The Key

Layla woke up kicking and screaming. Something was smothering her and she was panicking. Spike ran into the bedroom when he heard Layla screaming. He held her down and tried to unwrap the cover from her body. "Get off of me," she yelled. He got her head free first so she could see where she was. "Olivia you are safe," he told her. She calmed down and let him unwrap her. When she was free enough she threw her arms around Spike. "I am sorry," she said apologizing. "No sweetheart. Do not apologize to me. You have done nothing wrong," he said. "But it was my fault what they did to you. They could have killed you because of me," she said. "It is over with now and that is all that matters," he said. She saw Spike had bandaged her wrists where the chains broke the skin. Layla looked at the bruises on his face. She touched the cut on his lip and moved her hand across his swollen cheek. The cut went away, the bruising went away, and his face returned to normal. Layla's eyes went wide. "What is it?" he asked. "Your face," she said. He jumped up and looked into the mirror. His face was healed. He looked back at Layla on the bed. Her mouth was still open. "I can't believe this is happening," he went to her. "You and I. We were meant to be together. You healed me. Your body heals itself. It was destiny," Spike said. Layla couldn't believe it. It was true. She felt like her life was finally coming together. She was happy. She smiled lovingly at Spike. "Who knew I would find my soulmate in a vampire?" she said. "Or me in an oracle," Spike said. He leaned in and kissed her. She felt all of the anxiety and pain that Carter had caused her being lifted off of her shoulders. "I love you," Spike said. "And I you," Layla replied. Spike saw how tired Layla was still. "Lay back down luv. Sleep. I am here to protect you always," he said. Spike held Layla until she fell back asleep. When her breathing had slowed he left her and went back into the kitchen. He was going to kill Giles he just has to formulate a plan that will make Giles suffer.

Buffy had came downstairs. She was getting worried. Everyday she knew these demons would get closer. It made her angry to know she was so helpless when it came to these things. Buffy went into the garage. She kept her exercise equipment in there. She went a few rounds with the punching bag. She was frustrated and had to hit something. Better to hit the bag than one of her friends. Then Buffy thought of Layla. 'What makes her so special that she can fight something that I can't? How come she comes back to Sunnydale and finds love? Why can't I be just like her?' Buffy said with each hit of the bag. Buffy loves Layla but Layla has had the life Buffy always wanted. Layla lived a normal childhood away from Sunnydale and Buffy was jealous. Now Layla comes back and finds out she has to save the world. Buffy felt sorry for Layla also. It is a lot to be put on a person in a few days. Layla has taken it considerably well. Buffy hit the bag a few more time. 'I just hope everything turns out well,' she thought leaving the room.

Layla woke up alone in Spike's bed. The clock read 6:45. It was well past sundown. Layla sat up. It was time to go patrolling. She didn't want Buffy or whoever went out to be alone anymore. Her gut feeling was telling her it was almost time to face the wake demons. She could never forgive herself if something was to happen to one of her friends and she was not there to help. She stood up and stretched. Every muscle in her body screamed at her to climb back in bed. But she wouldn't listen. She went into the kitchen. Spike was sitting at his counter. His head was laying on the counter. Layla walked up to him. He was snoring. She smiled. He was exhausted also. She touched his shoulder. "Spike baby time to get up," she said gently shaking him. He wouldn't wake up. He snorted and kept sleeping. Layla let him sleep. She got a notepad and a pen from a drawer and wrote him a note. 'Spike, Went to find Buffy. I might even go patrolling. I love you, Olivia.' She felt weird signing that name but it was hers. She tucked it under her hand and grabbed Spike's wooden stake he kept on the coffee table. She walked out the door and carefully shut it behind her, trying not to wake him.

Outside it was darker than it should have been. Layla saw that there was no moon shining. 'So I don't have to worry about the werewolves,' she thought as she started for Buffy's house. She really didn't want to see Giles right now but she would just have to ignore him. She wanted to talk to her friends. She stepped over some potholes and cracks in the road. She saw steam coming out of one of the cracks which meant that was a new crack. She wanted to see what was going on so she bent next to it and touched the gravel around the hole, getting a vision.

