The blond woman slowly opened her eyes and stared up into an unfamiliar ceiling.

"I think she's coming to," a familiar voice said.

"Willow?" the woman asked as she tried to focus on the blur in front of her.

"Easy now you've been through allot," the voice said.

"There was a battle," she stated.

"You won," the voice said.

"And my friends?"

"They lived,"

"Who are you?" she asked as he eyes started to close.

"Willow Rose," the voice answered.

A red haired woman turned away from the unit in which the woman lay.

"How long until she regains full consciences G.I.L.E.S.?" she spoke to a floating crystalline ball.

"Approximately one hour, twenty two minutes Mrs. Rose," the ball said in a British accented voice.

"Tell me again why we're doing this?" the woman asked looking down at the person inside the transparent medical unit. She looked just the history records had described her, but still she seemed shorter.

"It was prophesied that about a century after the end of The Great War the demons would return and seek their vengeance," the computer answered.

"And that time is now and according to the Codex we must seek help from the past, but I still don't see what help she can be," the woman finished.

"She was the Slayer Prime, humanities leader in the war against the demons." The computer answered in a matter of fact tone.

"But this version of her was taken from the time-stream before the Great War," the woman said.

"We had no choice. If we had taken her from later point in time she would have indeed possessed the necessary experience needed to deal with the task we have ahead of us, but the emotional baggage is something we do not need. This one has none of the troubles that haunted her later in her life and enough experience to deal with her task here."

"There really is no arguing with you is there G.I.L.E.S.?" the woman asked as she placed a hand on the glass.

"Not to my knowledge," the computer answered with a smile in its voice and the ball took on a red hue.

She sat for an hour and twenty minutes exactly, thinking about why they were doing this. There was soft swishing sound as the glass of the unit opened.

"Where am I?" the blond woman asked as she rubbed her eyes.

"You're safe Elisabeth, you're in the Sunnydale MCC,"" The red haired woman answered.

"The what?" the blond woman asked in confused voice.

"Sorry the MCC, it stands for Medical Care Central," the woman explained.

"Oh, wait you spoke to me earlier. Your name is Willow isn't it."

"That's me," the woman answered with a smile.

"Sometimes she forgets," came the British accented voice of the G.I.L.E.S. as the crystalline ball hovered above Willow's shoulder.

"And this is G.I.L.E.S," the woman said motioned to the ball.

"Call me Buffy," The girl said as she sat up, "what year is it," she asked as a joke.

"2117," G.I.L.E.S answered.

Section 0.2

Buffy stared at the people in front of her. Well actually a woman named Willow Rose and a floating ball called Giles. They'd just told her that the year was 2117 and she hoped to god that they were just answering her joke.

"You're joking right?" she asked as her surroundings started to sink in.

"Afraid not," G.I.L.E.S explained, "you see we pulled you from the time-stream and transported you here in order..."

Buffy stared blankly at the crystalline ball and blinked a few times, but remained silent as it droned on.

"G.I.L.E.S let me handle this please," the woman named Willow Rose said.

The ball turned blue and then it was gone.

"Come on lets take a walk," the woman said and handed her blue jumpsuit.

Buffy looked at the woman and then down at the blue suit.

"There's a dressing screen over there," the woman said and pointed to the far side of the room.

Buffy looked at the woman, she wore green suit similar to the one she held and it seemed awfully formfitting. It had black padded elbows, shoulders and thighs and some sorts of wristbands were attached to the sleeves.

"It doesn't fit," Buffy said from behind the screen.

"Press the button on the right sleeve," the woman instructed. The was a hiss and a soft moan as the suit formed itself around Buffy's body. Willow Rose smiled.

They walked out of the room and into an elevator. Buffy felt odd wearing the formfitting suit, but it was comfortable almost like an armor when she thought about the placement of the pads. She smiled when she thought about how Xander would react to it, but then realizing that he was long gone now.

"Where are we going?" Buffy asked as she watched the floor counter go up.

"To the observation floor. It offers a great view of the city." Willow Rose explained.

"So is it really the year 2117?" Buffy asked.

"Why don't you judge for yourself." Willow Rose said as the doors opened.

Buffy gasped as she saw the city. Skyscraper dotted the skyline and the afternoon sun reflected of them. She stepped out of the elevator and placed her hand against the glass.

"My great-grandmother said that this was once all just a desert." Willow Rose said as she steeped next to her.

"Your great-grandmother?" Buffy asked absentmindedly.

"Yes, Willow Rosenberg you knew her didn't you?"

"She was my friend," Buffy said with a hint of sadness in her voice as she looked over the city again. She'd always wanted her friend to be more then that and now she'd never have the chance.

"When did I die?" she asked calmly.

"The 19th of December 2018." Willow Rose answered.

"But I disappeared."

"I know 1st of July 2000. Elisabeth I know this is allot to take in, but you're a quantum duplicate, we pulled you, rather a copy of you, from the time-stream..." Willow Rose explained.

"So I lived on?" Buffy asked cutting Willow off.

"Yes and you went on to accomplish great things."

"Tell me what happened, in my time, after you duplicated me?" Buffy asked as she turned away from the view of the city. "Just the facts and key words," she added.

"There was a war. Well it was The War between Good and Evil. It lasted for ten years. You and your friends became humanities leaders. You planned, you fought and you won."

"When was this?" Buffy asked.

"The war began on the 3rd of May 2007 and was brought to an end on the 25th of December 2017. History 101." Willow Rose explained with a small smile.

"Then if we won the Great War then why did you go through all the trouble of pulling me from, what did you call it, the time-stream?" Buffy asked.

"It was foretold. That close to a century would pass, then the demons would return to seek their revenge and that a warrior from the past would return and battle them once again." Willow explained

"Did I have a family?" Buffy asked, surely her descendants could have help theses people.

"No, that's another reason for why we did what we did. You have no descendants and since you were the last Slayer..." the red head trailed off. Buffy stared silently out at the city for a while. She had died alone, but now she had the chance to try again.

"So what do you want me to do?" she asked.

Section 0.3.

Willow guided Buffy through the corridors of an old mansion house. It felt strange to walk through such an old house after seeing the sprawling, futuristic city that Sunnydale had become.

"This house has been in the Rosenberg family for..."

"Who did your great-grandmother marry?" Buffy asked.

"She didn't. I think they were going to get married, but he died, or so the story goes."

"Who was he?" Buffy asked. Curious about who Willow would have turned to. How she lived her life.

"I don't know, she never told anyone."

"Why the name Rose?" Buffy asked.

"After you died and after my great-grandfathers apparent death, my great-grandmother changed her name. The history records say that she did do escape the fame," Willow Rose explained.

They entered a large hall. On the wall at the end of it hung a large painting of a group Buffy knew all too well and statues of various people she knew lined the walls.

"I know these people." Buffy whispered in awe as she passed the statues.

There was one of Faith in full armor, then one of her mom standing tall with child on her shoulder and leading another by the hand, Angel had his statue, Tara in flowing robes, Cordelia with a bow and arrows and sporting a priest's collar and them came several statues of people she didn't know. Giles gazing towards the future with a book under one arm and sword in the other, Xander smiling, Spike looking regal in what appeared to be a generals uniform, Willow with her serene smile in flowing robes and finally the statue herself in bomber's jacket with her hands on her hips.

"Is that really us?" she asked as they came to a stop in front of the painting.

On it were herself, Willow, Giles, Xander and Spike. All dressed in different uniforms of war. They all looked older somehow, but this was painted almost twenty years into her future. Spike's hair was dark, Giles's was completely gray and she looked more like her mother then herself, yet Willow seemed to be eternal.

"Yes that's you, you were the leaders of mankind during its darkest hours. You will realize this once you get to see more of the city." Willow Rose answered. She looked forward to showing Buffy the museums, the statues and the memorials.

"So nobody knows how to fight the demons anymore right?" Buffy asked turning away from the painting.

Willow Rose had told her that the knowledge had been all but forgotten and the skills lost in time and the Council had been disbanded when it came apparent a new Slayer wouldn't be called.

"We have the rudimentary knowledge stored in G.I.L.E.S. of course, but there's no one alive that knows the skills. That's why we brought you here."

"You want me to train you?" Buffy asked.

"And a few others. You'll meet them tomorrow, now let me show you to your room." Willow said and took her hand.

