Among the Chosen Many Chapter 1, a buffy: the vampire slayer fanfic

A/N:

OK, so I wrote a story or two a like six years ago about Charmed, and to be honest looking back they were pretty awful! I'm sort of testing the waters again with writing. Starting this fic out, I have very little idea where it's going, so I'm definitely open to suggestions.

Alright, so a little preview: this is going to be set after Season 7 of Buffy and Season 4 of Angel. Well, to be honest, I didn't watch anything past Season 1 of Angel so I can't say that much will be based on Angel at all. This fic will most definitely be Buffy/Angel. Other pairings, I'm not 100% sure about. Probably Willow/Kennedy, although I do love Tara she's been gone for a little bit too long for me try to reviving her. I would really enjoy bringing Anya back, but not unless I can figure out a way for it to happen other than just like- oh the Powers were really excited you won so Anya gets to come back! Dawn probably won't be in this at all- she bugs the hell out of me. Spike'll be in it, but absolutely no Spuffy!- other than to provide closure. I like the dynamic between Faith and Wood, but to be honest I just don't think I can write Wood, so he died at the end of Chosen.

Now to start! This takes place directly at the end of Chosen, Please review, if this is at all decent I'll try to continue it.

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A tiny smile played at the corner of my mouth. In such a short time, so very much had changed. I wasn't the Chosen One anymore. I was the longest standing of a chosen many. I could finally have the normal life I'd wanted for the last seven years.

Right?

But at the same time I couldn't help but wonder how far I'd actually be able to distance myself from my calling. It was still my calling. Granted, it was a shared one now, but knowing everything that really existed out there in the world, how could I possibly just turn a blind eye to it all and try to lead a normal life? What was "normal" anyway?

-------The entire group loaded onto the bus and began heading north.

I had done it. I couldn't believe I'd let loose like that and not lost myself in the magicks. Suddenly, delving into the art that had run between fascinating and terrifying to me felt safe. Somehow, deep in my heart, I knew that the magic inside of me went deeper than the black pool of revenge that led to the bleakest period of my existence.

It even hurt less to think about that time than it used to. Yes, the hole Tara left in my heart would never fully heal. But it shouldn't- it was a part of me now. Little things, the ones that used to cause me so much pain- pictures of her, songs she liked- instead of being a cold dagger driven into the depths of my heart were now a warm embrace encircling it, reminding me of the strong, beautiful woman Tara had been.

And I knew, with a stronger conviction than I had ever known anything before that Tara would be- is- proud of me and what I did. And that was enough.

Joy. Anger. Fear. Grief. Pride. I didn't know the human brain could feel this many things at once. Maybe that's why I couldn't move, could barely think. Emotional overload. Willow sat next to me. Buffy behind me. Comforting me? I wasn't sure. It was as if I had tunnel vision. I couldn't feel what was around me.

Was I allowed to be happy? We had just closed the Sunnydale hellmouth for good. But I had lost the one person that meant the most to me. So how could I dare be happy? I had no right. Did I?

Bloody hell. It was over. And Buffy did it. Again. I can't help but swell with pride at the truly amazing woman Buffy had become. They had all changed really.

Xander had gone from a flakey insecure teenager to one of the most responsible, grounded people I have ever had the privilege to know.

Willow had gone from a silly, doe-eyed girl nursing a decade-old crush to an incredibly strong young woman- and I'd bloody well like to see a stronger witch than her on this Earth.

And Buffy. Oh dear lord. Comparing the girl I met in Sunnydale six and a half years ago to the woman standing before me today was ludicrous to think about.

I love them as if they were my own. And I know that our journey is far from over. The good these young people have done for the world- going for the large part unnoticed, I might add- has only just begun.

Two conversations kept playing over and over again in my head; as if some cursed CD had been stuck on repeat for hours.

"Angel. I do, sometimes, think that far ahead."

"I love you." "No, you don't. But thanks for sayin' it."

Could Spike have known what I myself didn't? Was I… baked? Cookie Buffy?

"Could be years, if ever."

But then, so much had changed since I'd uttered those final words to Angel. I no longer had to shoulder this burden alone. I could not turn my back completely, but I was not alone. Among the Chosen Many.

"You'll never be friends. You'll be in love till it kills you both. You'll fight, and you'll shag, and you'll hate each other till it makes you quiver but you'll never be friends. Love isn't brains; it's blood. Blood screamin' inside you to work its will."

I thought back to those words Spike had said to both of us over four years ago. And I realized he was right.

"Uh, Buffy?" Giles called from the driver's seat.

"Yeah?"

"Where are we headed?"

"LA."

A/N: I had so much to write about their reactions to the final battle that I don't think was ever really said. If some people hadn't caught on, I sort of delved into the brains of the four original Scoobies and wrote down what they were thinking in the first person. I won't write the rest of the story in first person, of course, but it seemed appropriate here. And if you can't figure out who was who, then you haven't seen the show. And here's a hint- Buffy's got two monologues in here! By the way, the last quote by Spike was from Lover's Walk in Season Three.

Anyway, please review and let me know what you guys think. I'm really interested to hear any thoughts, good or bad.