Casidy's eyes fluttered open slowly, struggling to adjust to the dim light. Her head reared in pain, sending throbbing pulses through her cold body. Where was she? She could hear muffled cries nearby. Dawn. She struggled to clear her vision, "Dawn?" She went to move, only to be rewarded with the rattling of chains and a sharp pain in her wrists. Just great. Chained to a wall in a cave, quite peachy. Snorting, she tried pulling free from the restrains, managing only to make her wrists bleed as she pulled against the shackles.

"It's no use, you can't break free." Her angry eyes fell to the large green beast.

"What the hell do you want?" She ground out, a low growl resounding in her chest.

"To release hell on earth, of course." The demon replied calmly, his voice chilling.

"Why do you need us?" Dawn managed, tears running down her face. Why was she always needed to release hell?

"To open the gates." He replied.

"What? I thought....."

"You two are the prophecized twins. You shall open the gates."

"Hate to break it to ya mate, but we're not twins. We're not even related." Cas sneered, trying to pull free from the chains once more.

"I thought the slayer would have figured it out, but apparently she's not as smart as she lets on. The prophecy foretells angered twins, connect through family. You are connected to each other through your sister," He stated, looking at Dawn, "And your brother."

"Buffy and Spike? Now I know your off your rocker." She winced as the shackles cut further into her flesh. "Dammit!!" She screeched, giving up. The smirk the demon gave her sent chills up her spine. "What?!"

"You both have so much hatred toward you siblings, a deep longing for acceptence. You are so different from each other, yet so much alike. Just like night and day. Just like your brother and sister...." The demon grinned evily, walking away.

"Night and day....." Casidy's voice was quiet, her eyes clenching shut. "We're so fucking stupid!!!" She slammed her fist against the wall, scowling at the demon. "They have to stop us, don't they? They'll have to bloody kill us...." The demon halted, nodding his head and grinning like an idiot.

"What? No, I love Buffy. I do, I don't hate her...." Dawn muttered, shaking her head. Cas ignored the other girl, glaring at the demon.

"When?" Her voice was cold, demanding.

"Midnight." He replied, walking out of their view.


"Are you sure?" Buffy asked, pearing down the large hole.

"Well, considering a large wall of fire shot up from there earlier, I think it's pretty safe to say they're down there."

"And how exactly do you plan on getting down there? I can't even see the bottom...."

"Rope, sweet cheeks." The vampire smirked, pulling a thick rope from his coat. He tied it tightly around one of the sewer's many think pipes before looping the other end around his waist. "Coming?" Buffy sighed, walking over and hopping into his arms. Lacing her arms around his neck, the pair began to decend into the darkness.

"You know, when me and Riley did this, his ropey thing was all techinical and we went down alot faster...."

"Don't make me have to accidently drop you." He warned playfully, kicking away from the wall. She smirked, tightening her hold on his neck. They reached the bottom of the pit after what seemed like ages of dropping down. Buffy hopped down from Spike, looking around. They were at the end of a long tunnel, eerie shadows being cast by multiple torches.Buffy pulled one from the wall, turning back to Spike as he pulled the rope from his waist.

"I take it we go this way."

"'less you want to go back up." He said sarcastically, looking up to where they had descended from. He shook his head, following her as she began to trek down the tunnel.

"How are we going to get back up?" Buffy asked, quickening her pace.

"Din't get that far. Figured we could decide how to get back up if we didn't die. Why waste my precious brain power if I don't have to." He shrugged, smirking.


"Get the hell away from me you sod!!" Casidy demanded, scowling at the two approaching demons. They each took one of her arms while a third stood in front of her, a syringe in his hand. He held it up to her neck, ready to inject her with a bubbly green fluid. She cracked her head against his as he leaned down, causing him to stumble backwards.

"Fiesty one, aren't you?" The demon stated, walking back towards her. He shoved the needle into her neck, not getting any closer than he had to. The girl growled, snapping at his arm. "There, all done. That wasn't so bad, now was it?"

"Fuck you." The demon raised his eyebrows at her before nodding his head at the other two, motioning for them to grab Dawn. They grasped her arms, pulling her to her feet. The third shoved the needle into her neck, forcing the remaining fluid into her system. She whimpered, falling back to the ground as they released her. "What the hell did you do to us?" The angered vampire demanded, suddenly feeling sick.

"Just a small sedative. Can't have you squirming when we cut you open, can we?" Dawn's eyes went wide, looking to Cas for reassurence. The vampire just growled. Not very comforting. "First, we'll align you on the symbol of Grethrey, then we'll drain your blood. A few chants and hell on earth, nifty ain't it?"

"Not my idea of fun, but whatever floats your boat....." Casidy said coldly.


"Hear that?" Spike asked, peering further into the recesses of the tunnel. The thing didn't seem to end.

"Sounds like voices....chanting." Buffy and Spike exchanged nervous glances, breaking into a run. They arrived in a small cavern to find Casidy and Dawn slumped on the ground, the large green demons circled around them. Buffy pulled a small dagger from her pocket, rushing the nearest demon and planting it in the back of it's head. It roared in pain, falling to the ground. The other seven stopped their chant, turning to snarl at the intruders. Suddenly a large tremor shook the ground, causing the demons to grin.

"You're too late." The largest one said, laughing. "A few more minutes and their blood will open the gate." Buffy looked down at the girls, noticing the blood pouring from their wrists. Spike snarled as another tremor shook the earth, a large crack resounding as the ground split beneath three of the demons, sending them falling to their deaths. He lunged at another one, snapping it's neck. The other three watched, amused, as Buffy ran towards Dawn, scooping her from the ground. "It's too late, it's almost complete." The teen cried into his sister shoulder as Buffy backed away from the group, scowling. "Let's go." The four remaining demons marched from the tunnel, leaving them.

