psubrat | Book 3 of the Reset Series

Book Three of the Reset Series
Buffy continues to fight her love for William while an ancient prophecy draws the Scoobies and the Fang Gang together...Can they destroy the new Big Bad before he destroys them?
General - Crossover with AtS
Based on the AU created in Reset
Rated R (mostly for some language, violence and adult content)
COMPLETE

Author: PSUbrat
Rating: PG-13 Some language and violence
Disclaimer and spoiler warning: These characters belong to Joss Whedon and whomever else he sells them to, I'm just borrowing them for a while. This story is part three of a trilogy and is based upon the alternate universe I created in Reset.
Update List: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Destined_Fic
Summary: William visits Clem while the Master's whereabouts are revealed...
Timeframe: A few days after the end of New Beginnings

- 1 -
Resouled

William hesitantly knocked on the crypt door. He didn’t know why he was knocking since this was his home yet. But on the other hand, it didn’t feel like his home. His home was a nice comfy apartment, in a nice neighborhood far away from a cemetery. It had only been a few months since he had become human again but he was amazed at how quickly he had adapted to being one. He no longer had the desire for his former demon trappings. Including his duster. The Bit had told him that she and Buffy had kept it for when he returned and asked if he wanted it back. He hadn’t thought about it but told her he’d let her know. She had eyed him questioningly and then shrugged as if to say, 'suit yourself.' He just didn’t want to explain to her why he didn’t really want it back. Returning his thoughts to the present, he waited a few more moments and then knocked again, this time more firmly. Finally he heard the door creak. One eye peered uneasily out from the crack.

"No one here but us dead people," Clem said in a false high pitched voice.

"Open the door Clem," William stated, moving into Clem’s line of vision.

At the sight of the human in front of him, Clem panicked and closed the door. He didn’t know who the man was or why he wanted to come into Spike’s crypt. He had promised his friend he wouldn’t let anyone in and that meant human and demons alike. And that’s what he was sticking to.

"Clem, you stupid git," William shouted as he pounded on the door once again, "Open the bleedin’ door!"

"Spike," Clem asked cautiously. "Is that you?" It sounded like his friend but it didn’t look like his friend. He wasn’t going to be fooled.

"It’s me," William growled in frustration. "Now open the bloody door or I’m gonna knock it down and string you up by your..."

With that outburst, Clem opened the door and threw his arms around his friend. "Spike! It’s about time you got back man. I’ve been worried sick about you. Where have you been?"

******

"Don’t drop your shoulder so much, Dawn," Buffy chastised her sister as the two took a break from their workout.

"I’m trying not to, but these are kinda hard moves," Dawn complained. "Are you sure I’m gonna need to know this stuff?"

"Quite certain, Dawn," Giles stated. He had stayed in Sunnydale longer than he had planned due to Buffy and William’s shared dreams foretelling the rise of the Master. Things had been quiet despite the dream and he was beginning to suspect that perhaps the dream was a result of Buffy’s subconscious trying to get her to come to terms with her feelings for William. Then again, that didn’t explain why both of them had had the same dream. He glanced over at his slayer and noticed that she had that solemn look on her face again.

"Dawn, why don’t you call it a day and go home," Giles suggested. "I’m sure you’re going to need plenty of rest for tomorrow what with it being the start of the new school year."

Dawn watched as a grin crept across Giles’ face. He really loved education. Gross. But she was happy that he had intervened in the training session, otherwise Buffy would have worked her to death. Ever since the whole William and Cecily thing, Buffy had been a total slave driver. Her sister didn’t socialize much since then and she stayed in her room a lot. The only time she really went out was to come here to train or to go out patrolling. It was nerve wracking. She had decided that it was a good thing school was starting up again. It would give her a chance to get away from her sister for eight hours a day.

"And Dawn," Buffy called as her sister was walking towards the shower. "Don’t forget to put out the garbage before you go to bed."

Dawn rolled her eyes. "Whatever."

After Dawn had left the room, Giles walked over to Buffy to make sure she was holding up all right. He cleared his throat trying to get her attention since she had gone back to punching the bag again. When that didn’t get a response, he gently placed his hand on her shoulder, startling her out of her reverie.

"Buffy, are you alright?"

"Sure Giles," she said with a frown. "You just startled me a little. I was concentrating on my moves..."

"That’s not what I meant."

"I’m great. Peachy. Couldn’t be better."

Giles sighed and removed his hand from her shoulder. Ever since the day in the shop when William and Cecily reunited, Buffy had closed herself off from the world. "Are you getting enough rest?"