*Get out of here- a girl yelled to a family. They were frightened. The wake demons were just outside the house tunneling under the floors. The family wouldn't leave.
No daughter. I will not leave you when you need me the most - the girls mother said.
But don't you see I have no other choice. They say to kill these things I have to die with them and everyone else will be okay - the girl said.
The girl's little sister grabbed her hand. You can't do it - the little girl said.
The family didn't let the girl kill the demons. The entire family was instead killed by the demons.*

A hand touched Layla's shoulder. She screamed and fell backwards landing on her back. She was looking up at Spike. He looked angry. "What in the world do you think you are doing? You don't ever leave without me Olivia. What if something would have happened to you and I was not there?" he asked. Layla laid there letting him vent his anger. Her thoughts were on that vision. It told her how to kill the demons but how would she tell Spike? When he had finished he noticed Layla hadn't moved at all since he scared her. He reached out. "Let me help you up," he said. She took his hand and he pulled her to her feet. He didn't mean to scare her but her was scared when he woke up and found her not there. She looked him in the eyes. "I'm sorry Spike. I tried to wake you but you were sound asleep," she said. "What is it?" he asked. "Nothing. I was just heading to Buffy's," she said turning from him. "Olivia I know something is bothering you. Did you have a vision?" he asked. He turned her back to him. He now saw the tears in her eyes. "Tell me what you saw," he said. "I saw a slayer and her family. The demons were coming through the floors of their home. She told her family to leave but they wouldn't. They all died Spike. They were all eaten by the demons. I saw it all happen as if I was there in the room with them. No one survived," she said. Spike felt like an idiot for yelling at her. He had no idea what she was seeing. He pulled her into a hug. She couldn't tell him the rest. She couldn't tell him in order to save Buffy she was going to have to die. She pulled back wiping her eyes, "Let's get to Buffy's and see what going on." Spike took her hand in his. He felt she was hiding something from him but he decided she would tell him in her time. Spike was looking forward to getting to Buffy's. He couldn't wait to see Giles.

At Buffy's house they went on in. Xander was laying on the couch. He face was bandaged. Layla went in and knelt beside him. "Xander what happened?" she asked. He opened one eye. "A demon decided to play connect the dots with my face," he said. "Could you back away from him. I am taking care of him," Anya said coming into the room with a glass of water. 'See if you can heal him luv,' Spike mentally told her. Willow walked into the room. Layla put her hands on both sides of Xander's face. "What are you doing?" Anya asked. "Give me some room Anya," Layla said. Anya backed away. "What is she doing?" Willow asked Spike. "Just watch," he said. Layla moved her hands along Xander's face. Her hands felt like they were getting warmer. "That tickles," Xander said giggling. Layla pulled her hands away. "Okay Xander. Let's have a look at that pretty face of yours," Layla said removing the bandages. Everyone in the room gasped except Layla and Spike. She looked back at Spike. He was looking at her lovingly. "How did you do that?" Willow asked. Xander felt his face and hugged Layla. "I feel better," he said. "It's just a gift," Layla told Willow. Anya studied Xander's face. She smiled at Layla. "Thank you," she said. "Your welcome," Layla said. "Where is Buffy?" Layla asked the room. "She and Dawn went out patrolling," Willow said. "And Giles?" Spike said through gritted teeth. Willow noticed something in his voice. "He left to. Said he needed to go looking for something," Willow said. Spike went into the kitchen. He was going to be ready when Giles came in.

