Summary: When Buffy falls through the portal in The Gift, she doesn't die. Instead, she turns up in Sunnydale—twenty years in the future. What happens when the one person she thought she'd never be happy to see is the one person who's stayed the same?
Rating: PG-13
Giles had already returned to his hotel room by the time Spike and Buffy finished their patrol, and while it was late, Spike knew that the Watcher wanted to speak to him. He dropped Buffy off, hoping that she wouldn't ask too many questions about their discussion. Spike had a feeling that whatever the Watcher had to say to him, it wouldn't be something that Spike was supposed to repeat.
"What does he want?" Buffy asked, lingering by the door. "He said something to Dawn about it, and she seemed to know what he was talking about immediately."
Spike shrugged. "If she knows, she hasn't let me in on the secret. Chances are, she thought it was something to do with you."
Buffy frowned. "And that's not okay for Giles to talk to you about?"
"No, but we haven't always seen eye to eye on things." Spike smiled. "Dawn tends to be a bit overprotective. She doesn't like it when Rupert or the others question my motives."
She seemed content to leave it at that, finally heading inside the apartment building while Spike headed for Giles' hotel room. The Watcher was still awake, despite the lateness of the hour, and he opened the door without comment. "How was she?" Giles asked.
"What? On patrol?" Spike smiled, remembering how she'd moved, the magic of fighting at her side again. They had always fought well together—once they'd stopped fighting each other. Of course, Spike had enjoyed going up against Buffy just as much. "Just like old times."
"She had no trouble?" Giles pressed, taking a seat at one of the two straight back chairs placed next to a small table.
Spike shook his head, sitting down in the remaining chair. "What are you getting at?"
"Buffy is still the Slayer," Giles said. "I don't doubt that she'll continue her duties, if only because of the familiarity."
Spike shrugged. "I think you're right, but what does that have to do with me?"
"Nothing, at the moment," Giles admitted. "As I told Dawn and Buffy earlier today, Willow has already called me."
Spike rolled his eyes. "About the Slayer stayin' at my place?"
"Willow fears that you'll use her vulnerability to pursue your own ends," Giles said. "Much like she thinks you did with Dawn."
"What?" Spike exploded. "That's just about enough of that," he snarled. "When she—"
"Willow sees what she wants to of the past," Giles said, his tone soothing. "I told her that I wasn't concerned about your motives where Buffy is concerned."
Spike shrugged uncomfortably. "Well, that's good then. What did she say to that?"
"That she would trust my judgment." Giles' eyes were steely. "I think she remembers what happened the last time there was a battle of wills."
Spike certainly remembered. Giles had come armed with the force of the Council and coven, knowing that someone with Willow's power couldn't be allowed to do anything she pleased. Willow had been more than a little surprised at Giles' strength. "Is that it? You just wanted to warn me that Red is still holding a grudge?"
Giles shook his head. "I wanted to talk to you about Buffy. I think we both know that this is going to be a difficult transition period for her. Of all of us, you're the one who will be most capable of offering her guidance."
Spike didn't know about that. Dawn seemed to be doing a fine job, and Tara was certainly capable of giving Buffy guidance. Not that he minded helping Buffy out, but he thought that the choice ought to be hers.
He was still remembering her words—that she'd never had a choice. Spike didn't want to pressure her for that reason alone.
"I'll do whatever she wants me to," he finally said. "Think that ought to be up to her, though."
Giles sighed. "Yes, of course. Buffy will have to make her own decision on the matter, but the Council is prepared to cover her living expenses. She may decide to come to England; I intend to offer her the choice. I'd like you to consider accompanying her."
Spike's eyes widened, and he shot to his feet. "You sneaky son of a bitch," he breathed. "I already bloody told you, I am not workin' for the Council of Wankers. I don't care what—"
"Hear me out," Giles said sharply, cutting off his protests. "I'm not asking you to work for the Council, but for Buffy. There is a difference."
"Not much of one," Spike muttered, but he sat back down. Giles had had him at "for Buffy," and the Watcher knew it.
