Enough is Enough by Fayth

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

Chapter 31

They could hear the heavy beat slow as they neared the club and paid the cover. As they walked in silently the song was just winding down. The crowd were all watching the stage and clapping madly.

�Drinks?� Xander offered and hailed a waitress

�a water for the pregnant lady, coke for Dawnie, whisky neat for Spike, vodka and O.J for Buff, I'll have beer, same for Giles and um Dru?�

�I'll have a screaming orgasm.� Dru said sweetly to the waitress her eyes on Giles making him blush again.

There was a few guitar strums from the stage and a drum riff, and the Scooby's turned to the stage

�I thought there was no band tonight.�

The spot light lit up and six sets of jaws dropped

Willow stood on stage holding the microphone close to her lips.

�Little Carrie Ann what a Beautiful Girl
From the moment she was born
She was always perfect
Whole town said, "Why can't you be more like her?"

Her hips swayed to the deep beat of the music and she threw her head back. Her shoulders moved to the music.

�Lights go on and she's ready to spin
On stage doing all the things she's told to
Puts on a show in front of the whole damn world

I pray to the heavens to try to save her soul
Cause that sweet little angel is not the girl I know�

Dru watched feeling upset. Willow hated to sing alone, she always insisted Dru be with her. She had never heard this type of raw talent coming from her loves mouth. Her every emotion poured into the lyrics and her body a slave to those self destructive motions.

�She gets wound up
She gets higher by the minute
Turns the sound up
To drown out all the pain
They all think they know her
But no one really knows
That she goes a little crazy sometimes
Oh sometimes
She parks the car at the top of the hill
Only inches from the edge
Where she's almost falling
Stares at the sky till she's drowning in the rain

Nice dress, nice smile
What a wonderful child
If they only knew all the lies she's told them
It's to complicated for her to explain�

Willow ran her hands over her body, hips, thighs and chest. Letting herself go and losing herself in the lyrics that expressed how she was feeling. Those around her, even Dru, would never understand all the lies she told, the person she was inside and how close she was to letting go.

�She prays to the heavens to try to save her soul
Cause that sweet little angel is close to letting go

She gets wound up
She gets higher by the minute
Turns the sound up
To drown out all the pain
They all think they know her
But no one really knows
That she goes a little crazy sometimes
She goes crazy sometimes�

Spike just watched.

�I pray to the heavens to try to save her soul
Cause that sweet little angel is close to letting go

As she finished the crowds stood up and cheered her again. Apparently she had been there some time and this wasn't her first song.

The waitress returned with their drinks and Spike downed his in one shot.

Giles followed suite.

�I thought Wills had stage fright.�

�Well if she did she doesn't any more.� Anya commented archly

�She sang in San Francisco but it wasn't like that.� Buffy watched as the redhead bowed and left the stage.

She reappeared a few minutes later and grabbed a drink off a waitress tray downing it in one go. She muttered something to the lady who grinned and nodded. The music started up again, a beat that was wild and strong. Without looking around Willow walked into the middle of the floor and began moving to the music. Soon she was lost in a sea of bodies that made a circle around her almost hiding her from view. As they watched a group of guys came up close and started to dance near her. One tall brunette came closer and asked her something. Willow shrugged and he put his hands on her waist dancing with her. One of his friends came up behind her and Willow leaned against him writhing to the beat. She was sandwiched in between them both when two more of his friends joined in, surrounding her. She alternated between them all, closing her eyes using them as dancing poles, touching and twirling. Her hair flipped and twirled as she moved her shoulders and hips. Their hands joined hers, touching her butt, her sides, her legs. She didn't seem to notice.

Spike let loose a huge growl mirrored by Drusilla. They stormed out onto the dance floor and pushed the four men away showing game faces when the men protested.

Willow never opened her eyes and never halted her movements; she simply melted into Dru's arms and linked her arms around her neck sliding her pelvis across Dru's. Spike moved in behind her wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close. He relished the feel of her in his arms for the first time. She ran her fingers through her hair in a move Buffy had seen Faith do before. Willow let her head loll back onto the firm shoulders of the guy behind her and arched her back into whoever was in front. She was being a tease and she knew it, but unlike before she wasn't worried about consequences. If they tried anything she could stop them all. Magic or just kicking their ass. She was in control. She ground her hips back and felt the satisfaction of a real male response, she reached behind her and felt alive as she ran her hands over male chest, wow whoever this was he was built. She rolled her head back on broad shoulders and swayed against a solid body.

