Days passed and Willow soon found that she was now able to interact with beings from the past. She decided that although one was not supposed to do anything to affect the past, William needed someone with him right now. So she donned some clothing close to what was popular at the time and brought a bouquet of flowers for him in Emma's name. Corky maybe, but she wanted to bring something.

Her knock at the door stopped William from scouring what was left of the kitchen. He answered the door wiping his hands dry on a crisp white towel. His blond locks were stubbornly out of place with one resting against his forehead. "Yes may I help you?" He asks her in an even tone. Willow hands out the flowers. "I brought these for Emma."

"She�s dead" He told her. Willow was shocked at the bluntness of his words. She stuttered her words then. "I... I know that�s why I brought them. I'm an old friend of your mothers.� She bowed her head and spoke in a softer tone. �I'm so sorry for your loss." He nodded. "Yea well thanks." Their eyes met for a moment. He recognized her but was unsure from where. William motioned her inside as he accepted the flowers. "Would you like some tea or something? Have you been traveling?" Willow stepped over the threshold and found a seat in the sitting room he directed her to.

William disappeared leaving Willow alone in the small yet cozy room. Pictures of the two siblings adorned the walls. Pictures of their mother sat in pewter frames on the mantle. White doilies sat under them to protect the wood. He reappeared with the flowers in a vase. "She would have liked these, she was always picking flowers every chance she got." He took a seat across from Willow. "I've got some tea brewing. So how do you know mother?" He asked. "Oh well, I met her when you were just little. And she took me in for a few days. I was kind of down on my luck you see." William seemed to be half a world away. "Yes, she was like that. Always trying to help those in need. So I guess that�s how I remember you." He got up and went to the kitchen.

Willow could not help but let out a huge sigh. She was nervous. This was harder than she thought. She had seen him cry and scream at GOD. She knew how he felt, how he loved how passionate he really was. Why was he so cold all of the sudden? He came back in carrying a tray of teacups and a kettle. "I've not had any visitors since she passed away. Forgive my bad manners miss?" He stopped on Miss, awaiting her name.

"Willow" She supplied. "My name is Willow." He put one ankle over his knee as she spoke. "That�s a pretty name. So you have been traveling you said?"

"Oh, yes. I'm from America. A place called California."

"That's quite a distance to travel all the way to England from. What brought you here?"

"Oh, I uh, just like the country. It's nice here, and the people are generally very friendly."

He frowned at that. "Not always. There are a good many who are rather the opposite I must say."

"Yes, I know... the criminals and such."

"Not just them. Many of the upper crust can be quite heartless as well." Willow nodded in agreement. She understood why he said such things. She also had no intentions of fighting with him to see otherwise at the moment. Knowing that the conversation would be a waste of breath. She sipped her tea a little. A quiet fell between them, making Willow very uncomfortable. Willow broke the silence with something simple. "So what do you do with your time?" She knew full well the answer to this however she felt the need to say something, anything. His eyes were so distant, so full of hate and sadness as well. William glanced out the window. "I'm a doctor. I help people. Or that�s what the description is."

"I'll bet that you're a very good one." she said, trying to lighten the mood.

He shrugged. "Not good enough to bring people back from the dead anyway." Willow let out one of her girlish giggles.

"Well no one can do that. But I bet you try hard to save them and that�s important. I mean if its not you who would it be right?" She realized she was rambling and quickly closed her mouth.

He glanced at her, and a slight smile of amusement crossed his lips. "I must say, you're certainly not a boring person...� He cocked his head at her, studying her face. "So, have you a place to stay? If mum were still around, and living here, she'd invite you to stay, I'm quite sure. You can, if you like. Unless you think it would be improper to not have a chaperone. In that case, I know of an inn which is quite safe for a lady traveler."

She smiled at him. "I'd love to stay in your home. It's really very nice."

He smiled back at her. "It would be nice to have someone else around here. It's seemed so quiet since she passed away..."

"Your mother?"

"My sister." A silence fell then, both of them feeling slightly uncomfortable in not knowing what to say. "Well..." he began. "I'll just show you to your room then. You can have Em's old room....� He looked at her. "Have you a bag?" he seemed surprised to see no bags.

She thought quickly. "They were, uh, stolen."

"Stolen? What sort of bugger would steal from a lady traveler? Well, never you mind. Tomorrow we'll go to the shops and get you some new things."

She looked a bit surprised. "You'd... do that? You don�t� have to do that. I mean you barely know me."

"Well, I couldn't let you wander about England with nothing now could I? Wouldn't be right. So we'll go to town tomorrow."

She gazed at him for a minute. This was totally unlike Spike. Or was it? When she thought of Spike, she could remember all the pain and suffering he'd caused to her and her friends... but now that she thought, REALLY thought... Spike had done things that seemed out of character for a vampire. Like taking care of Dawn for Buffy, and he'd even helped her with a history report by lending her scrapbooks of news clippings he'd gathered over the years. She'd found it odd at the time that Spike would do something like that. Of course she brushed it off. Though now she was beginning to realize that maybe there was a lot more to him than met the eye.

Morning found a much rested Willow. Birds were chirping outside her window as she stretched off the wariness of her muscles. The kind you get when you have slept comfortably. When she joined William downstairs in the kitchen she found him reading the morning paper. Mumbling to himself, he had not seen her come in. Willow sat beside him and tried to peer over his paper, causing him to jump.

"You scared me. My my you are an early bird." He gently laid down the paper and went to the stove to fetch her some tea. Willow took notice to the headlines. Mass Murder In Town Square....Killer At Large Still Scanning the rest of the story quickly, she discovered that the clues the police found lead towards it being a vampire killing. Willow was curious of how much William knew of vampires. Or if he even believed in them at all. Another glance in his direction reminded her that no, he probably did not believe in vampires. William returned to the table then with a second cup of tea. Willow made a mental thought to never drink tea again. Giles came to mind and she realized that she had drunk a lifetime�s worth of tea.

�So out with the shopping and what all today correct? Can't have you traveling home with nothing. What would the Americans think of us then? Rob a woman traveler blind and send her home in rags?" Willow responded with a nod. "You really don't have to do this. But then again...I'm not complaining. I mean what girl does not want clothes?" She smiled warmly which prompted William let her have a little smile. His mouth curved to the right as Spike's does. Inside the Wicca felt a tinge of home seeing that smile. Then she reminded herself that they were two different people. Another hour or so of small chat and off to the stores they went in Williams carriage.

They rode quickly to the shopping district of town. The streets were a bustling hub, with people rushing to and fro, clutching baskets and bundles. William smiled at Willow. "Look at all those people, going on with their daily lives. They're really very interesting. Haven't you ever wondered what people are thinking? Where they're going? What they're all about?"

Willow grinned. Here was another characteristic of the Spike she knew. Spike had always seemed fascinated in the study of people, and was quite good at it. Sometimes he seemed to know herself and her friends better than even they did. It was clear to her that many of the human William's character had not been diminished by death. It made her speculate just how much of one's self a soul really is.

They stopped in front of a dress shop, and William ushered her inside. Across the street a few of William�s old classmates watched the blonde escort the redhead inside the dress shop. �My, looks like ol William has caught himself a dastardly American.� The men chuckled to themselves. �Poor chap, no woman in England would dare be seen with him. That poor girl has no idea what�s she�s about to get herself into.� One of the men laughed. �Those are American�s for ya!� William and Willow shopped for what seemed like hours inside the tiny shop. They were completely oblivious to the jokes being made at their expanse.