Thanks to Enigmaticblues and Brooke for betaing.





Buffy raced through the dark streets towards the high school, silently cursing her choice to face The Master in her prom dress. The rough pavement cut her bare feet, but she had no time to worry about that; her friends were in danger. Rounding the corner she came to a sudden halt, gasping for breath. The school was…gone. Not destroyed, just a pile of dirt scattered with bulldozers and large piles of building materials. Her eyes widened when she noticed the sign: Future home of the new Sunnydale High.

Buffy panicked looking around at the surrounding buildings. Even though she was certain that she was in the right place, she couldn’t shake the feeling that everything around her was…different. After a few moments of staring blankly at the construction site, she turned and slowly walked away.


Buffy moved aimlessly down the darkened sidewalks, not realizing her destination until she rounded the corner of Revello Drive. At least my house is still here, she mused with a sigh as she slowly made her way up the steps and through the front door.


*********************

Spike flipped through the channels; his eyes were on the screen, but his thoughts were miles away. Dawn had gone off to bed, and now he was alone in the house. It was bad enough when everyone was there to distract him, but now in the silence of the living room, the past haunted him.


He was thankful when he heard the door open. Tossing the remote on the table, he grabbed his duster and started toward the door. The bot he cringed, quickly dropping his gaze. He could barely stand to look at the machine he had helped create.

“The Scoobies aren’t here. You should just…” he stopped suddenly snapping his head up.

He heard her heartbeat. He looked at the frightened girl in front of him barely able to believe his eyes. Raising his nose to the air her sweet scent assaulted his senses. He cocked his head to the side, something was different. She looked tired and scared, but also younger. As her chest heaved he immediately noticed the fullness of her breasts. At this moment he didn’t care what was different she was here…alive.

Buffy” he whispered her name reverently.

Buffy’s eyes widened when she saw the man rise from the couch and approach her. Even in her apprehension there was no denying his good looks. He had a shock of blond curls; his features were strong and masculine. His black T-shirt hugged his rippling muscles in all the right places. As her inspection drifted up to his stormy blue eyes, his expression left her breathless.

He was looking at her like…there were no words to describe it because no one had ever looked at her that way. Her face flushed under his intense gaze as his eyes raked hungrily over her body, and then he spoke her name. The words fell off his tongue like a caress.

“You…you know me?” She managed in a shaky voice.



He chuckled nervously, moving towards her “Know you? Buffy I…”

His words were cut off by the door opening. Xander and Tara helped a weak and bloodied Willow through the door, with Anya following close behind. The witch was mumbling and struggling, trying to free herself.

“You don’t understand. Something went wrong. We have to go back.” she pleaded.

The blondes reluctantly broke eye contact, turning towards the group. Snapping out of her daze, Buffy gasped when she saw the gashes on her friend’s arms.

“Oh my God, Will, are you okay?” she asked, rushing towards her friend.

“How did the bot beat us back here?” Tara asked.

“And where did she get that awful dress?” Anya gasped.

“She’s not the bot,” Spike whispered.

Buffy ignored the strangers’ questions, turning towards her friends.

“I was so worried! I went to the cave and The Master…we fought and then I went to the school and it’s gone…” Buffy began babbling.

She was interrupted by Xander, “Did it get hit in the head again?” He turned towards the group, chuckling.

“She is not the bloody bot!” Spike roared, startling the group.

“It…she has a heartbeat…she is…Buffy,” he added, softening his tone.

The group gaped at Buffy, and for a long moment no one spoke, no one even moved. Xander’s eyes widened in realization.

“The dress…what she said about The Master. Tell me again what you said,” he ordered the confused girl.


“I went to fight the Master, and he…bit me…” Buffy briefly paused when she heard a low growl erupt from the blond behind her. “I fell into a …puddle or something. The next thing I remember is waking up alone with dirt in my mouth.”

Xander turned to Willow, horrified. “That is exactly how I found her the night she died.”

“Whoa…” Buffy protested. “I may have been unconscious, but not dead. See here I am…alive and kicking.” She smiled, unable to comprehend the impact her words had on the group before her.


Xander’s eyes filled with tears as he placed his hands on her arms. “Buffy, that was four years ago,” he whispered.

