NOTE: Some of you will recognize Giles and Sasha's interaction from a previous fic of mine. The reason is a simple: I wrote that for the exact moment Giles finds out about his past, so bear with me. It is important for the outcome of the battle.

I want to thank my BETAs: Valeri and Kira, Natasha the Superspy. Also all the people who actually take the time and, not only read my stories, but give me feedback. Means the world to me.

*

There was nothing to do in England after the Council's safe house had been destroyed. Uriel had readily consented to join them. The strange creature announced she would reunite with the group in Sunnydale soon. The Scoobies were left with little to do, except head home. The trip back would be a silent one. The events of the past few days were sinking in, and there was a lot to absorb. No more Council, Faith was dead, Quentin was dead… The implications were too far-reaching to grasp. Buffy resolved to just not think about it. The Wiccas were snuggled together, comforted by each others presence. Giles was staring out of the airplane's window, seeing nothing, unable to sleep. Dawn, her head on Xander's shoulder, was sleeping like a baby. The plane landed, and it took them no time to reach the cab stop – one of the advantages of having no luggage.

"We should all get some rest." Giles's tired voice seemed to be coming from very far away.

"Yeah," Buffy agreed.

They all nodded. None of the Scoobies felt like arguing with that. They were all exhausted and ready for some sleep.

"I will catch up with you after I get some shuteye. Bye guys." With that Xander got in a cab and headed home. Home to Anya… G'd he hoped she was home and not at work. He really needed her now. The thought of snuggling in bed with his sweet ex-demon put a faint smile on his lips – the first he could muster since last night. Faith was dead. He knew he should feel bad for the rest of the Council, but hey, he didn’t have carnal knowledge of the rest of the Council. The fact that Faith was a total psycho didn't escape him… He just… He had to get home. Get in bed and hug Anya. No more thinking. No use.

Dawn sat beside Buffy on the crowded back seat of the cab and immediately fell asleep again.

Tara and Willow sat together holding hands. Willow had not been able to let go of Tara's hand through the whole trip. She had almost lost her. Again. Where would she be without Tara? What if Dawn hadn't sneaked out? They all would have died. Willow shuddered… Tara felt it and looked at her lover with a worried, inquisitive look in her eyes. The question posed there was answered with a weak smile from Willow. Tara understood – she had also felt death close to them. The scream of the banshee was still ringing in her ears. It had been a close call. Even after all the apocalyptic events she had faced with the Scoobies, this one had rattled her. Vampires in the Tower… Energy bursts that made whole buildings disappear… That was a lot for someone who had grown up in a town with one stoplight. They should be dead. Somehow she knew that Uriel had changed their destiny on purpose. They were supposed to have died in the Council's safe house. She gripped Willow's hand tighter.

"I love you, Willow."

"I know, baby. I love you, too."

Buffy heard the exchange between the two witches and felt a tinge of envy. She had nobody to reassure her. Nobody to make it all better. A voice she didn't like listening to, told her that the statement was a lie. She did have someone who would always be there to comfort her and try to make things better. If she would only allow him to…

Stop it! He is a vampire! I kill his kind! She thought to herself. Still, the voice would not be silent.

Spike would be at the house – he had moved in the night that Drusilla had tried to kill him. It was no longer safe to stay at the crypt, so the vampire had relocated to the Summers’ basement with his TV and bags of blood. He was going to be there when she got home. Buffy couldn't help it – that knowledge did make her feel better, and she was anxious to see him.
Giles was quiet. His eyes were red and burning from the lack of sleep. The music coming from the cab's radio was starting to irritate him. It was not the driver's fault that the world was going to end, he had to remind himself. It was not the driver's fault that there was no more Council. He needed a glass of good, strong, single malt whiskey. Several in fact. He just wanted to get home.

*

Sasha was waiting for them at the front door. She said a quiet hello, and they knew she was already aware of what had happened in England. The kids where conspicuously absent, and the house silent. The witches and Dawn wearily made their way to their rooms. Buffy was on her way up too when Sasha placed a hand on her shoulder. Her beautiful golden eyes were filled with sympathy for the girl.

