Chapter Text
Buffy’s eyes widened. He wasn’t dusting. Why wasn’t he dusting?
Spike grinned madly. “That tickles,” he said gleefully. “Do it again!”
"The gem," Buffy realized faintly.
"Oh yeah. The Gem of Amara," he said, holding up his hand and wiggling his fingers.
He froze suddenly. Buffy tilted her head in confusion, but in a moment, a light blasted from Spike himself and a force shoved her back into the grass. Buffy blinked, trying to regain her vision. She got up and looked around, and saw Spike had also been knocked to the ground. He was standing up too, looking confused.
“Stupid vampire,” she grumbled, making her way back to him, and slugging him hard in the face.
Spike fell to the ground instantly, she guessed he’d been so caught off guard by the strange blast that he hadn’t gone back into fight mode yet. Buffy backed up a moment, waiting for him to get back up and fight.
“What’s the matter, Spike? Didn’t test out your stupid gem before coming here?”
Spike whimpered, holding his hands in front of his face, and cowered on the ground in front of her. “Don’t- don’t hurt me, please,” he pleaded, in an odd voice that reminded her of Wesley.
Wait… what?
“Oh, that’s a new one,” Buffy said, irritated. “Really, Spike? You came here to fight me, remember?”
She made to attack again, but he whimpered once more, which was so weird that she just had to stop.
“Please,” he pleaded again, “please, I don’t understand! I don’t know where I am. Please, please madam, don’t hurt me!”
“…Spike?” she questioned uncertainly. “Are you… What is…”
She backed away and he slowly looked up at her and around.
“What does that mean, Spike?” he asked nervously, tilting his head.
“It’s… um, you,” Buffy said, frowning.
“I’m Spike?”
“Well, yeah.”
“I don’t… What a strange name. Spike as in a sharp pointed tip of something?”
“I think it’s like Railroad Spike, actually.”
He shook his head. “I’m called Railroad Spike?”
“No, just Spike. Um, you don’t remember anything?”
“Not anything that would lead to… any of this,” he said, gesturing around him. “Why did you hit me?”
“We were fighting,” she said. “Sorry.”
“It’s alright. Somehow, even though I was knocked to the ground, I don’t seem to be injured. Did I hurt you?” he asked, looking concerned now.
“Uh, no.”
Awkwardly, she reached out a hand and helped him up. “What, um… what do you remember before this? If anything?”
He looked embarrassed. “I, ah, I met a lady in an alley. I- not on purpose- I wasn’t intending to meet anyone, I just, she…”
Did he remember being a vampire? He still was one, she could feel the tinglies. It was like some of the fledglings, before they attacked, when they asked her what happened. It was surreal. Buffy debated on just asking him to hand the ring over, so that he would just dust in the sun.
“Mother must be so worried,” he said quietly. “I really must go to her. She- she’ll be so sick with worry.”
“You… you want to go to your Mom?” Buffy asked, incredulously. “And not to… eat her?”
“Heavens, no!” said the shocked Spike. “Eat her? Dear lord, where would you get that idea?”
“It’s… a long story.”
“Mother is very sick,” he explained. “She gets worse when she is upset. If I don’t go home to her, I imagine she will suffer terribly. She… she doesn’t have very long. She needs me.”
Buffy was shocked.
Empathy? From a vampire? What???
“Spike, do you… Are you…”
“Please, I- I understand you call me Spike, but I… I don’t know, who that is. Would you please address me by my given name, William Pratt, instead?”
“William… Pratt…”
“Yes, that’s it. Where are my manners? What may I call you, my lady?”
“Buffy Summers,” she answered blankly.
“Miss Summers. I apologize for what may have led to us trading blows. I assure you, I am not a fighter.”
“It’s… ok,” Buffy muttered.
“Miss Summers, if it wouldn’t trouble you, could you tell me where I am and how I came to be in this… strange attire?”
Buffy looked around the college campus. She nodded and motioned for him to walk with her. They needed to find Willow, fast.
“What’s the last thing you remember, again?”
“A- a lady, in an alley.”
Buffy sighed. “What year was it?”
“The year 1880.”
“You’re a vampire,” she said gently, turning to him. “The lady you met, I think you’re talking about Drusilla. She made you into a vampire. Until now, you were evil. We were fighting because you found that ring,” she pointed to his hand, “that allows you to go out in the sun and survive most things that kill vampires. I staked you, and you told me it tickled.”
