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Chapter 5


Sunnydale


Spike was about to thrust the stake he held, through the heart of the vampire that had foolishly tried to attack . A pain ripped through his head and his heart and he sank to the wet grass, screaming and clutching his head and chest.

"So this is the great William the Bloody? Looks like the rumours were true, he is the Slayers lapdog" he laughed as he watched Spike writhe around in agony

Willow stood atop of the crypt and tried to reach Spike telepathically, it wasn't working. She chanted an incantation and and a ball of light grew within her hands. Willow let it go and concentrated on it. The ball of energy flew to the first vamp and he dusted immediately. His comrades watched and before they could run, the same fate befell them. Willow made sure the cemetery was clear and jumped down. Rushing to Spikes side, she saw the blood running from his nose and knew it wasn't good. Spike still laid there unresponsive, shaking as if cold.
Willow had to get help. She was out alone with him as Giles was busy at the magic shop with Anya and Xander still had a big fat hatred of all things Spike. There was only one thing left to do, drag his ass back to his crypt and get him help once he was securely out of danger.

Spike groaned as she hauled him across the grass and through the door of his crypt. Spike started to come to and managed to haul himself into his chair. He laid his head against the back of the chair and breathed moaned as the aftershocks of the pain dissipated.

"What the hell is wrong with you Spike?" Willow asked in a concerned voice
"No bloody idea Red, but it has to do with the Slayer, keep seein' her in flashes, she's in my past an' that soddin Watcher of hers won't bloody believe me. " He looked up at the young girl who had just saved his unlife and smiled"She's safe I know that, she's alive an' well, and with me , human me"
Willow sat up on the sarcophagus, staring at Spike and waiting for him to continue.
Spike leaned over and reached into his pocket, retrieving his fags and lighter, he lit one up and savoured the hot intake of smoke.

"I didn't tell Rupes the whole shabang love" he squinted as smoke curled around his face and stung his eyes "She ... we're together in the biblical bloody sense, I know what your thinking, and no, it's not some bloody fantasy of mine. She's along for the ride , which is her own choosing I tell you"
"Why would she though, she knows who you are or will be?"
"Don't you think I bloody know that, that's what I'm trying to work out"

They sat in silence, Spike finished his fag and stomped it out on the floor, before standing up and heading to the back of the crypt. He opened the fridge and threw the bag of blood into the microwave. He turned and leaned against the wall, crossed his arms and let out the air in his lungs.

"She went after Angelus, she's stopping Dru from siring me, if she does then I'll most likely disappear, give you Scoobies a day to celebrate won' it"
Willows head shot up to look at him "Why would she do that?"
"Question should be, Why wouldn't she?" he took the bag out of the microwave and bit into it with his fangs . After a few draws on the bag he shook of his vampire visage and sat again. "Would save her alot of trouble. I won' come here and won' be in her life"
"But if she's going to keep you from being sired then she would only do that if....." Willow couldn't say what she was thinking, Spike looked up at her through his lashes.
"What? That she wants to stay with the human me an' have her little fling?"

Willow nodded "But why wouldn't she want to come back here" Willow grew saddened and she closed her eyes "I can leave her there"
"Knew you'd bloody say that, the thought of her being with me even as a man, bloody repulses you lot!"
"No, we need her Spike, we can't keep doing this and if you go then we'll die, the Hellmouth will be opened and then ... then"
"C'mon Red, stop that, you'll figure it out"

Willow slowed her tears and narrowed her eyes "I got it!" she jumped off the tomb and headed for the crypt door "You coming?"


London


William woke Buffy up by kissing her gently and whispering words of affection to her. Buffy smiled and stretched, pulling him down onto the bed and embracing him. He leant up on his elbows and smiled at her . He winked before saying " This is highly inappropriate Miss , if we should be caught then you would have a sullied name "
"Oh I'm sure I would sir, but then I find myself drawn to you" she giggled and wiggled her body against his, feeling his arousal through the bed clothes. "Can't we stay here all day?" she pouted
"Put your lip away Buffy, you know what it does to me, and I can't have you weaken my resolve, I am to meet with the priest today "
"Oh god yeah, I forgot that" she shot out of bed and pulled a dress from the armoire. She struggled into it and William stood behind her and laced her up. He kissed her shoulders once he was done and they went downstairs to face Anne.


Anne was sat in the kitchen going through her ledgers with the aid of her solicitor. She glanced up as the lovers walked in hand in hand. Anne could already tell there was something going on, one thing you could say about her, she was astute.

