Summary: Spike's returned to Sunnydale. Again. Will this time be his last?
Takes place anytime after 'Lover's Walk'. Reference to 'Becoming"

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters. They all belong to Joss Wedon (a creative genius) and Mutant Enemy (grr argh). I'm just borrowing them to play with their lives for a while. Besides, suing me won't get you much.

"I dreamt about Spike again last night. Spike, of all people! Uh, vampires," Buffy was at the Bronze with Willow and Xander. She would have to go patrolling soon but stopped by to see if anything vampy was happening. At least that’s what she told Giles. "That’s the fourth time this week. He’s not even here and he’s bothering me!"

"Do you think this is one of those physic dreams? Like the old stuff happening now? With demons and vamps?" Xander was stirring his soda and, as usual, not knowing what he was saying. "Will, you can help me at anytime."

Willow smiled affectionately at Xander. "Prophetic dreams. Ooh, I hope not. Spike can’t come back again. That would not be good. Well obviously, but.. you know. Think he ever found Drusilla?"

"I hope he comes back. I’ll make him a nice big stake" Xander said , laughing at his own joke. When no one else did, "Stake, steak. Get it?"

"Yes Xander. Loud and clear. I really don’t know if he found her. Don’t really care." Buffy saw someone leaning on the stairway watching her. Angel. Willow saw him and smiled. Xander had his back to him and didn’t notice. He still wasn’t to keen on ‘Dead Boy’. "Well. I think I’ll go do my rounds now. Try not to have to much fun without me." With that and a sly smile to Willow she grabbed her jacket and headed towards the stairs. Angel met her halfway.

"Hi", he said looking directly into her eyes.

"Hey", she said smiling. "I missed you." Her words were light but they both knew what it meant.

"You going out?"

"As always. Strict orders from Watcher Giles," she said in her best army voice. Angel cringed when he thought about Giles. He hated himself so much for all he had done to Giles. And to everyone else. Not a night went by where he didn’t punish himself for it. Buffy saw his face and took his hand. "Let’s go."

_____ They decided to start in the cemetery. And as luck would have it they ran into a vampire. Angel saw her first and pointed. Buffy nodded and silently took a stake out of her pocket. She moved up quickly behind her and was about to stake her when the vampire whipped around. Her long, dark hair swirled around her shoulders. Her dress was of deep red and was floor length. Her arm shot out and blocked Buffy from bringing the stake down. Buffy punched her and kicked her in the hips. The vampire clawed at Buffy and stood perfectly still, looking directly at Buffy. When Buffy looked back at the vampire she saw Angel. She looked at her stake and back at Angel, then back at the stake. She was frozen in place, and extremely confused. Images flashed through her head. She saw Angel, but something wasn’t right. When she looked back she saw nothing.

When she turned to look around she saw Angel looking at her strangely. "Buffy? What was that about?" Concern and confusion showed in his dark eyes.

"Angel, what did you just see?"

"I saw you and the vampire standing there" he pointed to the spot she had been standing, "and staring at each other. Then she took off. You just stood there", he thought for a minute and said "Why, what did you see?"

"I saw you. Oh god Angel. I saw you and I had the stake and it was just like--", She couldn’t finish. The freakiness of what just happened and the vividness of the memories overwhelmed her and she collapsed into Angel’s arms. He understood how she felt. He had vivid memories of things like that often. He thought about the vampire and how she stared at Buffy. She had looked so familiar. He hadn’t gotten a good look at her, hadn’t even seen her face. But there was something...

he thought, shifting suddenly. Buffy lifted her head from his shoulder. "That was Drusilla", Buffy looked puzzled. " the vampire you just saw was Drusilla."

"The physco-looney Drusilla? Like Spike’s Drusilla? Why didn’t I recognized her?", Buffy asked.

"She didn’t want you to. She used hypnosis.," Angel replied bitterly. He thought he wouldn’t see her again. "She made you see me. Hypnosis. It’s kind of a gift. You could say I gave it to her. When I tortured her." Angel winced at telling her this.

"Damn. Why did she have to show up? I couldn’t have came upon a normal vampire? Why do you think she’s here?" Buffy suddenly remembered something. "Spike. It’s pretty much a gimme that he’ll be here too."

"What? Why?"

Buffy told him about the dreams, and because of her Slayer’s intuition, most of her dreams were prophetic. Which meant Spike.

"This so can’t be happening. No. Of all vampires! Spike and Dru come. Again!" She was angry now. She would kill them this time. No deals, no messing around.

"Buffy, maybe Spike won’t come" , he didn’t believe that anymore than she did. He never was good with promises.