"He’s in the basement. He also sensed something was wrong. The only way I had to stop him from getting on the first plane out was to tell him you were already on your way home."

"How did he…"

"William's connection to you is a special one, Slayer… Like it or not." Sasha looked deeply into the girl's eyes. "You shouldn't deny yourself, or him, what little comfort there is to be had."

The way the Sorceress could read her was discomfiting. She started to protest, but what was the use? What Sasha said was true. She turned and made her way down to the basement, dragging her feet. What would she say to him? She had no idea.
Spike had heard them arrive. He had tried to overhear the conversation between Sasha and the Slayer but had been unable to. Well, she was alive and that was what mattered. He wanted to go up and see them, but there were large windows letting in the sun upstairs… And he wasn’t sure that he would be received as warmly as he wanted.

"Spike?"

She had come down the stairs without making much noise and caught him by surprise. He was definitely loosing his touch, he thought. Buffy approached him hesitantly, waiting for his move. Spike was going to say something witty to cover his joy of seeing her again (It had been only a couple of days and how he had missed her! He was turning into such a poof!), but reconsidered when her face came into the light. His eyes took in her pale face, the slumped shoulders, her swollen, red eyes… She had looked that way when he had found her on the back porch… The night Buffy had found out Joyce was sick… That night he had dropped the shotgun and sat beside her to comfort her. Comfort. That was what she needed after going through hell once again.

He crossed the distance between them in swift steps and hugged her, expecting that she would pull away. She didn't. She just let her body lean on him. It felt good. It felt safe. They stood there, hugging and saying nothing. That was enough for now.

*

Sasha let out a contented sigh. Those two were so wary of each other. She knew that William had already abandoned himself to the love he felt. He had always been like that…his heart was still a poet's heart. Such a romantic one… But the girl… The girl was letting her past get in the way of her feelings. She had sensed the love inside her. Buffy's feelings for Spike were evident to the Sorceress, but unfortunately, they were not as evident to Buffy herself.

The time had come. Sasha's oath to the Council was now void – being there was no more Council to speak of. She hated what she had to do, but it was necessary. With events moving along so fast, she was becoming increasingly aware of the time factor. Time…this dimension had so many disadvantages. No use in procrastinating. She would wait until they had slept and regained their strength. They were all going to need it.

*

Spike tried not to disturb her, but moved a bit to make her more comfortable. Buffy made a little sleepy noise and settled back on his shoulder, wrapping her leg over his. "Sleep Buffy. I am here and nothing will harm you."

*

"Rupert, there's something I have to do that will bring great pain to one of you. At the same time, it is essential that it be done… The survival of all us, of the world, could depend on it." Sasha had a flair for making cryptic statements.

"And you are telling me this because you want my opinion? I find that hard to believe. You don't strike me as someone who would ask for anybody's opinion." Giles cleaned his glasses, for the second time in less than five minutes. He felt quite uncomfortable in the Sorceress’ presence. Even though they had just met, the woman with the golden eyes and dark hair felt…familiar.

Sasha had unceremoniously walked into Giles apartment that afternoon, introducing herself with a graceful bow. Next thing the Watcher knew, she was talking about the survival of the world!

"Your assessment is correct, Rupert. I don't want your opinion." Better to do it with no dramatics. "It was just a warning."

Was that a threat? Giles wondered.

Before the information had sunk in, Sasha was approaching him and placing one of her hands on his forehead and the other over his heart.

"Statim… Libero altus memoria! Libero sinus! Iam*!" The power emanating from Sasha's voice startled Giles. It was an incantation, he could tell that much, but… He suddenly felt a warmth coursing through his forehead and chest, followed by a jolt of energy. And then…

His heart ached. The spell had been broken and all the memories had come back. All of them. Rushing in and invading his brain and ravaging his heart. He couldn't breathe for a moment. The bile was rising in his throat. All that had been hidden in some recess of his mind was rushing through his body. All that had been forgotten. What a gift it had been not to remember! Now it was all back. It was all here. And it was all real.

"What have you done to me?" Giles could barely speak. The pain from the memories was killing him.

