Back With Me
by Alexandria Brown

Summary:
Originally written by Alexandria Brown.
Spike's past comes back to haunt and help. This is a serious AU. I will be messing around with timelines, past histories and pretty much everything else to my heart's content. If it's canon but it doesn't fit with where I want to go, then I just ignore it. Don't whine about it, I've warned you.

Notes:
This was written by Alexandria Brown and was recovered through the Wayback Machine. Aside from some formatting done to make it easier to read, this has not been edited.

This story was marked as To Be Continued and is not a finished work.

Chapter 2:
Giles dropped heavily into a chair, yanking his glasses from his face and tossing them across the table. His head fell back and he reached up to loosen his tie.

"Well, think this calls for a drink, Willow, er, could you possibly," he stuttered out, not caring that everyone would now know where he kept his scotch. His hands were shaking far, far too badly to reach for it himself. His thoughts raced as he pondered what had just occurred. He stared into the eyes of Death itself and she had merely given him a wink.

"Came because Spike called, but, but that's not possible, surely we would have known if Spike had ever met her," he muttered, tuning out the noises around him. He started when he felt Willow press the glass into his hand. Nodding gratefully, he took a huge swallow, the precious burn easing his panic.

"Giles, what was that, who is that, I mean, way wiggins." Buffy settled into the seat next to Giles. She was more frightened by Giles's response than she was by whatever that little thing that just barged in was. She was sure that who or whatever she was, Giles would know how to handle her.

"Yeah, Giles, who was that? Why were you bowing down to her, looked almost like you were worshipping her or something," Willow said, running a calming hand down his arm. Giles just took another drink, hands still shaking.

"Giles, was that really, I mean, I always thought she would be bigger, or have guards or something, not that she needs them, just, you know trappings," Tara's voice trailed off as everyone suddenly turned to look at her. She ducked her head down again, blushing furiously.

"You know who she is," Giles asked, watching Tara intently.

"Well, I, I think I do. I mean, I've just read about her, but, well that's her name and you bowed to her, so really, must be you wouldn't otherwise," Tara babbled, still not looking up. Willow reached out to take her hands, making calming noises as their fingers intertwined.

"Would someone please tell me who or what she is, enough with the mystery already, do I have to kill her, is she another sign of the apocalypse, just someone start sharing, please?" Buffy jumped up and started to pace, her frustration growing. She hated it when people kept things from her, hated feeling like she was just some stupid girl who was good only for her strength.

"Right," Giles let out a sigh then reached for his glasses, carefully polishing them then pushing them back up his nose. "That was Katarina de Rien." He paused and looked over at Buffy expectantly.

"Uh huh, knew that she introduced herself to Xander before the two of them drug Xander off, so who the hell is she?" Buffy's pacing increased, angry at being treated like a small child.

"She, she, well, she is an Ancient." Giles concentrated on breathing reminding himself how lucky he was to still be doing so. The last Watcher to speak to her and live had been old Isaac and that was in 1921, 1923? Somewhere along those lines. And even then she had ripped off his penis. A shudder ran through his body at that thought.

Willow just stared at him, eyes round with shock. "An Ancient. She's an Ancient. Oh my, Buffy, you tried to stake her, Giles, Buffy tried to stake her, oh, she's going to be angry, Buffy, you have to find her, have to apologize, I can't believe she let you do that, she must be planning something, and she knows Spike, why does she know Spike, why didn't you know she knew Spike," Willow paused to suck in a deep breath and Giles jumped into the gap.

"There is no record of their ever meeting. Of course, if she didn't want us to know then we wouldn't. She may simply have erased any of the records as well, you know." Giles looked down, pleased to see that the tremors in his hands had stopped. Now if he could only feel his legs again, all would be well.

"Guys, could you please speak non-Watcher for a moment." Buffy stood there, arms folded, tapping her feet, her patience gone. "Willow, why the hell would I apologize for trying to stake her, she walked in here asking for Spike, what should she expect. And why would there be a record of her meeting Spike, why is that so important?" She glared at them, furious for all the delays. "Just tell me what the fuck is going on."

"Sorry, Buffy, I would like to, truly I would, but this, this is, is, well, unprecedented. I don't know how to begin to explain." Giles reached out, searching for a pen. He needed to just a few notes down now before his traitorous mind attempted to erase the images.

"How about this, what do you mean she's an Ancient? She didn't look any older than me or Willow or Tara." Buffy plopped into a chair, a pout on her face.

