Disclaimer: It’s not mine… Well, the story is, but the characters aren’t…

Summary: A broken Slayer befriends Clem as she starts spending more and more time at Spike’s crypt after the bleach blonde flees to Africa. Then Spike returns with dire news and the Slayer’s world is turned upside down once more.

Rating: PG-13

Spoilers: Set post “Grave”

Author’s Notes: Well, here it is… The first new chapter in almost a month. School is evil… Over the summer I had a new chapter out every couple of days or so, and now it’s taking months… I don’t know if this one even makes sense, ‘cause I’ve been writing like a paragraph a day for weeks. I’m not even sure if I remember what this one’s about… It’s probably gonna take me forever to get the next chapter out ‘cause of school… Plus, I’ve been working on a couple of new Spuffy vids, so I’ve gotta finish those, too… But I’ll do what I can…

By the time they entered the Magick Box, it was already quite late, and everyone inside looked as though they were on the verge of passing out. When she saw them, a small giggled passed through her lips and all they could do was glare.

“Sorry.” she apologized, still smiling at the scene before her. “I’m in a good mood.”

“Glad somebody is.” Willow replied, her eyes narrowed and focused on a seemingly half dead Xander.

“Hey, you got to sleep last night while I was here crackin’ the books.” he argued, adding an over-exaggerate yawn to the mix for effect. Willow rolled her eyes and Buffy laughed.

“So,” Spike broke in, glancing toward Giles and Anya, who both looked to be just as exhausted as Xander. “We find anything else here?”

“A whole lotta nothing.” The vengeance demon was obviously frustrated. She’d spent the majority of the day researching, while another good chunk of it had been spent tending to customers… All of whom were completely unfamiliar with magick. That in itself was annoying enough. And after she’d spent a good portion of her night, not to mention the entire day, flipping through old, musty books, she was cranky. As were the rest of them… Aside from the former Wicca, the vampire, and the Slayer, of course.

“I wouldn’t say it’s been a complete waste of time.” Giles countered, as he replaced a few of the books on the shelf. “We didn’t find much in the books, but Willow may have found something on the internet. As of yet, we haven’t been able to completely decipher the text, but it seems promising.”

“What do you mean you haven’t been able to completely decipher the text?” Spike questioned, slightly confused.

“It’s written in some strange language that loosely resembles Latin… We’re still trying to figure out exactly what it is.” The former Wicca seemed a bit nervous with her answer.

Spike picked up on her obvious apprehension and instantly felt guilty. He knew as well as everyone else that he was the cause for her discomfort… But there wasn’t really all that much he could do about it. He was doing his best not to seem adamant about being in such close quarters with the former witch, but it just didn’t seem to be working.

“Aside from that,” Giles added, breaking through Spike’s thoughts and pulling him back to reality, “it seems as though it’s some sort of ancient prophecy, which will most likely make it far more difficult to comprehend.”

“Wonderful; another prophecy.” Buffy’s voice was tinged with exasperated sarcasm as she plopped herself down in the seat beside Willow. “Aren’t there ever any good prophecies? It seems like they all tell me I’m supposed to die… And that’s never fun.”

“It’s not gonna happen again, Love.” Spike vowed as he slipped behind her; his hands running from her shoulders to her elbows and then back again, comfortingly. When she had said it, she had meant for it to sound as though she were doing nothing more than poking fun… But he knew her better than that. As much as she tried to hide it, he could see through her cool exterior, and straight into her soul. She was terrified. “I won’t let it. Never again… I promise you.”

Leaning back against him, she wrapped his hands in hers, locking their fingers and pulling his arms around her. Her eyes were closed; a gentle smile playing on her lips as she allowed herself another moment of pure contentment. Undoubtedly, she was making everyone else in the room more than uncomfortable, and she could almost hear Xander fuming… But she didn’t care. Not in the slightest. She was happy with him, and she intended to stay with him… With or without their support.

When her eyes slowly opened again, Spike’s arms still locked tightly around her, she was unsure of what to expect from the others. She was surprised when they didn’t seem to be terrible shaken by the display. Willow had a bright smile plastered across her face… It had been a very long time since she’d seen Buffy truly happy. Anya didn’t even seem to have taken notice. Even Giles seemed, for the most part, un-phased… Though he did seem just a bit uncomfortable with the affection they were showing for one another. But this time, Buffy could tell it wasn’t so much who she was with, but rather the simple fact that Giles was witnessing it. Kind of the way he’d been when Xander and Anya had announced their engagement. And then there was Xander… He didn’t exactly seem thrilled, but he wasn’t violently objecting. That was always a plus.

“So, that’s definitely all we found?” Buffy asked hopefully. When Willow nodded she let out a tiny sigh of relief. “Good, ‘cause we were really looking’ forward to gettin’ home… It’s kinda late and it’s been a long day, ya know?”

“Hold on, we? Who exactly is we?” Xander wasn’t liking the idea… Not in the least.

“Xander, please…”

“No! Buffy, come on, what are you, insane?! The guy tried to rape you, and now you’re just gonna take him home and everything’s gonna be all fine and dandy?! Have you completely lost your mind?! I could deal with it when you were gettin’ all cozy in front of everybody, but behind closed doors is another story!”

“Xander, listen to me.” Buffy was trying her best to keep her cool. All she wanted was to be allowed this one last shot at happiness. It had been so long since she’d been in love… Too long. And never like this. Never like it was with Spike. He was quickly becoming her everything. If Xander couldn’t deal with that, it was his own problem. She was through with trying to be something she wasn’t simply to satisfy the people around her. She was in love with him, and she was ready to admit… To herself anyway. But he would know soon enough… “I’m going home, and Spike is coming with me. For one thing, we haven’t seen Clem yet, and it’s not really fair to just kick him outta the crypt without any notice. Second, I want him with me. I know that you don’t understand why… There’s no way you could. Hell, I’m not even sure why. But I know I need him there. Can’t you just let it be? You don’t have to like it, but I need this, and I’d like your support… If I’m not going to get it, then tell me now, and you can go. I’m through with this Xander. You can’t accept it, then get out.”

When the last few words dripped like venom from Buffy’s lips, the tension in the air was almost tangible. No one was willing to break the uncomfortable silence that hung over them. It hadn’t been expected by any of them… But it hadn’t surprised one of them. Well, other than Xander, anyway. His face was flushed with shock and anger; his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides.

“You’re willing to choose that over us?” He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Not only was she taking Spike’s side, but she was also kicking him out. When had her feelings for the bleached vampire grow to be that strong? How could she even consider choosing him over her friends… The friends who had been with her; stayed by her side from the very beginning. To the end of the world and back. And then it hit him… So had Spike. He’d always been there. Even that first apocalypse he’d been in Sunnydale for… When Angel had tried to awaken Acathla. Even then he had been there… But that didn’t make him good.

“I’m not.” Her voice was strong and even when she answered him. “Do you see anyone else here objecting so vehemently? I’m choosing him over you. But only if I have to. It’s your choice, Xander.”

There was no reply other than the slamming of the door as he walked out.