Whatever It Costs

Prelogue:

Willow hugged her best friend goodbye as did Tara and Xander. They were on their way to find the last Slayer in Brazil. Willow had found out that the last Slayer has been hiding in Brazil, probably from the Bringers. She said her goodbye to everyone but Kennedy, she was still angry at her for hurting Tara.

When the young Slayer was still a potential she was insanely jealous about Tara, she truly believed that Willow and her belonged together. She trapped Tara in a crypt with three vampires. Tara had been a scooby for more than three years so she naturally knew how to defend herself, but she still got hurt. Buffy raged at Kennedy, as did Willow. They couldn't believe that Kennedy was that jealous that she would hurt Willow's lover. Buffy had warned her that if anything happened to one of her friends in the future and just a small piece of evidence pointed to the young brunette, she would throw her out on the streets and hoped that Bringers found her.

A few days after the three left L.A. Buffy called Willow on her cell.

"Have you found the last one?" Buffy asked through her cellphone.

She and her gang had been over the entire world, searching for all the activated Slayers. They had found every Slayer, except for one, this one was really hard to find. They have been searching for almost two years, the newly activated Slayers seemed to be magnetically drawn to the Wolfram & Hart lawfirm, with this one exception. That was where Buffy and some of her gang was staying. Helping Angel in his fight against evil. Giles had taken a few Slayers to Cleveland to watch the Hellmouth there.

"No, not yet. Tara thought about using a spell to find her." was the reply.

"Will, we have to find that girl, she might be afraid of what's going on." the oldest Slayer sighed

"We know Buffy." Willow replied

"Do whatever it takes. I'll call in a few days." she waited for the redhead to answer before she closed her cellphone.

She turned to Spike and smiled. She walked up to him and kissed him ever so gently.

The souled vampire has been brought back to life by Lindsey, when she saw him again, after so long she couldn't hold back her feelings. She vowed to him that she wouldn't use him again and that she did truly love him. Of course he didn't believe her at first but after proving her love over and over again, he finally believed her. Angel didn't like it, or Spike for a matter, and that was very clear. But he did want Buffy to be happy and if that meant that the reason was Spike, he was just going to be happy about it.

"Guess they haven't found her yet, huh luv?" Spike asked as Buffy pulled away but stayed in his arms.

"No not yet, we'll just have to wait."

***

"Are you sure it's here Tara? We've been here before." Xander asked as they crossed the street to a small apartement building.

"Yes Xander, we checked it twice yesterday." the blonde witch answered

The building looked like a worn out place. Inside wasn't much better, it smelled like they buried their corpses in the walls, rats were crawling around and the cockroaches had build their own city in the walls.

"Here." Willow pointed to a door that was the least broken door in the entire building.

Xander knocked on the door but nobody answered. He carefully opened the door and looked in the apartement. It seemed empty and abandonned. There was no furniture of any sort. Well, there were orange cases lying around the floor.

"Hello? Anyone here?" he called out. A small boy emerged from a room looking at them like they were the first humans he ever saw. Xander sat squatted before the boy and tried to speak Portuguese.

"Nós" he gestured to him and the two girls behind him "estão procurando" he paused a moment searching for the words as it hit him like a stone on his head "alguém com poders."

The little boy shrugged and screamed for another person to come. An older boy came in with, what looked like his father. Xander stood back up and looked at the father.

"Que você quer?" the father asked "Nós não temos nada, nós somos justos uma família pobre que tenta sobreviver."

"Uhm, wait." Xander held his hand up and turned to the witches with a pleading look for help.

"You speak inglês? I can speak little bit." the older boy spoke up.

"Yes, great, great." he clapped his hands together "We are looking for someone, with super powers." he asked slowly

"I am sorry, but I do not know what you speak of." the boy did know what Xander talked about, he was obviously not a great liar. "Now you must leave, we do not want visitors here." the boy said something to his father and he lifted up the small boy in his arms before leaving the three of them alone.

