Chapter 6

"Bloody 'ell!" Spikes head slammed up against the stone pillar in his crypt. He winced once before glaring at the slayer profusely, her fingers wrapped tightly around his small neck.

"Shut up." Pause. "And I need you help."

"Well, since you threatened so nicely…" Her grip tightened.

"Seriously, Anya's in trouble and we don't have much time."

"And what makes you think I'd give a sod what ' appened to demon girl?"

" You care, because I can pay you."

"Now that sounds more like my kind of talk."

"No, your talk has an accent, I talk with a stake in my hand."

"Hey, watch the coat!"

Chapter 7
London, 1308 Bovelo drive. Mary Baker's Psychiatric treatment and understanding:
November 12th, 1880:

"Yes, it's hard to get over traumatic experiences like the one you've been through William, but I think that if your insistent on reliving that 'occurrence' that happened almost six years ago that you will never move on. I think the up-most healthiest thing for you to do is to find another, someone new to confine in who is just as special as Lilith was." The room was illuminated in sun light from a near by window, an odd day she decided, it being so bright this time of year. A storm must be coming she was sure of it, it never got this brilliant outside without something bad coming next… as it also was with life. The boy, William had been in her office for nearly two hours, the time was almost up and he had been talking about his past again, she had also done a far amount of talking herself but that was to be expected.

William looked up, an eyebrow raised as he lay back against the red velvet couch. To him, this woman had been talking for nearly an hour now about how it wasn't his fault and how things would change in time eventually as all things do. He had heard this spiel again and again from family in London and it was getting tiresome. It had been six years since Lilith's death and the pain was still there. After 'Lilith Marie Donagan' had been shot, Robert, the other man, had been tried and convicted for her murder. Because of all his wealth, he got off easy with a few years in jail and a slap on the wrist. William didn't know and didn't care where he was now.

William, on the other hand, although not tried for her death, was still agonizing over her demise years after. The pain was greatly reducing now and he sometimes thought that maybe it was time to get over Lil, to move on to further his career in poems. Some times he thought he had so much passion that it would burst out and one day break his heart. Truthfully, since that night so long ago, he had secretly slipped into a sort of solvent nature. He hadn't even looked a pone another girl since that night, what was the point after all? But, that was before he had seen Sicily two nights ago. All of a sudden he didn't know what to think and now he found himself jabbering on to a doctor about his experiences and thoughts.

This one seemed to genuinely care about him and asked fairly well questions most of the time, she wasn't at all demanding and, he decided, she defiantly had potential. Her family had spent a great deal of money for her to go to school and become a physiologist; the diploma on the wall was a sign of that by far. She looked like she had been in this profession for nearly 20 years now, give or take. She used a pad of paper and a pen and jolted things down on it every so often, it didn't bother him as much as he though it should have.

William, now at twenty-four, replied softly, his glasses hung against the bridge of his nose precariously." No one will replace Lil doc, I know that for a fact, problem is that…well, I have found someone else, but I don't think I'll ever look at her the same way."

" Oh, so you've met someone new have you?" Again she jolted something down quickly.

He wondered what she was writing down on that paper that was so important. He continued." Yes, I… I can't stop thinking about her though," It was the truth. "Sometimes it drives me daft just seeing her walk into a room …and then I can't breath."

"Tell me about her a little would you?" She leaned forward to listen, the chair she sat on creaked ever so slightly as the wooden frame strained to compensate for the weight shift.

" Not much to tell, actually she goes to all these parties with her brother hosting, there's one tonight in port a fact. I'm invited, but only because her younger sister fancies me."

"What's the girls name, the one whom you like?"

He sighed dramatically and leaned his head up against the pillow of the couch, the ceiling had some stains on it, wonder where those had come from? "Her names Sicily, and she has an older brother named Fredrick and a younger sister named Sarah. I wouldn't be going to these celebrations except that I know that she'll, Sicily, will be there. Frankly I'd rather be home and reading a good book, but I'll go tonight anyway like I always do. They've been having them, parties, all this week since Fredrick is back shortly from schooling in Preston. I've only gone to two, yesterday and the day before. Most of the time I just sit and watch." He chuckled at his own words lightly, it sounded as though he pitied himself.