"I won't be around forever, Spike," Giles said quietly. "With the way things stand now, Buffy is not the only active Slayer, and that means she's got a much better chance at living until a ripe old age. I'd like to know that she's taken care of."
Spike blinked. "Wait. What are you saying?"
"Do you see her being able to integrate into Willow or Xander's lives? Or even Dawn's? Buffy tends to run when she feels overwhelmed; it's happened before. I'd like to know that there's somewhere that she can run."
The amount of faith Giles appeared to have in him was staggering, and Spike leaned back in his chair. "Once again, it's goin' to have to be her choice," Spike said slowly. "There's no tellin' how Buffy's goin' to feel about me once she sees Willow and Xander again. She might decide that I'm not worth her time."
Giles shook his head. "Buffy is going to crave the comfort of the familiar," he argued. "And you are the closest thing to that. I simply need to know that she's going to be safe, Spike."
"That, I think, you can count on me for," Spike said. "Nothing is gonna happen to her, if I can help it."
That didn't mean he'd be able to help it, of course. Spike had learned that difficult lesson twenty years before.
~~~~~
Buffy clung to her sister. Although their time together hadn't been without its difficult moments, it had been good to get to know Dawn again. Buffy's fear was that they would never have time together like this again; Dawn was going back to her family, and it would be difficult for her to get away for several days as she had on this occasion.
Buffy knew that had they grown up together, had she been around for Dawn's teenage and college and post-college years, the progression would have been natural. Instead, the transition felt horribly abrupt.
"I'll be seeing you in a couple of weeks," Dawn promised. She and Buffy had moved away from Spike and Giles, who had willingly given them a little privacy. "Spike will fly up with you and stay for the first week."
"Because Willow and Xander are coming just before?" Buffy asked. She had spoken to both of them on the phone a couple of times, and it wasn't getting any easier. Maybe it was just talking on the phone, though; it might be different when she saw them in person.
Dawn shrugged. "You get used to it," she replied. "Remember right after Mom and Dad got divorced, and we didn't know what we could say around them? It got easier."
It had, but things had never been entirely comfortable. Buffy hated that it was going to be like that with her friends. That's not the way it should have been; she and Willow and Xander had always been on the same side, particularly where it concerned Spike.
Of course, they had all hated—or at least disliked—the vampire, and it was Buffy who was changing her mind.
"Yeah," was all Buffy said, letting go and watching as Dawn gave Spike and Giles both a quick hug. The Watcher was planning on leaving the following day for Cleveland to check on the current Slayer. Apparently, there was a Hellmouth there that rivaled Sunnydale's at its worst. He would join them in Portland just before Christmas.
"I love you," Dawn said, one last time.
"I love you, too!" Buffy called as she headed for the gate.
"You hungry?" Spike asked, finally breaking the silence that fell.
Buffy shrugged. "I guess."
"If you'll excuse me, I have some phone calls to make," Giles apologized. "Buffy, we'll have to talk tomorrow before I leave. Perhaps we could have breakfast?"
Buffy thought about getting up early and stifled a sigh. "Sure, that sounds good."
Giles nodded. "I'll take a taxi back to the hotel. I'll pick you up tomorrow morning around 8, Buffy."
"Sounds good," she said.
And then she was alone with Spike again. Strangely enough, it was something of a relief.
"Got a bit crowded, didn't it?" Spike asked, seeming to read her mind.
Buffy nodded. "Kind of. It's weird."
"What are you hungry for?"
"I don't know," Buffy replied. "Nothing, really."
Spike steered her towards the exit. "You know, we haven't been to the Bronze yet."
"It's still there?" Buffy asked incredulously.
Spike shrugged. "Well, it's changed hands a few times, an' it's been redecorated, but yeah. It's still there, an' they still have the best bloomin' onion in town."
"Let's go there, then," Buffy said, feeling just a little more cheerful.
As Spike had promised, the Bronze was remarkably unchanged, still catering to the younger crowd. The furniture was different, of course, but the catwalk and stairs were still there, as were the dark corners that Buffy remembered as being so useful for necking with a boy. There was the bar, where she'd ordered so many drinks, and the dance floor. Even the pool tables, where she'd played with Spike when he told her about the Slayers he'd killed, were still around—or pool tables a lot like them.