"Yeah, Giles. Plenty of sleep for the slayer," she replied, taking a sip of water from the bottle she had just picked up off the floor.

"I think we should talk," Giles started. "About your feelings for..."

"Nothing to talk about. I’m so over it." She gave him a smile that tried to say she was fine. The smile felt faked to her, so she could just imagine what it looked like to Giles. No matter. She was so not going to talk about this with him. Besides, as she had said, there was nothing to talk about. William was dating Cecily and that was that. Can’t stand in the way of a century old love, right?

******

"I was in Africa," William stated indifferently. "And then England. Now I’m here."

"Dude, you look strange and," Clem said as he started sniffing William. "You smell...human!"

"That’s because I am a human," William said, flicking his friend’s forehead.

"Ouch! Spike! What happened?" Clem demanded with a tone of concern as he rubbed his head.

"Went to Africa a vampire and came back human. So you tell me what happened."

"That wasn’t the plan. I mean, I don’t remember that being the plan. I thought you were just going for a soul so that Buffy would love you."

William flopped down on the loveseat and looked around the crypt. Clem had tidied the place up real nice while he had been gone. "A soul was the plan. But seems to be I already had one."

"What? Are you sure? How come I never smelled one on you then?"

"Not sure. Watcher’s still looking into it."

Clem took a few moments to let things sink in. Finally he asked, "Why are you dressed like that?"

William laughed. "What? This old thing," he asked as he gestured at his khaki Dockers and navy blue polo shirt. "I’ve had ‘em forever, just never wore ‘em."

"Uh huh. This coming from the one color wardrobe guy."

William snorted. He decided it was time to tell his friend about what he did for a living. "I’m a watcher now."

Clem’s eyes widened. "You’re a watcher? Get out! Is that why you were in England?"

"Yeah. Went there to find Giles and wound up becoming like him. I’m Buffy’s watcher now ‘cause he’s going back to England soon. Soon as we suss out this whole dream thing."

"Huh?" Clem asked his eyes widening again. Had he just heard right?

******

The Master paced back and forth in the cave that had become his prison. Anger built more and more with each passing step. How dare they do this? How dare they trick him like this? They had promised him new life and he had believed them. But now he was trapped like a caged animal. He lifted his hand and felt the invisible field that covered the opening of the cave. It was very similar to the one that had trapped him below Sunnydale for all those years prior to his death. He had noticed that they themselves could come and go as they pleased but he was stuck here. Which could only mean one thing, the field was magic.

He stopped pacing when he saw Gavin’s car come to a halt a few yards from his cell. He sneered and growled. He hated all of the humans who had done this to him, but he held Gavin personally responsible for the imprisonment. Eventually he was going to get out of this cave and when he did, there was going to be hell to pay and he would start with Wolfram and Hart.

Gavin smiled as he approached the cave opening. "How are we doing today, Mr. Nest?"

"We? There is no we. There is just me. And I am extremely unhappy. How dare you continue to hold me like this?"

"Mr. Nest," Gavin grinned. "As I said before, this is just a temporary situation until you have completely re-acclimated to your new life. I assure you, you will be released once we are satisfied that you are not a threat to anyone other than the Slayer."

"Yes, so you keep saying. But I have no proof of this, just your word. And right now, you’re word doesn’t mean a lot to me. So forgive me for not trusting you."

Gavin nodded his head and smiled. "Understandable that you feel that way, Mr. Nest. However, as a gesture of good will, I’ve brought you a little something." He waved his hand and two men got out of the car. They opened the trunk and dragged out a young woman who was bound by ropes and gagged. She was kicking and squirming, trying to get out of their grip.

He glanced over at the Master to assess his reaction. The Master stood in awe of the offering and did not say a word.

"I know that you have a penchant for blondes," Gavin cooed. "So we made sure that this one was of the same hair color and build as the Slayer. Do you approve?"

He hadn’t eaten in a long while and he could smell the fear coming off the girl in waves. His mouth began to water and the thrill of killing washed over him. He nodded at Gavin, his gaze never leaving the girl. "I like to play with my dinner a bit before I eat," he said. "So please unbind her before you give her to me."

"As you wish," Gavin said with a bow.

The two thugs removed the ropes and the gag. She began screaming but the second man covered her mouth as they pushed her through the mouth of the cave and into the waiting arms of the Master.

******

Clem looked at his hands, studying his nails. This had been a lot for him to digest. Spike was human now. And he was a watcher. Not just any watcher though, Buffy’s watcher. He processed the thought a little longer and smiled. In a round about way, Spike had gotten everything he had ever wanted. Buffy would love him for sure now. But he also noticed that his friend didn’t look at all happy. "Hey Spike?"