"Get Cas. We have to get out of here." Buffy shot at Spike, trying to keep her footing as another jolt shook the ground. Spike nodded, rushing over and grabbing the girl from the ground. She giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck. She placed her forehead against his, forcing him to look her in the eyes.

"I'm gonna die." Her words were soft, knowing.

"You're a vampire pet, bleeding don't make you die, just tires you out a bit." He replied, wrapping his arms around her waist and trying to carry her away.

"No." she demanded, forcing him to stop. "Our blood will open the gates, there's no time." She reached her bloodied hand down into his coat pocket, pulling a stake from it. "I can't bleed if I'm dust...." She held the piece of wood over her heart, wrapping his hand around the other end. She giggled grimmly, tears forming in her eyes. "Save the world, Spikey."

"What? No...." He replied. She clutched onto his coat as the earth shook once more, causing him to nearly fall to the ground. She glared at him, pulling him closer.

"Now." Her words were icy, making him shudder. Buffy watched them from the tunnel entrance, Dawn clutching onto her. "Please....."

He nodded, swallowing down his tears. "I love you."

"Love you too, Will....." Her shakey words vanished into the air as he pushed forward, plunging the stake into her unbeating heart. She tightened her grip around his neck momentarilly before her body fell to ashes around him.


"How she doing?" Xander looked up as Buffy walked into the waiting room. Willow was asleep on the chair next to him, her head resting on his shoulder.

"She lost alot of blood, but the doctor's said she'll be alright. She's still out cold...." The slayer's voice was shakey. Sitting next to Xander, she burried her head in her hands. "They said she'd be awake soon..."

"Shouldn't someone be in there with her, you know, in case she wakes up?" Xander asked gently.

"Spike's in there...."

"Shouldn't someone with some importance be in there?" He asked, shaking his head. To his surprise, Buffy looked up, glaring. "What? If I was her I wouldn't want to wake up in a room with Deadboy."

"God dammit Xander!! Do you even know how much she means to him?! If it wasn't for him we wouldn't have found them and none of us would be here right now. He saved your ass just as much as he saved hers...."


"I'll head over your way once Dawn's asleep and we'll do a quick patrol, k?" Spike nodded at the slayer, walking down from her porch. "Spike? Are you okay?"

"Fine, pet." She caught him by the shoulder, spinning him to face her. He wasn't fine, he hadn't been fine since that night. He'd been mopey and sad, not his usaual cocky self. She sighed, brushing a lock of his hair from his face. He hadn't even bothered to slick that back today. His platinum blonde hair laid in loose curls on his head.

"Spike, look at me." She trailed her hand down his face, drawing his attention. "What she did, she saved us all, any longer and it all would have been over. She knew what she needed to do. Don't pin the blame on yourself." She smiled warmly, wrapping her arms around him. "She died knowing you loved her, don't forget that." Pulling away, she smiled slightly, "See you later." He watched as she walked back into her house before turning and walking up the street. Pulling a cigarette from his pocket, he placed it between his lips, not bothering to light it. He shuffled along, not paying attention to his surroundings.

He wandered the dark streets of Sunnydale, not in the mood to head back to his crypt. Buffy would find him eventually. "Is that all you know how to do is pout, you big baby?" Spike whipped around, spotting Casidy leaning against a nearby tree, smirking. She held her arms out as he rushed towards her, pulling her into a hug.

"I thought you were...."

"Dead. Yes, the dusty kind of dead. Strange feeling, really, disinigrating. Makes you all tingly." She grinned, looking up at him.

"How di...."

"Seems the Powers smile upon self sacrifice, become all forgiving and such. Stupid pillocks, save the world once and your a hero, I guess."

"You're not going to let me get a word in edge wise, are you?" The blonde asked, smirking.

"Nope. I haven't got much time anyway, just stopped by to tell you to stop moping about and get on with you life....unlife."

"Stopped by?" Spike asked, rasing an eyebrow at the girl

"Sorry mate, can't stick around. Hell, I'm not even really here, s'all in you mind. Just pull yourself together, alright? I'm fine." He nodded, brushing her dark hair from her face. "You survived one hundred years without me, now you have Dawnie to fill in. Take care of her...and Buffy. They're your family now." She took a few steps back, smiling. "Bye Spike."

"Bye pet...." He watched as her form seemed to fade away into the darkness, leaving him alone in the street once more.

"Spike? Who are you talking to?" Buffy came up behind him, looking around.

"No one, luv." He threw his arm around her shoulder, walking back in the direction she had came. "Why don't we blow off patrol for one night, go wake the Bit up, and watch some movies, ey?"

"You sure your feeling okay?" The slayer asked, grinning as she looped her arm around his waist.

"Yep, just want to spend sometime with my girls, that's all."

"Your girls?" Buffy asked, turning and walking backwards. He grinned, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her towards him.

"A bloke has to have some sort of family, I figure you and the Nibblet will do. 'less of course you want me to go shag the whelp...." He made a face at the thought. "Nevermind I said that."

"Good idea. I don't want you shaggin anybody else anyway."

"What are you saying, Slayer?" He asked, grinning.

"Well, if I'm your girl, than you're my Spike, and mine only. So whadda ya say we blow off movies and head back to your place instead......." She grinned evilly, pulling him down for a kiss.

"I'm not arguin........."

"Bloody sap...." Casidy sat watching the pair leave, perched on the limb of a nearby tree. "Always falling head over heals for some annoying chit." She cocked her head to the side, smiling. "'least this one loves 'im back......." A thin light formed around her body and she vanished, leaving only the muffled sounds of the vampire and slayer walking away together, hand in hand.