Not everything was the same, but the Bronze was a lot like Spike—the differences were easily ignored given the drastic changes that everything and everyone else had gone through.
He bought them both a drink and ordered his blooming onion, and then Buffy followed him over to an out-of-the-way table. "This doesn't bring back memories," Buffy commented, her tone just a bit sarcastic.
Spike raised an eyebrow. "What sort of memories, pet?"
"You telling me about the Slayers you killed?" Buffy reminded him. She winced in memory at the scene in the alley. There was a part of her that didn't feel sorry for what she'd done or said, and another part of her that felt terrible. Spike had long since proven that he wasn't beneath her, and Buffy had a sneaking suspicion that her reaction would be a lot different if he tried to kiss her again.
Spike smiled. "Yeah, guess so. This was where I first saw you, too."
"What did you think?" Buffy asked.
The feeling between them was much like that of a date—or of friends, at the very least. Buffy supposed that she and Spike were friends now, if nothing else.
"Was thinkin' how much fun killin' you was going to be," he admitted frankly. "I didn't think it would get quite so complicated."
Buffy smiled. "Yeah. It did get kind of complicated, didn't it?"
They shared a companionable silence while they both munched on fried onion and sipped their drinks—beer for Spike and something Buffy didn't recognize. She was pretty sure it was alcoholic, but hadn't wanted to ask. Even if it was, she trusted Spike.
Yeah, she trusted Spike. Buffy was fairly certain that stranger things had happened, but it was hard to say.
"What did you think when you saw me?" Spike asked.
Buffy hesitated, then admitted, "I was really pissed off that you were a vampire."
He frowned. "Why?"
"Because you were hot," she said, feeling her face flush. "Not that you were my type at all, but I remember thinking that all the cute boys were undead." Spike's pleased grin told Buffy that he was probably going to get a big head over her comment, and she added, "Of course, I should have known you were a vampire from the totally dated clothing."
Spike frowned. "Hey, I'll have you know that look was classic."
"Yeah, twenty years ago," she teased, then stopped, remembering that it would be twice that, at least. "I mean—"
"Happens sometimes," Spike said, his gaze knowing. "Everything comes back around, you know. They say there's nothin' new under the sun, an' the longer you live, the truer that gets."
Buffy swallowed. "I guess." She was quiet.
"What's goin' through that head of yours, Buffy?" Spike asked.
"We're flying up to Portland, right?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"You're coming back earlier, though?"
"Right."
"What if I want to come back early, too?" Buffy asked. She didn't know that she would, but Buffy wanted an escape route. As the Slayer, she'd learned early on how important that could be.
"Just tell Rupert," Spike advised. "Or Dawn. They'll take care of you. Worried?"
"A little," Buffy admitted. "After what you guys have told me..."
"Don't listen to us," Spike said, sounding sincere. "We've had our own troubles, but that's nothin' to do with you, Buffy."
Buffy wasn't so sure about that. Dawn was her sister, and if Willow and Xander had let her down that badly, that was her business.
And if they came after Spike—well, Buffy was going to take issue with that.
~~~~~
Giles sat down across from her. "How was your night last night?"
"Good," Buffy said. "We went to the Bronze."
"Was it as you remembered?" he asked.
She shrugged. "Mostly."
"I wanted to talk to you about the future, Buffy," Giles said.
Buffy nodded warily. "I figured it was something like that. I don't know what to do, Giles. I don't know if I should go back to school, or stay in Sunnydale, or... I think Dawn would be happy if I moved up to Portland, but she's got her own life."
"She does," Giles agreed. "You might find it difficult."
"What are you suggesting?" Buffy asked.
Giles gave her a gentle smile. "I'm not actually suggesting anything, but I'd like to offer you some choices to think about. I don't want you to answer right away."
Buffy nodded slowly. "Okay."
"The Hellmouth in Sunnydale is all but dormant," Giles began. "You wouldn't have to stay here unless you wanted to. If you chose to remain, that would be up to you. The Council will pay you a stipend that would allow you time to figure out what you do want to do."
