Once choice. Now
by cHarley, aka Platinum Spike
Rating: PG
I choose to start this story now...
The Options
The voice was muted, slightly accented, softly toned. "I loved
you."
"Spike?...Ok who the hell are you?"
"Willow, calm down. You are in a realm between realms. Your soul
has left your body but there is someone," the softly glowing figure
indicated to the orb where the image of Spike kneeling beside her lifeless body
on the cold grass of the cemetery lingered, "Needs you with them more than
we need you here and you have the opportunity to return. It is entirely your
choice."
"But what about predestined events?"
"There is no such thing. Contingencies have been created for
potentialities but every being is free to choose and so, very few events are
carved in stone," the being smirked as he nodded toward two stone tablets
with ten items listed on them.
"What will happen if I do not go back?" Willow asked,
entranced by Spike as he remained almost motionless beside her still form,
tears rolling down his face to the ground. "So much pain...but he's
soulless."
"In answer to your question, it is not certain but it is probable
that the rest of your friends will learn what he already knows. They will blame
him, as he does, for not protecting you. Buffy will turn away from Riley and
find comfort with Xander or Angel. Giles will attempt suicide because he'll
blame himself for allowing you to be involved. Riley will hunt Spike and the
vampire will die. If Buffy chooses Xander, the young man will forever wonder if
she is with him because she loves him or because she can't have Angel. If she
chooses Angel, Angelus will be released. We can't predict anymore."
"But Angel wouldn't let..."
"His grief at your passing will leave him vulnerable. Spike is not
soulless. His demon is controlled. Most
humans never learn that sort of control."
Willow paused to consider. "What will happen if I choose to
return?"
"You are loved by everyone who knows you Willow. Those who are
closest to you will draw closer to you when they learn of the events leading up
to your supposed death. I can't tell you what may happen if you return unless
you decide not to return but you cannot change your mind. One choice, now.
That’s all you get.” Willow, they do not ignore you. You are a comfortable part
of their lives. You are their stability in an incredibly instable world. No
matter what happens you have reacted in ways that are sensible and right. You
have been more levelheaded and thoughtful that Giles, more respectful of
opposing positions. You are what has stabilized this group and without you it
will take some time for them to adjust and continue."
"Those who survive the choices made by grief," Willow pointed
out.
"True, but you don't know that similar actions will not take place
should you return. Buffy’s happiness at a second chance to be your friend may
send her to Angel and Riley after Spike because Spike is seen as the person who
didn’t protect you in the first place. Willow, no one really knows what will
happen should you choose either way but you were not expected today, nor for
some time yet."
"How much longer before I must decide?"
"You have only a few moments. If you make no decision it is
considered you have decided to stay."
"You give me 'moments' to decide between life for myself and
potentially the lives of my friends or death for all!!!"
He remained quiet.
Willow glared but quickly calmed. Only
moments.
"You must decide if it is what you want. Do not decide using the
others reactions as a guide. This is a selfish decision Willow."
So you tell me that possibly the
worst thing I, and my friends, has ever experienced, being Angelus, could
happen again and you tell me to make a selfish decision. Bah!
"Willow."
"Alright!" She took a deep breath. "I want..."
The Decision
"Spike?" Buffy's voice seemed to carry for miles across the
midnight cloaked cemetery.
"I didn't sense him."
"What? What are you doing?" she asked. She was tired and dusty
and had a test in 8 and a half hours.
"Where's Wills?"
"She's here Xander."
"Did you see that big ghoul-y guy? Man he was hairy, and
slimey."
"And smelly. Don't forget smelly," Buffy added.
"He killed her," Spike said quietly. "I was trying to
save her from the other 2 and he came up behind her. I couldn't help her and he
was too big for her to fight on her own, but she took him with her."
"What?"
"Willow?" Buffy rounded Spikes kneeling form to see the body
of her dearest friend on the freshly watered grass. "She looks so
small."
"I'm so sorry...huh?" Spike's saddened featured turned to confused.
"What?"
He didn't responded immediately, choosing instead to intently watch the
small white hand resting lightly in his own. He gasped as it twitched again,
then watched amazed as the hand gripped his own and the pale body seemed to
glow with life colours before the little witch sat up and held him close.
"I love you too Spike," Willow whispered.
"Buffy?"
"Uh...over here Angel."
"Did you get the leader?"
"Uhm...Willow did," she replied numbly.
"But that slime would have killed her if they came in contact with
each other," he stated.
"It did," Xander replied with wonder.
"Why is Willow hugging Spike?" Riley asked.
"Apparently she loves him," Giles murmured, having joined the
group with Buffy and Xander.
"But you said that thing killed her..." Cordelia said to
Xander.
"Willow?" Spike asked, pulling away to look at her. He gently
touched her face, feeling its softness and the life force still flooding her.
He held her face in his hands and kissed her lips gently.
"I was given a choice. I had one choice. A moment ago. A blue
pointy skinned Irish demon gave me Heavens choice between life and death. Do
you have any demon cousins?" she asked Angel. "He was annoyingly
cryptic."
"Doyle," Cordelia and Angel answered at the same time.
"Heavens choice? Really Willow," Wesley scoffed.
"Then you ask him what it was. Just hold still while I kill
you..." she glared.
"Uhm, never mind..." he said awkwardly.
"I saw you Spike. I heard you. I didn't know before tonight. Now you
have one choice. Now. Do we try?"
His wonder slowly turned up to a grin brighter than the suns reflected
light in the full moon. "Yes."
THE END
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