She's so much like my Willow and yet so different, Buffy thought to herself.

He'd lived too long and seen too much. His hair was no longer blond and he no longer needed the blood of others to live. Now he felt it in his blood that she'd somehow returned. His old friend walked the earth once again and that could only mean one thing. Trouble. So Spike stepped out of the shadows once again ready to face the forces he'd fought long ago, the forces that were once again turning beneath the ground. Something he'd thought they had buried a hundred years ago.

Section 0.4

Buffy tried to ignore the glances she and Willow Rose got as they walked through the museum. It was kind of weird walking through museum dedicated to yourself and things you hadn't done, but she wouldn't do these things. They had already happened.

"Tell me what happened after the War?" Buffy asked as the looked down into a display holding various items that had once littered the table at the library, books, a sword, a crossbow, crosses and a teacup.

"The world arose again of course. Alexander Harris stepped forth as a leader in peace and the world was rebuild."

"So Xander made something of himself, but what about Angel and Spike they should be still around." Buffy said as small girl stared at them.

"Look mommy," she whispered.

Buffy turned and smiled down at the girl. Willow Rose smiled to herself so this was the other Elisabeth the history records spoke of. The kind and caring woman, that was denied happiness in life.

"Come now honey," the girls mother said and then she looked up at Buffy a gasped.

"We should..." Willow said

"...be going," Buffy finished.

They walked out into the sunshine, better to get lost in the crowds rather then cause mass hysteria at the museum.

"So what happened to them?"

"Angel disappeared in early days of the war, but returned for the final battle and as for Spike or William as the records call him he disappeared around the same time you died." Willow Rose explained.

They walked on in comfortable silence. Buffy unconsciously grasped Willow Rose's hand and it felt familiar, she needed that right now because no matter how strong she was this was still way weird. They walked into a lush green forest. Strange how the landscape seemed to shift. In it's center rested a tall white monolith that reached a hundred feet into the air. It sparkled in the sun.

"What's this?" Buffy asked in awe.

"It's memorial to those who died in the Great War. Nobody knows how many died, so this was erected in their memory." Willow Rose explained.

"You really know your history don't you?" Buffy said as they walked on and out of the forest. An old church came into view, surrounded by a small cemetery.

"What's in there?" Buffy asked as they by it.

"I don't think we should go in there," Willow Rose said.

"Why not?" Buffy asked as she turned the towards it.

"Then... I'll just wait out here okay," Willow Rose said and sat down on the steps.

Buffy looked back at Willow Rose's back before stepping into the church. It looked just like any other church and she didn't know what Willow was so worried about. She walked up to the altar and came to rest in front of it. She knelt on the marble and placed her hand on the floor. The was something written on gold marker that was embedded the floor.

"Elisabeth Anne Summers," she read and almost jumped up. She stood up and jogged out of the church.

"Take me back to the mansion," she stated.

"You saw it didn't you?" Willow Rose asked.

"Yes, the place where I died," Buffy whispered as she once again grasped Willow's hand.

Inside the church a figure emerged from the shadows. His old friend had indeed returned, but this wasn't the woman he'd said goodbye to on this very spot ninety-nine years ago. Spike looked around and then placed a rose on the marker. Maybe he could help this Buffy find the happiness the one he'd said goodbye to had denied herself.

Section 0.5.

Buffy lay on the large bed curled up into a ball. Seeing the world she had brought about and then the place where she died had left her unnerved, but with a yearning to know more. She'd died in a church. Strange she'd always thought she'd die somewhere dark and alone. But maybe she had done just that. She stood up and walked out into the darkened corridor.

Thinking about Willow Rose as she navigated through the darkness. It was eerie how much this girl resembled her Willow. Still there was slight difference, Willow Rose had redder hair, her eyes so blue that they were almost black, her face sharper and her figure slimmer, but she radiated care and warmth just like her Willow had always done.

I wonder who her great-grandfather was? Buffy thought.

She stepped into the Hall of Heroes as Willow Rose liked to call it.

This painting when was it made? she thought.

She looked up into the faces of the people she'd left behind, but still she hadn't left them behind, she'd just split into two, one traveling here and the going on with her life.

"This is giving me a major headache," she murmured.

She walked out of the hall and towards Willow's room. She peeked through the half open door. The red haired girl lay on her side facing away from her. Do we really get a second chance? she thought.

She shook her head and walked downstairs into the living room. It was almost if the house had been made to make her feel at home, no futuristic things, well except for the holo-tv.

In the library she ran her hands over the old books that lined its shelves, some of them were Giles's. She'd recognized them anywhere. She searched for the Watcher diaries and there they were. Not a complete set, but some had apparently survived. She picked up the last volume and opened it at the last written page. She read:

The 19th of December 2018.

Today my Slayer died at the age of thirty-six. We found her body lying in front of the altar. Spike was the one who discover it. It looked like as she had been praying, then just closed her eyes and left us. We all grieve this great loss, Willow the hardest.

The world is now without a Slayer and there will not be another. It has been written and so shall it be. The threats are gone, the darkness lies dormant and it will not arise again in my lifetime.

This will be my last entry in this book and it is my hope that this shall be read and remembered. Some legends should never die.

Rupert Giles, Watcher retired.

Buffy closed the book and smiled.

"You were right Giles's some legends don't die," she said and stroked the cover. She walked over to the window and looked out into the moonless night. Then she felt it, the familiar cramps and a shadow moved away from the house.

"I knew it was him," she cursed with a grin.

Section 0.6.

Buffy stood and straighten her jumpsuit. Which she personally felt way too revealing. Not that she didn't mind it on Willow Rose.

"Stupid 22nd century clothing." she muttered as she blushed at the thought and looked down at the screen embedded in the table.

Sipping her coffee while she waited for the candidates to arrive. Willow Rose had told her that they had been selected by G.I.L.E.S. and herself and that they all fit the profile of a Slayerette, whatever the meant.

"What does Giles stand for anyway?" she asked and looked up at the floating ball.

"Genetic Isolinear Lifeform Emulating Sphere," G.I.L.E.S. answered and hovered over her shoulder.

"It says here that one of your designers will be joining the group," Buffy said and motioned to the screen.

She'd grown to like the somewhat annoying ball and he was a sentient being and should be treated as such.

"Yes, Hope Giles, although she has since then retired from the company," he answered.

"Any relation to my Giles?" Buffy asked.

"Of course she's a direct descendant,"

"So Giles had a kids?" Buffy stated

"Yes, several, four if I recall, in his later life," he answered.

"Who, who was the mother of those children?" Buffy asked and feared the answer.

"Cordelia Giles of course, it is history 101," he answered.

"Cordy?!" Buffy exclaimed, nearly spewing her coffee at the floating ball.

"You sound surprised. Cordelia Giles was..."

"Please just Cordelia," Buffy groaned.

"Very well then. Cordelia was one of the leaders in the Reconstruction and it came as shock when she married Rupert Giles.

"Why? Well aside from the obvious fact that she's Cordelia," Buffy asked.

"She was a priest of course. I suggest you read the book "The Faith in Peace", by Joanna Giles it tells hrt story in great..." G.I.L.E.S. trailed of at the murderous glare Buffy was giving him.

"That's a great book. You should read it," Willow commented as she strode into the room. Strode wasn't the word, she swept into the room. She demanded attention as her long red hair moved as she turned her head. Buffy wasn't sure whether or not the girl knew what power she held, or maybe it was just her own imagination running wild.

"No thank you," Buffy stated and became very interested in the screen.

"So your Watcher moved on big deal," Willow said and sat down next to her.

"So where are my victims, I mean candidates?" Buffy asked wanting desperately to talk about something else.

"They should be arriving any..."

There was loud yelling from outside the room and then two figures burst in. One a short, raven haired girl, Hope Giles and the other a tall young woman, Angel De'Light, with her long platinum white hair, but what made her stand out, aside from her beauty, were the huge wings that atoned her back.

"...minute now," Willow finished with a grin.

"Willow is this your doing?" Angel demanded.

"How could ask me to join the same team as this baka!" Hope shouted, not at Willow, but at G.I.L.E.S.

Buffy looked back and forth between the two as they continued to shout insults. She glanced at the screen. Hope Giles, researcher, highly intelligent and Angel De'Light, a genetically engineered human. The one and only of her kind, being both stronger and faster then a normal human.