"It means that she is older than time. The Ancients have existed as long as this world, maybe longer, no one knows for sure and they certainly wouldn't answer if you asked." Giles started only to be cut off.

"Older than time, so she's immortal, too? No, Buffy, she's not, just has a really long life span that equals immortal. Let's try again, so she's been around forever, why did you do the whole "I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy" thing, just because she's old, that's not like you. I've seen you push right past old people in the line at the bank, so what's up with that?" Buffy snapped her gum, okay, really old girl, that she could deal with. "Is she allergic to the sun and all that?"

"Buffy, please, just, just listen quietly, this is quite serious. Katarina de Rien is an Ancient as I said. But she is more than that. She is of the most powerful order of Ancients, indeed, at one point, she was the leader of the order. But something happened, no one knows what, and she went off on her own. That was over three millennia past. Since then, she has simply done whatever it was that she wanted. The Ancients pride themselves on order and ritual. She is chaos." Giles stopped to take another sip of scotch, both to moisten his throat and because he needed it now that he was coming to the heart of the matter. "Still, even despite her estrangement from the order, she upholds certain traditions. She is the Executioner. If she arrives at your door, you are dead. It is as simple as that. The last Watcher she visited chose to stab himself through the eye with a pen rather than bear her wrath. You can see now why I would bow. I still can't believe that she let me live."

"The executioner, but, why, what does that have to do with the Council." Buffy shook her head, she was more confused than ever. "What does it have to do with me?"

"Everything, actually. The Ancients provide us with our power. It is their knowledge and teachings that form the basis of all we do. To cross one is to welcome death. Now, not only is Katarina the executioner, she also happens to hate the Council. Again, something happened just over a hundred years ago, and whatever small ties she had maintained to us vanished. Not only did she cut off all communications, she actively began pursuing those who angered her."

"So, she's of the bad. Fine, then how do we get rid of her?" She looked up to find Giles, Willow and Tara looking at her in shock. "What? I don't want Giles bowing and scraping to someone who hates him just because he's a Watcher even if he's supposed to worship her. That's not right, he never did anything to her."

"Buffy, you, you still don't get it do you?" Willow said, voice shaking. "You don't make her leave. There's nothing you could do to make her leave if she doesn't want to. If she wants to stay, she'll stay, if she wants to go, she'll go."

Buffy just tossed her hair, standing again. "Giles, they might have taught you to worship her or something, but, please, so she's old, so what. Please, you all are acting like she's all powerful and all knowing or something."

"That's because, basically, she is." Tara's quiet voice somehow still managed to fill the room. Buffy settled back into the chair, just staring at Tara. "It's not just that she's old, Buffy. It's that she's Ancient, do you understand the difference. She has been here since the beginning of time. There are some who think that the Ancients actually are time itself. She has seen everything, done everything, possibly does know everything. She holds the power of the universe in her hands. If she wanted, she could probably split the earth in two just be wishing it to be so."

"What," Buffy whispered, staring back and forth between them. "You mean she's basically a god."

"No," Giles shook his head. "No, not quite. But the analogy is apt. She has power like you can only imagine. Basically, if she wishes it so, it will be so." Giles sighed again, unsure of how to explain. "The elements are hers to command."

"So what you are saying is that she can control nature," Buffy started, only to be cut off yet again.

"No, Buffy, I'm saying that for all intents and purposes, she IS nature. That's why I called her Mistress. It is what she is, a Mistress of this realm."

Buffy just stared. "And she's here to see SPIKE, that can't be good." She jumped up and began to pace. "Wait, if these Ancients help the Council, then what is she doing with a vampire?"

Giles rubbed a hand across his face. "I don't know. As I said, she does as she wishes. And there was the break with the Council. But, still, a vampire. And she said he called." Giles looked up sharply. "What exactly happened before I came out? Did she say anything to Spike?" His eyes narrowed, trying to recall all he knew of both their pasts. There was nothing to indicate that they should even be aware of each other's existence.

"Well, she came in, Buffy held a stake to her, she just laughed then Spike came out and grabbed her like she was an old girlfriend or something. Then she came over and picked out who we were, introduced herself to Xander then you came out," Willow ticked the events off on her fingers.

"Did she or Spike say or do anything, well, odd, well, odder than," Giles sighed unsure of how to ask. The whole bloody situation was odd to begin with.

