'Go on then.'

'No no, you've done enough you can still....'

'Buffy come on!'

'Gotta move lamb. I think it's fair to say school's out for bloody summer.'

'Spike!'

'I mean it ,I gotta do this', Spike said firmly holding out his hand to stop her.

Buffy looked at his hand and slowly reached out, interlacing her fingers with his. He stared at her and then closed his fingers over hers. A flame shot up from their hands, but Buffy wouldn't let go. She couldn't go without saying it. She took a deep breath.

'I love you.'

Spike looked at her for a second and almost smiled.

'No you don't. But thanks for saying it.'

Buffy stared at Spike shocked, but then it sunk in. She tried to control the tears that were threatening to overpower her. She couldn't break down on Spike, it was hard enough on him as it was. They stood for a few seconds staring into each other's eyes but then bits of the ceiling fell down forcing them to break away.

'Now go', Spike said seriously, but pleadingly.

Buffy took one last look at Spike and ran, she tried not to look back she knew if she did she wouldn't be able to leave him. She tried to get out of the school as quick as she could but it was falling apart and there were a few dead ends. She managed to get on the roof and sprinted across it desperately trying to catch up with the others. And there they were, in a yellow bus which was speeding away from Sunnydale. She couldn't wait any longer, so bracing herself she took a flying jump from a building and landed hard on the top of the bus. The bus had got out of Sunnydale in the nick of time and came to a screeching halt. Buffy opened her eyes and jumped off. Dawn and the others came running out of the bus. Dawn threw her arms around Buffy, beaming.

'I don't understand, what did this?' Giles asked.

Buffy pulled away her face contorting with pain.

'Spike', she answered walking away from them. She could not look at them, not face their comforting faces and their sympathy. It was too much to bear, she hoped they'd understand. Dawn looked extremely sorry for Buffy as she watched her walk away, she knew how much Buffy cared for Spike, knew there was nothing she could say. Luckily the other guys saved her from saying anything. As they stood at the edge of Sunnydale looking down into where had once been there home, and reflecting on everything including shops like Starbucks and The Gap, Buffy still couldn't believe it she was overcome in emotion she felt she might explode, on one side she was distraught and destroyed at losing Spike, but proud of him, and then she was happy and relived they'd won. The tears welled up in her eyes again. She was only half listening to what the other guys were saying until Willow asked her what they were going to do now, but before she even had time to consider the matter Faith spoke.

'Yeah you're not the one and only Chosen anymore. Just get to live like a person. How's that feel?'

Buffy thought considering what Faith had just said, trying to take it all in.

'Yeah Buffy. What are we going to do now.'

Buffy stared out ahead. They were all right, she could live like a person now, she could live a normal life like she'd always wanted. There was so many things she wanted to do, and see. Buffy found she couldn't speak, so as stared dreamily out to her beloved old home she smiled.
Buffy woke up with a jolt breathing heavily. She looked around her the room was pitch black, only the moonlight seeping through the curtains. She reached for her glass of cold water which she had had to keep to help her sleep ever since they had come over to England. It wasn't because they were in a different environment, in fact she doubted things would have been any different if they had been in Sunnydale. She paused to gather her emotions together, the cold glass pressing tightly against her hand. It smashed into small pieces which scattered across the floor. Buffy scowled as she looked at the mess she'd made. She heaved herself out of bed, carefully avoiding the glass, and walked over to the window. She pulled back the curtain and stared outside. It was a beautiful night, the stars shone brightly, everything seemed peaceful. She watched an old couple enviously as they sat on a bench holding each other. She wished Spike was here now holding her as she watched the river flowing gently. All she ever wanted was to normal life, now she felt it meant nothing. She would give it up if she could just have Spike back.