Buffy the Vampire Slayer / Angel
Hell Rising:
Goodbye My Friend
By Edwin M. Alicea, Jr.
Notes from the Author
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This story takes place after the battle with Adam, but the events of Restless never happened. The characters from the show Angel are taken after the first season's finale. The story takes place in early June 2000. Special Thanks to Wesley, who's ideas and changes to this fic are better then anything I could think up, and Chris for his time.
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Disclaimer
I am in now way associated with the producers, directors, writers, or creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Angel.
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Author's Notes #2
Buffy and Willow had finished their first year of college. Tara had gone home to spend the summer with her family. Riley has decided to spend another month in Sunnydale, since Buffy and he are having problems, to sort out his feelings. Riley is with Giles. Anya and Xander have called it quits but she is still around. Buffy is once again leaning on Xander forcing him to do the good boyfriend thing just like it was with Angel. Now the entire Scooby Gang is back together full time. Even a neutered Spike has relented to helping the Slayer, so long as the chip is stuck in his head. The Angel crew still has no idea that it was Darla that was resurrected by Wolfram & Hart.
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On a routine patrol of the East Side of Sunnydale Buffy and Riley have noticed a shortage of vampires and other demons. Buffy realized that the lack of opponents meant something big was on the horizon. Meanwhile the unlikely pair of Xander and Spike where patrolling the North Side of the city. Xander and Spike were in the middle of one of their petty arguments.
"You're a big help mate." Said Spike, "Always screaming like a banshee at the first sign of danger."
"Oh that hurt, especially coming from a vampire who can't even point a gun at me let alone suck me dry," Xander responded. 'God I love picking on a neutered,' he thought. "Just so you know, I plan a whole even of teasing when we get back"
Spike remained silent. He had just heard something and was trying to focus on it.
"Hey what's wrong pale face no counter," Xander yelled into Spike's ear.
Caught off guard Spike turned and looked at Xander. 'I can't wait until the chip is out of my head, he is going to be the first one I kill.' Spike thought with a smile on his face. "Would you just shut up. Something out there."
Thinking it was just a bluff Xander jumped in front of Spike.
"Is that the best you can come up with. Man I heard better comebacks from a..." caught in mid-sentence a demon grabbed Xander from behind causing him to give off a scream that even made Spike cover his ears. The demon turned Xander around ready to bite into his jugular. Xander could do nothing but look into the purple scales, and the jagged ivory horns on the top of the demon's head.
"Aren't you going to help your friend?" the demon asked looking at Spike.
Spike reached into his leather duster for what the demon thought was a weapon. Instead Spike pulled out a pack of cigarettes and started smoking.
"Why should I. I want the bloke dead anyway." Spike answered smiling waving the demon on.
Amazed and trebling with fear Xander yelled out, "What! I'll give you a reason to save me. If you let me die Buffy is going to slay you."
"Oh really mate. And if I leave Sunnydale now and never return how is she going to slay me?" Spike asked blowing smoke circles into the air.
The demon could only look and wonder what the hell was going on.
"Ah, Ah, Ah. If you don't save me now you'll never be able to kill me later." Xander cried out in a last effort to save his life.
"You got a bloody good point there mate. Can't have that wanker killing my prey. Might start thinking he's the new Big Bad. Yup, its the principal of the thing." Spike justified as he flicked his cigarette away.
Spike jumped onto the demon breaking the demon's hold on Xander. The demon and Spike went at it. The demon quickly proved that it had the power advantage over the once feared vampire by throwing Spike around like a dirty shirt. Trying to even the odds Xander jumped on top of the demon to distract it. The demon simply grabbed Xander and flipped him onto Spike. Just when it seemed that both the vampire and the wisecracking teen had bought the farm the demon slumped to the ground. When the two surprised males looked up from the unconscious body lying in front of them, they saw Willow holding a taser rifle.
"That was so cool." Willow stated with a look of excitement on her face.
Back at Giles' apartment Willow was all too happy to tell of her last minute rescue of the two rivals. While the only thing Spike and Xander could do was look at the floor and then at each other.
"It was so cool I tell you." Willow said almost gitty.
"You only though it was cool because you had a taser." Xander mumbled in his defense. "What did I have, a broken neutered vampire. Why didn't I get a taser?"
"I didn't think you needed one, guess I was wrong." Giggled Riley earning him an elbow from Buffy and a death stare from Xander.