"You, you forgot that little ritual thing," Tara said. She perked up a little when Giles's head shot up at that. "You know that whole father, mother, brother, sister thing."

"Tara," Giles began, speaking very quietly and slowly, never taking his eyes off her face. "What exactly did they say and do?"

Tara's face scrunched up as she thought. "Well, Spike grabbed her and spun her around and then pinned her against the wall and kissed her. Then he put her down and she reached up and traced that scar on his eyebrow. She has one too, same spot and everything. She said father, he said mother, she said brother, he said sister, she said flesh of my flesh and then he said blood of my blood. Then there was this weird flare, felt like wind went through the room or something. Then she came over and talked to us." She smiled as Willow beamed at her proudly.

"Dear merciful heaven." Giles turned and grabbed the bottle of scotch from the table and splashed a huge amount into his glass. "No wonder we could never kill him." He picked up the glass and drained it in one huge swallow. "When he tells her how we've treated him," Giles eyes fell shut and he reached for the scotch again.

"Giles, what is wrong with you, why are you acting like this?" Buffy was starting to worry. "Please, was that important or something? What does it mean?"

Giles let out a bitter laugh. "Oh, no, not important at all, Buffy. It's just that the vampire that you told was beneath you, the one that we all have teased and tortured, the, the Fangless Wonder, I believe you called him, well, she has taken him as kin. We've managed to treat the family of the most powerful being in the world like shit."

They all just stared at him in shock as Giles reached for the scotch again.

****

Xander followed after Spike as he led Kat down the street. Xander watched as Spike carefully wrapped an arm around her waist, basically propping her upright. **Might as well just carry her** He couldn't stop the bitter thoughts as he saw how gently Spike was treating her. Almost like she were Dru.

"The Rover on the left." Kat's words were so quiet that only Spike could hear them. Her hands were shaking with the effort to maintain her control. She could still feel the viciousness and cruelty directed at Spike which swirled under the surface of the room and it was all she could do not to react. She knew that it was a combination of the stress of travel combined with the pain of losing Cassie that was making it so difficult. Knowing the reason behind the problem didn't help make it any easier, however. She wouldn't, couldn't just let go and let her anger wash them all away. No, that was not the answer. Let them live. She was sure the Watcher had figured out their mistake by this point and the torture of waiting for her revenge would simply make it all the sweeter. She had never had a problem with being patient. Not if the end were worth it.

Besides, destroying the Slayer and her friends would only serve to upset Spike's love. She turned her head slowly, looking at him once again. Spike was right, he had no idea how beautiful he was. Otherwise, he surely would not wear those clothes, surely wouldn't not hunch over like he was trying to hide that body. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the feeling of his skin on hers. She smiled slightly, recognizing the sensations. Purity and light, innocence and bravery. No wonder Spike had fallen. She would have herself.

"Kat, open your eyes, that's a luv. Time to get in." Spike opened the passenger's side door and settled her into the seat. Xander clambered into the back as Spike moved around to the front. They pulled away and headed down the street.

"Where are we headed?" Spike stole a glance over, amazed that she was here. A part of him had honestly believed that he would never see her again, that their reconciliation would be limited to phone calls and the occasional package or letter. Never actual face to face contact.

"The Royal." She stirred and turned to look at Xander.

"Thank you for coming, I'm sure you have many questions, please, just, be a little patient, and I'll tell you anything you would like to know." A smile flickered across her face. "Anything at all. Remember that for later." The smile grew.

"You wouldn't," Spike snarled over at her.

"You have met me, right, Spike? Of course, I would." The grin grew as she leaned back into her seat.

"Right, well, you aren't the only one who can play that game. Xander, if there's anything you want to know about her that she doesn't answer, like, say what happened when she tried to dye her hair back to blonde straight from jet black, you just ask me, understand."

"Yes, but speaking of hair, I know what color yours really is. And what happened the first time you let Dru bleach it. You don't want to play this game, I always win. I know your middle name." The grin threatened to split her face.

"No." Spike growled again at that. "You would never."

"Never's an awfully long time."

