When her eyes locked with Spike's, the world seemed to fade away. Buffy was so focused on the blond with his head in her lap that she didn't even register Angel's roar of fury. She didn't see him grab a stake from his pocket and she didn't see as he rose from his position and stalked closer. She did, however, get knocked out of their created universe when she heard flesh striking flesh only to be followed by the very distinct sound of crossbow bolts being locked into place. She looked up to see Xander cradling his injured hand, Angel holding his jaw and growling, and Wesley and Giles holding the glowering brunette in place with their cocked and ready arsenal.

"Um...guys? What did I miss?" she asked in confusion.

"Xander just saved Spike," Anya stated quietly, her eyes a little dazed by the sight she had just witnessed.

"He really did! Although-not to take away from him or anything, because Wes and Giles helped too-but Xander acted first, before any of us had a chance to react. Angel was heading over towards you guys with a stake in his hand when Xander jumped up and punched him in the jaw, which kinda slowed him down long enough for Giles and Wes to get all locked and loaded," Willow babbled excitedly. She was so proud of her friend she couldn't help but gush.

"Angel?" The Slayer turned her steely gaze on the unrepentant vampire, implying with her questioning utterance of his name that he'd best have a damn good reason for his actions.

"You're all fools," the furious vampire snarled. "He can't be trusted."

"I was wrong, Angel," Wesley said before anyone else could speak. Once he was sure he had the elder vampire's attention, he continued. "The Shanshu was not about you at all. It's about Spike. Anya managed to find a complete copy of the prophecy. It is about a vampire champion who can choose to fight for either side, but chooses the side of good. His actions call forth an angel who has the power to stop the apocalypse. Spike has already fulfilled the prophecy. The Shanshu will be his."

Angel turned accusing, hate filled eyes to his grandchilde. "This is not over," he snarled before stalking out of the shop, Cordelia and Gunn hot on his heels.

"What's this sand shoes thingy?" Buffy asked as she continued to glare at the now closed shop entrance.

"Shanshu is an ancient word which means death or life, but as Spike is already dead..." Wesley left the rest of the sentence open.
"You sayin' I'm gonna come over all human like?" Spike asked cautiously, not really sure how he felt about that.

"Yes."

"No."

Wesley and Anya just looked at each other when their clearly opposing views were uttered simultaneously.

Anya rolled her eyes and snorted indelicately. "Have you read the other prophecy, Wesley?"

"There are two prophecies now?" Buffy asked with a slight squeak in her voice. Prophecies were so not of the good.

"I believe we have a lot to discuss," Giles announced. It really was past time for his slayer to learn about her destiny.

"Um...thanks Wh...Xander," Spike fumbled over his words as the group made their way to the research table.

Xander looked up in surprise as the offered sentiment, not really sure what he was being thanked for and slightly off balance that Spike seemed sincere. "What did I do?"

As Spike struggled with his desire to cling to his Big Bad image, Tara spoke for him. "You stopped Angel from staking him."

"Oh...that!" Xander shrugged uncomfortably, still struggling with his opposing understanding.

"Yes...that," Willow said firmly as she considered her friend. "Xan? What's wrong?"

"What? Nothing!" He tried to convince Willow as much as himself but one look at her resolved features and Xander blurted out the truth. "I don't get it. I mean, I know what I saw and I know Spike had an angel in him and I heard what Aingeru said but...how? How did it happen? How does an evil demon become worthy of being called a champion when..."

"When what, Xander," Joyce prodded gently.

Xander lifted his gaze so that they could all see the confusion that marred his features. Confusion laced with something they couldn't discern.

"When I'm not?" he whispered guiltily, ashamed of his need for validation.

"You don't need to go to the lengths that Spike did because you're already a champion," Wesley offered wisely. "Your journey was made a long time ago. Your place as a champion for the warriors of light has been unquestioned since you first started to help Buffy. If your concern is that Spike was chosen as worthy to house a being as pure as Aingeru rather than you, then it is unfounded. As a demon, Spike is the only one among us, with the exception of Buffy, physically strong enough to withstand the added influx of power. He just happened to be ready to join us at a time when our angel friend needed a place to stay. Spike's ability to achieve all that he has doesn't detract from your own accomplishments, Mr. Harris."

Xander looked around the room, his hopeful look encouraged everyone to add their own agreement to Wesley's interpretation of the situation and the previously floundering brunette felt a level of peace infuse his being. With his own place secure, he could afford to be magnanimous in his acceptance of Spike.

