Title: Pleasures of the Past 1/1

Rating: R

Spoilers: Post gift, Joss worked his Magick and everyone is alive and well

Author: Meredith

Summary: Buffy time-travel piece with a twist

Pairings: B/S

Disclaimer: Me No, Joss Yes

Feedback: Please

Distribution: You want it, please help yourself. Just tell me where it's

going.

Dedication: To the ladies of One Good Day!!!

Notes: Oh I pray this hasn't been done before!

*******************************************************

Pleasures of the Past

The lightning forked across the sky silently, casting flashes of light into

the dark corners of the house. Buffy was in bed, looking at the window. It

was just an electrical storm, no thunder, no rain. It was beautiful.

Ever since she came back, her friendship with Spike changed. She no longer

hated him outright, although he was still a pain in her ass. She tolerated

him, allowed him to hang out with her, and despite her vehement denials, she

actually liked him. Something in both of them changed. Spike looked at her

with more than just lust in his eyes. Oh, the lust was still there, but

there was something deeper. It was as if he was always on the verge of

telling her something important, but didn't know how to begin.

She couldn't sleep, so she rose, put on her patrol clothes and climbed out

the window. She laughed as her feet touched the ground. Her mom was gone a

year now, and she still came and went through the window.

It wasn't very late, and chances were that some of the gang was still at the

Magick Box. She detoured there on her way to the cemetery and found almost

the whole gang getting ready to head home.

"Hi guys. Couldn't sleep. Anyone wanna patrol with me?" She watched as

they all nodded their heads in succession. She once again noticed the empty

space that Giles used to fill. They saw him less and less, and that always

made her heart ache. But the council wanted him in London a good deal of

the time, and now that Willow was almost through with her Watcher training,

they kept him away even more.

They walked and chatted about their lives as the light show overhead

continued. Halfway through the patrol, Spike joined them and it actually

started to become fun. They laughed and talked, and she physically and

verbally sparred with him.

There weren't many vampires out that night. They opted to stay home away

from the lightening. Just as they reached the main gate, a bolt of

lightening struck the iron fence and traveled along the length until it

reached its destination.

Buffy was only vaguely aware of what happened. One moment she was standing

with her friends, and the next she was on a dirt road in the early evening

in a very unfamiliar city.

She looked around her, hoping to find her friends somewhere in the crowds.

She saw no one she knew, and began to panic. She heard the comments on her

clothing, and forced herself to calm down and take a good look around her.

What she saw started the panic bubbling once again.

She was in a Victorian city, fire-lit lamps in the street, horse-drawn

carriages, women clothed from head to toe in stunning gowns that showed off

their wealth, and British accents all around. She began to walk, hoping to

find some clue as to how she got there in the first place, and how she was

going to get back home.

It was cold and raining, and Buffy was severely underdressed for the

weather. She hugged herself and breathed into her hands, hoping to find

some warmth. It didn't work.

After days of walking, Buffy grew very tired and scared. She knew there was

a strong possibility she would never get home, and she didn't know what to

do. The worn Slayer sat with her back against a building and her legs

pulled up and hugged tight as she sobbed. No one took notice of her,

thinking her a street urchin, an untouchable member of the lowest dredges of

society.

Buffy cried herself to sleep, hoping the morning would bring new hope and

promise. Maybe it was all a dream. She woke with a start when she felt

someone touch her. The cold and wetness made her sluggish, which turned out

to be a good thing as she realized the person touching her was a young

woman. This person was about Buffy's age, had brown hair tied up in a

flattering bun, deep blue eyes and a very lavish dress on. She way covering

Buffy with a blanked.

"I'm sorry dear, I didn't mean to wake you. You looked so cold, I thought

you might make better use of my coach blanket than I."

"Thank you. I'm freezing. And I'm lost. Where am I?"

The woman named two street that Buffy never heard of, so she followed up her

question, "What city?"

She laughed lightly and answered the Slayer, "Oh my dear, you're in London

of course. Why you look so misplaced. Not a friend in the city?"

Buffy shook her head no and drew the blanked tighter around her. She felt

guilty because she knew she was dirty, but she was cold and couldn't help

but soil the lovely present wrapped around her skin.

"Come with me. Let's get you something to eat and wear, a hot bath and then

you can tell me where you come from. My name is Chelsea."

