TEMPUS TWO
Tempus Two. (Yup I really couldn�t come up with a better title.)
Fayth [email protected]
Pairing- W/S
Rating- ?
Distribution- If you have my stuff feel free. If not just ask.
Disclaimer- Unless the Spuffy thing is just a bad dream I don�t want �em!
Timeline- ok so I never actually said in Tempus Focus, basically because it didn�t matter but this takes place halfway through Season 5. Riley left, Joyce died, Spike NEVER had a crush on Buffy, Oz is gone but no Tara.
Chapter 1 Tempus Two.
The Mansion on Crawford Street had never been given a name. Some said that the ghosts that haunted it refused to let tenants stay long enough to christen it. Others said that ghosts were ridiculous and that the mansion was just too creepy to be lived in.
So it lay abandoned �mostly- and in disrepair. None dared go near it- not even to enjoy the teenage party season. Junkies were often fearless but not even they were that stoned to disregard the general feeling of being watched that the Mansion purveyed.
So no one saw the window panes rattle and the dust whirl like an earthquake tremor rolled underneath the house. No one saw the flash of blue light, and no one saw two figures appear prone on the ground.
Buffy opened one eye and groaned. �Ouch!� She sat up and looked around. Yeah, they were back in the mansion and their clothes were in a pile in the corner. They were home. She cast her eyes around anxiously and saw Willow who was still curled up in a ball, eyes squeezed tight shut.
�Willow?� she reached over to touch her only to have Willow recoil.
�I�m awake.� She said dryly unwinding herself and walking over to her clothes. �Let�s go home.�
Buffy nodded still watching her friend closely as if she would disappear if she took her eyes off her for a second. Willow clambered into her tight jeans studiously ignoring the blonde.
The Walk back to Willow�s was done in silence, Buffy not quite knowing what to say to her stoic friend and Willow unwilling to attempt conversation.
As they reached the Rosenberg house Buffy turned to Willow.
�Willow, I am so sorry.�
Willow turned haunted blank eyes to her �I won�t be over for research for a few days; I think my parents are due back. I�d appreciate you not mentioning the spell to Giles. I don�t want another lecture on the abuse of magic.�
Buffy nodded and opened her mouth to try to mend her fragile friendship with the witch but Willow shut the door and Buffy was left alone in the stillness.
Willow wasn�t sure how she�d gotten home- or to her room. There were probably stairs involved but that was taking thought processes to a new level.
All her brain could actually deal with right now was simple instructions. Breath in, breath out, one foot, other foot, keep moving, breathe in, out, step, step.
Her clothes were suddenly in a pile on the bathroom floor and hot water cascaded over her shivering body.
Breathe in, breathe out.
An old T-shirt for some band that she didn�t recognise found its way on to her body.
Breathe in, breathe out.
Her eyes found the bag she had bought back with her Victorian clothes and other gifts and objects in it.
Breathe in, breathe out.
In there was William�s journal. A red-leather bound directory of his heart.
Breathe in, breathe out.
Her fingers picked up the bag and found the journal.
Suddenly like a burst dam all of her thought returned as she curled herself around the familiar book like a life preserve and tried to find oblivion.
Buffy stared outside Giles� house and tried to muster up the courage to go in. her legendary courage failed her. In her attempts to regain hr Angel, she had probably messed up the world, and even more damningly, broken her best friends� heart.
She knocked on the door with her forehead and the dull echo felt like the pounding of her heart as it creaked open.
�Buffy!� was Giles� surprised greeting as he ushered her inside.
Buffy looked around. Xander sat with Anya on his lap flipping through demon texts; he glanced up when he heard the door.
�Hey Buff, when did you get back?�
�Oh great, look what the brat dragged in!� came a sarcastic voice from the corner
Buffy turned slightly to stare at the guy in the corner.
His bleached blonde hair was combed back to show off his defined features and ice blue eyes. And his black t-shirt and jeans showed off his lean figure.
