483 BC. Athens, Greece

Seventeen year old Anyanka ran through the market place as fast as she could. Hot tears streamed down her face, and, as she broke away from the crowded streets towards the bay outside of the city, she could hear the causes of her pain call to her. Maarko and Aristona. The two people that were the most dear to her in the world.

Her twin sister, and best friend, Aristona, and her betrothed, and love her life, Maarko. She had caught them out behind the stables, naked in each other's arms. Never in all her life had she felt such pain. She couldn't stand to live another minute!

She stopped to catch her breath when she reached the edge of a gigantic cliff that over looked the ocean. Her head swam as she saw the rough waters pounding upon the rigid rocks far below her. Anya closed her eyes, taking what she thought to be her last breath and stepped forward, only to feel strong arms slip around her waist and pull her firmly away from the edge.

"Let go!" she shouted, and began hitting and clawing at Maarko.

They were joined a moment later by Aristona, who tried to hold her sister's arms down.

Suddenly, Anyanka stopped struggling, and started sobbing. Maarko and Aristona were talking to her, but she would never be able to remember what it was that they had said. She felt Maarko relax his grip, and then sprang for the cliff's edge once again.

Her vision was blurred. She honestly had to admit that she never really saw, or realized just what had happened, but she suddenly found herself staring down the cliff, at her former lover and twin sister as their bodies were broken by the waves onto the rocks.

Anyanka gasped in horror at the satisfaction that she felt at seeing their demise.

"Murderer!" someone suddenly shouted.

She turned her head and, for the first time, saw the crowd that had gathered at the commotion that the three of them had made.

"The gods demand that she be stoned!" a man cried.

"Yes! Let's stone her!" several people shouted and began to run toward her.

Anyanka closed her eyes and braced herself but still cried out as the first rocks hit her. Her arms, legs, and torso were soon bruised and bleeding as she tried to protect her head. She felt a sharp rock cut into her forehead before the world turned black.

"Stop! Wait a minute!" a voice cried.

The crowd was frozen in awe, as they watched a cloud of smoke come up from the ground and gather around the unconscious girl.

"It's the gods! We have angered them!" the people cried and began running back toward their homes.

Anya groaned as she began to awaken. Her bruised, broken body would not allow her to even sit up. But the pain in her bruised, broken heart hurt even worse.

"You are awake. Good, for a moment there I thought I was too late."

Anya just blinked at the ugly horned demon standing over her.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am D'hofferyn, and you are in Arashmahar, the place where demons are spawned."

"Wha...?" Anya choked, as blood began pouring out of her mouth.

D'hofferyn frowned down at her. He would have to hurry, or she would soon be dead.

"So that's the deal. Become the patron saint of scorned women, a goddess of vengeance. You gain immortality and avenge women who have been wronged and share your pain. Or you die. What is your choice?"

2000 AD, Sunnydale, California

"Why do we have to bury the body?" Spike asked with a scowl as Xander handed him a shovel.

The blond vampire was now helping the scooby gang after the latest truce with the Slayer. He knew they didn't really trust him, but they could use his help. He had admit that he really enjoyed helping them kill demons. Yes, being on the winning team definitely had it's perks. Spike hated doing grunt work, though, and angrily shoved the shovel in the ground.

"The men dig the graves, and the women have the babies. That's my philosophy!" Buffy told them.

She and Anya were perched on a headstone, watching Xander and Spike bury the body of the unfortunate demon who had run into them that night. Other than that one demon, it had been a pretty quite night.

"Besides, women like to watch men dig. You can even take your shirt off if you want to." Anya chirped.

Buffy turned to Anya, "You know, women do think about other things besides sex."

"Really? Like what?" Anya asked, skeptically.

"Well, uh..." Buffy honestly couldn't think of a thing as she watched Spike pull off his shirt.

Anya grinned when she saw what had captured the Slayer's attention.

"I told Xander we should start doing more couple stuff. Like patrolling with you and Spike." she told her.

"Spike and I are not a couple!"

"Oh, C'mon! You need someone. You're all lonely now, and so is Spike. I bet the sex would be great!" Anya tried to encourage her.

"What about Riley?"

"When are you going to accept that Riley isn't coming back? He left weeks ago. Get over it."

Anya was right. The homesick cornboy had gone back to Iowa with no intent of returning. For the longest time, Buffy had believed he'd be back. But the last time she'd talked to him on the phone, he'd basically said goodbye forever.

Buffy had thrown herself into her slaying duties, trying desperately to forget him. Her gaze traveled up and down Spikes muscular torso as he dug. She had to admit that with Spike around, Riley was very easy to forget. Not that she'd ever admit that to anybody.

Before Buffy could respond, Xander's yell interrupted her. Apparently he and Spike had dug too deep, and fell into some kind of underground cavern.

"Are you guys okay?" Buffy asked, peering into the dark hole.

"Yeah, we're fine!" Xander called up to them.

