Alternate Lives.

Summary: In an alternate world The Master is still alive and keeping the Slayer captive. Spike is Buffy's lover and Angel never came to Sunnydale. Willow is still a powerful witch but knows control. Willow tried to send them to L.A but gets killed in to process and ends up sending them to the Buffy verse that we know.

Explosions sounded around the Bronze. Willow had tapped into the dark arts to help the others rescue Buffy from the Master. She had been in there for nearly two weeks. Spike had almost died for real when he attempted to rescue her the first time.

Now they had Willow casting some serious magic while Spike charged into to save Buffy. Staking every vamp that was in his path Spike finally made it to the back of the bronze and to where Buffy was being kept like an animal.

She was there chained like an animal. Blood trickling down her cheek and from her the corner of her eyebrow. The shackles had cut into her wrist and even more blood coated her arms. Spike felt his inner demon rise to the surface as he saw the woman he loved bloody and battered. He had a split second to act. A vampire had come up behind him but Spike threw him off balance and planted a Stake right through his heart.

"Buffy?" He asked as he unshackled her. She tried to stand but crumpled to her feet again holding her side.

"Spike." Buffy's voice broke with the pain. Reaching out her hand Spike picked her up and slipped out the back door into the night. Willow was already there while the others gave them time to escape. The towns Vampire population had divided between the Master and the Slayer. Those Vampires that weren't dead were still fighting.

"Hurry up!" Spike shouted over the din. Willow for her part recited a trans location spell. With his attention focused on Buffy Spike didn't see the Vampire come up behind Willow. He was about to shout when he felt this odd tingling sensation.


*******


Buffy sat at the table watching Willow and Tara dance. Xander and Anya were over at the bar getting drinks. She wondered why she just didn't get a date and at least try for normal. Because she was the slayer and her life was anything but normal. She fought Vampires and demons and prevented the end of the world.

The latest thing that she had done to save the world had been to stop a Science experiment bent on ruling the demon world. Reily had gone back to Washington or debriefing. She was lacking well deserved smoochies from her hot boyfriend. Buffy looked to the dance floor and she saw Willow sway and almost fall. Tara wrapped her arm around Wil's waist and brought her back to the table.

"Everything ok Wil?"

"Yeah, I felt some magical weirdness go on but I'm ok now."

Buffy wasn't sure but she let it go. Willow knew what she was talking about when it came to the magical stuff. Her eyes drifted over to the entrance where she nearly fell out of her seat with what she saw.


********

Spike stood up with Buffy and looked around. There were no vampires fighting and no Willow. Buffy wounds were still fresh but due to her slayer powers she was healing slower than normal. It made Spike worry but he knew his slayer would pull through. They were still in front of the Bronze but nothing looked destroyed.

"The Bronze." Spike said. but he walked in and saw that it was full of humans.

Buffy looked around and saw the Bronze bouncing with activity. "Spike what are we doing here?" he put her down and wrapped his left arm around her waist mindful not to touch the stab wound.

He looked around a few more minutes and his eyes settled on... Buffy. Then he looked at the Buffy in his arms and became even more confused. 'What the hell did Willow do?' he thought. But he had to get Buffy sitting down before she fell out of his arms. Moving to the darkest part of the club he set Buffy down on the couch.

"What are you doing here Spike?" A woman asked from behind him. He knew that voice but it couldn't be.

*******

Buffy had seen Spike walk in with a girl who looked half dead. It should be all chips ahoy in his head so how could he feed on a human. He had cuts on his face and and his hair was out of place. Then she looked down at the brunette on the couch. The hair had fallen away from her face and Buffy was looked at a bruised and battered version of herself.

"What the hell?"

"Look... Slayer... I need to get her somewhere out of sight."

"How the hell did this happen Spike? What did you do to her?"

"I would never hurt her. Buffy is the love of my life, and how dare you suggest that i would hurt her you..." Spike looked over the other Buffy's shoulder. He saw Xander, Willow, Tara, and Anya walking over.

"Red, you're alive." Spike moved past Buffy and hugged Willow.

"Ok this is all kinds of weird." willow said and worked out of Spikes grasp.

"I don't know what you did red but..."

"What are you talking about?" Buffy asked.

"Spike." The other Buffy from the couch moaned shifting her weight trying to get up.

"Pet?" Spike moved over to her side. " 'm here. Can we get her out of sight now?" Spike asked.

"Fine, we'll take them to Giles." Buffy said and took one more look at her counter part. There was no real difference except that her hair was a reddish brown. That Spike helped her stand and walked with her to the door.


Giles' Apartment.


Buffy leaned on Spike as they walked all the way to the Watchers place. She was steadily getting stronger but it felt wonderful to be against Spike's body after being kept by the Master. This place looked vastly different from her world.

"This is strange, it looks like home but it's not at the same time." Buffy said.

"Yeh pet. I know. Looks like red messed up."

"What happened to Willow?"

"I think she might be dead, luv."

"What?"

"Just as she finished the spell a vamp came up behind her."

"How are we going to get home?" Buffy asked. Her voice had lost some of it's edge since they had gotten here and she was allowed to heal properly.

The other Buffy knocked on Giles' door. She was a little wary to impose on him but the sooner they figured out how to get the others back the better. It was weird having them here.

"Buffy, what a surprise."

"Giles we have a problem." She said and pointed to the last two of the group.

"Well, yes you better get in here right away." The entire gang went inside but Spike and the other Buffy.

"Uh, Watcher, I need an invite." he said.

"Oh, uh, yeah of course come in." Giles motioned for them to come in. Immediately Spike walked her over to the couch so she could save what strength she had left.

"You have any bandages?"

"In the bathroom."

"I'll get them." Tara said.

"Thanks." Spike said half heartily as he tended to Buffy. "How do you feel?"

"Tired. I could sleep for about a week."

"Good the rest will help."

"Oh please. A kinder gentler Spike. What kind of sick joke is that?" Xander said from the kitchen.

"I happen to have a soul you stupid git!" Spike shouted.

"Yeah sure."

"I do and not one of those cursed gypsy deals." Spike growled.

"Spike stop, that's Xander." His Buffy reasoned with him from the couch by placing her hand on his face.

"Here." Tara said handing the bandages and tape to him.

"Thanks." Spike said and set to work on bandaging her wounds. "If I had been there you would never..."

"Shh. It was just a matter of time. Angelus was the one who gave me to the Master."

"Wait the Master? He's dead." Buffy said.

"Maybe in this world, but in ours he's very much alive. He has Angelus and most of the Demon community on his side." The other Buffy said through gritted teeth. Spike had pressed to hard on her side. It was all she could do not to scream.

"Yeah, and Red gone all witchy." Spike added checking her bandage. "I tell you she is one scary witch."

Willow walked over to the alternate Buffy and Spike carrying a book. "Is this the spell that your Willow used?"

"No. I know that this is imposing but can we stay here for the day? Buffy needs to rest and it's almost dawn." Spike sad looking back to Buffy but she had already succumbed to sleep.

"Sure, I think that I can put up with you for one day." Giles said going over to where Tara and Willow worked.

Dawn broke and sunlight filtered through the window causing Spike to fall to the floor. Anya moved to close the blinds on the front window. "There you go, no you can stop sizzling."

"Yeah you are the same in any universe." Spike growled.


A/N: This is my first fic for BTVS and I hope that this is ok. please leave a review and tell me if you like it.