Disclaimer: Everything BtVS and AtS is owned by Joss, ME, and all them over there. Everything Anita Blake is owned by Laurell K. Hamilton

Tombstone: The Origin of Species

"Spike?" Willow asked.

"Yeah, luv?"

"Are you all right?" she asked.

Spike sighed. "Yeah, luv," he said. "I'm more than all right. I'm relieved."

Willow looked at him in question. "About what?" she asked.

Spike turned and pulled her into the house, shutting the door behind them. They walked hand in hand into the living room and sat down on the couch.

"I'm relieved that they're gone. I enjoyed seeing them, but I was on edge the entire time they were here. It's been a long week, pet," Spike said quietly.

Willow put a hand on his face and felt the tension there. "Things weren't so bad in the end," she said.

Spike shook his head. "No they weren't, at least not during the last two days they were here. But, Willow, that was after they'd accepted you," he said.

"Oh," she whispered.

Spike pulled her into a tight hug. "Red, I'm not sure what would have happened if they'd decided they didn't like you ... or if they'd found out about the chip."

Willow nodded. "How did you keep them from finding that out, anyway?"

"Luck, pure and simple," Spike said. "I'm still not sure how. And I'm almost positive Donegan suspects something isn't right."

"I guess I got lucky too, huh?" she asked.

"Yes, luv, you did. We both did." Spike said.

They sat in silence for a while before Spike spoke again. "We'll leave tomorrow night," he said.

Willow nodded. Christmas was a week away and she really did need to get back to Sunnydale. She couldn't avoid her friends forever, afterall.

"Let's go to bed, Spike," she said.

______________________________________________

Willow woke up the next morning to an empty bed. A rose and a note sat atop Spike's pillow. Willow read the eloquent note and tears filled her eyes.

Dearest Willow,

I am with Stephen Greene downstairs. I'm sorry that you had to wake up alone- please forgive me. I've made arrangements to leave London tonight. We'll be leaving at seven this evening.

Today, Willow, I want you to do something for me. Please go to 817 Pope Road. Look way in the back on the left hand side. Hathaway.

Red, I have enjoyed the last week and a half more than I ever could have dreamed. You have a fire inside you that makes me feel like all the things I've seen and done already in my life will pale in comparison to our future.

I want you to understand, though, that I will handle this however you wish. If you want to go back to Sunnydale and pretend none of this ever happened, I'll go along.

I love you, Willow. I love you more than I've ever loved anything in my life- living or undead. But, even though I know the feelings are real, I also realize how sudden this all is. Where we go from here is completely your choice.

817 Pope Road. Far left. Hathaway.

I love you, Spike

Willow rose out of the bed and got dressed. She wore jeans and a sweater and comfortable shoes. Her gut told her she knew where she was going and dressed to accommodate comfort and warmth.

After running a brush through her hair, she headed down to the kitchen for a quick breakfast.

____________________________________________

Willow finished the note she was writing and quickly read over her words.

Spike,

Good morning! I hope you don't mind me sending this in with Sarah. She'll be bringing the tea and your snack in soon anyway. I just don't want to disturb you and Mr. Greene. (Tell him hi for me, by the way.)

I am going to go pick up some things for my friends and then go to that place you want me to see. I'll be back in plenty of time, okay?

It's cold out today, so I've asked Sarah to arrange a driver for me. Again, I hope you don't mind. I'll be back this afternoon. We'll talk about our future then.

In the meantime, know this: I love you.

Spike, there aren't enough words to describe how much I love you. And yes, it is sudden. But, so be it.

I love you.

See you soon, Willow

Willow folded the note once and handed it to Sarah. The older woman smiled and in exchange handed Willow her coat and a travel mug of tea.

"You be careful out there today, dear."

____________________________________________

Willow walked, packages in hand, up to the gates of the cemetery. Her heartbeat began to quicken as she opened the tall gate and walked in. Momentarily, she regretted telling the driver he could leave. She shook the slight fear off, though, because she knew she didn't want an audience for this.

The cemetery was old. Willow took a minute to marvel at the beauty and antiquity of the place before beginning to walk to the far left side of the land. She stopped when she reached the Hathaway family plot. She quickly skimmed over the names until she found the one that Spike had sent her here to see.