"Speak for yourself! I broke your fall, and you broke my rib!." Spike complained.

"Sorry, junior." Xander replied nonchalantly.

"Oh, look! A box." Xander pulled it out into the middle of the pit to get a better look at it in the moonlight.

"Is it treasure?" Spike asked, sounding very interested.

"I don't know. It's got some writing on it." Xander tried to figure out how to open it.

"It looks like ancient Greek. What would it be doing all the way over here in Sunnyhell?" Spike asked no one in particular.

"Honey? You're Greek from back then. Were they rich?" Xander called up to Anya.

"Ahh, Greece!" Anya said blissfully staring out into space.

Buffy rolled her eyes, quickly getting bored trying to watch them in the dark. "Can we hurry this up? I have to register for classes early tomorrow morning!" she called down to them.

"Wait a sec, Buff! I almost got it open!" Xander called back up to her.

"I'm gettin a bad feeling about this, mate. I don't think you should open it." Spike told him.

"Nothing ventured, nothing gained!" Xander quipped as he finally got the lid off.

The four watched in awe as a bright green, glowing ball of smoke escaped from the box, and floated up to the sky, disappearing into the night.

"What did you two do now?" Buffy asked, then noticed the look of pure terror on the face of the woman standing next to her.

"Oh, no!" Anya gasped.

Willow, Giles, Buffy, Spike, Xander, and Anya were all gathered in Giles' living room. The ex-demon had everyone's undivided attention as she recounted an event that happened over two millenniums ago.

"It happened in 415 BC, in a small town just outside of Athens, Greece. I had been a vengeance demon for sixty-eight years at that time. My latest case was a very bitter woman. Her husband had slept with over fifty other women and men. She wished an awful contagious plague on him, and everyone he'd had sex with. It was a magical plague, and so it had no cure. Thousands died from it, including the woman who'd wished it. She hadn't been specific in her wish." Anya explained.

"415 BC? That would be during the Peloponnesian War. Are you saying that you are the cause of the great plague of Athens?" Giles asked, astonished.

"Some of my best work." she admitted, regretfully.

"The history books say that the disease disappeared as mysteriously as it had appeared." Giles continued, "How was it stopped?"

"Well, back then there was a powerful, but good, sorceress named, Galatissa. She was able to bind the disease into a box. It is said that she had found a way to destroy it altogether, but her sister Erousa, who was an evil sorceress, stole the box. She was unable to open it, however, because Galatissa had put a spell on it, saying that only the true love of the demon patron saint of scorned women, that's me, could open it. So she banished it to some undiscovered land, never to be found. Unless, of course you live on a hellmouth." Anya finished with a sigh.

All eyes turned toward Xander.

"Nothing ventured, nothing gained? Remind me to smack you next time you say that." Spike grumbled.

Xander turned to Anya, " How come you never told me about this?"

"Well, it happened over two thousand years ago. I had forgotten about it!"

"This is useless! There is nothing here!" Xander exclaimed as he slammed yet another dusty, old book closed.

"Are you sure you saw something leave that box?" Giles asked, again.

His question received four angry glares. "Alright! Well, these are all of the books that I have covering that time period." The ex-watcher removed his glasses and began cleaning them. "I'm honestly at a loss as to what to do about this."

"Um, Giles? Tara and I came across a spell the other day that might be helpful." Willow weakly volunteered.

"Oh, NO!" Spike growled, "No more spells! Next time I'll probably end up sucking face with droopy boy over there!" Spike crossed his arms and glared at her sternly.

"Did I mention that I was sorry about that?" Willow lowered her eyes to the ground in embarrassment. It would be a long time before she forgot the disaster that was her "I Will It So" spell.

"Hey! Uh, I'm not sure whether or not I should be offended." Xander turned his puzzled gaze to Buffy.

Buffy shot a threatening look at Spike before turning to her red-headed friend. "Go ahead and tell us about the spell, Will. It's not like we've got anything else."

"Well, it's sort of a we send you back in time to ask Galatissa how to destroy the plague, spell."

"No." Giles said, his face an unreadable mask. "C'mon, Will! Remember the movie, 'Back to the Future?' Everything that that guy Marty did, had some effect on the future, or present, or whatever." Xander rambled on.

"Yeah, could you imagine how bad Buffy and Spike could screw it up?" Anya asked.

Silence settled over the room as each occupant contemplated the effects that such a spell might have.

"Well, count me in!" Spike said with a grin.

"No! I will not allow it!" Giles suddenly shouted. He softened his tone at the startled looks that he received from the group. "Why don't we just wait and see if there is really anything to worry about. If, in fact, you did release this ancient disease, you've got to remember that it has lain dormant for over two millenniums. It's release may be of no consequence what so ever." he told them.

"You're right. We shouldn't mess around with such dangerous spells, unless absolutely necessary." Willow agreed.

"So basically, you're saying we just wait and see what happens? Great! I so love waiting!" Buffy said with sarcastic enthusiasm. "C'mon, Fang! Might as well go slay some demons while we wait." the Slayer called to Spike, then headed out the door.

