Ring on her Finger

By Nickeltaffy

Disclaimer: I would like to thank Joss for the use of his characters. They are still his and will never be mine. (Heavy sigh).

Synopsis: Anyone ever notice that Buffy never returned Spike's ring from when they were engaged? What if Willow's reversal of the Will Be Done spell from the Something Blue episode was not exactly 100% effective? What if Buffy was still under a spell and still considered herself engaged to a horrified Spike?

Author's note: I have been asked to write longer chapters- Well, here you have it. Be careful what you ask for. Maybe I am too over involved with cliffhangers- but I love em! Too much?

….

Chapter 20

Spike stood there next to his grandfather, feeling the ring's energy coursing through his small body from the ring clenched in his hand. As he took his bearings, Spike realized that part of him was still the child in the room from that night and there was another part, an adult part that was viewing everything from the child's eyes. Spike became aware that he was only a passenger in this body, the other part of himself, the child, William was in control. Looking at the older man who was leaning toward him with an adult perspective, he didn't remember the older man looking so haggard and tired. His eyes wandered around the room until they settled on the one person he wanted to see. She was standing there a few feet away watching him closely.

"Mummy." The word softly rolled around Spike's mind as he looked at the young woman standing there watching him.

The corners of her mouth curved in a tense reassuring smile as she tried to hide her worry from her child. Spike had forgotten she had ever looked like this. She looked so young, so vibrant and beautiful, he thought. Even now looking at her with adult eyes, her presence astounded him. There was some sadness in her eyes perhaps because of the children she had lost; but there was strength and resolve there as well. He could not see how this dazzling young woman ever became the clinging fragile yet still lovely woman he called Mother. He noticed her long sandy blonde hair hanging down around her like a cascade. For all the years that it was just the two of them together, she had had white hair. He saw that his hair's own natural coloring under the bleach job was like hers. There just a few feet behind her was Aunt Charlotte, who was also watching the proceedings at the bed in the room with keen interest. All at once there was the sounds of a sudden commotion coming from the other side of the double doors, as a man's shouts were echoing down the halls. The doors burst open and a disheveled and distraught James stormed into the room.

"Papa!" William said happily, seeing the man stop in the middle of the room.

…

When James had arrived home that evening, he found the note that Anne had received that afternoon. Cursing, he called one of the staff to prepare the prize Arabian to ride to his father-in-law's estate to retrieve his family. He should have never have let that man in their lives again. He had only allowed him to attend little Lucinda's funeral in an effort to comfort his wife. He now realized his mistake; he had let the serpent back into the garden. The old man's pride had cost him his own son and now, he wanted HIS son. It was going to be a long, hellish ride, but he was going to get his family away from that despot's control, even if it took every bit of his soul.

As the horse maneuvered the transition from the cobblestone streets of London onto the rough dirt roads of the countryside, James thought about his wife, Anne. Whatever could have possessed her to return to that place, and furthermore, endanger their child at the same time. James remembered when he first met Anne on the outskirts of the Brask estate. He had been on his fourth assignment from the British Ordnance Survey. He was just recording the results from his survey equipment to mark the boundaries of a proposed road when an irate young woman marched up to him from a copse of trees. She had a long dried reed in her hand, that she whipped back and forth as she came toward him. She demanded that he leave her family's property, breaking the reed against her hip with the emotion in her words. Remembering the time, he thought he had never seen someone act so outrageously and be so beautiful at the same time. He remembered that he covered his attraction with an air of distain. He told the vision that he was employed with the British government and was there on official business. With a sound of anger, she spun around on her heel and went back to where she came from. Following her with his eyes, he didn't expect to ever see her again.

After that, there were a number of uncomfortable social encounters between the two of them as he finished his assignment in the surrounding countryside. It became widely known gossip in the township that the two intensely detested each other. It wasn't until there was fire in the stables at the Brask estate when he had been passing by, that their relationship developed in a different direction. It had just been he and Anne that had pulled out the horses from the burning building just before the roof fell in. They had both collapsed on the ground away from the burning building. Exhausted, covered in soot and slightly coughing from the smoke. Lying on their backs next to one another, they looked over at the burning stables and began to laugh. The belly laughs issuing from the couple lasted a good few minutes when she abruptly rolled toward him as she laughed. To his complete surprise, he stopped laughing and felt her take his face in her hands. Anne's face hovered over his, looking into his eyes, she leaned down and kissed him. He found himself returning the kiss passionately, wrapping his arms around her and rolling over with her. Consequently, their relationship became very intense love affair and they did not want to be parted from each other when it was time for him to return to London.

