Buffy couldn't help but be alarmed at the sight of Angel dematerializing, even though she had been prepared. The implications and danger hit her like a punch to the gut. She fixed her eyes upon the clock and nervously began to pace. Spike followed her movements with his eyes like a lion stalking prey. It was obvious Buffy still cared a great deal about Angel and it was driving Spike crazy, he wanted her so much.

Buffy grabbed Willow's shoulders, "Is it taking too long? What if it doesn't work? Will we all find ourselves in different places and living different lives? I mean, I'll never have met Giles, Xander won't know Anya, and Willow probably wouldn't love Tara." She knew she was babbling but terror at losing all she cared about was swelling inside her heart. Spike chipped in, "You forgot about me Slayer." Buffy shot him a drop-dead look and snarled, "You're one person I'd be glad not to know."

Spike didn't get the chance to say something he'd regret because Angel reappeared in a brilliant flash of light. He groaned and crumpled to the ground. Buffy ran to him and collected him in her arms saying, "You're hurt Angel. What happened?" Willow looked uncomfortable about Angel's physical condition because she thought it meant he had failed. "I hope you were able to stop it. Sending you back earlier would require a level of intimacy you just aren't capable of and I am not into," Willow said with a wink to Tara.

Giles said, "Yes, well that won't be necessary. If it hadn't worked we all wouldn't be here together." Angel pulled himself into a sitting position and gasped, "I stopped the cult but it was rough. I also got to watch me, watching you being called to your destiny. I remember that day and how I felt so well. It changed my life forever." Buffy and Angel looked comfortable with each other for the first time that evening. Spike was watching in the shadows and sighed with profound depression. He knew now with absolute certainty that Willow was right, and it made the odd twisting in his chest get worse. He shrugged it off and began to leave the shop, knowing that there was no way Buffy would ever love him and staying there would change nothing.

Willow had been watching Buffy and Angel, but she noticed Spike leaving out the corner of her eye. She felt a compulsion to follow though she had no clue why. It was as if a voice was telling her to speak to him. She slipped out the door as everyone was distracted and walked up behind Spike. He whirled around ready to defend or to attack, but upon seeing Willow said, "Oh, it's you. Why are you sneaking around?" Willow felt dizzy and staggered, but Spike put a steadying hand on her, "Are you okay Red?" She smiled up at him and put her head on his chest, listening intently. "What are you doing?," Spike said as he pulled back from her touch. She ignored him and put her head back on his chest, and then smiled like a child unwrapping a present.

"Shh! I hear it, a soft sound right now. Lub-dub, lub-dub, lub-dub...It's music William." Spike's eyes widened in shock and he turned around and ran back into the magic shop shouting, "There's something wrong with Willow. She's acting like Dru for God's sake and...and...." He paused in confusion and grabbed Buffy's arm, pulling her to his chest, "Do you hear anything? Willow said there was a sound." Buffy pushed him back and tried to appear composed as she said, "You sound more insane than usual Spike. I don't know if you realize this anymore Spike, but you're dead so a heart beat is impossible. What is wrong with Willow?"

At that moment Willow came back into the shop smiling, which made Tara sigh with relief because she assumed that Spike had over-reacted to something as he often did. However, Willow walked as if floating across the room to Spike and looked deeply into his eyes. "What are...," Spike squirmed. "There you are William. I see you now," she said as putting a hand on his chest, "It is getting stronger all the time."

Everyone in the shop was very confused and staring at Willow like they had never seen her before. "Willow, you aren't making any sense," Buffy stammered. Spike was feeling increasing discomfort, both emotionally and physically due to the pain that was in his chest. He cringed and grabbed his chest, "Ouch! What's happening Willow? What is going on here?" All eyes remained on Willow, waiting for her response. Buffy was scared and asked, "You aren't Willow, or you're someone who's taken over her body. Willow would never act this way...."

Willow blinked hard and stared at them, reflecting their collected confusion. "Angel...the Powers that Be used used me to pass a message for some reason. They wanted me to show Spike something very important." "Why would the PTB"S have anything to say about Spike?" "Oh my God," she turned to Spike, "I may not have been myself for awhile but Spike is not himself...or maybe he finally is...I don't know...."

"Can you please make some sense. My head hurts," Buffy begged. "I can't explain it. I can only show you and even then you may not understand or believe what you see." She took a mirror out of her handbag and slowly crossed to where Spike stood trembling. She smiled as she held it up and a dim reflection of Spike appeared in it, "William is coming home" Spike staggered backwards and fell into a chair saying, "That's not possible! That's not bloody possible!"

Written by Rachel Heney in conjunction with other Bronze role-players. Thank-you for your inspiration.