Xander just sat back and listened to the bickering, fascinated by the side of Spike that he was seeing. Spike was just there, just being, not trying to impress anyone or threaten or scare or make them pity him. No, just being, just comfortable. They sounded like old friends. Or lovers. He shook his head sharply, cursing himself. Why did this bother him so much. Of course Spike had lovers, he probably had more lovers than hairs on his head. And Xander had met Harmony and Dru and it hadn't bothered him in the slightest. Of course, Harmony was such an idiot that it was obvious that Spike was merely using her body instead of his hand. As far as Dru, well, Xander was usually so busy trying to keep her from killing him that he hadn't actually had time to think of anything else. However, since he had been spending so much time with Spike, he had come to feel nothing but a cold, hard clench in his stomach at the very mention of her name. He knew how much Anya hurt him. He couldn't even imagine how much worse it had been for Spike.

Spike pulled into the hotel, gliding to a stop under the canopy. Xander got out, a little taken aback. He had gone past here countless times, but he had never been inside. The hotel screamed class and money and he had neither. Spike, however, was helping Kat out then tossing the keys to the valet as if he was born to be here. Xander loped along behind them as they crossed the lobby and headed straight for the elevators.

"What room," Spike looked over, seeing the Kat was looking a little better now that they were away from his friends. He let out a large sigh, glad that Buffy hadn't tried to do anything stupid. He knew that Kat wouldn't have been able to stop her reaction and that could have only ended in disaster. He glanced over to see that Xander was trying to shrink himself into a corner of the elevator, looking incredibly uncomfortable. Spike felt the familiar rage at all who had caused Xander to feel insignificant wash across him. **If only I didn't have this bloody chip**

"1412. And I'm not taking it out."

"Wasn't asking, luv. You've made your position clear."

"Just remember that and don't make me gag you to shut you up."

Xander started, looking between the two of them. **What the hell** It was obvious that they were talking about the chip. He was sure, however, that Spike hadn't said a word about it. This was getting a little creepy.

The elevator glided to a smooth stop and Xander watched, amazed as Spike stepped aside to let Kat exit first. Just like the gentleman that he wasn't. They walked down the short hall, then Kat pulled the keycard from her jacket pocket and led them inside.

Xander stared, amazed. The suite was beautiful, decorated in a tasteful cream and burgundy design. There was a fireplace, already lit, with couches in front of it. A bar ran along the far wall and there were doors on either end of the room. Kat turned immediately for the room on the right.

Spike walked over to Xander as he watched Kat walk away, still swaying slightly. "Going to run her a bath, she's awfully tired. Had a long flight and all and it's always disorienting to lose a day like that. Especially if she was traveling alone." Spike swallowed at that thought. Kat hadn't traveled alone for, what, at least fifteen years. She had always had Cassie. "Can you call room service, order supper for you both, make sure to get her a steak, rare and bloody. Caesar salad for her as well, but light garlic." A small smile, "Don't want to flinch all night. Whatever you want. We'll be out in a few."

Xander nodded and Spike started to stalk away. He paused then turned so that Xander could only see his profile. "Thanks, mate." With that, he followed Kat into the other room.

Xander picked up the phone and placed the order, amazed at how cool and calm he was. He was trying to battle back the familiar feeling of being out of place. He walked to stand in front of the fire, staring into the flames. He could faintly hear the voices in the other room, hear splashes. He wondered if Spike was washing her back. He wondered why he was thinking more about what Spike's hands would look like on her back then what Kat would look like naked. He wondered if maybe he should just stop wondering and enjoy the warmth from the fire. He slowly sank to the floor, looking at his watch. 12:45 a.m. He was tired.

"Xander, are you asleep," he heard her quiet voice in his ear and slowly turned his head, blinking sleepily. She was crouched next to him, a hand on his shoulder. The strange warmth spread through him again, radiating from her touch.

"Guess so, sorry, just comfortable, you know," he yawned as they stood. He saw Spike watching them closely, the same indescribable look on his face as when he had shaken her hand in the store.

"Well, food's here, came a little bit ago, but you looked so peaceful, didn't want to wake you." They moved to the table where Xander saw the plates set out, Kat's steak gone, a few vegetable remaining on the plate. A napkin had been draped over the salad bowl and Xander was amused to note that Spike made sure to stay on the other side of the table. His own dinner was simpler, just some pasta and bread. He looked over, catching Spike's eye.

"Sorry, no blood on the menu, checked, didn't think you would want steak tartare," Xander said as he started to shovel the food down.

Spike just raised a wineglass and Xander saw the rich color of blood. "Not a problem, pet, my Kat is nothing if not a Boy Scout, always prepared." He took another sip, feeling the richness of human blood coating his throat. So good. AB negative, his favorite. She had remembered. Of course she had remembered, she remembered everything after all.