“A vampire?” he scoffed, but he seemed afraid.
Buffy sighed. “You…”
She reached out to his chest. He flinched at first, but allowed her to place her hand over what should be his heart. “Feel here,” she told him, taking his hand and replacing hers.
William stopped breathing. “No heartbeat,” he whispered.
“No,” Buffy answered. She turned away again. “I think someone cursed you with a soul. It’s very rare. I’ve… only seen it once. But you don’t seem to want to kill me anymore, or anyone else for that matter.”
“No, I don’t,” he said softly.
“I have a friend who I know can do that curse,” she explained, starting to walk once more. William followed beside her. “We can go to her and see if that’s what happened. But it’s weird… Usually a curse is supposed to be, well, painful. The vampire I know who has this curse, he remembers being a vampire and the memories of what he did and how he hurt people torment him. That’s why he was cursed, so that he would be tormented.”
“Perhaps I have been blessed, instead,” said William thoughtfully. “I have no memory of such deeds, and I am now conversing with such a lovely and kind lady.”
Buffy smiled slightly in spite of herself. “I punched you,” she reminded him.
“Somehow I find myself admiring that,” he admitted. “You asked me what year I remembered. What year is it, now?”
“It’s… It’s 1999.”
He froze. “My… Mother…”
Buffy turned around. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I know you cared about her. I don’t know what happened to her.”
She decided not to tell him that vampires often go after their families first.
William closed his eyes. “So many years have past. I wonder how long…”
“I really am sorry,” Buffy said. “What was she like? What was her name?”
“Her name was Anne. Anne Pratt. She was… doting. She sang all the time. She loved me, and I loved her. I was her world, and she…” William took a deep breath. “The servants will have cared for her. But oh, she must have been so heartbroken to lose me.”
Yeah, definitely not telling him.
“We need to find out what happened to you,” she said instead.
“Buffy!”
Buffy looked around to see Xander running up to her. “Hey Xander,” she began, about to explain when Xander jumped back suddenly and hid slightly behind her.
“Ah! Buffy, Spike has the gem! He’s in the sunlight! Walking and talking! Um, why are we walking and talking with Spike?”
William timidly backed away, hunching over slightly and looking down.
Buffy sighed. “William, this is my friend Xander. He can help us. Xander, meet William.”
“Hello,” William said meekly, lifting a hand for a small wave.
“Buffy, I’m not understanding here. Help? You want to help Spike?”
“Xander, something happened to Spike when I staked him. He doesn’t remember being a vampire. We need to find Willow. Do you know where she is?”
“She’s at Giles’,” Xander answered, not taking his eyes off of Spike. “Buffy, are you sure this isn’t a trick?”
“No trick,” William said, speaking up a little. “I apologize for my bad manners. It has been a strange day.” He held out his hand for Xander to shake. Xander stared at him. “Pleased to meet you, Xander.”
Slowly, Xander took the offered hand, gave it a light shake, and dropped it. “Pleased to meet you too… William.”
“We need to get going,” Buffy said pointedly.
“I’ll drive,” Xander agreed.
“Drive?” asked William, looking around for a carriage.
“As in, a car,” Xander said.
“Car?” William frowned.
“Xander, William last remembers it being the 1800s. I don’t think he knows what a car is,” Buffy explained as they approached the parking lot.
Williams eyes widened as he surveyed the cars in the lot. “What strange, shining capsules,” he remarked. “With wheels. But no horses to pull them?”
“Cars don’t need horses to pull them,” Buffy said, trying not to giggle. Xander unlocked his car, and Buffy opened the door for Spike.
“What cushions, inside,” he said, climbing in awkwardly. Buffy climbed in after him and showed him how to buckle.
“We need restraints inside this capsule? Is it safe?” he asked nervously.
“Very safe,” Buffy assured him.
Despite that assurance, William was clearly very anxious about the ride. Buffy noticed that he seemed to be holding on to his seat for dear life. Upon arrival at Giles’, he fell to the ground and kissed it.
“Hey now, my driving’s not that bad! You should try riding with Buffy,” Xander said indignantly.
Buffy glared at him. “Hey!”
“I apologize,” William said breathlessly, standing, “I simply… That was both invigorating and terrifying. I can’t decide whether I want to do it again as soon as possible, or never do it again as long as I live. No train tracks, no horses- just an open road and the whim of the driver.”
