Spike's Return

Disclaimer: OK, yet again let me say I don't own any characters in this or any other story I may write. Although I would love to own Spike if Joss wants to get rid of him, hehehehehehehe.

Story so far: Spike has returned to Buffy with his Soul, has already been through the guilt process and had re-affirmed his bond with his Sire Angel. Angel and Buffy have now found each other and are permanently joined with Angel's permission. They are now preparing to save the world, AGAIN, but Angelus returned in the last chapter and then Buffy and Spike showed him what they can really do!

Enjoy! and please review!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


All eyes turned towards the grinning couple as they emerged from the training room, all impossibly curious to find out what had happened after they had been ushered out.

They obviously weren’t going to spill, however, as they both sat down to sharpen the weapons without a word, freeing up Giles to help with the research. They just sat there, trying to look busy, but clearly their mind was not on their tasks, as they kept sneaking sly looks at each other.

"Humph!" Giles cleared his throat, getting everyone’s attention as he intended. "Okay, we have precisely…" (checks his watch) "rty rty four minutes, before the portal will open. I want to be ready to leave in nine minutes. This will give us some time to set up when we get there. Now, the plan as it stands……" As Giles went over the plan for the hundredth time that night, Buffy’s thoughts drifted.

Spike raised an eyebrow at her thoughts and then jumped up and pulled her into a hug so fierce it would have broken anyone but the Slayer. Giles broke off his speech as he realised something was wrong.

"You are not going to die Luv, you hear me? I won’t let you! And netiher is anyone else, especially lil’ bit. I won’t fail either of you again!"

Buffy hugged him back just as hard, not surprised when she felt another, smaller, pair of arms attempt to encircle them. Dawn felt the same as she did.

"Spike, you didn’t fail us, never have, never will. If it wasn’t for you….." Buffy broke off as her emotions got the better of her.

"Hey!" Dawn jumped back in shock as their bodies grew hotter and hotter until she couldn’t touch them anymore.

"Giles! What’s happenning?" Giles couldn’t answer her, as he struggled to believe his eyes. He could do nothing but look on as the couple in front of him kissed, a red light enveloping them. The heat was radiating off them so strongly he could feel it from where he stood.

Then, as they all watched, Buffy and Spike began to rise off the floor and slowly spin together. Buffy’s hair and Spike’s coat were billowing out behind them, as if they were caught in a slow moving twister.

Finally the glow faded and the heat disapated as they came back to the ground.

"What the bloody hell just happened?" Spike refused to sit until someone answered. Before anyone could attempt to explain, a spark flew in from the door and before them stood Willow.

"I’m here to help you all, but then I will leave again, don’t worry!" The old Willow stood before them, her red hair and floaty clothes were back and it seemed she had successfully banished the evil insdide her.

"Willow? Did you….? What did you do?" Buffy fought the urge to scream, instead she gripped Spike’s hand hard, making even the Vampire wince.

"Your joining is now far beyond a Vampires’ claim, even one between a Master and a Slayer. I have just shared you essence’. Buffy, you now share Spike’s immortality and Spike, you can now walk in the sunlight and a stake will not kill you. Only decappitation and holy water can harm you now."

Buffy rushed at Willow, pulling her into an embrace that was almost as fierce as the one she and Spike had shared only minutes before. "Ughhhhh, Buffy! I still need to breath you know!" Willow grinned, as they shared a smile, and the others realised just how far she had come. Willow was now more powerful than even they realised, but she was also their old Willow again.

But, the celebration would have to wait for later, they had work to do.

"Before we go any further I have to explain something to you! I am responsible for Angelus returning. I had to magically supress Angel’s soul. He was destined to sacrfice himself for his family and I couldn’t allow that. This was the only way.. I am sorry, please forgive me?" Buffy just looked at her, everyone waited for her reaction.

"You should of come to us first, but I understand you did what you had to. Thank you." Buffy finally said, smiling at her old friend.

"Right, well…. I guess we need a new plan of action then…… Giles stopped to glare at the room as a chorus of groans rose up.

"Bloody hell Rupert! Why do you have to always make such a song and dance about everything? Right! Red, if it’s okay (continuing at her smile) you lead Giles, Anya and Dawn trough the magical - portal sealing - bit. Xander, you take point and fight off any demons who get too close to them. Although hopefully Willow, you can set some sort of force field around them?" Spike turns to Willow to confirm it again.

"Buffy, you and I will kill anything that gets out before we close the portal. Giles, have you still got that portable cage you used for wolf-boy? Good, we’re going to put Angelus in it and take him a long. Any demons too strong to kill, we just throw them into him when they are injured and, believe me, he’ll destroy them. Come on people, move yourselves, this portal ain’t gonna close itself!" Spike’s orders were not only listened to but agreed with by everyone, including Giles.

"Wow! He’s really good at taking charge, and he’s even sexier when he’s all serious…. Mmmmmm………." Buffy thought, having to sit down as a wave of desire hit her.

"Now, now Luv. No more thoughts like that, not until after the battle, or I’m liable to get distracted!" Spike smirked at her, laughing with the others as she blushed.

Then….. It was time.

"Let the fun begin!" Spike said, leading his Slayer out the door, closely followed by everyone else.