"Don't pay any attention to the whelp Red. He's just jealous cause the farm boy gave you one of his toys and left the brat out 'ta the loop, as usual. Coulda used one to, he was getting his bloody arse kicked."
Xander turned to Spike, "I didn't see you doing much better blondie!"
"I snuck up from behind and then zap. It was over." Willow continued as if Xander and Spike didn't say anything. "And those two where huddled together like to frighten puppies." Willow said ecstatically.
"We were not." Spike grunted.
"Yeah that's right. I was just comforting Spike." Xander stated in his defense.
"You were not. You little frighten sissy."
"Was too. You toothless vamp."
"Enough you two if you want to have a cat fight take it outside." Interrupted Giles. Chuckles could be heard in the background.
"How did you find them in time Will?" asked Buffy.
"Oh that I heard Xander yell from down the block." Willow replied with a smile.
"I knew it! See you do scream like a damn banshee." Spike quickly interjected.
"AAAHHHH!!!" Yelled Xander frustrated and embarrassed.
"That's all right I used to love when you screamed out loud. Especially when we were in bed." Entered Anya.
"Well I'm not sure how much of that people needed to know, especially the screaming in bed part. But I'm glad someone appreciates my vocal talent." Xander said with his typical puzzled expression.
A knock came from the door. Buffy stood up to answer it. When she opened the door she saw Angel, Wesley, and Cordelia were waiting. Angel looked up at her with concern etched on his face.
"Can we come in?" he asked. "It's important that we talk to everyone."
"Ah sure come on in." Buffy replied.
"Who is it Buffy?" Giles asked.
As Angel entered the room an uneasy feeling swept through the friends, especially Riley. Everyone could tell that the guests were troubled about something. Wesley could not look up from the floor and Cordelia was shaking. Upon seeing Angel however Spike got up quickly and headed out the door. Slightly confused by Spike's presence in Giles' apartment Angel could only look around for the answer.
"What's wrong?" Buffy asked.
"Something is coming from the Hellmouth. And it's coming very soon." Said Wesley looking up from the floor to the face of the slayer.
"Damn it! You couldn't once come with good news could you?" Asked Xander sarcastically.
"Wait a minute how do you know that?" Willow asked nervously. She remembered the last time something came out of the Hellmouth.
"Cordelia had a vision." Angel responded.
"She ate Mexican before going to bed again didn't she?." Xander asked.
"Just hold it right there mister. What gives you the right to call me a liar? I'm a seer now, so there. Jerk!" Cordelia snapped sticking her tongue out at him.
"You're a seer. When did that happen?" asked Giles.
"What's going to come out of the Hellmouth." Asked Buffy focusing her attention on Cordelia.
"A man encased in fire." Cordelia shuttered at the memory of the figure from her vision.
"Yes. Cordelia saw a dark man stepping out of the flames of the Hellmouth. She also saw a jewel. From the description it is a large ruby about the size of a fist that encircled a center of amethyst, emerald, and a piece of black pearl." Wesley added.
"What does that mean?" Xander asked nervously.
"We don't know." Angel answered with a look of regret on his face.
Cordelia started to break down. She tried to speak but couldn't. Wesley comforted her and said, "This man seems to be evil incarnate. We know he is coming after Buffy because in the vision Buffy and the figure are battling. But the worst part is that Buffy loses the battle."
"He crucifies her." Angel added in a trembling voice.
"The hell he does!" Yelled out Xander standing up. "I didn't save her from one manic just to have her crucified by another!"
"No way. I'm not dying again!" Buffy said shaking her head.
"If you face him you will." Angel says softly. "Cordelia saw you close your eyes."
"That could mean anything." Blurted our a worried Willow.
Xander has moved to Buffy who was being hugged by Riley. "You're not going to die Buffy." Xander tells her softly. "I won't let it happen." Xander's face took on a look of stone, as he looked Buffy directly in the eyes.
Buffy saw something in them, something she never saw in them before. There was a strength behind his eyes, a fire that she could almost see the flames of. She cupped his cheek and gave in to the urge to go to him to let him wrap his arms around her, so she did.
"That's not all." Wesley broke in. "In Cordelia's vision Buffy's fate is dependent on a heart. From what Cordelia saw it seems that this heart will decide if Buffy lives or dies."