Xander quickly finished his meal, a comfortable silence descending over the room. Xander caught himself staring back and forth between Spike and Kat, studying them both, slowly realizing how similar they looked. Same high, sharp cheekbones, same blazing blue eyes, same scar in the eyebrow, same air of amused detachment to all going on around them, same faint air of danger. He pushed the plate aside and stretched.

"So, um, thanks for the meal and all, but why do I have the feeling that's not why I'm here." There, bravado, that was always good.

Kat just laughed, a clear, happy sound. She looked much better, much calmer, the black hair brushed straight back from her face. "Spike, you are not a good influence on him."

Shaking her head, she picked up her wineglass and moved to one of the couches, the men following her. She patted the space next to her and Xander automatically sat down.

"No, I wanted to explain things to you myself. If you were with the others, then, well the Watcher would be telling you things which, while technically true, aren't entirely accurate. But why don't you ask me what you're curious about first, that might be easier." She put the wineglass on the small end table, absently reaching up to take Spike's hand. Spike had moved to stand behind the couch and was resting his hands on her shoulders.

"Well, I guess, who are you? I know, Katarina de Rien, but, well, um, what are you, I mean, I figured out that you're not human and not a vampire, and I don't think you are demon and you don't seem like a witch," Xander stopped, blushing.

"That's an excellent question. I'm an Ancient. That means that I'm older than time. I'm also immortal." The blue eyes stared calmly into his, the answers matter of fact.

"Like Spike," Xander started, ready to ask what would kill her.

"No, not like Spike. I cannot be killed. No matter what. There is no power that can destroy me." She reached over and took another sip of wine.

"Nothing, no wonder you weren't worried about Buffy." Xander let out a low whistle. "Wow, well, do you have, like, powers or witchcraft?"

"You could say that I have powers," Kat grinned a little. "Just a bit."

Spike snorted at that. "Yeah, pet. Like that hurricane that just almost destroyed Sydney. Had nothing to do with that, I'm sure."

"That doesn't count. I was upset."

Xander looked at her with a little bit of alarm. "Um, well that was my next question, you kept mentioning how long the flight was, where did you fly in from?" He thought back to the news coverage on the mysterious storms that had battered Australia last week. The wind and rain had just suddenly started, then lasted for a week. As suddenly as it started, it had stopped two days before. "Was that really you, you did that?"

"Flew in from Sydney. Ashamed to say that I did do that. As I mentioned, I was a little upset." She closed her eyes at that, trying to push back the pain.

"Oh, well, you said something about someone named, named Cassie. Is that why you were upset, did she," Xander stopped seeing the pain cross her face. Impulsively, he reached out, brushing a hand down her arm. "I'm sorry."

"Thank you." Kat swallowed then turned to face Xander, leaving his hand on her arm. "Yes, she died. She was my lover for sixteen years. She developed leukemia about a year ago. It was very painful and, in the end, it was best she died."

Spike's hands tightened on her shoulders. He could smell the pain coming from her, could feel her agony in the corner of his mind that she owned. So brave, just telling Xander like that.

"Well, please, don't be mad, but, couldn't you just, you know, cure her or something?" He heard the growl start from Spike and moved quickly away.

"Spike, stop it, that's a good question. Yes and no. Yes, I could. But Cassie didn't want me to, she, she wanted to stay with me for the course of her life. She didn't want me to be afraid to be without her. And that's what curing her would have meant, that I couldn't be without her. She would have been with me, but then again, she wouldn't. I would have changed a fundamental part of her just to be with me. Nothing would be the same if I did that." She ran a finger around the rim of her glass, following her fingers with her eyes. She had respected Cassie's wishes. But it had been close. That last day, as she listened to the labored breathing, heard the heart slowing, saw the pain, it had been very, very close. All she needed to do was stretch out a hand, just release a tiny, tiny stream all that ran through her and she would have Cassie forever. And Cassie would hate her for it. But it had been close, her hand had been opening over the center of Cassie's chest when that last breath was breathed out.

"Oh," Xander understood completely. "Like if anything happened to Willow and I was a vampire I could turn her but she wouldn't be the same."

Kat nodded, smiling slightly. Spike had been right about this one. Deeply empathetic. Could develop that, interesting possibilities there. "Pretty much, just no demon possession, nothing like that."

"Speaking of vampires, what's the deal with you and Spike? I mean, what was that thing you guys did, you know that whole blood of my blood thing and why do you have the same scar?" Good, he managed to get it out calmly. He waited, knowing what would come next.