Spike ran his hands over her sides and back, swallowing deeply at the feel of her writhing against his boy unwilling to let this chance pass; after all they could die tomorrow. But he would give the world for just one kiss. One willing kiss, knowing it was him she was kissing, it seemed so important somehow.

The music faded and Willow pulled out of the arms enveloping her. She opened her eyes ready to give them the brush off. But stopped when it registered that it wasn't the muscle bound moron's that held her.

�Dru?� there was an odd look in her friends eyes that Willow couldn't decipher, Dru glanced behind her locking eyes with whoever was there. She half turned to see who was behind her, and froze. Spike had desire and lust in his eyes- and he was staring at Dru.

Willow felt the last shred of something go in her heart and wrenched away from them both, stalking over to the table where the others were.

Spike's arms felt empty as she pulled away, he had looked up to see Dru staring at him with pity and a little sadness in her gaze, he had been so confused at that that he hadn't realised Willow had stopped until she pulled away and moved.

�Hey.� she said her voice octaves higher than she felt.

�Hey Wills, you couldn't have sang at the talent show instead of making us do a dramatic scene?� Xander teased his face shining with pride at his best friend.

Willow smirked and clicked her fingers, a large glass full of something green and icy materialised.

�How about that?� she said as she took a huge gulp of the sweet alcoholic drink.

�What is it?�

�It's a green bird. Cream, pineapple juice, crème de menthe, Malibu, vodka, mint and strawberry.�

�Wow, that sound alcohol-y.� Xander said

Willow just grinned and took another gulp. �Got hooked on them in Mexico, its more potent than an After eight.�

�The mint?� Anya said confused

�No a cocktail, After eight is Baileys Irish cream, Crème de menthe and Kahlua.� She ignored Spike and Dru who had returned to the table

�Wow Willow, knowledge about the drink!� Xander was impressed

�Well I worked for a while as a waitress.� Will wanted to get drunk as fast as possible but didn't think that this lot would sanction that. They still moaned about cave man Buffy.

�You kicked ass Willow.�

�Thanks Dawnie.�

Buffy watched Willow, there was something wrong here. Willow was acting like� well� Faith. The Dancing, the drinking, the flip attitude.

Anya picked up on it too. She frowned at the undercurrents; this wasn't good for the baby.

�Who wants to dance?� Buffy asked brightly �Xand, Dawn, Spike?�

Spike grimaced knowing full well she was joking.

Willow fought back the nausea at Buffy's comment �Actually I'm gonna head back, I have a Hellmouth to close tomorrow.�

�I'll walk you.� Spike offered

�No need.� Willow replied brusquely �it's not like anything out there can best Red Witch!� she said in a pseudo announcers voice making Dawn chuckle. Dru watched her through narrowed eyes.

Willow walked away with a jaunty wave of her hand fighting the urge to burst into hysterics.

Dru followed her out.

�Pixie?�

�Hey Dru, please don't let me ruin your evening.� She swept her arm back in a gracious arch indicating the Bronze.

�What's wrong, love you're blocking me.� Dru pleaded. It was obvious that Willow was hurting

�Excuse me if my private thoughts aren't public enough anymore Dru.� She said sweetly oozing saccharine.

�Willow mine you are scaring me.� Dru's eyes were wide and she was projecting her fear down the bond.

Willow closed her eyes and held her breath �Sorry baby. I just can't wait to be out of this place. I'm going to bed.� She said tiredly and turned to walk away

�I love you Willow mine.� Dru called to her back

�I know.� Was Willow's reply.

Chapter 32

Willow curled up in bed and begged the thoughts to stop swirling around her head. Xander and Anya had built up this happy little home and were about to become a family. Buffy had both Dawn and Spike, which left Willow alone�again. Actually she hadn't seen much of a Buffy/ Spike relationship, for which she was eternally grateful. Maybe they were still keeping it a secret. But even if they weren't together then�well�she had seen the way Spike had looked at Drusilla. They had history and he had always claimed that Dru was his everything.