"A heart. How's a heart supposed to determine if Buffy lives or dies." Riley says trying not to focus on Buffy and Xander. They have still not left each other's side.
"If it stops beating Buffy lives." Angels tells everyone. "In her vision Cordelia saw a heart beating when it stopped for a second she saw Buffy alive."
"It was like watching a movie, you know, like a scene where the screen is split down the middle. On one side she dies, the other side she lives." Cordelia whispered.
"Fine, then there IS a chance so we find this heart and..." Xander begins but is cut off by a tremor.
The ground began to shake. Everyone was caught off guard. Anya went underneath the coffee table. Wesley and Cordelia stood under the doorway. Everyone else, except Buffy and Xander, grabbed whatever was around him or her that looked sturdy. When the shaking began the energy released caused Xander to have a vision. The vision was of the ceremony the group used to channel the true essence of the slayer's power. The vision ended with the image of the card Xander had drawn from the deck, the HEART. Having the vision caused Xander to stiffen immediately. Buffy grabbed on to him, but he remained completely still.
After the tremor passed Cordelia looked around and said in a quiet voice, "It's starting."
Buffy let go of Xander and took charge. "Then it's time to get ready. Giles we need some background info on the person and the jewel that Cordelia saw in her vision. Cordelia tell Giles what the guy looked like." Buffy commanded.
"Right then. Wesley and Cordelia help me find something in one of these books." Giles said looking at both Wesley and Cordelia. "Willow try to see if you can find any information on that jewel on the internet based on Cordelia's description."
Riley and Xander See what weapons we have that could be of any use to us." Buffy continued her commands.
"No problem. I know somewhere where we can get more weapons if needed." Riley responded.
When Xander didn't respond Buffy turned to look at him. He was standing straight and his eyes were focused on nothing. Buffy gave him a good shake while calling his name. Xander shook his head as if to clear his mind and said, "Sure thing Buff."
"Hey you okay?" Buffy asked Xander.
"Yeah. No problem." Answered Xander as he gathered his composer.
"And you and I are going to check the Hellmouth right?" Asked Angel."
"Right." Replied Buffy whose focus was still on Xander. "Just recon though. I want to know who I'm dealing with here."
"Hey! What about me?" cried out Anya.
"Anya you can just sit there and supervise." Answered Buffy.
"I can do that." Responded Anya.
Buffy and Angel arrived at the remains of the High School. Buffy was carrying the taser rifle and Angel a broadsword underneath his overcoat, just in case. The ground began to shake once again; it was almost like the Hellmouth knew that the two heroes were outside. They quietly moved through what used to be the West Side entrance. Cautiously Buffy and Angel moved down the hall looking for any signs of trouble. Once they made it to the former place that the library's doors once stood they developed a plan, while looking into the library. There were ten vampires around a central figure. The figure was dressed in all leather and his movements were like a cat's. He was slim almost to the point of bone. Dark skin surrounded the features of his body. His eyes reminded Buffy of a large predator and the short red hair that covered his head gave him the look of evil incarnate. Suddenly the central figure turned and faced the pair who was spying on him. The slim figure then yelled at them, "Come out now. I know your back there."
Buffy and Angel looked at each other and nodded before they got up. Something about the man's voice bothered Angel. Now the two ex-lovers stood up looking at the man in front of them.
"Good to see you again Angelus." The man said looking at Angel. The fact that this man knew him was a large concern to Angel. "It's even good to see you slayer, Buffy isn't it?" the man asked turning his attention to Buffy.
"How do you know who we are?" asked Angel.
"Simply Angelus. I watched as you were tortured in Hell." Replied the man while smirking. "And my lord has told me of the slayer."
"Who are you?" questioned Buffy. "And who's your lord?"
"You may call me Damien." Damien told the slayer. "And my lord is the LIGHT BRINGER." As Damien talked a vampire came out of the shadow behind Buffy catching her off guard. She managed to take the taser away from Buffy and use it against both Buffy and Angel. "Good job my pet. For that I will allow you to feed on her watcher."
At Giles' apartment Willow, Wesley, Giles, nor Cordelia have had any luck finding any information on the figure from Cordelia's vision. Xander and Riley were doing the inventory of the weapons at the gang's disposal. Riley has become upset at the time it is taking Buffy and Angel to get back.
"They should have been back by now." Riley said in a soft tone. He was trying to hide both the worry and the jealousy he felt at the situation.