" So you say that the younger sister has a liking to you?"

She was changing the subject now, why? "Yes but Sarah's quite younger you see, it's the only reason I'm invited, I only like to go because I know Sicily will be there. Most of her chaps, her schooling mates, they're very… discourteous."

"What about those friends of Sicily's?"

"There rude and intolerable most of the times. They gave me a name a while back as a joke and it's stayed with me. It's because of my writings you know."

"Writings? Oh, Poems, that's right, you had mentioned something about poems in our last season, what is it about your poems that would make them give you a name?"

" Well, I'll admit, my poems are not very good, but I only write them because it's the way I feel. It helps sometimes to get them down on paper."

" Yes, I think it's a very healthy manner of expression and I urge you to keep at it. If I may inquire thought William, what's the name they call you, if you don't mind my asking." She sounded very timid, like she was afraid to ask.

He only smirked slightly, lifting his head to flicker away a stand of blond hair, he replayed boldly." William the bloody." He didn't sound proud, but already knew what her response would be like.

" Oh, my."

" No it's not what you think, really, they call me it because of my, as they say, 'Bloody awful poetry.'" he rolled his eyes for effect. "I've heard them talk behind my back and such, they knaves at best… most of the time. I think me being at Sicily's parties embarrasses her."

" I'm sure it doesn't William, you're a very intelligent man and if she doesn't see all the good in you that I do then I think it is she who is losing out, but…" She looked down at her pad of paper. " You said you'll be going to one of those parties tonight is that correct?"

He nodded solemnly, sitting up; it was almost time to go.

" I think that tonight, if you see Sicily, you should tell her how you feel about her."

" I don't usually talk to her. I'm chummy with her younger sis and brother some what, but I've always admired her from afar. It's not my style to just walk up and blurt out my feelings. Hens why I write them down?"

" Well, I think you should change your policy then, for tonight, carpe diem 'seize that day.'"

The blond haired lad nodded and stood up with that." Ok doc, whatever you say, maybe this party won't be as bad as all that after all." His hopes were rising, and then they fell quickly. "Although, I have to admit, I'm a bit nervous now. I wish you could be there to tell me what to do and what to say. I'm always saying the wrong things you know."

" I know it's hard, but I believe in you. And I also believe that a person should find his or her own path. Remember, if you ever need to talk, anytime, day or evening when my office is open, come, and don't be shy. You'd be surprised what you can obtain if you only want it bad enough. Do you want it?"

" Yes…" He wanted it so much it hurt when he thought he couldn't have it. " God yes."

" Then go, and find you path William. That is my two shilling advice for the day to you."

Chapter 8

"You know, I spend a hundred years terrorizing cities in Europe. A little massacre, some bloodshed, bundles of brawls…and now look where I am; sitting around with you plighters with a bowl of incense ready to chat the mystical Powers That Be to be bring a girly, who I couldn't even stand when she was awake, back to life. I'm willing to go out on a limb and say my unlife has had a recent downfall."

"Shut up Spike. Now," The Slayer sat down in her white circle that had been previously dawn on the wooden lacquered floor of the magic shop, her spot was between the two males, Giles and Spike. "We ready?"

The watcher nodded, " Well, if Xanders already on his way to the…um, place where the occurrence…. um…well, occurred and everything is in order I believe we'll start as soon as possible." He glanced over at the red headed witch who nodded back in response."

The blond vampire started to complain again. " Have I mentioned…?"

They all looked up. " Shut up, Spike!" the three said in unison. He quickly did as told. At least he was getting paid for this. Normally he'd be doing no such thing unless otherwise motivated.

I mean, really, the scourge of the European underworld chanting with a load of goodies to summon the mystical powers? Dru would have been laughing hysterically at him if she had seen this. Actually, if she weren't already hysterical in the first place, she'd be laughing anyway.

Spikes place, in conjunction with everyone else in the sacred circle, was between Willow and Buffy; Rupert sat opposite. The other girlie, whom was currently knocked out and not talking, thankfully, was resting on a near by table behind the watcher The old bloke himself had his eyes closed…opps!