"Ahem!" Buffy said in a soft voice and everyone jumped to attention, almost military style.

"Sit down please," Buffy said and was a little embarrassed at their reaction. "Where is our third candidate?" Buffy asked G.I.L.E.S. as the two arrivals stared at her in silent awe.

"One his way, wait there is and incoming transmission."

A small holo-screen flickered to alive over the table. A young man's face filed the screen. His hair was soaked in sweat and there was blood trickling from a cut on his forehead.

"Hope are you there?" he asked out of breath.

"Stefan you alright? What happened?" Hope asked in panicked voice. "Vampires I think, but some... thing fought them off," he answered. Buffy glanced at the info on the screen, Stefan Zoëga, born 2099 as part of the Future project. Buffy noted to look it up on the way.

"Stay put we're coming to get you," Buffy said and turned to Willow. "You got a car right?"

"No, but I've got something much better," Willow answered with a grin.

Spike jumped back into the shadows. Saving the boy had been necessary, but not something he had planned for. There were whispers in the air and twenty had risen last night. Something very old and very powerful was returning to Sunnydale, something he'd left for dead a long time ago.

Section 0.7

Buffy held on for her dead life as Willow's hover zoomed through the city. Her computer again denying her access to all files regarding the Future project.

"Damn it," she muttered.

"You won't get in," Hope stated as she looked up from the large book she was reading.

"Then can you please tell me something about this thing?" Buffy asked and handed her the computer.

"Well officially it was a genetic experiment meant to further human evolution," she said.

Buffy stared Blankly at Giles's descendant. Hope sighed, the diaries hadn't lied.

"They were trying to make "better" humans, but they were shut down for lack of positive results," she explained.

"And Zoëga is one of those not so good results," Buffy said and Hope nodded.

Angel listened to the conversation with interested, but never said anything. The hover came to a silent halt. Hope was first out of it and running towards the boy.

"G.I.L.E.S. what's up with Hope?" Buffy asked.

"After the shutdown of Future. Stefan Zoëga was put under the care of her parents and they have always been close," he explained.

Buffy scanned the area as she listened to G.I.L.E.S.' explanation. A disregarded stake lay on the ground amidst a thin lair of dust. Willow was looking around, running her palm over the shadows. Buffy's head snapped up and she pulled Willow towards her.

"Buffy?" Willow exclaimed as she felt her self pressed into Buffy. Not and uncomfortable position, but unexpected.

"Everybody back into the hover. Now!" Buffy ordered.

"Vampires?" Willow asked.

"Yep," Buffy said as she let her go.

Angel was herding Hope and Zoëga back into the hover as G.I.L.E.S. scanned the area and Buffy bent down to pick up the stake.

"On my mark make a break for the hover," Buffy said as she pushed Willow behind her.

The was a low rustle in the alley and then they saw the glow of several pairs of yellow eyes.

"Go!" Buffy whispered as she jumped into the shadows.

Willow turned to run, but stopped and turned back to watch as Buffy set about taking the vampires apart. The movements were just like they were shown in the history records. Fluid, graceful. something flickered in the shadows, metal, silver, a weapon, a memory of night like this long ago flashed through her mind.

"No?!" Willow yelled as she felt as something tore through her. Stretching out her hands and seeing the blue energy gathering around her fists, she threw the energy at the attacker.

The rest of the group watched from the safety of the hover as bolts of blue energy shot out from Willow's outstretched hands and hit the vampire that had drawn a weapon. There was a massive release of energy as blue column of energy reached up into the dark sky above and then there wasn't a sound aside from the hum of the hover.

Buffy carefully opened her eyes and looked around. Willow lay on the dark ground, unmoving. Buffy gently picked her up and carried her over to the hover.

If someone hadn't shielded their eyes during the flash. They would have seen a historical figure leaning against a wall in the alley. Spike looked down at the half melted, silver, railroad spike, someone was sending him a invitation and it was time to take this fight to the source.

Section 0.8

Buffy stood outside Willow's bedroom door. Raising her hand to knock, but lowering it again. She'd been standing there since Hope and left the room. Telling her that the energy release had left Willow exhausted and that she couldn't explain how she'd done it.

"Get a grip girl," she ordered herself, raised her hand and knocked. No response. Buffy pushed the door gently and it opened. She looked around and then took a small step across the threshold. She couldn't help smiling at the sight that greeted her. Willow was a sleep on the bed, holding onto the divan with a peaceful smile on her face.

"At lest sleep is peaceful for some of us," Buffy muttered as she knelt besides the red head. She studied the sleeping young woman, that looked so much like the Willow she'd left behind.

No you can't ruin another life, her mind stated.

But my Willow went on she didn't need me and this Willow is just as strong, Buffy countered.

"A credit for your thoughts," a sleepy voice asked.

Buffy looked down at Willow, her eyes barely opened and a small smile gracing her red lips.

"Second chances," Buffy stated as Willow sat up, her hair falling into her eyes.

"That's understandable," She stated as she blew the Hair out of her face.

There was silence as they just looked at each other. Buffy reached out and tugged a stray look of red hair behind Willow's ear.

"I watched them die," Willow whispered.

"Your parents yes I know G.I.L.E.S. told me," Buffy said as she stroked her cheek.

"It was night just like tonight was. It had just rained and we're walking home. they moved too fast for us to see. All I saw was this flash of silver and then blood, so much blood. Then I felt myself being lifted up and carried away. I woke up here, in this very room." Willow trailed off as Buffy wrapped her arms around her. "I always come back here when."

"Don't cry," Buffy whispered in her ear, "Pleases don't cry, cause I hate it when my Willow cried and when you." Buffy stopped as Willow gently touched her lips with her own. She then allowed herself to be pulled down onto the mattress.

"Please stay?" Willow whispered.

Buffy nodded and then fought against a sigh as Willow hugged her tighter. An hour passed and not a word was said, it would be dawn soon.

"I hate to interrupt, but we have a problem," a British accented voice drifted from the door.

"Spike?" Buffy asked as she peered at the figure standing in the doorway. Her eyes adjusted and she gasped.

"What... oh my goddess?!" Willow exclaimed as she saw the legend that was General William B. Spike. His black jumpsuit was torn, his cape in tatters, his black hair coated in blood and there was deep hole in his thigh in the shape of railroad spike.

"Like I said we have a problem," he said with a crooked smile.

"What happened?" Buffy asked as she jumped out of the bed.

"Kind of a long story luv."

Section 0.9

Spike stood in front of the dark skyscraper. His black cape billowing in the breeze as he looked up the massive building. At his feet lay two unconscious security guards who had been a slight hindrance.

"Somebody's moved up in the world," he muttered as he stepped over the bodies. In the lobby he was greeted by even more humans.

"More?" he sighed, spun and sent the first flying into the nearest wall.

The rest fell to the floor fairly easily. As Spike picked one up and threw him into the rest and then bent backwards as red energy bolt streaked his chest.

"I always loved the limbo," he said as he crushed the gun and the guard's fist in his hand and the guard fell to his knees.

"Now, you are going to tell where the boss is at," Spike asked in a calm voice.

The guard shook his head. Apparently more afraid of what the boss would do to him, than this madman and then his eyes rolled up into his head.

"Damn past out," Spike muttered as he stood up and looked around. There was ping as the elevator came down and out poured some of the more frightening creatures of the night.

"Bloody hell," Spike cursed as he flipped to the side in order to avoid an arrow. Landing with a weapon in hand he turned to face the threat, the energy blade hissed when he activated it and the air around it crackled.

"Always wanted to be a Jedi," he said with grin as he charged into the small throng of undeads. The air became thick with dust and ozone and the vampires screamed as the blade sliced through them. Spike came to a graceful halt as he heard clapping behind him and soft familiar laughing. If he had blood it would be freezing as he turned around he a faced the woman he left for dead one hundred years ago. Drusilla, his first love.

"Nice work William," she said with a smile.

"You're dead, you hurt Willow and you died," he stated in a flat voice.

Dru stepped over the bodies of the guards and watched as Spike made his move. With a flick of her wrist she sent a silver spike flying.

"Stay?!" she ordered as it embedded it self in Spike's thigh. Spike just cringed as the spike pierced his flesh.

"If you're going to kill me get it over with," he stated.