"Yeah," William asked, closing his eyes and leaning his head against the back of the loveseat. Even if he felt out of place in the crypt, the loveseat was comforting to him. It made him forget his new life for a while. It wasn’t that he didn’t like his new life, because he did. It’s just that some days, it was a little overwhelming.

"Aren’t you happy about being human? I mean, isn’t this a good thing for you and Buffy?"

William didn’t bother opening his eyes. "Things have changed mate," he replied. "Buffy and I were never meant to be. It could never work out."

Clem’s mouth dropped open. Thank goodness for the excess skin, otherwise he was afraid he would have had to pick his jaw up off the floor. "What do you mean things have changed?" He demanded. "Wasn’t the whole point of you leaving so that you could get Buffy back? Now you’re her watcher. This is too confusing."

"It doesn’t matter much now does it? Besides, I’m seeing someone else right now." He noticed Clem’s curious expression and added, "Cecily. I’m seeing Cecily. Can you believe it?"

"Cecily? Are you serious?" He remembered the night that Spike had told him the story of how he had become a vampire. And how if it hadn’t been for Cecily rebuffing his advances, his life might have turned out differently. Of course, he had pointed out that if it hadn’t been for Cecily, Spike would have never met Buffy.

"Yeah. Turns out she was that vengeance demon Halteck or something like that. Said she always wanted to marry me just her father didn’t approve is all. That’s why she became a vengeance demon." At this point he moved up to the edge of the loveseat and put his head in his hands. "After all these years Clem, I become human, she becomes human and we’re thrown together. Maybe Buffy was just the catalyst for bringing us together."

Clem studied his friend closely. To him it sounded like Spike was trying to convince himself that dating Cecily was the right thing to do and that it was fate that had brought them together. He shook his head. He didn’t believe for a minute that Spike still wasn’t pining away for his beloved Buffy. "Spike, I don’t believe in destiny. I believe destiny is what you make it to be. But if you want my opinion..." Spike nodded. "Then I think you’re ‘destined’ to be with Buffy."

Author: PSUbrat
Rating: PG-13 Some language and violence
Disclaimer and spoiler warning: These characters belong to Joss Whedon and whomever else he sells them to, I'm just borrowing them for a while. This story is part three of a trilogy and is based upon the alternate universe I created in Reset.
Update List: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Destined_Fic
Summary: Buffy and William face a group of vampires which leads to Buffy discovering one of William's little secrets...
Timeframe: Immediately following "Resouled"

- 2 -
Blows

Buffy slowly walked home. She had left the Magic Box early since William hadn’t been around to tell her otherwise. Even though Cecily had been at the shop, she was sure that William’s absence had something to do with the ex-demon. He was probably out buying her flowers or cooking her dinner. She was angry and jealous. Not a good combination in a slayer. She decided to swing by the cemetery on her way home, hoping to find some vampires to take out her aggressions on.

Her feet kept moving absently as she reached out with her senses, searching for anything that she might be able to have a good fight with. She found nothing. Her half-hearted patrol continued as her feet continued moving. Suddenly, as if an invisible hand was guiding her, she found herself in front of the crypt. She sighed and leaned up against the side of the crypt like she had done the night that she had found out that Spike had left. Gazing up at the stars she thought about how different things were now that he was back.

She closed her eyes and thought back to the first night she had met Spike. She had been struck by how handsome he was, even then she had been attracted to him and had denied it. Had she loved him even then? Or had she truly fallen in love with him when Willow’s spell had gone all wonky? She wasn’t sure. Did it matter anymore? It mattered to her. And what did matter was the fact that she was in love with him now and now she couldn’t tell him.

"You’ve got to stop feeling sorry for yourself," she said aloud to the air around her. She hung her head and closed her eyes again. The image of Spike covered in bruises from head to toe came rushing to her mind. She had pretended to be the Buffy-bot that day, to make sure that he hadn’t told Glory about Dawn. She had been so moved by his devotion to keep her sister safe that she had felt compelled to kiss him. Maybe it was then that she had seen him differently. Yes, the two of them had started their dance trying to kill each other, but didn’t it make sense that out of that hatred, love was sparked? Wasn’t it true that there was a really fine line between love and hate? She thought she had read that somewhere. Maybe Cosmo.

As she continued to stand there lost in her own world, she could hear voices coming from within the crypt. She held her breath and tried to make out what was being said but it was inaudible. Slowly she moved along the crypt until she was close to the front door.