"Well you two look a little sheepish, care to tell an old woman why?"
William squeezed Buffy's hand and stepped forward, his nerves were eating away at him and he wiped his hands down his thighs and gave a nervous cough. He looked at his Mum and smiled .
"Buffy and I cannot wait to be wed. I have made arrangements to meet with the priest and move the wedding to tomorrow"

Anne was shocked and took a few seconds to absorb the news. She fanned herself and then looked at Buffy, who had her head hung, "Did this decision have anything to do with you?" her voice was calm with an edge of anger.
"N..no Mother, this was my idea" William cut in
"Why would you decide such a thing? Is she with child?"
Buffy felt heat rise to her throat and couldn't stop herself from snapping back "No!"
William's eyes bulged at the suggestion "How could you even think such a thing?"
"Are you two going to deny the fact that you have been having relations?"
"Not that it has anything to do with our decision, but yes we have, and I'm not ashamed, Buffy is to be my wife, I see nothing wrong in it"
He stood firm for the first time in his life, Buffy was proud of him and wrapped her arm around his waist. William looked down at her and felt her pride in him. It would of made his heart burst if he hadn't of been bought out of his reverie by the sound of his Mothers voice.
"There is nothing that I can say to make you wait? Well then I hope that you will both allow me to accompany you at least?"
"Of course Mother, there was never a question of you not attending" he said , grateful that his Mother wasn't going to contest the wedding now that it was going to be rushed.
"And what will you be doing about the girls dress and your suit? Your not suggesting that she wear one of the dresses that she already has?"
"Of course not, I thought that you might be able to help us"
"Your fortunate , I have her dress upstairs, the seamstress has delivered the dress, it is just a matter of getting it fitted"

Buffy breathed a mental sigh of relief. William, hugged Buffy to him and then bid his Mother good morning. It was time to leave for the church.


Sunnydale


Willow searched the Magic shop for the book that she needed . Giles had returned to England after making the tough decision whether to or not. The Scoobies seemed to have everything under control , with Spike working by their side, they were managing to keep the Hellmouth safe. Anya was his partner in the shop and so he knew that it was in good hands. He felt a failure and being around Dawn only encouraged his own views on his ability to be Watcher to a Slayer.
Willow had begged him not to go, saying that whatever had happened to Buffy was far from over since Spike was having these 'episodes'. Giles assured her that it was possibly just his over active imagination and the pain was from the chip.
She disagreed , telling him about the previous nights attack and what he had said. Giles just huffed down the phone at her and she knew that he was probably cleaning his glasses in irritation.

"My dear girl, do not underestimate Spike. He has been a master vampire for well over a century and he has not remained alive just by the charm and good looks girls seem to think he has. The vampire has cunning and wits that we have forgotten about. Never forget that he has faced two slayers and defeated both."
"He's not like that now and he hasn't tried to kill anyone lately"
"Due in part , to the chip" he reminded her
"You said yourself , he is an intelligent master vamp, he could hire someone or something to kill us all off"
"True" he sighed "Willow just keep an eye on him and try to keep his contact with Dawn to a minimum"

With that said, he said his goodbyes and hung up the phone.

Spike hadn't had another attack in the last day, he felt pretty good. His thoughts often strayed to the blonde that had died, no, she wasn't dead, just in a different time to them. He sat trying to watch Passions , she floated around inside his head and he found himself running through the memory of them making love in some woods. He snapped out of it when he heard someone open the crypt door and saw a figure stood in front of him. Embarrassed, he pulled his duster round himself as he stood. He focused on the thin brunette in front of him.
"Niblet, what you doin' here? Shouldn't you be off at school learning stuff an' making your sis proud?" he lit a cigarette and pushed a stray length od curled hair behind her ear.
"What's the point? Tara is all with the mopes since she and Will had a fight, Willow is sat in a pile of magic books and tomes , waffling more than Giles about spells for the ritual, I don't even want to know. Xander and Anya are bickering like oldies and well, the Buffybot keeps getting out of the closet and pestering me "
"Sit, have you eaten?"
"No, between guilt pancakes and cookies I haven't eaten since last night, I can't stomach it"
"C'mon, I know a diner that does these tasty treats just right for a girl an' a vamp" he took her hand and dragged her out of his crypt.
He dived for the car and slammed the door shut, only slightly smoking from the sun exposure. Dawn jumped in and smiled sheepishly "You don't have to do this unno"
"I made a promise to a girl and I intend to keep it, now, buckle up platelet and lets go get some grub."