"You're welcome," he finally acknowledged the blond's earlier gratitude with a lopsided grin.

"Giles? What's with the frowny face?" Buffy asked her watcher.

The ex-librarian inwardly cringed at the prospect of the conversation that they needed to have. "I...er...well, actually, on the subject of prophecies, I have managed to translate the one that Anya showed us earlier," he began cautiously.

"Why am I thinking that this is not a good thing?" Buffy replied warily.

"It is quiet possible that I have interpreted the meaning incorrectly," Giles said in an attempt to smooth the path.

"Oh, for God's sake," Anya snapped in irritation. "Giles thinks that the prophecy means you are immortal, Buffy."

"What do you mean, ‘I think'? If memory serves you also supported this interpretation this afternoon," Giles interjected indignantly.

Anya rolled her eyes. "That was before I read the other prophecy."

"Of course!" Wesley exclaimed excitedly.

"WHAT!" Buffy shouted in frustration; she really hated it when she was left out of the loop.

"What indeed," Giles grumbled petulantly. The least they could have done was show him the courtesy of sharing all their information.

"The first prophecy relates to Buffy and Spike being bonded for life and their positions as caretakers of the Hellmouth," Wes began.

"Eternally," Giles interjected stubbornly.

Ignoring the comment, Wes continued. "The Shanshu relates to Spike being given the gift of life. However, as a human, Spike would no longer be able to fulfil his duties as caretaker."

"The eternity of progeny," Giles gasped as he realised the import of the duality of the prophecies.

"Precisely!" Wesley agreed happily.

"Huh?" Buffy alternated her look of confusion between the two men.

"Buffy and Spike will live eternally through the line of their children," Willow deduced excitedly.

"And my reward will be to watch everyone I love die?" Spike demanded, horrified.

"No!" Giles hastened to assure him. "Spike, how does a vampire become life bonded to a human? And what happens on the humans death?" the watcher gently asked.

Spike's eyes widened fractionally, the watcher smiling at him as he nodded at the vampire's sudden understanding. A life bond could only be placed when a vampire mated with a human. It required true and requited love to form. It could not be broken, and with the human's death, the vampire also expired.

Buffy looked at Spike askance.

Spike smiled at the beautiful blonde before turning to Giles and Joyce. "May I attempt to persuade your daughter into allowing me to court her?" he asked formally, a trace of William slipping into his accent.

Joyce and Giles chuckled at Buffy's indignant ‘You're asking them before you check with me?' The rest of the group joined in with her muttered ‘stupid vampire.'

"As much as I hate to return to matters of concern, I feel we must face the possibility of further trouble from Angel." Giles had hesitated in broaching the subject, but his ingrained sense of responsibility urged him on.

"What exactly do you propose, Mr Giles?" Wesley asked tiredly. "As much as I am loath to admit it, Angel is still working for the Powers in his own way."

"Isn't he only a problem for us when he tries to interfere with what's happening in Sunnydale?" Willow asked thoughtfully.

"Well, yes," Giles conceded.

"Then isn't there something we can do to stop him coming here?" Xander offered.

"Maybe a boundary spell?" Tara suggested.

Giles contemplated the idea.

"Is that possible?" Dawn asked.

"Yeah, ‘cause I'm thinking why haven't we thought of using it before." Buffy stated sceptically.

"You couldn't do a permanent general spell like that so close to the Hellmouth ‘cause it'd corrupt the power source," Spike stated agreeing with Buffy's scepticism.

"But you could if the spell was one person specific," Tara offered.

"Or one specific vampire who had something like, say, a curse," Willow agreed with a cheeky grin.

Wesley's smile blossomed as he followed the natural progression. "If that individual were to enter Sunnydale, the curse would be amplified, rendering the specified vampire unconscious."

"A condition he would remain in until his form is removed from the area," Giles finished the group idea with satisfaction.

"And if we also put up protection from magic wards and used every member of the group with magical ability to perform the spell while the others ground it, the spell would be virtually unbreakable." Anya took their protection a step further.

Buffy opened and closed her mouth before spurting out her question. "Where were you guys with all the good ideas before now?"

"Being ignored or told to shut up." Anya lifted an eyebrow in challenge.

Buffy blushed with embarrassment.

"We so totally suck," Xander offered with lopsided, please-forgive-me, grin.