******

William stood up abruptly and glared at Clem. He didn’t need to hear what this demon thought about his love life, even though he had asked. Things were just too complicated. There was no way he could possibly explain the way he felt right now. He was torn and confused and that wasn’t even counting how he felt about the two women in his life. Seeing Cecily again like that had blown him away. How could he not give things a chance with the woman whom he had loved prior to his death? And to find out that she had always loved him...he’d have to be a fool not to explore what was there, even now, after all of this time.

"Spike," Clem said trying to get his friend’s attention again. "You love Buffy more than your own life and you proved that by going to Africa to get a soul. So don’t even tell me that you’re just going to give up on a chance with her. Just because you’re human again doesn’t mean you have to pick up where you left off a century ago."

"You have no idea what you’re talking about Clem," William growled. "So shut your gob!"

Clem looked at William with pity in his eyes. The once mighty master vampire was now nothing but a confused human. Slowly, and in a low voice, Clem stated, "Man. I hope this was all worth it to you."

William made his way to the door and opened it. "Just so you know," he said quietly, with his back still to Clem. "You can have the crypt. Thanks for taking care of it. As for what we were just talking about, I’m Buffy’s watcher. She’s my Slayer. There will never be any type of romantic relationship between us. Ever."

Clem watched his friend leave and close the door. He wasn’t all that sure that he liked the new Spike.

******

Buffy had heard him open the door so she quickly wiped her eyes and took off in the opposite direction, but not before hearing that there would never be anything between them. The last thing she wanted to do now was to talk to William. She barely spoke to him now as it was. She wasn’t sure if he had noticed her change in behavior towards him though, but Giles had noticed it, so she was sure the others had as well. On the other hand, she believed that William was too caught up in his relationship with Cecily to notice much of anything else. The thought depressed her even more. As she was about to double back to go home, she was attacked from behind.

Suddenly she found herself surrounded by five vampires as she picked herself up off the ground. "Oh! A party! Am I the guest of honor?" She asked as she whipped a stake out of her coat pocket and dusted the closest vamp before the others knew what had hit them. That left her with four.

A large vampire rushed at her. She thought she recognized him as one of the football players she graduated high school with. At least he had survived graduation, which was more than she could say for some of her other classmates. She let him take her down and then used his momentum to do a back roll. He ended up on his back and she straddled him. With one quick motion the stake went through his heart and he dusted beneath her.

She didn’t have time to assess the situation after the second dusting because a fist met with her cheek. She fell to the ground somewhat dazed. She opened her eyes and saw the third vamp standing over her with an axe. Why did they always have to bring axes? As the axe swung down towards her body she rolled to her left and took down a fourth vampire with her feet. The third vamp was still trying to get his axe out of the ground as she got back up. Before she could dust another one, the fifth vampire who had been standing back taking everything in, grabbed her from behind and put her in a strong hold.

******

William stopped walking when he thought he heard a scuffle coming from behind him. He strained his ears to listen but all he heard at first was the thumping of his own heart. "Bloody hell," he growled. "This is one of those times I wish I was still dead." Just as he was about to give up and continue walking home, he heard Buffy groan. His blood ran cold and adrenaline started pumping through his veins. His heart began to pound as he started running towards the sounds. He just hoped he wasn’t too late.

When he came to the clearing where the fighting was taking place, he was shocked to see Buffy being held from behind by one vampire while she was kicking a second. His heart stopped when he saw yet a third vampire free his axe from the ground. Assessing the situation, he looked around for something to use as a stake. If he could just take out the vamp with the axe, Buffy would be able to take care of the other two on her own. Or maybe not. Looking down, he found her stake on the ground a few feet in front of him. He’d have to use it and then throw it to her after he was finished with Axe Boy.

He bent down and scooped up the stake as he ran forward yelling. He caused just enough of a distraction that Buffy was able to use it to break free from her captor. He reached his target in a matter of moments but Axe Boy was ready. The two squared off and slowly circled one another.

"Come on watcher," Axe Boy goaded. "Why don’t you show me what’cha got."

William stopped the dance. He looked at Axe Boy and shrugged his shoulders. "Okay, but remember, you asked for it." He waved for Axe Boy to bring on his best. This angered the axe-wheeling vampire who then tried to swing his weapon at him but missed. He quickly kicked the axe out of the vamp’s hands. For every kick or punch Axe Boy threw at him, he blocked it with ease.

******

While her watcher was busy with Axe Boy, Buffy decided to get serious with the two that were pestering her. She looked around for her stake while avoiding fists and legs. That’s when she saw that William had Mr. Pointy. Great. Now she needed another weapon. As she went down to do a sweeping kick to knock vamp four off his feet, she saw the axe. In one quick motion she grabbed the axe and cut off vamp number four’s head. She turned her thoughts to her last attacker when she heard William howl out in pain.