Buffy frowned. "And if I don't want to stay here?"
"There would be a place for you in England," Giles said gently. "The current Slayer is at the Cleveland Hellmouth, but there are incidents all over the world that Watchers are called to respond to. You might help us with that."
She felt an unexpected bolt of longing at that idea; Buffy had always wanted to travel, but she hadn't thought she'd have the chance. At the same time, the thought of leaving the slightly familiar for the completely strange filled her with dread.
Maybe it would be less painful, though. At least then she wouldn't expect things to be the same.
"What about Sp—Dawn?" Buffy asked, changing her question in mid-syllable. "I wouldn't want to leave so soon. I just got back. I feel like I should stick around."
Giles gave her a knowing look. "I already spoke to Spike, Buffy."
She swallowed. Was she really that transparent? "It's not—it's not like that," Buffy said quickly. "He's..."
When she trailed off, unable to explain, Giles stated softly, "Spike is the only one who has remained the same. In truth, I imagine that he may be the only one who has any idea of what you're experiencing."
Buffy frowned. "Huh?"
"Vampires do not age, Buffy," Giles stated. "In many ways, they do not change, even though the world around them does."
She shook her head. "Spike's different," she countered. "I know he is."
"I didn't say that vampires can't change, merely that they often do not."
"You're saying that you think it's okay for me and Spike to hang out?" Buffy ventured.
Giles smiled. "I'm saying that Spike may be of use to you."
The words didn't feel right to her; Buffy didn't like the thought of using Spike, not when he wouldn't be getting anything out of the deal. He'd told her about his import-export business, about the life he had in Sunnydale; Buffy didn't see him leaving that for her.
In truth, she wasn't sure she wanted him to. It seemed unfair.
"What would he be getting out of the deal?" Buffy asked. "I can't ask him to follow me to England just so he can play tour guide, Giles."
"The Council would pay him as well," Giles assured her. "He wouldn't be doing it for nothing." She opened her mouth, but he held up a hand, silencing her. "Think about it, Buffy. If you decide that it's an option you'd like to consider, we can iron out the details to all our satisfaction. Of course, you may still decide to go to Portland, or move to be nearer to Willow or Xander. Perhaps you might want to try each of those alternatives for a time. Nevertheless, the Council will pay a stipend, so you needn't worry about money."
It was a relief to not have to worry about that sort of thing. Where she was going to get money, how she was supposed to support herself—those worries had been at the back of her mind for the last few days. "Thank you, Giles."
"It's my pleasure," he said sincerely. "I'm only grateful to be in a position to help you, Buffy."
She believed that he meant it, but Buffy also knew that he'd just given her the one thing she'd always complained about not having—choices.
Buffy would finally get a chance to find out how good she was at making them.
~~~~~
Two weeks had flown by. Buffy had no idea where the time had gone; she'd chosen to bury herself in small things, like meeting Tara's partner Yvonne and going Christmas shopping. She and Spike had even babysat for Sophia together, which had been quite the experience. Buffy had found herself watching him closely; Spike was remarkably good with the girl.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Spike offered.
The plane was somewhere over northern California, with not much farther to fly. "Just thinking about how fast time seems to go."
"Yeah."
She could hear the rueful note in his voice, and Buffy wondered if Spike was just as reluctant to interrupt the comfortable little routine they'd managed to establish.
And Buffy still had absolutely no idea how that had happened.
Spike put his hand over hers. "You thought any more about what Rupert offered?"
Buffy didn't bother moving; she found his touch comforting. "All the time." She'd told him about Giles' offer, but she hadn't said anything about Spike coming with her. "I like being in Sunnydale, but at the same time, maybe it would be easier somewhere else."
"Might be," he said noncommittally.
"I want to wait and see what happens," Buffy said.
"Makes sense."
Buffy shot him a dirty look. "You want to say something, say it, Spike."
"It's your decision, Buffy," he replied softly. "It has to be."
Suddenly worried, she stared at him. "Promise me that you're not going to disappear."
