Kaleell was pacing. She had lectured me and Spike on the new dangers that had come to Sunnydale. It seems that demons -- the evil ones, that is -- were now looking for me in full force. Now she was just pacing. Back and forth. Back and forth. It was rather annoying.

High school was now officially over. I graduated without a hitch. Well, unless you count the fact that the good old mayor of Sunnydale tried to Ascend. He had somehow gotten his hands on the Books of Ascension. He planned on using the books to turn himself into a demon and chomp down on the entire student body. He even had Faith working for him which shocked us all. None of us had ever considered the possibility that a Slayer would side with the forces of evil instead of the greater good.

We managed to take care of them. Kaleell and Spike somehow captured one of the mayor's closest personnel and managed to get some valuable information out of him. I'm not exactly sure how they did it, but I'm afraid that I don't want to know. It was bad enough to see what the guy looked like afterwards before Spike killed him. Shudder.

It seems that the mayor had an alter of sorts in his office. Kaleell figured out that he needed a power center, an object the enabled him to achieve immortality, which she believed to be among the alter. If she destroyed the object, the mayor would become defenseless and could be killed. I don't really understand it that well. I'm still working on uncomplicated spells, mostly those of combat and healing. Kaleell says that once I master the spells I will need, that she will teach me how to do some more complicated spells.

Basically, Spike, Buffy and Kaleell attacked first, penetrating their forces and taking out the guards. After all was clear, Buffy came out to retrieve Giles, Xander and I. I was disappointed about not being included in the attacking force. Kaleell absolutely refused to let me go. She is paranoid about me dying before I complete the transmission to immortality. Righty so, I suppose. But it's annoying.

We found Kaleell and Spike in the mayor's office. Spike held the mayor firmly in his grasp as Kaleell searched and examined his alter. After she found his power center, she destroyed it. It shattering it into a million pieces, the flew across the office. Spike quickly wrapped his hands around the newly vulnerable mayor's neck and snapped it like a twig.

After the mayor was dead, Kaleell instructed me on how to get rid of the rest of the items. It was better to leave no evidence behind, despite how inept the Sunnydale police department was. Some of the pieces the mayor had were quite fascinating but very deadly, if they fell into the wrong hands.

Meanwhile, Giles and Xander raided the mayor's text. He had collected several valuable books that Giles wished to add to his collection. There were only a few books that Kaleell would not let Giles take -- the Books of Ascension. Giles was at first angered by her refusal but eventually saw the logic in her decision. The books could be trusted with no one. They were too dangerous. Kaleell used her magic to transport them to *some place where no one will ever find them.*

Suddenly, Spike leaned over and whispered in my ear, "What d' you say? Do we run for it on the count of three?"

I stifled my laughter. Spike and I have grown to be good friends, especially since I moved in with him and Kaleell. He's really charming and intelligent, if you get past his exterior. He also has this amazing energy about him. He's always like a pot that is about to boil over. I could never keep up with him.

"I say we do it," I whispered back.

Spike grinned. He signaled with his fingers. One, two, three. Grabbing my arm, he pulled me past Kaleell, with amazing speed.

"Hey!" Kaleell yelled. "Where are you going?! Be careful!"

Spike and I just kept running.

*****

28 June 1999

Now that my charge has taken off with Spike, I finally have a chance to write. I'm sure they only went out to get Willow something to eat or to the mall, but I still worry. It's very dangerous for Willow right now. Demons, as well as some humans, have flocked to the Hellmouth looking to be the one to bag the Savior. There is quite the bounty on her head. Spike told me that they offered him in excess of a hundred million. A hundred million? Someone could buy a small country with that much money. I suspect that the amount has been raised since then.

The Slayer isn't even allowed to make patrols by herself now. Angel, the only vampire with a soul, or I accompany her. I would send Spike in my place but I'm afraid that they'd kill each other. The slayer and Spike, naturally, cannot stand each other at all. I've often thought about locking them up in a cage until they behave. Their arguing is petty and unnecessary.

Spike has become a valuable asset. He is very knowledgeable and is an excellent fighter. Despite his hyperactivity, he is very patient with Willow. His patience surpasses mine. I've always been short tempered. Spike is also closer in age to Willow than myself. He's interested in what is happening today than I am. While I am interested in some of what is going on today -- modern art, films with annoying subtitles that I don't need -- I tend to look to the past for my inspiration. Did you know that I still have one of the original copies of Dante's Inferno... Well, I don't find that I have much in common with my charge. But Spike, he has become her friend and confidant. Willow might look to me for guidance and wisdom, but she looks to Spike for companionship. I have no problem playing the mentor and Spike seems to have no problem playing the friend.