“What? You’re saying I’ve been down in that cave for four years?” Buffy looked at him in disbelief.

“No, Xander saved you that night. He has told me about it many, many times,” Anya chirped.

Buffy was about to speak when Willow stepped forward cutting her off.

“None of that matters now! Buffy is home where she belongs,” she smiled, embracing her friend.

“Jeez, can you guys keep it down? Teenager in need of her sleep here.” Dawn yawned, rubbing her eyes.

Buffy looked up to the top of the stairs at the young girl. She was tall and thin with long brown hair. She was certain she had never laid eyes on the girl before, but something inside warmed at the sight of her. One word kept repeating in her head…family.

“What happened to the bot and why is she wearing that ugly dress.” Dawn asked.

“Hey!” Buffy narrowed her eyes at the teen.

“It’s not the bot, Bit,” Spike choked out.

Dawn looked confused for a moment, then tentatively walked down the steps towards Buffy.

“Buffy?” she cried.


Tara took a step forward. “She isn’t our Buffy, Dawnie. I mean, she doesn’t remember…”

“She is our Buffy, just from four years ago,” Xander quickly corrected.

Dawn turned toward her sister, smiling hesitantly. “Do you remember me?” she asked hopefully.

Buffy could see the hurt in the young girl’s eyes, but she couldn’t reassure her. “I’m sorry, but I don’t.”

When no one spoke, Spike stepped forward. “She’s your little sis,” he told her, putting a protective arm around Dawn.

Buffy couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy at his actions. She wanted to argue that she had no sister, but in her current state she wasn’t sure of anything.

“I…I’m just really tired and confused right now,” Buffy admitted.

“Sure, I…I understand.” Dawn smiled knowing the last thing her sister needed was for her to break down.

“Listen, it’s been a long night. Why don’t we just get a good night sleep and talk tomorrow? Okay?” Willow suggested, breathing a sigh of relief when everyone quickly agreed.

“Right then, I’ll be going.” Spike nodded walking out the door.

“Wait!” Buffy called out, louder than she had intended.

When he turned toward her she quickly blushed. Good going Buffy why don’t you just drool all over the guy?

“You never told me your name,” Buffy said quietly.

Cocking his head to the side and smiling, he said, “I’m Spike.”

Buffy stuck her hand out, beaming. “I’m Buffy, nice to meet you.”

Spike chuckled, looking up at her shyly. “I know who you are, pet.”

Pet she swooned. “I’m sorry I don’t remember,” she admitted, ducking her head.

“It’s okay. Well…good night then, and Buffy?” She looked up, meeting his warm gaze, “Welcome home.”

Buffy watched him walk down the path and off into the night. When she turned around, she noticed her sister standing behind her. She could hear the others talking in hushed voices in the livingroom

“Oh God, I guess it’s pretty uncool of me to be ogling my sister’s boyfriend.” Buffy admitted.

“What? Spike…ew gross, he’s like my brother!” Dawn exclaimed.


Buffy rolled her eyes. “Oh, wonderful! On top of everything else, now I’m lusting over my own brother!”

Dawn giggled. “I said he is like my brother. Besides, he would never even look at anyone else. He is totally in love with you.”

Buffy blushed, “Really?”

Xander stepped angrily between the giggling girls. “You’re leaving out the oh-so-important fact that Spike is an evil, soulless vampire!”

“Xander!” Both Tara and Dawn exclaimed in unison.

Buffy’s eyes widened. “There was a vampire here alone in the house with my mom and sister?”

Dawn opened her mouth, then closed it quickly when Buffy’s words sunk in. Tara, seeing the teen’s face contort in pain, quickly stepped in.

“Spike ha..has a chip. It makes it impossible for him to hurt humans,” Tara explained.

“And he has been helping us all summer, ever since you…” Anya was cut off by Willow.

“Listen, maybe we should just save all this for tomorrow. Remember…we decided to go to sleep,” Willow intervened.

“No!” Dawn spoke up in a choked voice.

The brunette walked slowly up to her sister, taking her hands. Her eyes were filled with unshed tears. “Buffy, there is something you need to know. Our mom is dead.”