When You See Me Again

Chapter 6

A few weeks had passed, nothing mentionable happening, unless of coarse you count the demon Eyghon trying to kill everyone. The present Spike had behaved himself, future Spike as well, unless you count the whole, ‘I’m more comfortable in Buffy’s house than she is’ thing. The world had gone on and the gang was nowhere closer to figuring out the mystery surrounding the second Spike’s appearance in Sunnydale. It was too quiet for Buffy’s taste. She knew something was brewing.

At the dinner table one night, she was making a dot-to-dot picture of the Mona Lisa with her peas, thinking about her aptitude test she had taken at school today. Nothing was going well, her mom had warmed up to Spike like he was her own son, and they had both forgotten that Buffy really existed. Her Spike, the Spike she’d been kicking the ass of since he got here, was nowhere to be found and she had nothing to do except beat up and dust the fledgling vamps that came out of the ground nightly. I must be twisted, she thought, to want more mayhem and violence.

Spike #2, as she thought of him more often than not, came out of the kitchen holding a mug of blood in one hand and a pad and pencil in the other. Joyce trailed behind. They were laughing over some joke that she wasn’t allowed to get, something she wouldn’t be a part of. It pissed her off.

“Remember what I said, Joyce. Go see the doctor about those headaches you’ve been havin’. They’re liable to get worse, and I don’t fancy havin’ to carry around someone’s mum just because they don’t think they need it!” He winked at Buffy as he sat down in the chair to her left. Buffy rolled her eyes and went back to her masterpiece. He peered over at her plate. “Sistine Chapel?”

“No, I was going for the Mona Lisa, but what the hey!” She got up, plate and glass in hand and went back to the kitchen, depositing them in the sink. “Mom!” She called to the other room. “I’m gonna go see Angel. Be back after patrol.”

“Don’t be late, honey! Have a fun time and be careful!” Her mom added.

“Can I come, Buffy?” Came a small voice from Spike.

The answer was the same as it was every night. “No, later you guys!”

Buffy shook her head and walked out the door.


Kisses that rained down on her face, cold and wet, went down to the nape of her neck. His breath was reassuring her, that is she was with him, everything could get back to the way it was meant to be. Hands roamed in places that a year ago, she never would have allowed him to go. She moaned as he passed a hand over her nipple, pushing up into him. Gaining her sense of a reality that was fading fast, was proving to be a losing fight. His knee slipped in between her legs and she felt weak. “Angel… Angel. Stop.”

He rested his forehead against hers and looked down into her eyes. His brown matched well with her green. There was mirth behind his and he chuckled, and kissed her forehead. Pulling her close to him, they peered out together at the graveyard, staring at nothing, enjoying the quiet night.

“I love you, Buffy.”

“I love you, too.” She snuggled closer. It was good to have a place to belong to.


Spike from the future had followed this Buffy, catching her in the make out session with the poofter. He shook his head and turned to walk back. At least she was safe. He had been thinking about this time period all night, remembering it was around this time that he had sent the order of Taraka to her, to kill her. But now, she was with the vamp of her dreams, so at least she was safe.

Joyce was smart to listen to him and make an appointment with the doctor. He was trying to save her, for herself. For Buffy. For him even. He hoped that it would pan out and she would get the attention she needed, for all their sakes. Dawn, who wasn’t even here yet, would definitely be eternally grateful, of that he was sure.

He had a sudden hankering to run by the old factory, to see how things were progressing over on that front, but wasn’t sure if he wanted to make his presence known, or if he wanted to hide and slink around in the shadows. Dru would be healed soon, and he would be bound to a wheelchair for some time, something he did not want to see again.

So, he headed down there anyway, curiosity getting the better of him.

Sure enough, he saw that they had indeed found the cross and were in the already in the process of getting everything together. Angel would be imprisoned later tonight, and tomorrow, well, Dru would be back in true form, whilst he, would be confined in that damned chair. He winced. He never wanted to remember that, but since he was here, he would help them the best he could.

Walking back to the house, he paused as he entered, seeing a light in the next house. He looked in and saw the Bug Man, sitting there watching the house. Shaking his head, he went in.

Joyce was in the kitchen, cleaning the dishes. He took off the duster and went to hang it on the coat rack. “All’s quiet.” He called to her.

“Good, I was worried. For some reason, I had this nagging feeling that something was going to happen tonight.”

“Not while I’m on watch.” He thought himself the world’s worst liar, but he knew these things must happen, so he brushed that off quickly.

“Good. I’m heading to bed. Good night, William.” She walked up the stairs, but not before kissing him on the cheek.

He sat down on the couch, remote in hand. He would wait for Buffy, then try to help guide her through this, for her own sake.


A little after one, Buffy walked in the door and pulled off her jacket. Seeing the T.V. on was nothing new now, she knew that Spike would still be up watching and waiting. She thought he did that for her, since he and the other Buffy were so close. It annoyed her and made her feel protected all at the same time.

“Night, Dead boy,” she called to the relaxing vamp in the other room.

“Slayer. Wait. I want to talk to you.” He had moved off the couch to stand in the doorway.

Sighing, Buffy headed back down the stairs, standing on the very last one. “What?”

“I was just wondering how things were going tonight. Just curious.” He looked down at his feet, shuffling them around beneath him.

“Fine. Great. Just peachy, no murderous plots underfoot.” She turned and started to back up.

“Slayer, wait.” He spoke softly. “I want to tell you something. Come in here, please?”

She was getting angry. “You know Spike, this better be good. I really don’t have the time to hang out with you like Mom does.” She bounded down the stairs, and flopped down on the couch.

He sat opposite her on the coffee table, leaning toward her. “I don’t want anything to happen to you. I need you to know something.”

“What?” Just a question.

“I need you to back out there. Some big bad’s afoot and you need to get out there.” He looked serious.

She thought a minute, concerned only by the look he was giving her now. He knew something. “I’m only gonna trust you because you’re from the future and have lived this all before. But that’s it.”

“That’s just great.” He looked more relaxed when she got back up to get her coat on.

A second later, she grabbed the door handle and paused to look back at him. “Well?” She asked.

“What?”

“Are you coming with, or what?” He grinned, shook his head yes and went for the duster.

The grin stuck there for some time later. He couldn’t get that one thought out of his head. There’s my beautiful, brave girl. Someone he would save the world for, a million times over. And more, if he could