"I've given you the truth."

He faced Sasha with great difficulty. "I know you. You were there…"

"Yes, I was. The Council came to me to perform the Tabula Rasa spell after your soul was restored. You see, Rupert, they knew those memories would hinder you. And they needed you…unhindered… Hence the spell."

"Why… Why give it back to me Sasha? Why make me remember?! The pain… it's horrible."

"Accipere quam facere praestat injuriam, Rupert."

"Better to suffer injustice than to inflict it?" He was puzzled.

"Yes, I see your Latin is in top shape." Sasha was grateful the man was calming himself. The British upbringing was doing its job. "There was a very good reason for me to lift the spell, Rupert. Like I said, the fate of all of us could depend on how you use this information."

* translation (of my bad Latin): "At once. Be free deep memories. Be free secret heart. Now!"



*

"And that is my story, Buffy. I hope you understand I didn't remember any of this… At least not like it really was, until this afternoon. I had memories of having led a misspent youth, of being involved with dangerous people, and of having been something of a rebel… But not of what had actually happened."

Buffy couldn't talk. She couldn't even think. She looked around the training room to reassure herself she wasn't in some different dimension. Giles, had been a vampire?! GILES?! My Watcher? She felt a wave of nausea rising.

"Buffy, are you feeling alright?" The concern in his voice was mixed with a tad of insecurity over her reaction. She looked like she was going to be sick, definitely not a good sign.

"Alright? ALRIGHT?! You just told me you were a vampire for a couple of years and… I am supposed to feel alright?! Giles – a world of no to that! I think I’m going to be sick." Tears were burning her eyes. It was too much. Big Bads. Council house going poof. Tenderness with Spike. Giles had been a vampire for two years. Two whole years!

"Buffy… Who I am now is not what I was then." Giles sat down heavily. She was not taking it well at all. But she had to understand. "I changed. Even before I got my soul back and became human again. It took some time, but I changed. She helped me, and I loved her enough to change." The memory of Mary and their love was still very raw to Giles. The pain in his voice was so evident that Buffy looked up. Giles was… Were those tears in his eyes?

"Giles, I’m sorry." She got up and tentatively hugged him. He hugged her back, grateful she was finally calming down. He couldn't deal with any more emotions than those he had to.

"Buffy, there is a reason I told you all of this."

"I know. You wanted me to know the truth. It's okay. I’m okay. You redeemed yourself after all, didn't you?"

"No, Buffy, you don't understand. I mean, yes, I redeemed myself and was given another chance at humanity. And yes, I wanted you to know the truth… But there is another reason I have told you all of this. All the details of what happened between myself and Mary."

"Another reason? What other reason could there be Giles? You thought I wouldn't love you anymore? You are like a father to me. Okay, I freaked for a while there, but you are still Giles to me. Like you said, who you are is not what you were."

"Dear me." Either she was being dense on purpose, or this was just another torture imposed on him by the Powers. "Buffy, I appreciate all of what you have said and thank you. You too are like a daughter to me… But I would like you to stop and think for a moment. Stop and think of what motive would drive me to give you such excruciating details about my life with Mary…"

Buffy sat there and thought… Giles had told her about Mary and how he had loved the gypsy girl. How her love for him had made him overcome his demon. How he had changed his ways for her… How he had stopped hunting humans to feed and had started drinking only animal blood. How he would have done anything for her… Oh My! G'd! NO! A big no! All the nos in the world! He couldn't possibly mean…

"Yes, Buffy… Spike." Giles had seen Buffy's face changing from puzzlement to realization and then the final look of total horror. She finally got it.

"But… You and Mary were totally different." Buffy was trying to make sense and talk at the same time. It was harder now than when all she had to deal with was finding out her Watcher had been a vamp. Spike loves me, we all know that, but there’s no way you can think that I…"

"I don’t think, Buffy. I know. We all know. We’ve all known about you and Spike for quite a while. And, please, I don’t want details." It was the hardest thing he’d ever done, to say aloud that he knew she loved the vampire. "I think you should take some time. Don't try to say anything now, Buffy. It is a lot for you to process and it would be best if you had some time alone." With that, Giles left the training room and closed the door behind him.

