Title: The Final Link in the Chain (Epilogue)
Author: Northlight
email: uzenet@videotron.ca
Summary: Spike helps Willow out of an awkward situation and gets drawninto an even more dangerous one.
Distribution: If you already have any of my stuff, go ahead.Otherwise, ask and I'll say yes :) Also at"http://members.spree.com/sip1/northlight12/will/index.htm"
Disclaimer: Joss owns all.
Written: June 26, 1999
Note: Yeah, I'm cheating. I'm doing the end first :)

Willow hesitated at the door for the briefest of moments before herfinger jabbed into the doorbell. She could hear the chimes ringinginside the house, beyond the barrier that held her outside, washed inlight by the moon's gentle glow. The gentle rise and fall of her chestincreased it's tempo as the door swung open.

His hair was in disarray, tweed jacket and vest abandoned, but stillcarrying the same spirit she remembered. "Willow!" Giles exclaimed insurprised pleasure. "Buffy will be so pleased to see you," he said,smiling warmly. "Come--"

Willow shook her head, red hair shifting against her shoulders at theslow motion. "Shh..." she told him, her finger raising as if to pressagainst his lips. The shimmering blue barrier that sprang up stoppedher movement, but Willow left her finger in place, resting lightlyagainst the proof of her change.

Giles' lips parted slightly, his breath escaping him in a low hiss."Oh, Willow..." he said helplessly, fighting back tears at the thoughtthat the young woman that he had known and watched grow into a beautifuland mature adult was gone, slipping out of their lives before they'd hada chance to draw and hold her to them. "Who?"

"It's not important now, Giles. It's too late... and I'm happy." Herlips quirked, a familiar expression that made the former Watcher's heartache. "At least this way the blood on my hands fits." She paused,sharp green eyes moving past Giles' still form to rest on the little boyperched on the stairway, watching her with curious eyes.

"He's adorable, Giles. And happy. I always thought that you'd make agood daddy," she told him. He stiffened slightly. "Don't worry, I'mnot here to do the usual vamp routine. I wanted to ask you to dosomething for me, for what I was, before."

Giles voice was wavering when he spoke. "Tell me what you want."

Willow gestured, nearly laughing at the expression on her old friend'sface when he saw who had accompanied her. The laughter died in herthroat as she accepted the small bundle from Spike's arms, tears takingtheir place. A cool hand ran over the soft skin of the tiny handthrusting from the blanket. "Take my baby, Giles. Please. I want herto have the parents that she deserves."

"Willow?" Giles said uncertainly, already reaching out. Their handsmet beneath the child for a moment before Willow allowed her daughter topass out of her grasp. "I... We'll take care of her, Willow. Ipromise."

Willow bent, fumbling at the bag that had sat, unnoticed, at her feet.She pulled a notebook out from among the baby care products that filledit. "It's all in here, Giles. A journal of everything that happened,just like all good Council employees keep. Let her see it, if she needsto." She nudged book and bag towards Giles.

"If anything ever threatens her, I'll come." Her face crumpled. "Tellmy baby that I did love her," Willow whispered before darting off thefront step, fleeing into the darkness.

Spike glowered at Giles. "Hurt the kid, hurt Willow, and I'll rip yourfucking head off," he stated before turning on his heel and followingWillow.

Giles stared into the night for a long minute before shutting the doorfirmly. "Buffy! I think that you should come here, honey!" he calledas the baby began to wail.

At the edge of the driveway, Spike wound his arms around Willow'swaist. She leaned against him, her body trembling. "Do you hate me forturning you now, luv?"

"Never that, Spike," she sighed, moving up into a hard kiss. When shepulled away, she was smiling, agony in her eyes. "Let's hunt -- I needto kill something," she said, pulling out of his arms. She moved awayfrom the house and the last of her humanity without another look back.

~End~