Anne's father did not approve of James. James was a modern young man of the industrial age, who valued practicality, science and the latest contemporary theories. There was no room in the young man for what was considered mystic or magical. James valued the practicality which he had inherited from his Scottish grandmother, along with curly hair and grey green eyes. They were the only heritage that James could claim from the woman who had raised him. She had no patience for frivolity and fear that she believed were the basis of belief in magic in her opinion. James had taken her lessons to heart and clung them with an impressive ferocity. It was this incompatible trait that caused Anne's father to reject the young man's request and break his wild daughter's heart.

Weyland Brask was intensely proud of his family's ancient heritage and the mystical pact that came with it. The people of the nearby township were intimidated by the old dragon of a man that was seldom seen outside of his estate since the death of his wife, or perhaps, it was the power that seemed to emanate from him. His family kept mostly to themselves on their large estate, although the younger members did make appearances at local social functions. There were a few in the community grumbled, that the family having such a large house should use it for large soirees. However there were more that felt an uneasy dread of the imposing Brask estate, so it was better that there was no need to go there. Of course, an ancient oppressive looking structure always accumulated stories. As this was the case with the Brask house, there were whispers that the family was involved with magic. James discounted this as idle gossip from easily frightened, uneducated people. James was not intimidated by the fearsome house or the old tyrant who dominated the household.

When James approached him for permission to marry Anne, Weyland immediately dismissed the request and had him swiftly thrown off the estate. James had told a tearful Anne that he did not want to come between her and her family, so he was going to return to London that night. She surprised him when he opened his door of his room at the inn to find her standing there in a cloak with a packed satchel. Despite trying to persuade her otherwise, Anne was determined to go with him, damn what her family felt. The two travelled through the night to Gretna Green where they married shortly upon arrival. They made their home in a simple house in London, where Anne had little communication with her family. One night, she had told James of her family's mystical legacy, not that he believed her. He honestly thought it was nothing more than smoke and mirrors that Weyland used to control his family. Now that her family had reached out a tentacle to pull Anne back in the fold, along with their son, James was not going to allow that to happen, no matter the cost.

The burning fury built inside James as he rode through the night. When he arrived at the estate, he shouted and banged on the front door until a harried looking servant in night clothes holding a single candle answered the door. James pushed past the surprised servant as he marched into the darkened cavernous entry hall. He shouted his wife's name which echoed madly around the hall, but brought no response. A number of servants approached him tentatively, seeing this wild man appear in the house, but recognizing him as one of the family, they were not sure what to do. As they bumbled around in their bedclothes in front of him, James demanded to know where the master of the house was. One of the servants asked him to wait and he would announce him as the man looked nervously over his shoulder up the stairs. With a sound of disgust, James quickly moved past the man and bounded up the stairs, three at a time. When he arrived at the landing, he became aware that the servants were following him, calling after him and trying to delay him. With a snort, he looked up and down the hall trying to decide which way to go. He called Anne's name again and waited for a response, when there was no answer, he studied the hallway. He could just detect light coming from underneath a set of double doors at one end of the hallway. As he advanced toward those doors, several of the servants caught up with him and ran ahead to block his path. He shouted at them to move out of his way and pushed them aside in his fury. He came up to the doors and grabbed the handle. It was locked. His wrath was so great at this point that he did not even think of knocking, James stepped back and kicked the doors open. The doors flew open, sending tiny shards of wood skittering across the floor. Inside, James could see Weyland, Anne, her sister Charlotte and William looking at him, only William seemed glad to see him.

As William was happily looking at his father, Spike regarded the man he had not seen since this night. His mother had always told him that he favored his father. That was no understatement. The man who strode into the room was a brunette version of Spike…or rather, Spike was a lighter version of this man. Spike chuckled to himself that if this was present day with its' trashy daytime talk shows, there would be no doubt who was the baby daddy. It was strange to feel such a connection to someone who only walked into the room.