"Spike is my family. The 'thing' as you called it is, well, it's a connection ritual. Reestablish the bond. The scar isn't a scar. It's a brand. It marks him as being part of my order."

Xander's mouth dropped open at that. "But I thought he was in Angel's family."

The flames shot out of the fireplace before he could react. "Shit, oh man," Xander jumped back as the couch caught on fire.

"Sorry, sorry," Kat called out. Suddenly, the fire stopped and with a small shake of head she looked around the room. "Spike, you okay back there?"

"Oh, just lovely, at least I thought to duck when I heard Peaches's name." He slowly picked himself off the floor, a scorch mark on the side of his face. "Xander, word of advice, don't ever just say my Sire's name like that, tends to upset her."

Xander merely nodded, shocked. The flames had come straight out and wrapped around Kat. However, she was completely untouched. **Guess she does have powers** a hysterical part of his mind noted.

"Bloody hell, what a mess, Spike, let me get that," she reached up and rubbed the soot off his cheek. "Xander, you hurt?"

"No, just a little freaked. And the couch is," he stopped. "Well, the couch was toast. Not now."

"Told you I had powers." Kat settled back down, picking back up her wine glass. The room was completely restored. Xander carefully settled back down next to her.

"Believed you before, didn't have to set things on fire to prove it. Um, what was it that Giles was going to tell the others that would be true but not accurate?"

"That since your precious gang had been so kind to my kin here, that vengeance would be had." Her voice went cold and Xander flinched back. She softened her tone and placed her hand on Xander's leg. "That is the truth, they will pay." A cruel smile danced her lips as she thought of what she would make them do. "The inaccurate part is that all of you will pay. Xander, you have nothing to fear from me, not now, not ever. You have been a true friend to William and that will not be forgotten."

Xander's eyes lit up a little. "William, huh? So, how long have you and Spike known each other?" Family, if they were family then she would know family like secrets. "When did you meet bleach boy, bet you could tell some stories," Xander grinned, his mood lifting.

"Met me the night after I was turned." Xander jumped, Spike had been so silent that Xander had almost forgotten he was there. He watched as they exchanged a long look. "Angelus knew she would like me, took me to see her."

Those identical blue eyes had darkened at the mention of Angelus and Xander felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise. "That's how you met?"

"Yes," Kat said, her eyes still locked with Spike's. They all sat there in silence for long moments until Xander suddenly yawned uncontrollably, breaking the spell.

"Tired, pet?" Spike moved to stand by him, hovering just slightly closer than necessary. It had been a long night and he was concerned. Xander wasn't quite back to full strength.

"Yeah, should get back, car's at the Magic Box though." Xander's eyes were closed and he didn't look inclined to move.

"Don't be ridiculous, there's a nice room right over there. You're staying. The house will be fine for one night." Kat's tone of voice left no room for argument.

"Fine by me," Xander yawned out. Spike reached out a hand and pulled him to his feet, following him into the room.

"You all right, luv, I know it's a lot to take in," Spike began. Xander just shook his head.

"No, makes sense somehow, just tired," He pulled off his shirt and pants and Spike was treated to a brief glimpse of Xander's firm body before Xander crawled under the covers. "Talk tomorrow, there's a lot more you aren't saying," he began before fading off to sleep. Spike moved over, pulling the covers up.

"Night, Xander," he said quietly, tracing a finger down the side of Xander's face. He slipped back out into the other room. Kat had turned off the lights and was sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace. Spike sat down behind her and pulled her back so she was resting against his chest.

"So, you love him." It was a statement, not a question.

"Yes." Spike didn't bother lying. Would have defeated the point of calling her here and, besides, she would know anyway. He decided to change the subject, not ready to discuss this yet. "You do realize that my Sire is going to hear that you're back."

"Of course. Didn't sit there in the middle of the LAX terminal for three hours for nothing I hope. Someone was sure to see me." The words were spoken without a single trace of emotion.

Spike nodded. "Still hate him?"

"Of course." Now there was heat, a ripple of suppressed rage.

"Fire's nice." Spike rested his head on the top of her hair, breathing in the familiar scent.

"Isn't it." Kat moved slightly so that Spike's head was resting on her shoulder.

They sat there, lost in memories, both remembering the first time they had sat together in front of a fire, thinking back to the night they met.

Chapter 3