"I could never kill you William," she said with smile. "I'll let them do it," she said a motioned two huge vampires standing behind him.

"Bloody hell."

Spike leaned back in his chair as he finished the story. Stripped to the waist and bandaged he sipped a cup of tea. Everyone around the table either in robes or pajamas of one sort or another.

Angel and Zoëga couldn't to nothing but stare at the legend. While Hope was little bit more alert. Still awed, just in another way.

"So how did you get away?" Hope asked trying not to stare at the pale flesh.

"I fought them to a standstill, then pulled out the spike and ran like hell," he said as he grinned at the girl and watched her blush.

"So Dru is back?" Buffy asked as she clasped Willow's hand.

"Looks that way and with all her marbles in place this time around," Spike stated. There was a moments silence before Buffy turned to G.I.L.E.S.

"Is there a graveyard in the city?" she asked.

"Yes of course, but it's huge and you couldn't possibly cover it all," the crystalline ball stated.

"I'm not going to cover it all, just the fresh graves?" Buffy stated.

"You know that Dru knows you're here?" Spike asked.

"Yes and knowing her there's no knowing what she'll do," Buffy stated and there was another pause as she though for a moment. Then took a d eep breath before speaking again.

"At all times stay in pairs of two or more," Buffy said and turned to Hope.

"Hope is my old chest still around?" she asked.

"Should be in the museum why?" the girl asked.

"I need some of the weapons that are hid in false bottom," Buffy explained.

"I'll see what I can do," Hope said and stood. Spike stood up as if to follow.

"Spike stay," Buffy ordered and to her surprise Spike sat back down. "How long have you know?" she asked.

"That you were back. I knew the moment you arrived. I felt it in my blood," he explained. "Can I go now?" he asked.

"Go, but I want to have a talk with you when this is over." Buffy said and watched as Spike jogged out of the room.

"And Spike," she said and he turned around. "Don't scare the girl okay?"

Spike smile innocently, before turning around. Buffy sighed.

"G.I.L.E.S., Angel, Zoëga. Get on the computers and search for any cases of mysterious deaths in the past year," she ordered.

"Understood," G.I.L.E.S. said as the filed out.

"What now?" Willow asked and moved closer.

"Well." Buffy said with a grin and watched Willow nervously bite her lower lip. "Do these come in black?" Buffy asked with a grin and held up her jumpsuit.

Buffy looked over the cemetery and gasped in awe, it stretched out in all directions from the old cemetery. She pressed a button on her silver wrist band, the only color besides black in her bodysuit.

"G.I.LE.S. what's the circular diameter of the graveyard?"

"Approximately fifteen point seven kilometers, but there are only fresh graves in one fourth of that area" he answered and she swore she heard a chuckle in his voice.

"Thanks we'll report back in one hour," she answered and killed the link.

"That's wasn't very polite," Willow reprimanded her.

"I know, but it made me feel better."

"Want, Take, Have," Willow said.

"Excuse me?" Buffy asked as the walked down a stone path.

"History," Willow explained with a shrug.

"Silly me," Buffy said.

"Mind if I ask you something?" Willow asked.

"Shoot."

"What was it like? I mean Sunnydale back then?" Willow asked.

"Smaller, quieter and a lot more vampires, but I didn't really mind all that much." Buffy said as she took her hand.

"Why did you do it, the history records say you did it for the sake of the world, but.." Willow trailed off.

"I did it for my friends and my family, for Xander, for Giles, for Willow, for mom, even for Cordy," Buffy answered.

They stepped in front of a large tombstone and Willow turned to face Buffy. "And now, wh... why do you do it now?" she asked in a low voice.

"For you I think," Buffy answered as she inched closer.

"I, I, I." Willow stammered as she stared at Buffy's lips.

Buffy smiled at the stuttering girl in front of her, second chances do come. "Don't be afraid," she whispered.

"I don't know what to do," Willow whispered.

"Don't tell me you've never kissed someone before?"

"Nope, I spent so much time reading the history records and figuring out how to get you here that I..."

Willow was silence by a searing kiss, it was hot, fierce, passionate, the stuff of romance holos. Bells were ringing in her head as Buffy parted her lips with her tongue, the slayer was also carefully exploring, sensing, and cataloging for further reference.

When Buffy pulled away she felt her knees give out as she crumbled down, breathing heavily.

"That, that was."

"A crash course," Buffy answered with a smile.

"That too,"

There was ripping sound as hand punched up through the earth.

"Gotta go work, but then we'll move onto chapter two," Buffy said as she held out her hand and stake shot from her left wrist band into her palm. She leaped over the headstone and the vampire was dust before it could break free from the ground.

Buffy walked back to Willow with an intentional swagger. She was leaning against a tombstone, her legs draw to her chest, her head between her knees and she was hyperventilating.

"Hey what's wrong?" Buffy asked as she sat down on the ground.

"I just." A deep breath, "kissed a girl." another breath. "no I didn't kiss a girl I kissed a Slayer." Willow answered. In the few seconds while Buffy had been slaying the event had sunk in, along with all the events of the past days.

Buffy looked guilty, felt guilty. Who was to say that this Willow was like her Willow? Had she pushed this girl into something she wasn't ready for? Had the kiss in the night, been just a kiss, one born of fear of being alone?

"Willow I'm sorry I kissed you. It's just that you're so much like my Willow that it hurts every time I look at you. I mean from what you told me I never acted on my feelings towards my Willow, not once for over fifteen years did I tell her how I truly felt and then I died alone in a church. I don't want that to happen again, I don't want to die alone." Buffy's voice was little more then a whisper now.

Willow looked up at her and saw single lonely tear running down Buffy's cheek. She gently placed a hand on her cheek, her compassion and kindness overriding whatever fears or doubts she had.

"You didn't tell her Elisabeth, but she knew. Her diaries say that on New Years Eve 2006. You shared an unforgettable night together, but then the war began and tore it all apart. So you did tell her and I'm not angry, shocked maybe and deep down I guess I wanted this. Just not so soon." Willow said and looked down shyly as her cheeks reddened to match her hair.

Buffy raised Willow's chin and looked into her ice blue eyes. "Thank you," she whispered and kissed her cheek gently. Second chances really do come, with time.

Drusilla grinned as she looked at the hologram project onto her desk.

"Behold the Slayer's weakness," she exclaimed as she ran her fingers over the hologram of Willow.

"Cry havoc and let lose the dogs of war," she said to her assistant who nodded and left.

Section 1.1.

Hope glanced at Spike as he carried the chest into the room on his shoulder.

Damn them for leaving me alone with him, she thought.

Spike placed the chest on the floor and watched in amusement as Hope stared at the lock.

"I believe you need one of these," he said and handed her the key.

"You're not very nice. You know that don't you?" she said.

"Well I am a bad, rude man. Says so on my memorial," Spike retorted with a grin.

"The great General Spike can't come up with a better come back than that?"

"At least I fought in the Great War. I was there on the lines, not behind the planning desk like someone's ancestor," Spike said as an old anger bubbled to the surface.

"My great-grandfather was a great man," Hope said standing up to her full height, just barely reaching Spike's chest.

"Yes a great man, who left Willow when she needed him and then letter ran to that whore of a..."

There was a loud slap as Hope's palm connected with Spike's cheek.

"Don't you ever talk that way about my family, ever," she said in flat tone.

"Or what? I can't die anymore so what's left," he said as he grabbed that hand that was meant for the second slap.

"You're still angry over that night in the church?" she asked in a softer voice.

"I could have stopped her if only I had gotten there sooner," he said.

"But you didn't and because of that you suffer. Suits you right." Spike paused and looked at this third generation watcher. This beautiful young woman. His eyes softened and his frown vanished.

"Stop it," she said and blushed.

Inside of Hope Giles there was a war going on between the part of her that wanted to hate this man with passion and the other part which saw the fact that he was just that, a man that cared too much.

"Sorry force of habit. Peace," he said and offered his hand.

"Peace for now," she said and shook it.

"And your great-grandpappy was okay," Spike added as an after thought.

"Now you're just trying to charm me,"

"Who says I haven't already,"

"Oh please don't be so full of yourself,"

"I have every right to be full of myself."

Angel walked passed the door leading into the meeting room and picked up the spat that could be heard inside the room.