Her mind could barely reconcile this to the quiet, shy, fair haired poet who had so lovingly wooed Willow to love him; his long fringe flopping into his eyes and shy smile as he dug his hands into the pockets of his brown suit which hid his muscles. So different and yet the same.
Buffy began to hyperventilate *Oh Wills.*
Spike became uneasy as the Slayer carried on staring at him. He glanced at the Watcher who was as nonplussed as he was.
�Buffy?� Giles said softly �Did you have a good vacation?�
Buffy finally turned away from Spike to look at Giles who had that fatherly gleam in his eyes.
She began to tear up �I- I think I lost my best friend.� And with that revelation she threw herself into Giles� arms and sobbed.
Chapter 2 Waking up is hard to do.
Giles stared down at his sobbing Slayer attached to his waist and tentatively patted her on the shoulder.
�Um�there, there?�
�Oh Rupert, I would have thought that you knew how to comfort a crying woman by now?�
Buffy tensed and told herself that she was imagining things. There was no way she heard that.
�Well, dear. I can�t very well do those things to Buffy now can I?�
Buffy pulled away from Giles and turned, her jaw dropped.
�Miss Calendar?�
The cute brunette grinned at her before glancing oddly at Giles �Wow, that�s old, Buffy. You were at my wedding, my bridesmaid as I recall. I think you can call me Jenny. Or failing that Mrs Giles?�
�Oh God.�
�You okay hon?� Jenny walked over and placed a hand over Buffy�s forehead �You sick?�
�Sod that, what was that about Red?� Spike demanded standing up and glaring at Buffy.
�Down boy.� Xander rolled his eyes at Spike�s theatrics �She never said anything was wrong with Willow. Is there?� he said suddenly suspicious.
Buffy couldn�t answer she was still staring at the no longer quite so dead techno pagan.
Xander wondered what Buffy had done that made her think she had lost her best friend. Willow was the most forgiving person he knew. What could Buffy have done to make Willow not forgive her?
Buffy sniffed and stepped back from the group. She�d promised Willow that she wouldn�t tell them about the spell.
�I-I did something so s-stupid and s-selfish and I -I h-hurt Willow.� Fresh tears sprung up as she remembered the dead look in her friends eyes.
�So why are you here instead of trying to make it up to her, you stupid bint?� Spike demanded
�Spike, keep your voice down or you�ll wake Hannah.� Jenny hissed
�Who?� Buffy felt like she�d fallen into a twilight zone
�My daughter?� Jenny said with a bemused grin �Noisy kid, likes to pull your hair?�
Spike grabbed his coat and Buffy concentrated on one thing at a time
�Where are you going?� she asked in a panic
��m going for a walk, a smoke and to check on Red. Not that it�s any of your business, bitch.�
�You are so not.� She stood in front of him
�Get out of my way.� he rolled his eyes �Like you could stop me anyway.�
�Oh I so could now you have the chip.�
�What chip?� Giles was staring at Buffy like she was insane.
�Spike�s chip?� her voice faltered �Government chip?�
�What you been smoking Slayer?� Spike said in disgust and pushed past her.
�No wait Spike, please.� He stopped and turned. Buffy had no idea what was going on but if Spike went to see Willow, it would only make things worse.
�Please don�t go see Willow, Spike. You�ll only make things worse right now, please. Please.�
Spike watched shocked as the Slayer who treated him worse than dirt begged him. He exchanged confused glances with the others over her head.
�Whatever. Fine but I need a smoke.� He walked out and the door slammed leaving Buffy alone with all eyes on her.
Spike stalked along the streets, towards Willow�s home. He had been there several times with the rest of the gang but never on his own. It didn�t seem right to be alone with Willow when he couldn�t be with her. He couldn�t tell her how he felt about her, much too afraid of a rejection. She was the reason why he�d stayed in this stinking town after his Sire�s finally moved on to L.A. He�d told both Dru and Angel of his feelings for the witch and they had encouraged him to go after her. But she was too good for the likes of a demon like him. He didn�t even have a soul like both Angel and Drusilla had, how could he possibly be with such a paragon of beauty and light?
