The Death Of Me

Chapter Two

" No , No ...That can't happen, she needs him to be there" Buffy screamed, oblivious to the tears that stained her cheeks.

"You mean the vampire?" the being asked

"Yeah, Dawn needs Spike to protect her, so do the others, even if they don't know it yet"

"But they don't trust him the way that you do, to them he is expendable"

"Spike is not expendable, he is the strongest fighter I know, he'd die for them, even though they treat him with contempt"

"As you did?" the being shot at her "Did they not follow your example?"

"Okay I admit it I was wrong, can't you do something to stop it or change it?"

"That is out of my hands, only time will put right what is wrong"

Buffy watched as her friends lead the grieving Dawn back to their home, nobody looked back to the ash and dust that had been Spike. Hell, they hadn't even noticed his suicide.

At a different point ash and cinder gathered swirling into a mass. Slowly shape took form .Spike raised his charred head as the healing continued .He was , still crying out for his soul mate. Now completely formed he stood on shaky legs and gasped.

"What is it with all you good guys? Don't any of you know when a blokes had enough?" He asked with a rasped voice

"Ah, William the Bloody, welcome"

"Sure I am, " he said sarcastically with a raised brow "Where the bleedin' hell am I and why am I not suffering a world of pain and perpetual torment?"

"All good questions and you shall be given your answers shortly".

Buffy walked in a circle and chastised herself for her poor treatment of the vampire that had loved her unconditionally . She fumed at the way she and her 'Scoobies' had behaved. Her tears fell and she didn't notice the glowy one return, and not alone.

"Where the bloody hell are we now" Spike snapped, slowly losing patience with the being and the way she talked in riddles.

As his voice filled the area, Buffy's head snapped up and saw him. His bleached hair shone as the glow hit it, his blue eyes held a glint that she hadn't seen in a long time.

"Spike?" she questioned, not sure if she was imagining the sight before her.

Spike stood staring, unable to do anything other than look at her, bewildered yet surprisingly grateful.

"What did you do that for?" she yelled as she walked up to him, standing toe to toe with the vampire ,ignoring the being beside Spike.

Spike looked down at the floor, unsure if he should tell her, after all , he didn't know that she had witnessed his walk or rather crawl into the sun.

"I... I ... "

"Exactly what I thought" she snapped "Took the easy way out"

"Now hold on just one minute there Goldilocks"

Buffy rolled her eyes and folded her arms over her chest waiting for the rest of his outburst.

"Nothing bloody easy about kissing sodding daylight, not when I did it cos of you, "

"Oh that's rich! I just took a dive into a portal, think that was easy do you?"

"Didn't say it wasn't" his voice tapered to a low "Wouldn't of had to do it if I'd done what I was s'pose to"

The being sighed loudly. They had known that the Slayer would perish at the hands of the God,Glory,but what Spike had done ,had thrown them through a loop.Never before had a vampire taken it's own life for a mortal.Never before had a vampire shown such devotion and deep feeling for someone, let alone for a Slayer.

The being held up it's hand and instantly, both Buffy and Spike fell silent.Any desire to continue their argument had left them. Buffy frowned at the being ,understanding dawning on her.This was a place of peace, of contentment.Not a place to carry on her somewhat twisted relationship with Spike.

Sensing that she had her charges complete attention, the being smiled at them, communicating to them through thoughts alone. Spike took a step back, wary of the intrusion.Once the situation had been explained to them, the being stood back, awaiting the questions she knew they would ask.

"We get to stay here , dressed in white , in a white room that is too bloody bright, for all eternity?"

"That's about the size of it I guess, welcome to heaven"

"Well that's just bloody great innit. Can you at least get a beer and watch Passions?"

"Is that all you think about Spike?" Buffy chastised.

"Not all" he curled his tongue and wagged his brow at her

"Typical"

The being smiled

"Are you settling in William"

"Don' call me that!"

"My apologies, my question remains though"

"Not a bloody chance, have you lot lost your bloody marbles?"