"Angel wait up," Zoëga said as he came running her.

"Buffy told us to stay in groups," he said as he caught up.

"Zoëga we're inside the mansion. What could possibly happen?" she asked.

"Better save than sorry," he said as he glanced at her. Angel sensed it of course. Couldn't blame him since he was just a boy.

"I'm not a boy," he whispered and thought she hadn't heard it.

"Pardon me?"

"I said I'm not a boy," he repeated.

"You're a 'tep'," she exclaimed.

"And what of it, it's not like I entered your mind or anything."

"I don't like telepaths," she stated.

They'd wandered into the center of the ballroom and he turned at pulled himself to his full height.

"Well get used to..."

There was loud crash as something burst through the windows.

"What the..."

They found themselves surround by a group of uniformed men, with the insignia in the shape of an elegant D on their uniforms.

"Humans." Angel whispered.

"Yep," Zoëga answered, but then they both felt pressure on their minds.

"A mindshredder. Go get Spike," Zoëga ordered as he realized the danger they were in.

"But you..."

"Go," he ordered as he focused on the source of the mental pressure. Angel turned and flapped her wings, since they were in the ballroom so she had plenty of room to maneuver and the floor was littered with shards of glass. As she took to the air she felt something hit her site, a laser bolt.

Must fly on, she thought as she glided out of the room an into the hall.

"Spike, Hope," she shouted with all her might as she collapsed, just shy of the door. Almost instantly Spike was at her side.

"Angel what..."

"Some men broke in through the ballroom..." Angel said and the carpet was turning a darker shade.

"Say no more," Spike said and ran as Hope knelt by Angel's side.

"He' s really something," Angel said in a weak voice.

"That he is," Hope muttered.

The sounds of breaking wood and stone could be heard from the ballroom, followed by horrifying screams.

Buffy and Willow returned to a grim scene. Spike was staring out the window, Angel was lying in the medical unit, Hope was paging furiously through a book, there were two men tied to chairs and G.I.L.E.S. was the only one to greet them.

"Where's Zoëga?" Buffy asked.

"Gone, men, undoubtedly in the service of Drusilla broke in through the ballroom windows and kidnapped Zoëga. General Spike says the boy gave them quite a fight, but by the time he arrived it was all but over."

"They teleported out using a mixture of magic and technology," Hope mumbled from the table.

"Buffy," Willow stated in panicked voice and looked down at her hands which were covered in a yellow glow. The glow slowly covered her all.

"Willow," Buffy cried out as the girl disappeared in a flash of light.

A small metal object fell to the ground and everyone heard it hit.

Section 1.2

Spike looked over his shoulder, Willow had just disappeared in a flash of light along with the prisoners. Just like he had thought it would.

"Slayer lets go," he said as he walked passed Buffy.

"But,"

"No buts Slayer, Hope and G.I.L.E.S. have their orders and we have to get Willow back, so chop, chop," he said.

Buffy looked at Hope who was picking up the small needle that lay on the floor and then at Spike's back. When she didn't move he turned around and grabbed her by the shoulders.

"Listen Buffy. She's the weak link, your weak link. Now Dru knows this and right now that's the only thing keeping her alive," Spike stated. Buffy blinked a few times. Then looked hard into Spike's eyes and something clicked in her mind

"Hope, braclets," she ordered and the wrist bands came sailing through the air.

"Where to?" she asked as she loaded an arrow.

"The tower,"

Buffy and Spike stood on the empty top floor of the dark tower, it looked like it had been abandoned for quite some time. Spike was kneeling on the ground.

"Clever girl," Spike said as he ran his finger over the dusty floor. Half the dust had been there when they arrived, the fresh lair belonged to the welcoming committee.

"So this never was her base of operation," Buffy said.

"No, she's somewhere in the lower levels of the city, possibly underground, there are still some large underground complexes left since the Great War,"

"Lets get going the," Buffy said and turned towards the elevator, but stopped.

In the corner of the room there was a small frame and inside it a drawing of Buffy lying dead in the church with Spike sitting on the altar steps.

"Guess she learned something from the old poof," Spike said as he looked at the drawing on the way down.

"You found me that night didn't you?" Buffy asked,

"Yes."

"Why didn't you try to..."

"I couldn't," Spike interjected.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

- "This brings back memories doesn't it," Buffy stated as she ducked, they had been running into tougher and tougher vampires as they ventured deeper into the lower levels of the city.

"What fighting vamps? More then you might think Slayer," Spike answered as he swung the energy blade in a wide arc over his head and cleaving his opponent in half.

"What was I like?" Buffy asked as they resumed they're march.

"Caring, kind, tough as nails," Spike said with a faraway look in his eyes, "but a year into the war you just turned of your heart for some reason."

"So I stopped being caring and kind?"

"No, but you wouldn't allow yourself to be loved."

"Oh I see," Buffy said.

"We'll think about it later because there are more coming," Spike said and the blade flared to live again.

Section 1.3

Angel groaned as she opened her eyes. She glanced down at her side, the wound was almost healed. She looked over to the table where Hope was staring down at the Codex.

"Find anything?" She asked G.I.L.E.S. as he hovered over to her.

"Yes and it's not good," he answered.

"Tell me is the boy in danger,"

"The situation has gotten worse I'm afraid."

"I know I heard," Angel said, "so what do the books say?"

"That blood will color the seas unless we stop Drusilla,"

"You sure know how to sugarcoat bad news."

"That was the sugarcoating."

"Oh!"

Hope stared at the page for minute. The conversation over the medical unit fating into the background as the words appeared before her, like so many times before.

"G.I.L.E.S. we're in trouble," Hope stated in a calm voice.

Buffy took down that latest vampire to jump out of the shadows. The air had taken on sickening smell, it smelled like blood.

"Spike do you smell that?" Buffy asked.

"It's been this way here since the war," Spike explained.

"Why? What happened here?" Buffy asked.

Spike turned around and looked at the hill they had just came down from before he began speaking. His mind going back a hundred years and his eyes taking on a faraway look.

"It smells like blood because we're nearing the center of the Last Battle. You and I lead an army of ten thousand men and women over that hill, they were humanities finest. Faith and Xander waited with twenty thousand more in reserve if we should fail. Your mother was comforting the children in the shelters in LA. Giles and Willow chanted along with a coven a thousand strong. Cordelia prayed so hard that night that she began to bleed from stigmatic wounds," a blood tear ran down his cheek.

"We came over the hill and looked into the pits of hell itself. Still nobody was afraid, for you were there to lead us. We marched through the gates of hell and into the jaws of death," another tear ran down his cheek and his throat tightened as he went on;

"Twenty-nine thousand four-hundred and seven of the bravest men and women I ever met died that night, among them almost all of our generals. Their screams could be heard for miles, but we marched on. A thousand fell, but a thousand arose from behind us to take their place, without fear they came. Angel and Wesley fought like madmen, but they died just shy of the center. Then there were the whispering voices. The voices of loved ones long gone crying out for help, whispers of past crimes, reminders of every dirty dead and every regret. Riley ran into the shadows never to be seen again, but I heard his screams. I know the name of every woman and man that perished that night."

Buffy looked up and Spike, gaining respect for a man who had seen much and lived to tell the tale.

"Spike I'm sorry I didn't mean to..."

"No they should be remembered. It is my duty to remembered." There was a moments silence as they walked on.

"Spike is that tower supposed to be there?" Buffy asked as a large black structure came into view.

"No it's not," Spike said.

"Spike before we go in there I want you to tell me two things and promise to tell the truth?"

"Of course,"

"How did I die?"

"You gave your life to save the world. The spirit of the demon that had opened hell came back and you gave your live in the church. Traded it for humanities safety," he answered.

"You were there?"

"Yes and you didn't die alone,"

"Thank you,"

"What's the second question?"

"Are you the father of Willow's child?"

There was a long silence.

"How did you find out?" Spike asked

"You're eyes, they're the same as Willow Rose's,"

"Yes I'm the father. After you died she first turned to Giles, but he was too grief stricken to give her the comfort she needed and everybody else was busy rebuilding. So she turned to me, or should I say I found her."

"You've always been there watching them haven't you? You carried Willow home the night her parents were killed?"

"Yes, but I was too late save her parents," he answered in a sad voice.

"You're a good man Spike," Buffy said and kissed his cheek.