_____ Buffy went directly to the library when she got to school. She flung open the heavy door and stalked in. , she thought as she looked in the stacks for Giles.

He came out and greeted her cheerily. "Good morning, Buffy. How was -"

"Drusilla? Drusilla was great. She’s really been keeping up with that hypnosis crap of hers." Buffy said with her head cocked to the side and her hands on her hips.

"What? Drusilla? You saw Drusilla?" Giles asked , astonished.

"Major saw her. Among other things." She recounted the nights details to Giles. As she was finishing, Willow, Oz, and Xander came in.

"What’s the up Slayer?" Xander asked cheerfully, punching her arm. When she raised her hand to hit him, he ducked quickly. He tossed his bag on the table and leapt up. Giles gave him a disapproving look. "What?"

Willow took a chair and Oz stood behind her. They said ‘hi’ and Buffy answered Xander’s question.

"Dru’s back. And most likely, Spike."

"Why?" Oz asked in his usual laid back way. Willow was a little more hyper. "Why? I thought they said they weren’t coming back?"

"That's rude!" Oz smiled at her. She stopped and waited for Buffy to go on.

She retold the nights events and ended with, "It was way beyond wiggins."

"Uh, Buffy. Maybe you should take this more seriously. They aren’t ordinary vampires. Exactly. They fought you. They know you. Not enough to hurt you, like Angel", Giles paused awkwardly while Buffy gave him a hurt look. "You know what I mean. They never come without a reason."

"Well, Will, this may answer your question about Spike hooking up with the crazy lady." Xander joked.

"No. I don’t think they’re together. I think he’s still trailing her. Trying to find her still." Buffy wasn’t sure why she thought that. Maybe her dreams.

Oz was still thinking about this. "But you think he will come?"

"His pet’s in lovely old ‘Sunnyhell’. Do you really think he’d stay away? He’s probably just been looking for an excuse to come back." Buffy really wasn’t looking forward to meeting Spike. Again. He was more trouble than he was worth.

"Buff, really. Just find, him kill him, and as I always say, party!" Xander wasn’t sure what the big deal was about. Sure, he’d seen Spike, he’d actually been hurt by Spike. But he’d also been hurt by other vampires, among other things.

"Xander", Giles started, going into full Watcher mode. "If Spike and Drusilla started working together, this could be a very difficult situation. Spike is very strong and as much as I hate to say it, he is smart. And Drusilla is powerful beyond words. If she wasn’t insane she’d be one of the most powerful vampires around, I'd imagine. Her hypnosis trick is immensely dangerous. She’s already proven she can fool two Slayers and at least one Watcher", he said, recalling when she made him believe she was Jenny Calander.

"No. Xander’s right. I should just find them and kill them." Buffy looked at Willow, who was being quiet, even for Willow. "What’cha thinking Will?"

"Well, remember last time Spike was here? And he wanted me to do that love spell? He was really, um, strange. Like... I can’t explain it."

"Like a lovesick human?" Oz suggested.

"Yeah kinda. But about a five hundred times more intense. I think if he has Dru back, he won’t be as dangerous. Just because he’ll have what he wants. He may find her and they may just leave."

"And miss the chance to kill another Slayer? And Angel?" Buffy asked in all seriousness.

"Oh Angelus..." Drusilla whispered softly as she knocked on Angel’s apartment door. "Miss Edith and I miss you."

It was just after sundown and inside Angel was getting ready to go meet Buffy. He pulled on his jacket and headed to the door, thinking it was Buffy. Opening the door he saw Drusilla standing there holding her doll. She looked at him and he saw images of himself torturing Giles, and fighting with Buffy, and trying to kill Willow. Any human wouldn’t have been able to stop it, but Angel was prepared and turned away. The images stopped.

"Miss Edith just wanted to say hello.," she said innocently and left. Angel took off after her and tackled her. Not giving her a chance to try anything, he dragged her into his apartment and locked her in. She never struggled, just sat down on the floor with her doll.

Angel burst into the library to find the Scooby Gang around the table. Xander shot him a dirty look as he come in. He said nothing and went straight to where Buffy was sitting. "I got her. Drusilla--"

"What?," Buffy interrupted. "How? When?" Even Xander was interested in what he had to say.

"She came by my apartment. Well her and Miss Edith--"

Now Oz interrupted him. "Who’s that? She wasn’t alone?"

"It’s her doll. She’s kinda loopey," Willow explained. She gave Angel an apologetic look and he continued.

"She came and when I opened the door she tried to hypnotize me and left. I went after her, caught her, and locked her in my apartment. She’s there now," Angel finished.