Buffy was alone. Alone with her thoughts. She didn't like that. Hell, she didn't like that when all she had to think about was Captain Cardboard leaving. Buffy laughed. The Spike-speak was contagious. Spike. The implications of what Giles had said weren't lost on her. Spike could attain redemption. Giles had actually said that Spike, unbeknownst to the blond vamp, had been on the road to redemption for some time. He had changed. He had changed in his behavior towards Buffy.

Not only with me though… Dawn, he loved Dawn.

He had cared for her mother also. The Scoobies went to him for help over and over again, and he had never turned them down. Could it be? Giles had stated that it not only could, but that it was. Spike had done it all with her giving him no more than a crumb here and there. Giles had Mary's love and comfort… What did Spike have? She felt her face go hot with shame. She recalled all the times she had humiliated him… She had used him as a punching bag… and he had… Taken it. Loved her in spite of it all. The memory of that morning enveloped Buffy…

"Buffy?" Giles was back.

"It's OK Giles. Come in." Buffy got up from the floor and walked toward her Watcher. Placing a hand on the older man's shoulder she said, "I get it, Giles. We are good. Now, what are we going to do?"

"Buffy, we have to tell him."

"If I know Spike… He’s not going to be too happy about it. I think it is better if I do this alone."

"Sasha and I will be outside. If you need us, all you have to do is call."

"Thank you, Giles." Adding to herself, G'd this is so not going to be easy.

Buffy walked out of the training room, into the magic shop, and looked around. She spotted Spike straight away, sitting on the counter and getting nasty looks from Anya. The ex-demon didn't like anybody, except herself, close to the cash register. He had his smirk on… Taunting Anya was entertaining him and the fact that Xander was glaring at him added to the fun. He was such a kid! How could anyone believe he was 128?

"Spike, could you come here? I need some help in the training room."

"Neat! Want to dance Slayer? I am up for a bit of rough and tumble!"

"Giles, lock the door behind us and don't let anybody in until I call you. I don't want anybody getting hurt, or him for that matter, when he freaks out." Buffy whispered after the vampire had passed through the door.

"Be careful, Buffy, and good luck," Giles said.

Buffy smiled nervously, "I am going to need it."

"What was that about?" Xander asked after Buffy and Spike had left the room.

"We’ll tell you when you need to know," Sasha answered.

"Okay. Just so long as they’re not in there for hours. I mean, we all know…"

Willow cut him off. "I thought we all agreed not to talk about their…relationship."

*

"C'mon Slayer… Let's dance." Spike had removed his duster and boots already. He was jumping up and down, the anticipation in his eyes giving them an attractive glint.

"Sit next to me first, Spike." Buffy patted the mat beside her. "I want to talk to you."

"Talk? Now, luv?" He didn't try to cover his disappointment, but did as she asked. Didn't he, most times?

*

"You are out of your bloody mind, Slayer!" He was yelling at the top of his lungs. Pacing back and forth – he had been doing that for a while now. Buffy told herself not to get angry. She couldn't afford that luxury now. He had to understand.

"No, I'm not. Giles told me everything. It’s all true. Sasha lifted the memory spell. You know Sasha doesn't lie. It’s true, Spike. The whole thing is true."

"Maybe Rupert was a vampire… I can buy that… Actually, it would explain a lot. But the rest is rubbish! There is no way in HELL that the rest is true!" What she had told him horrified Spike more than anything ever had. It couldn't be true. Everything he knew, everything he was came from being a vampire… Damn the Sorceress! He was never going to be William again! Never. He would rather stake himself first!

"Spike, I can understand the shock. I was shocked myself… But if it is true that the changes you have been going through are similar to what happened to Giles…"

"Buffy, I changed because I love you. I changed for you. You know that, so let's not pretend okay, luv?"

Buffy suddenly became very interested in the pattern of her trousers. How stupid of her to think they could avoid talking about that! It was the core of the whole story, and she knew it.