I have come to believe that Spike is the other demon that fulfills the prophecy. The one, that in some texts, is referred to as the Savior's lover. The interaction between Spike and Willow is very amazing. You would never suspect that they were once enemies. Neither of them may realize the connection they have, but it's there. It's a very real thing.

Willow is progressing nicely. Her healing speed has become equal to that of a vampire. She can heal from a deep cut in the matter of a few minutes. Her powers are also beginning to stabilize. She is amazing. Extremely strong. She wants to learn more complicated spells but I hold her back. She needs to learn useful spells before she can move on to some not-so-useful ones. Combat and healing powers will help her more than transport and transformation.

Willow has moved in with myself and Spike. It is easier to train her while she is living here. It helps that I can keep an eye on her better here. She is much safer here than she was at her home. The sad thing was that her parents barely noticed when she moved out. They pay no attention to her. I'm am surprised at the magnificent way she has turned out despite the parental neglect she faced.

I suspect that by the end of the year, Willow will have finished her transformation to immortality. I think that when she does become strong, we will have to leave the Hellmouth and her friends behind. The Savior needs more experiences than she can get here. It will also be safer for myself and Spike if we move around more. Willow may be invincible, but we are not. Bounty hunters will continue to come after us here.

*****

Spike continued to pull me behind him until I could no longer look back and see Kaleell's place. Finally, he slowed down to a walk but kept his hand in mine.

"What are we going to do?" I asked him. Spike and I had spent time together before but there were only so many places to go in Sunnydale.

"Hmmm," Spike said. He mockingly tapped one finger against his check, as if thinking. "Why don't we take in a picture, luv? Unless you want to do something else..."

I chuckled at Spike's thoughtful pose. "No. A movie's fine."

We walked the rest of the way to the theater making small talk. Spike and I didn't need to talk to each other. We have developed this almost uncanny ability to know what the other is thinking. But I like the sound of Spike's voice, so I kept him talking. Besides, silence can be awkward.

Once we arrived at the theater we stood off to the side, surveying the various now showing posters. We rarely agreed on a movie, so I was ready for a fight.

"The Spy Who Shagged Me?" Spike asked, giving me puppy dog eyes.

"There is no way I'm sitting through two hours of stupid bathroom humor," I said, scowling at him. "And you can take that look off your face too. It won't work." I turned my eyes back to the posters. "Notting Hill?"

Spike gagged. "No bloody way, luv, *I* am not sitting through two hours of mushy romantic comedy crap. It turns my stomach."

I glared at him but decided not to fight for my choice.

Finally our eyes settled on the same poster. We turned to each other. "The Phantom Menace, again," we said at the same time.

Spike paid for our tickets and we went into the theater.

**

Spike and I walked out of the theater and turned towards home. The surrounding area was deserted. We must have caught one of the last showings of the day. I didn't worry. I always felt safe with Spike. He was more than capable of protecting me and himself.

"I love Jar Jar," I told Spike.

"That babbling idiot?" Spike asked. "I liked the Dark Sith, even if he did get killed off at the end."

"You would," I answered in a haughty tone.

"And just what is that supposed to mean?" Spike asked me. His eyes narrowed.

We were so involved in our debate that we failed notice the vampire that was following us until he grabbed me. I tried to flip him off my back but his grip on me was too strong. Spike pulled him off me and pushed him into one of the many trees that lined Sunnydale's residential area. The vampire quickly recovered and tired to rush Spike. Spike used his momentum to throw him to the ground.

"Stake, pet?" Spike asked me.

I quickly patted down my pockets. "I don't have one," I answered.

"What do you mean you down have one?! You're always supposed to carry one!"

"Well, *someone* dragged me out of the house when I wasn't expecting to go out!"

"You should have one on you even when you aren't expecting to go out!"

While we were arguing, the vampire had gotten up. Righting himself, he swung at Spike. Spike ducked the punch and kicked the vampire in the stomach. Picking the vampire up by his shirt, Spike threw him onto a fence. One of the white pickets pierced the vampire's heart and he disintegrated into dust.

Spike took out a cigarette and lit it. "I knew those damn fences were good for something," he said as he expelled smoke.

He turned to me. "Are you okay, pet?"

"I'm fine," I answered. "Or at least, I am until Kaleell hears about this."

Spike chucked, knowing how Kaleell was when she was on one of her rages. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "The sooner we get it over with, the better."

We finished our journey home in comfortable silence.