XLIV--video, backdated to the first minutes after port starts;

[breakmychest]

[Locked to Elphaba]

[Spike holds up his warden item which is no longer registering Elphaba.]

Congratulations, Miss Not-so-Wicked Witch of the West. You're a free woman.

[Locked to Fred]

[Spike is grinning almost maniacally, looking like he's on the verge of tears.]

I did it. God, I can't believe it. My inmate's graduated.

[Locked to Buffy]

I just graduated my inmate. After port, I'm going to go home for a bit. I have to.

[Public]

Just thought everyone should know, Elphaba Thropp graduated.

Comments

[Spike]

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

[Her thoughts naturally stray in one particular direction]

...Buffy?

[Fred]

[bigbad]

[He shakes his head.]

Different girl.

[Spike]

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

[Her brow knits]

Is it Cordy? Because that's why I...

[Could two people be working on the same thing? She didn't think Spike knew Cordy, but maybe she's wrong]

[Fred]

[bigbad]

It's not important, love, all right?

[Spike]

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

[She doesn't understand that. And oddly enough, she doesn't like immediately not having a sense of the answer. Even though she knows Spike probably has several lifetimes worth of secrets they never even touched on in their time in her lab. Her features falter slightly]

...it's important enough you were grinning like an idiot just a minute ago.

[Fred]

[bigbad]

Saving a life is always important, I just-- [He breaks off, making a frustrated sound.] Look, it's future stuff. I shouldn't tell you.

[But he can't help himself.]

Just... do me a favour and kick Knox in the bloody nuts before firing him in the traditional Wolfram and Hart manner, all right?

[Spike]

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

...Knox?

[And the part about firing him in the traditional Wolfram & Hart manner? Is a pretty strong message. Fred's features grow sharp with concern]

Spike, what is this about?

[Fred]

[bigbad]

[Spike looks away, almost angrily.]

He hurt someone I care about, all right? That's all you need to know.

[Spike]

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

[She clearly doesn't take well to that answer]

Don't make me come to your room, Spike. I know where it is.

[Fred]

[bigbad]

It's you! [He finally blurts out. He closes his eyes as the answer kind of hurts in a way it hadn't for a while, but it's okay, it has to be, she's coming back.]

[Spike]

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

[Her bow knits, confusion evident. For once she's not processing things at lightning quick speed. Clearly his outburst's caught her off guard]

What do you mean, it's me?

[Fred]

[bigbad]

That you died, Fred. And if the Admiral's kept his word, I just got you back.

[Spike]

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

Spike, I'm not dead. I'm right here.

[You're going to have to allow her a little denial]

...I'm not dead.

[Fred]

[bigbad]

[He gives her a small, sad smile that makes him suddenly look his age.]

Yeah. You are right here, and alive, and beautiful.

I should go.

[Spike]

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

[Watching him, she feels like she's let him down somehow]

...Spike?

[Fred]

[bigbad]

[She hasn't, he's just full of emotions and not sure what to do.]

What?

[Spike]

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

[She wants to ask. Can Spike see how much she wants to ask?]

[Fred]

[bigbad]

[He can see, but he doesn't know how to respond. He gives her a strained, upset look.]

We can talk when I get back.

[Spike]

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

[It doesn't really feel like she has a choice]

...alright.