"Spike…" Buffy forced herself to face him. "I know. I also know that it began because of it, but things have changed. At first you may have only cared about Dawn because she’s my sister. Now you care about her, love her even, simply because she is Dawn. And not only because we have the same blood and the Summers' good looks." Buffy smiled, trying to lighten things up a bit.

"Nibblet is a great kid. How can anybody not care about her?"

"That is what I am trying to tell you, Spike… It may have started with your… er… feelings for me. Except now it has expanded to include more people. And it will continue to grow."
Spike growled.

"You said that the Watcher changed because of a woman."

"Yes. Her name was Mary." Good, he at least was calming down enough to talk.

"Was she a Slayer?"

"No, she was a gypsy. Like Jenny Calendar."

"Rupert said it was his love for her that changed him?"

"Yes. Their love changed him."

"Their? You mean she loved him back?"

Buffy wanted to disappear. Maybe if she thought about it hard enough she would be able to do what Sasha did… Sasha could become invisible just like that… Why couldn't she?

"Buffy… So she loved him back?" Spike was not relenting. He wanted to know.

"Yes, she loved him back, Spike. From what Giles told me, she left her family and everything else to be with him and take care of him."

"So, I am safe." Spike said, relief and disappointment mixed on his face.

"What?" That was not what she was expecting him to say. She had been sure he would say something bitter about how she didn't love him… Or anything along those lines… But safe?! "What do you mean?"

"He means that, since he has no hope of you loving him, he will not have to face his humanity." Sasha's voice sounded in the room.

"Shut up, Sasha!" Spike spat at her.

Sasha had materialized in the training room. Buffy still got freaked out when the Sorceress did that… but this time relief was the dominant feeling. An ally now was more than welcome.

"He means that as long as you don't love him…he will not have his humanity fully back. You see, William is not very keen on letting you become acquainted with his human side. He fears he will lose what little feelings you do have for him. Silly boy."

"Stop it Sorceress! I will not let you tell her!" Spike's eyes glowed yellow as he went into game face.

"What? Tell me what? Spike? Sasha? Tell me what? Who were you? What could possibly be worse than what you currently are?" Buffy wasn't even sure she really wanted to know. Who had Spike been that was so awful? So horrible he was in game face, yelling at Sasha? Jack the Ripper was from Victorian times, wasn't he? Curiosity got the best of her. "You tried to kill me and my friends countless times Spike! What could possibly be worse than that?!"

"Yes, William, what could be worse than that?" Sasha's voice was serene and her golden eyes twinkled with amusement, Spike's vamp face not withstanding.

"Were you a murderer? A criminal? Something so disgusting that we would all shun you?" Buffy felt her heart tighten. Please G'd, she prayed, please not that.

"No, pet. Worse." Spike knew he had lost the battle. Sasha was not backing down, and he felt defeat overcome him. Sitting down with a thud, he covered his face with his hands. Buffy would humiliate him fully now. Cecily's eyes and the hatred in them flashed in his mind… Please… Not again…

"Worse? What could be worse?" Buffy's voice was almost a whisper, heavy with fear.

"Tell her, William, what could be worse than being a criminal."

"Sasha, I will make you pay for this." Spike forced his face to regain his human form. No use in telling Buffy that in game face. He turned toward her, if he was going to do this, he would face it like a man should. He was no coward.

"I was a poet, Buffy. A bloody awful poet." He turned his back to her. All his resolution to face it like a man gone. She would never respect him now.

"I should have known…" Buffy's voice was tender, no hint of mockery. She walked toward him and made him face her."You still have the heart of a poet, William." He flinched at hearing his name.

"Buffy, don't… Please. Let me go."

"I have to tell you one more thing and then if you want to go, I will let you, okay?"

"What is it, Slayer?"

"Just now… You said you were safe, remember?"

"Yes."

"I think it is only fair to tell you that you are not safe at all." Buffy felt a weight being lifted from her heart as the lock she had placed there long ago was broken. Why fight fate and destiny? Particularly when it made her feel so indecently good.