"Spike? You and Buffy should keep an eye out for anything unusual." Willow told him.

"Right. You're asking a vampire, to look around a hellmouth, and report any unusual findings?" he rolled his eyes and hurried out the door to catch up with Buffy.

"If you could go back in time, what would you do?" Buffy asked Spike as they walked through another deserted graveyard.

"That's easy. I'd kill all you people, and those soldier boys before they could put this friggin chip in my head." he answered.

"Why do I bother?" she rolled her eyes, and went back to silently contemplating her own answer.

"What about you?" he asked, a while later.

"No, wait! Let me guess. You'd stop yourself from shaggin the pouf." he looked at her expectantly.

"I don't know. I mean, how different would my life be if Angel and I had known about the curse? Maybe everything I went through was really for a good?" she looked at Spike and could see he was quickly losing interest in the conversation. "Nah, I'd just go back and chop your head off with that axe!" she teased him.

Before he could reply, the wail of an ambulance siren pierced the unusually silent night air. Buffy had to cover her ears as the vehicle passed on the street outside the cemetery. Before either could comment, a second siren sounded announcing another ambulance heading in the other direction. Then another.

Buffy felt shivers of fear creep up her spine at the look on Spike's face.

"Something's not right. We need to see the Watcher, quick."

The Slayer and the Vampire took off running with a synchronized stride down the street.

The blond duo arrived to find Willow and Anya standing over an unconscious Giles.

"We called for an ambulance, but apparently it will be a while before anyone can get to us." Willow told them, fearfully.

Giles began to moan and squirm on the ground, while sweat beaded on his brow.

"It's the Plague. He'll probably be dead in a few days." Anya stated, but there was a hint of sorrow in her voice that the group wasn't used to hearing from her.

"We have to do something, Giles can't die! I won't let him!" Buffy shouted as tears began to slip unheeded down her cheeks.

Spike put a comforting arm around her shoulder, swallowing a lump in his own throat. Human life was just so fragile! While he could list a million ways to kill a person, he knew nothing about healing them.

Suddenly the front door flew open, and Tara came rushing into the room. The blonde witch blushed at the attention her dramatic entrance had caused. "I br-brought it." she said, handing Willow a blue duffel bag.

"Brought what?" Xander asked, finally regaining his own composure after Buffy's outburst.

Willow took a deep breath, and seemed to take on an air of authority, before addressing the others. "Giles and I were working on a spell to keep us all from being affected by the Plague, should we be exposed to it. He began to get sick before we could finish, but had me finish the spell before he lost consciousness."

Willow focused her attention on the Slayer. "I don't think we have much choice here, Buffy."

"Go back in time? How? When? Where? And what exactly do we do when we get there?" asked a frustrated Xander.

"We have a spell that will transport you to the exact time and place you want to be. You'll have exactly seventy-two hours to find out how Galatissa was going to destroy the plague."

"Why not just tell Gilligan to destroy the Plague before her sister steals it?" Buffy asked.

"GALATISSA! And, no! You must be very careful about what you do, or say. Changing the past, even a little part, can have major ramifications on our own time." Tara told her, shocking everyone with how articulate and long-winded her little spiel was.

Willow beamed with pride.

"Okay, so let's do this." Buffy said, trying not to look at the ailing Giles.

Tara turned to Willow, "Who all is going?"

"Buffy, Xander, Anya, and Spike."

"Wait a second, how am I supposed to avoid the sunlight?" Spike asked the witches.

They both grinned at him.

"You won't have to." Tara said. "For the next Seventy-two hours Spike will be a living, breathing human."

"Alive?" Spike asked as his face took on a dazed statement.

"Will he have a soul?" Buffy asked, looking a little dazed herself. Willow and Tara looked at each other. "We don't know." the red-head told her.

"You see, time is a very tricky thing to manipulate. Especially with dead people." Tara tried to explain.

"That's undead, luv." Spike absently corrected.

"By going back to a time before Spike died, his body will automatically resume life, we think." Willow told them.

"Well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see." Spike said with a smirk.

Giles chose that moment to begin moaning in pain, while tugging at his clothes.

"He's getting worse. We're running out of time." Anya said to Buffy.

"Ok, let's do this!"

Twenty minutes later, they were ready to begin. Buffy, Spike, Xander, and Anya stood inside a circle that the witches had drawn with a piece of chalk, in Giles' living room. Spike looked over at the Slayer who was nervously biting her lip, while trying to block out the watcher's groans coming from the loft. Light from the flames of the white and blue candles that outlined the circle danced across her face. She was beautiful.

Spike grabbed her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze before focusing on the witches, who had begun to chant.