"Don't worry Riley you know Buffy can take care of herself in a fight." Willow said trying to put Riley at ease.
"I bet he's not worried about her getting into a fight." Anya so observably pointed out. Riley turned toward Anya and stared directly into her eyes. "What? Its true right." Anya continued.
Xander had had enough. "Anya shove it." He said with a razor sharp edge to his voice. "If anyone else says anything that does not help Buffy and just wastes time I will beat you with a leg from Giles' coffee table. IS...THAT...CLEAR!" Xander finished looking at everyone. At their shock nods Xander said, "GOOD!"
Suddenly the images of the ceremony and the heart card flooded Xander's mind. He became dizzy and started to fall back. Riley quickly caught a hold of him."
"Hold on now. You all right." Riley asked looking down on Xander.
Xander was now seated on Giles' oversized chair. The images started to make sense to him now. Xander looked around him noticing that everyone was staring at him. He quickly focuses his thoughts on Buffy.
He shook head and looked up at Riley. "All of a sudden I felt dizzy. It was the strangest thing I started to..." Xander then blacked out.
"Oh my." Giles said as he went over to inspect the young man. "Place him in my bedroom quickly." Ordered Giles.
Riley and Wesley picked up Xander and headed for the bedroom as Anya followed.
"What was that about?" asked Cordelia.
"I don't know. He has no fever and was fine a few seconds age." Responded Giles.
Trying to keep control Willow continued the research. Her eyes were locked onto the screen as if drawing strength from it. She had come across a drawing of a gem that fit Cordelia's description.
"Hey guys over here. I think I found something." Willow blurted out. Riley, Wesley, and Anya had just come back from the bedroom when they notice the others standing around Willow's computer. On the screen was a picture of the jewel Cordelia had envisioned. "It's called the Heart of Power, also know as the Heart of Darkness. The outside is made from a combination of ruby and quartz, while the center is made of emerald, black pearl, and amethyst. It is said to give access to great physical and mental powers. In the right person's hands it can bring the dead back to life, control the forces of nature, and grant immortality." Willow read out loud.
"Yes, this seems to be the heart from Cordelia's vision." Giles said looking at the screen.
"Yes but in her vision, the heart stopped beating. You think it is metaphor for the gem's destruction?" asked Wesley.
"Quite right." Giles confirmed.
"Yeah but that also means the Angel and Buffy went out to spy on a guy who can control the nature." Riley stated looking right at Giles.
"Yes I know." Whispered Giles his face reflecting his worry.
"Wait a moment." Wesley broke in. "It says here that the Heart of Darkness can be destroyed thereby rendering its powers useless."
"Yeah but it also says that if one destroys The Heart that the person will be destroyed along with it." Willow interrupted her face conveying her fear.
"We have get to the Hellmouth and warn Angel and Buffy of the danger." Wesley added.
"All right everyone lets get ready. Anya here is a copy to the key to my apartment. I want you to go to Xander's and bring back anything he may need, I don't want him going anywhere until we know he's fine." Giles commanded.
"You got it." Anya quickly responded as she quickly snatched the keys from Giles' hand and head out the door.
Back at the High School a few minutes later Buffy and Angel are beginning to recover from the taser blast.
"Welcome back. I wouldn't want you to be unconscious when my Lord's son comes." Damien gloated with a smirk on his face. "He will be the one to destroy you both."
"The Light Bringer has a son?" Angel asked in a tiny voice. He and Buffy both knew that was bad.
Giles and the others are just now arriving on the scene.
"That is correct Angelus. The Light Bringer has a son and the Heart of Darkness will awaken his powers." Damien smiled during his answer.
"The Light Bringer has a son." Giles repeated from his hiding spot his voice quivering.
"Okay whose this Light Bringer and where is his son?" asked Riley.
"Satan, Lucifer, Beelzebub, Mephisto, The Devil." Called out Damien who had turned to face the group with a purely evil smile on his face. "My lord has been given many names by humans, but he is known to all his children as the Light Bringer. For he brought the true knowledge to your pitiful kind. He brought them into the light like a morning start! I will find his son shortly, and he lead the armies of his father against the GATES OF HEAVEN itself!"
Giles and the others stood up from their hiding spot at Damien's words.
"This is bad right. I mean the son of Satan that's bad." Said Cordelia looking at Wesley. All he could do is nod his head.
"Everyone now!" yelled Giles.