Layla walked over to Willow. "Can I talk to you?" she asked. "Sure. Come on," Willow said. They went into Layla's old room and sat on the bed. "What's wrong with Spike?" Willow asked. "He is angry at Giles. Giles called the overseers in and they kidnaped me and Spike," Layla said. "What? No. How did you guys escape?" Willow asked. "I killed them. They had threatened to kill Spike and it was the same guy that I saw kill my mom. I let my anger get the best of me and I killed them," Layla said. "I am sorry," she said. "That's fine. I did what had to be done but what I saw tonight I don't think I can do," she said. "You mean it is something worse than killing those men," Willow said. "I was on my way over here when I had another vision. I saw a slayer. She was facing the demons. She said the way to kill them was to die with them. She didn't do it so the demons ate her entire family," Layla said. "You mean to tell me in order for these demons to die you have to somehow set an explosion or something but you have to stay with them," Willow said trying to understand. "If I leave before the demons die they will follow me and live," Layla said. "Oh no. Have you told Spike?" she asked. "I can't bring myself to do it. We love each other so much. I don't want to leave him. I don't want to hurt him," Layla said wiping the tears away. "This will crush him. I have known him every since he has came to Sunnydale and I have never seen him so happy as when he is with you," Willow said. "What do I do?" Layla asked. "I don't know. Either way someone is going to lose. If you do defeat these things then you die and Spike loses out. If you don't defeat them then Buffy dies and we all lose out," Willow said. "Those are some pretty tough options," she added. Willow looked at Layla's necklace. "Has your necklace always done that?" she asked. Layla looked. The necklace had turned from its usual blue to a charcoal grey and was churning like murky water. "Only when something bad is about to happen," she said. A crash came from downstairs. Willow and Layla jumped up and when running.

Downstairs Giles had came back. Spike had thrown him through the kitchen wall into the living room. He now held him up by the throat. "Spike no," Willow yelled running up behind him. He swatted her away. "It has to be done. A bug like this deserves to be squashed," he said throwing Giles down through the coffee table. Spike pulled out a knife. Layla wanted to kill Giles herself but it wasn't right. "Spike put the knife away," she said. "But he called them in to hurt you. He needs to die," he said. Giles looked up. "I didn't know they would try to harm you both. I thought they would just get you to help us defeat the demons," he said looking at Layla. She felt sorry for the man. "YOU LIE," Spike yelled advancing towards Giles. 'William,' Layla said mentally to Spike. He stopped and turned towards Layla. Willow looked between the two. She had no idea they could speak telepathically. 'It must have occurred when they shared blood,' Willow thought. 'William you can't kill him. I do not want you to,' Layla said to him. "What is going on?" Xander whispered to Willow. "I think she is trying to convince Spike not to kill Giles," Willow said. "I don't hear anything," Anya said. 'But he deserves to die,' Spike said turning back to Giles. 'Maybe he does but you do not need to be the one to kill him. I will not let you,' she said moving in front of Giles. "But..." Spike said. "Please for me," she said putting her hand out. Spike put the knife in her hand. "Okay but the next time he screws up he is as good as dead," Spike said looking at Giles. "When he messes up I will personally give you the knife back," Layla said leading Spike into the kitchen. He needed a chance to cool off and get away from Giles to do it.

Everyone looked at each other. "They have formed a bond no one can break," Giles said. Willow looked at Giles. She felt bad for Layla. Layla was going to have to make the most important decision she has ever made in her whole life. And now that she and Spike were linked physically and mentally it was going to be very difficult. Xander helped Giles up. "Let's go take care of those cuts," Anya said following Xander and Giles into the back. In the kitchen Spike was sitting at the bar Layla was standing beside him with her arms around him. She had given him the knife back only after he promised not to use it. "I thank you Spike for wanting to do that for me," Layla said. "I just wanted him to pay," he said. Layla knew what would make Spike feel better. She leaned down and kissed him. Her necklace got grew warm. She pulled away and he was smiling. "I needed that," he said. Layla looked at her necklace. It was now black. "Oh no. Buffy," she said. Willow and Xander came in the kitchen. "We need to get to Buffy now," Layla said. She and Spike ran out the door. Willow and Xander were not too far behind.