It took Spike a couple of seconds to process the information… He was not ‘safe at all?' What did she mean by that? The only way he wouldn't be safe was if she… If she loved him. But she didn't love him. Wait, you stupid git! She had just sort of said she did. Disbelief and joy took over his body and mind… OK, she hadn't said it in so many words, but her eyes so intent in looking into his right now, were relaying the same message her words had implied. He had never seen her look at him that way before… Buffy was saying, albeit subtly, that she loved him.

He wouldn't have dared to a minute ago, but now his lips found hers in a gentle kiss. Not only did she respond to his kiss, but her arms went around his neck… her fingers into his hair, drawing him even closer. He no longer recalled why he had been so angry, he no longer recalled why he had been so terrified… He didn't even remember his own name anymore… All he knew and wanted to know was that Buffy had her arms around him and was giving him the most fantastic kiss there ever was.

"I’m glad that you two are getting along." Sasha couldn't hide her amusement.

Had it been possible, both of them would have blushed. As it was, Buffy was the only one to sport the telltale sign of total mortification. They had completely forgotten Sasha was there.

"I hate to interrupt such a beautiful scene, but there is more to be said."

"Fire away, Sasha. I am ready for anything now."

"No, you are not, William. Neither is Buffy. What I am going to tell you now is very serious and quite disturbing. So refrain from speaking until I have finished. I will try not too take long."

Buffy felt Spike embracing her from behind and was happy for the feeling of safety it gave her. She had a hunch that what Sasha had to say was not going to be pleasant.

"I think it is best to go straight to the point. We all know Rupert's story. He tried to die in his lover's stead and attained redemption that way. Well, it was not as simple as that, but I am trying to be brief. Mary died in his place because she was destined to. Her time had come… It was unfortunate, but sometimes life is less than fair. Rupert was a special case because of his love for Mary and his attempt of self-sacrifice was spontaneous and genuine. Now…" She hesitated. It was so much to ask from them. They had just really found each other, if only they had more time… There isn't any, Sasha reminded herself. They would need the little time there was to come to terms with what could be their destiny. The sooner she told them, the sooner they could start considering their choices.

"Your case is different, William. I am sure that given the chance you would defend Buffy with your life. Unfortunately, due to the impeding events, we need you at your full strength and being totally human will not do. It is also of paramount importance that the demon in you be vanquished. So we are facing a dilemma here. With a human soul, you will not be able to fight, with no soul you will perish." Spike was about to speak, but Sasha silenced him. "Don't ask questions I am not ready to answer. All in due time. You two will have to just accept all I tell you as truth. It is a lot to ask, I am aware of that, but doing as I say is vital. Trust me, and I shall not fail you."

She took a deep breath, after so many centuries it was still not easy… "Buffy, the solution to our dilemma lies within you. There is a ritual that can be performed that will solve this problem. In this ritual you, The Chosen One, have to give William a gift from your heart. You have to choose to willingly share your soul with William."

"I would rather die first than let any ritual harm her, Sasha!" Spike's arm around Buffy tightened protectively.

"You are dead already, honey." Funnily enough Buffy was not scared of what Sasha had said. Just curious. "Would it harm me, Sasha? I am guessing no, since you need me as much as you need him."

"No, it would not harm you at all. What it would do is link you and William forever. And I mean forever as in for all eternity. The ritual is a wedding of sorts. You would become two bodies with one soul. It is only right to let you two know the extent of the connection that will be established…You will be able to read each other’s thoughts, there will be no secrets between the two of you. What one feels, the other will feel. Good things and bad. With training you will be able to control it and have some sort of privacy from each other… But that will take time and, like I said, you will never be able to break the link completely. It will always be there. For as long as the soul exists. We are talking different reincarnations too."

"That gives the soul mates thingie a whole new meaning, doesn't it?" Buffy said with a nervous laugh. Forever? Not the forever from songs, the kind that lasts until you meet someone else, but a real and very long forever. She had just admitted to herself that she was, in fact, in love with Spike… But… Wasn't it a bit hasty to ask her to tie the knot for all eternity?!

"And what would happen to us? I mean, would we change?" Buffy asked.

