A/N: Then end has come. Thanks for reading.

Chapter 15: Coming Together

Here they were again. Together in the endless dark room, with a single bright light shining down. Spike was sitting sprawled out in a chair. He looked up at William, as he got closer, "Find ya can't hack it out there?" Spike gave him a smirk as he stood up. The chair disappearing.

Not wanting to show Spike's words hit it's mark he remained detached, "No another car accident, I think it's karma for all the hassle Riley and I gave Buffy when she went to get her license." he shrugged.

"So ya bloody well killed us then, mate?" Spike growled pulled out a cigarette and lit it up. Taking a long drag.

"Well I…" Williams words got cut off by a third voice.

"Your not dead." Both William and Spike looked in shock as Riley stepped from the shadows. Shaking his head he smirked, "William I knew keeping yourself bottled up would lead to you breaking out one day. But I never imagined this." he pointed to Spike.

Spike was the first to speak, "What in bloody hell you yammering on about?"

"Spike, Do you really think you're just something William came up with. Think about it open up let it all soak in." As Riley spoke William could see Spike was doing just that. Frowning something dawned on him. Soon Spike looked at William with Shock in his eyes.

"I'm You!" He dropped his cigarette and looked hard at William. "I remember everything now, I was always bloody there. You kept pushing me down and away. Kept tryin to get out but couldn't not till…" The accident hadn't produced something from William's imagination. It just gave form to the part of him that he denied. Giving voice and substance to his darker more confidant side. The part of him that wanted to speak out against those who dared to try and walk over him. The part of him that let his passions rule.

William shook his head no. It can't be, "That would mean if she loves you then … she loves me?"Spike laughed, "Think she loves me? Get a clue ya git. Loves you, always loved you, always will love you. Yer jus to stupid to see it." He knew he had the confidence to accept the love and passion inside Buffy without regret, but it was William who captured her heart. It was William she wanted to give her heart to. Spike was just the part who was strong enough to accept it.

"No, She said she realized she loved him when he was gone" trying to make sense of this new information. Still missing the things Spike provided his mind warred with his heart. Still refusing to see himself as someone a person could love. Especially a person like Buffy.

"Where were you after you hit your head, vacationing in the bloomin Bermuda Triangle? She bloody well thought you were gone didn't she?" Still fighting to make William accept the truth. To accept everything Spike was able to see so clearly.

Riley spoke up again. "Your both right and your both wrong. She loves you both for different reasons and in different ways. She needs you both. She needs William and Spike."

William spoke now, "how when we can only be one or the other."

"That's why I'm here. I'm here to let you know you can be both. You just have to accept each other."

William walked up to Spike and they stood staring at each other for a long time. Could this be true? Could they be simply opposite sides of the same coin? Do William dare hope he could be everything Buffy needed? With Spike's help, maybe he could. Finally they reached out hands and shook. A bright light emanate from the handshake covering them both. Once it faded only one stood. William in his normal clothing, but wearing Spike's duster. And his hair bleached like Spike's but instead of slicked back it was left in ariot of curls like William's natural style.

William turned to Riley, "I don't know how to thank you. Not just for this but also for everything you did for me growing up. Who knows who I would have become living my life alone like I would have without you."

Riley smiled, "Don't think you didn't make as much an impact on my life. You challenged me to think. To question things. If you hadn't I wouldn't have ended up with my own command. You helped me get threw a lot. Saw things other people including me are blind to. You were the only one I felt I could share any and every thought I had without fear. I didn't have to be strong big brother or confidant Riley. You accepted me for everything I was even the weaker parts of me. In doing that you made it easy for me to be strong. Now I only hope I've given you what you gave me. The ability to be a whole person. With both strength and weaknesses alike. That's why I can't imagine anyone I'd rather take care of my sister. You will take care of her won't you?"

William nodded, "From now till kingdom come." With that he embraced his best friend, "Goodbye, I'll miss you."

The last words he heard as Riley disappeared, "I'll be watching." Then he repeated the same words he said to William when he left for the military, "It's not goodbye, It's I'll see you later…"

William's eyes slowly opened. Looking around to find he was lying in a bed with his hand being held. Looking over he saw Buffy with her head down crying, "You ok luv?"

Buffy's head shot up, "You awake! I was so worried…. Wait, luv? Spike?" she looked on the verge of tears again. Maybe Spike was right. Maybe it was William she was talking about.

"Yes and no. We're both here together. I'll explain better later but you don't have to worry when I say for the first time this is completely me, William." Buffy threw her arms around him. "and this is how I plan to stay."

Pulling away she looked William in the eye. Taking a deep breath, "William, I have to tell you. I can't wait anymore. I love you. Not just as a friend, but forever woman to man kind of love. I know my timing sucks but I can't stand I almost lost you again without you knowing. Even if you don't feel the same I just had to let you know." She bit her lip as she awaited his response. Her fear he would turn away her love was evident one her face.

Even though he knew from what Spike told him, it wasn't the same as KNOWING. His heart leaped for joy at her words, "I love you too, pet." Buffy's worried look melted in to a brilliant smile, "I've loved you for such a bloody long time. I will love you forever and always"

The End

A/N: I don't know if I'm going to do an epilogue. Let me know if you want one. Tomorrow is my birthday, and my birthday wish is for lots of reviews. I know some of the mechanics need work and I'm looking in to that. If anyone's interested in helping me with that let me know. And let me know if you want that epilogue…