She wanted to go home, but she wasn't sure where that was. Before it was Sunnydale, and then where ever Drusilla was, but now?

The sparks flew between Drusilla and Giles and Willow knew that Dru was falling for him; she wouldn't want to leave the Watcher.

She wouldn't drag Dru back with her to San Francisco. She couldn't even go to LA anymore after threatening Angel and Cordelia, and let's face it, they were a couple too. Fred was with Wesley and Gunn with that Police woman Kate. She had no one. She could be Red Witch by herself. She could feel herself closing off, like she had so many times in the past. A barrier was building around her heart, this one impenetrable. She felt so cold. Willow dragged her comforter closer to her shaking body and got up and sat in the window seat, staring out into the darkness waiting for the morning to chase the shadows away.

~~~*~~~

Buffy came over early, she needed to talk to Willow before they went out tonight. She wanted to tell her how much she missed her while she had been away. She wanted to find out what was wrong with her last night but most of all she wanted to just be with her best friend.

She sat in the kitchen of the mansion and waited.

Spike walked into the kitchen bleary eyed and shirtless and Buffy couldn't help the breath that caught in her throat. However much she didn't like him, she couldn't deny that he was one fine male specimen.

Spike looked up and did a double take �Slayer?�

�Morning Spike.� She inclined her head �Laundry day?�

Spike looked own at himself and then shot her a lascivious grin �Didn't use to bother you, pet.�

�Pig.� She narrowed her eyes at him

He reached for the coffee pot glad that Dru got up early and knew how to make coffee, he poured himself a cup and leaned against the counter sipping it.

�So, aren't you supposed to be at school? Counselling the little brats?�

Buffy shot him a look �It's Saturday.�

He shrugged �Whatever. Why are you here?�

�I came looking for Willow. Is she around?�

Spike frowned a little and let his senses spread out to the rest of the mansion. He felt nothing, no human heartbeat other than Buffy's.

�No. she's usually here but not right now.�

Buffy slumped

�Damn it. I wanted to talk to her; I haven't got to since she's been back. I think,� she bit her lip �I almost think she's been avoiding me.�

Spike was surprised �Me too.�

�Why would she-?� Buffy began and then her face was a mask of horror �No, she couldn't, she would have said.�

�Said what?� Spike was confused. But Buffy had been talking to herself and really wasn't willing to share what she was begging to be false. There was no way Willow could have known about her and Spike, right?

�Said whatever was wrong with her already.� She amended but it was clear that Spike didn't buy it. He watched her suspiciously.

�There's something going on here, isn't there?�

Buffy couldn't meet his eyes �Drop it Spike.�

�No dammit Buffy, I want to know what's wrong with Red.�

�How the hell should I know? She won't even talk to me.� Buffy argued but she refused to meet Spike's gaze

�Don't give me that bullshit, Buffy. This has to do with why she left last time isn't it?� he said suspiciously

�I have no idea why she left, I assumed she was kidnapped.� She bit out furiously

�Bollocks if you'd thought she was kidnapped then you would have looked longer.�

�I never stopped looking!� Buffy hissed

�Until your true moron came along and then you couldn't stop fast enough.�

�Screw you Spike.�

�Both been there and done that Slutty, along with most of the demon population this side of the Hellmouth, not something I care to repeat.�

�You know, you're not exactly in the clear here, I mean they were the talk of the demon circuit and yet you couldn't find them either. Seems your demon buddies don't want to talk to the impotent one.�

His eyes narrowed �If my head didn't practically blow off whenever I stepped near your sorry ass I'd show you exactly how impotent I am.�

�Both been there and done that and not if you paid me Spike.�

�I'm not the one who is so hard up I'm constantly screwing demons.� He spat