He gestured for the two witches to do their spell again. Tara nodded and chanted a few words before a warm orange light guided them to a small room at the back. They opened the door but were confused at who was sitting there. It wasn't a girl, on the contrary, it was a young man. He sat with his back turned towards them. On his back was a large tribal tattoo, covering his entire back. He had jet black hair coming down to his shoulders. He sat there, obviously thinking about something.

"Hello?" Xander asked cautiously which startled the young man from his deep thoughts. He jumped up and turned around, showing him entirely. The poor guy had no shoes, a cut off three quarter jeans, with a nice muscular upper torso, he was about 5'11". He had a scar across his abdomen, just like Faith. But the most striking about him were his eyes, they had no pupils, they were purely silver, not another colour mixed in, just silver. The young man backed up slowly, keeping his eyes on the strangers.

"Don't worry, we won't harm you. We just want to ask you something." Willow stepped in front of Xander with her hands up.

"You're American?" the boy asked.

"Yeah we are, I'm Willow, this is Tara" she pointed to the blonde "and that's Xander. What's your name?" she asked cautiously.

"Spire." he answerd short

"Very nice to meet you Spire. We really aren't here to harm you." she smiled and stepped a little closer.

Spire relaxed a little when she smiled, he couldn't explain it but somehow knew that they were here for him.

"Are you here because I have this super strength?" he questioned looking Willow deep in her eyes.

"You?" Xander was dumbfounded "You, you're not a girl, we were looking for a girl."

"I know, you came here last year and took a girl who had the same powers as me." he replied in a calm voice.

"It could be possible Xander, I mean, Angel and Spike both have a soul right? And they're vampires." Willow said thoughtful.

"Would you like to come with us? Back to America, I mean. There are more-"

"No, I got attacked in America two years ago, I'm not going back." Spire interrupted covering his scar with his arms.

"They're g-gone now, we d-defeated them." Tara told the young man.

"Besides, we're here to protect you. Willow and Tara are very powerful witches and me, I'm really handy with a sword." he grinned.

The young man smiled, it had been a long time since he sincerely smiled, but for some reason he felt safe with these three strangers. He nodded and walked over to them. Still a little cautious but much more relaxed. They walked out of the building after Spire had said his goodbyes to his adoptive family and walked towards the airport, it was just a few blocks away.

Willow grabbed her cell and dialed Buffy's number.

"Buffy?" she asked

"Yeah, what's up? Did you find her?" the blonde Slayer asked.

"We found the last Slayer alright, only, it's not a her, Buffy. I's a he."

"What?" Willow smiled, she could picture the confussion crossing Buffy's face.

"I'll explain when we get back. We're grabbing the first plane back to L.A., see you in a few." she hung up the phone before Buffy could interrupt.

"Who's Buffy?" Spire asked.

"The oldest Slayer alive. That's what you are, a Slayer." Willow explained

"What's that?" Spire hated it when he was confused, and now he was undoubtedly confused.

"The prophecy goes a little like this." Xander stopped walking, as did the witches and held his finger up "Into each generation a Slayer is born. One girl in all the world, a Chosen One. One born with the strength and skill to fight the vampires, to stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their numbers." he shrugged "Guess you're the first boy."

"Into every generation? But Buffy is the Slayer." Spire's mind was troubled

"Yes, but now every potential Slayer has been activated, that's how we could defeat the ones that attacked you two years ago. Well, we could defeat their "employer". But since that's out of the way, so are your attackers." Xander continued walking.

"Okay, I get that, well sort off."

"Don't worry, Buffy will explain everything. In the mean time, why don't you tell us about yourself." Willow smiled that infamous smile again and Spire relaxed again.

"Okay, uhm. I got "activated" about twenty months ago. I've been hiding here since they attacked me. I always was a quick little fucker so I could escape them, but not before they cut me, here." he ran his finger over the scar "It healed up quicker after I, uhm, became a Slayer."

"Well, that's Slayer healing for ya." Willow replied

"Slayer healing?"

"Slayers heal faster than anyone else. They also are a lot faster and stronger than anyone else. Their, your, hearing is much more sensitive now, as are your eyes." Xander provided the explaination.

"Oh."