"Now lets go save my great grandchild shall we?"

"Spike there's one more."

"Her love life or sexual interests are none my business Slayer," Spike answered with a grin. So into the break the marched again with a smile.

Hope drove the hover as fast as it would go.

"Must go faster, must go fast," she chanted.

The Codex lay open next to her, the letters bled.

Angel sat up in the medical care unit. The wound still hurt, but she'd known pain before. Zoëga had saved her and she'd be damned is she didn't return the favor.

Drusilla sat calmly in her chair as she looked up at the holo-monitors. One showed William and the Slayer advancing towards her little maze, another showed the cell in which William's great grandchild was waking up and the telepath talking to her and the last showed the altar on which she would bring the past to life.

"Everything is the same old and new,"

Section 1.4

Angel spread her wings on the roof of the mansion and flapped them twice. A thousand emotions and thoughts ran through her mind. None of them was fear. This was what she'd been born for, received twelve years of training for at the Angel Foundation.

"Hold on guys," she whispered and took to the air.

This was another step on the road that she'd started down when she was thirteen. Back then she'd been considered an outcast, a freak. Her parents had disowned her, but then she'd met a kind man named William Harris. He'd taken her in, brought her to the Angel Foundation were she'd been allowed to explore her gifts in peace, away from cruel and ignorant world outside. There she met Willow Rose for the first time which had eventually let her here to this night and this fight.

Buffy and Spike stood and stared at the maze they now face. Once they'd entered the tower they'd found out that it was a mare entrance into an elaborate underground maze, now the question was to go on, or find another way in.

"Any bright ideas?" Buffy asked as she checked her wristbands.

"One or two," Spike answered as he looked around.

"I can't reach G.I.L.E.S." Buffy stated and looked up.

"Don't hold your breath either. This whole area has been kind of weird since the war," Spike stated and bent down to pick up some gravel from the ground.

"Then we walk on?" Buffy said and took a step into the maze.

"No," Spike stated and grabbed her arm.

"What?" Buffy exclaimed.

"This is just another diversion setup by Dru,"

"How can you be so sure?"

"Cause we missed the clue in the tower,"

"What clue?"

"The drawing."

Buffy reached into a pocket and drew out the drawing.

"See the church in the drawing. It isn't the same church as the one you died in," Spike explained, "and," he added, threw the gravel through the maze entrance and it vaporized.

"Good point, but where's the church in the drawing?"

"It's the Church of Saint Summers."

"As in."

"As in your mum, yes."

"Cool."

Spike sighed as he turned around to leave. But then the maze disappeared and three dozen vampires stood before them.

"We don't have time for this, but ladies first," he said in a weary voice as his blade flared to life.

"You're right Spike. Cover your face," Buffy ordered and then slammed her wristbands together. UV light flooded the chamber and the vampires scrambled for cover as they burned to ash.

"Nice trick," Spike said as he blinked a few times.

"You didn't cover?"

"Don't need to anymore," Spike answered.

"The wonder of modern science right?"

"Something like that, but something tells me that was a one charge weapon," Spike said and pointed at the wrist bands.

"No it should recharge within a hour or so."

"It better, cause Dru will be waiting."

The hover was parked on a hill overlooking the city. A city that would burn if they didn't find Buffy and Spike in time.

"G.I.L.E.S. status?" Hope asked.

"They just returned on my scanners heading for the Church of Saint Summers," he reported.

"Then that's where Drusilla is hiding. Can you contact them?"

"No, it appears the Ms. Summers has used the UV blast and it has fried the communication circuits in her wristbands."

"Very well. How's the counter spell coming along?"

"I've managed to translate 89% of the text."

"We need it all G.I.L.E.S. If Drusilla manages to awaken the Primal One we're all in serious trouble," Hope stated.

"I'm working on it, also it would appear that Angel has left the mansion,"

"Figures," Hope said as the car sped down the hill.

"I'm uploading the information to her so she'll know what she'll be facing?"

Transmission Stream

Angel, Drusilla will attempt to raise the Primal One tonight. Buffy and Spike are heading to the Church of Saint Summers and we're on the way there. I advise you to approach with caution. What follows is an excerpt from the data I have on the Primal One:

The Primal One was among the highest ranking demons in hell and the being directly responsible for the outbreak of the Great War and brining hell to earth in the year 2007. Believed to be defeated by humanities forces in 2017. He is classified as a seventh level threat to the world and must be defeated at all costs.

The OA (Occult Agency) is mobilizing to guard the perimeter, but like typical bureaucrats they're protecting their own behinds by leaving the slaying to us. Godspeed and good luck.

G.I.L.E.S.

Section 1.5

Willow blinked once, then twice. The room came into focus, it wasn't the dungeon she'd expected, but a rather well furbished, although windowless room.

"You've been out for two hours, the door is locked and we're underground," a calm voice said.

Willow turned around and saw Zoëga sitting in reclining chair.

"At least they put us in the same cell," he said.

"How did you?" Willow asked.

"The mindshredder, she tore through all my mental shields," he stated.

"So you're just picking up stray thoughts,"

"Well those and strong emotions. You're lucky I've regained some control. They had to carry the last guard out screaming," he said and bit down on an apple.

"But G.I.L.E.S. files said you were a failure and Hope." Willow trailed off.

"Hope knows, yes," he stated.

"So this cool and calm demeanor is because?"

"Without my shields in place I must remain calm, or else I could accidentally slip in and out of your mind without you even noticing." Willow sat down with caution and then watched Zoëga.

"Buffy and Spike are undoubtedly coming to our rescue," he stated.

"Stop that,"

"Sorry, you care for her don't you?"

"I said." Willow said looking pissed off.

"You don't have to be a mindreader to see it. So do you or don't you?"

"I don't know, it's all a bit. confusing."

"Coming out often is, at least that's what I've read."

"You know way too much for an eighteen year old," she groaned and rubbed her temples.

"Well growing up at the Future Project and then the Giles household tends to do that do a person," he said with smile.

"You're not worried at all are you?"

"No, this Drusilla person needs us, or else we would be dead," he stated.

"That's a bit cold isn't?"

"It's the truth. You see, you're the bait and me well I'm just a bonus that enables her to get to Hope," he explained, "so back to the fun stuff are you or are you not,"

"I'm not gay!" Willow stated in a firm voice, but there was something that made Zoëga doubt her words.

"That's over simplifying it now isn't it?" he asked with a grin. That pompous son of a. wait a minute two can play this game, Willow thought.

"I could as well ask you whether or not you want to fuck Angel?" she asked and conjured up a clear and strong mental image of the act.

"I. I." Zoëga stuttered and Willow grinned.

"Point taken and I would never 'fuck' Angel," he said after he'd gathered his wits.

"What you would make love to her?""

"Yes as a matter of fact I would. You wouldn't fuck Buffy now would you?" "I... I..."

Willow never got a chance to reply because the door blew inwards, splintered and dusted the vampire that had been thrown through it in the process. As soon as the dust cleared they could see Buffy, Spike and Hope.

"Willow you alright," Buffy asked as she stepped through the doorframe.

"Ten vampires advancing from the south," G.I.L.E.S. reported he floated through the door.

"I'm on it," Spike said and turned around with his cape flapping around his calves.

"Come on we've got get you out of here?" Buffy said and offered Willow her hand.

"What's going on?" Zoëga asked in a calm voice.

"Drusilla is going to raise the Primal One," Hope explained.

"Sounds bad alright," he stated.

"How did you get here?" Willow asked.

"Dru left us a clue and I'm pretty sure this is just a another trap cause this is all too easy," Buffy stated.

"And you came knowing that it was a trap?"

"I had to save you didn't I," Buffy answered with a smile.

"Hey what about me?" Zoëga asked.

"You're Angel's problem," Willow stated with a grin.

"Lets go already," Spike yelled from the hallway.

"Ready to save the world?" Buffy asked.

"Are you ever?" Willow asked back.

"Nope, but didn't that sound cool?" Buffy asked.

"You're complete loons every single one of you," Zoëga muttered. He knew well the confidence that the Slayer was projection only ran so deep and that they could all die this night. Wisdom without out age isn't all what it's cranked up to be.

Section 1.6

They group raced through the labyrinth underneath the Church of Saint Joyce Summers. The rescue of Zoëga and Willow had gone too easily, so both Buffy and Spike were sure that more was to come.