"I'm Elizabeth. Thank you." Buffy followed Chelsea to her carriage and

climbed in behind her new friend. They drove for a few miles and Buffy ate

the food Chelsea had with her in silence. She was very hungry and

appreciated the kindness of this stranger.

Chelsea took Buffy home and did all the things she promised, providing Buffy

with food and clothes and hot baths in return for her companionship. The

Slayer cleaned up nicely, and she and Chelsea became good friends quickly.

Buffy made up a story about how she had fallen ill and woke up in the

streets of London alone and moneyless, with shady memories of her home and

family. Chelsea offered her a job as her companion in return for a salary

and place to stay. Buffy agreed, hoping she could raise enough money to

hire someone to help her get home.

She helped her new friend dress daily, and tended to her needs as best as

possible. Chelsea discovered what a treasure she found in Buffy after her

second week of employ. The courier brought Chelsea a letter from her

brother away at school, and she couldn't wait to have it read to her, but

the butler was out on an errand. Buffy realized Chelsea was illiterate and

offered to read the letter for her in the butler's place. Chelsea was

overjoyed.

"Oh Elizabeth dear! You're such a wonder! Please, read it to me."

"My Dear Sister,

It is with great joy that I write this letter. After six years of medical

schooling, it is now time for me to begin my apprenticeship. I have decided

to return to you Chelsea, and build my practice in London. Please expect me

on 14 July.

God bless,

William Michael"

"I didn't know you had a brother."

"Yes, but it's been three years since he last came. We must throw a party!"

Chelsea began the preparations for the festivities with Buffy's help. The

days came and went, and soon it was July 14th. Buffy stood next to her

friend, waiting for the Master of the house to arrive.

******************************************************

Come on luv! Wake up! You're scaring us all! Please pet, Nibblet's so

frightened! We're all so frightened." Spike knelt next to her bed,

pleading with the comatose Slayer. It had been two weeks since she fell,

and so far nothing could be done to wake her. The doctors said there was

nothing physically wrong with her. All they could do was wait and hope.

Spike remembered it was believed that if you spoke to people in comas, they

heard you and it helped them to pull out of it quicker. He spent every

moment talking to her. They all did, praying and hoping that she'd wake up

soon. Nothing worked.

******************************************************

The house was full of music and food and friends, all waiting for the young

Master to arrive. When he finally did, he walked slowly from the entrance

to the place where his young sister sat. Buffy's breath caught as she

looked upon him for the first time.

"Spike?" He looked at her, kissed her hand in greeting and introduced

himself.

"I'm William. Whom may I ask are you?"

"This is my friend, Elizabeth. She is staying here with us." Chelsea

watched the sparks fly between the two of them, and filled with pride as she

saw her plan set in motion. She knew Elizabeth would be perfect for her

brother, and had offered her employment with the intention of playing

matchmaker for him. It seemed to be working.

He still had her hand in his, and he bent to kiss it one more time. "At

your service Elizabeth. I hope to know you better."

Buffy could barely speak. He was enchanting. Throughout the course of the

night, William danced with her several times, each time succeeding in

sweeping her off her feet. She had trouble remembering that this was Spike

holding her, albeit an alive, pre-Vampire Spike, but Spike none-the-less.

At the end of the night, William escorted first Chelsea and then Buffy to

their rooms. He paused outside Buffy's room and kissed her hand one last

time. "Sweet dreams, sweet Lizbeth."

She closed the door behind her and spun in circles, her heart pounding. She

didn't know if it was the champagne, the music, the fact that Spike was here

with her, or Spike himself that made her feel all giddy. She tried

attributing it to the champagne, but knew she was lying. It was Spike, or

William to be exact. She was completely caught up in him.

"Now you've done it. You're falling for him. You can't fall for him, oh

but you ARE falling for him!" Buffy was completely sunk and she knew it.

She was in love after spending a few brief hours with him, but many of the

mannerisms were still there, reminding her of the friends she was missing.

He gave her that cocky grin several times, and she saw him pinch the top of

his nose towards the end of the night. Everything he did caused her to sink

deeper and deeper into him, and by the time her head hit the pillow, she was

thanking God for at least giving her some happiness. She couldn't help but

think that even if she never got back home, there was a chance for happiness

here.

******************************************************

Willow had tried several times to get into Buffy's head, the way she had

when Glory kidnapped Dawn. All she found was darkness and the occasional

flash of memory. The memories she saw were strange. Willow was seeing

pieces of Buffy's life with Chelsea and William, and she didn't understand

them at all.