Buffy looked away �I didn't come here to fight.� She frowned

�Too bad since that's all we seem to be able to do recently.� He answered still pissed off �I just want to know what's up with Willow.�

�What's it got to do with you Spike, it's not like you and Willow were ever even friends.� She rubbed her forehead getting a headache, this was all her fault, if Willow had found out about her and Spike and left and then Spike had fallen for Willow but now she was back and refused to spend any time with them because she felt so betrayed but surely she would have said something? This was Willow, she was incapable of holding a grudge and even less capable of lying to her friends. No if Willow knew she would have said.

�I know.� He said softly �But I want to be, she- she means a lot to me. I just want to understand why she left.�

�I can't�I don't�� she trailed off uncertainly

�You can and you do. Tell me what's going on.� He growled

�Drop it Spike.� Her tone brooked no argument. �Where is she?�

Chapter 33

Willow sat down and stared at her feet, too embarrassed to look up. It had been so long since she had come here, maybe she was intruding or unwelcome but she would always remember where to come, it was practically ingrained. It was familiar.

�Hey.� She said softly �It's me. I miss you, so much. I'm sorry I haven't been around lately, I had to go away, there was some stuff I couldn't deal with so I bailed.� She gave a small laugh �It seems to be the Sunnydale way. Buffy couldn't deal with killing Angel so she bailed, Angel couldn't be around Buffy so he bailed and Xander couldn't deal with being a no college guy so he bailed too. But you see.� She bit her lip and forged on �The thing is they all came back, like the place called to them. I never wanted to see this place again. Ever and if they hadn't found me and dragged me back I wouldn't be here. Oh boy, life is just a mess and me, the level headed one. I'm a mess. I have no one left for me to talk to, well except you. You always understood me, even if I didn't. I remember staying up with you until ridiculous hours just talking with you. You didn't even need to say anything�like now.�

Silence

�Sorry to come here and unload on you right now, but I really truly have nowhere else to go. I've pushed Buffy and� and *him* away. I can't deal with them right now. I pushed Dru away and I think I hurt her by not telling what's going on but I don't think I can. I can't tell Giles or Xander, they wouldn't understand and what would come out would only hurt more people.� She sniffed and rubbed her forehead

�I'm powerful now, did you know that?�

There was no answer

�Yeah, I'm famous and I have to close the Hellmouth, it might kill me, maybe it would be better if it did, at least then I wouldn't have to feel this way. Maybe things would be better if I just died. I'm not special. Do you remember telling me that? When I used to complain that Xander would never look at me, you used to say that that was because I was special and someone wonderful would one day sweep me off my feet and Xander would be so pissed that he missed out. Well I thought that Oz� but I guess not. It's because I'm not special, I'm not you know.� Willow ran her fingertips over the grass feeling it spring under her hands. �I was always the nerd, the research girl. Buffy's shadow and it seems like I always will be. So what do I do? I can't keep hold of all this pain forever, its not healthy and I don't have the strength for that. I have to let it go and move on. You said one day I'd do great things for the world and I have. You'd be so proud if you knew.� She knew she was speaking in random thoughts but no one interrupted her, she had to get this out.

�I stayed up all night thinking and I have realised what I have to do. I will make you proud. I can be strong, like you. I'll come back and see you again but it won't be for a while.� She stood up and wiped off her skirt. She smiled �Thanks for listening Jesse.� She kissed the cold marble headstone and walked off into the sun.

