The fight with the First had been gruesome and there had been a lot of loss. Not just one the First's evil side, ubervamps and also vampires, as Buffy looked around to what was left of her family.

Dawn seemed to have grown up so much after the passing of their mother, so more mature. She was going to be such a beautiful young lady, someone she would be so proud of.

Xander had lost so much. The woman he still loved and lost to their latest fight and the hardest for him, so much harder than losing an eye.

Willow, Willow had gone through so much too. Wicca, computers and the gayness. She came out stronger in the end. 'Still my big gun' Buffy thought with a smile as she looked at her friend cuddling to her girlfriend. Buffy had a feeling that once they had found accommodation it would be awhile till she saw everyone, huddled together on the bus on the way to a new place.

The Hellmouth was finished, Buffy from the back could hear a small group talking about heading to Cleveland as another Hellmouth awaited them.

Giles driving was the last thing she had seen before she closed her eyes, she had been so tired back down at the Hellmouth. Seeing everything collapsing all around her as Spike stood there telling her he loved her, she knew he was going to die but her family and friends had left and she needed to make sure everyone had gotten back to the bus alive. That's what had kept her going when the school had been falling, after every jump of every building until she finally landed on top of the bus. The scythe still tight in her hand. Its power still running through her body.

This time her dreams weren't filled with terror and fear as only void remained, her body slowly healing as she slept. Not realizing that everyone around was too keyed up wanting to know where they were going, if they were going to stop for more supplies or just keep going till they found a place to crash to last a few days.

She slowly opened her eyes and she felt someone shaking her awake, calling her name.

"What is it?" she asked groggily, her voice husky from being asleep for what felt like minutes, arms wrapped tightly around herself, as if to keep herself warm.

"What are we going to do, Buffy?" Dawn asked her quietly, her face still smudged with dust and whatnot from the fighting that had gone on at the school.

Buffy hadn't even thought about what was going to happen after, they could probably head to Los Angels for awhile. Either that or start looking for the new Slayer that had been awakened during the spell to make every potential into a Slayer. Get a new Council set up and running. Set up a training/school ground for the new Slayers and distribute them to Hellmouths and high paranormal places that might draw nasties to it. 'Giles could help with most of that. Specially with the Old Council being gone.' Buffy thought trying to keep the ice from her thoughts to show on her face.

"Dawn, I can't keep making decisions for everyone." Buffy said softly no blame or accusation in her voice.

Dawn winced as she remembered how she was one of the people that had kicked her own sister out of the house, Her Own Sister.

"But we can talk about it after we arrive … wherever we're suppose to arrive?" Buffy asked still quietly, almost a whisper. She loosened her hands to reach for her sister's.

She saw Dawn nod her head and turned to go back, leaving her sister to try and get a little more sleep.

Buffy again looked at all the girls that had survived, she was glad she had been wrong about Faith and she was glad she had stayed with them even after they had stopped the bus after Sunnydale was... she was still surprised over Spike, how he just...

"You're awake." Willow said surprised, a small smile playing on her lips.

Buffy looked up, she hadn't even heard footsteps heading her way. 'Wow, I'm such a great Slayer. Can't even hear someone heading my way. Must be more tired than I thought.' Buffy shrugged mentally the thought off.

"Yeah. I meant to tell you something before." Buffy said her voice still a little husky from being woken up a few minutes ago. Her eyes looking at the seat next to her, cluing her friend to sit down but then looked at the seat her best friend had vacated and saw Kennedy looking back for a moment.

"Probably wondering where you gone off to." Buffy said about Kennedy.

"It's ok." She looked at Kennedy and then sat down, relaxing next to her best friend.

There was a little silence, as Willow waited and Buffy just tried to organize the thoughts in her head, the memories and emotions of these last couple of months.

"Buffy?"

"I wanted to tell you I knew you could do it. The spell? I know these past few years with me, haven't been easy for you and there was moments I wanted to take back but I hope that you don't regret sticking by me." 'There was a few things I wouldn't mind taking back. All the pain it caused meeting me.' Buffy thought darkness filling her thoughts but continued "Also hope you found happiness because that's all I want for you."

Willow looked at her, shock in her eyes. After seven years and Buffy still surprised her.

"Thank you, Buffy. Hope that isn't a goodbye." Willow said worried, as her eyes still showed her surprise at her friends' words.

"Of course not." Buffy said surprising her friend again, as she reached Willow and held her in her arms for a hug.

Despite the surprise and shock hadn't worn off, again this behavior just seemed to add to it.

"Are you alright? You seem different." Willow couldn't help but ask Buffy. In years they had known each other only in moments of impending doom or apocalypse did Buffy ever seem to hug or even say such things.

Buffy let her friend go, so she could look at her in the eyes. She had never felt so free. She wasn't the Chosen One anymore, or one of the Chosen Two as Faith had liked to called them years ago.

They were going to need to prepare a plan for what would happen next but all she knew was that it wasn't going to fall on her shoulders anymore, she didn't need to keep fighting by herself. She had felt so alone before, even after Faith. The talk they had had before in her room was right, Faith being Faith didn't get right to the point but she had been right. Despite the jealousy, they had both been lonely.

"I feel fine. Just got a lot to work through. Do you have any idea where we're headed?" Buffy asked quietly and felt eyes again on her. She looked away and caught Kennedy again turning away, and continued "You better get going. Someone's getting antsy."

Willow saw the direction of Buffy's gaze and said "She just feels really protective. Slayer being protective, hm sounds familiar." Willow finished with a smile and got off the seat to head towards her waiting girlfriend, she turned back and said "I'm not sure where we're heading, you better talk to Giles."

Buffy waited until her best friend sat down, got up and headed towards her former Watcher. Slowly, one step at a time. She looked at Dawn seating with one of the new slayers and smiled. Her sister wasn't the only one that was taking care of the injured slayers. She walked by Xander, seeing him down sat by himself and wondered if he was going to be alright. She shook her head and also saw Andrew sat by himself.

She finally arrived by the driver's side and looked at Giles, the closest thing to a father figure she had and so much more than a retired librarian.

"So, Giles. What now?" she asked going straight to the point, standing proud even if still a little injured.