Everyone decided they would link hands with Willow when she next tried to

get inside Buffy, hoping their combined love and concern would empower the

Witch. They would try tomorrow night.

******************************************************

Although only weeks had passed for the Scoobies, months flew by for Buffy.

She read every pertinent book she could, hoping to find a spell that would

take her home, something, anything that would bring her hope. In the

beginning, it was a quest for her. But as those months passed, Buffy

devoted less and less time to research, and more and more time to William.

She had begun calling him by his middle name, Michael, several weeks ago.

She found it helped her to ward off depression a little easier, as calling

him William made her think of home too much.

They were now sharing a bed at night. They would go to their rooms, and

within an hour or two, he would sneak to her and slip under her covers to

make love with her until the sun rose. Chelsea knew of their nighttime

activities, and pressed her brother to take Elizabeth as his bride.

On the anniversary of the night they met one year earlier, they spent the

day making love and sleeping in each other's arms. That evening when they

rose, he had prepared a private banquet for them in celebration. She wore a

gown of sheer elegance, and he dressed formally for the night. They danced

to the string quartette he hired, and he proposed to her. She accepted

without hesitation, and Chelsea began the wedding preparations the next day.

They were married that November, and the reception was held outdoors under

the autumn sun. It was a beautiful celebration, and Buffy was a vision of

perfection in her wedding gown. Their matching wedding bands glittered in

the light.

Although they went to the bridal bed already knowing the pleasures of each

other's bodies, Buffy felt like a virgin, fresh and untouched. She stood at

their window looking at the moon and let go. She released any hopes she had

of returning to her own time, and turned to face her husband. When she met

him in bed that night, she gave herself to him completely for the first

time. He had her body and her love already, and now he had her future as

well.

"I love you Lizbeth."

"I love you too Michael."

***************************************************

Buffy began to wake, but she felt like something heavy was sitting on her

chest. And the light was so bright it pierced her closed eyelids. She

heard voices around her, familiar voices.

"I think it's working!"

"Keep going, she's waking up!"

"Buffy, luv, can you hear us?"

It was the last voice that she recognized the easiest. She opened her eyes

and squinted against the artificial light coming from the lamp. Her friends

were standing around her, at least she thought they were her friends. She

was having trouble remembering.

That's when she saw him standing there, watching her. His hair was blond

and she wondered what that was all about.

"Michael?"

Spike gasped as recognition flooded through him, and he answered

tentatively, "Lizbeth?" A tear began to fall from his eye as she drifted

back to sleep, muttering his name. She slipped back into the coma and was

gone again.

************************************************

She woke immediately and found herself safe in the arms of her husband. The

sobbing in her began deep down inside, and when it started to surface he

woke to comfort her. He held her, rocking her all night and cooing works of

love and adoration to her. She recovered after a few days, and knew that

wasn't the last time they'd try to recover her. There was no way for her to

know when it would happen again, and now there was the possibility she

wouldn't return to Michael again.

In lieu of this new development, Buffy made every single moment with him as

precious as possible. Their time together was limited, and she wanted him

to remember how much she loved him once she was gone.

She remembered the look of recognition in Spike's eyes, and there was hope

that they'd be together again, but she felt washed over with guilt at the

knowledge that he would die to be reborn a demon.

************************************************

They were married two years ago this fall, and she had not yet been called

to return to her own time. The fall harvest was bountiful this year, and

their table was laden with wonderful autumn foods. She reflected on the

years she had been with him. They spent most of their time making love, and

Buffy had never been happier. Moments apart were torment for them both, and

they were ready to start a family. Tonight, their lovemaking would

hopefully result in the birth of their first child.

As Buffy led him to their bed, she felt a tugging in her stomach. The

tugging turned to a pressure, and she knew tonight would be their last

together. They made love passionately, Buffy pouring all her emotions into

the act. As they began to drift off to sleep, Buffy asked him to listen to

her without question or interruption. He agreed.

She told him how deeply she loved him and how much he meant to her. She

asked that he try not to forget her, and if there was ever a moment of doubt

when it came to her love for him, to know that her heart always belonged to

him. She asked that he be kind to those around her, specifically asking

that he not harm a woman by the name of Willow, even if he had the perfect

opportunity. Michael had no understanding of what she was referring to, but

she promised him that someday he'd understand.