"Ruler of the Underworld,
Great Goddess of the Moon,
Goddess of all other Goddesses, Selene!
Charge this circle bathed in candlelight
And it be filled with your power and might!
A time is in mind, the time clear
Allow nothing to interfere
A time when the Gods did reign all
Is the destination for which we call
Lead unto the Sorceress of Your Rite,
Galatissa! So her wrongs we may right!
Lead us there, to return upon deed complete
This is our will, So Mote It Be!"

415 BC Athens, Greece

The first thing that Spike noticed was that he hurt. Everywhere. Second, he was hungry, but it was not blood that he craved. Finally, he noticed that Buffy, Xander and Anya were staring down at him, as he lay flat on his back.

The spell had worked. The group had landed in a small clearing just outside of Athens. Anya was relived to see that she recognized exactly where they were, even though it was dark. Probably very late, but she had no way of knowing exactly what time it was.

Everyone was silently watching Spike. He was breathing heavily, and had an statement half of pain, half of wonder on his face.

"Do you have a soul?" Anya asked, breaking the silence.

"I don't know. What's it feel like to have a soul?"

"Well, do you feel guilty about killing all of the people you've killed?" Xander asked.

Spike paused a moment, seeming to contemplate the question. Then he grinned. "Nope. Could really care less. Then again, I never cared all that much before I was turned either."

Buffy rolled her eyes before turning to the others. "The first thing we need, is a place to stay."

"I have a friend in town that will probably let us stay with him." Anya volunteered.

"Him?! You? The man-hater of all time had a friend of the male gender while you were a vengeance demon?" Xander asked, feeling a stab of jealousy.

"He was gay." "Oh. Well, I guess that's okay."

Buffy had seen pictures of Athens but hadn't actually been there before. The pictures she'd seen were of the ruins of buildings and temples. Seeing the city in its prime was amazing! The Slayer looked at Xander, and could tell that he too was impressed at the magnificent structures that loomed over them. The guy was practically tripping over his own feet as he tried to take in all the sights around him.

While Spike was also impressed with the ancient city, his attention was currently captured by the sensations that he was feeling with his, now living, body.

Mostly, he felt pain. He'd forgotten how much everything hurt when you were alive. His lungs hurt with the strain of every breath that he took. His stomach growled, and he felt the familiar pain of hunger that had haunted him constantly during his short life.

Spike glanced at his companions. He'd bet that neither Xander nor Buffy had ever felt the pain of true hunger. Then he looked at Buffy again. Well, she was awfully thin. She might have.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of blood pounding in his ear drums. It was so loud, he couldn't hear anything else. Spike blinked a couple of times and slowed his pace. He began to feel light-headed, his vision blurring. This wasn't good.

"Wow, if Anya were wearing a toga, she'd blend right in." Buffy thought while watching the woman next to her walk down the street as if she did it every night. She was glad that it was late. The group would be sure to cause a big fuss with their modern attire. Buffy frowned when she realized that Spike was lagging behind the rest of the group, breathing hard.

"Xander!" she called as she moved to catch the blond man before he hit the ground.

Luckily, Anya's friend's house was close by, so Buffy and Xander didn't have to carry him very far.

Anya walked up to a door in one of the many buildings that lined the streets, and knocked. A man, who looked to be in his early thirties, opened the door and immediately embraced Anya. "Anyanka!"

The two began speaking excitedly in a language that the other three had never heard before.

Xander turned to Buffy, craning his neck to see past Spike, who was currently propped up between them. "The only thing I understood just then was, 'Anyanka'" he told her.

Anya turned toward them. "Guys, this is my dear friend, Anaxagoras." After a bit more conversation between Anya and Anaxagoras, the ex-demon turned to the others with a relieved look on her tired face. "Anaxagoras says that we are welcomed to stay here for as long as we need."

Spike awoke to find himself in a small, windowless room, with a double bed and a desk. A few lit candles were scattered around, giving off a soft light that was soothing to his tired eyes.

A pang of hunger stabbed his empty stomach, causing him to moan audibly at the pain. Tears came, unbidden, to his eyes as he recalled the only other time he'd been so hungry. He'd been no more than ten, a runaway, begging on the streets of London. Trying to steal a loaf of bread from a merchant, he'd killed the poor man with his own knife, before scurrying away with his prize. That had been his very first kill, at least ten years before he'd met Angelus.

Suddenly, the door to the room opened, and the vision that met his eyes made him believe that he was dreaming.

The Slayer had walked into the room, looking like a goddess. Her blond hair was piled up on her head with tiny purple and red flowers weaved intricately throughout. Her dress was a snow-white toga, that resembled a bed-sheet wrapped around her body. Brown sandals scratched the floor as she made her way into the room.

She was trying to balance a tray filled with fruit, cheese, and crackers, and a pitcher of water as she shut the door with her foot. Spike noticed that she smelled of roses as she set down on the bed beside him.

Buffy frowned at the tears in his eyes, and the pain on his face. "Spike? Are you okay?" she asked him, softly.

"I'm hungry," he told her, trying very hard not to cry.