They didn't talk much after that, they waited for the plane in silence, and boarded the plane, also in silence. The three adults agreed to let him think things over. After the flight, too long for Spire's liking, they grabbed a cab, heading to Wolfram & Hart.

"Okay, where is he?" Buffy demanded the moment Willow walked in the building.

In the lobby they were all waiting for the male Slayer. The Fang gang, the Scooby gang, Andrew, and a few new Slayers, among them was Kennedy, Rona and Vi.

"*HE* is here." Spire put up a smirk that resembled Spike's.

"That's new." Xander mumbled before walking away, finding his buddy Andrew. They have grown close over the years, since Anya died that is. Xander would never admit it but he liked the blonde fool. As friends, almost like brothers.

"Buffy, this is Spire. Spire, this is Buffy." The redhead introduced them.

"So, you're the oldest Slayer?" Spire stepped up in front of Buffy, looking at her, from head to toe "Doesn't look like it."

"I know, and that's really handy. Yes I am the oldest living Slayer, and you're the male Slayer?" Buffy smirked back.

"And I'm Spike the souled vampire, who's the very possessive boyfriend of the oldest Slayer." Spike growled at the young man "How old are you anyway. You defenitly don't look like much." the bleach blonde commented.

"I'm sixteen years old, going on seventeen." Spire told them

"But he w-was fifteen when h-he was a-activated." Tara said softly but loud enough for the sensitive hearing of the vampires and Slayers.

"Ha! A toddler exclaiming to be a Slayer." Spike smirked, stepping up behind Buffy, wrapping her in his strong arms.

"Sweetie, every Slayer is about that age." Buffy commented.

"Why are you so sure that you're a Slayer?" Angel asked the young man.

"I don't know, why were blind guys coming after me with a big sharp knife." he snapped, rememebering the night "I'm sorry, didn't mean to snap like that."

"It's okay. Since there were Bringers coming after you, and you do have Slayer powers, it could be possible that you are a Slayer." Angel smiled and turned to his Fang gang "Wesley try to find out anything you can about this kid." he whispered

"Or you could just ask me. I don't have any secrets." Spire said before Wesley could leave

"Nice one kiddo." Faith smirked.

"I'm not a kid, and who the hell are you?" Spire demanded, he saw the brunette when he walked in and sensed something about her.

"Chill kiddo, I'm Faith, the second oldest living Slayer. And I know you, well kinda, you had quite a rep back in Boston. The last I heard 'bout you, you were on your way to the penitentiary. A little pyromane, thief and asskicker"

"That was a load of crap," he rolled his eyes "I never got caught." he crossed his arms proudly.

"I think you and Faith will get along just fine, so Faith can train you." Spike said tightening his arms around his Slayer.

"We've got just one problem." Willow stepped in "We can't have a boy here, these are all girls."

"Hey!" all the males said in unison.

"Yeah, and I don't want to be surrounded by girls twenty-four seven." Spire agreed.

"Okay, we'll just have to find a way then." Angel said before walking in his office.

"Hey, don't you want to know stuff about me?" Spire called after the brooding vampire who just stopped.

"Later Spire."

"Fine." he shrugged.

"Willow, I'm kinda tired, not used to flying and all that." he said turning to the redheaded witch.

"Okay, we'll just put you with me and Tara for the time being, but you better behave." she joked and showed him the way.

****

"What do you think B? Is the kid a Slayer? Don't know 'bout you but I got the feeling that every Slayer is found." Faith and Buffy were walking around in L.A., looking for some vampires to slay.

"Yeah, got that feeling too." Buffy didn't look at her, she was too busy trying to sense something evil.

"So what do you think we should do?"

Buffy stopped walking and turned to her fellow Slayer. She was tired of being seen as the leader, but someone had to be. Faith was still to scared to take control after what happened at the arsenal. She left the leadership to Buffy, knowing that she would do the right thing.

"Honestly Faith, I don't know. I mean, this is the first guyly Slayer, like ever. I think that--- Faith look out!" she was too late, a Polgara demon had stuck his pin through Faith.