Suddenly all of the reinforcements lifted their hands and threw down clay spheres about the size of baseballs. Smoke started to fill the library concealing everyone from view. Angel and Buffy took advantage of the smoke screen and took out the guards that were watching over them. As Damien stared out around him all he could do is smile. He quickly disappeared into the smoke. As Damien disappeared another person entered the library.
Another person entered the library without anybody taking note of his entrance the lone figure made his way toward the stone. He quickly took cover as close to it as possible while still trying to conceal his presence.
The smoke began to clear in a matter of moments. When the smoke had completely diffused into the air everyone looked on as Damien's left hand had Willow by the neck as he traced her cheek with his right hand.
"This is fun but I must be getting back to business." He said bringing his other hand fully around Willow's face preparing to snap her neck.
"No!" yelled out Buffy. "I you want to kill someone try me!"
"I already told you slayer, my lord's son will kill you." Damien said annoyed.
The mysterious figure that had entered the library had made it to The Heart of Darkness without being detected. In his right hand he was holding the rapier Angel had earlier. "Hey carrot top!" yelled out the figure.
Everyone turned to the new voice to see Xander standing over the Heart of Darkness with a sword over his head. Damien quickly threw Willow to the ground as he made his way toward Xander.
"Fool you'll kill yourself!" yelled Damien.
"If that's the only way to keep Buffy safe then that's what I'll do." Xander yelled back.
"The slayer will die!" Damien cried out. "The Son will see to that."
"Over my dead body!" Xander screamed as he brought the sword down on the stone.
A shockwave of energy sent everyone in the library to the floor. "You fool the energy will kill us all. Including your precious slayer!" yelled Damien.
The stone continued to send out massive amount of energy. Somehow Xander dug deep within himself and found the strength to stand up even when Buffy and Angel couldn't. He once again made it to the stone and grabbed it.
Xander started to absorb all of the energy that the Heart of Darkness was expelling. "Not today." Xander manage to say through the pain. He then turned around and started to head for Damien staring at him like a lion would stare at its prey.
"Xander what are you doing?" yelled Buffy as she tried to make her way to him, only to be stop by Angel.
"What he has to Buffy." Angel told her. "What he has to."
All at once everyone realized the sacrifice Xander was about to make. He was going to forfeit his life so that Buffy and the rest of them could live. Xander slowly moved toward Damien his eyes never leaving Damien's. Willow was held back by Riley as Angel slowly pulled Buffy away. By the time Buffy realized what Angel was doing it was too late. "What do you think you're going to do now?" Damien asked Xander
The pain that was gripping Xander's body brought tears to his eyes. Looking at Damien Xander answered, "I'm sending you to HELL!" At that moment Xander used the strength given him by the Heart of Darkness to snap it apart.
Everyone screamed at the same time, "NOOOO!"
A surge of golden energy was released from the jewel that engulfed both Xander and Damien. As the Heart of Darkness was destroyed the energy sent both Damien and Xander flying backwards. Everyone's ears were set on fire due to the gut wrenching scream that passed Xander's lips as the pain from both the energy released and parts of the jewel shot threw his body like bullets.
Both Xander and Damien hit opposite walls with a sickening crack. Damien died on impact. Xander's body remained on the wall with his arms out stretched pointing to the sides. It gave Xander the look of being crucified. As his body slid down the wall Angel, Giles, and Riley ran over to place his body on the ground.
"XANDER!" screeched Willow, tears falling down her face. Buffy rushed to him with tears just as long, if not longer, running down her own face. Cordelia sank her face into Wesley's shoulder as he held her. No one could deny the grief that had swept over everyone at that moment. Giles tried to keep his composure but failed as a single tear ran down his cheek.
Buffy was cradling Xander's head in her arms as she kneeled on the cold ground. "Don't cry Buff." Xander said looking up at her. He gently stroked her face and said, "I hate it when you cry. At least I get to say goodbye."
"Don't talk like that. You're going to be all right. You hear me." Buffy told him as her emotions continued to get the best of her."
"No Buffy I'm not." Xander stated calmly as pain laced in his voice. "For you to live a heart had to stop beating remember."
"Yeah but the Heart of Power was destroyed." Willow stated matter-of-fact voice as much for her as it was for him.
"She's right so you stop talking like that." Yelled Buffy holding onto Xander.