"Of course you are!" she said, grabbing a bunch of grapes off of the tray. Spike had to pinch himself as he watched her pluck off one of the reddish purple balls and hold it up to his mouth. As his teeth bit down and broke the skin, he gasped aloud at the sweet, tangy juice that tickled his tongue and overwhelmed his senses. He had never before tasted anything so delicious.

Buffy watched Spike closely as she fed him. He was eating as if it was his last meal, savoring ever bite. He'd practically spilled water all over himself as he gulped it down.

As she brought the last piece of cheese to his mouth, his hand came up and stopped her. Closing his eyes, he moaned, but this time it was a sound of contentment, not pain.

He felt a cool, wet, cloth on his forehead, and, struggling with effort, opened his eyes to look at her. "Am I dreaming?" He asked.

Buffy just smiled down at him, glad to see a little splash of pink on his cheeks.

"Thank you, Buffy." he said before drifting back to sleep.

Buffy studied the sleeping man beside her. Spike. Alive. It was almost too much. She could spend hours just staring at the steady rise and fall of his chest.

Suddenly, it wasn't enough. She wanted to hear his heartbeat as well.

Lowering her head to his chest, she pressed her ear up against his warm flesh. Thump, thump. What a wonderful sound!

Buffy stretched out next to him, keeping her head in place. She draped an arm across him, and allowed the steady beat of his heart pull her into sleep.

Spike was walking through a park, toward a swing set. All around him children played. Their delighted giggles and screeches surrounded him as he sat down and began to swing. A full moon up in the sky cast a soft glow on the things around them.

"Spike! We need to talk." Angel came out of nowhere and sat in the unoccupied swing next to him.

"But, what about the children?" Spike asked. He really didn't want to talk to his sire.

"What children?"

And just like that, the children vanished.

Spike frowned and turned his attention to the vampire beside him. "Now see here, I was doing just fine before you came along." Spike said with a scowl.

Angel just smirked at him. "Do you know what you're doing?" Angel asked, turning serious.

"Dreaming?" Spike asked, with his own smirk.

"Besides that."

"I'm alive..."

"And in love." Angel interrupted.

"She's falling for me,too!" the blond man pointed out.

"She won't love you as a vampire, Spike. You'll end up like me. Leaving for her own good."

"No! I.."

"If you love her, you will. Maybe not right away, but on down the road, you'll leave."

Spike stopped swinging and put his head in his hands. Angel was right. It would never work. A vampire and a Slayer? The only reason Buffy was being so kind to him, was because he was human.

"I'm sorry, Spike."

"What for?"

"Everything. If you and Buffy could be happy together, I'd say go for it, but you can't. You guys would just end up in more pain." Angel looked genuinely sincere.

"I hate you." Spike said, although he didn't mean it.

"I love you too."

And then Angel was gone.

"My Spike, I must speak with you." Drusilla aburptly appeared in the swing that Angel had vacated.

"What is it luv?" Spike asked, not at all affected by her presence.

"Daddy did not tell you everything, my sweet." Drusilla smiled radiantly.

"What? I don't understand." he replied.

"I've been listening to the stars. They tell me that once the spell is done, you will turn back into a vampire and the nasty chip they put in your head will not be there."

"You mean, I'll be able to kill again?" he asked, astonished.

"Yes, pet. You must kill the awful Slayer!" she growled.

"I can't Dru. I love her."

"Ha! You think you'll still love her when you return home? That she'll love you?" Spike buried his head in his hands again. "I don't know."

"You think she won't stake you the moment she finds out that you can kill again?"

"Bloody hell, Dru! What do you want me to say?" he asked exasperated.

But she said nothing more, and was gone as quickly as she had come.

Spike awoke from his dream, depressed. He felt tears in his eyes as he looked at the woman sleeping beside him. She was beautiful. Had he ever told her that? No, of course not.

His thoughts were interrupted by a knocking at the door. Buffy awoke to the offending sound and felt Spike's arms tighten around her as the door opened.

A young boy of about ten years opened the door and stepped into the room. He eyed the pair on the bed curiously, before saying something in a language that they didn't understand.

"He says it's time for breakfast." Anya announced coming up behind the boy. "His name is Pericles. He is one of Anaxagoras' students." she explained.

The boy bowed to them, then scampered out the door.

Anya and Buffy were waiting outside the room for Spike to change clothes.

"So? Did you and Spike, you know?" the ex-demon made an obscene gesture with her hands.

Buffy slapped them down, her face turning pink. "No! I told you, Spike and I are not a couple."

"Good morning, Ladies!" Xander called as he joined them.

A few seconds later Spike came out, stomach growling loudly.

Buffy giggled when she saw him blush. She then linked her arm through his and led the way to breakfast. Each of the four were eager to explore this new world before them and accomplish their mission.

"I can't wait to see if you'll freckle!" Buffy said, with a fake British accent.

Spike gave her look before going back to staring at the sunbeams that were warming his arms. He ignored the weird looks people gave him as they passed in the street. People must not have bleached their hair back then.