James glared over at Anne, staring at her with anger and betrayal. He then focused on the little boy standing next to the bed who seemed so glad to see him. He advanced forcefully toward him. As he drew nearer, James noticed there was something different about William. When he arrived next to the child, he cupped the child's face in both hands as he looked down at him. William had always favored his father, he was the only one of the children born to he and his wife who had his curly hair and grey green eyes. The eyes that were now looking back at him were bright blue, like his grandfather who was lying on the bed.

"What is this? What did you do? How can…?" Pulling back in shock, James angrily demanded of the room.

James moved his hands down from William's face and began to pull the child away from the bed. Weyland tiredly tried to restrain James by lifting an arm to the man.

"You must stop. It is not finished…" Weyland gasped. James pulled back hand to swat at the arm that was trying to delay him from removing his son from this situation. He stopped himself just in time, but was still seething with barely contained white hot rage.

"Who are you to tell me what do? What..What have you done to him! You and your damnable insidious scheme to control us! If you have hurt William, I swear I will make you all pay!" James yelled as he swooped down and scooped the child into his arms.

It was a tight protective hug that William did not fight as he lay quietly in his father's arms. Although it was common for William to feel that people cared about him, it had been well over a hundred years since Spike had felt truly cared about, especially by the father he had missed for so long in his life. Spike wondered at the feeling of being valued and protected that flooded his being. Oh, Lord help me. I believe I am getting misty over this, he thought.

James turned and headed toward the doors to leave with the child clasped in his arms. As he crossed the room, Anne moved toward him, holding up her hand to stop him

"James…You don't understand.. " Anne said painfully. She placed her hand on William's curls.

"I understand. I understand too well. Your loyalty to your old family and its bizarre heritage far outweighs your loyalty to us. Now, move. I am taking William away from this place. He needs to see a doctor." James snorted and pulled his lips back in disdain. He tightened his hold on his child who felt so small in his arms, which enflamed his rage even further.

"James, please. You and William are my life. I would never endanger either one of you. Believe me when I tell you, I would lay down my life willingly for both of you, but this… This goes beyond just our family. It is for every living thing in this world." Anne said looking into her troubled husband's eyes. "When we first had children, I had hoped that this duty would have pass over them. Now there is only William. I had so hoped that he would have a happy life outside of all this; unfortunately, that did not happen. Although he is just a little boy, it is his turn to undertake the burden of his blood. If I never ask anything of you, please do this. Please trust me."

James stared at Anne's face, his mind handling a thousand thoughts at once. His mind and his heart were at war over what to do next.

"Papa, I want down." William uttered into his father's ear. James patted the child's back as he considered bolting out the door or trusting the woman he loved. The two people stared into each other's eyes over their child's head. Eventually, James' heart won out and he placed the child on his feet.

"Alright, Anne. I trust you." James said softly.

Anne's eyes filled with love for the man standing in front of her. She placed her hand alongside his face and rubbed her thumb over his cheek. She turned to her son, knelt down and whispered to him.

"Go back to Grandfather." She urged the child back to his place by his grandfather.

William had only taken a few steps toward the bed when an unearthly presence filled the room. A black swirling portal opened up in the room. The sound of an other-worldly voice chanting filled the room. All the lights were vanquished in a second. William make a squeak as he was plunged into darkness which stopped his progress toward his grandfather. There illuminated against the blackness, stood a creature, flashing brightly against the darkness.

Williams stood there, fixed as he looked at the incredibly anomalous creature appearing at one end of the room. The creature suddenly fixed his attention on the old man lying on the bed. Weyland called out for everyone to leave the room. He struggled up from bed as he spoke words from another language at the creature. The old man put his hand forward and a force emanated from it toward the creature. The force shimmered as a wall in front of the creature. In the next second, the creature wiped it away with a swipe of his hand. It did nothing to stop the creature. The creature reached a hand toward Weyland who began to be dragged toward the creature. Weyland called on all the knowledge of the legacy he knew but without the ring he was vulnerable. The ring was the only defense this dimension had against the Diye Cagiriyor. He knew that the Diye Cagiriyor had used the delay in the ceremony to attack. William had not finished the transition and now their entire dimension was in danger. Now that the creature was here, it was likely that the transition would never be complete and the entire world and every living thing on it would be fodder for this creature. The creature curled his fist on his outstretched hand at Weyland who crumpled under the attack. His body betraying him, but his spirit not giving in. He called his daughter to take William from the room as he was being dragged slowly and unceasingly toward the portal.