“I couldn’t have said it better myself,” Xander said, walking into Giles’s home. Buffy followed.
“Excuse me,” William said behind them, “something appears to be stopping me.”
Buffy turned around and saw William staring in awe around the doorway. “Oh, sorry William. Vampires have to be invited. Come in.”
He stepped carefully over the threshold and continued to look around him in awe.
“Something’s wrong with Spike,” Xander said immediately to the confused faces watching from the living room.
“Clearly, not the least of which being that he has entered my home. Buffy, what on earth gives you the impression that you should invite a vampire into my house?” Giles asked, shocked and spluttering.
William stopped looking around and turned to join the conversation. “My apologies, good sir,” he said, further confusing everyone. “I believe something strange may be afoot. My name is William Pratt. This lovely lady, Miss Summers, has explained that I have been made into a creature called a vampire. I have been told that this creature is usually evil and terrible, but I assure you that despite what it may seem I have no intention of harming you and do not wish to do so. Please, accept my humble apology for any harm I may have caused you in the past.”
He bowed slightly.
“Wiggy,” said Buffy.
Giles whirled on Willow. “What did you do?”
“Me? I didn’t do anything!” Willow exclaimed. “I’m just as confused as you. Buffy, what happened?”
Buffy explained the whole story, starting with the fight itself. William listened, looking troubled.
“Could the gem have this kind of effect?”
“Maybe? William, can we see the ring?”
“Of course,” agreed William. He took the ring off and handed it over. “I also have this necklace,” he said, lifting another large stone from under his shirt. “Could that be affecting me as well?”
Giles frowned. “I don’t know. May I see?”
William lifted it over his head and handed it over. Giles held both items in his hands and frowned at them.
“Both of these seem very old. I believe they both came from the treasure of Amara, which you were in search of recently. You don’t remember acquiring these items?”
“I remember nothing between my unfortunate encounter and waking in the grass earlier,” William replied apologetically.
“We need to be certain that William has a soul,” Giles said. “Willow, I should have the proper spell ingredients in my cabinet. It should be a simple task.”
“Of course,” Willow agreed, going to Giles’s cabinet.
“This is all so strange,” William said. “Just yesterday, perhaps just hours ago, if you had told me all of these things were real- monsters and spells and curses and magic- I would have believed you mad.”
“You seem to be taking this well, all things considered,” Giles remarked.
William laughed humourlessly. “I believe I may just be in shock.”
“It’s a lot to take in,” Xander agreed.
“Brandy?” Giles offered.
“You know… Yes, actually, yes please,” William said. “But just the one. I would like to maintain my faculties.”
“As a vampire, one brandy likely won’t have much affect. But I certainly respect the consideration,” said Giles.
“I simply cannot fathom…” began William, taking the brandy from Giles. “It has been over one hundred years, and I simply jumped through it. It feels like I must be dreaming.”
“I know it’s a little strange, but yeah. It’s all real,” Buffy said tiredly.
William took a sip of brandy frowned thoughtfully at her. “Something is troubling you,” he said quietly.
“What? No, no, I’m fine,” Buffy said nervously.
“Please, Buffy, it is clear you are not,” William said, shaking his head. “Did I do something?”
“Her ex hunny was a vampire with a soul,” Xander pointed out bluntly.
“That’s not it! I mean, I’m fine,” Buffy said, frustrated.
“Is it Parker again?” Willow said, arranging spell ingredients.
“I…”
“Parker?” William asked, confused.
Buffy sighed. “I ran into him right before the fight. But I’m fine.”
“Did this Parker do something to you?” William asked, concerned.
“Buffy, you ran into Parker? What happened? Did you talk?”
“Yeah, and he- he just-”
“You’ve been so worried, I know,” Willow said.
“Yeah, I was. I was. He was talking to another girl, ok? He told me- he told me I misunderstood. He said we had fun and that- and that was it. He doesn’t- he doesn’t want me like that. He doesn’t care,” Buffy said tearfully.
“How could he be so callous?” William asked incredulously.
“He’s a poopyhead,” Willow declared.
“Guys, it’s fine,” Buffy said, blinking away her tears.
William continued to watch her, concern in his eyes. “I can’t imagine why anyone who had succeeded in being blessed with your attentions would ever dare to let you go,” he said. “I have only known you but an hour, and I can see how incredible and amazing you are. It is his extreme folly for casting you aside.”