The group was currently making their way through town to find Galatissa's home. They all seemed to blend in well, except for Spike. His unnaturally blond hair was causing a little fuss. Finally, Buffy covered his head with a strip of cloth that she'd bought from one of the merchants that lined the road. Too bad she couldn't buy any souvenirs to take back home. No, that might change history or something.

"There it is." Anya pointed to a cozy looking stone cottage that looked very out of place next to all of the marble columns and arches that made up most of the city's architecture.

The door slowly opened at Anya's knock, and a beautiful young woman peered out at them. She was tall, slim, and long hair the color of ebony flowed down her back, almost reaching her hips. Her smile was bright and inviting, but her eyes were strange. They were obsidian. You couldn't distinguish between her pupils and iris's, they were so dark.

Spike felt a cold chill as he looked into those strange eyes. The others didn't seem to notice the evil he felt that was emanating from this woman.

Anya spoke to the woman for a moment before turning to her friends.

"She says that Galatissa isn't here, and won't be back until tomorrow."

"Tell her that Galatissa was working on a spell for us, does she know where it is or if it's finished?" Buffy told Anya.

After a few more minutes of conversation, the woman opened the door wider and gestured for them to come inside.

As they walked into the house, Spike noticed the box on a table, against the wall. It was locked and sealed. Apparently Galatissa had already captured the disease, and cursed the box. So where was she? And who was this strange woman who had let them in?

He pointed out the box to Buffy, who nodded at him, and then whispered something in Anya's ear. The slayer caught Spike and Xander's eyes and inclined her head toward a door at the back of the room. Then she turned her attention to the woman, who was studying them carefully with her spooky eyes.

Anya began interpreting for Buffy and the woman as they discussed the Plague and the magic that had started and stopped it. While the girls held the woman's attention, Xander and Spike slipped through the door. They found themselves in a smaller room that was cluttered with all kinds of mystical looking items.

"It looks like the magic shop. Only with a big scary cauldron in the middle." Xander commented.

"Look there! Do you think that's a spell?" Spike asked, looking intently at the scroll he had found.

"Maybe Anya can translate it." Xander suggested.

"Buffy!!" Anya's voice cried out.

The guys hurried back to the front room to find it empty, except for Anya who was sprawled on the ground. A nasty bruise was forming over her left eye.

"Anya! Wake-up. What happened? Where's Buffy?!" Xander gently shook his girlfriend.

Anya moaned as she sat up, putting a hand over her bruise.

"The woman took her. Xander, she's stronger than Buffy!" Anya gasped out.

"She took the box too." Spike said keeping his face carefully blank.

"Who was that woman?!" Xander asked.

"Erousa!" Spike growled. How could they have been so stupid?

The bright sun beamed down on Buffy as she walked toward the middle of the park, where the swings were.

All around her children laughed and played.

She sat down in an empty swing marveling at how peaceful and safe she felt here.

"Hello Buffy!" a familiar little girl called to her as she joined the Slayer on the swings.

Tears stung Buffy's eyes as she realized who that little girl was.

"Celia!"

"Can you translate it?" Spike asked Anya a while later.

He, Anya, and Xander had remained at Galatissa's home unsure of what else to do. They had no idea where Erousa had taken Buffy. After much arguing, it had been decided that they'd wait until Galatissa returned and hope that she could help. Spike, hated waiting.

Now he was waiting on Anya to translate the scroll that he and Xander had found.

"It doesn't make sense to me. And it's obviously unfinished." she said shaking her head.

"Well, what can you make sense of?!" he demanded.

"Hey! Don't yell at her, she is trying to help." Xander glared at him.

"That's not the spell you're looking for." a voice said from behind them.

The voice was a woman who was standing at the door, watching them intently. She looked almost exactly like Erousa. The only difference was her eyes. They were deep purple, and looked ancient. Power and wisdom rolled off of her in waves. There was no question in anyone's mind as to who this woman was.

Galatissa.

"Celia? What are you doing here?" Buffy asked as she stared in amazement at the little girl who had been her cousin and best friend long ago.

Celia had died very young, right in front of Buffy. The Slayer had been seven years old at the time, and would never forget that heartbreaking, terrifying day.

Seeing her now, so full of life, made Buffy's heart yearn for the time that they had been together. A time where her only worry was keeping her clothes clean so that Mom wouldn't yell at her.

"I'm dreaming, aren't I?" the Slayer asked, watching the girl begin to pump her legs, trying to swing higher.

"Dreaming is a sport." Celia told her.

"Um, ok. So, why am I dreaming of you? Why now? I haven't had a dream about you in years." Buffy was confused at the little girl's presence.

"You messed up. Erousa kidnapped you. Even now she plans your death." Celia had stopped swinging and was carefully studying the Slayer's face as she spoke.

"What do I do?" Buffy asked, although she felt no fear.

"There's nothing you can do about that." the girl had started to swing again.