His mind tried desperately to remind him of a memory he had had as a human but an accident early on in his unlife had forced the memories of his human self away and had almost totally eradicated his human identity. All he knew were flashes occasionally. Green eyes, a song he�d heard, and walks in the sun with someone he loved. And the letter of course, the one so creased and worn that the words were almost unintelligible to someone who hadn�t spent the last century and a half memorising them for when the flimsy paper it was written on finally gave in to the ravages of time in a way that he never would and disintegrated.
He turned his mind back to Willow, his friend. He wasn�t going to go and talk to her; just check and make sure she was alright.
Taking a final drag on his cigarette he crushed it beneath his boot and launched himself at her balcony. With a predator�s grace he landed silently and peered in the darkened window, crouching low and hiding in the shadows.
Willow lay in a foetal position on the bed wrapped around what Spike presumed to be a stuffed toy. Maybe the one he�d given her as a gift a few months ago for her birthday.
What unnerved him was the expression of anguish on her features as she slept. His unbeating heart went out to her and he fought the urge to find the Slayer and beat her until she hurt as bad as Red obviously did for whatever she had done to his precious.
He stayed until dawn keeping a silent vigil at the redhead�s side.
Willow opened her eyes and for a blessed, blissful moment it was all a dream. Then reality crashed down on her and she felt her heart ache all over again.
She�d had what she had always wanted, someone who had wanted to be with her for all eternity and who loved her completely. But she�d had to give him up, had to let him die in the most horrible way- to kill and be killed- so as not to disturb the future.
She didn�t really hate Buffy although if the blonde hadn�t talked her into the idea she wouldn�t have even considered it. All so Buffy could be with Human Angel. But still Willow had done the spell so it was partly her fault. She dragged herself out of bed and threw on some jeans, feeling strange after weeks of long dresses and under things. She glanced at the clock and was surprised to see that it was after four, she had slept through the entire day. The thought was abstract as she didn�t really care too much right now about anything. She made her way to the kitchen as her stomach protested that comment.
She noticed the light flickering on the answer machine and hit play before she could change her mind. Eggs, she could manage eggs.
BEEP �Hey Wills, it�s Xander are you okay? Did you do some funky mojo on the Buffster, she�s acting all weird. Call me.�
BEEP �Willow, it�s Buffy. I am so sorry about everything and um� we *really* need to talk. Things are a little different. Oh crap I gotta go, I�m sorry. I love you.�
BEEP �Willow this is your mother. I needed to call and say that your father and I are on conference in Europe and will be unable to drop by before our flight. We�ll call before we return. Oh and Happy birthday, we have made a deposit so you can choose your own gift. Goodbye.�
BEEP �Wills its Xand again. I�m worried about you. Call me�what?...Anya says she knows some demons who owe her favours�no Anya evisceration is not the best way to deal with Buffy� no I don�t think that�s very helpful at all� call me Willow!�
BEEP �Willow, its Giles here. We are very worried about you. Do call us if you need to talk.�
Willow smiled gently at the message. It was nice to know that she had great friends who cared about her.
She retreated to her room and picked up the bag she had dropped on the floor last night. It contained a few mementos from her vacation. A few dresses and trinkets, a book for Giles; necklace for Anya and one for her mother; a mini dagger for Xander and a gothic cigarette box for Spike.
Spike.
Her breath caught in her throat, she knew that eventually she would have to see him.
It would be so hard to see the demon with the face of the man she loved with each breath she had. Unwittingly, her feet made their way to the bed where the Red journal lay abandoned. She had just picked it up to read again when the doorbell rang. Willow made her way downstairs and sighed when she saw Buffy standing at the glass.
