DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything to do with Buffy the Vampire Slayer - it all belongs to Joss Whedon.

OK people - my first fan fic. This is only the first chapter - I've already written the next one, but I'd like to know what you think of the idea. There'll be more about Buffy and her friends and their life, but before I post more, reviews are very welcome!

Chapter 1

It was a bright place. That's all Anya could see. A bright place. White light all around her, she was all alone. At least she thought so, until she saw a figure approach her slowly. She suddenly realised who it was.

'Spike? Is that you?' Her voice was echoey but clear.

'Anya?' Spike's distinct British accent echoed through the emptiness.

'Oh my G-d!' She ran to his figure, tried to hug it, but walked right through him as if he were a ghost.

'Spike, what's going on? Where are we?' She'd turned around to look at him. 'What happened, did we win?'

He was silent for a moment, remembering. 'Yes.'

Her mouth expanded into a great smile. 'That's amazing! Where is everyone?'

Spike looked at her deeply. 'Anya, we're both dead. I think this is heaven. At least I know it's not hell.!' He laughed happily.

Anya raised her eyebrows. 'Spike what are you laughing about?'

'Anya, I was the one! I opened the mouth of hell, all the vampires were dusted, and Sunnydale is history!' He sounded incredibly triumphant.

'Sunnydale's gone.forever?' She was shocked.

He nodded. 'Yep. No more stupid hellmouth or vampires or.' He paused, his joy turning to sorrow. 'Slayer.'

Anya ignored his change of tone, but was eager to hear more. 'Wait. you saved the world? What happened to everyone else - Buffy, Willow, Dawn, Andrew, Giles, Faith, Robin, the Slayers, Xander.?' Her voice trailed away at the last name. She suddenly remembered how she had hoped that after beating the evil, she and Xander could get back together. But now that was impossible considering she was.well.dead.

'They beat the evil. They all survived and managed to get out in time. Well, except for us.'

They were quiet for a moment and then both realised something was wrong. Anya was the first to say something. 'Hey, Spike, if we're meant to be in heaven, we shouldn't really be able to talk to each other. And we shouldn't be able to feel all these emotions,' she paused to see if he understood her.

'You're right. But when you tried to hug me you walked right through me.if we're in heaven, why aren't we peaceful?'

Their thoughts were interrupted by a booming voice all around them. 'William Bennett, Anyanka?' They looked at each other, confused.

'Hang on, who's William Bennett?' Anya asked curiously. He hung his head in shame.

'That would be me.'

'Jeez, what a dumb name.' Anya muttered quietly, however, Spike heard her.

'Oh, yes, and "Anyanka" is just bloody wonderful.' he fired back sarcastically. She scowled at him, but then they both realised someone had called their names.

'Yeah?' They both called out at the same time. The voice continued to boom.

'You are at the gates of heaven. This is where the dead come.'

'OK, great, Mr G-d. Now, uh, could you let us in?' Anya spoke anxiously.

The voice seemed amused. 'It's not that simple. Normally I would be letting you in right now, but there are some technical difficulties.'

Spike scoffed. 'Let me guess. Because I was an evil vampire that killed hundreds of people and Anya was a vengeance demon that caused pain to many men, we're not allowed in and we're going to the hell that is now completely underground.'

Anya looked at him panicked. 'Is that what you're trying to say?'

The voice, however, didn't change its tone. 'Not quite. The good news is, you're not going to hell.' Anya was relieved. 'But you're not going to heaven either. Yet.'

Both their jaws dropped at this voice's remark. 'So what then, we're gonna float in the middle of nowhere?' Anya asked, slightly annoyed.

'No. You both have a place to be. And that's Earth.'

'What?!' They both screamed. They were feeling mixed emotions; annoyance for dying and not going to heaven, but also excitement for the possibility of seeing all their friends again. 'You both died doing something remarkable. Anya - you died killing evil and saving a human life at the same time. You were meant to survive, but Spike's intervention and the destruction of Sunnydale changed that.'

Anya stopped to consider this for a moment.

'And Spike - do I even have to tell you? You removed hell on earth. You deserve life. And when I say life, I mean life as a human.'

Spike's eyes widened. 'You mean I'm gonna come back to Earth as a human?' If the voice had a face, it would've smiled. 'Yes.'

Anya and Spike caught each other's eyes, both smiling widely, and that was the last thing they saw before they were spun away into reality, both having received a second chance at life.