~~~*~~~

Willow stayed out of the way for the rest of the day. She had no desire to see any of them. If she died, then she died. She would at least be at peace within herself. There really wasn't anything left to say. They were to meet at Giles' before embarking on world save-age. It was traditional. They'd all talk and form battle plans, last requests and with a Buffy inspired pep talk they'd go and stop the world from ending. Again.

Willow breathed hard before opening the door, she had purposely cut it close, hoping to avoid the hug and share section of the evening.

She pushed open the door �Hey.�

�Willow!� Xander breathed a sigh of relief �I thought you'd never get here.�

She smiled �Never fear Red Witch is here.� She looked at them, �So we have a plan?�

Spike walked over to her and took a deep breath trying to steel his nerves �Can I talk to you privately love?�

�Can't it wait?� she arched an eyebrow at his obvious nervousness

�Not really.� He took her by the elbow and led her to the back room. He closed the door.

�You're different.� He said without preamble �Since you've been back. You're not the same girl you were.�

�It's been two years and a hell of a lot of road.� Willow glared at him �Of course I'm different.�

Spike ran a hand through his hair �Not what I meant pet. Drusilla noticed it too, said you were different from what you were a few days ago.�

�So you've been talking about me behind my back?� she asked coldly �Well let me put your fears to rest, this place Sunny*hell*? It holds some pretty crappy memories for me, and not many happy ones.�

He looked at her almost shocked �But you always seemed happy here before you left.�

�And you would know how?� she asked sarcastically �It's not like we actually talked.�

�What do you call all those nights in the crypt?� he was getting annoyed, he'd cherished those times, those memories of her and it had never occurred to him that she didn't feel the same way.

�Oh please, if it didn't have Buffy in the title you weren't interested in a word I had to say.�

�That's not true.� He insisted and Willow folded her arms over her chest.

�Right.� Her flat voice attested to her disbelief.

�Well okay maybe it was but like you said things change.� He looked down at his feet, his stomach churning with all the unsaid things he was dying to tell her.

Willow sighed, what did he want her to do? �What do you want Spike?�

*To kiss you, to hold your body next to mine and never have to let you go, to exist each day knowing that I have the right to hold you, to touch you, to love you and that you love me even half as much. To know that we'll be together forever and we'll be there on the earths last day and sit on the ground and watch the Sun die together knowing that whatever lies beyond will never- could never be that bad because we'll have each other and that nothing can ever part us.*

�Tell me what's wrong, love. Maybe I can help. I want to help.�

*I want you.*

�You can't help, Spike.� *You're part of the problem, no matter how much it hurts I still love you and it's killing Me.* �Now excuse me, we have a Hellmouth to close.�

Spike waited until she had gone out of the room before slumping against the wall, well he couldn't have screwed that up any more if he'd have tried. He should have just said it, but he let his insecurities hold him. Now maybe she'd never know.

~~~*~~~

Willow looked around at the �troops�. Buffy sat there with Dawnie talking intently. Xander hugged Anya who looked tearful�again. Giles and Drusilla were leaning very close to each other lost in eyes contact. Spike came out behind her and stood there watching her.

�Ok I guess now we do the pep talk bit. Don't get killed. Any questions? No? Good. Xander you need to be by the doors with Dawn, make sure nothing gets out into the world. If something big comes at you try and knock it the Hell out okay? Giles; you, Dru, Buffy and Spike take on the Sisterhood while I shut the damn mouth, this time for good. Remember what worked last time, fire is good but watch out for our Vamps.�

�No. Dawn is not going with us.� Buffy insisted

�What's she gonna do Buffy? Stay home and worry? Dawn is a good fighter and we need all the help we can get.� Willow nodded at a scared but resigned Dawn. �Do you wanna stay home Dawn?�

�No.� she said firmly

�Then let's go.�

Anya gave Xander a kiss and hugged Dawn, and Giles.

�Don't die on me Xander Harris; I have no intention of being a single mother.�

~~~*~~~

Dru walked alongside Willow as they marched to the new High school.

�Sorry I've been pissy Dru, I do love you, you know that right?� Willow held out her hand for Dru to latch onto.

�I know.� Even if it wasn't in the way that she wanted she knew that Willow loved her. �I'm sorry I haven't been there for you Tree.�

�You've been busy with Giles.� Willow teased a bit of her old humour coming back. If it hadn't been for the no circulation Drusilla would have blushed.

�I like tweedy, he's sweet.� And she did, he reminded her of how Willow had been when they first had gotten together, full of delightful innocence and humour.

�That he is.� Willow agreed

�Did you talk to them?� Dru asked hesitantly

�I have nothing to say.� Willow shrugged.

Dru grabbed her arm and stopped her �Let go. It's okay to cry to scream and hurt. It's human. Besides you need to tell them, how are we going to be around them if you constantly ignore them?�

So there it was. Willow thought. Dru was planning on sticking around. She gave a small sad smile and leaned forward kissing Dru on the mouth.

�Thanks Mom.� Dru was beyond puzzled but held Willow's hand as they followed the others again.

Chapter 34

So many memories were associated with the school, even though it wasn't the same. At least someone had finally got around to clearing up the remains of the Mayor. They made their way through the halls to the site of the previous library.