London.


The meeting had gone well. The priest had agreed to anevening ceremony and had felt for the young couple. He saw the love shine from them and knew that this was a marriage that would ultimately last . So, he had agreed to marry them and Buffy and William walked away from the church with the broadest of grins on their faces.


Angelus watched the house and sneered as he saw the happy couple kiss in front of the window, it was nauseating. The Slayer that wore his mark was in love with Dru's toy. He decided that the bitch had had enough time and now it was time to collect his debt.Tomorrow night, Dru would have him and he would have his Slayer.

William retired after the two women had, he sat at his desk and wrote poetry. He knew that he wasn't very good, but he had an urge to compose. The night was crisp and clear. The shadow that hung across the window went unnoticed.
Outside ,Dru watched him and she smiled to herself. She swayed as she left, listening to the voices inside her head that foretold of the warrior that would carve his way through continents and cause mayhem beside her.

Buffy woke up, the familiar tingle making her leave the comfort of her bed. She went to the window and saw the bulky figure she knew so well. He stood in the shadows , just out of the light of the gas lamp and looked up at her room, as if sensing her there. Damn that vampire perception, she thought.
Buffy dressed and exited the room through her window, her stake firmly held within her grasp.

"I know your there, come out and face me"
"So eager, I wonder if your going to be this eager when I finally take my payment from you?"
"Don't count on it, is that why your here?" Buffy raised the stake into view and stood firm , waiting for his assault, it never came. Instead Angelus stepped closer and ghosted his hands up her arms , causing Buffy to shiver.
"Take your hands off of me" she spat
"Now Slayer, is that any way to talk to the person that could easily snap your neck and drain you before you could even get that stake within an inch of my heart?"
"Like to see you try"
"Such a feisty personality, you would make a fine partner, if only Darla shared me more"
Buffy felt bile rise in her throat, she took a step back from him and bent over.She glanced back at the house and saw it in darkness still.
"I shall take pity on you , but only this once. You have alot to lose and then, only when you have nothing left will I come for you" his laughter fading was the only indication that he had left.
Buffy ran back to the house and climbed back in through the window. She stripped and dove into the bed, pulling the covers tight round herself.

L.A


Angel shot up in bed and took a deep breath." Buffy."
He swung his legs out of bed and walked to the bathroom. He rinsed his face with cold water and stared at the empty mirror. How could he have seen her then? It wasn't possible.
Dismissing it as a vivid dream he went back to bed and soon he was back in a deep sleep.

London


Buffy was awake when the maid came in to draw the drapes and to wake her. Buffy stretched and went about her usual morning routine. Anne sat in the drawing room beside the fire, William took his pocket watch out and looked at the time, for the fourth time in half an hour.
"Looking at your timepiece will not make this evening come any faster son"
"I know, it's just, well, have you ever known something to be so right and yet it seems too good to be truth?"
"I have son, that is how you feel about her isn't it?"
William nodded
"She has agreed to marry you William, and she is as anxious as you , she seemed excited to have the wedding tonight, I think it is safe to say that you have nothing to worry about" she took his hand "Buffy loves you" she stood and made her way out of the room.
William ran up the stairs and knocked at her door. Buffy bid him entrance.

"Buffy, Mother has asked me to inform you of the time and that the seamstress will be here within the hour"
"Okay" she smiled and walked into his open arms. "I need you to visit Cecily today. We need to stop her from contacting Anyanka and being turned into a demon."
"Are you sure I should go, I mean I'd gladly do that for you, but she isn't particularly fond of me"
"You'll do fine, don't mention the fact that she calls upon a demon and ends up as one. Most people can't take the truth and it might even drive her to do it before time"
"You have my word Buffy" he kissed her and smiled "Til tonight then" he kissed her again and reluctantly let her go and left.

Buffy looked up at the ceiling and hoped that the day would pass quickly. As soon as they were married she would be able to concentrate on getting Cecily safe, avoiding Angelus would be hard, she had to stand by and watch Dru turn William and then make sure that she could get back to her own time. The Watchers Council had been deafening in their silence. Did it mean that they hadn't believed her? Or had they simply not found a way to return her through a portal.

Anne snapped her out of her thoughts. She held up the gown that she was to wear. It was simple yet stylish.It had a corset bodice but Buffy was getting accustomed to them now, and it was adorned by thousands of pearls .

The seamstress was a bossy and very bad tempered woman as Buffy soon found out.