William James Hathaway
1854 - 1880
Beloved son, cherished friend.

It was simple and to the point. And the message her lover had wanted her to get was clear. Spike was dead. And she was not.

Willow sat on the ground next to the tombstone and traced the faded wording with her fingertips. Memories flooded her mind ... her first very violent introduction to vampires; Moloch; Spike and Dru plotting to kill them; Angelus; and countless other horrifying experiences which blended with her memories of the last few weeks. Half of her rejoiced for finally finding a love that filled her up and made her happy, but the other half rebelled against the feelings, afraid. Her mind confused, Willow thought over the facts. She knew what had happened in the past, and she knew what was happening in the present. It was the future that worried her.

She was dating a vampire. More than that, she was sleeping with a vampire. Even further than that, she had been claimed by a vampire. The repercussions of that were astounding. Spike had already told her that he intended to keep her for an eternity. She shuddered as she pictured her "vampire self". Willow knew without a doubt that she did not want to be a vampire. But she also knew she didn't want to live without Spike. But, how could she live with him when he himself wasn't alive?

Time slipped away from her and she didn't even realize it was dark until she heard the sound of footsteps approaching. She didn't move.

"Willow?" Spike asked quietly.

"Hi," she said weakly.

"What are you doing, luv?" he asked.

"You're already dead," Willow stated.

"Yes," Spike said.

"Spike, how can you be willing to love me?" she asked.

"What?" Spike exclaimed.

Willow started to cry. "I'm going to die! And I'm going to get old! And probably not in that order."

Spike knelt beside her and stoked her cheek. All of his previous thoughts fled as soon as he touched her skin. "Willow, you're frozen! You're skin is colder than mine," he said.

Willow just nodded. "And I think I'm stuck to the ground."

"Why in the hell ... woman ... Christ!" Spike managed through clenched teeth, his eyes yellow.

Willow flinched and bit her lip. "You're mad at me?" Spike growled. "You could have bloody well killed yourself! You probably have frost bite! My god, woman!"

Willow lifted her eyes to his. "Spike?" she asked.

"What?"

"I'm cold. Take me home?"

Spike sighed as he gathered her gently into his arms. "Yeah, luv."

________________________________________

Willow lay on the bed wrapped up tightly in several blankets. She could barely feel Spike's arms holding her through the material.

"Did you decide anything today, Red?" Spike asked finally.

"I don't want to live without you," Willow said.

"You won't," Spike said quietly. "I'm not going anywhere, luv."

Willow nodded. "But, Spike, I don't think I want to be a vampire, either."

Spike laughed suddenly. "Well, pet, yeah. I don't want you to be a vampire either. I thought I did, but now, I've decided that I like you the way you are. I think I'm turning into a Poof."

Willow was confused. "But ..."

"There are ways, Willow. Rituals and the like ... when the time comes, there are ways," Spike said.

Willow thought for several minutes as Spike continued to hold her. In two simple revelations Spike had answered all of the questions that had kept her frozen to the ground all afternoon. He wasn't going to turn her and there were ways for them to be together forever. She wondered if he would always have the answer to everything. She smiled at the thought of having an always with Spike. And it was then that she made her decision.

"I love you, Spike, and I am not ashamed of that. If you're willing to stand my by side, then I'll stay beside you, too. And you're not a Poof," she said.

Spike said nothing as he peeled away the blankets. When she was finally unwrapped, he laid beside her and kissed her softly for several minutes. Finally pulling away, he grinned.

"So, you'll be keeping Slutty and her Mr. Pointy away from me, then?" he asked.

Willow giggled. "Yup. But, don't call her that, okay?"

Spike just smirked. "You warmer now?"

Willow smiled. "Much better."

Spike kissed her once more before helping her up off the bed. "Good. We've got to hurry. Our plane leaves in an hour."

Willow looked at him a bit confused. "I thought I'd have made us miss it."

Spike smiled. "You did. That's why I moved our departure to ten. We'll be arriving in New York City about an hour before the sun comes up there. If we hurry."

Willow just nodded and let him lead the way.

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