"Alive? In your apartment?" Buffy asked, trying to decide what to do.

Angel nodded.

"Well why didn’t you kill her?," Xander said spitefully. "Can’t kill one of your own kind?"

"Xander," Buffy said sharply. He gave her a dirty look also.

"She’s alive," Angel said, addressing Buffy, "because I wasn’t sure what you want to do with her."

"I want her dead" Buffy said still thinking. A plan was forming.

"That still leaves us with Spike." Willow pointed out.

"And he’d be one pissed off vampire if we killed his girlfriend", Oz said suggestively. "Is any one else thinking maybe--"

Buffy finished his sentence. "Bait." Giles nodded thoughtfully while Buffy continued. "It’s not just Drusilla I want dead. It’s Spike too. He’s obviously not found her yet, and I’m sure he’s still looking. So we keep her, he’s sure to show up, and I kill them both."

"Buffy, maybe you should deal with what’s here now." , Giles said cautiously. "Drusilla can be very unpleasant. She may get away. Or Spike may never come."

"Spike’ll come", Angel said confidently. "Especially if he thinks there’s a chance of me getting with Dru."

A car with black painted windows came speeding into Sunnydale. Straight at the ‘Welcome to Sunnydale’ sign. Then right through the sign. "When are they gonna get rid of that bloody sign?" Spike said to himself. "It really doesn’t belong there. And how many times do I have to say it? It’s ‘Welcome to SunnyHELL’" He was slightly drunk but had his wits about him. He sensed Drusilla was nearby. He had come close to finding her many times, but she always managed to stay a few steps ahead of him. It was like a game of tag, and he was getting tired of losing. "Come on pet. Tell me where you are." He suddenly got an image of Angel. It was there and gone so fast he ignored it. He backed up his car and drove off quickly towards the mansion where they used to live. After all, maybe she’d go there. It was a start.

"Angel, you know them best. Will a stake do the job?" Giles asked. They were still in the library, minus Willow and Oz. It was Willow’s father’s birthday so they reluctantly left. Oz seemed to find Spike very interesting, for unknown reasons.

"Most likely for Dru. Spike is strong. Possibly as strong as one of the Three. He doesn’t seem it, but he is. And as I said, he’s very smart. Most people don’t think that either," Angel said, trying to keep the mood light. "The only thing that may make Dru more powerful full is her powers. I think we can do this." The last part was directed at Buffy.

Xander caught it and commented, "You will not be able to kill one of your children. If that’s what you call them. Ya don’t got it in you, Dead Boy."

"Xander, don’t you absorb any knowledge in your English class?" Giles asked, focusing on the grammar not the words.

"Xander, lay off for two minutes maybe? We have a bigger problem than you not liking Angel," Buffy said, emphasizing the word Angel. "If you’re not gonna help you can find an elsewhere to be." That took everyone by surprise. Buffy usually didn’t snap at her friends like that.

When no one said anything Angel spoke up. "I think I should go check on Drusilla. Make sure she’s still there. We may want to find a safer place for her."

"What’s with the ‘we’?" Xander asked.

"I’ll go with Angel. I want to know a little more about her." Buffy said grabbing a stake and glaring at Xander.

"And I’ll, ah, stay here. Research...something. And you’ll help me Xander. Be careful you two." Giles said as they left.

As soon as they were outside, Angel said, "What was Xander’s problem in there. I know he doesn’t like me but.."

"I actually don’t think it was you this time," she said, slipping her arm around his waist. She fit perfectly under his arm and he wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "I think it was the fact that he was alone. Lacking a girl. He really misses Cordelia. You were the easiest person to take it out on."

They passed some alleys and looked down each one for vampires. "Vampire." Buffy said as she saw one move toward her. She went to meet it. He bared his fangs and growled as she approached. "Oh be quiet. It’s not gonna hurt." Buffy kicked him squarely in the gut. "Oh. Maybe it will."

The vampire was immediately back up and tried to punch her; she easily blocked it and kicked him again, knocking him flat on his back. He kicked Buffy’s feet out from under her and she fell, her stake flying. Buffy rolled and was flying at the vamp again, pinning him against the wall. Angel came at them with the stake and Buffy moved to the side as he plunged it into the vampire’s heart. They were leaving before he even exploded into dust.

"Nice work." Buffy said, smiling.

"I didn’t do anything. Just helped," Angel said.

"You know better. Angel, I kinda have to know this. If it came down to, for what ever reasons, you’d have to kill Drusilla, could you do it?" Buffy asked seriously.