"Take off the night gown and stand here in nothing but your under garments" she snapped.
Buffy complied, not wanting to upset Anne and ruin the day by slaying the dress maker.
"How does she intend to wear this creation?" the seamstress asked "She is nothing but skin and bone" the woman tutted and huffed her way through the fitting and only stuck Buffy with a few pins, some of which Buffy swore were done purposefully.
The dress was finished and she looked at her reflection, she looked amazing. A broad smile stretched across her face. Anne mirrored her smile. "William will fall for you all over again my dear, you look ravishing" she took Buffy in her arms and kissed her cheek.
"Thank you Mother" Buffy replied, tears threatened to fall from both women's eyes and they laughed.

Angelus paced the suite in which the three vampires stayed. He could feel the Slayer all over him and it made his skin itch. He couldn't understand why .The connection he felt to the girl was unnatural, she was meant to be avoided and was meant to be their enemy. So why then, had he called a truce with her and even told Dru not to hunt the poet?
Something was wrong, he needed a violent kill to take his mind off of her, as soon as the sun went down , he would hunt for a short blonde girl that resembled the Slayer. Maybe he would leave the mutilated body on the front steps of the home she resided in. He snarled at Darla and launched himself on her, roughly forcing himself inside her and fucking her til she bled.

"He sings to me, tells me that his heart is breaking, shattering into shards. She leaves him and he searches the night for salvation" Dru bounced on her feet "Such anger at the world, he'll mourn , he'll dance , he'll be a bad dog, ruff"
"What are you twittering on about Dru?" Darla asked as she straightened out her skirts, wincing at her injuries as she did
"William" she bounced again "He's going to be my new childe, Daddy said I could make him" she whimpered and nodded .
"So long as he isn't as insufferable as you I can't see how it can be a bad thing. Maybe he will keep you busy so that I don't have to play nurse to you "
"Oh no Mummy, he will treat me like a princess "
"Good, Angelus , I need to hunt, come" she called as she slipped her shawl around her shoulders and headed towards the door.


They entered the church and the priest greeted them warmly. Anne took her place on the front pew and waited for Buffy to make her entrance. The maid and her husband arrived and slipped next to Anne. William waited patiently at the alter.
The doors opened and Buffy stood at the doors, William felt his breath hitch and his heart beat faster. This was what he had waited so long for. A woman that would love him and would make him feel this way. Buffy glided down the aisle and now stood beside him.


Dru fell to the floor and moaned "Sunshine has burned into his soul "


The ceremony was over and Buffy now walked out of the church on the arm of her husband.


Sunnydale

Spike was sat on the couch next to Dawn, Tara and Willow sat next to him as they watched the film . Spike roared and his face morphed. He fell unconscious again and all three girls got up to help the stricken vampire.

In Spikes mind, pictures of a wedding flashed, the church and the priest all seemed familiar. He tried to focus on the groom and bride. He felt this was his past, knew it in fact. What threw him was the bride. Buffy, his Buffy. He watched the memory play out and saw himself slip the ring on her finger, her hands shook as she placed a ring on his. The feelings rushed through him and he arched as they gripped at his cold dead heart. Their kiss was deep and held the promise of forever.

Dawn started to cry, she couldn't loose him as well, first her Mum and then Buffy, Spike couldn't die as well. She screamed at Tara and Willow to do something and her panic made them wonder how close she had become to the vamp. Tara placed her hands either side of his temples and closed her eyes. She centred in on his subconscious and reached out for him. Once she was connected to him she relaxed and watched .

She saw the wedding, saw Buffy and William joined together in the eyes of the church. She watched as he gave his ring to Buffy and Buffy placed the ring on his hand . What she didn't expect was to see his vampire self to be sat on the back pew watching. He saw Tara and frowned.
"You see what I see, my Angel and me, she'll be home soon as Red knows what to do"
Spike blinked out of focus and then disappeared completely. Tara felt the pull back to herself and woke a few minutes later. Spike was already awake and drinking a pouch of blood . It seemed no one had noticed the ring glinting from his finger. Tara had never known a dream to manifest this way and she got up and started to search the darkest magic book that Willow had found. It was obvious that Giles hadn't meant for them to find it. He had hidden it in a secret drawer under the counter.

Spike looked at his hand and saw the ring. He smiled and looked up at Dawn and Willow and then across at Tara. "We have to get her home "
Willow nodded and joined Tara. The spell needed to be researched and planned carefully.