�What is it Buffy?� she asked tiredly
Buffy looked guiltily at her friend, Willow had dark circles under her eyes and a sad expression on her face.
�Sorry to bug you Wills, but we really do need to talk.�
Willow grabbed her jacket from the rack. �I need a drink.� She muttered and they walked away.
Chapter 3 Sweet surprise?
Willow ordered a mocha with whipped cream and extra sprinkles, she had a feeling she�d need both the caffeine and sugar to get her through whatever it was that Buffy had to tell her.
Buffy sat across from her in the booth and played with her sleeves.
�What is it?� Willow asked finally.
�First up I�m not gonna stop apologising and um�here.� Buffy pulled a brown bag out of her bag.
Willow looked inside and then back up at Buffy in surprise
�Store bought.� Buffy said �I can�t bake and I didn�t want to give you food poisoning on top of everything else.�
�Cookies?� Willow grinned and pulled a white chocolate chip one out of the bag �Go on I�m prepared.�
*As if!* Buffy bit her lip unsure where to start. �Last night I spent all night with Giles� Watchers diaries.�
Willow stared �Voluntarily?�
Buffy scowled for a second �I can read you know.�
Willow made a motion with her hands as if to say �go on�.
�Um, I kinda noticed some stuff was different when I went to see Giles and hence the book fest.� She looked like she�d rather be anywhere but here.
�What?�
�Ok. Beginning.� Buffy took a deep breath �When Angel first came to Sunnydale, he wasn�t alone. He bought both Spike and Drusilla with him.�
�Huh?� the cookie lay halfway to her mouth- forgotten.
�I haven�t found out why yet but apparently they were all still together when they came here.�
�Oh�crap.� Willow�s eyes were wide
�I just skim read his cliff notes but from what I can find, when me and Angel did the�had� you know, he lost his soul but for some reason he didn�t go on a killing spree.�
�Um, yay?� what was she supposed to say
�So-� Buffy decided to get it all out in one go. �Kendra died in battle with Vampires, Faith is still around and good apparently, Riley never left, Giles is married to Miss Calendar and they have a daughter called Hannah, Mom is still alive and Spike has no chip, so how are you?�
�Is there alcohol?�
Willow tried to assimilate everything. Faith was there still and she was good. Miss Calendar was alive and so was Joyce. Riley was around and Spike had no chip. Could she pass out now?
Buffy watched her warily �You Okay?�
Willow gave her a look which just screamed �Duh!� and sipped her mocha
�The sky still blue?�
Buffy nodded
�I can deal then.� She took a deep breath �I think we need to find out a little more about the place we�re in.�
�Ok, the best place to start would be Giles�, I mean *the* Giles�.�
�Then let�s go.� Willow replied less than enthusiastically.
Willow was happy to see that Giles� place hadn�t changed all that much, it was far better gardened but the outside was basically untouched.
Willow pushed open the door and let her eyes adjust to the light.
�Auntie Willow!� there was a scream from about knee height and Willow felt herself be hit by a streak of brown light.
She looked down to see the most adorable brown eyes staring up at her.
��llo Auntie Willow.� The little girl grinned. �Mommy said you was back. Did ya miss me?�
�Uh sure?� Willow said with increasing panic
�Hannah?� Buffy guessed and the bundle of energy turned to her
��llo Auntie Buffy.� her tone was far quieter than when she had greeted Willow. Buffy suddenly got the impression that Hannah didn�t like her very much. She looked down a little disappointed
�Are you gonna beat Daddy up again?� Hannah stared at Buffy from beside Willow.