"Explain , Why do you think we have 'lost our marbles' "

"Letting a vampire into heaven , not exactly the done thing"

"You proved you are a good man, that you have a kind and gentle soul"

He looked towards Buffy then back to the being

"Great ,I'm back to being a ponce"

Buffy sniggered

"Cut that out Slayer"

"As a reward , you both get to become again. You to have a choice, either go back to the world as you are, to continue being the Slayer and William the Bloody, or you can go back to a world that has no need of a Slayer and where William the bloody is human. I cannot divulge any information on what either world has to offer you, so do not ask. All that I can tell you is that you will both be together."

"Why do I get lumbered with him? He's annoying and and rude and ..."

"Your not exactly a barrel of bloody laughs either Slayer"

"Enough already" the being said sternly "I have no idea why my boss would think this a good idea, so , if I may ask, what do you choose?"

"Can we have some time alone, to decide?" Buffy asked , smiling at the being sweetly

"As you wish, I shall return in three earth hours." The being faded away,.

Alone finally , Spike and Buffy stood opposite each other, both scowling

"I saw what you did, how you were after I jumped "

Spike huffed , wishing he could have a cig to calm his temper and nerves

"Yeah well, temporarily insane or what not, if I knew that this would be my afterlife ,I'd have stayed"

"So do we go back to being Slayer and her pain in the ass vamp or do we decide on being Buffy and William?"

"I don't want to be that bloody pansy again, with all the curly hair and sappy poetry "

"I think you'll be you just the human you"

"Oh" he replied " what do you want"

"I want to go home, Dawn and the others will need us"

Spike stood quietly contemplating their choices. Buffy did the same .

The being stood before her boss "I have given them the ultimatum"

"What do you think they will choose?"

"To go back, Williams heart is tied to the Slayer and the key, his love for them will not allow him to think selfishly"

"Hmmm , and the Slayer?"

"She will choose to go back also, she knows the hell mouth will take their lives soon enough without her there to protect them"

"Another Slayer will be sent there, she would not be needed"

"She won't think about that, she will always be the Slayer, she wouldn't trust her families lives in the hands of a stranger"

"Go back to them and find out which they have chosen"

Buffy watched as Spike walked in circles , muttering to himself. Great! He's crazy and I'm shackled to him for eternity.

Spike stopped and then looked at her. She was annoying, her fists would lash out at him in frustration and she wasn't exactly the brightest spark, but, he bloody loved her, enough that he walked, no crawled into daylight, and now he was going to spend the rest of his unlife with her. These beings sure had a wicked sense of humor.

"So, what's your choice then Slayer?"

"I'm going back"

"Guess I am too then"

"Don't you want to?"

"Not sure pet, aren't you curious as to what the other place has to offer?"

"Maybe, just , Dawn " her eyes welled up and she wiped at her cheeks.

The being appeared before them ,some time later and watched as Spike caught a tear with the pad of his thumb and drew her to his chest. Oh yeah the plan was working.

"Err, hate to interrupt"

The two shot away from each other .

"I have a proposition for you both"

"Get with it then" Spike rocked on his feet , his hands on his hips.

Buffy watched him and sniggered, he reminded her so much of Giles at that moment.

"We will give you six months in the new life, as a human , with Buffy and then you will spend six months back as the Slayer and her vampire"

"He's not my vampire!"

"Say we do this " Spike said through a grimace at the ' her' vampire comment "What will happen if we still cant choose? Or if we choose different choices?"

"Then you remain here"

"Sod that!"

Buffy remained quiet.

"So when are you gits gonna send us back?"

"Wait!" Buffy said hurriedly "If we go to this world were he's human first, what will happen to my friends and Dawn, what if they die while we're all normal in this other world?"

"Time remains as it is now , no more will pass until you return"

"You freeze time there? Neat trick"

"Spike..."

"Buffy" he said in a mocking tone

"This isn't going to end well you do know that right?" she said to the being

The light around them grew in it's intensity and they both covered their eyes so as not to be blinded. The being watched as the vision of the Slayer and the vampire faded into nothing

"Good luck" she whispered