�Look there's my desk.� Buffy said proudly to everyone. There was a nice picture of Dawn framed on it

�Oh God I'm in Hell.� Groaned Dawn. �Now everyone is gonna know we're related.�

There was also a picture of Xander, Willow and Buffy in the quad of the old High school hugging and laughing, one of Joyce holding Buffy and there was one of Giles with his books obviously in research mode.

�Can we keep the demons away from my desk?� Buffy asked sheepishly.

Willow turned back to the door where she could hear chanting.

�Let's do it.�

Spike wanted to pull her to him and feel her lips on his, just once, just in case this was the last time he could ever do so, but held back. He couldn't be distracted.

They opened the doors and all Hell broke loose. Several of the Sisterhood had been waiting for them and were standing by the entrance snarling. Dawn and Xander turned back and waited by the faculty office while the others waded into the fray.

�Keep her safe.� Spike yelled to Xander before stepping into the ring.

Spike swung at the nearest demon with his axe and neatly beheaded it.

�Hah, piece of pis-� he was cut off as two of them came at him.

Buffy spun and kicked the demon in the face, focussing on how to kill it. She thrust her sword at it only to be knocked aside by its claws. Giles worked with Dru to pull the head off one of the Sisterhood and they were rewarded by the sound plop as the head came free.

Willow walked calmly through the fight to watch the Sisterhood behind the barrier chant with furtive looks at the fight behind them. They saw Willow and sensing her power began to chant faster.

Willow pushed against the barrier and muttered her own words to break it. It could hold out against her power for a few seconds before it fell.

Willow smirked and stepped over the circle only to be grabbed from behind.

Damn it the Sisterhood had hired Octarus to defend them; he had been one of the order of Taraka, the one which Buffy had slit its throat with her ice skate. After rejuvenation the Sisterhood had hired him to protect their interests. And Willow was about to interfere with that interest.

Octarus was seven feet tall and lifted Willow like she was a sheet of paper. He flung her against the wall and stood over her. She lifted her glance from his heavy black boots and up past his huge frame and to his face. She fought the urge to panic. His face was a mass of scars and one eyes was missing, thick angry skin covered the hole where that eyes was supposed to be and gross burns covered one side of his scary visage. He had a jagged white scar across his throat.

�Hey.� She grinned in sheer nerves �How much do they pay you huh?� she slid back and bought her heel up kicking him firmly in the groin. �Coz it ain't enough.� Octarus staggered back slightly and then gave a huge growl lunging for her. Willow rolled out of the way and leaped to her feet. Little Willow Rosenburg who didn't even cut 6 foot faced off with the giant.

�Crush.� He spat at her �Grind.�

�Points for use of description.� She pushed here fear aside and focussed on his weaknesses. Everyone had some. So what possible weakness could a four hundred pound of solid muscle with a mercenary spirit have?

�You like chocolate?�

~~~*~~~

Dru sliced the sword through the annoying pointy eared demon and looked around. Spike was holding his own against one of the Sisterhood who had watched far too many Bruce Lee movies. Her movements were a whir designed to intimidate but didn't work as Spike just lit himself a cigarette and waited for her to stop. He pushed the glowing end into her eye socket and calmly cut off her head before she'd even stopped spinning. Buffy was faring even better and was kicking the ass of one of the few remaining Sisterhood. Even Giles was doing well, bashing the Principals chair over the head of another and she beamed ready to turn to Willow when everyone heard the rumbling. Everyone stopped and turned to the circle. The ground cracked and split, lightning crashed around the room and with an almighty roar the floor cracked open and a tentacle smashed through into the room, followed by an assortment of monsters.

�Oh crap.� Spike moaned and spun to find where Willow was. He should have been keeping an eye on her, he berated himself. He saw her being held by the throat by a seven foot tall man.

�Red!� he yelled and tried to get to her, but the monsters had other ideas; one tackled him and tried to suck his brain out using its octopus like tentacles.

Buffy was grabbed by several little dwarves with razor sharp teeth and they tried to bite her.

Giles was grabbed by a Hellhound and felt the slimy feelers of the Hellmouth beast wrap around his ankle. Dru heard Dawn scream and realised that one of the monsters had gotten through. She had no time to help Willow; she had to fight to monsters that started spewing out the hole into reality.

Willow looked down into the eye of the monster that held her delicate throat in his grip and for a second wondered what would happen if she stopped fighting and let it snap her neck. The thought scared her, what the hell was wrong with her? Had she really given up on life? Had it really been so hard that she was willing to die, surely there had to be something to keep her here?

She let her gaze leave his and wander, there was Buffy someone who had always fought the monsters, been bought back from heaven and had her mother die and yet she still went on.

There was Giles who had wanted to be a grocer or maybe a fighter pilot and had been thrust into a life of isolation from his peers watching one young girl grow up knowing she had to die early. He had lost his love and yet he forged onwards.