She didn't pay attention for one second and this was the price. He pulled his pin back and Faith looked down at the gaping whole in her stomach before she fell forward in Buffy's arms. The blonde slayer gently layed her down and attacked the demon. There was so much fury in her punches and kicks it didn't take long before she had him on his knees. She broke the demon's neck and picked up her fellow Slayer, Faith was still breathing, but her pulse was weak. She ran to Wolfram & Hart straight up to Angel's room. She burst in the door, startling the vampire but he was quick to react. He took the brunette from Buffy and laid her on the bed. Buffy explained to him what happened before being pushed out of the room. When she was out Angel's room she realized that she was crying. She didn't want to move from the door, not even when Angel had called Wesley, Willow, Tara and Fred from his room. She sat there for several days, ignoring everybody who started talking to her. Pushing Spike away when he tried to lead her away.

"Is she okay?" a certain black-haired teen asked, sitting next to her.

"What happened?" he tried again. When she still gave no answer he got up and looked at her.

"I hope she'll be okay." he said before leaving the Slayer once more alone.

Buffy hasn't eaten for three days but still wouldn't move from the door. The people in the room would run out and back in the room but said nothing to the blonde. No matter how hard she tried.

After a week Willow slowly came out of the room and turned to Buffy. Her eyes were red from crying, that much was obvious. Buffy stood up and looked at her best friend.

"Will? Please? Is she-" Buffy started but was cut of short by Willow who just shook her head.

"Oh god no!" she felt the tears coming down her face again and hugged the redhead tightly. She heard the door open again but didn't want to let Willow go. Soon she felt to strong arms surround her, Angels arms. After about fifteen minutes of crying she let go of Willow, as Angel let go of her.

"Can-can I see her?" Buffy asked silently.

At Willows nod, she entered the room. Tara still sat at the side of the bed crying, Fred and Wesley stood at the far end of the bed, also crying. In there short time together they had grown fond of the Rogue Slayer. Buffy looked at Tara, who motioned for the other two to leave the room with her, so Buffy could be alone. When Buffy heard the door close she slowly walked up to Faith. She sat on the chair where Tara sat and held the raven-haired beauty's hand.

"Faith, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! I should've seen him behind you. I should've reacted sooner. I'm so sorry. You can't just die, I need you here. Who am I gonna give a hard time for beating me? Who am I gonna spar with? Who am I going to dance with? Faith, come back, we're the Chosen Two. Please come back. I love you, you're my sister Slayer." She laid her head on Faith's stomach and started crying once more, the exhaustion of not being able to sleep for a week took over and she cried herself to sleep.

****

A silent burial, only the sound of sobbing was heard. A simple midnight ceremony, with very few people. But everyone who was invited was there, none of them backed of. They buried her at midnight, because that was the dark Slayer's favourite time of day. Buffy, Willow, Angel, Tara, Xander, Wesley, Gunn, Fred, Kennedy, Rona, Vi, even Spike, Giles flew over from Cleveland, he wasn't Faiths Watcher but he would've wanted it, so did she. All of them were there.

Spire stood in the shadows watching them, he didn't know Faith, but he liked the Slayer, he felt connected with her. Maybe because she had a rough life too. He didn't cry, he never cried, he wouldn't let himself, besides it's not like he knew her that long.

After the burial he retreated back to the lawfirm. A few minutes later so did everyone else. Except for Buffy, she stayed there for another few minutes saying her goodbye and then also went back to Wolfram & Hart.

****

A few days later Wesley had found a prophecy, nothing related to Spire, but he could be the answer. He explained the prophecy to Angel and Buffy. Who then explained it to their gang. It seemed that in threehundred years from now, there would be only one Slayer left, in a world filled with total chaos. This world would be nothing like they saw in movies, with hypertech weapons or cars. The buildings would remain the same but the weapons and transport would be medieval. If they didn't do something soon there would be no world left.

"If the boy has no bussiness here, he could be the answer in the future." Wesley told everyone.

"The *boy* has a name you know." Spire snarled, ever since Faith died he had been abnoxious to everyone but Willow and Angel. He liked the witch because she found him and believed him first. He liked the vampire because he couldn't stand Spike either.