The blond vampire quickly shut his eyes before Willow could begin. The witch started, her voice soft. " Goddess Osiris I call on thee; bid us good favor and allow us back what is ours. She is the powerful turned meek for love; she is helpless in her mortal plan. Grant us, lift her tortured soul and starve soul from the nether and again reunite it with the body."

Conjuring spell, always overwritten.

A quick wind picked up in the store, it seemed to circle around the small group and disrupt the trinkets and incense in the center. Buffy's long blond hair tangled in the steadily growing breeze, her face that of a solid statue as the red headed witch continued. The candles had been blow out now, the room was darker then before save the light coming in through the large window in the front of the store. Giles looked as though he was asleep, he sat with both of the girl's hands in his. He was obviously concentrating very hard, he took this way to seriously Spike thought. The vampire opened one eye a sliver to look at willow. Her Buffy, the witches hair was dancing in the air, she continued to talk, only louder now then before. " Osiris, here we have four, two of the powerful of mortal realm and two of the powerful through lineage, through blood The wise, the cunning, the pure and the strength. We implore, bring back the wonderer."

At these few words, a light, faint at first, started to glow in the ceiling above the four. It grew in size as the powerful wind continued to pick up around them. Like a ripple in a pool of water the light swirled into a growing portal of energy, the spell was working. The light was almost blinding, spike squinted his eyes at it as he looked up, both eyes opened now. The vampire raised an eyebrow in confusion when he felt, to his right, Buffy squeezing his hand. He turned his head and looked at her when she had stopped. The Slayers features were glowing radiantly from the unnatural light from above their heads.

Buffy opened her eye slowly; the same bright light from above evident in the iris before fading away.

He must have been seeing things. " Slayer?" He shook her hand lightly. " Slayer what's the matter pet… it's only a …" he was cut off, a rush of light from the portal above hitting his chest and sending his head knocking back from the force. He dangled his head for a moment and then dragged it back up slowly; it felt like a sudden bolt of electricity only something was in him, something filling him. It felt odd, but not abnormally so, a pain in his throat and a feeling of emptiness in the pit of his stomach, it felt familiar but why?

" William?" The voice was soft, Buffy, but still not sounding like her at all. " William is that you, what in gods name happened to your hair?"

Lilth?

Willow still spook, eye closed as the portal only manifested its colors and shapes, spitting out rays of light around the shop iridescently. One hit the main counter top where the cash machine was, Anya wouldn't have liked that; another disappeared into the bookshelves.

The vampires' eyes widened and slowly, Spike let go of willow's hand and brought it up to Buffy's cheek, leaning in so her could look in her eyes. Her eyes hadn't been blue before had they? " Lilith, Buffy? What's… what's happening?"

" I forgot to tell you something a long time ago, I'm thankful I get to tell you now, but I have to hurry."

" What, what do you need to say Lil?"

" Remember when, that night you came, saved me from Robert and then asked me to come to London with you?" He nodded immediately." I never got to tell you how much I loved you, I wanted to for so long but I couldn't. You deserve so much happiness William."

" No, lily, I loved you more then anything, when you left there wasn't a reason to go on. You were my reason for living my life they way I was."

"You sound different, you look different, and can I ask you a question?" He nodded again. "Are you different then you were before?" She lifted her hand and put it to his chest, just to the right over his heart. " Why are you still here and your heart isn't beating?"

" It's a long story Lil, the only thing that kept me going was knowing I'd find someone else like you in time. And then one night It didn't hurt so much and I was offered as much time as I needed. When my heart stopped beating though, the pain of your loss was gone as well and I wasn't the same. But, I feel different now, god it hurts now… God, I want to die again."

" No, no William you do that and I'll bloody well gives you a wallop!" He chuckled, looking down and back up once. It was still Buffy, but she wasn't Buffy, she was Lilith. Everything was there down to the last smart-alecky remark, accent, and blue eyes. " Love. Always, its was makes you stronger then anyone. It's what will give me peace.. If I know that you loved me and that you can love someone again as you did me, then I'll be the happier for it. I want you to be happy, that's all I want. You're my William now, not what you have become. But, it will go away as I will. Your friend on the table will live, just remember what I said, and live, even if your body is dead. I don't understand why you love on when your soul is stranded in the other realm, but I do know that inside, soul or no soul, you still human. Human enough to realize I'm right. I have to go now."

