Healing

Part 41

The following evening they were all to meet at the old, burnt-out, high school. Tara thought it would be better to cast the reversal at the sight of the original spell. Her and Willow had gotten there first to set things up. When they came across Drusilla's ashes, Tara was unsure of what to do.

"Sweetie? Should we get rid of these? I mean I don't want Spike to get upset when he sees them, this will be hard enough for him as it is."

"Good idea, but we shouldn't just sweep them away, I mean he might want them... or something. Right?"

"Uh huh. I have a jar in my bag. We could put them in there and give them to him later."

"See? This is why I love you so much. You always have exactly what is needed."

Willow kissed her girlfriend and then the two of them scooped Drusilla's remains into the empty jar. When they finished, they went back to their task of setting things up for the spell. Not too long afterwards, Giles, Wesley, Buffy and Cordelia joined them.

Xander and Spike were the last to arrive as they had to wait for sunset. The spell itself wouldn't take very long to perform but it had to be done right the first time; there was no second chance. If Spike screwed it up, they would be powerless for the rest of their lives. They didn't tell him that, or the others. Only Tara and Willow knew that little bit of information. They thought it would be best to keep it to themselves, no point in adding any pressure.

Spike took up his place in the circle and then closed it around himself. The others waited in absolute silence as he chanted the spell and lit the herbs. When the fire died out and the chanting stopped, Spike's head snapped up and his eyes glowed white. A strong wind began to blow throughout the room, it wrapped around the vampire and then flew out in every direction knocking those affected by the spell to the floor.

Spike collapsed and Xander rushed toward him. Tara grabbed him and told him to stop. She explained that he couldn't enter the circle until it was broken and that only Spike could do that.

The others gradually picked themselves up off the floor. Buffy was the first to try out her powers by lifting Giles up and then Wesley. She smiled in satisfaction.

"It's good to be me again. How about you guys? everyone back with the mojo?"

Willow looked over to the corner of the room where there were some old books and paper scattered about. She concentrated on levitating one of the books. It worked. She smiled and then levitated another and another. Then she made them dance around in a circle. She was smiling the entire time. Tara smiled with her and squeezed her hand.

"Well it seems that Miss Rosenburg has her power back. I should like to test mine as well but I think I'll wait until we are away from the hell mouth."

"Yes, that is a good idea, Wesley. Perhaps we should go back and check on our... guests."

Wesley and Giles said their goodbye's and left for Giles's place. Willow, Tara, Buffy, Cordelia and Xander remained with Spike, who was still out cold in the circle. Eventually, Buffy got bored and headed out to patrol. Cordy went with her.

"How much longer is he going to be out?"

"I don't know Xan, that was a pretty powerful spell. It could be a while."

"Yay, so we get to spend the evening on the hell mouth. What a treat."

"We'll stay with you, we want to talk to Spike when he wakes up anyway."

"Thanks Wills. What about?"

Tara and Willow exchanged a look with each other before Willow answered.

"It's kinda personal. We'd like to talk to Spike first, okay?"

"Sure. No problem."

They heard a muffled 'bloody hell' from inside the circle and looked over to see the vampire struggle to sit up. Tara told him he had to open the circle before he could leave it. As soon as it was finished and he stumbled out, Xander gabbed a hold of him and held him tight. He dropped kisses on his face and neck and rubbed his hands up and down the vampire's back.

"M'fine luv, really."

"I know, it's just... you were out for a while. I got kinda scared."

Spike smiled into Xander’s chest. The boy went up against Angelus for him but a little unconsciousness scared him. Humans were odd beings at times.

"Don't worry. I'm the Big Bad after all. A little mojo ain't gonna take me out."

"I know. The girls want to talk to you, so I'm gonna make myself scarce for a bit. Okay?"

"Sure pet. Just don't go too far eh?"

Xander kissed his vampire and then walked away. As he was leaving he saw something shiny on the floor a ways over and went to investigate. It turned out to be a knife, so he picked it up. It was nice looking blade so he decided to keep it, maybe he'd give it to Spike.

Spike looked at the two witches and wondered what had them so flustered. Had the spell not worked? Were the slayer and her minions still without their powers?

"Alright, out with it."

"Huh?"

"Look Red, I can see something is bothering you, just bloody well tell me already. Did I bollocks up the spell? Is that it, cause we can try again if it is."

"No. No the spell worked fine, and we couldn't try again anyways. It was a one shot deal."

"What!?! And you didn't bother to tell me that?"

"We thought it would be easier on you if you didn't know. No pressure?"

"Right then. I get that. So, if the spell went off without a hitch what are you and Glinda so worked up about?"

Willow looked over at her lover and smiled when Tara stepped closer to Spike and reached into her bag.

"We wanted to give you this."

Tara pulled the jar out of her bag and held it up.

"It's Drusilla's ashes. I hope we aren't out of line. We just thought... "

Spike grabbed the girl and hugged her tightly. He had wondered what had happened to his princess's remains. He was glad that the witches had thought enough of him to do this, rather than just sweep her away.

"Thank you luv. I'm glad you thought of it."

Willow approached the pair and put her hands on her hips.

"Hey! Don't I get Spike cuddles? I helped too."

Spike looked up and saw Willow pouting at him and he smiled.

"Of course luv. You know yer one of my favourite witches."

He pulled Willow into a hug as well. That was how Xander found them when he returned. The three of them standing together, Spike hugging the two women tightly. It was nice to see his friends treating his lover so well.

"Hey, you vixens better not have any ideas on stealing my vampire!"

Willow smiled against Spike's chest and lifted her head.

"But Xander, we're best friends. Don't best friends share with each other?"

Xander spluttered as he thought about what that could mean. Spike laughed and Tara pouted at her girlfriend.

"Then does that mean that I get Xander?"

Xander smiled. He was glad to see Tara act so comfortable around him. She was a really great girl and he was happy Willow had found her. Spike got an evil glint in his eyes as he looked at Xander.

"Well pet, we do have a king size bed. I'm betting the four of us would fit just fine."

This time the girls both spluttered as Spike and Xander laughed.