"So Spike what do we do now?" Hope asked as she tried to keep up with the vampire.

"We get to the top level destroy the altar on which Dru is going to try to raise the Primal One, dust Dru and go out for a beer," he stated.

"And you were one of the people responsible for saving humankind?"

"My plans may be simple and they may be crude, but they get results."

"I repeat: You were one of the people responsible for saving humankind?" Hope muttered.

"Give it rest Hope. Spike's plans always work, sometimes," Buffy said.

Dru knelt in front of the altar. Soon it would be completed, soon everything what was would be again. She raised the dagger.

"Drop it Dru," Spike boomed as he came flying up through the trapdoor that lead into the labyrinth beneath the church.

"William how nice of you to drop in," she stated as Spike landed in crouch on the marble floor and cracking it in the process.

"Dru I'd like you to meet a close personal friend of mine," Buffy stated as a hail of arrows came flying from behind Spike. Then the Slayer came flying up from behind him, firing as she went, but Dru just stood still and the arrows seemed to flow around her. Buffy did somersault and landed firmly on the ground next to Spike.

"No matter the size of the audience always make and entrance. Right Slayer?" Dru stated as she dusted herself off.

"I think some of those marbles are still a little loose," Buffy whispered to Spike, who just nodded slightly.

"I know you," Dru said with a grin as Willow climbed up through the trapdoor.

"Dru don't?" Spike barked.

"What afraid she'll find out the truth William, how you weren't able to save her parents that night thirteen years ago, "or how you."

"NO I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT!?!" Rang through the church. Blue stream of energy shot from Willow's outstretch hands, but then curved passed Dru just like the arrows had and then Willow collapsed. Hope caught her before she hit the floor.

"What have you become Dru?" Spike asked calmly.

"More then I was the last time we fought my dear William," she answered.

"Okay I've had enough," Buffy stated and launched herself at Dru.

In mid flight two stakes shot out from her wristbands into her palms, but Dru sidestepped and Buffy went crashing into the marble floor, twisting and landing on her back she let the stakes fly, but they just curved around Dru. Spike tried to take advantage of the Dru's momentary distraction and leapt into action, the energy blade coming to live in mid air. He swung it over his head with all his might, but it came against a solid barrier and then he felt as Dru's fist connected with his midsection. A kick to his head, another punch to his stomach and then a roundhouse to the chest that sent him flying. Spike looked up from the floor blood flowing red from the corner of his mouth and a cut on his forehead.

"You never learn. You see dear William after our last battle I thought it better to come prepared, so I." Dru stopped and then grabbed her head as if in pain.

"Noone hurts my friends," Zoëga stated in a calm voice. His fingers were pressed against his temples.

"What... are... you... doing." Dru said and reached for something in her dress. Then the air crackled with energy.

"Shutting you..." Zoëga stopped mid sentence as the blast from the gun hit him in the shoulder.

"Zoëga?!" Hope called out as the young man crumbled to his knees.

"Foolish child," Dru muttered as she spun the blaster on her finger. As she turned towards Hope and brought her gun to bear there was sound of breaking glass. Dru looked up only in time to see a winged figure bearing down on her and the light reflecting of silver talons.

Section 1.7

Hope watched as Angel came baring down on Drusilla. She wore a silvered armor and gauntlets that extended into five silvery talons on each hand. Angel's first cut was to Dru's midsection, the next to her arm. The vampire could to nothing against the fury of the winged woman and went flying to the floor as Angel kicked her in the chest.

Buffy stood up and limbed over to were Willow lay, Zoëga was getting to his feet with Spike's aid and the fight had moved up to the altar where Angel slammed Dru's head against the stone.

"Angel no?!" Hope shouted, but it was to late blood from Dru's nose tripped down onto altar and the ground trembled.

"G.I.L.E.S. The spell, do the spell," Hope shouted over the trembling as she supported Willow.

"It won't work," he stated solemnly.

"What?!" Spike and Hope shouted in unison.

"I tried it the second this all began. It would appear that Drusilla has prepared for everything," he said as Dru crashed into the benches.

Angel stalked over to the vampire and Dru looked up with a bloodied smile.

"The boy will be your undoing," she whispered, "he will strip away your shinning armor, learn the truth and then you will die."

"What are you." Angel said brandishing her talons.

There was blast of heat as ghostly figure arose from the altar. He appeared in the from of a young boy. Dru was on her feet in an instant. She clicked her heels together three times, waved to Angel and was gone in a flash of light.

"Damn," Angel muttered and ran over to the group

"Everyone out," Spike ordered and drew the energy blade.

"You're going to fight it?" Buffy asked.

"No we're going to fight it Slayer," Spike stated.

Buffy looked at Willow, Hope, Angel, Zoëga and G.I.L.E.S. and then back at the figure that was gaining form on top of the altar.

"Go now," she said and two silvery blades shot from her wristbands. She felt something hot on her cheek.

"Good luck," Willow whispered and Buffy then watched as Angel carried her away. They watched they're friends and teammates until they disappeared through the doors.

"So together again," Spike stated.

"Together again," Buffy nodded and crossed her hands over chest.

"So what's the plan Spike?" She asked as they walked up to the altar.

"We strike as soon as it achieves corporal form," Spike stated.

"Guardian we meet again and Slayer welcome back to the land of the living," the Primal One said in a child's voice.

"We will stop you like we did before," Spike stated in a firm voice.

"Perhaps," the Primal One said as he became more clear to their eyes.

"But you will not stop me," he said and pointed to Buffy, "my fight is with the Guardian and him alone, so goodbye," he said with a wave of a hand and Buffy found herself standing outside next to the group.

"What the..." She trailed off as an explosion of light inside the church lit up the area.

"A century and a day have past,
Guardian of Earth returned at last
and day will dawn in light or dark,
it all rests upon the one who is marked." Hope read and looked up from the Codex.

"Earth," Willow muttered as pulled out a golden chain, on it hung an upside down triangle on with a line through it.

"Willow what is it?" Buffy asked.

"This belonged to by great-grandfather and grandma Willow said that it was his mark."

Another blast of light lit up the night sky.

Section 1.8

19th of December 2018

Buffy knelt before the altar. It was almost a year since the end of the war. Maybe tonight she would tell Willow and they could pick up where they had left off almost eleven years ago. She opened the box in her palm, the blood red ruby glistened in the dim light. She looked up at the altar and saw the ghostly figure rise up from it.

"I've been waiting for you," she said in a calm voice, there was blinding light and then silence.

Spike stepped out off the shadows and knelt by Buffy's side.

"You had to do it didn't you Slayer?" he asked in soft voice.

"It had to be done. Promise me something Spike?" Buffy said in a weak voice.

"Anything old friend," he said as tear ran down his cheek.

"Take care of Willow and the rest," she whispered.

"I promise," he said as a tear hit the floor.

"Here drink this," She said and handed him vial of blood.

"I can't."

"It must be done... goodbye Spike."

20th of December 2117

Spike looked up slowly the triangular mark of the Earth glowing on his forehead. Ninety nine years had passed since that day. The world's protector had laid down her life one last time and he'd been called in her place. If someone had been with him now to whisper irony he would have punched his lights out. But it was just him and a demon that was classified as a seventh level threat. Just his luck as usual. There was a blast of light from the symbol on his forehead as another memory resurfaced.

3rd of May 2019

Spike stood in the shadows of the cemetery where the heroes of the war had been laid to rest. Everyone who fought had been a hero, but these stood out for one reason or another. He saw a dark cloaked figure standing over the stone he knew was Buffy's.

Willow seemed to have aged since the last time he'd seen her.

"Hello Red," he said.

"Spike is that you?" she asked and turned around.

"It's me luv," he said as he opened up his arms.

"They told me that you'd disappeared," she said as she hugged him.

"I did for awhile, but I felt there was something I'd left unfinished," he said.

"So where have you been?"

"Here and there," he answered with a smile and offered his arm.

19th of December 2117

The Primal One was engulfed in light. Spike had known from the start that Buffy would be removed from the fight one way or another and he'd waited his time. No need for what he was to become public knowledge. He lived a simple life now and he liked it, perhaps when this was all over he could just fade away again. There was another blast of light, this time red and it came from the demon. Hellfire.