" No, no Lilith don't go… I'll…"

" Shh…. remember what I said, it won't hurt for very much longer." She bent forward and kissed him on the lips, the light above there heads brightening to it fullest just before it deemed away. It was once again dark in the magic shop.

Slowly, Buffy once again opened her eyes. The first thing she noticed was a light fad from Spikes eyes as he looked to her, kindly, softly. The second thing she noticed was his soft, cool hand on her cheek, it was almost soothing, she was tempted to stay.

" How's the money?" Anya sat up on the table, her hand clutching the side of her head as if she had acquired a sudden headache. Not noticing the intimate sitting position Spike and Buffy were in, Giles and Willow stood up and walked over to her.

Buffy herself looked to the peroxide blond once more before she too stood and joined the other at the table.

" You alright an?" The witch held her hand, helping her off the table.

Anya twirled her legs over the side of the table." Yeah, I'm fine… but I saw what you were doing, there were shiny bolts of light whizzing around the room. Conjuring spirits back to a persons body is dangerous, there could be consequences."

Giles fixed his shirt and glasses as he stood by. " Yes, but you weren't dead, the risk was minimal, it wasn't as nearly as saver as it could have been if we hadn't had the right components." He gestured to Buffy and Willow.

Buffy nodded, " it's ok An, we're ok…and done, I just hope that Xander and Tara are ok."

Anyas eyes widened in realization. " Oh no, Xander, what if…"

" He's not…" The red headed witches power of telepathy was growing stronger everyday. " They're just walking back, they can't fine the demon… it's gone."

Buffy turned around to the rest of the room to thank Spike. " Speaking of gone…" He was.

Chapter 9
London, 1308 Bovelo drive. Mary Baker's Psychiatric treatment and understanding:
November 14th, 1880:

It was late and she needed to go home to her husband and daughter. Even though her daughter was a teenager, London still wasn't a safe place at night, especially for a girl.

In this state of age in time, being a woman was a hard thing to be, but Mary Elizabeth Baker was a stubborn woman. She had wanted to become a psychologist all her life, and she had fought a long and hard battle to convince her father to let her get the schooling she needed at home for it. Considering there were no schools spacifically for girls around these parts, private schooling was the only way to go. But she had built a good life for herself never the less and had a wonderful family and tried to spend as much time as she could at home. She wanted to get home tonight, that was, if she ever got done with all this paperwork tonight.

Her new patient William seemed nice, a few minor guilt and trust issues, but nothing that he couldn't get over in time and help. Although, she was getting worried, after there session two days ago, she hadn't seen him the following day like she had expected. Darkness had set in all but an hour ago and it was now ending on another day. The light from a near by candle the only thing that would enable her to see her papers.

Being as it was fall, it was rather chilling outside in the streets, not so much that you would need an extra coat, but just enough to close the windows.

That's why it puzzled Mary when the candle flickered harshly all of a sudden and then finally blew out. With a frustrated sigh, the lights now off, the room now covered in a deep, thick blanket of darkness as it was outside; she searched around with his hands for the filing cabinet drawer handle. Surly there must be another match in there somewhere. Once finding the handle, finally, she opened it with a smooth slid and dipped her hand into the drawer, finding a match almost immediately. She picked up the thin piece of wood and struck it against the side of her countertop igniting the small flame. Carefully, she lit the wick of the candle that had gone out, covering the yellow flame with her palm in insure that it would not blow out again.

She looked up when she had finished, William stood before her in the darkness, his eyes a dule, lifeless blue. It startled her and Mary dropped the dead match to the desktop. "Oh! William…" She breathed a moment, putting his hand to her chest. " You startled me… your back, thank god." He nodded solemnly, cocking his had to one side slowly, questioning her with his eyes. She didn't notice. " I say, it's a tad late in the evening for a talk, but, if you like I could spare a moment for you if you'd like to sit and…"

He chuckled lightly, interrupting her." That's alright…"

She looked confused as he walked toward her around the small desk, only half his face illuminated in the light, the other half bathed in complete darkness. He was intimidating her now, was he doing this on purpose? " Oh, then what can I help you with then?"