Buffy looked up at him with watery eyes. “Thanks,” she said quietly.
Willow began chanting quietly while Giles frowned, William keeping his eyes on Buffy. A moment later, Willow stopped.
“He has his soul,” said Willow.
“I don’t think I can doubt it,” muttered Giles.
“So… What now?” asked Xander. “We just let William the Bloody go off into the night?”
William flinched.
“We can’t just abandon him,” said Willow. “He’s… helpless.”
“He is right here, still,” William said, sounding slightly irritated.
“Sorry,” Willow said apologetically.
“No,” sighed William, “it is I who should be sorry. You have all done what you can to help me. And while I dislike the term helpless, it is true that I am unfamiliar with this time or how to live in it, much less as a vampire.”
“We’ll have to work out how to get you settled until we can find out whether this is permanent,” said Giles.
“I don’t want to be a burden to you.”
“Oh! You could get a job,” Willow said excitedly.
William looked thoughtful. “I think if I am to adjust to this strange world, I must. But what could I do?”
“Well, what were you before? You know, when you were human?”
William looked embarrassed. “I owned several properties and managed them. But I didn’t particularly enjoy that. I much preferred to write. I was… am… a poet.”
“A poet?” Xander said with surprise.
“Not a very good one,” said William.
“Extraordinary,” Giles said. “The council’s files claim that you were a rail worker.”
William frowned. “The Council?” he repeated.
“The, um, the entity which governs the current slayer and researches supernatural phenomena,” Giles explained.
“Slayer?”
“Me,” Buffy said, raising her hand. “One girl in all the world, yada yada.”
“Buffy was called after the last slayer perished. The slayer is tasked with fighting the forces of darkness, such as vampires.”
“So that is why we were fighting,” William said.
“You- or rather, Spike- had a tendency to seek out slayers for the challenge. You have slain two in the last century.”
“Oh my,” William said, appalled. “I promise I am not- I am not that man,” he said.
“We know,” Buffy assured him.
“You said you were a poet?” Xander said, changing the subject back.
“Ah, yes.”
“What was your education, pray tell?” Giles asked.
“I attended Oxford. I studied literature.”
“Perhaps you could get a job at the university. We would need to come up with paperwork so that you can live and work in this time… And, I believe you will need to keep the Gem of Amara,” he begrudged, handing the ring back to him reluctantly. “Otherwise you will not be able to walk in the sun.”
“So that’s really it?” Xander asked incredulously. “We’re just going to let Spike walk around with the gem? Spike who is still a vampire?”
“Xander, aside from locking him away in my home, which I am extremely reluctant to do, there doesn’t seem to be another option but to try to integrate him into society,” Giles said tiredly.
“He doesn’t even remember being evil,” Willow said.
“I appreciate your support,” William said reverently. “I wish to make the most of my new life.”
“We need to determine where you will stay until such a time as we can help you find your own accommodations.”
“Oh, Buffy- your Mom has a spare room, right?”
Buffy stared at Willow. “My mother? You think he should stay with my mother?”
“Absolutely not,” said Xander. “We can’t just put Buffy’s mother in danger.”
“Well, he’s kind of helpless- sorry, William- and he’s not going to hurt her. And she likes him, right?”
“Right, but…”
“What if he gets his memories back?” Xander interrupted.
“He has his soul, right? That wouldn’t just disappear.”
“He is not living with my mother!”
“Buffy, please calm down,” Giles said tiredly. “I do believe Spike’s- ah, William’s- current state is permanent. Even if the gem had something to do with it, since he did not revert back when he removed it or this gaudy bauble, I think your mother will be perfectly safe.”
“You think. You don’t know.”
“If I may interject,” William cut in, “I would be most appreciative to have accommodation anywhere at all, but the creature that you knew- he sounds so very dangerous. I don’t want to put anyone in danger in the case of his return, not Buffy’s mother, but not any of you either, or anyone else in this world. Is there something that could be done to ensure she is protected? Some sort of spell?”
“I could enchant something to tell us if you lose your soul,” Willow said thoughtfully. “Or something like that.”
“Wow,” was all Xander could say.
Buffy looked at William. He seemed so… cautious. Careful. Timid. He couldn’t hurt a fly. She sighed.
“Let’s ask my Mom what she thinks,” she said finally. “If she’s willing to have him.”