Hello All. I know it's been I while since I posted anything but my muse got turned on the other day, and a fic just started to flow out.

I have a few chapters done but I need a little more editing before I post. Please let me know what you think of this, and if I should even continue, oh, and if you have a cool name for my fic let me know I still have not found a good one yet.

Thanks, PG

Title: to be determined

Author: Peaches Girl

Rating: T

Summary: AU/Cannon. Takes place after the conclusion of both shows. All is not what it seems. What happens when the gang assumes that Buffy has gone AWOL.

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PROLOGE

The room felt stifling. There were entirely too many people crammed into the tiny room. Buffy walked over to the window and opened it just a crack. It was enough to alleviate the feeling of being closed in but let's face it, since waking in that coffin, even the largest of rooms felt too small at times.

The gang was gathered around the room. The Scooby's were still the same plus a few new additions. Vi, and Rona were now a Permanente fixture. Kennedy and Wood as well rounded out the new faces among the group.

Buffy couldn't help but have the feeling of Déjà vu. Again they were there to scold her, only this time instead of them asking her to leave, they were telling her to stay.

"Look Buffy, I don't think you see the seriousness of the situation here. This fight coming, it's big, almost as big as Sunnydale. We need to research, and train the others. It's going to take all of our efforts to win this one." Willow exclaimed to her friend.

Buffy threw her hands up in the air, "don't you think I know that. I'm not flaking on you here; I'm just asking for a little me time."

Giles finally cut in, "Yes, well, be that as it may, we have much to do, and little time in which to do it. We don't know how bad it will be. All we know is Angel will start this apocalypse, and we must be ready to avert it. I would think that you of all people would want to help in this endeavor."

Buffy could see the fire in his eyes. She could feel the anger he harbored for having to help Angel. She could understand his anger but after all the years that have passed since Angelus's reign you would think that he would have laid that resentment to bed. She had been able to let that go, and to be honest, she could never blame Angel for Angelus's crimes. Angelus is a vampire, it's in his nature to destroy, to kill, and she would never blame her Angel for something he had no control over.

"I say let her have her time. Its not like we can't handle the training," Kennedy piped up from her corner. Now that was something Buffy was not expecting. She and Kennedy were never friends, and having her take Buffy's side was somewhat of a surprise. Though if Buffy really thought about it, Kennedy was just trying to say they didn't need her, ever.

Buffy looked around the room. She stared into the faces of the people she loved, the people who have stood by her over the years, and she wondered who they really were. Is this growing up she thought. 'Who am I', she said in her mind. If they truly loved her, respected her, then they would let her have this time. Time to go out on her own and find out who Buffy Summers really is, who this women she has grown into actually is.

"Look, all I am asking for is a few weeks on my own. I need this, especially after Sunnydale, and then Rome. Just let me go. I promise to keep in touch every few days," she quietly uttered to the room at large.

The room erupted at that. Everyone talking at the same time, complaining about her wanting to leave in a time of crisis, and at that point Buffy threw her hands in the air and gave up.

"Forget it!" she exclaimed loudly. "I can see that no matter what I do or don't do, no one will be happy. That's ok, it's fine, and I will once again put my needs on hold for the greater good. I'm just Buffy the Vampire Slayer, that's all I will ever be. My duty is who I am, what I am, and you have all made that perfectly clear. I see that now, really, I get it. Thanks for the help. Now if you all don't mind I'm tired, I would like to unpack and get some rest," she said as she walked to the door of the tiny apartment and opened it.

No one expected the outburst, and the room instantly quieted. Without another word everyone slowly started to file out. Dawn was still sitting in a chair across from Buffy, and when everyone was gone except for Faith, she slowly got out of the chair and left the room.

"Well….that was interesting," Faith said as she turned to Buffy and started to laugh. They both fell into a fit of laughter for a moment.

"You think," Buffy said back, still chuckling.

Over the past few months Buffy and Faith had laid all their problems to rest. They talked, and bonded during many patrols in Rome. Faith was finally able to tell Buffy about her jealousies of her seemingly perfect life, and Buffy finally admitted her insecurities about loosing her love interests to her. They were both wrong about the other, and they now felt even closer if possible.

Faith sat herself down next to Buffy on the couch, and turned to her with a serious stare. "Look B, if you really feel like you need this time alone I think you should go for it. Don't let them tell you what to do. You're the Slayer, and damn it you're not alone. There are thousands of us now. There is no reason why you can't take a few days, and just be. I know a thing or two about finding yourself. I had plenty of alone time in the can, to think about whom I am, what I want, and I think you deserve it. Fuck them if they can't handle it."

"I think you should go for it too."

Both Buffy and Faith looked up in surprise to see Dawn standing there with a smirk on her face.

"Really Dawnie," Buffy asked, not really sure her sister actually supported her.

"Of course I'm sure. Buffy, don't think I haven't seen what you have lost over the years. Angel, Riley, Mom, and you died Buffy, you died twice. I know I haven't always been supportive, and I'm really sorry but I love you. I think you deserve to have time to yourself. If anyone has earned it it's you."

Buffy stood and embraced her little sister. "When did you grow up?" she muttered softly in Dawns ear.

Dawn just smiled in return.