A Remembrance by obi's girl

Summary: Starting after "The Gift", the gang decides to go their separate ways but promise to reunite on Buffy's anniversary to remember her.
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance/Drama
Note: Possible spoilers if Joss decides to continue the season. This is what might have happened if it does happen.
Disclaimer: Is this really necessary? Okay. Everything Buffy and Angel belong to Joss. So there!

Chapter 1: What Next?

Giles walked wearily into the Magic Box. He smiled, trying to remember her face. He knew all slayers died at some point, during one particular battle but for Buffy, it never seemed that day would come. However, although hers came, it seemed most fitting for whom she was.

"Hey Giles."

The Englishman turned around hoping it was she. It wasn't. It was the gang and Dawn, still wearing the dress Glory made her wear for the sacrifice. Tera smiled at him, holding Willow's hand. He smiled back at her. "I see you're feeling better."

Tera nodded, "I am, but..." she turned to Willow and the gang, then faced Giles again, "Um, Willow told me about Buffy. I'm sorry, Mr. Giles."

Xander smiled hopefully, "She will be missed. I don't think it's going to be the same without her."

Giles nodded, dropping onto a chair and removing his glasses. He rubbed his jaw, then glanced at Dawn. "You should be proud, you know." He whispered, "She sacrificed her life to save yours...and everybody else's."

Dawn only shrugged, "I guess I should feel proud...but it still hurts, you know. I want to be happy that I'm alive..but I don't know, it doesn't feel right."

"Dawny..." Will began but she only nodded. "I was just going to say, it doesn't have to feel 'right' right away. I mean, she meant so much to all of everybody and us."

She only shrugged, "It still doesn't feel right."

"I miss her!" Anya cried, startling everybody. The gang turned to her and she smiled, "I mean, I know we weren't friends, but she was great. Greater than all of us. She did things most people could only dream of."

Xander smiled, placing an arm over Anya's shoulder. For a moment, everyone was silent, lost in their own thoughts of their fallen hero and friend. Giles, especially. He smiled remembering the first time he met Buffy. She wasn't expecting to take up the Slaying again. She was hesitant because she was scared of becoming something she wouldn't be able to control. His thoughts flashed ahead to two years ago at Graduation. She wasn't in her prime but she was brilliant. He had been so proud of her that day. Only now, he could never tell her how proud he was.

"So, what are we going to do?" Dawn asked, staring at the floor. "I mean, do we go on with our lives? Do we continue the fight? Do we go our separate ways? What?"

Xander nodded to her, "Fighting evil is a life-long commitment. Buffy knew that and she did great, but as for continuing what she came here to do, I think it would be a great honor."

"What other evil is there to fight? I mean, I think she basically conquered them all." Tera pointed out.

Giles shrugged, smiling partially, "You know, we help where we can...continue as Xander said and...I think we'll be okay."

"It will be hard without her." Willow mused, sitting down opposite Giles. "It will be hard to fill her shoes, I mean. You think we can manage that responsibility?"

"If we couldn't Will, we wouldn't be here." Xander added.

Giles waved his hand, "No, there's no need for you all to continue fighting. You can have your own lives. I'll do it."

They all looked at him, frowning as he continued, "I know, Buffy. She wouldn't want the whole of you to put your lives on hold to do what she had to put up with since she was 15. It's a dangerous job and as much as you all think you're ready to continue, you're not. I'll do it. I know I'm not Buffy but I did train her how to fight.""

Willow looked at him disbelievingly, "Giles, so do we! If we've learned anything from Buffy, it's how to fight. She helped us grow; we can't just forget about her."

"No one's demanding we forget about her, Willow. But I know she wouldn't want you to waste away your life trying to make the world safe. She'd want you to move on and do things."

"It's still wrong. We should stay together and help people, not go about our own ways and frolic to a different beat." Will cried.

Xander stepped forward, placing his hand on Willow's shoulders and smiled, "Trust Giles, Willow. He knows what he's talking about. When we first met Buffy, she didn't want us to involved but we did because we thought she was fighting a great fight."

The Wicca laughed, "Of course, you joined in because you had a crush on her at the time."

Anya frowned, "A crush? A crush on my Xander?"

He turned to her, "No, An. I had a crush on Buffy," then added, "besides it was Willow that had a crush on me."

"You had a crush on my Xander?" Anya said, scrutinizing her.

"Yeah, but we never got together until Homecoming." Willow said, abruptly turning to Giles, "Oh God, Angel! He doesn't know about Buffy!"

Giles shrugged, "I gave him a call right after the service. Unfortunately, I got his machine but I'm sure he'll come as soon as he can to pay his respects."

Tera huffed, "Shouldn't we call her dad? Let him know that, um....?"

"Somehow I don't think Hank would really care that his daughter was dead. He didn't even come to Joyce's funeral, much less even call to say sorry. The bastard." The Englishman scowled.

"Hey, I have an idea! I mean, since we don't really know what's next for us, maybe we should celebrate Buffy's death on this day...a sort of remembrance, an anniversary. It's only proper, right? To remember who she was?" Tera added.

Giles nodded to her, "It's a great idea, Tera."

Willow smiled, reaching for her hand. Tera stepped forward, grasping her hand. "It's a wonderful idea, love."

TBC