Alternate Lives.

Note: I would like to thank Shadowwolf for calling attention to the whole confusing two Buffy speaking thing. Glad that you all are reading this. Please more reviews would be helpful.

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Buffy and Riley walked in front of the alternate Spike and Buffy. The other Willow and Xander had gone back to Giles' place to sleep. That's where Spike and his Buffy would have gone but her Mom wanted to meet the clone, so that is where they were headed after the Bronze.

'So your mother didn't throw you out for being the Slayer?' She asked.

"No, my mother was cool with it, though not entirely understanding, but she is getting better." Buffy said and then stopped. Turning she looked at her other self.

"What do you mean you were thrown out?"

'I slayed a vampire right in front of them. I was coming back from a night out with my family and this Vampire attacked, i slayed it, and i got thrown out.'

"How did you get here?" Riley asked, "I mean your Sunnydale?"

'My first watcher told me to go there in the event that he was killed. He also said that i would have somewhere to go. A week after he told me this he was killed by a vampire.' She walked a few feet away and looked up at the stars sending up a silent prayer. She felt Spike behind her. He laid a gentle hand on her shoulder trying to will some of his strength into her.

"How about we go meet this woman then find somewhere to lay low before the sun rises, that sound good?" Spike asked. His Buffy looked over his shoulder and smiled.

'Sure.' She said looking over at Riley and the other Buffy, 'Let's go and meet you mother.' Adding a smile to hide the exhaustion she was feeling.

*******


Joyce opened the door when she saw Buffy and Riley walk up the front steps. They walked though and she stood stock still when another Buffy walked up leaning on Spike.

"You look exactly a like, well except for the brown hair." She moved out of the way but still they remained outside.

'He needs an invite.' The other Buffy smiled. Spike smiled as well and he noticed that Buffy griped his arm tighter as they walked up the steps.

"Oh, yes of course, please come in." Joyce said moving out of the way and allowed the other Buffy and Spike entrance. She shut the door and motioned them into the living room where Joyce's Buffy stood with Riley.

The other Buffy swayed a little and Spike wrapped his arm around her. "Is she all right?" Joyce asked.

"Yeah... I hate to ask this but do you have something hot that she could eat. Buffy hasn't eaten for a good two days." Spike's eyes flicked to Joyce then back to his Buffy. He helped her to sit on the couch.

'I'm fine Spike.' She tried to reason.

"You haven't fed for a while."

'As i recall I fed pretty well about an hour ago.' She smiled a coy smile.

"Buffy... I meant blood."

"That is gross." The other Buffy said.

"Really," Spike turned on her. "this happens to be part of her life. She accepts it, you don't have to."

'Spike stop being my enforcer. A little blood and a little food I'll be right as rain.' She smiled at her duplicate, 'I deal with it. This is my life and i like it. If we bother you that much we can leave.'

"No, this is just weird. The spike that we know is kind of crazy and homicidal."

The alternate Buffy didn't get a chance to answer when Joyce came back into the room with a small tray of food. "I have crackers and a small glass of juice. That usually helps when Buffy isn't feeling good."

'Thank you. You are very kind.'

"What about your mother?"

Buffy and Riley moved out of the living room and headed for the door. She really didn't want to hear about this and seeing her copy all cozy and touchy feely with Spike was starting to make her sick.

"Leaving for patrolling!" Buffy shouted and didn't wait for a reply.

Joyce looked in the direction of the door but said nothing instead she looked back to the other Buffy that was picking at the crackers.

'My mother and father kicked me out. I had saved there lives when a Vampire attacked us. We got home and my dad told me to pack my stuff. Lucky for me my first watcher, Merrick, sent word to Giles that should something happen I would need a place to stay. he took me in for about a year, then Spike and I started to stay in a safe house for protection.'

"That's... I don't know what to say about that."

"She has a better life, with me." Spike said.

'We went to see my parents, Spike and I about a year ago but they wouldn't see me.' She said and took a drink.

"That's so sad."

"Not really, they called her crazy and they told her that they never wanted to see her again." Spike replied

Joyce looked at him and gave him a sympathetic smile. She could see how much he cared for her. "If you want to stay here, you can. I'm sure we..."

"Do you have an empty room."

'what good would that do?'

"Safe house."

"Safe house?" Joyce echoed.

"A magic thing."

Joyce showed him to an unused closet and he tossed that small vile into the closet and went back to Buffy on the couch. Picking her up Spike walked back to the closet and waited for Joyce as she opened the door for him and stood back looking in awe at her closet. Instead of the empty closet there stood a luscious bedroom with a big bed and candles. There were even clothes strewn on the floor. 'Definitely Buffy's bedroom.' Joyce thought. She watched as Spike gently placed Buffy on the bed and covered her with a blanket. Walking back out he shut the door and then said, "By tomorrow she should be back at full strength."

"Do you have time to tell me about her."

"Till the sun comes up then i have to go to bed." He replied and went back to the couch to lounge. Spike watched Joyce fiddle with the edge of her shirt. "Is there a question you want to ask?"

"Are you sleeping with her?"

"Yes, have been for four years. She can't have a normal life, at least i can share the burden of slaying with her and I'm strong enough to take it."

"Take what? Joyce asked

"Her anger, her love, whatever she wants to throw at me."

"Does she love you?"

"I would hope so. I know that i love her." Spike could feel Dawn fast approaching. "I know that you would like to grill me some more, but ya see the thing is that the sun is going to be up and i haven't slept in days" Spike bowed low and headed to the closet. He disappeared inside and shed his clothes to crawl into bed behind Buffy's sleeping form.