~~~*~~~

Xander had never expected to go far and yet he was in charge of his own construction crew with a regular large pay check and a loving girlfriend with a baby on the way, he had it made yet he was still by their side fighting evil.

~~~*~~~

Two years ago Dawn hadn't even existed, now she was saving the world and trying to pass class.

~~~*~~~

Dru had been made insane and tortured repeatedly by the one person who meant the world to her, she was sane and could forgive and forget and had fallen in love again.

~~~*~~~

Then there was him. Spike. If rumour could be believed he was such a sweet human turned into a monster by Angelus, had his love ripped away from him, his identity, his means of living and still he was there.

What right did she have to give up?

Willow pushed her fingernails into Octarus' eye and felt him flounder, as he loosened his grip she choked out the words to a spell.

�Levitatus Modicums.� He dropped her and soared into the air to smack into the ceiling. As he fell to the floor Willow staggered over back into the circle avoiding the many arms of the Hellmouth beast. She couched trying to get some air back to her voice so she could close the mouth but was spun around before she could so much as squeak. Octarus backhanded her so she flew back into the wall. Her foot twisted under her and she felt her ankle knock into the wall.

*hello again* she thought randomly as her head spun, she lifted a hand to her mouth and came away with blood staining her sleeve. Octarus kicked with his big boots and caught her arm shielding her face; Willow felt a crack and an intense pain strummed through her senses. He then picked her up by her broken arm and she nearly passed out from the pain. He scratched his claw like hands down her arm drawing blood. Willow bit her lip and kicked out with her bruised ankle. It caught him upside the head and once again he let go of her. Willow had had enough of this guy and imagined a ball of fire in her palm, it grew quickly aided by her anger and she threw it at him as he advanced, with a scream he was incinerated by the fireball.

Willow stood up straighter holding her injured arm to her side and strode into the circle totally pissed off. A tentacle snaked towards her.

�Back off.� She snarled and it wavered a moment before choosing to attack Buffy again.

Willow took a breath and held out her arms, wincing in pain at the motion. She felt down into the Hellmouth and focussed on the energies harnessed in there.

Chapter 35

Spike had realised that cutting off one arm of the octopus thing only resulted in another two growing. So he'd tried to cut off its head. Two grew in its place.

�Oh you've got to be kidding me?� He growled and head butted it between its eyes. Buffy screamed as another tentacle grabbed her and the seven dwarves chuckled in maniacal glee. Giles rushed over, having had Dru behead the Hellhound for him he hacked at the feeler with Spike's discarded axe and acid spurted from the severed limbs. Dawn screamed again from the lobby and then Xander shouted. Dru threw Spike his lighter which had fallen and he took out his whisky bottle from his pocket. He took a quick sip and then spat it out into the flame of the lighter creating an impromptu flame thrower. The octopus shrivelled and fell to the floor. He joined Giles in hacking the Hellmouth beast to shreds and looked around frantically for Willow. She stood in the centre of the circle; blood was all over her, from her face to her feet. But she was standing. Dru had run into the lobby to help Xander and Dawn. The seven dwarves bit at Giles and Spike.

Lightning flashed around Willow and her hair began to loose its lustre and turn black as it crackled with unimaginable power. Her eyes turned black and many voices echoed as she chanted. A blue barrier suddenly encircled her and the Hellmouth beast left the Scooby's to batter against the shining blue force field. It knew what she was doing and was angered beyond measure. Every time it struck the barrier Willow flinched. But still she chanted and the howling of the wind grew and grew until it was a roar drowning out all sounds of the world and the fighting. The others could see her lips moving and the wind within knocking her about. Her hair whipped every which way and blood ran freely down her face.

The wind began to pull at them in the room; the dwarves panicked and clung to the Scooby's to avoid being pulled back into the Hellmouth. Buffy snapped her elbow into the face of one and watched it be yanked by the Hellmouth beast back into the underground.

�Come on.� Screamed Spike but she couldn't hear it until he got in her face and mouthed to her. She looked over to the door where Drusilla was helping pull them out of the room. Giles was already gone as was Xander and Dawn. She pulled herself to the entrance and felt the pull ease as she entered the other room

�Spike?� she asked Drusilla as she fought to get air back into her lungs.

�Spike?� Screamed Dru into the room where a vortex was beginning.

�Not without Willow.� He refused stubbornly and fell to the floor dragging him self to where Willow was fighting the current.

He managed a few metres before he felt something grab his ankle. He half turned as he was yanked through the doorway.

�Let me go Dru!� he tried to return but Dru slammed the door �Red needs help.�

�Willow knows what she's doing.� She snarled in game face to him �She doesn't need distractions, especially you.�

�So we sit and watch her die?� he roared back

�Knock it off or I'll knock you out.� She screamed nose to nose with him.

�Both of you stop it!� Dawn cried from the doorway, �Come and watch.�

�Li'l Bit?� Spike lurched over to her; she had a cut on her forehead dripping blood and a nasty bruise beginning to appear on her jaw. He pulled her into a hug.

�Come over here.� She urged him and took his hand pulling him to the exit. Outside he could see litter swirling in a whirlwind and it took him a moment before his brain connected what he was seeing. A huge hole had been blown in the wall of the school so they could see into the Principals office. Willow was seriously weak but still chanting as the power swirled around her. They all held each other and watched in horror as the ground shook and out of Willow's hand a long line of red lightning shot zapping the Hellmouth beast. It slithered its tentacles back into the ground and the lightning bolt sealed the entrance. With a huge sucking noise the sound stopped so abruptly that hey all thought for an instant that they had gone deaf.

�So mote it be.� Willow whispered and she staggered out of the school. No one moved as she made her way outside, energy still crackled around her in sparks and she fell to the floor in exhaustion, her hair draining itself of the black until the red returned.

Spike was the first to break formation and he walked unsteadily over to Willow.

�Red?� he touched her shoulder and found her breathing slow but steady. He gave a huge sigh of relief and picked her up.

�Home.� He whispered and they left the ruined site of the Hellmouth.

�My boss is gonna kill me.� Buffy quipped tiredly but hey were too exhausted to reply.