Angel looked slightly surprised at that. But he understood why she was asking and he answered honestly. "I think so. I could probably do it without any provoking. If she was hurting you, I could definitely kill her."

Buffy was extremely flattered by that. < how many guys would kill for me > she thought. "I’m drawing a blank on where to keep her. First I thought the cage in the library, but that’s obviously a bad idea. It’s also gonna be a problem getting her wherever we decide to keep her."

"I can get her there. Just tell me where and I’ll bring her," Angel said, happy to help. They were at his apartment now.

"I think I’ll just stay out here. She gives me the wiggins. With good reason," Buffy said hanging back.

"No problem. I’ll be right back." Angel disappeared inside. He didn’t see Drusilla when he first went in. He looked around, calling her name. He found her by his refrigerator, rocking back and forth on the floor.

"That was not fun. They don’t fight. The don’t even move. And they froze my tongue." Drusilla said as if it were his fault. At first he didn’t know what she was talking about until he saw the empty blood bags on the floor behind her.

"Dru, you didn’t drink it all did you?" Angel said opening the refrigerator door. All that was left was one bag. "Why the hell’d you do that?!"

"Now we can go hunting. You’re good at hunting," Drusilla explained matter-of- factly. "You used to love to hunt with me."

Angel turned to leave. "I don’t hunt."

"Was she there?" Buffy asked as they left the building.

"She was there alright. We don’t have to worry about her going to hunt. She drank enough to last days." Angel said angrily. He needed that blood. He didn’t know when the hospital would get another shipment.

"She didn’t take it all, right?" Buffy said expecting she had.

"All but one bag. Do you have any idea when the hospital’s getting more?" He hated talking to Buffy about blood. Anything that made the vampire in him more noticeable. She never seemed to notice though.

"I don’t know." Buffy usually knew, seeing it was the Vampire-Meals-On Wheels. The schedule had been wacky lately and it’d been a problem. Now it was a bigger one. "How long can you go without any?"

Angel thought for a moment. He’d been days without any blood before but it hadn’t been good. "I’m not sure. A few days. I’ll use what I have sparingly. Any idea’s for Dru?" Angel asked changing the subject.

"Nope. I guess we just leave her at your apartment until we get a better place for her." Buffy realized how that sounded apologized. "That won’t work. It’s your apartment after all."

Angel smiled. "It’s no problem really. I can find somewhere else to stay for now."

"You could stay at my house tonight." Buffy said slowly as they turned down her street.

"Are you sure? I’m thinking your mother may not be to keen on that."

Buffy nodded. "She won’t be there. She’s at this art thing in LA. It’s fine. Really."

"Alright.'

Buffy unlocked the front door and went in. When Angel hesitated at the door she said, "You can still come in. You’re more than welcome here. You know that." He came in and they went into the kitchen. She dialed Giles’ home number and it rang three times before he picked it up. She told him Dru was still at Angel’s. She didn’t tell him Angel was with her and he didn’t ask. He told her he hand Xander went out to look for Spike, who didn’t turn up. They said good night and hung up.

"Everything’s good?" Angel asked pulling Buffy close.

"Everything’s perfect." Buffy wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him softly. He kissed her back, remembering how he’d hurt her and her friends and wondering why she even let him touch her. He was so grateful that she did. When the kiss ended, they headed upstairs. It was late and Buffy had to get up for school. Buffy remembered the first time Angel had come to her house. They had been chased by the Three and he’d gotten a nasty slash in the ribs, and ended up spending the night by her bed. The look on his face told her he was remembering the same thing.

Buffy changed and climbed into bed. Angel went to the side of the bed where he’d slept before and started to lower himself to the floor.

"Angel. We can sleep in the same bed", Buffy said, amused that he went for the floor, and forgetting the curse. As she looked at his face she thought "Sleep. Nothing more nothing less."

He climbed into bed silently. He turned to face her and whispered, "I love you."

"I love you too Angel." She sighed contentedly as he put his arms around her. She was perfectly happy, falling asleep in Angel’s arms.

"I have a feeling Spike’s here, Willow said glumly as the Scooby Gang sat around the library table after" school. "In my computer class this afternoon, Harmony was telling someone that Aura started flirting with some guy outside the Bronze and they haven’t seen her today. The description was perfect. Bleached blond hair, sexy British accent, black leather..."

"I was afraid of this. Buffy, you may want to stake Drusilla and focus on Spike." Giles said. He seemed out of place not having a new demon to research.

"No", Buffy said, thinking fast. "Dru’s a prob, yes, but she’s also bait. I want to be sure they’re both dead. Killing her’ll just give me one brassed off vamp who’s killed to Slayers and has no problem killing another, especially one who killed his ‘pet’. Now that he’s here, we have to get Dru out of Angel’s and somewhere where Spike will get her, try to free her, but he has to be there long enough for me to kill him."