"Then why are you here telling me this if nothing can be done?" Buffy stood and walked behind Celia, gently pushing her.

"I didn't say nothing could be done; I said you can't do anything. He loves you, you know."

"I know. I think I love him too." Buffy pushed her harder and higher, until the little girl began to laugh and squeal.

Buffy couldn't help her own smile at her cousin's obvious delight.

"Stop! Buffy I have to tell you something before I go." Celia gasped out as she put her feet down to stop the swing.

"When you get back home, the computer chip in his head won't work anymore." Buffy sat down heavily in her swing again at the girl's words.

"What?! You mean he'll kill people again?"

"Well, he'll be able to kill people again." Celia confirmed.

Buffy felt tears begin to slip from her eyes.

"He does love you though. You just have to have faith that love will see you through." the girl's voice had turned pleading.

"Well, with my track record, you'll have to excuse me if I have little faith in love." Buffy laughed bitterly.

"It wasn't right then."

"And it is now? Spike, my mortal enemy. He's the one?"

"I don't know, it's your love life." the girl grinned up at her.

"Well, you've been a lot of help."

Celia turned serious then, "Buffy, you have to believe in something, or you'll fall for anything."

Buffy rolled her eyes, "Now you sound like a fortune cookie."

"You've been through a lot, I know. But you've done so much good, and helped so many people. You will be rewarded. Happiness can be yours, but if you can't believe that then you might as well let Erousa kill you." Celia stood from her swing.

"So, I trust that Spike will save me?" Buffy wasn't so sure about that.

"No, you trust that there is a purpose for everything, and that the same higher being(s) that made sure your mother hit Spike with that axe, that made Xander breathe the life back into you, that made the snow fall that Christmas, and made you fall in love again, won't let you down now."

Buffy stood speechless as her mind drifted to times past. Little 'accidents' that had changed lives. Maybe they weren't mistakes. Perhaps there was more to her life than just dumb luck.

"Will you promise not to forget me again?" Celia asked in a small voice.

"Oh, Celia! I never forgot you, I never could. I'll always love you." She gathered the girl in her arms smelling the sweet smell that used to haunt her every time she went to Celia's parents' house.

Now that scent comforted her and even as she felt herself begin to wake up, she was confident that she would see the little girl again.

"You've offset the delicate balance of time to complete your mission. I've yet to decide whether I find such actions foolhardy or brave." Galatissa said looking over the group that had gathered in her home.

"Hey, you speak English! English hasn't even been invented yet, has it?" Xander asked.

"I speak all languages, child."

"As for the spell you seek, I have not yet completed it." she told them.

"What about this one?" Anya asked, holding up the scroll she'd been trying to make sense of.

"You are not ready for that spell yet." the sorceress commented, a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

"Sod the spells! Erousa kidnapped Buffy, we have to get her back!" Spike snapped, pacing impatiently.

"A vampire in love with a Slayer, how romantic."

"Can you help us find her, or not?!" Spike practically growled at her.

"My sister does have her. Once Buffy reveals to her your mission, Erousa will kill her." The sorceress was looking directly at Spike.

"I won't let that happen." Spike vowed.

"I know you won't." Galatissa said with a small smile.

She then told Spike exactly how to get to where Erousa was holding Buffy.

"Ok, let's go." Xander said, making his way to the door.

"No. The vampire must go alone."

"But.." Xander began.

"I must have you and the demon here to help me with the spell." Galatissa told him.

"Hey! How did you know I was a demon, or that Spike was a vampire?" Anya demanded.

"I know what I need to know." was all she said.

Spike turned to Xander, "I'll bring her back."

Buffy knew that Erousa was watching her, but still she kept her eyes shut, pretending to be asleep.

"I know that you are awake, Slayer."

Buffy sighed and looked around, her wide, hazel eyes taking in the surroundings. She was in a cave that was cold and dimly lit with candles. She had been curled up sleeping between two soft, thick furs, and was loathe to move away from their warmth.

Buffy started to stand, an escape plan already forming in her mind, when she immediately fell back down, muscles not cooperating.

A sense of dread filled her as she lifted an arm and tested it's weight. It was heavy. In fact, all of her limbs felt as if some unseen force was pulling them down to the ground. She glared up at the sorceress.

Erousa gave her an smug smile, "It's just a little something I've learned to do with a new idea. Maybe you've heard of it? It's called gravity."

Her smile turned into a scowl. "Don't bother trying to get away. You won't make it to the entrance without collapsing in exhaustion."

"What do you want from me?" the Slayer demanded, starting to feel afraid for the very first time since she'd awoke.

"I want to know how to open my dear sister's little box."

"You can't open it." Buffy sent the woman a smug smile of her own.

"Then you will open it for me."

"I can't either, sorry." Buffy retorted sarcastically.

Erousa closed her eyes, fists clenched by her sides, and took a deep breath.

She smiled again. "Then tell me why you are here. You don't belong in this time."