Willow tried to smother a grin as Buffy spluttered
�I don�t beat Giles up!� she cried
�Is she still on that?� came a voice from the doorway and Jenny Giles walked in and bent down to Hannah�s level totally oblivious to the shocked look on Willow�s face. �Honey, I told you that Buffy only play fights with Daddy. They don�t mean to hurt each other. Now why don�t you show Auntie Willow what you were up to this week.� She looked up and her soft smile included Willow �She drew you some Pictures.�
�Oh?� Willow forced a grin on her face, trying not to look like she wanted to throw her arms around Jenny and cry. Miss Calendar had been her inspiration for all things supernatural, in the absence of Sheila Rosenberg, Jenny had become a female role model.
Hannah held out her hand and grabbed Willow�s.
�C�mon Auntie Willow, I wanna show you my pictures!� Willow found herself being dragged over to a large table in the middle of the room. It was full of books and volumes at various stages of being read and what really shocked Willow was a huge computer sat at one side. A computer at Giles???
Hannah dropped Willow�s hand and clambered onto the high chair next to her.
�Daddy said I�s not s�posed to touch his books but I used the paper you got for me and I drew you these.� She brandished some brightly coloured pages with a huge smile.
�Uh thanks?� Willow took them cautiously. Ok so she had had a little practise with children recently, with Simon Hardwood but she still had no idea how to handle the attention. She looked down at the first one. There was a bright circle in the sky coloured in with pale yellow and there was a dark blue line across the top of the page. The bottom was coloured in green and there were several people in the picture.
�Who are they?� she asked Hannah
�That�s Daddy.� She pointed to a stick figure with big eyes -no wait they were glasses- and holding a book, he was coloured brown �for tweed maybe? �And that�s Auntie Buffy getting eaten by a Vampire.�
The blonde stick figure had red all over her and had a stick figure with pointy teeth standing over her with a big smile.
Willow choked back a laugh. �Lovely.� She grinned
�Uncle Spike likes that one too.� Hannah said sagely and then pointed to the next one �I drew uvver ones too!�
Willow turned the page to the next drawing it had the same sky and grass as the first. This one had lots more people in it.
�That�s Auntie Anya and Uncle Xander.� The two stick figures were holding hands �That�s Mommy and Daddy.� The big glasses stick figure was holding hands with the one wearing stars and moons earrings. �That�s Auntie Buffy and Uncle Wiley.� Buffy had long blonde hair and a little bit of red on her body.
�Why is Auntie Buffy bleeding?� Willow asked
�She got bit by the Vampire.� Hannah said firmly, and then looked nervously to where Buffy and Jenny were talking �But don�t tell Mommy.�
Willow agreed, she could learn to love this kid.
�That�s me and Uncle Spike and Auntie Faith and Auntie Joyce and You.� Stick Figure Willow was holding hands with stick figure Hannah.
�Next.� Hannah said impatiently
Willow obediently turned the next one over. There were only three people in this picture.
Hannah had obviously spent a lot of time on this one. The middle figure had a pink shirt with a star on it, a pink skirt and chocolate brown hair in bunches with a big smile on her face.
�That�s you?� Willow guessed and Hannah nodded.
The figure to the right had a purple skirt and black top with a star to match the one on Hannah�s shirt and red hair and green eyes. She was holding Hannah and had stars and moons all around her.
�The stars are your magic.� Hannah explained
Willow turned her attention to the other character. All dressed in black except for his yellow spiky hair and blue eyes, oh and the red over his�fangs?
Underneath was written �To my best Auntie Willow.�
�Mommy helped me with my words.� She stated proudly and Willow swallowed the sudden lump in her throat
�I drawed this one today.� Hannah carried on ��specially for you but I want Uncle Spike to see it too, so you can�t take it home yet, �k?�
�Ok.� Willow hugged her �Thank you Hannah, they are beautiful.�
Chapter 4 Back to the�wait a minute where are we?
Buffy managed to convince Jenny that they just needed to look through Giles books for a while to sort out a demon she had seen on patrol, Jenny was just happy that the two girls seemed to have gotten over whatever had upset Buffy yesterday. She walked off to make them a drink.