Outside Buffy and Angel were busy saving the OA agents from being eaten by the vampires that were being drawn to the old church. Hope said cross-legged with the Codex, while Willow alternated between staring at the talisman and the church. Zoëga appeared to be deep in though, as he rebuild his mental shields and plotted his next move towards Angel. Boys will be boys.

Spike held the Primal One up with one hand as he chanted a spell he'd committed to memory a long time ago. The demon screamed in its childlike form as another wave of light hit it. Spike was burned in several places from contact with hellfire, but then again pain was just another old friend. The swirling portal of hell opened in front of them.

Angel slashed left and right while the prophecy Drusilla had told her rolled around in her head. The boy will be your undoing. he will strip away your shinning armor, learn the truth and then you will die.

Buffy swung with the extendable blades that were built into her wristbands. She thought about two things. That she wasn't needed anymore and second what to say to Willow when this was over.

Zoëga looked up slowly, the light from inside the church casting a glow over his face. There was something out there, he could just feel it on the edge of his mind. It felt old, like one of the books in the library. When he reached out it for it was gone.

Hope read the words as they appeared on the page faster and faster, sometimes changing, disappearing or repapering. Events were in flux, the outcome changing by the second.

Willow fingered the talisman and continued to stare at the church. Her forefather or not, Spike was fighting for the world and he better win because the idea of chapter two was starting to sound interesting.

Spike lifted the Primal One higher into the air as the portal good bigger. The memories of a hundred years assaulting his mind. Victories and defeats, love and hatred.

"Ta, ta," he said with grin as he threw the child through the portal.

The demon fought, but lost and was sucked in. There was dead silence as the portal stopped spinning and the trembling stopped. Spike looked slowly back at the altar and spotted the tale, tale sign of magical explosive charge.

"Bloody hell," he cursed as he broke into a run for the door.

The charge went of and the portal collapsed and the magical ripple went through the church. He rammed straight through the doors not missing a beat as he leaped down the steps.

"Run you smegheads, run," he yelled, but he tripped and went tumbling down, Willow and Hope turned around to see what had happened.

"I said run," he yelled as he turned around to face the ripple head on, but it stopped and then returned back where it came from leaving the church unharmed.

"General Spike," Zoëga said in a calm voice and offered him his hand.

"You did this?" Spike asked as the boy heaved him from the ground.

Zoëga nodded calmly as he looked around. The sun was rising over the horizon.

Buffy covered in dust, Willow with a faraway look in her eyes, Angel also covered in dust, Hope with the Codex under her arm and G.I.L.E.S. were all walking or hovering towards the two men.

"How did you do this?" Hope asked as she hugged him.

"I grew up in the same house as you did with the same books you did," he answered with a grin.

"But you've never cast a spell." Hope trailed off.

"We share some experiences," Zoëga explained with a grin.

"Beginners mistake," Hope stated.

"If you two are going to have conversation would you please do it completely or not at all," Angel stated as she rubbed her forehead.

"How did you." both Hope and Zoëga asked.

"I just now," Angel stated firmly.

"Okay children don't fight," Buffy answered with a grin as she but an arm around Willow and another around Angel, "we saved the day and I think we can call the first outing the New Scooby Gang a success."

"But Dru." Angel protest.

"She'll be back and we'll be ready," Spike stated firmly as he rubbed the golden mark on his forehead.

"Lets go home and sort things out there over a cup of tea shall we?" G.I.L.E.S. asked.

"Agreed," the group stated in unison.

Section 1.9

They returned to the Rosenberg mansion. There was quick meeting where Buffy and Spike graduated the team and then they split up in order to take bath and maybe to try and catch a few hours of sleep. Spike had promised Willow that they would talk after they had gotten some sleep and Hope didn't look too happy with Spike staying the night.

"Angel wait up," Zoëga called as he ran after the winged woman.

"What do you want Zoëga?" she asked as she turned around with the talon gauntlets in her hand.

"Is there any way that I can assure I won't ever enter your mind?" he asked calmly.

"No!" she stated flatly.

"Look if we're going to function as a team we need to trust each other," he said with a maturity that betrayed is youthful features.

"Listen Zoëga I don't trust you, hell I barely tolerate you," Angel exclaimed.

"You don't trust anyone," he answered in the same calm voice.

The talons fell to the floor and Zoëga found himself slammed against the wall and Angel's was fist curled up ready to strike.

"Go ahead hit me," he stated his voice never faltering, "I won't stop you."

Angel stared at him, his firm set jaw and the cold emotionless eyes. She hadn't really noticed before, but they were red, then he blinked her. She started laughing, hard.

"I didn't expect that," he said and his face changed to that of the young man he really was.

"I envy you Zoëga," she said after she was done laughing.

"Could have fooled me," he said as she picked up the talons.

"So you don't dislike me?" he asked hopefully.

"No I don't dislike you Zoëga you're a cute kid and after all you did save our collective butts tonight," she said, kissed his cheek and walked away.

"I'm cute," he stated with huge grin.

"And Zoëga." Angel said and turned.

"Yes," he asked.

"That date you were planning on asking me on, lets talk about it later okay," she said with a smile.

There was a weak okay as Angel turned around and smiled to herself. Granted he was younger, but something about that calm demeanor and his past made her feel like they had something in common. Plus he was kinda cute.

Spike looked around the hallway and grinned.

"You're lousy at following people Hope," he said.

"I wasn't really trying," Hope answered as she stepped around the corner.

"Not tired?" he asked.

"Not really, never needed much sleep anyway," she answered with a giggle.

"You found the bar didn't you?" he asked

. "Yep," she answered with a hic.

"Well so did I," Spike said and produced a bottle of scotch.

"Care to join me, it's never fun drinking alone."

Willow felt the tension ease from her body as she sank into the hot water. To be or not to be. That's the question. She'd never felt interested in boys nor girls. Her life for the past nineteen years had been research and reading and of course building the quantum duplicator. Maybe she should explore a relationship with Buffy, falling in love wasn't the worst thing that could happen and sex was an interesting idea. Her mind replayed the kiss in the cemetery and her skin tingled.

Buffy folded the black bodysuit and placed it in a drawer. She wasn't mad at anyone for bringing her here to this place. She lifted up the wristbands and smiled, useful and no more need for hidden stakes in uncomfortable places. She placed then on her nightstand. You can never be too careful. She wanted to look in on Willow Rose, but there was something else she had to do first.

"G.I.L.E.S were is Willow Rosenberg buried?" she asked.

"Her ashes are here in the mansions chapel," he answered.

"Can you show me?" she asked as she pulled a robed around her.

"Of course."

Buffy stood in front of a golden shield embedded in the chapel wall. It had pictured of Willow engraved on it.

"Hey Wills it's me Buffy," she said as she stroked the picture.

"I need some help and you were always really good at that sort of thing. You see I'm having a bit of problem here. I want to get smooches from your great-granddaughter. I mean how sick is that," she said a smiled.

"I'm sorry my other self never really told you that she loved you and I hope that Spike took good care of you." Tears ran down Buffy's cheeks.

"Elisabeth?" a soft voice asked.

"Oh hey Willow," she said as she wiped the tears away.

"Why are you crying?" Willow asked.

"Just memories," Buffy answered and sat down.

"I miss her too," Willow said and placed a hand over Buffy's.

"So how long have you been standing there?" Buffy asked.

"Since: I want to get smooches," Willow answered and blushed.

"Well do you?" Buffy asked.

"Want what?"

Buffy smiled as Willow blushed more and looked away.

"I'll just stop now," Buffy said with a grin and stood up.

"Buffy?"

"Yes Wills,"

"Would it be alright if I kissed you goodnight?" Willow asked.

"Yes, but."

"But."

"Not here," Buffy said and motioned to the shield. Willow nodded and stood up. They found themselves standing outside Willow's room. Willow reached up to stroke Buffy's cheek, her hand was trembling.

"You don't have do to this," Buffy said.

"Yes, I have to be sure." Willow said as she brought her face closer.

"There's no rush," Buffy said.

"Who's rushing?" Willow asked as she brushed her lips over Buffy's. The kiss was short and nothing like the one in the cemetery, but it was nice. It was beginning.

"Good night Buffy," Willow said as she pulled away.

"Good night Wills," Buffy said and kissed her cheek.