amulet." She waited as Buffy continued to fade until there was nothing left. "Let's just hope her mind can survive it." Drusilla laughed again, her eyes glinting with madness.