�This is weird.� Willow whispered to Buffy. �We are home but it�s not home.�
�I know.� Buffy said back �I spent all last night just talking to Mom, I wanted to just look at her forever, but she had to go to the gallery. It was amazing.� She wiped the tears from her eyes �I never knew how much I missed her until now.�
Willow smiled and then looked sad �I don�t think I�ve seen my parents since Graduation. At least some things don�t change.�
She picked up the Watchers diary and flicked through the first few pages. Her gaze fell on the drawing that Hannah had done of her, Willow and Spike. Spike.
�I- I have to go now Buffy.� She stood up in a hurry and grabbed her jacket. She left quickly.
�Where did Auntie Willow go?� Hannah said as she looked up from her drawings �Did you beat her up?�
A loud knock disturbed Willow as she sat on her bed staring into space. She raised her head and was surprised to see it was night outside.
She went downstairs and answered the door.
As she swung it open, her jaw dropped in shock and her heart beat out a loud rhythm against her chest.
Spike shifted his feet as Willow stared at him like he was a ghost. Okay it wasn�t that unusual for him to be there.
�Red?�
Willow snapped out of her trance and clacked her mouth shut as the security light came on illuminating Spike�s bleach blonde hair. Blonde- not brown. Spike- not William.
�H-hey Spike.� she croaked, her throat suddenly dry.
�You okay?� he peered concerned at her.
Not trusting her voice she just nodded and stepped back letting him enter. He heart flipped as he came in without an invitation. In their reality Spike had never been into her house. Just one more thing that was different.
Spike gave her a smile so reminiscent of William that her heart lurched. All those flips and lurches, maybe she was having a heart attack?
�Heard you were hurt.� Spike came right to the point
�I�m fine.� She lied
As she looked she could see differences. Spike stood tall, proud where William had hunched like he was expecting a blow. Spike exuded confidence where William was painfully shy. Spike William.
Spike raised an eyebrow, her normally sparkling eyes were sad.
�Sure, pet. You�re fine and I�m Santa. Look the Slayer said she�d hurt you-�
�She *told* you to come here?� Willow�s shock at Buffy�s callous disregard momentarily outweighed her hurt.
�No, stupid bint actually told me not to come. Begged me actually.� He shook his head in disbelief �The Slayer *begged* me. Said I�d make it worse. Like I would ever hurt you.�
�You wouldn�t?�
Spike was surprised. �Of course not.� I love you, you daft girl. You are the reason I didn�t go to L.A with Poof and Poof-etta. �So love, are you gonna tell me what the Slayer did to hurt you?�
Willow eyed him, if Buffy had made a big scene out of it; they were all going to expect an explanation.
�She did something without thinking and it landed me in a situation that caused me pain.� She said carefully telling the truth without actually telling the truth.
�Physical?� he raked his eyes over her trim figure checking for bruises.
Willow shook her head �Emotional.�
�Ahh the worst kind.� He replied with a half smile �I-I�m here if you need to talk.� He nearly swallowed the words, when had he turned into a pansy?
Willow�s smile made him forget his pansy behaviour as it lit up his insides. �Are you going to the Watchers?�
�Is there a creature feature?�
�Does there have to be, pet?�
�Isn�t there always?�
�Do you always answer a question with a question?� he gave her a teasing smile that did strange things to her
�Why do you want to know?�
Spike chuckled, he loved battling wits with Willow, and she seemed a lot more confident after her vacation, maybe being hurt by the Slayer caused her to grow up a little. She was still his Red and he still wanted to rip out the Slayer�s throat but she was much more comfortable around him than before. He could learn to enjoy this.
Willow felt the tension leave her body. She could do this, be friends with Spike. Now she was over the initial awkwardness, she could pretend. Pretend that she hadn�t gone back in time and fallen in love with William pretend that her heart hadn�t been shattered; pretend that she could be friends with Spike. Pretend that she wasn�t in love with Spike.