"Yes, but--," Giles started.

"I know where we can keep her. When Angel was first back, he was kinda, uh, animal-like."

"I know that feeling," Xander interrupted.

"No. This was...not what we are worrying about! Anyway, there were chain restraints that go around your wrists. We could use those on Dru. Angel said he can get her there." Buffy finished, happy it was she who had a plan.

"How do we know Angel won’t just skip town with Dru? And wreak havoc on the world? Again."

"Xander, man. Chill. I’m thinking he’s more into helping Buffy," Oz said. That wasn’t the answered Xander had wanted.

"Do you think he’ll come to her tonight?" Willow asked, thinking things through.

"I can almost count on it. I think I’ll tell Angel get her there as soon as the sun goes down. If it wasn’t slaying I’d say maybe we should sell tickets. I’ve been waiting for this fight." Buffy said confidently.

_____ Angel had left Buffy’s right before dawn and went back to his apartment. He would sleep in the hall, which would be closed off from the light, never letting Dru know he was there.

He had spent most of the night watching Buffy sleep. It amazed him she still loved him, after all he had done. She’s what kept him going. Through Hell he had thought of her. She kept him sane. He never expected her to even look at him again, yet she was just a trusting as before. He didn’t think he deserved that kind of love.

Angel was sleeping in the corner when he felt a burning. His eyes flew open and he saw the crack of light coming from the opening door. He accidentally vamped out, and turned away when he saw Buffy.

"Sorry. I wasn’t sure where you’d be." She went up to him and hugged him, ignoring his game face. She knew he wouldn’t hurt her.

Once he had his normal face back, Angel spoke. "So any news?"

"Unfortunately, yes. Dear ol’ Spike’s back. We think he made a snack out of one of Cordelia’s friends." Buffy remembered the blood situation and asked if he had any yet. She knew that being in Hell had weakened him. His still couldn’t go long without blood.

"I haven’t been in there yet. When I came back I just stayed out here, thinking. I figured I’d go in soon. Any idea where she’s going?" Angel asked, indicating Dru.

Buffy told him where to put her, and Angel said he’d be out as soon as the sun set. Which was in about forty five minutes. Not much time. Buffy stayed for fifteen minutes and then headed to the library to talk to Giles and to get weapons.

"All systems go!" Buffy said happily to Giles as she looked through the weapon closet. She took out the crossbow and Mr. Pointy, the stake Kendra had given her. "Angel’s moving her now, if all goes well, Spike will show up, all full of himself, and I can kill him."

"We’re not sure he will show up. After all, Spike isn’t exactly predictable."

Giles said. He knew better than to think you have a vampire figured out. "Okay Mr. Optimism," Buffy said.

"You just can’t be sure he’ll show. Keeping a vampire hostage is not a safe plan. You do know that right?"

"Yes Giles. I’m not completely dense. I’m good at what I do. Oh, hey. When’s the next blood delivery at the hospital in?"

"Next week," Giles said, pausing to think. "Should I come along with you? To help?"

"If ya want to see them die. I think I can handle it though. Angel will be there."

"I’ll be along."

"Giles," Buffy sighed. "Angel is no danger to me. But I really have to go. I have no idea when he may show. See ya!"

Buffy watched from a safe distance while Angel finished chaining Drusilla. She couldn’t help but think of how gorgeous he was. When he was finished, and Dru was talking calmly to her doll, Angel came over to Buffy. "Any sign of Spike?," he asked,watching Dru.

"Nope. Willow, Oz, and Xander are looking for him. I don’t know why. What are they gonna do if they find him?" Buffy said. She had told them that, but they , especially Xander, wouldn’t hear of doing nothing. Even Willow would willingly seek out a vampire.

"Xander wants to protect you. I have some bad news. Dru finished the last bag. Completely. Please tell me the delivery is tomorrow." Angel said. He hadn’t had any blood since Dru showed up, and was starting to get weak.

"I could tell you it was but I’d be lying." She noticed he needed the blood. "It’s next week. I asked Giles. This is bad." she thought.

"Damn," Angel said softly. "Buffy, I can go without tonight, but I’m not sure about tomorrow. And I can’t feed of a human."

"I know. Spike and Dru will be gone then and we’ll figure something out." Buffy hoped she was right. No blood for a vampire was like a slow death. It’d hit Angel harder because of the time he spent in Hell. She turned to Dru, who was talking loudly about cake, and waited for Spike.

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