"Sorry Spire. What Willow and I have been thinking, is freezing him for threehundred years. Wolfram & Hart have the resources to do so. He could help the Slayer in the future with the impending Apocalyps." Wesley concluded

"Freeze him in? What is he? Some kind of turkey?" Buffy countered.

"Buffy, I really don't care. I got nothing left here." Spire shrugged

"And it's not like he's going alone. We, as in me and Tara, are going with him." Willow said to the blonde

"What?" she couldn't believe it, her best friend was leaving to save the world in another era. "You can't leave me Will. What will I do without you? First I lose Faith, and now you're going away?" unshed tears filled the blonde Slayers eyes, but she bit them back.

"I'm sorry Buffy, but we have to save the world, again. I wouldn't do this if it wasn't serious, you know that." the redhead looked in the blondes eyes before stepping up and hugging her.

"I love you Willow, I don't want to lose my best friend. We've been together for nine years and now you're leaving. I don't want to lose you, I thought we would grow old together, have a million cats and gossip about our new neighbours. Remember?" Buffy held the witch tight to her.

"Yeah I do, now you get to grow old with Spike, then you can try to beat your newly wed-neighbours in bed, how about that? Okay, you grow old and Spike can visit your grave everyday, again." Willow tried to sooth Buffy.

"I guess I don't get a say in this huh?" Buffy wiped her eyes, wiping all evidence that she had cried and let go of Willow.

"Nope, but you know, I'll visit your grave as well, you know in the future, I'll put beautiful flowers on them." she smiled and kissed her best friend on the cheek "It's gonna be okay Buff."

****

"You be safe there." Xander hugged his best friend goodbye as he started crying, he can't believe he wasn't ever going to see her again "You too." he hugged the blonde witch as well and stepped up to Spire "If anything happens to them, I swear I'll come back from the dead to kill you." that threat made Spire chuckle but tried to be serious.

"I'll watch those witches for ya X-man." he winked and shook his hand.

"Buffy, Buffy, you have to let me go now." Willow said, but Buffy wouldn't budge.

"C'mere beautiful." Spike gently pulled of Buffy. After he set her down he hugged the redhead as well.

"Keep your lady happy, you hear." he smirked and kissed Tara softly on the cheek "Be safe Tara." He ignored the jetblack-haired teen and went back to his girlfriend.

After everybody said there goodbyes, Tara even said goodbye to Kennedy, Buffy jumped up and hugged the redhead again. After Willow soothed her, the blonde let go and hugged Tara as well. Last but not least she hugged the surprised male Slayer.

"Please look after them." she asked with pleading eyes.

"Yeah sure thing B" he smacked himself in the head "Buffy, sorry." he corrected.

"It's okay." she smiled sadly and left the room.

Nobody who had to breath was allowed to stay in the room. Angel and Spike locked the cabins where they were in. Willow didn't want to be apart from her lover for threehundred years, even if Angel assured her that she would hardly feel it, so they shared a cabin. Spire chuckled and smirked at the vampire.

"Girls huh?" he shook his head and stepped in his. He jumped back out and gave a small "manly" hug to Angel.

"See ya in a few hundred years." he winked before Angel started the cabins. Before he knew it, Spire was asleep. Dreaming about a girl, the weird thing was he never saw the girl before. The girl started talking and said to him that her name was 'Vicky'.

**Threehundred Years Later**

Spire opened his eyes, his first thought was that it didn't work. The room hadn't changed one thing, maybe some more dust then before. He opened the cabin and noticed the cabin of the girls was empty, then he saw another cabin, that was set to '299 Years'.

A soft sound was heard in the shadows, he concentrated on the sound, it was the sound of breathing.

"Willow? Tara? Is that you?" Spire asked cautiously

He heard a soft chuckle and could've sworn he saw something shake its head. He stepped closer and saw a figure standing there by the door.

"Hi kiddo, long time no see." the figure said, as the person switched on the light revealing the person he thought he would never see again.

"Faith?"