Buffy looked up as the door opened. She had been totally miserable all day, dodging the questions Jenny threw at her and the suspicious looks of the little brunette who wanted to know what she�d done to her precious Auntie Willow. She managed to come up with new names to call herself for breaking her friends� heart and was getting quite creative too.
After her emotional outburst last night everyone had tried to get her to confess what she had done to Willow, but as she had promised the Witch that she wouldn�t tell, she had refused. They had left confused and disappointed in her.
Truthfully she was disappointed in herself, after all Willow had done for her, she felt like an evil bitch.
She turned to the door, fully expecting it to be Spike, the thought sending a pang that she couldn�t quite understand. Despite his annoying qualities she admired Spike�s resilience and ingenuity in coping with his chipped status, but she�d also grown to like human William. The fact that she�d had to leave sweet William to be murdered by her future love to turn into smart ass Spike didn�t sit well with her at all. And now that Spike was un-chipped?? She had extra guilt coupons.
As the door opened and Spike sauntered in, his usual cocky manner in place she felt the overwhelming- and unwelcome-urge to apologise.
�Did you know the door opens both ways?� he asked over his shoulder
Buffy watched confused
�Are you just grasping for ideas now?� came a reply and Buffy�s jaw dropped as Willow walked in behind him.
�What *do* you mean?� Spike frowned playfully.
�Did you know the door opens both ways?� Willow mimicked �Do you know how lame that was?�
�Do I want to?� he countered
�What�s going on?� Buffy was really confused. Willow and Spike looked at each other and burst into laughter.
�What?�
�Do you know that game where every sentence has to be a question?� Willow watched as Buffy�s face cleared
�You�re playing that game with Spike?�
�Yeah.� Spike drawled and Willow immediately clapped her hands in delight.
�I win!� Spike groaned realising his error
�Sod it Slayer, we�ve been playing for over an hour and I was just about to win.�
�Dream on Spike!� Willow sat on the table and reached for a drink can next to Buffy. It was empty.
�Thirsty, love?� Spike was up and heading for the kitchen �What do you want?�
�Tea?� Spike nodded and went to fix her a drink.
Buffy hurriedly turned to her friend. �I didn�t tell him to go see you.�
�I know.� Willow�s eyes darkened slightly �He said you begged him to stay away.�
Buffy looked away
�I didn�t want to make things worse.�
�I don�t hate you.� Willow knew what Buffy had been thinking. �I�ve spent the last few days trying to get through this by myself, just like I did with Oz and I realised that I don�t want to. I need my best friend.
With half a sob Buffy threw her arms around Willow �I love you Willow I�m so sorry I screwed everything up.�
�It�s okay Buffy.� Willow patted her on the back
Buffy pulled away and wiped her face with her sleeve �Does it hurt to be reminded of him?� she nodded to the kitchen.
Willow closed her eyes �A little, it helps that they act so different, this Spike is different still from the other one, but you know how I felt about him.�
�Him who?� Spike came in with a steaming cup of tea for her
�No one.� Willow warned Buffy with a glance. Spike caught the look and something clicked. They must have been talking about their fight, it was over a guy. The thought hurt. A lot.
Chapter 5. Absent Family� and you are?
�Uncle Spike!� the shrill scream hurt the Vampire�s tender eardrums.
�Hells sake Li�l bit, turn the volume down okay?� Spike winced
Hannah put her hands on her hips �Mommy said you was not to say that around me.�
�Say what?� Spike asked mischievously
�Hell. Oops.� She slapped her little hands over her mouth and Spike chuckled
�I won�t tell on you if you don�t tell on me.�
Willow giggled to see Spike so light-hearted. Then she recalled what he�d just said.
�Doesn�t it get confusing when you call Dawn L�il bit too?�
Spike looked confused �Who�s Dawn?�
�Oh!� Willow looked at Buffy who shook her head sadly; she�d regained her mother but lost her sister.