Sasha looked at the two standing in front of her. She saw the doubt in both their eyes. She saw the tinges of fear too… No, she wouldn't tell them all of it. The gift had to come from love and only from love. Not because power came with it. A decision like that required some soul-searching. The bonus of added power was not to take part in their decision. If they decided to go ahead with the ritual, then she would tell them.

"Physically, you would still be you and William would still be William. His personality will not change, neither will yours. His human soul and yours will mesh, but it will not affect your abilities. Since you have the slayer in you, William will be able to have the same strengths you do. You will be equals in that area." Sasha felt tired. She had dealt with Giles earlier and now with these two. It was all so unfair and difficult. It was time to go home and rest.

"You should reflect upon all that was revealed here. I will come for your answer in two weeks. I wish there was more time, but that is all the time I can give you. Think it over carefully. If you'll excuse me… I will leave the two of you alone now. Rupert is outside, driving himself crazy with worry. I will go and tell him all is well." With those words, the Sorceress left the room.

"Wow." Buffy plopped on the floor.

"Luv, you don't have to do it. I would never ask you to give me so much."

"What do you mean? You would never ask me to marry you? I thought you loved me!" Teasing him was still fun, Buffy thought. She gave him her best puppy eyes and pout.

"Buffy, I do love you… But I also understood very clearly what Sasha said. It would be forever. We would be sharing not only a soul, but all of our thoughts and feelings… I don't know if you get how binding this would be. There never could be anyone else. Ever. It is fine by me, luv… But I don't know if…"

"If I want to spend eternity with you and only you?" He was the sweetest man on Earth. She was sure of that now. He would gladly spend eternity with her… "I get it, William. I get the whole picture. Don't let the blonde hair fool you." She kissed him on the tip of his nose. "I know it is a serious decision, and I will not lie to you… I thought we would have some time to get used to not wanting to kill each other before we had to decide whether we want to spend all of eternity in each other's heads… Instead we have two weeks. You have things to figure out also. You would become human again. Mortal. A human with Slayer powers. Hey! You would be the first male slayer ever! Giles will have a cow!" The mental image of Giles' face when receiving that piece of news sent Buffy on a major giggling fit.

"Luv! How can you laugh at a time like this?!" Spike couldn't believe it! She said she understood. But did she? He was all confused and troubled. Cor' he was turning into the poof already. The thought of Angel sobered him even more. Redemption was Angel's thing, not his. What would he do if he became William again? His head hurt. "Luv, stop laughing! We have to talk. This is very serious!"

Buffy tried to control herself and came to him. She gazed into his blue eyes. Eyes that were now full of fear, concern for her, doubt and also… love. She chose to ignore all the other emotions there and focused on the love…

"William…" her voice was so soft it felt like an intimate caress.

"Buffy, don't call me William. I am Spike. William is dead, and I don't want you getting us confused."

"It is not the first time I’ve called you William. Remember? When I found you lurking outside my house? You told me I had stupid hair and called me a bitch too." She wanted to giggle again. That had been so funny.

"Sorry for that one, luv. In my defense, you weren't being very pleasant yourself."

"I call you William not because I am confused, but because I no longer see you as anything other than a man. My man. If it makes you feel better, I will call you William only when we are alone, is that satisfactory, Master William?"

She was mocking him, he knew it. He also knew it was without any intent to hurt him. There was no malice there. She was telling him the thing he had wanted to hear for so long. Buffy saw him as a man. Her man at that! She could call him whatever she wanted… He was lost now… Might as well go and join the Nancy Boy tribe.

"I love you. Spike, William… I don't much care. You are the man I love and the name is unimportant. `What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet…'"

"I am fully impressed, luv! Didn't know you had met the Bard!" Spike planted a kiss on her forehead. That girl constantly amazed him.

"Well, that's me. Full-of-surprises Buffy… I have more, if you are willing to explore…" Her fingers were already playing with his hair… Her intentions blatantly clear. Why wait? They had waited too long already.

"I am willing, luv… Believe me, I am more than willing."

They stayed there, on the floor of the training room. If Spike thought their kiss had been the best ever, he was in for even better surprises. They stayed on that floor for a long time…