~~~*~~~

Spike's mansion was big enough for everyone to crash. Xander called Anya and she hurried over with every medical supply she could carry. Several of them had wounds that they thought would require hospital attention, until Dru mentioned that before she had been turned she had been trained to be a nurse. She could sew them up. Dawn was the least damaged so Spike didn't rip Xander to pieces. Anya fussed over Xander's cuts and bruises and was glad that he didn't have to take time off work. Buffy waited until Anya stopped fussing with Xander before she wrapped her sprained wrist, glad for her Slayer's recuperative powers. She cleaned up her slashed and the nasty marks left by both the dwarves and the Hellmouth beast. Dru cleaned up Giles, much to their amusement, Giles blushed as she cleaned his cuts and dressed his wounds, and then Giles returned the favour even though Dru's injuries would be gone in a few hours.

Spike shrugged off all offers to clean him up and took Willow straight up to her room. He got a clean cloth and wiped the blood away from her face. Her lip was split and her jaw bruised, she had a gash on her forehead and her hair was matted with blood. Her arm was broken and there were gashes across her chest, her shirt was torn and he could see gouge marks. Her ankle was bruised and swelling and she had a pumping wound on her thigh where a piece of debris had struck her in the whirlwind. He pulled off her shirt and tossed it, then got scissors and cutting them off, did the same to her jeans. He quietly tended to her body pushing down his blood lust and the lust he got looking at her almost naked body.

�Here.� He hadn't even realised Dru was in the doorway. She held out a huge mug of warmed blood and held a thermos in her other hand with more. �Don't snack on the girl.�

�I wouldn't.� he maintained and Dru studied him quietly

�I know.� Was her conclusion and she left the room with Spike feeling like he'd passed some test.

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