"Wouldn't do that," he said evenly.
Buffy nodded, breathing a sigh of relief, although she tried not to let on how comforting she found his assurance. "Okay."
"What day are you leaving?" she asked after a brief silence.
Spike shrugged. "Got a ticket back for the 23rd."
She nodded, looking out the window rather than at him, seeing nothing but darkness.
Buffy left her hand in Spike's, though.
~~~~~
Spike had never been so angry in his life—at least, he didn't think he had. Buffy had pissed him off a time or two, but this was worse. Spike was sure that this was worse. The fact that Dawn hadn't even given him a heads' up, or time to prepare put it right up there.
Glancing over at Buffy, he could see the smile light up her face, and he reined in his anger. If she was happy, that was really all that mattered.
"Dawn!" Buffy hugged her sister, then turned to the woman standing next to her. "Willow! I didn't think you were coming for another week."
"I couldn't wait that long," Willow confessed. "I'll have to do some work while I'm here, but I had to see you." She stared at Buffy in frank admiration. "You don't look a day older."
Buffy smiled, but Spike could sense her discomfort from where he stood. "That's what everybody keeps saying."
"So what have you been up to?" Willow asked cheerfully, completely ignoring the fact that Spike was standing right behind Buffy.
Dawn shot him an apologetic look. "We should probably grab the luggage."
"Spike and I can get it," Buffy said. Spike wasn't sure he recognized the tone of her voice. She sounded like—well, she sounded an awful lot like the Slayer. "Since we're the ones with all the supernatural strength."
Dawn shrugged. "Sure. Willow?"
Willow nodded, her smile turning a little chilly as she looked at Spike. "That sounds like a good plan. It's good to see you again, Spike."
It was a blatant lie, which Spike recognized easily. "Likewise."
He'd become a better liar over the years.
Dawn took his arm, and they walked a little ahead of Buffy and Willow. "I'm sorry," Dawn said immediately, her voice low. "I didn't think you'd come if you knew."
"You'd have thought right," Spike growled. "Bloody hell, Bit! What were you thinkin'? I'm getting a hotel room for the duration. Buffy can stay with you, but—"
"That's fine," Dawn said. "I know. I thought maybe it would be easier."
"Easier how?" Spike demanded.
Dawn sighed. "I thought Willow would have gotten over it by now."
"Dawn, I made her look stupid. That's not something she's gonna forgive, not a smart girl like her." Spike glanced over his shoulder, wondering what Willow would tell Buffy about him—wondering how long it would be before the Slayer realized that she didn't need him.
The last two weeks hadn't been perfect, of course. Buffy could be an annoying roommate at times, complaining about things that he'd taken for granted when he'd lived alone—like him not rinsing out his mug after a meal, or leaving towels on the floor. She could be moody, and would occasionally pick a fight for no reason that he could discern, or storm out of the apartment.
And he loved having her around—even though he was in a perpetual state of arousal.
Buffy was gradually softening towards him, though. She'd practically allowed him to hold her hand on the plane, and Spike wondered if she wouldn't change her mind in time. Buffy had once told him that he was beneath her, that his only chance with her was when she'd been unconscious. His greatest fear was that Willow and Xander would get to her, convince her that he wasn't worth her time. Not that they'd succeeded with Dawn, but his Nibblet had always been predisposed in his favor.
He grabbed the first bag of theirs that came around the carousel, keeping an eye out for the other two—one with more clothes for Buffy, and the second with his things and the Christmas presents. Spike saw the second, and was ready to grab it, but Buffy's hand beat him to it.
Spike glanced over at her, meeting her eyes. She offered him a reassuring smile. "I form my own opinions," she murmured quietly enough so that Spike knew he was the only one to hear her.
He nodded. "I'm gonna get a hotel room."
"I thought you would." She didn't look pleased by the news, which emboldened Spike.
"There's a place Giles always stays at. It's close to Dawn's house."
"Good. I might need a place to go if things get too hectic," Buffy said.
Spike remembered that Buffy had liked to escape; it felt odd that he would be the one offering one. "Any time."
Submit a Review!