William seeing his grandfather on the floor began to run over to him, inadvertently following the man's progress toward the portal.

"No!" Called Anne as she ran over to her little boy and her father.

Before William was able to reach his grandfather, he felt his mother's hands pulling him back. She put herself between her child and creature, who she knew would sense the ring in William's hand. She looked over at her father's face. It was filled with defiance and strength, yet in his eyes there was a glimpse of sorrow. Then, he was gone. The creature had achieved its' victory over an old enemy.

With a sob choking her throat, she began to attempt to move William toward the door. It was almost like the creature sensed the ring. It reached for the being he believed held it. Anne had blocked William from the creature's gaze, so it began to pull Anne. Anne feeling the first tug, pushed her little boy over toward his father. Anne fell to the floor as she wrestled against the force.

"Get him away from here! Please, James." Anne screamed at James.

Rushing toward her, James took hold of the child and placed him behind him. He saw Charlotte standing there. He quickly handed William over to her and turned back to Anne.

"Take him out of here! Take him somewhere safe!" James called over his shoulder.

Charlotte realized that neither one of the adults intended to leave this room without the other one. She placed her hands on the little boy's shoulders as she could not bear to look away from the events happening in the room.

Spike knew from his own experience as an adult with the creature, that if his parents were going to stay in the room with that creature, they would both be lost. He also knew that William had no idea what was going on. Somehow, his father managed to save his mother. My father was a hero. I never knew. For a few moments, Spike had his father back in his life, but now he had to resolve himself with his loss.

James bounded over to Anne. He wrapped his arms around her, but could not stop the progression toward the portal. He knew that he was going to do all in his power to keep Anne safe. He looked down into her eyes and just for a moment, there was nothing else but the two of them. He then broke their gaze and looked directly at the creature, tensing his mouth and narrowing his eyes. In the next moment, he stood up as Anne's arms reached for him and ran toward the creature ready for hand to hand battle. He disappeared into the portal. In that moment, the pull had ceased on Anne.

"No. NO. NO!" Anne's screams echoed throughout the house. The servants were at their stations in the house looked back to that area of the house with frightened eyes. Anne lost herself in her despair, crying huge sobs that shook her to the core. The fight had gone out her with James' disappearance. She was now willing to be taken by the creature, there was nothing left for her.

"Mummy? Please get up." a small voice pierced the silence.

"Oh God, no. William! Charlotte, Please take him out of here!" Anne begged her sister through her tears.

Then she saw her sister standing there holding Wiliiam's hand. Charlotte's eyes were fixed with purpose. Charlotte calmly walked William over by Anne in directly in line with the creature. She opened his hand and pulled the ring out of it. She forcefully jammed it onto his finger. She then wrapped her hand around William's hand with the ring. She pointed it at the creature and said the words. She spoke the words that should only be spoken by the steward of the ring.

A huge hum filled the room till it was a roaring sound . A red glow began to beam out of the conjoined fists. It got brighter and larger until it encompassed the woman and child. It became so bright, it was a roaring fire. Anne had never witnessed the ring react in such a way. In the next instant, the light filled the room. When it finally dissipated, Anne saw the portal was gone. She looked back to Charlotte and William. Charlotte was gone. William was lying on his face, absolutely still. It appeared he was not breathing. Anne pulled up to her knees as she awkwardly crawled over as fast as she could to her unconscious child.

She pulled him into her arms and flipped him over. He was absolutely limp, but he was alive. She smoothed his curls back from his face and she began to rock him slowly.

"William. William. Wake for Mummy. Please wake. Please. Please." She quietly begged.

William did not wake up for three days. When he did, he had no memory of what transpired after he was given the ring. Anne had stayed at his bedside for the entire three days. When William woke up he noticed that his mother's hair had gone white.

…

Spike found himself back at the other worldly stoa with Aunt Charlotte. She was standing there watching him

Spike hung his head and turned away slightly.

"Give us a minute, luv."