" I just wanted to tell yew somet'en." He was so cold, and didn't sound the same either; his voice was less proper, like he was using slang now, like those cockney boys down at the market she went to use sometimes. He moved his fingers lightly over the lacquered surface of her desktop as he came closer. She was getting scared.

" Alright, um…th…then could it not wait until later. Possibly tomorrow?"

" No!" he said immediately. " I have other things to do tonight as well and I don't fancy wasting much time here." He came closer; he was now on the side of the desk, standing before her but a foot away. " But I'd wager you want me gone." He smirked again, hands crossed behind his back. " I have to go soon, but I wanted to tell you something. I wanted to tell yew that I found what I wanted." He stepped closer, inches from her.

Mary leaned back in her chair, almost ready to fall back out the other side. "That's… that's wonderful William… what is it?" The stutter in her voice was enough to be recognized as fear.

He grabbed her neck and lifted her into the air with one movement, pounding her back into the desktop with a loud pound. She shrieked out in pain once before William covered her mouth with the other hand. " Shh…" he looked her in the eyes back and forth, studying her fear, his fingers tightening around her small warm throat. " It brilliant, really doc, how… getting killed could make you fell so alive." That said, and with a quick turn of the wrist the vertebra in the psychologists' neck snapped into two and she was dead. Her limb body lay on her desktop, arms dropped to the side of her, eyes opened into slits looking somewhere. Not that he needed the air now, but he sighed, over enthusiastic about his kill. " You should try it." He walked to the door and into the hallway. He stood only a moment before a figure in the dark behind him walked out, circling her fingers around his neck, trailing them down his chest until her face could be seen in the dim light of the hallway lamps.

" She called you that name again…Spike."

" Why yew think I killed the bint, Dru."

Chapter 10

" So is Anya going to be ok?"

The redhead nodded as she took hold of her luc-warm coffee from the nightstand next to here bed. They had come back to the dorms later that night, rested, and morning had come not but two hours ago. They were trying to drink themselves back into conscience. "Yeah, she woke up and seemed fine, when Xander came back they…um…left and that's the last I've heard. As far as I know, that demon is still out there, but Giles said that it's probably underground and moving somewhere else by now. Otherwise the spell worked, although some side effects did happen, everything went without a hitch."

" I'd." Yawn. "Say." The slayer muttered; she walked on over. " Side effects is right, I mean, when the girl over took me, I felt so much sorrow and love for Will--Spike… and also a need to go shopping."

" Well I didn't see much, but I did hear something's…it sounded like this girl was in love with Spike…. before he was Mr. bad vampire." Willow said half awake although intrigued over everything that had happened. " She said his old name, William."

" I know, it was weird," The slayer replied. " She loved him so much and I felt sorry that she should have see what he's really like as a vampire."

" Actually, he wasn't acting like himself either, he was acting…concerned, passionate… and dare I say in love?"

" Were talking about Spike here Will." Buffy Anne Summers, always the optimist.

" I know…. but come on Buffy, don't expect me to believe that you didn't enjoy that kiss. I mean, Spike might be a vampire, but he's a gorgeous looking hunk of a male too."

"Yes I've seen him Willow; but I'm the slayer and he's the vampire without a soul which equals enemies."

"Well, I was trying to figure out what happened with that little side magic all morning; why he was acting the way he was. I think since you got the soul of that girl, who ever she was, that maybe he got a soul too… his old soul that is. In the spell of course, I'm sure it's gone by now."

"Yeah, he did seem kinda out of it when he left. He kinda just got up and went without a word when Anya was waking up. He's back to his old self by now."

The witch curled her lips in a smile over the side of the mug of her coffee. " Yeah but that doesn't mean he isn't good looking."

"Willow!" Her best pal was defending Spike? Maybe she had a cruse on him too, or just maybe she saw something that Buffy couldn't.

"Buffy come on… if you could, would you?"

"You mean if he wasn't a blond idiot with the IQ of a hummingbird and the attitude of a inmate?" She shook he head no. " No, I wouldn't… I just… wouldn't." But even the slayer couldn't be sure of her feelings now a day, she wasn't sure.

" Ok, ok if you say so…but it only makes me wonder more about him, we don't know anything about his past after all, besides about the two slayers of course and what he told you. But I can't help be curious…what about his human life before he got all grr."

The End
"Yeah…"