�Hey Uncle Spike I drewed a picture, you wanna see?�
Spike nodded and Hannah ran over to pick up the drawing. �It�s you and me and Auntie Willow.�
Spike looked at the childish drawing and smiled. He picked her up and she sat on his knee wrapping her arms around his neck and planting a kiss on his cheek.
�It�s perfect pet.�
�Hey Red!� Willow turned to see Faith enter followed by Xander and Anya.
�Faith?� Willow had never been on good terms with the rogue Slayer, especially after Faith had tried several times to kill her.
Faith came over and hugged Willow tightly, much to both Buffy and Willow�s shock.
�Missed ya babe.� Faith grinned and snapped her gum stepping back from the witch. �I had to patrol all by my lonesome. Course these two were little help and I could a used your mojo and-�
�You wanted Willow to do all the research?� Giles asked from the door
�Straight up.� Faith shuddered �Books are wicked scary.�
�Where�s the rest of the gang?� Xander said plopping down next to Willow and giving her a one armed hug.
�There�s more?� Willow said amazed. The Scooby�s seemed to have grown in leaps and bounds.
�Only Mrs G and Riley.�
�I have asked you not to call me that.� Jenny said as she came in from the kitchen with a frown at Xander.
�Sorry Mrs G.� he replied unabashedly.
She rolled her eyes �Why do we have to put up with this comedian?�
�In order to be a comedian, someone has to find him funny.� Spike replied dryly
�Hannah finds me funny don�t cha Han?� Xander cooed and she giggled.
Spike poked her in the side �Whose side are you on?�
�Auntie Willow�s.� she said sincerely as Spike started tickling her
�Me too.� He whispered in her ear and turned to look at the redhead.
Willow couldn�t stop the expression of uneasiness from her face. This was all wrong, half these people weren�t even alive and the other half were too nice. Sure it was great to have Jenny and Hannah, but they weren�t supposed to be here. Why were they here? What had Willow changed so much that they were alive?
She felt sick to her stomach and so dizzy.
�I�m not feeling so hot, guys.� Willow said standing up �I�m gonna go home.�
�I�ll walk you.� Spike volunteered immediately. Buffy looked round but no one seemed to question it. It seemed he did it a lot, which was something to think about.
Willow�s head was hurting, there was just so much she didn�t know and sooner or later she was going to slip up, like she did when asking about Dawn. What had caused this much change? What had she done that caused this much change, she amended.
�Are you alright Red?� Spike asked
�Really no.� she answered honestly wondering if Spike could help her.
�What is it?�
�Everything feels really different.� She explained hesitantly �Since we got back. I don�t feel like I belong here.�
�Of course you do.� Spike gave her a look �Hell, Li�l bit worships you, she asked every day when you were coming home. Everyone missed you.�
Willow sighed, that�s not what she meant, but she had borrowed Giles� diaries, they were tucked in her bag so she could at least get some answers.
�So how are you Spike?�
Spike smiled, a genuine smile, it wrenched at her heart �Can�t complain. I got a call from Angel and Dru from LA yesterday, they want me to go visit soon.�
�Oh!� Angel and Dru were in LA together �Are you okay with that? Do you still love her?� she asked cautiously
Spike stopped short �Love Dru?� he started laughing �What gave you that idea? I�ve never loved Dru, in case you didn�t notice last time she came to visit, Dru is nuttier than a fruitcake, although the soul has calmed her down a bit.�
�Soul?� Willow whispered horrified
Spike gave her that odd look again �Yeah, her soul.�
�H-how did she get that soul?�
�You know the story.� Spike frowned
�Y-yeah but I want to hear it again.� Willow lied smoothly as they reached her house �Y-you could come inside and tell me, I-if you want to that is. I have hot chocolate and marshmallows.�
Spike couldn�t pass up the opportunity; spend time with Red, alone without the interruptions of the others? Plus hot chocolate.
�I�d love to.