Xander tried to smile for Buffy. "That's not the heart that had to stop beating. Remember..." Xander said trailing off as he fought for conciseness. "...the card I drew when we called on the power of the first slayer."
"Oh dear god. The HEART." Giles said as the realization hit him like a car struck by a train.
"Oh no!" stated Willow as she fell to the ground. Riley had to take on her weight as her lowered her lightly onto the floor.
All Buffy could do is kneel besides Xander crying as the full realization of his monumental decision dawned on her.
"It's okay Buffy. This is how it has to be. You're important to the future Buff. More important than me." Said Xander as his life neared what he believed to be his end.
"I left something for all of you back at Giles' apartment. One final gift from me to all of you. I just have one thing to say Buff. I love you Buffy Anne Summers with all my heart and soul..." Suddenly Xander's body started to shake violently on the ground.
Everyone gasped as the saw the scene unfold in front of them. Willow began reaching for the body of her best friend. Then a bright flash of yellow light exploded from Xander's body forcing Buffy to turn away and blinding everyone. When everyone's vision was returned they saw a sight that would haunt them for the rest of their lives. Only on trace of their friend remained. The only thing left was Xander's shadow burned on the concrete floor that they all stood on.
"Wha...wha...what just happen to him?" asked Willow as the fear from what she saw on the floor surfaced.
She had seen pictures of this sort of thing but she could not remember where. Then it hit her she had seen similar images in pictures of the remnants of the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Japan; people vaporized in the atomic explosions that ended World War II.
The former watchers, the vampire with a soul, and the former military soldier came to the same conclusion as Willow.
"This is horrible." Whispered Giles.
With those comments Giles had perfectly described this night. Everyone turned his or her heads away not wanting to see the remains of their friend. Tears uncontrollably came from their eyes. Within each of their minds they each pictured a fond memory of their comrade. Images started to flow into everyone's mind like when Cordelia made peace with Xander after he paid for her prom dress, the many moments that he had made everyone smile or laugh, Xander annoying Giles in the library.
Buffy remembered his face after he revived her in the Master's lair, how he had looked down at her like a Guardian Angel. Finally the simple image of Xander smiling and laughing himself entered everyone's mind. As those last images of Xander played out in her head Buffy finally broke down.
"XANDER!" she yelled out with her arms stretched out toward the heavens before she fainted from the shock.
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Epilogue
All of the weary warriors entered Giles' apartment with heavy hearts. Anya was already waiting there to find out if Xander was with them. The tears had not stopped coming down even though it had now been over an hour. To Anya it seemed as if a part of them had died, and then Wesley came in and closed the door behind him. 'Where could Xander be if he wasn't with them. And why are the action as if someone died?' Anya thought. Then it struck her full force.
"Where's Xander?" she asked slowly as a new feeling started to come forward bringing tears to her eyes.
None of them could answer her all that they could do is look at her. Finally Angel spoke up to Anya, "He's gone."
It came out only slightly above a whisper. He then walked to a video camera set on a tripod in the center of the room. He pushed the eject button and retrieved the tape that was inside the camera.
"This must be his last gift to us." Said Angel solemnly as he addressed the group. He slowly placed the tape into Giles' VCR and then hit rewind.
"Hello everyone." Was the first thing out of his lips.
There was Xander's face looking back at his friends as if he had come back from the dead. Tears were flowing down his face.
"If you are all watching this then it means I did what I had to, to save Buffy. Everyone knows that one day they will die, today was mine. But at least I went out the way I wanted to, making sure Buffy lived to see at least one more sunrise. I have accepted my fate today, to die so that you all can live. Just remember one thing what I did today was my choice. None of you should feel responsible in any way that's not what I want."
"For those of you wondering this is not my finally gift to you. My gift to you is permission to read my journals. I have kept them since I was nine years old. In it there are things not even Willow knows. You'll find them on the right side of my bed underneath a lose floorboard. Read them, read them all. For I give you me. You will know everything about me and who I really was. Before I go I would like to say goodbye to all of you. Ahead of you all lies a hard road. But I know that if you all stick together you'll make it through anything. I will be looking out for you from above, believe that. I love you all. You were really my family. I just in case I didn't get the chance to say this, I Love You Buffy Anne Summers. GOODBYE EVERYBODY."
What followed the image of their dead friend was static and at the sight of that static all the emotions were released. Even the people walking by Giles' apartment could hear the weeping and the screams from within.