Walking by His Side

She sighed happily as he finally stirred. His deep wounds were already healing quickly, but that was only due to her tedious ministrations. Her hands slid the cloth over his naked body, curving and exploring each inch of his body until it almost clean. Her breath grew to a shudder of desire, and she turned to dip back into the clean water when a strong hand grasped her wrist.

"Buffy?", he gasped in shock. His lips were slightly parted in suprize, and his cobalt blue eyes wide with her image mirrored inside. Her blonde hair was up in a Grecco-Roman style, with small ringlets curled around her bright face. Her goddess dress was so crystaline white, it sparkled like a diamond over her golden and shimmering body. His other hand reached for her, tears welling up in his sore and beaten eyes. "Am I actually in-"

"William- I am not Buffy. I have just borrowed her image. You are not allowed to see my own. I borrowed hers because it was familiar to you." She stared into his eyes, amazed at their color and emotional intensity. Her gaze was so intense, she didn't register the first stabs of pain as his hold on her wrist grew tighter.

"I don't care what the Powers think. Change...now", he ground out. His teeth were clenched together in fury. His face hardened, his cheekbones became stabbing and pronounced. "Show me who you really are. I bloody don't like MIND games!"

She sighed. So he was a rebel, taking the redemption road...this could be difficult. Nonetheless, she reached her hand up to her hair, and took out the hair-pin. Shaking her hair free, her image turned into that of a young woman with wide crystal-blue eyes, sculptured italian nose, heart-shaped face and smooth pale skin that mirrored her companion's. Her long dark hair waved down her back, with her hair braided back in the front and a few curls framing her face. In essence, she was all things beautiful. However, for many reasons, her image was not meant to be seen.

Spike gaped open in shock. 'Why must this creature keep her image hidden', he mused silently to himself.

'We are forbidden be in love, or we shall turn mortal and be cast from the service of the Powers That Be.' She looked at him knowingly, and a slight smile curved on her perfect set of pink lips.

Spike would've jump up in suprize, but could only groan when he attemped to. 'So you can bloody read my mind. Great. I suppose you are going to explain why I'm here then?' He shifted his weight to one side, then realised he was quite nude. 'What the bleedin-'

"Your wounds are almost healed. I was cleaning you up- you were very badly mained." She picked up the towel running her hands over it. The towel dried instantly, and she handed it to him so he could cover himself and to provide a little modesty. "You put up quite a fight for a vampire that wanted his soul back. What possesed you to do so?" she explored the issue lightly, not wanting to push this rebel.

"The lady. The one you showed yourself as. For her." he groaned as he moved to sit up, but she pushed his chest back down gently. He fell back back on the lush, roman-style bedding and pillows, and sighed contently as his muscles relaxed. He paused before continuing, "Actually, at first it was about her. Now I want to do it for myself. I want to be a vampire, but I do not want to be condemed- I want to be redeemed."


A broader smile graced her lips. "That is a good reason, indeed. I shall tell you why you are here." She leaned over, taking a bunch of grapes, and plucking one off and inserting it with care into his eager, hungering mouth. "You are in a waiting dimension. You very nearly died back on earth- even your vampire body, mind and soul is not yet ready to go back. However, when you do, I shall be your guide. The road ahead is very difficult for you."

"Well, at least i'm choosing it this time."

The guide snickered. "Yeah, I bet 'Peaches' won't feel as special anymore!"

Spike laughed weakly. "Forgot you could read my mind, pet. But yeah, that'll be a real disappointer for him."

The guide laughed with him. "And if I read you correctly, I understand that he didn't even ask for his soul. You went the extremely unconvential way".

He snorted in distain at her last sentance. "I'm a rebel. Taking the other fork in the road is nothing new to me."

She inserted another plump grape into his mouth. "Yes, a rebel you are." She had a moment of contemplation, then said wryly, "Yes, William, you certaintly look like the type that would take the back way."

Spike choked on the grape when he caught the double meaning.

She grinned, looking down at his form.


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This chapter has been re-edited for clarity.