"That's for me to know and you to find out!"

Erousa's hand shot out and smacked Buffy hard across the face. The sorceress then turned her back on the girl and took several deep, calming breaths, trying to gain some control over her anger. The evil smile that Erousa had on her face when she turned back around, chilled Buffy to the core.

"Follow me, my dear." she said, leading the way out of the cave.

Buffy felt the force that had been weighing her limbs down lighten, just enough for her to stand.

Desperately, she looked around for anything that could be used as a weapon. Except for the furs that she'd slept on, there was nothing.

Sighing in frustration, Buffy offered up a silent prayer for help to anyone that might be listening, and reluctantly followed Erousa out of the dark cave and into the bright sunlight.

Spike flopped to the ground to take a quick rest and admire the beautiful scene that surrounded him. He felt like he'd been walking for days. Actually, he'd only been walking about half an hour, but half the time had been up hill.

Hill? Yeah right! Galatissa had told him that he would find Buffy in a cave that was on top of a large hill. It was more like a small mountain than a large hill.

To one side of the hill/mountain was the city. Even from this distance he could hear the noisy chatter of Athens' citizens as they went about their business in the late afternoon.

On the other side, the magnificent Aegean sea sent huge dark blue waves, crested with white foam, crashing against the base. This was the side that the cave overlooked.

"I've got to get in shape." He muttered, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

Then he frowned as it occurred to him that he wouldn't have time to get in shape before his body would resume it's undead status.

Mentally shaking off the confusing emotions that had accompanied such a thought, he turned his gaze toward the top of the large hill/small mountain that he'd been climbing.

He could clearly see the entrance to the cave, and as he watched, saw Erousa emerge followed a few moments later by Buffy.

A sense of urgency rushed through him as he shot to his feet, and started climbing faster. He only hoped that he wouldn't be too tired to help Buffy out when he got there.

Buffy looked at the beauty that surrounded her, and gave a contended sigh, despite her current situation.

"This is your last chance, Slayer. Tell me why your here, or I'll make you."

"I'm on vacation. The brochure said this was the perfect spot for this time of.., well, time." she quipped.

"Very well."

Erousa waved her hand over the beautiful view in front of them, before turning back to Buffy. "Eyes, look your last!" The sorceress said, before covering Buffy's eyes with her hand. Erousa moved her hand away, waiting for Buffy to realize what had just happened to her.

After Buffy felt the hand move away from her eyes, she opened them. Well she tried to. Bringing her hand up to her face, her jaw dropped open in shock and horror as she realized that her eyes were open. Erousa had blinded her!

"What have you done?! I can't see! Please, give me my sight back!" she cried terrified at the black nothingness that surrounded and threatened to suffocate her.

"Are you ready to cooperate then?" Erousa asked, enjoying her fear.

"I came from the year two thousand! You sent that box to a far away land that just happens to be where I will one day live. It was accidentally opened, and the plague got loose, making everyone sick. My friends and I have come for a spell to stop it! Now please, I've told you everything, give me my sight back!" Buffy cried desperately.

"No. I have everything I need from you. If I let you live, you'll destroy that plague, and that just won't do. Look at it this way, you'll be the only person in history to die before you're born!" Erousa laughed evilly before grabbing Buffy, and tossing her over the edge to the sea below.

"Now, to hide the box." she said, and with a snap of her fingers, disappeared.

"Buffy! NO!!!" Spike shouted. Without another thought he dove in after her, feeling actual fear for the first time in years.

One minute, Buffy's feet had been firmly planted on solid ground. The next, she was flying through the air. Without her sight, she was able to feel the sensations of her fall very strongly. The next few seconds passed by in slow motion.

First was the feeling of the warm sun on her bare arms and shoulders. Then she felt the cool wind caressing her skin as she plunged through the air, toward what she hoped was deep water. Millions of butterflies danced in her stomach, and she could have sworn she'd heard Spike's voice call out her name.

Despite the mind-numbing fear, thinking of Spike made her concentrate on trying to survive. She would not die without telling him that she loved him.

Buffy filled her lungs with as much air as possible, and straightened her body, toes pointed, arms and palms flat against her sides. The memory of jumping in a pool for the very first time filled her mind. She could hear Celia's voice in her mind.

"Think of a pencil." her cousin had instructed her as the girls had stood at the diving board of Celia's new swimming pool.

Her seven year old cousin's wisdom came to her now, as Buffy physically prepared her self to hit the water. Celia had told Buffy that "the pencil" was the jump that made the fewest amount of splashes.

Now, lungs full, body straight, Buffy slid gracefully beneath the waters surface. To anyone who would have noticed, she looked so at ease and in control, they'd swear she did it all the time.

Unfortunately, Buffy had not been prepared for the freezing cold temperature of the water. Her gasp was uncontrollable and she could not help but breathe in the salty water that forced it's way down her throat to her lungs.

Buffy Summers lost consciousness as her body descended even further into the depths of the Aegean Sea.

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