They made love again, and Buffy buried her head in his shoulder to hide her

tears from him. She wanted his last memory of her to be of their coupling,

not her anguish.

They closed their eyes to sleep, their limbs still tangled. Moments later,

Buffy opened her eyes and looked into the faces of her friends and family.

"Buffy! Please, don't drift back! Stay here!" Dawn panicked, praying

aloud that there wouldn't be a repeat of the last time they tried to revive

her.

"I'm here Dawn. I'm home again."

They surrounded the Slayer, each hugging and kissing her in welcome. Buffy

cried, a combination of joy for the reunion, and sorrow for the loss.

"Where's Michael?"

They looked at her in confusion. "Who's Michael?" Willow asked.

Buffy remembered, and clarified. "Sorry, where's Spike? Why isn't he here?"

Everyone in the room grew very quiet. They explained that when they tried

to revive her the first time, which was the previous night, she had called

him Michael and upset him greatly. That very moment, Spike packed his

belongings and left, refusing to tell them where he was going. He promised

to return in twelve weeks though, and told them that Buffy would explain

everything.

Dawn said, "He asked us to tell you that he knew you'd need time to digest

this. He'd been waiting over a century, so a few more weeks wouldn't hurt

too much. He'll come back and accept whatever decision you make. Buffy,

what was he talking about?"

The Slayer sunk into her pillows and cried harder than she had in years.

They comforted her as best they could, and Buffy began the tale of her

missing years. It took several weeks to convince them all that she lived

with Spike when he was alive, lived as his wife, but eventually they

accepted her story and waited to see what she would decide to do when Spike

returned.

Twelve weeks later, and finally the night came, and everyone waited at

Buffy's house for the Vampire to walk through the door. They talked and

ate, watched TV, and jumped when "Hi Cutie," was heard coming from the front

of the house.

Buffy looked at him, her heart pounding in her chest.

"I know, it was a long time ago, and I'm not the same person I was,

actually, I'm no longer a person at all, so I want you to know that I'll

accept whatever you decide. Just please remember that no matter what, I

love you and my heart belongs to you."

Buffy smiled and answered, "Michael, I've missed you so much!" His hands

went to cover his mouth as the emotions swept over him. He rushed to her,

swept her into his arms and kissed her while crying into her mouth. For a

long time, they held each other crying, neither able to say anything other

than the occasional, "I love you Michael," or "I love you Lizbeth," or "I've

missed you terribly!"

After they composed themselves, they rejoined their friends, celebrating

their reunion. Spike held her, crying uncontrollably at times, laughing

just as hard at others. Buffy couldn't begin to imagine what it must have

been like for him to realize she was his long-lost wife. The torment must

have been overwhelming!

He explained that he had trouble remembering his life before being turned,

and it took a long time for him to finally accept that she was his Lizbeth.

He had his epiphany the night he tried to have the Initiative doctor remove

the chip from his head, and held his emotions in check ever since. He knew

if he tried to tell Buffy about them, she wouldn't believe him and would

probably stake him for fear he was going mad. Instead, he was content just

being near her.

"So you were my wife, then my mortal enemy, and now you're." He cocked his

head and looked at her, waiting for her to finish his sentence.

"Didn't we pledge our lives to each other at the marriage alter?" He shook

his head yes. "Well then, now I'm your wife again."

That was everyone's cue to leave the lovers alone, and they rose to file out

of the house.

"Guys, wait a moment. There's something else I need to tell you." She

looked at Spike. "I was going to tell you alone, but I never realized how

much you all mean to me until I lost you and found you again. So I'm going

to tell you all right now. You're family, and I want you all to be here for

this. I have some wonderful news."

Buffy took Spike's hand and placed it on her stomach. Everyone stilled

themselves, waiting for Buffy to speak. In the silence, Spike's ears picked

up the slightest variance in Buffy's body. There was a sound, like a

fluttering, coming from her. It took him only a few moments to realize what

that sound meant.

"Oh Lizbeth! You're, oh God, you're pregnant!" He beamed and pulled her

tight to him.

"That last night we spent together, the night we decided to start a family

and I disappeared, we did start a family. Michael, this is our baby. I'm

three months along."

After the rounds of congratulations ended and Buffy and Spike were left

alone in their room, they made love. They knew without reservation that

they were home. Truly home.

The End