"Bloody hell," William cried as Axe Boy knocked him on his back. His head grazed the bottom of a gravestone when he went down. "That’s gonna leave a mark," William growled as he punched Axe Boy in the head. The demon staggered back in obvious pain. "Okay. That’s it. I’m done playing." He reached for the stake and realized that he had dropped it in the last fall. Bloody brilliant.

"Spike," Buffy yelled out in concern. "Be careful!"

"Don’t worry ‘bout me Luv. I can take care of myself," he assured her. Then he saw another vampire come up behind her. "Look out behind you," he shouted to her as he continued his fight with Axe Boy.

Buffy spun around in time to avoid the vampire’s kick. She gripped the axe tightly as she used a series of back kicks to knock her assailant to the ground. She put her foot down on the demon’s chest. He struggled hard to get back up to continue the fight but she wouldn’t let him. "Sorry," she said with a smile and a shrug. "You’re not going anywhere. Well, except maybe to hell." She swung the axe handily and dusted him. All but one had been dusted and William was busy playing with the last one. "Want some help?" She asked as she watched him take a blow to the chest.

"No, Pet. I’ve got it under control. Just waiting for you to throw me a stake is all."

She walked over and picked up Mr. Pointy and threw it to him. She watched in awe as he landed a back kick to the last vampire’s chest, sending the demon flying into a headstone several yards away. She couldn’t believe her eyes. How could a human be that strong? Only Slayers and vampires could do something like that.

Seizing the opportunity, William walked over to the dazed vampire and staked him immediately. "Right then. I think that’s all of them." He looked over at Buffy who was staring hard at him. "What?"

"How did you do that?" She demanded.

"Do what? " He asked confused.

"Kick that vampire like he was a soccer ball. For not being a demon anymore you certainly do have demon type strength."

He shrugged and looked at her. "Dunno. Got lucky I guess."

"I thought you said you were human," she replied in an irritated tone.

"I am human, Pet," he shot back.

"Really? Then care to explain the foot action?"

"Not particularly."

She folded her arms across her chest and glared at him. "How am I supposed to trust you as my watcher if you don’t tell me the truth?" She demanded.

"And how am I supposed trust my slayer if she doesn’t even give me the time of day?"

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," she lied.

"Oh Buffy, come off it," he huffed. "You don’t think I haven’t noticed how you’ve been avoiding me like the plague?"

She shrugged her shoulders and tried to avoid his glare. She just couldn’t look into those piercing blue eyes of his. "I haven’t been avoiding you. I’ve been busy. Training Dawn. And stuff."

He snorted. "Right. So I’m making this all up in my mind am I?"

"Yep. In your warped little mind." She turned and started walking towards her house.

He grabbed her upper arm and spun her around to look him in the face. "I think we both know each other better than that, Pet. So why don’t we just stop this nonsense right now and get to the point. You can’t stand the thought of me with someone else."

"What," she yelled in shock. "You’re crazy."

"Am I," he growled. "You don’t want me, but you don’t want anyone else to want me either. Isn’t that right?"

"I have no idea what you’re talking about, Spike. You’re insane. We’ve been over a long time and I’m so over you. Not that I was ever interested in you in the first place," she back peddled.

"Right. So me dating Cecily has no effect on you whatsoever?" He asked, hoping that she would give him a straight answer.

"None. I’m effect free thank you very much. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get home. Tomorrow is Dawn’s first day at school and I want to make sure she gets off okay."

"You’re lying," he said accusingly. He was baiting her. He knew that. He was buying time. He didn’t want to leave her yet.

She wrenched free of his grip and frowned at him. "Why would I lie about Dawn going to school?"

"Not that. The other thing."

Her eyes narrowed and the anger in her started to boil over. "What do you want me to say Spike," she yelled. "Huh? Do you want me to say that I’ve been lost without you? Oh! Or maybe I should just declare my undying love for you and get it out in the open finally? Is that what you want? Well I’m sorry. Neither of those is true!" She hoped that he couldn’t see through her lies.

He stared at her trying to search her eyes. Obviously he wasn’t going to get a straight answer from her this evening. He sighed. "Fine then, Pet. Go home and take care of the Bit. I’m going home myself."

"Fine," she huffed and stalked off towards Revello Drive not once turning around to see if he was watching her.

William watched her walk away. He slowly shook his head and turned to make his way to his own home. Tonight was going to be another long night with his journal.